Known for it’s local producers of cheese, meat, and dairy, County Cork is a surprising food destination. With over 14,000 farms you can find liquid gold in its honey, chard so fresh both you and the plant are watering, and sun & rain ripened blackberries.
What does this mean for your Retreat to Ireland?
It means you’re going to eat really well!
Each year we have guest chefs to keep you happy, inspired and healthy while eating in Ireland. Keep reading to discover who has cooked for us, some of the farms and companies we be support and get a glimpse of a sample menu with photos that will inspire your head and heart. We know good food is important to you. Enjoy!
Past Guest Chefs
This is Liz Kershaw. I met her in a really funny location (ask us if you come on the retreat) and we became instant friends. Liz was our main cook for the 2018 Retreat in Glengarriff. Liz has been in the restaurant industry for over 25 years and has a passion for both food and nutrition. Check out her Instagram Account where she chronicles her adventures in baby led weaning with her daughter Ava.
Liz lives along the Wild Atlantic Way on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. If you get her excited you might get her Cape Code/Boston accent to come out!
This is Simon Kershaw, husband to Liz, and father to Ava. Simon is a trained Chef and former butcher for Gubbeen Farmhouse. He helped Liz during our 2018 Retreat. It was our sincere hope that Simon would bring his Roccbox (a portable pizza oven) and personalize a night of pizzas for us. And guess what? He did! It was magic. Simon is Dublin born, loves all things sports, and if you’re lucky, he might teach you a very simple and fun game involving dice:)
The What
We support local farms and producers as much as we can. Check out some of the places we have supported!
Gloun Cross Dairy
Like cream on top? This dairy near Dunmanway bottles their own non-homogenised milk and cream. It’s delicious and makes for really good lattes.
Gubbeen Farmhouse
Based near Schull in County Cork, this farm has their own herd of cows and turns their milk into a delicious array of cheeses. The whey is then fed to their pigs and eventually becomes one of their 50 charcuterie products.
Durrus Cheese
Jeffa Gill started Durrus Cheese on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula back in the 1970’s. She began with her own herd of cows, but now buys from local farmers to make her award winning cheeses! Their location on the peninsula is tucked away, by a stream, in an incredibly beautiful spot.
The Yum
Liz and Simon created this sample menu for you to get a taste of what’s to come on Retreat to Ireland!
Breakfast
Irish Scones with Chia Jam
Greek Yogurt Parfaits
Fresh Fruit
Homemade Granola
Lunch
Gubbeen Ham & Cheese Quiche or Roasted Vegetable Quiche
Local Summer Greens
Vegetable Quinoa
Dinner
Cider Braised Gubbeen Pork
Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Purple Cabbage Salad
Roasted Butternut Squash Boats with quinoa, black beans, feta, mint, and drizzled with roasted garlic vinaigrette
Dessert
Local Blackberry Pie
Vanilla Ice Cream