Jennifer Nickerson

Jennifer Nickerson is MD of Tipperary Boutique Distillery. She lives in Co Tipperary, with her fiance and distillery co-founder, Liam Ahearn

“Worst meal ever was being made to eat venison aged 10 and thinking of Bambi”

What did your mother make you?

Stovies — a really traditional, thick Scottish stew, generally made with leftovers like potato and onions.

What is the meal you will always remember?

Freshly caught fish, smothered in garlic and lemon, cooked on an open grill on a beach on Koh Lanta island, Thailand.

What was your defining food experience?

Tasting whiskey and cheese together for the first time, and realising that it was a match made in heaven.

What’s the first dish you ever cooked?

Rabbit. In primary school in Mortlach, Speyside. My life as a pescatarian started that day.

What is your comfort food?

Mac and cheese, or beans on toast.

What is your hangover cure?

A Bloody Mary.

What do you drink?

I’m Scottish — whiskey!

If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Cheese; stovies; and tomatoes.

What is the most appetising smell in the world?

Anything cooked in the oven — bread, cakes, lasagne.

How important is food to you?

Monumental. I associate food with all the important things, such as people I love and remembering what we ate together.

Are there any foods you have had to cut out or cut down on that you miss?

No.

You can go anywhere and have anything to eat with any one person. Where, what and who?

Thailand with my fiance Liam, to relive a special breakfast of cappuccino toast (yes, that’s a thing!)

What’s your favourite restaurant in Ireland?

The Old Convent, Clogheen, Co Tipperary.

And abroad?

Galvin at Windows, London.

What’s your sweet treat?

Dark chocolate and whiskey. I’m not a huge fan of sugary things.

What do you refuse to eat?

Meat.

Worst meal ever?

Being made to eat venison aged 10 and thinking of Bambi.

What is your guilty pleasure?

A ketchup sandwich.

What’s your signature dish?

Vegetarian lasagne with butternut squash and sweet potato.

Are you careful about what you eat?

No, I just eat fresh food.

When you decide to eat healthily what’s your regime?

I cut out all snacks between meals.

What’s your perfect family meal?

A big sharing dinner — such as a green Thai curry with fresh lime, and all my favourite people around the table! For more information on Tipperary Boutique Distillery and their single malt Irish whiskey, see tipperarydistillery.ie In conversation with Sarah Caden