Mum & Dad Come to Ballymaloe

The weather has changed so drastically over the last few days, the wind, and the rain are both back. It is too bad mum and dad missed out on the mild Irish winter that I have been experiencing, but I think they enjoyed their time in Ireland regardless.

I had a great morning in the kitchen, Normandy Pear Tart – I am hoping I can go a day or two in the kitchen without short crust pastry and a flan ring, the tart was “superb,” as Debbie my teacher said, and I have to agree! I also made chocolate chip cookie dough, Ballymaloe brown bread, a plate of locally smoked fish with dill mayo, cucumber pickle and horseradish cream. Mum and dad arrived at the school around 12:15, just as I was finishing up in the kitchen. Auntie Florence spotted them, snagged them up in the blue dining room and took care of them as I got organized. We had a lovely lunch, and I showed them quickly around the farm – I had to blitz the kitchen after lunch, so I couldn’t spend too much time with them looking around the farm. They both stayed for the demo – which was done by Rory, lamb, lamb, lamb and more lamb!

After demo Mary and I introduced mum and dad to The Blackbird, where Mossey told us stories about fishing life, the light house, and Ballycotton becoming Tinsel Town in the early 90’s when Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp arrived to film a movie that ended up losing funding, and never made it. Mossey is just what you’d expect the owner of a proper Irish pub to be, in the best way possible. We then headed off to their hotel for a couple glasses of wine, and dinner. Lovely evening! They are off to London tomorrow, and I am very excited to meet them there Friday afternoon.

My binders are continuing to grow, as is my collection of souvenirs and I am beginning to worry about how I will get it all home… Sour dough starter, preserves, cake tins, cookbooks, milk jugs & sugar bowls, clothes (although not that many), a new pair of boots… I will try not to worry about it until the final week.

Tomorrow should be a good morning in the kitchen, and we have a pasta demo in the afternoon, which I am very excited about.

“… and then straight to the table with that.” - Rory after he plates up most dishes

Cleo!

Cleo's friend - not sure what his name is!