the food.ie

This post has me hungry for all sorts of pancakes ...

2010-03-05T15:48:12.106Z

This post has me hungry for all sorts of pancakes - going to have to make some again VERY soon!

no, its not too technical for that at all. The cha...

2010-03-02T11:54:55.040Z

no, its not too technical for that at all. The chances of me becoming a chef are very slim but I definitely am way more able to cook really good food!

wow very impressed by the reviews. What if you don...

2010-02-28T20:18:28.046Z

wow very impressed by the reviews. What if you dont want to be a chef per se but would like to be able to cook good food - would you say the course is too technical/high level for that?

Many thanks

The best airlines for food Ive found so far are Ca...

2010-02-01T21:08:00.872Z

The best airlines for food Ive found so far are Cathay Pacific and a Thai airline, I think just called Thai Air where they gave every girl on the plane a purple orchid and we ate prawn laksa, unreal! Have a good time in New York, just found your blog through Good Mood food x

great piece, really enjoyed it. The cliff has made...

2010-01-21T21:26:03.498Z

great piece, really enjoyed it. The cliff has made my list

Great to discover your site! Sounds like you had a...

2010-01-18T15:43:29.199Z

Great to discover your site! Sounds like you had a wonderful year, and I hope 2010 is every bit as good!

As for mixers, we have both a Kitchen Aid and Kenwood, and the latter is still going strong after 10 years. We've had to replace a few parts on the Kitchen Aid, though, after only two years...

oh, must have a look out for them. I never shop in...

2010-01-15T17:11:30.916Z

oh, must have a look out for them. I never shop in tesco.

sounds lovely ... i always buy tins of cherry toma...

2010-01-15T14:18:10.985Z

sounds lovely ... i always buy tins of cherry tomatoes now the flavour is far superior! tesco do some i think in their finest range and roma do them now too. try them :-)

I have the Kenwood Chef KMC560 and would definitel...

2010-01-04T15:25:09.809Z

I have the Kenwood Chef KMC560 and would definitely recommend. When I was in Ballymaloe there was huge debate on whether Kitchen Aid or Kenwood are better and while Kitchen Aid are way prettier Kenwood seem to be the sturdier ones with more attachments available. Not that you need all the attachments but if you are looking for special attachments you should make sure you can get them before ordering (for example I couldnt get a food processor attachment for this Kenwood chef so ended up getting one separately)

tell me about your kenwood i am on the market .......

2010-01-04T14:46:01.564Z

tell me about your kenwood i am on the market .... :-)

what are the ingredients of the mix

2009-12-22T22:01:16.276Z

what are the ingredients of the mix

thank you for sharing your experience at ballymalo...

2009-11-16T01:00:24.999Z

thank you for sharing your experience at ballymaloe. i have darina's school on my lifetime bucket list and your post was yet another affirmation that it is a "must do".
best wishes,
kit mitchell

Would be really interested to hear what your doing...

2009-09-06T19:54:33.379+01:00

Would be really interested to hear what your doing now and what your planning for the future as I'm in the exact place you were a year ago, in a job I can't stand anymore and am seriously thinking to doing this course as a new career option (am currently a lawyer but love love love food, cooking, entertaining etc.. so very tempted to make the leap too!)..

I haven't visited this blog in a while, and I can ...

2009-09-05T22:58:48.454+01:00

I haven't visited this blog in a while, and I can only agree with the previous comment: aye, the world is insane and you are definitely doing the right thing. In fact what you write seems very sensible to me. Let no guilt come in here. Enjoy every moment. You will fall back on your feet. Thanks for sharing a little of it here.
Best
P.

Hi Derdre As New Person to blogs, have just come ...

2009-08-26T10:21:41.741+01:00

Hi Derdre

As New Person to blogs, have just come across yours and have really enjoyed your...posts(?).

After years' of trudging the well-paid but un-rewarding career path and fantasising over doing something with food to earn a crust, I've finally taken "the plunge" and am about to start the three month course at Ballymaloe(Sept 09). Having lots of "Oh ****" moments, so many many thanks for your encouraging insights on the course and other snippets....! Hope all is well for you x

Good for you!! :) Sometimes you really do need to ...

2009-08-25T16:48:38.308+01:00

Good for you!! :) Sometimes you really do need to ignore all those "sensible" people around you and just follow your heart! :)
I'm quitting my 'good job' myself at the moment, and going back to UCC to do a Masters. I had considered the Ballymaloe option but I've always wanted to do this LLM and I think that now is my time. To be honest, I just want and need a fresh start! :)

My mother also said to stick a match up their bott...

2009-08-14T19:00:51.901+01:00

My mother also said to stick a match up their bottoms.......chiefly, I suppose, to keep any detritus entering the water, but in fact, as one might imagine, it kept them pretty quiet too, after the initial action.

Oh god I'm so jealous. I'm back at work and it's d...

2009-08-13T10:25:21.683+01:00

Oh god I'm so jealous. I'm back at work and it's depressing. The real world sucks and you're doing the right thing getting away and learning. We're saving at the moment but then it's travelling all the way!
xx

This Sounds very nice, I suggest you try The Garde...

2009-08-12T22:56:35.641+01:00

This Sounds very nice, I suggest you try The Garden Room in castlemartyr, Cork
Another amazing chef OUTSIDE DUBLIN,

I've been following your progress on your blog for...

2009-07-29T18:42:06.445+01:00

I've been following your progress on your blog for the last few months and I'm delighted that it all turned out so well and that your following your passion instead of staying in a career that you didn't enjoy - It is a big step ( I totally understand I'm going back to study goldsmiting in September) I wish you every sucess with your new career path!

Thanks Gail and Stephen, I do promise to post at l...

2009-07-15T17:07:11.564+01:00

Thanks Gail and Stephen, I do promise to post at least 2 more blog posts on the course over the next week or two but if you have any questions on the course just drop me an email or leave a comment with them and Ill try to answer.

Hi Deirdre, I'm planning to do a 12 week course a...

2009-07-15T12:47:09.326+01:00

Hi Deirdre,

I'm planning to do a 12 week course at Ballymaloe next year - your blog has been a fantastic insight into the realities of it all and has definitely encouraged me to just do it! Thanks for sharing your stories and your photos :-)

Gail

thanks for that, I also meant to say that you can ...

2009-07-15T08:03:46.853+01:00

thanks for that, I also meant to say that you can stand them on their heads for 30 seconds to make them dizzy, that did the job for a while with my escape artist

Fabulous pictures! One way you can keep the lobst...

2009-07-14T22:30:03.274+01:00

Fabulous pictures!

One way you can keep the lobsters from escaping and making so much noise is to stick them in the freezer for an hour or so before cooking them.

Dear Deirdre, I've really enjoyed reading your bl...

2009-07-13T12:02:57.793+01:00

Dear Deirdre,

I've really enjoyed reading your blog about your time at the Ballymaloe Cookery School. It sounds like they kept you very busy! I'm especially looking forward to your next post where I hope you will tell us how you did in your exams, how you feel now that you have completed the course, how you feel the course has prepared you for the world of food and what you hope to do next.

Good luck,
Stephen