5 Minutes With…Paul Callaghan

Wed Sep 02 2015

Paul Callaghan is a leading Irish food blogger and a regular on TV3’s Seven O’Clock Show. Paul went from being a plasterer to author, food blogger, home cook and advocate for growing your own. We caught up with Paul to find out more and to share some of his mouth watering recipes!

1.) When did you start your food blog?

I started my blog back in March 2011, I can’t actually believe it’s been over 4 years now!!

2.) What made you start the blog?

I started my blog from a new found passion of growing my own fresh produce in the garden and teaching myself how to cook. That new passion came about because after my plastering business went bust in 2009 I found myself without work and in debt… depression set in and after about 18 months I decided to get off my backside and start growing some vegetables in the garden to give myself a hobby, little did I know that this was about to turn my life around for the better.

3.) Who is your cooking inspiration?

I guess my cooking inspirations would have to be those that I rented books out of the local library, the likes of Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall, Jamie Oliver, James Martin, Nigella Lawson etc. I found their recipes a little more straight forward to follow than most others and for a complete novice, that’s exactly what I needed. That is what I aimed to achieve in my own book, straight forward recipes in an everyday language.

4.) Who is your favourite chef and why?

I’d have to say Michel Roux Jr. The man is a legend. I’ve never met the man personally but on TV he comes across as such a gentleman, who, for being a Two Michelin Star chef seems humble and modest. He had such an act to follow in the form of his Three Michelin Starred father and he is a marathon runner like myself.

5.) Do you prefer savoury or sweet dishes?

I’ve a wicked sweet tooth. I love anything sweet, however I’d have to say savoury for the better variation and I always find easier to experiment with savoury dishes.

6.) You are a regular on TV3 Seven O’Clock Show, how do you find cooking in front of the camera?

I love cooking in front of the camera, I’m one of those annoying people who always like to push themselves and are never fully content in their achievements, so Cooking in front of the camera on live TV really tick the boxes for me.

7.) Do you think Irish people are more adventurous when it comes to cooking than they would have been in the past?

Oh God yeah, I mean even in the last 10 years or so I feel Irish cooking has come on leaps and bounds, we like to experiment and try new things, our cuisine is right up there in the world of cooking and I’m not just talking about our wonderful array of chefs but also our abundant home cooks, the real Irish people, the busy Mums and Dads who are cooking for their kids and who are cooking for the love of food and the great supply of fresh produce Ireland has to offer! They are the true heroes of Irish cuisine!!!

Check out these amazing recipes from Paul:

Spiced French Toast