Cherie Denham on The Irish Kitchen: Memory, Place and Cooking from the Heart

We’re really looking forward to welcoming Cherie Denham to this year’s Ballymaloe Festival of Food, and in this episode we sit down with her ahead of May to talk about the story behind The Irish Kitchen.Cherie is the cook and writer behind the recipes in the book, working alongside photographer and publisher Andrew Montgomery. Originally from County Tyrone, she trained in cookery in the UK, went on to teach at Leiths School of Food and Wine, and has worked for years as a private cook and cookery demonstrator. Her approach to food is rooted in tradition, simplicity and a deep connection to Irish ingredients and hospitality.The Irish Kitchen is no ordinary cookbook. Every recipe was developed and cooked by Cherie herself, while every photograph was shot on location across Ireland. Together, she and Andrew set out to create something honest and grounded. No studio, no shortcuts, just real kitchens, real weather and a shared commitment to telling the story of Irish food through both recipe and image.In this conversation, we talk about growing up around food in Northern Ireland, the memories and people that shaped her cooking, and the unexpected journey that began with a single Instagram comment and led to two beautiful books.We also explore confidence, imposter syndrome, and what it really takes to bring a project like this to life.It’s warm, honest and full of brilliant storytelling, and we can’t wait to welcome Cherie to Ballymaloe this May.Find out more about the festival at ballymaloefestivaloffood.com00:00 – Welcome & introduction Setting the scene for the Ballymaloe Festival of Food podcast02:00 – Growing up in County Tyrone A busy kitchen, farming life, early food memories and family influence05:30 – First sparks of cooking From brownie badges to learning through observation and instinct07:00 – The Instagram moment How a single comment led to a creative partnership with Andrew Montgomery10:00 – Making a cookbook together Cooking every recipe, building trust and pushing for perfection13:00 – No twee: capturing real Ireland Why authenticity mattered more than polished perfection17:30 – Behind the scenes of the shoot Storms, agas, camping stoves and cooking in unexpected places23:30 – Two years on the road The scale of the project and what it really took to complete26:00 – Confidence and imposter syndrome Finding her voice and learning to trust her own experience29:00 – Training, mentors and early career Leiths School, learning from the best and discovering food culture34:00 – Ballymaloe Festival of Food What Cherie is planning to cook and why live demos matter38:00 – Food, family and coming full circle Returning to Ballymaloe and the emotional connection to placeThanks for listening to the Ballymaloe Festival of Food Podcast. You can find out more at ballymaloegrainstore.com and follow us on all platforms @ballymaloegrainstoreUntil next time, let’s keep savouring the stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.