Coast – Recipes from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way by Rachel Allen

Happy March everyone! I always love March because that’s when we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Even before I moved to Ireland I had been celebrating it with my friends in Belgium, which was always such good fun! In honour of Ireland’s most globally celebrate event, I have decided to pick an Irish book tip of the month as well. It’s not a new release, but it is just such a good book I had to share it with you ‘Coast: Recipes from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way‘ by Rachel Allen.

Ever since moving to Ireland I’ve become very passionate about using local ingredients, as Ireland has so much to offer when it comes to fresh and locally sourced food. There’s a large variety of local produce, whether it’s top quality beef or farm fresh sauces: there’s a lot to choose from! I try to buy as much from local shops as I can, especially when it comes to meat and fish as it’s the only way to guarantee freshness, quality and in the case of fish: that it wasn’t caught by foreign supertrawlers.
I have only done a small part of the Wild Atlantic Way myself but the book surely encourages me to try and do more of it this summer! You see, instead of dividing the recipes up per season or course, ‘Coast’ is divided up in segments of the Wild Atlantic Way:

• Home (Rachel’s home in Ballymaloe)
• Cork City
• Kinsale to West-Cork
• Mizen, Sheep’s Head and Beara
• The Ring of Kerry
• The Dingle Peninsula
• Limerick and Ballyhoura
• County Clare and the Burren
• Galway City and Lough Corrib
• Connemara and The Aran Islands
• Mayo, Clare Island and Sligo
• County Donegal

Each section then has it’s own introduction with gorgeous photos of the region, along with recipes that are inspired by the area and in many cases mention where to go for the best ingredients! It’s a fantastic journey along the most gorgeous coastlines, with cliffs as well as top notch beaches for surfing and small little villages with lots of character and history. Hope you’ll all enjoy this book as much as I have!

Left: Poached Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce by Rachel Allen / Right: Smoked Haddock Florentine

Book description
Follow bestselling author and TV chef Rachel Allen as she journeys along the beautiful Atlantic coast of Ireland, delivering over 100 recipes collected from her culinary odyssey.

The west coast of Ireland is a rugged terrain of wild natural beauty, and the traditional food of these coastal towns and villages complements this perfectly. Go on a magical trip with Rachel as she explores their local fare, starting her journey near her home in Cork and travelling all the way up to the green untamed headlands of Donegal.

Filled with stunning photography of the people and places she visits along the way, you’ll discover a whole host of authentic and simple recipes inspired by her travels. From Salmon Pâté and Pan Fried Brill with Watercress Butter; to Irish Gingerbread and Gin, Lemon and Milk ice cream, these are simple dishes made with the freshest ingredients – fuss-free and yet packed full of flavour.

Part travel journal, part cookbook, Rachel also shares her favourite places to stay off the beaten track; the incredible stories she learns from the fishermen and farmers that she meets; and the breadth of local produce – from honey and cheeses to gins and whiskeys – that she samples.

Rustic seafood, rich stews, heart-warming sweets and everything in between – this is Rachel’s most personal book to date. Welcome to her Ireland.


About the author

Rachel Allen was brought up in Dublin and left home at eighteen to study at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School. Rachel is now a busy TV chef, author, journalist and mother, and still teaches at Ballymaloe.

Rachel is the author of four best-selling cookery books, which include Rachel’s Favourite Food at Home and Rachel’s Food for Living. Her extremely popular television series for RTE and the BBC have been broadcast internationally and she frequently appears on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. Her charming manner and effortless style make her a delight to watch. Rachel is columnist and contributor to a number of Irish publications, including the The Sunday Tribune magazine, and is often featured in articles and interviews in the media.

Rachel’s style of cooking is above all practical – simple but delicious food, ideal for family and friends. Her influences are both regional and global. The BBC describe her as an “Irish cooking queen” and Good Food magazine believe she “has put Irish cooking on the map in recent years”. Rachel has a devoted fan base both in the UK and Ireland, and the popularity of her television programmes continues to rise.

Rachel lives in her seaside home in County Cork with her husband Isaac, sons Luka and Joshua and their daughter Scarlett.

Book information
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (24 Sept. 2015)
ISBN-10: 0007462433
ISBN-13: 978-0007462438

You can buy this book on Amazon UK, Amazon US or Amazon DE

Left: Smokey Fishcakes with Dill and Horseradish Mayonnaise / Right: Gooseberry Tart