Dishing It Out

This Week on Dishing it Out, Gary and Gareth welcome Seamus Commons, the award-winning chef behind La Fougère Restaurant at Knockranny House Hotel in Westport, County Mayo. A Mayo native, Seamus has established himself as one of the West of Ireland's most respected chefs, earning multiple Best Chef in Connacht awards and widespread recognition for his creative, technically accomplished cooking.

Gareth is the odd one out this week as Seamus and Gary recall their farming backgrounds and early learning in Killybegs. The lads have a good laugh on their shared experiences over the years and how Gareth once did a trial for Seamus early on in his career.

The guys discuss Seamus’ career and his return to Mayo from city living, how AI will impact the world of cooking, travelling to learn your craft and the competitive culture of kitchens. Each with their own experiences and unique perspectives, it’s a real insight to the world of being a chef in Ireland.

This week’s Nespresso Dish of the Week is presented by Gareth and is a venison casserole, a fitting dish for the time of year and Seamus’ expertise. The Culinary Conundrum looks at how to make kids get involved in the kitchen without making a mess.

This Week on Dishing it Out, Gary and Gareth welcome Luca De Marzio, the Italian restaurateur and owner of Rosa Madre, one of Dublin's best-known Italian restaurants. Over 16 years, he has built Rosa Madre from a humble coffee haunt to a Dublin institution of Italian cuisine.
Luca talks about moving to Ireland to begin his hospitality career working at The Westbury Hotel, where he also met his wife Trish. He talks about the reality of running a restaurant in how no day is the same, running a business with your wife and how he champions some Irish produce whilst sticking to his Italian roots.
The lads discuss Luca’s passion for wine, fast cars and having fun. Luca also shares a cracking story about how he agreed to feed Dave Grohl while getting a tattoo, only to realise the restaurant wasn’t open! He’s a total wildcard but a great laugh.
This week’s Nespresso Dish of the Week is presented by Gareth and is a delicious Thai Chicken Curry. The Culinary Conundrum offers some great Christmas gift ideas for aspiring home chefs.

This Week on Dishing it Out, Gary and Gareth welcome Tom Murray, one of Ireland's most recognisable food creators, popularly known as @bitta_banging. Tom has built a huge following on Instagram by making outrageous sandwiches and jaw dropping viral food content.

Tom shares the story of how he got into food, from studying business and reluctantly working in recruitment to Covid back garden popups and eventually finding his passion. He then recounts about moving to Paris for culinary school and finding himself thrown in the deep end - but relishing the opportunity.

The lads discuss the business of creating viral food content, coming up with ideas to captivate attention or dividing opinion to create chaos in comments sections. Never would you think a tomato in a sandwich could be so compelling!

Tom also shares about some of his recent adventures away from the camera from a worldwide popup tour to acting as a consultant for Moreso. He is truly a pioneer for a chef so early in his career still.

This week’s Nespresso Dish of the Week is presented by Gary and is a beautiful Mexican sweetcorn elotes. The Culinary Conundrum looks at how to master the art of timing a roast dinner at home.

This Week on Dishing it Out, Gary and Gareth welcome Michelin Star recipient and Irish Restaurant Awards Chef of the Year in 2016, Danni Barry.
Originally from County Down to a farming family, Danni talks through her career from her first job in a local restaurant to going to catering college in Newry.
From these humble roots she joined Simon Rogan's team at L'Enclume and became Head Chef at Rogan & Co before returning home to lead EIPIC in Belfast. Within 18 months, she earned a Michelin star, becoming only the second Irish woman ever to do so.
Danni gives a unique insight into the unspoken bias and barriers women often face in kitchens and how she overcame these challenges. It’s an insightful conversation which the lads share their own perspectives and experiences of. They look at terms like “female chef” and weigh its pros and cons, diversity in judging panels and changes in the industry from days gone by.

The Nespresso Dish of the Week is delicious Tarragon Rosti and the Culinary Conundrum clarifies how to cook the perfect scrambled eggs.

This Week on Dishing it Out, Gary and Gareth welcome Alice Kelly, better known to millions of people online as From Scratch Baker. Alice started baking as a child before, at just 18, buying an old horsebox and transforming it into her own micro-bakery - documenting the entire process online and going viral almost overnight.
Alice shares how she overcame mental health challenges during school to finding her passion in not only baking, but sharing it online with others. She shares amazing insights on her meteoric rise to popularity and working with global brands from the start. Alice also touches on the challenges of her work as a result of online trolls and hate comments. Naturally, Gary offers some sage wisdom on the matter!
The guys have a great chat which brings age gaps, rivalries amongst chefs and divisive opinions on certain beloved flavours all to contention, but all in the name of fun.
The Nespresso Dish of the Week is offered by Gareth by way of a delicious brownie, and the Culinary Conundrum will save you from stir in sauces for a super easy alternative.