Gráinne O'Keefe

Gráinne O’Keefe is the chef-owner at mae, named after her late grandmother and serving Modern Irish cuisine in the heart of Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. It also pays homage to O’Keefe’s grandfather Eddie, who died in recent years. Trained in DIT Cathal Brugha Street, the 30-year-old has worked at Il Segreto, The Merrion, Pichet and Bastible before taking the helm of the Clanbrassil House, offering a modern Irish cuisine focusing on a charcoal grill. 

O’Keefe broadened her horizons again in 2017, taking on an additional role as consultant and latterly Culinary Director of BuJo, a Dublin based award-winning burger joint which champions sustainable Irish produce in eco-friendly packaging. It has since been recognised by the Sustainable Restaurant Association with a 3 Star rating. 

Mae, situated above the French Paradox wine shop now offers intimate dinners for up to 16 guests, with an extensive 80-page wine list. Only six months after opening its doors, it was listed in the 2022 Michelin guide, adding another accolade to the belt of Ireland’s ‘Best Chef Under 30’ from the 2019 FOOD & WINE awards.