William Barry twinterviews Joe Macken

Bridgestone’s William Barry (@williambarry5) caught up with restaurateur Joe Macken (@JoBurgerDublin) on Twitter, the social network beloved by foodies and which has served Macken well in the past – when he opened Crackbird, a pop up in Temple Bar, his idea of giving away free meals every day through Tweeting earned him an abundance of publicity and got bums on seats. People loved the food and the rest is history: Crackbird is now on its third location and shows no sign of slowing.

@williambarry5: Tell us about your background?
@JoBurgerDublin: 33yrs, sngl, resto lifer, leader of the @JoBurgerDublin @crackBIRDdublin @skinflintDUBLIN @BEARdublin pack, absolute optimist

@williambarry5: Was your family in the hospitality business?
@JoBurgerDublin: Yep, grew up in Conyngham Arms Hotel in Slane which my Ps owned. Until 10 +yrs ago.

@williambarry5: Where did you start off in hospitality? Did you have a mentor?
@JoBurgerDublin: Kevin my dad is and has been my mentor, hes the dogs. Growing up in a hotel is totes a hosp\life start, then stints in Kenmare, Kclub Shannon college Uk & BEL.

@williambarry5 : Most people think your started in business started with JoBurger in Rathmines, Maybe there was an earlier venture?
@JoBurgerDublin: Orange Square on Baggot St a sandwich & salad bar great food bad GP margin

@williambarry5: Urban myth, is it true?-you were broke and in trouble and borrowed 10k on accredit card to open crackbird which successfully saved your business
@JoBurgerDublin: sorta true but it was biz partners @thebunda card and it was 15K, we werent totally broke JB does well but landlords were ignoring us

@williambarry5: Where are you sourcing your chicken?  Have you visited to see how the fowl are reared?
@JoBurgerDublin: Cootehill farms and yes i visit the farms. They are a very small co-op in the hilliest place ive ever been

@williambarry5: what would your hipster customers think of your chicken if they thought it came from a battery farm?
@JoBurgerDublin: I would never consider selling BatChk just coz somethings not organic does it mean its shit, thats a fallacy. Cootehill is a good irish pdt

@williambarry5:Who do you count among of your Irish suppliers?
@JoBurgerDublin: All our suppliers are Irish we only buy from small Irish owned bizs, no food service and with a pref Irish grown reared made produce

@williambarry5: Who would you count among your favourite Irish food producers/artisans?
@JoBurgerDublin: Kilbeggan distilleries mostly – good for a julep with mint from the garden and market honey & leLevain Bakery i live for toast

@williambarry5: If you were Taoiseach for a day?
@JoBurgerDublin: Disband the JLCs, scrap the raw milk ban proposal, then retire and sit back and enjoy my pension in time for lunch

@williambarry5: What do you love about the restaurant business?
 @JoBurgerDublin: My raft of hot chefs, working on new projects and nights out with the crew which is normally wreck-less. The avg age in our co is 21

@williambarry5: What would be your last meal?
@JoBurgerDublin: A BBQ with my family slane. Moms bbq sauce dads pork recipe, sisters trifle bros salads and gran for the laughs

@williambarry5 :If you were to go for a meal tonight anywhere in Ireland where would you choose?
JM: I rarely move outside the restos radius but i hit the M&L, Coppinger & 777 all the time wanna get to @harrysdonal @italianfoodie & @tannerydungarvan asap

@williambarry5: If you weren’t in the restaurant business, where do you think you might be
@JoBurgerDublin: some sort of designer – interior, pdt or graphics

@williambarry5: Are you aware of the explosion of food blogs on the internet? Do you read any of them?
@JoBurgerDublin: Thnk due to their currentness they’re kicking the crap out of print opinion in terms of reviews but they're a great recipe resource too not singling out anyone

@williambarry5: Like you, Conrad Gallagher expanded very quickly, he got in too deep and lost everything, could the same fate befall Joe Macken?
@JoBurgerDublin: Can’t believe you compared me to a prick like CG. Jo'Burger is more than Joe Macken we're a strong team moving forward.

@williambarry5: What happened to JoBurger in Blackrock? How did it end in Examinership?
@JoBurgerDublin: I got it wrong, wrong place, wrong product and the wrong time, examinership was a bad finish and a new beginning. It is a life changing experience

@williambarry5: You successfully came out of examinership, what did it teach you?
@JoBurgerDublin: To be humble and how to build bridges

@williambarry5: Plans for further expansion?
@JoBurgerDublin: Always, I keep numerous brand IDs running on my desk at any one time

@williambarry5: Complete the sentence: My ideal day off would be....
@JoBurgerDublin: finished with a well made Manhattan and a kiss goodnight

@williambarry5: Any words of advice to a person starting out in the restaurant business?
@JoBurgerDublin: If you’re not there living it, you shouldn't be in this biz

@williambarry5: The best advice you have ever been given?
@JoBurgerDublin: Act and behave well now cause you’ll want look back in 10 years & be proud of yourself