Rachel Allen wins monthly accolade

Celebrity chef Rachel Allen was yesterday named as Cork Person of the Month for December.

Organisers of the awards, Southern Advertising, pointed out that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Ballymaloe Cookery School.

“Rachel Allen is the newest celebrity chef to promote Cork’s great Ballymaloe brand, following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law Darina Allen and, of course, the Ballymaloe founder Myrtle Allen,” it said.

“As a very popular television chef and food writer, Rachel continues the great tradition of the Allen family in once again promoting Cork as the food capital of Ireland.”

A spokesman said Ms Allen received the December Person of the Month award to mark her many successes in good food promotion and preparation, through TV, books, journalism, and teaching.

Her name now goes forward, with the other persons of the month so far, for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at a gala awards lunch on Jan 17 at the Rochestown Park Hotel.

Judges for the Person of the Year award are the Cork county and city managers.