‘I love chicken wings’

What did your mother make you? My My mother favourite is dinnera phenomenalof hers was cook! spag And bol. so None generous.of your bolognese from a jar for me! WhatWhen I is was the eight, meal I you was willin my always kitchen remember?when my bestI can friendstill taste Brian the told tears me in he my was scone. moving to Clonmel. What I don’t is drink, your so hangoverI’m spared cure?the torture of scrolling through justeat.ie on a Sunday morning and crying from the indecision. What do you drink? Black coffee. I love the smugness I feel when the barista asks, ‘Room for milk?’ and I say, ‘Oh no,’ like a hardened caffeine addict. I can see myself going up in their estimation. If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life what would they be? Chicken wings from my nana’s multi-cooker. Chicken wings from Nando’s. And chicken wings pulled off a roast chicken. What is the most appetising smell in the world? A roast chicken, surely? Sunday roast, steamy kitchen windows, the soft smell of the Sunday papers. How important is food to you? It’s fairly essential. I mean, without it I would die. I enjoy food, but it’s just fuel for me. What’s your favourite restaurant in Ireland? Nando’s. Am I getting repetitive? I love chicken wings. My pal Michelle and I have a routine. We take turns with who gets to sit on the comfy seat, and who goes up to order. Then we share a wing platter. And abroad? They don’t sell chicken wings in Nando’s in Australia! Did you know that? And don’t bother telling me chicken tenders are just as good. Are there any foods you have had to cut out or cut down on that you miss? I don’t eat sugar at all. Of any description. No stevia/agave/maple syrup/honey. I don’t miss it a single bit. I started by cutting out anything that had ‘ingredients’ — there are no ingredients in a cucumber, like. Now I eat more casually, but still nothing with sugar. What’s your perfect family meal? My housemates Jo and Cathal and I, making breakfast together, and chatting about what’s coming up for the day ahead. I’ve lived with them for five years now, so they are a family to me. And when we have a chance to eat together, it’s lovely. A Stefanie Preissner is the writer of RTE’s series ‘Can’t Cope Won’t Cope’ and just received the Irish Screen America’s Rising Star Award In conversation with Sophie White Photo by Nathalie Marquez Courtney