Chef fine-tunes his career How chart star Keenan now works miracles in the kitchen
A GLASGOW cocktail bar and kitchen has appointed a new “superstar” head chef who has made both food and music his passions.
John Keenan, who has joined 55 Bearsden Cross in Drymen Road, has a major claim to fame through a dance classic which many people will know and love, and which is still a floor-filler 24 years after its release – Fragma’s I Need A Miracle.
As manager of the group back in the year 2000, when he worked in the music industry across London, Glasgow, and parts of Europe, Glasgwegian Keenan saw it sell 560,000 copies, gaining him a gold disc.
Other highlights of his music industry career included forming an independent record label called Contribution Records; managing the Scottish black soul singer Robert Ferrier whom was later signed to Mega Records in Sweden; and managing Scottish vocalist Roberta Childs who scored a number two in the dance charts with the NRC project Here Comes the Rain Again.
Having initially worked as a chef in the Royal Navy, Keenan quit the music industry and decided to go back to cooking, which had been his first love. Gaining an HNC in cookery, he began his professional career as a chef at Pintxo tapas restaurant in Glasgow.
He then went on to work at some of Scotland’s best-known establishments including Wild Cabaret in Glasgow’s Merchant City, Melville Castle in Dalkeith, and the Spindthrift Restaurant at Pebbles Spa at Lendalfoot in Ayrshire.
“I really enjoyed my time in the music industry, it was an exciting and fastpaced life, with the Fragma hit a real highlight that I’ll always be thankful for,” said Keenan.
“But I always knew it had a shelf life for me, and that food would be the industry I’d return to, but at a new, dedicated level, with the correct training and experience behind me,” he added.
“I’ve been very fortunate to work in some fantastic places over the last few years, where I have been able to work closely with hospitality owners, developing new menus and concepts.” In 2012, John was also in a top 10 of professional chefs chosen from Scotland to go forward to the TV cookery series MasterChef: The Professionals.
“I was delighted to be considered,” Keenan said. “I did the menus, but did not go further, although they said I should apply again. I didn’t get round to it at the time, but never say never.”
Industry star
KEENAN continued: “I’m massively excited about this new role at 55 Bearden Cross, which is a stunning bar ane kitchen, one of the latest offerings from Worq, which is a fantastic, progressive hospitality business that is really putting its mark on the industry.
“I’m looking to build up the food and drink clientele here, and have already devised a new menu. I’d love to gain an AA rosette for my food – that is one of my main ambitions – as I have a gold disc to my name for my former career, so why not the ultimate accolade for my current career? The sky is the limit here, and I have a committed and supportive team beside me.
Commenting on Keenan’s appointment, Jonathan Doherty, managing director of Worq Hospitality, said: “We welcome John to 55 Bearsden Cross.
“He is a chef with a huge passion for his craft, coupled with bags of enthusiasm and new ideas. He knows Glasgow inside out too.
“It would also appear that he does indeed put the same level of commitment into his food career as he did in the past with his impressive music career.
“We are very confident that our clientele at 55 Bearsden Cross, our regulars and those still discovering us, will very much enjoy his food.”