ADAM Lynas, a Co Down chef whose pop-up Mexican eatery was named best restaurant in Ireland and went on to open a second outlet with rock band Snow Patrol, has died from cancer.
Andy Rea, who was one of his partners in La Taqueria, said everyone at the restaurants "are absolutely devastated by the passing of Adam", who another friend described as having "a smile that could light a room".
Luke Paul Monaghan of Antrim Sports Club also said it has "lost an absolute gentleman".
"Adam had being fighting that awful disease cancer from the beginning of the year and it's one fight he couldn't win," he wrote on Facebook.
He said the chef had been a regular poker player around Ireland and latterly, when he became too ill to travel, had been taking part in online games
"I spoke with him no later than Sunday morning, something we had done every few weeks, and he told me about his latest setback. One lovely guy gone far too soon."
In honor and memory of our dear friend and colleague, Adam, we will be donating all proceeds from this weekend’s La Taqueria @ tu Casa orders to Adam’s family chosen Cancer charity. https://t.co/jeD6opF83u pic.twitter.com/x8TYKMvRAi
— La Taqueria (@BelfastTaqueria) November 5, 2020
Mr Rea said the pair had worked together for more than 20 years after he employed the younger man in 1998/99 at Michelin-starred Roscoffs.
Mr Lynas (39) spent time cooking for south Belfast favourite Shu on Lisburn Road before he moved to Montreal where he began a relationship with Eliza Vignolle from Monterrey, Mexico.
She introduced him to authentic Mexican food and the pair relocated to Northern Ireland where they set up the original pop-up above Mr Rea's Mourne Seafood Bar, moving to a 40-45-seater restaurant in Castle Street.
The McKenna Guide described it as "the finest Mexican food in Ireland, in the most unprepossessing room in Belfast".
Mr Rea said his friend was "warm, kind, generous and funny".
"Most of all he was a proper gent, a friend and a brother to all the La Taqueria team past and present.
"Just over five years ago, Adam called me from Canada with the idea of coming home and opening up a taco shop - La Taqueria - was born.
"Along with the other directors, Joe and Stevie, we put together Belfast's first authentic Mexican restaurant all based on Adam’s travels, knowledge and palette.
"His knowledge, expertise, maturity, discipline, patience, palette and above all his ability to train and inspire the people around him was eminent. And, in my 32 years in hospitality, I've only seen this in a handful of chefs."
Last year, along with their other partners, the chefs joined forces with Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and Nathan Connolly to open another La Taqueria on Ormeau Road.
Mr Rea vowed that Mr Lynas's "love, passion and energy will be in every bite and sip in every La Taqueria".
