Jamie Who is a blog about everything. Except current affairs. And politics. Also science, sport, religion, celebrities, movies, media and marketing, technology, business and design. So...basically Jamie Who is a blog about food. All things food.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Conrad Gallagher - Celebrity chef does not equal success



Yeah, look, things aren't going to well for Connie. His restaurant, Geisha, has been provisionally liquidated.

The restaurant closed its doors on the 9th of August and Gallagher returned to Ireland with his wife and sons. He left behind R985 000 in outstanding rent and, if the rumours are true, he also owes R300 000 to a company called Mac Catering who sold him equipment to set up his kitchen. Gallagher is under even more pressure owing to the fact that he is being investigated by the labour department for failing to register his employees with any unemployment fund. So...basically, he hasn't been paying his staff for the last two months. Not great.

It's probably a good time to tell you what Sun International Hotel Group pay him. R210 000. Yip, per month. He also gets R75 000 every month from various companies for whom he consults, one of which is The Trump Group. Obviously our boy isn't great with money management.

So now we sit back and wait to see what happens. He has until the 23rd of September to explain to the court why the liquidation should not be made final. If it is, there is the chance of the business being sold. The site is awesome and the concept could work with a better operator so it will be interesting to follow. Otherwise, I'm sure there are restaurateurs lining up to take this space and put something fresh in there. Let's see...

Cheers,
Jamie Who

P.S. I felt an authoritive tone coming through in this piece. Did you like that? A bit of journalism coming through there for you? Maybe it's because I got this info from The Cape Times. 

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is sad that so many people have lost their jobs. Most have been waiting for their salaries for the past 2 months, but there are staff that have been waiting since 2008 for Conman Gallagher to honour their CCMA awards which amount to a few hundred thousand rands. What happens to them? He should never be able to register another company ever again.

Jamie Who said...

You make some very good points. The rumour is that he left Ireland under pretty dodgy circumstances so you have to wonder how he was given the chances he was...

Anonymous said...

And then where is he now, will he be doing the same thing to his staff and contracts leaving them high and dry, we all wonder what he is up to now... and am sure the banks and ex staff to

Jamie Who said...

Who knows? He managed to con a lot of supposedly smart people into investing in his idea and himself so perhaps he will be able to do it again? Let's hope not. Let's hope karma takes care of this dude.

Anonymous said...

I knew it would happen,I layed a charge of Fraud against Conrad back in 2008,the man is his name...a "CON" he paid me by credit card then calls his bank to tell them he did.nt make that payment...(The bank "Investec" also closed his account for non payment...FACT!..I had to bite the 27k bullit,thats why I can say this about him....

Anonymous said...

...From Zanzibar to cape Town... nobody has a good word to say about him,even his so called ex-wife...(to whom he is still legally married) I bet his new wife,thinks he is divorced...is this allowed two marriages?? insa???I think not...Conrad you belong back in Jail...this time,take loads of KY with you...you'll need it!

Anonymous said...

i agree he should be put away and the key thrown away, he has hurt and destroyed many peoples lives in SA and am sure around where he leaves his trail of dept. i hear he is opening a new resturant in Irland and is consuliting in Middle east somehwere. hope he is carful with the arabs as they dont like to be conned........... by the con

Anonymous said...

i agree he should be put away and the key thrown away, he has hurt and destroyed many peoples lives in SA and am sure around where he leaves his trail of dept. i hear he is opening a new resturant in Irland and is consuliting in Middle east somehwere. hope he is carful with the arabs as they dont like to be conned........... by the con

Anonymous said...

Conrad is an absolute joke!! Riding on his reputation of 10-15 years ago when he could seemingly could cook, everything thereafter was a farse. Luring people into his dishonest world, he must be one of the world's biggest con artists!! It's laughable that he was appointed as Sun International's Corporate Chef, as he couldn't cook if he tried to. Behind the scene's it was always the 'other' talented chefs that turned out the food, and as always, Conrad would take the credit. I feel so sorry for all the people he managed to con, leaving a trail of debt and damaged careers in his wake. To all readers of this column and potential employers - If you ever hear the name Conrad Gallagher, be sure to run, failing which you'll be drawn in by his lies and deceit!! A more dishonest person I have yet to meet, so be warned!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Michelin Star Chef, what chef I say?! He's no chef, but a professional con-artist who has honed his skills over many years of dishonesty and deceit. From Ireland to New York, Cape Town and now back to his former homeland, perhaps this is where he belongs. Conrad has wrecked so many people's lives, but wait, his day will come! He's all but one step away from jail, so if I were you, I'd avoid him like the plague. A more dishoest person in the hospitality industry you will never find. Master Chef - no way, it's more likely MASTER CON!!

Anonymous said...

Conrad was an absolute idiot, and cook he cannot! Would everybody please sit up and take note that Conrad is a full-time scamster. He believes his own lies, telling everyone that will listen that he is personal friends with Bono, Ronan Keating and the like. The executives at Sun International should be ashamed that they kept him on their payroll for five years, often bringing their company into disrepute. He is an embarassment to the hospitality industry, and it's shameful that he will be able to set up another business venture, albeit back home in Ireland. Investors beware, he is most certainly not all that he makes out to be!! CON, for CONMAN, not CONRAD!!

Anonymous said...

The world is a small place, and you can't keep running from all the disasters you created. Perhaps you could cook, but your results over the past couple of years are nothing less than pathetic. Many, many people are glad to see the back of you, but be sure to keep looking over your shoulder.......!

Anonymous said...

He is opening a new restaurant in Ireland now ! called les saveurs.. How a man who has left millions of debt in Europe and Africa can be allowed to employ more staff and run a business again. He has terrible references in the trade, can't even run a bath so imagine a restaurant !

this is madness.. Don't come back to S A Conrad , cause I know many people who are looking for you ( and their money)

Anonymous said...

I would also like to mention the fact that I worked for him for a few months and now that it is time to do my tax assessment, there is no IRP 5 for me registered on SARS system and because I can't get one from him they want me to pay in another 5k after he deducted Paye and Site tax off my salary. So where did the money go Conrad, did you rip of all your employees and not register anyone for tax either?????

Anonymous said...

I resigned my executive chef position Sun Int. within 6 months of this twot joining the company. In fact there were many of us who did. I'm sure Philip Georgas, who I though was a good judge character, must be wondering how he could be suckered by such a con. Nail this guy to a thorn bush and let the vultures feast on his nuts.

The Olde Mafia said...

Conrad has plenty of friends in New York City and you Afrikaaner Kaffas are jealous of his talent as an Irish born Celebrity Chef...Fack Off you hairy backed sheilas !

Jamie Who said...

Olde Mafia...wow you sound like a tool. Thank you for proving to us all - beyond any doubt - what an idiot Gallagher is. They say you judge someone from the company they keep and you Sir are one of the biggest losers i have come across. So...that kind of vindicates what everyone is saying about him. Don't you think? Wait, obviously you don't think.

The Olde Mafia said...

Tool. Idiot. Judge. Sir. Loser.
VINDICATE ???
We are the ones dining out in New York City every day and night !!! while you scumbag white people in S.A. try and act like you know something about the rest of the world. Run back and hide behind your gated compounds before a native negro African laughs off a few rounds of his AK-47 into your thick white heads, and get the hell out of Africa and give it back to the negroes before they run you off their beaches and feed you to the sharks.
You Afrikaanars are the biggest racists left on the planet, you are disgusting...

Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for New York City - having to deal with you every day.

Unknown said...

old mafia... bwahahahahaha! well you're an idiot, aren't you? Poor baby.... i could help educate you, but frankly you're too much of a fool to bother with. Good luck there with the racism, chap. I hope it makes you itch.

Hila said...

They say empty tins make the most noise. You are very quick to insult and use the K word. You know when you point at someone there are 4 fingers pointing right back at you and by singleing out one group of people for racesim you are being racist yourself.

The issue at hand is that Conrad screwed over a lot of people. Black, whit, pink , green, they all sufford equally. People who own businesses and people who are trying at to make a living, students and single parents.

Either way this article had nothing to do with race until you voiced your opinion on it. You who can afford to eat out in New York every day while the people Conrad promised a salary to can barely afford to eat at all.

All this you do behind some pseudonym, coward.

Niel said...

The Olde Mafia... are you for real? You sound like one of those Jersey Shore troglodytes. Let me recreate the force of your reasoning in a single word: pffffft.

foodie said...

This 'The olde mafia' cock above is a 14 year old Irish-American prick named Ewen Campbell (ewencampbell@yahoo.com) who spends his time on Madonna chat sites (http://www.madonna-chat.net/msg/th/?t=14). Pretty sad really. He's probably never left New York in his life and probably has Madonna posters up in his room. Go have a fruit juice and get ready for school Ewen, your mom's coming to dress you soon...

Anonymous said...

very interesting that the only one to support mr gallagher is a rasist 13 year old, or was it 14. Sorry to hear the tale of woe this chancer has left behind, how anyone financed him is beyond me but there's a lesson to be learned. The first people suckered are always the lazy media, the pr people have them sucking this guys nuts, I owned a restaurant in Dublin while conrad was on his first journey of self destruction, he got all the media attention and the last thing reported was his bad debts, while those of us who paid our bills got no coverage, a reflection on celebrity obsessed modern life???? I wonder if most of his turnover went up his nose again????

Matthew said...

Hey Jamie Who,

I have to say, I agree, Olde Mafia is a bit of wanker (probably in the literal sense of the word), but being drawn into a conversation with him?

Remember, never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow. The Olde Mafia you are a prize chop. And not in a good food way. If u don't understand the lingo, come to South Africa, we'd love to show you around. Leave mommy at home.

Anonymous said...

Always the best way to retaliate in an argument. Showing your true colours and genius now.

Anonymous said...

How terribly sad that you've all experienced Conrad. The man has the most horrific reputation in Dublin after he left so many good people high & dry. I had personal experience of cheques been bounced month after month while he swanned around being flash Harry. I know so many people who were burned by him, from wine & food suppliers down to good staff who hadn't been paid in weeks, nay months. He is a disgrace. He is a disgrace to our industry, and I for one as an Irish restrauteur am not proud to say he's one of us. As for opening again in Dublin...? It's amazing how quickly amnesia has set into the minds of the high society. "Have you been to Conrads new place dah-ling? It's fah-bulous" It's a case of the Emperors New Clothes me thinks!
And as for the little mafia fool in New York...when you grow up, earn a wage & start to pay taxes then you can comment on life in the real world. Until then, keep your pathetic childish opinions to yourself. Go upstairs & do your homework....you might learn something!

Miche17 said...

Oh my. This kid has a lot of anger. How creepy. Can you imagine how many other blogs he's dropping his childish, toxic rants on, if he chose a South African foodie blog about an Irish conman? It's too bizarre! PS I wonder how the Baroness liked Conrad's cooking when they were both still wreaking havoc in Cape Town? They're definitely in the same scumbag league.

Anonymous said...

Conrad recently created an account on Whoseview.ie so he could post a scathing review of a nearby no-frills cheap & cheerful comnpeting Cafe (Crunch) a few doors along the same street as his own mewly opened upmarket restaurant on the same street: http://www.whoseview.ie/member-profile/Conrad-G--2945.html;jsessionid=0F8D7506CB98D646F4DA42EF68238B2B
If his review is to be believed, he claims to have eaten there several times, why would he do that when he has his own vastly superior restaurant nearby? Make of it what you will.
Anyone can register with this site and rate a reviewer's trustworthiness, Conrad fans can give him the trustworthiness rating he deserves, and can register using any name they like