Recipes
and Stories from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
By Jody Eddy
Photography by Sandeep Patwal
Paperback, 144 Pages
9780717169894
Gill Books
English
260 X 198 Mm
March 2016
I loved this book right from the start. It features a
compilation of stories about people and the ways of living along Ireland’s wild,
west coast, together with recipes that feature the local fare. It’s a fantastic
complement to our own Cruising the Wild Atlantic Way.
I’ve often wondered what the story is behind a successful
regional niche product. Who thought of it? How do they produce it? Who buys
it? Where are they heading with it? Those types of questions are answered and
explored in intriguing storytelling fashion. I’ve even learned about my
personal favourite cheese: gubeen! They’ve even included short regional travel
guides to tell you where the hidden gems are. And County Mayo features quite
prominently.
Jody Eddy, a world renowned food writer, has joined up with
Sandeep Patwal, a world-class food photographer, to create a truly remarkable
book. Combine one of the most beautiful stretches of landscape in the world
with people who make an inventive living from a food revolution in which
terroir plays a huge role in the subtle flavour and textures variations from
point to point and you have a magical experience to convey. And they do it
brilliantly.
A follow on to an article published in Saveur in
September 2015 about ‘Ireland’s Culinary Coast’, Recipes and Stories delivers 144 pages of interesting tales of artisanal food producers. With 80
stunning colour photographs of places, people and the foods they produce, it
will make you want to travel the wild, west coast to sample their fare
personally. Published in February 2016 as a paperback (260x198mm) by Gill
Books, it is also beautifully produced.
At a price of €9.99/£8.99, it’s an amazing value. It
reflects the love so many people have for this island nation of Ireland, which
attracts tourists from all around the world. In the words of the publisher, “This
book invites the reader to participate in the culinary awakening that is happening
all along the Wild Atlantic Way, and to bring the wonderful recipes inspired by
the landscape into their homes.” I can’t wait to test some of those recipes
out. The first one will be garlic and nettle soup with chive yoghurt. The wild
garlic and nettles have just come to life as spring settles in to stay. Yes,
the seaweed can wait.
Coastal Boating (Reg. in Ireland No. 443222) is a division of Knowledge Clinic Ltd.
