2008
Ear to the Ground…and Pork
Just over 2 weeks ago I spent an odd, but enjoyable, day cooking for the cameras.
The deal was that I’d cook a meal for six, two courses, using locally sourced ingredients for under €15.
I wasn’t overly daunted by the budget, but definitely was daunted when told who I’d be cooking for – members of the ICA. Yikes!
You can watch the results tonight on RTE 1 at 7.00pm on Ear to the Ground.
The tall elegant lady in the picture is the charming and gorgeous presenter of the programme, Helen Carroll. The tubby midget is me. The nice window blind belongs to my good friend Sheila, who kindly stepped in when I looked around my own kitchen trying and failing to imagine six diners and a camera crew fitting in.
I cooked pork belly, because I like it and it’s cheap. That was before the whole pork thing happened, so it was not a political choice or anything, but I’m really glad I chose it now.
It certainly shows up the benefits of shopping locally. All the main ingredients for the meal came from less than 5 miles from my house.
The pork belly came from a local pig, reared by Pat Murphy of Johnswell, a small local producer, and was processed in a local abbatoir owned by Gerry O’Brien, my local butcher. I practically knew her (and it was a her) and she had never eaten any dodgy food.
The veg and the berries for dessert (Raspberry and Almond Clafouti) were grown by Joe Pucell in Dunmore.
And to my great relief, the lovely women from the ICA ate up with relish.