When I opened the curtains in the morning half-light, I could just make out a small flock of redwing in the Hawthorn across the road, feasting on berries. I put my slippers on and walked down the hall to the kitchen to fill the kettle and start making breakfast, feeling the noticeable chill of autumn air from the draughty windows. I smiled at the rock-hard butter in the cold butter dish, letting the stubborn lump on the knife rest on the toast and melt slowly until it was easily spreadable. Morning meditation, little glimmering moments of simple happiness.
There’s been a lot going on in this head and since I skipped last week’s post (apologies), I feel the pressure to deliver a real solid piece of writing for you but I’m finding it hard to get it all sorted into something coherent. There’s been pure autumnal joy kicking up the leaves at beautiful Mount Stewart, there’s been heartbreak at the devastatingly tragic events in Gaza, there’s been hope of a good food future and there’s been a nice big slice of self-doubt.
Dara and I were lucky to be given tickets to Food on the Edge, a 2-day food conference held in Dublin (though moving back to Galway in 2024) celebrating food and debating food future. This event brings people from the food industry worldwide together, speakers have 15 minutes to deliver their presentation, this year based on the theme of Stories. For a long time I’ve focussed my attention and efforts on promoting the food on this island, whether it be writers, producers or restaurants, I pour my heart and soul into it, I am passionate, fiery sometimes. I believe wholeheartedly in an island wide food collective, the land we farm and grow on knows no politics. I’ve been championing beautiful Irish produce, making connections and encouraging others to appreciate our food scene here. So as I sat there excited and interested to hear how we fit into this food picture imagine how I felt when in one of the talks the speaker said, ‘there are almost 6 million people living here’ Ouch…massive ouch, did you forget there’s almost 2 million more up here? Isolated, forgotten, irrelevant. Time and time again the focus is south of the province of Ulster; initially I felt that I imagined it, but the lack of media coverage and representation in events like this speaks volumes.
Aside from my feeling of irrelevance, one of the main themes which kept coming up was the disconnect between food and people. The talks from young ambassadors, sustainability and those based around education were, for me, the most important of the conference. There is no food future without the young voices and passionate educators and there’s certainly none without taking environmental responsibility seriously.
The other event in the past fortnight was The Real Bread Ireland meeting which took place with us at Ursa Minor and it was the total flipside of how I felt at Food on The Edge. I was amongst my peers, my like-minded folk! They don’t judge, they are open, honest, supportive, we share knowledge, we promote one another, we learn. I invited some local growers, farmers and environmental campaigners to the meeting, it was lovely to see their enthusiasm at what essentially goes on behind the scenes in the grain world. I spoke about my ideas around education for our community and we showed the group our new space which will be our cookery school. Such a wonderful group of encouraging, inspiring people.
Two events, both hugely different but both ultimately giving me perspective and renewed drive to make REAL change. I’ve had an idea brewing for a while I think it these events really gave me the drive I need to make it reality, so 2024 will be another busy year!
Pumpkin Laksa/Satay
The beautiful flavours of these dishes originate in South East Asia, thousands of miles apart, in fact in different time zones, Malaysia and Indonesia. I take inspiration from these dishes, claiming no expertise and lacking many of the ingredients to make it authentic in any way, just a VERY westernised version.
I started with the gorgeous little Hokkaido pumpkin in my veg box and the idea of a creamy, warm bowl of comfort. I added extra bits that I had in the fridge, so be creative and add whatever you like or keep it very simple, a big bunch of fresh coriander and some lime juice would be delicious.
Ingredients
Pumpkin-around 500g chopped into wedges/chunks
2 small onions, cut into 1cm clices
2 garlic gloves
2tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp ground coriander
30g peanut butter
200ml coconut milk
30ml tamari/light soy sauce
Extras
Kale
Chopped beetroot
Chilli
Noodles
Tofu
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Put the chopped pumpkin, onion & garlic cloves into a large roasting tin and sprinkle over spices,roast for 25-35 minutes until softened. While it’s cooking make your sauce by adding peanut butter, coconut milk and soy sauce to a medium pan and warm over a medium heat, stir with a wooden spoon and let it thicken. Set aside. Prep any extras that you are using.
Take the tray out of the oven and take half of the mixture out including the garlic and add to the saucepan of sauce. Use a hand blender to blitz into a smooth paste, now put back on a low heat and add water slowly until it becomes the consistency of a thick soup. Taste and check seasoning. Add the remaining pumpkin and onion chunks in now or if you’ve enough extras, keep it for tomorrow’s dinner- I topped my pizza with it the next evening and used the leftover coconut milk for a vegetable curry a couple of days later.
I’m so inspired by your advocacy for the Irish food scene! To me, “eating locally” is a huge factor in the environmental issues we’re all facing. I’m looking forward to hearing more about that idea you’re “brewing.”
Loved your pics too—the pumpkin pizza is to die for 😊
Ciara, I loved this post. Your honesty is raw and real. It’s what people want to read right now. And I get what you’re saying about feeling the north of Ireland is - “Isolated, forgotten, irrelevant.” That’s their prejudice and their loss. No Ireland is special.