Change of menu for the ‘voice of food’

FORGET MasterChef Ireland — if you want a real culinary business buzz, try stepping into the fleet-of-foot shoes of Claire Nash, one of the busiest and best known restaurant personalities in Munster.

The chance to measure up on the foodie front comes as she puts her lucrative cafe, restaurant and food shop Nash 19 in Cork city centre up for sale.

Just two weeks ago, the “voice of food in Cork” (she did the RTÉ commentary for the Queen’s English Market visit in May) celebrated 19 years in business. In keeping with the lucky number, she has 19 full-time staff.

But that is due to drop to 18, plus an ambitious new recruit, as she prepares to leave Nash 19, which was put up for sale this week as a going concern with Margaret Kelleher of Lisney, who says the 138-seat venue at 19 Princes Street has an exceptional turnover and lip-smacking profits.

Tipped by every good food and tourism guide (and by Cork’s chattering and chewing classes) Nash 19 is rated among the top 100 restaurants in Ireland — and Ms Nash’s business acumen and promotion of Cork as a food capital earned her an honorary MA from UCC last year.

However, her next business move hasn’t yet been disclosed, but could be in the hospitality business, possibly as a country house-style operator. As a teenager she trained with Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe.

For those nervous about stepping into her shoes, Ms Nash has offered some reassurance: “We’ve a great team, and well-oiled machine. Earlier this year, I broke both my shoulders in a skiing accident, but the business carried on fine while I was out.”