Lockdown cookery from the kitchen cupboard
It is all about catering for our newly restricted lifestyles in this week's first episode of RTÉ One’s new eight-part cookery series, 'Cook-In' with award-winning chef Mark Moriarty and Bord Bia, achieving big flavour food with a little help from ingredients we all have at the back of the kitchen cupboard. Mark, who is splitting his time filming this new series and feeding frontline staff over the coming weeks, has plenty of recipes up his sleeve that will meet all your lockdown needs whether you are living alone or cooking for the whole family.
On Wednesday at 8.30pm, follow Mark’s five-step lamb curry, the ideal lockdown dish that anyone can slow-cook as they go about their daily activities, using in-season Quality Assured Irish lamb. Get his top tips on baking traditional Irish soda bread with a cheesy, veggie twist in his Daily Bake segment, and if you have bought more pasta than you know what to do with, his simple spaghetti, chilli, garlic and bacon dish should go down a treat at dinner time – and is of course just as delicious without the bacon as a vegetarian option!
Along the way, Mark’s experience of serving up two Michelin star status food in The Greenhouse, Dublin will shine through as he offers advice on getting the extra mile out of ingredients. Whether it is how to reactivate spices that have been sitting on the spice rack unused for years, using a squeeze of lemon to elevate the flavour of your dish, or the importance of seasoning boiling water before cooking your pasta, Mark will offer up the many gems of foodie wisdom he has garnered over the years. As the show is being filmed following HSE social distancing guidelines, Mark is also helping the one-man camera crew to film close ups of his delicious dishes, even using his smartphone to film while cooking!
Mark will also be checking in with the Gastro Gays, popular food bloggers based in the Boyne Valley, Co Louth who are putting their best foot forward to help sustain business for food producers locally and nationwide with their online directory of over 300 food suppliers operating delivery services during lockdown.
They will chat to Mark over a video call to tell him a little bit more about the inspiration behind the comprehensive list on their website, which includes the heavy hitters of the Irish food industry as well as lesser known farmers and producers, and also share their thoughts on the “renaissance” in the food industry here in Ireland in recent times as consumers want to reconnect with the food chain and understand the processes behind getting their food from farm to fork.
Mark Moriarty says: “I am delighted to be presenting Cook-in sponsored by Bord Bia which I hope will give you useful and practical advice for creating simple dishes, while you stay safe at home during the ongoing pandemic. It is all about using what you already have in the kitchen cupboard and giving it a new lease of life, seeing as we can’t head to the supermarket as frequently as usual. I’ll be taking inspiration from the food we usually cook after work in the restaurant as well as my new found experience in preparing food for frontline workers; meals that have to be prepared quickly, on a budget, using what you’ve got leftover and of course, they have to be delicious. I’m aiming to keep things simple, using three or four steps for each dish - but hopefully, my experience as a chef and knowledge of ingredients can help elevate your cupboard essentials into a delicious dish.”
He added: “I’m extremely proud to be working alongside Bord Bia and RTÉ and showcasing the fantastic ingredients and food producers we can boast of here in Ireland. It’s a difficult time for many industries. I hope we can showcase the hard work being done in the food and drink industry in Ireland right now, keeping shelves stocked and businesses afloat.”
Teresa Brophy of Bord Bia said: “At times like this, people are looking for inspiration for tasty family meals as well as ways to relax by trying out new recipes, baking and treating themselves. With farmers, food producers and fishermen continuing to bring us the very best of food, at Bord Bia we want to help families prepare tasty, healthy meals at home with quality assured food, Irish fish and dairy products for everyone to enjoy.”
Brian Walsh, executive producer for RTÉ on this series said: “In these challenging times it is great to welcome Mark Moriarty back to our screens with a series specifically designed and made to help us all cooped up at home to utilise cupboard staples and to try our hand at some baking techniques for all the family. RTÉ is delighted to be bringing this new series to Irish viewers.”
Cook-in with Mark Moriarty
EPISODE ONE OFFERS UP BIG FLAVOUR FOOD FROM THE CONTENTS OF THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD AND A VIRTUAL VISIT TO FOOD BLOGGERS THE GASTRO GAYS IN THE BOYNE VALLEY
SPONSORED BY BORD BIA QUALITY MARK ON RTÉ ONE, STARTS WEDNESDAY 6TH MAY AT 8.30PM