Darina Allen: My travels throughout Asia have tantalised my palate for diverse cuisines

Asian cuisines have a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. It’s been shaped by a myriad of cultural influences, trade routes and regional ingredients

Darina Allen: "Deh-ta Hsiung, one of my heroes, was the first Chinese chef to teach at the Ballymaloe Cookery School."

Time was, when apart from a couple of Chinese and Indian restaurants there was little Asian food to be had in Ireland, how things have changed.

As we travel more and more and become increasingly adventurous, our national craving for Asian flavours has escalated and the options continue to grow.