Trimming off the fat

Celebrity chef Derry Clarke gets together with fellow chef Kevin Dundon to give some barbeque master classes at this year’s Taste of Dublin festival.

“It should be fun,” says the man who prefers his own food simple and whose favourite meal in the past year was cooked on a West Cork beach. “My young fellow, Andrew, caught some mackerel and we smoked them on the beach on Sherkin Island.”

Dubliner Clarke, whose culinary career started with “washing pots and pans” in Man Friday Restaurant in Kinsale, opened l’Ecrivain Restaurant with wife Sallyanne 23 years ago — and it’s still winning accolades. “It’s great when a mature restaurant wins awards. We have a lot of young people working there and that gives great energy,” says the 54-year-old father of two.

Taste of Dublin takes place from Thursday, Jun 14 to Sunday, Jun 17, in the Iveagh Gardens. Tickets from tasteofdublin.ie or call 0818 300030.

What shape are you in?

I’m in great shape. Last summer, I wasn’t overweight exactly — I was about 16.5 stone and I’m 6ft — but I was out of shape. In September, I decided to slowly lose weight. Now I’m down to 14.5 stone — as you get older, you don’t want to lose too much. I cycle a bit more and I’ve made a conscious decision to walk a bit more.

Do you have any health concerns?

No, I’m pretty lucky so far.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I try to have a bowl of Weetabix in the morning with low-fat milk and wild Irish honey. At about 4pm I’d have a light lunch — usually a casserole or slow-cooked dish with salad.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Butter — a big loaf of fresh white bread with butter. I really try to watch it. I’d have a takeaway — chips — now and again and a pint of Guinness.

What would keep you awake at night?

The last year has been very stressful for all businesses. There’s a lot of responsibility to keep going during these bad times. I look at financial and cashflow problems as part of the business. They’d keep me awake at night but you get immune to it. Working late at night, it can be very hard to wind down so some nights I sleep badly.

How do you relax?

Home is where I relax. I also have a boat, which I take out a lot — a motor cruiser.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I like sport so I’d invite George Hook, also Marian Finucane, and I’d ask Brendan Behan — I’d love to have met him but I never did. I’d also invite Gordon Ramsay — he’d be fiery.

What’s your favourite smell?

Springtime smells — rosemary, thyme, meadows.

What would you change about your appearance?

Nothing really — it’s all I have and I’m happy with it. Everyone should be happy with the way they look because it’s individual and we all have our quirks.

When did you last cry?

Watching some sad movie over Christmas with Sallyanne.

What trait do you least like in others?

Arrogance.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I’d like to listen more to people — sometimes I don’t listen enough.

Do you pray?

No.

What would cheer up your day?

Coming home in the car last night with Sallyanne, I let this young girl cross the road. Halfway across, she stopped, looked at me, and gave me a big wave. That made my day yesterday.