Local food champion supported

LAST WEEK I hopped off the train in Portlaoise on my way to Cork especially to make “an appearance” at a book launch — not something I would do on a regular basis.

I’d got an invitation a few days earlier from Jim Tynan to attend the launch of his new cookery book Jim’s Kitchen. I’d already had, what even for me, was a busy couple of days; slow food dinner in Belfast at Nick’s Warehouse, master class in food tourism in Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh, dinner at The Shelbourne Hotel to celebrate 75 years of the Social & Personal Magazine in Ireland, a cookery class at Donnybrook Fair to support a past student (the lovely Monique McQuaid), and a visit to the Francis Bacon exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery.

I was very tempted to stay on the nice warm train but really wanted to support Jim.