In the Kitchen with Darina Allen & Shane Smith
Lining the cobblestone streets and alleys of Ireland are bakeries producing first-class pastries and breads that rival any baked good in the world, all readily on display through shop windows. Not as easily viewed are the home kitchens, the oven-warmed places where the Irish turn out daily delights to share with family. We’re offering an exclusive look into the kitchens of two renowned Irish bakers, giving you a more intimate look at their world of baking. First up is the grand dame of Irish baking, Darina Allen, an award-winning cookbook author, iconic star of the television show Simply Delicious, and cofounder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, Ireland. While Darina has been diligently schooling the next generation of bakers, Shane Smith has made his culinary contributions in the kitchens of famed Irish restaurants, revealing pastry creations that expand and elevate traditional Irish recipes. Shane currently is perfecting his pastry prowess at Airfield Estate, an urban farm in Dublin, Ireland, that has the celebrated restaurant Overends Kitchen. These two bakers take us into their home kitchens for a master class in baking and Irish cultural identity.
Darina Allen
Take us inside your lovely home kitchen in Ballymaloe.
It’s the center of the house, of course. It’s wide and open, with a long dining room table that family can sit at and be with us as we cook. I have an old AGA stove at the helm, a giant cream vintage cast-iron stove with a basket for the dog next to it so our border terrier can be with us as we cook. We’re lucky enough to live on a 100-acre farm, so we have access to
