‘I can’t stand the texture of peppers’
What did your mother make you? Hearty dishes from scratch, like shepherd’s pie and stews. Home-made fish and chips was a Friday tradition in our house.
What meal will you always remember? A curry in Vietnam that had the perfect balance of spices and cream.
What was your defining food experience? Baking buns with my mam — those ones with jam and coconut on top. Waiting for them to cool was tricky!
What was the first dish you ever cooked? French toast and pizza that I’d learnt in home economics. My family were kind in their praise.
What is your comfort food? Mac and cheese from Rachel Allen’s cookbook, Rachel’s Favourite Food at Home. Just don’t count the cals!
What do you drink? A nice Chardonnay.
If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would they be? I should say avocados, berries and broccoli, but the honest answer is chocolate, bread, and roast chicken.
You can go anywhere and have anything to eat with any one person. Where, what and who? The tasting menu at Ocean restaurant at the Vila Vita Parc in the Algarve, with my husband, Ben.
What is the most appetising smell in the world? Freshly made coffee.
What’s your favourite restaurant in Ireland? I’m a sucker for Coppinger Row; the cocktails are a bit special.
What’s your sweet treat? Lindt chocolate, and jellies.
What do you refuse to eat? I can’t stand the texture of peppers.
What is your guilty pleasure? I have very little willpower with chocolate.
What is your signature dish? A sticky chicken satay and lettuce roll-up dish.
Are you careful about what you eat? I try to be disciplined Monday to Friday, and then I indulge at weekends.
Are there any foods that you’ve had to cut out or cut down on that you miss? During my pregnancy, I had to limit my coffee [Anna gave birth to her third child, Rhys, earlier this month].
When you decide to eat carefully, what’s your regime? More colour on my plate and less beige.
What’s your perfect family meal? A roast-chicken dinner, with all the trimmings. My hubby does a mean roast!