Ever wondered if a 91-year-old cookery writer can rock? Wonder no longer. Diana Kennedy is that woman. A small but indomitable lady in leather trousers who visited Ballymaloe for the recent Literary Festival of...
It wasn’t all chefs and cookery writers at this year’s Ballymaloe LitFest; there was also a very lively drinks theatre which featured good Irish craft beer, natural wines, glorious sherry and unusual cocktails. London-based...
Summer’s here, kids – what are we going to eat? There are a few Irish books floating round at the moment which might help you to make some decisions in that regard. 1. The...
Bringing butter back? Well, if it’s on the cover of Time Magazine, it must be true (just try and forget about this one, which fronted a 1984 story on cholesterol entitled Hold the Eggs...
A week in Wales with old friends from the Husband’s Cambridge days. Four adults, five children under six and Bridie, the Irish terrier, in one house. Staying nearby, another household of four adults and...
René Redzepi flew into Cork on Friday. Waiting to present his passport at immigration, he was confronted with an intense, furrowed-brow stare from the man behind the glass. Pause. And then a question: “What’s...
I have measured out my life with homemade breads. From “helping” my mother make brown soda loaves on Saturday mornings, through to my teenaged attempts at yeast baking with orange and raisin scrolls, coming...
Last year’s Lit Fest was – officially – a blast. Three whirlwind days of ideas and education and inspiration from cookbook heroes. I learned how to ferment cabbage from Sandor Katz, make Claudia Roden’s...