I started The Flavour Files in 2012 and have added recipes celebrating our wonderful Irish produce ever since. My recipes show great produce is as much at home on our kitchen tables as on a restaurant menu. It's not just recipes though - there is news, reviews & other writing too!
July 17, 2018
Thanks to our never ending summer there is still loads of rhubarb knocking about, and this is probably one of the nicest ways to partake in it. This cocktail recipe was inspired by the Rhubarb Martini that my friend and all-round awesome chef, Caitlin Ruth, makes as Deasy’s Restaurant in the tiny village of Ring […]
Read moreApril 27, 2018
Something magical happens when you sit down to dine with Takashi Miyazaki. It happened the first time I visited his eponymous restaurant, Miyazaki, on my birthday a couple of years ago, and it happened again last week when we sat at the Kappou counter of his new fine-dining restaurant ichigo ichie. For me, this is […]
Read moreApril 23, 2018
Who doesn’t love a crumble? Is it one of the most comforting and versatile of all puddings. But whatever about the fruit, it is getting a good crumble topping that can make it or break it. No one, and I mean no one, wants a soggy crumble. Likewise, if it’s likely to knock out half […]
Read moreApril 23, 2018
OK, so bear with me. Lamb and rhubarb might not be two ingredients that you automatically would put together, but trust me it’s an amazing thing! I came across this ingredient pairing back in 2015 when I was still running my supper club from home, and I wanted to design a menu that was all […]
Read moreApril 17, 2018
There are some car journeys that are a pleasure to undertake. One of my favourites is heading out towards the stunning Beara Peninsula in West Cork. Stunning ocean views, rugged mountains and windblown fields dotted with weather worn animals and traditional farmsteads. The winding roads force you to slow down, enjoy the view; enjoy the […]
Read moreApril 13, 2018
Put your hands up if you love crispy, crunchy, spicy chicken wings? One of my favourite things to eat mostly as an act of undignified indulgence, but I’m usually left with Eaters Remorse afterwards for the oil slick that they usually come in, or the overbearing sickly sweet sauces. So I decided to give my […]
Read morePlanning a visit to West Cork and want the low-down on the best artisan foods in the region? Or maybe just keen to support local food producers? A copy of the Artisan Food Guide will be your invaluable resource, and ideal for planning an independent food adventure of your own too!
Go ShoppingApril 10, 2018
California has long been synonymous with a healthy living and great food. If it’s local, organic and hand made the Californians will embrace it wholeheartedly. But forget the big cities – the ‘burbs is where great food is happening, and none more so that the exploding and vibrant foodie culture in North County San Diego […]
Read moreApril 10, 2018
Venture west my friend, and you shall find such things to eat… I’ll admit, I’m a tiny bit biased when it comes to West Cork food. I can’t help it; it’s where I live, where I call home and, for all the allure of Big City Living, there is simply nothing better than returning to […]
Read moreApril 10, 2018
I moved to Ireland 13 years ago, and was visiting for many a year before that. Even in those heady days of my earliest culinary adventures I had heard, seen and tasted the proof of Kinsale’s reputation for being the “gourmet capital of Ireland.” This article was first published on TheTaste.ie in July 2016. It […]
Read moreApril 10, 2018
Clonakilty is a town that is well rehearsed in the traditional Irish Céad Míle Fáilte. If the town had a middle name it would be ‘Welcome’. Blessed by both its position to the Atlantic Coast and award winning Inchydoney Beach, the rolling verdant hills peppered with happy cows, Clonakilty is a place that’s more than […]
Read moreApril 10, 2018
Fair Trade products shifted the stratosphere of shoppers throughout the EU during the first half of the 2000’s. Sainsbury’s, among others, have redacted their commitment to the project. What does this mean for farmers and communities across the globe? Kate Ryan of flavour.ie investigates. This article was published on Headstuff.org in August 2017 Unfairly Traded In […]
Read moreApril 10, 2018
Hooray – Irish milk and butter is in high demand around the world for its exceptional flavour, quality and nutrient value. Could the fact that Irish butter is now readily available to buy in the UAE be a panacea for Brexit? This article was published on Headstuff.org in February 2018 https://www.headstuff.org/science/zero-grazing-a-step-towards-feedlots/ Maybe. But how does […]
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March 1, 2018
I was delighted to be asked to work with Allison Roberts, founder of Clonakilty Chocolate, on a new product launch and rebranding project. In February, Allison launched her Cocoa Husk Tea under the new brand Exploding Tree. I absolutely love everything that Allison is about – her enthusiasm and energy is to be seen to […]
Read moreMarch 1, 2018
There are few things that set my heart racing as much as custard. Yes, I am sure that the heightened velocity of my heart rate isn’t a sign of increasing levels of cholesterol, thank you very much. No, rather there is no other edible item I choose to indulge in that gives rise to feelings […]
Read moreFebruary 24, 2018
I’m starting to really appreciate bitter vegetables. It started on the lead up to Christmas last with chicory and doesn’t see any sign of receding. Bitter is a taste that is only just started to be explored in more detail. I have a theory that our curiosity with bitter flavours has been piqued only because […]
Read moreFebruary 24, 2018
My first ever contact with Blood Oranges was many, many years ago as a child. I didn’t understand what they were, why they were different from ‘normal’ oranges and of course, putting the word ‘blood’ before ‘orange’ is one sure fire way to put small kids off eating these. So I didn’t, or maybe I […]
Read moreJanuary 14, 2018
Ice cream should be eaten all year round, it’s just a question of matching the flavours to the season! This recipe is a tiny bit awesome, but it won’t be for anyone that doesn’t like a powerful taste of banana. It is really simple to make which is the good news. The even better news […]
Read moreJanuary 9, 2018
I owe this post to Fiona Uyema. This morning, she shared a post on Facebook of a letter written by a 27 year old Australian woman terminally ill with cancer. Not many things make me want to burst out into tears but this one did. Sentiments obviously resonate with people differently at different times. But […]
Read moreDecember 11, 2017
We have been putting together for you a Christmas eBook for the last 3 years’ but this years is a little different! Click here to access 2016 and 2015 editions… Instead of me bombarding you with recipes for new ways with Brussel Sprouts, I have decided to focus on things we can Slurp & Sip […]
Read moreOctober 22, 2017
I have made more pancakes since May of this year than I have in my entire life! This isn’t a complaint though – merely stating a fact based on the fantastic response received to the Eggsellent Breakfasts initiative that I launched this year alongside Caroline Murphy of West Cork Eggs and Alison Kingston, a health […]
Read moreSeptember 1, 2017
“I’m not really a fan of baked cheesecakes, if I’m being honest.” Mr Flavour and I have been in each other’s pockets for 17 years. He’s repeated this refrain at least once a year, and yet I have never made anything other than baked cheesecakes. He eats them because he loves me, but really all […]
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