About Neil Clooney
Neil Clooney is an English expat who now calls Ashland, Oregon “home”.
Chef Neil Clooney - image courtesy of Requejo
Having completed an extensive culinary apprenticeship in the UK, Neil went to work on the prestigious cruise liner, the QE2 (Queen Elizabeth 2). After two years of traveling around the globe experimenting with exotic ingredients and learning different cuisines, Neil returned to London where he worked at the Goring Hotel and then on to Ransome’s Dock, where he met his wife, Dee.
Neil and Dee’s culinary path led them to the US in 2002, where they managed Isabel Cruz’s restaurants in San Diego. They then became managing business partners at the Dragonfly Cafe and Gardens, which has been flourishing for 5 years under their direction.
Neil has earned several accolades in Oregon, notably winner of the Ashland Food and Wine Classic in 2007 and 2008, winner of the Bite of Oregon’s Iron Chef in 2008 and 2009, and winner of the Oregon Chocolate Festival in 2009.
Using the inspiration from their competition-winning dishes, Neil and Dee are now embarking on there next culinary chapter, First Place Food.
