When chef Fabian Menkenhagen came to Belfast in May 2010 “for a year before heading on”, little did he know he would find love, make here his permanent home, and face the challenge of his lifetime following a shock cancer diagnosis.
Fabian, a chef at Kingsbridge Private Hospital, Belfast, lives in Mallusk with his partner Linzie and their daughter Avalene.
He went to catering college in Hamburg and secured his first job in a Michelin-starred restaurant in the city.
After honing his skills, he worked in Australia for a year-and-a-half, before coming to Northern Ireland in May 2010.
“I actually really enjoyed Belfast, everyone was kind and welcoming,” Fabian says.
Fabian recently took to the skies in support of Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI, raising more than £6,000 alongside family members who also did the jump in support of the blood cancer charity.