Jennifer Zamparelli

My life in food

What was your favourite childhood meal? A good chicken and broccoli bake my mam made with a tin of Campbell’s soup! It was such a huge part of my childhood in the 1980s, and we even wrote it into

Bridget and Eamon. I’m pretty sure they did it on the cooking section of Live At Three, and every housewife in the country knew how to make it.

What is the meal you will always remember?

My wedding meal. I got married in Castle Leslie, and everything — from the quality of food to the service — blew me away. Surprisingly, my husband was too nervous to eat, so I ate his, too.

What was your defining food experience?

Meeting my husband, Lau, who was appalled that I used a jar of tomato sauce to make a pasta dish. Needless to say, I’ve never done it again.

What’s the first dish you ever cooked?

In my dreams, a coq au vin or beef

bourguignon, but the truth is it was probably over-cooked pasta with a sauce from a tub. I wasn’t great, to be honest.

What is your comfort food?

Meat. God, I love a good steak, but I’m really trying to eat less meat for obvious reasons.

What is your hangover cure?

A fruit salad. Sounds awful, but kiwis and bananas are the best option for hangovers.

What do you drink?

Everything. Except sugary silly drinks like cocktails and rosé wine.

What is the most appetising smell in the world?

Bacon on a grill, or garlic — in a pan, not on someone’s breath. If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would they be? Bananas, peanut butter and soda bread. I could live on that quite easily.

How important is food to you?

My life revolves around food. I love talking about it; I love trying new things. It should never be a chore, and it’s there to be enjoyed. I don’t deprive myself of anything, except fast food, because it’s vile, and I eat what I want in moderation. Life is too short. Food is too good, and in Ireland especially we are lucky to be so close to the source. I try to shop local and buy what’s in season. If we support Irish farmers and produce, we can make a huge difference. So I buy cow’s milk from Ireland instead of almond milk that has travelled on a jumbo jet to get to me.

“Kiwis and bananas are the best option for hangovers”

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

Chapter One with my husband, eating something fancy and someone else is paying for it!

What’s your favourite restaurant in Ireland?

Where I got married — Castle Leslie in Monaghan.

And abroad?

Hoppers in Soho, London. It’s an amazing Sri Lankan restaurant right next to Ronnie Scott’s jazz bar.

What’s always in your kitchen?

My husband Lau.

Jennifer presents ‘Dancing With The Stars’

which continues on Sunday at 6.30pm on RTE One. Catch up with the show on the RTE Player In conversation with Chloe Brennan