‘Aisling’ creator Emer McLysaght

The bestselling author on the delights of a well-placed nut, beige cures and a mercifully little-known culinary crime, the pork crumble

What’s the first dish you ever cooked? What did your mother make you?

My mam had a reliable stable of dinners — stew, mince, pork chops — and she always did a fantastic roast chicken on a Sunday. She used to jazz up the pork chops with pineapple rings. The glamour!

The meal you will always remember?

I was one of the first customers in the fabulous Da Mimmo restaurant on North Strand way back when. I remember eating the simple focaccia sandwich, thinking, “This place is the business”. And it still is.

Your defining food experience?

I don’t know about the younger me, but I recently watched Salt Fat Acid Heat on Netflix, and it has truly changed the way I look at food and cooking. Almost certainly pasta with a stir-in sauce. Students, eh? I do remember cooking a chorizo stew from scratch for friends and expecting a medal afterwards.

What is your comfort food?

Crisp sandwiches. So simple and perfect.

What is your hangover cure?

Anything beige. A sack of beige can cure anything.

What do you drink?

Depending on the time of day, sparkling water or red wine.

You could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what are they?

My mam’s stew; chicken Caesar salad; McDonald’s fries.

What’s the nicest smell in the world?

A chicken roasting. It brings back such clear memories of being at home on a Sunday.

How important is food to you?

Very. I’m happiest when chewing.

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

An amazing tropical island, the best steak in the world, with my dear pal Louise K, who appreciates a lovely dinner more than anyone I know. Can we have a bottle of red wine each?

What’s always in your kitchen?

Nuts and seeds. You can jazz up any meal with a roasted seed or a well-placed nut.

Your favourite restaurant in Ireland?

Can it be one that no longer exists? I always mourn the loss of Cafe Bar Deli on George’s Street in Dublin. I went there at least once a week with The Girls; it was the perfect provider of pizza, salads and wine. RIP.

Worst meal ever? What do you refuse to eat?

Oysters. I can’t get my head around them at all. I love sushi with all my heart, but a raw oyster is a step too far. A teacher in fourth year in school made us make pork crumble. Yes, like apple crumble, but with pork. It was truly vile.

What’s your signature dish?

Asian salad. Not too much cooking and you can go to town on the nuts and seeds.

Are you careful about what you eat?

No. Well, I try to avoid poison, like.

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

I try to avoid too much dairy because it aggravates sinus issues, but what is even the point of life without cheese?

“I remember cooking a chorizo stew from scratch for friends and expecting a medal afterwards”