Lots to get your teeth into in chef’s tale
CHEF Trevis Gleason has had two changes of life since the turn of the century; the first when he was diagnosed with MS, the second when he moved from Seattle to Dingle. The story of how he came to grips with both is told in ‘Chef Interrupted’, or to use his own words: “American chef with MS moves to Ireland and gets a puppy”.
Trevis, who is now a familiar figure around Dingle, was at the top of his game and leading an incredibly busy life as a chef consultant/ manager/ writer/ teacher before he was diagnosed with the debilitating neurological disorder MS in 2001. His new reality prompted him to re-evaluate life and, believing that a new course was warranted, he decided to move to Dingle.
The story of that move and the travails of living with the “life sentence” of MS is told in the book with humour, insight and a good dollop of biting sarcasm that’s not common in your average ‘wide-eyed’ Yank.
The book was first launched in the US two years ago and went on to win a Gourmand International Cookbook Special Award of Prestige. The Irish version of the book, which is to be launched in Dublin next Monday, is substantially re-edited and Trevis tones down some of the less complimentary references to people he has encountered in these parts. Toned down but not emasculated, it retains a sharp edge although Trevis insists “everybody in the book comes off better than they actually were”.
In the book Dingle is identified only as ‘ The Town’ and the various characters he encounters are allowed hide their blushes behind an array of pseudonyms. Even so, some people will probably identify themselves – and others will most definitely enjoy identifying them.
It’s not that Trevis doesn’t have a good word to say about Dingle; far from it. Speaking to The Kerryman this week about life in Dingle he says: “Every day there’s something that catches my breath… There’s something about this place that’s different and unique… It’s like driving damp, it’ll find a way in if you give it an opportunity.”
As for the people around here: “We’ve been accepted deeper and fuller than we had any right to hope,” is the summation from a man who gets on with MS and makes time to be involved in the soccer club, the Dingle Food Festival, and writing his award-winning ‘Life with MS’ blog.
Following the Dublin launch of ‘Chef Interrupted’, signed copies of the book will be available in the Dingle Bookshop and the book will have a Dingle launch in O’Flaherty’s pub on April 30th during Féile na Bealtaine. Meanwhile, Trevis has another book on the way shortly. Published by Collins and entitled ‘Dinners from Dingle’ it contains a selection of recipies for three-course dinners from 26 of Dingle’s best chefs and will be launched at this year’s food festival.