‘Chef Mulholland’ Head Chef at Novelli’s at City Quays
Earlier this month, Jean-Christophe opened the doors of Novelli at City Quays, at the new £25m AC Hotel Belfast, developed by the city’s Harbour Commissioners and operated by Marriott. Set on Belfast’s waterfront, the 112-seat restaurant has a double-height glazed facade and open-air terrace, as well as a kitchen designed and built to Jean-Christophe’s specific requirements, with a rotisserie oven to enable him to produce his signature roasts.
The four-star, contemporary-luxe hotel is the first Marriott in Northern Ireland and the first AC Hotels by Marriott® on the island of Ireland. It is also the first property in the international lifestyle brand’s 100+ global portfolio to feature a signature restaurant – Novelli at City Quays – which is spearheaded by Jean-Christophe Novelli and marks the multi-Michelin-starred celebrity chef’s Ireland debut.
Jim Mulholland’s many years of experience working in Northern Ireland means that the menu at Novelli at City Quays will focus on local produce, with some of the region’s best known producers amongst the suppliers, including Abernethy Butter, Hannan Meats, Ewing’s Seafood, Yellow Door and North Down Group. Even the charcuterie board features homegrown chorizo and salami, produced by Limavady-based Corndale Farm. “It has always been my passion and my mission to source whatever I can locally,” says Jim, “and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to introduce our amazing local produce to such a globally celebrated chef as Jean-Christophe and to see him, in turn, become its champion.”
The hotel is the first newly built-to-specification AC Hotels by Marriott in the UK. On the basis that purposeful design improves lives, every detail has been mindfully curated to provide what guests most need and value.
Capturing the contemporary, elegant and European-inspired essence of the brand, bespoke-for-Belfast features include an open-air terrace designed to capitalise on its spectacular location, 360-degree waterfront and wider cityscape views, and the custom-built Novelli kitchen and restaurant.
