Chef Mark cooks up a storm at his book launch
THE SUMPTUOUS surroundings of Churchtown House in Beaufort provided the backdrop for some equally sumptuous cooking as chef Mark Doe held a special taster evening to launch his new cookbook, ‘Just Cooking’.
Named after his cookery school in Firies, over 40 of Mark’s favourite recipes are included in his first book, accompanied by lots of tips to take home cooking to another level. Many of the recipes featured were sampled by over 100 guests invited to Thursday’s launch and Mark addressed all as the evening drew to a close.
While thanking the Magill family of Churchtown House, as well as local bookshops and local businesses who have helped his cookery school, he also gave a special mention to his wife Bernie who helps run the cooking school and to publisher Anne Kennedy as well.
“Bernie has been so supportive of me in my career and I remember her sitting outside the Ritz Hotel until 2am waiting on me. I’d be cranky and smelling of food, so without Bernie there wouldn’t be a ‘Just Cooking’,” he said.
Recipes featured are the most popular dishes taught at the cooking school, from soups to starters and main courses to easy desserts. The cookbook also includes a store cupboard section with recipes for staple items so readers will always have the foundations of a meal in the house.
The book also showcases the best of Kerry ingredients such as roast rack of lamb with peperonata, slow-roast five spice duck wraps and Mark’s special smokey fish pie, while desserts include pear tarte tatin and baileys and Malteser cheesecake.
“Food and family are inseparable for me and I still remember the smell of warm bread and the oil-fired ovens in the bake house of my grandparent's bakery,” he said.