My husband and I were transferred to the United States in 1996. He, an Englishman working for Lloyd’s of London and I an Irishwoman, a new mum of 3 months. During the initial few years, as we moved around the country, I noticed that people’s perception of Ireland, the Ireland I grew up in, was somewhat distorted and at times outdated, if not completely misguided and misinformed. I wondered how this could be, in a world where we are so connected to each other, now more than ever before. In the year 2000, I embarked upon my mission to bring the Real Ireland to people’s lives. It is more than a mission, it is indeed a passion. Passion is a deeply rooted belief, for it’s when you have this belief that you can continue on no matter what. Passion knocks on the unlikeliest of doors. It taps continuously until you answer it, and when, and if you do answer it, you had better brace yourself for the ride. The ride is rocky and bumpy, it hurls you off and then throws you a life line so that you can climb back on and continue this erratic and tough journey. Along the way, passion lifts you up like an eagle allowing you to soar for just enough time to get that bird’s-eye view of what could be and then propels you back to earth with a thud. It was but a moment, a moment to refuel and reenergize you. Passion is a coat of armor, protecting you from giving up. It fills a void and a purpose that money can never fill. Passion stems from emotion and emotion stems from strong feelings.
My sons returned to school this morning after their Spring break and my husband returned to work. My home was quiet and I sat with my coffee and had resumed work on an article I am writing for Irish American News. It was 10am and it was time for my daily show ’The Chew’ . For those of you reading this in Ireland, this is a daily show on the ABC network. ’Celebrating and exploring life through food’ is part of the bio on their Twitter handle, @TheChew. Believe me, they do celebrate and explore as it is for this very reason that I tune in on a daily basis. Each and every host is an expert in their field , from Chefs Carla Hall to Mario Batali and Michael Symon to Daphne OZ, author, health and wellness enthusiast to Clinton Kelly, author and entertaining expert. I love them all for who they are and for what they do. They are all passionate about their crafts and trades.
Just last week, I was having lunch at ‘Stampede 66′ owned by acclaimed chef, Stephen Pyles. When the lunch rush was over, Stephen came and sat at our table and chatted. During this time, we chatted about the ingredients available in Ireland and he was more than well versed on the topic. Finally, a chef of this caliber, a fifth generation Texan, creator of 15 restaurants, cookbook author and first person in the Southwest to win a James Beard award for ‘Best Chef’ knew about the world-class ingredients available from Ireland. I was so thrilled and proud at that moment to be Irish.
Today’s show was a St Patrick’s Day special ( airs a day later for us in Texas ). I was looking forward to this. I wondered if they were going to feature any Irish chefs. Perhaps, Neven Maguire, one of Ireland’s greatest chefs, Darina Allen or Clodagh McKenna. No sign of them. Perhaps they were unavailable. That was fine. The show, with such a talented group of hosts would surely delight us with innovative recipes, crafts, facts, decorating tips and photographs of Ireland. Surely a show with this calibre of talent would highlight the array of world-class ingredients that the island of Ireland produces.
Now, here I sit writing this post thoroughly disgusted as an Irish woman. I am only glad that my parents did not have to witness this utter debacle. It stirred a combination of feelings from anger, frustration and sadness. The problem with feelings like this is that they can lead to resentment which in itself is a futile emotion. Rather than ranting and raving I thought it best to be a little more productive and constructive. The show as I said is a celebration. They were laughing and joking and indeed having fun, but the images that were flashing across the screen would make any Irish person cringe with horror. Animated pictures of beer, pots of gold coins and bacon and cabbage. Jokes about being drunk and people peeing in doorways are not something and Irish person wants to hear all the time. I wonder about the research that was involved in this show, I wonder where they found their facts.
Now that St Patrick’s Day has passed, perhaps this is the ideal time for me to throw down the gauntlet . I would like to challenge ‘The Chew’ to revisit this topic. Maybe even come visit Ireland with me? Why Not?
Just last year, I met with two Irish friends in New York. We ate and shopped in Chef Mario Batali’s eatery and retail location named ‘Eataly’. If you have not visited this store then it is a must see when visiting New York. It is tastefully appointed, clean, alive and filled with the finest Italian Ingredients , cookbooks and kitchen accessories. It is a credit to the Italian culture. I have always wanted to do the same for the Irish culture. (Plans are ahead !) The only reason I bring up Chef Batali , is because when we watch and listen to him, he is proud of his Italian heritage, it seeps from him and oozes through the screen. He teaches us about pasta and olive oils, he takes us on journeys through Italy whether through his food, cookbooks, television shows or even when traveling with Gwyneth Paltrow. It is by no means his responsibility to be an Irish ambassador, that’s my job and the job of Irish people. This simply serves as an example.
My intent is not to hurt anyone here or deny people the fun and festivities that surround St Patrick’s Day. We do love to celebrate, but we were not all raised falling off bar stools. I did not grow up in a drinking home. My mother was , and still is a wonderful cook and baker. All I am trying to say is Ireland has a plethora of ingredients, recipes and characters to choose from. It may not seem like much to those reading this that are not of Irish descent, who are Irish or who care about Ireland but for people like my Dad and Mum, my sisters and my brother, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, my friends, Irish food bloggers,Irish chefs, Irish farmers, Irish cheese makers, Irish fishermen, Irish butchers,Irish bakers , Irish fruit growers and Irish shepherds it’s a place they call home. It is an island they are proud of. They till the land when it’s raining. They fight the savage conditions of the ocean to provide us with fish. They rise at 4am to milk the cows, to bake the artisan breads, to stock the farmers markets. They drive for hours to sell home-made preserves, they line the streets for hours to welcome the Queen of England and to embrace the future. They strive in an economy that has taken the country to its knees, they do not fight in the streets causing riots, they do not like it but the Irish do what they have always done, they accept it and carry on, they put their heads down and continue to work. They find a new way to evolve and sustain themselves and at this particular time ingredients, agriculture, meat and fish are of vital importance and I simply hate to see us denigrated as a nation. We are Irish for 365 days of the year. Now that March 17th has passed us by, my challenge is this:
Just as other cuisines and cultures are featured throughout the year, don’t you think it’s time to ‘Celebrate and explore Irish life through food?’ I challenge you to visit the Real Ireland with me, who knows, we may even be able to give the same opportunity to some of your viewers too ! Lets cook and bake, and farm and fish.
Kind Regards,
Rachel Gaffney ~ an American Mom, with an Irish Soul
The Chew
The Chew
St Patrick’s Day on ‘The Chew’
St Patrick’s Day on ‘The Chew’
Can understand where your coming from..we have the finest food . So my kitchen is available as is the pork and bacon we grow , to the chefs and crew of the Chew..as said where I grew up.. Double dare them
Thank you thank you… it’s time …really it is. Please please share this.
All the best.. Rachel x
Bravo, Rachel! I earnestly hope you’ve gotten the attention of those behind the scenes at The Chew. I’d love to see them learn about all the wonderful food that Ireland has to offer.
Lana
Lovely lady, thank you so much
You are so kind. If you can help spread the word..that would be so great.
Rachel x
Thank you so much for continuing to educate us Rachel. When I first saw your shortbread recipe I couldn’t even find the butter. Now, I’ve purchased so much of it, they keep it in stock year round at my local supermarket. (As well as cheese too!) Looking forward to hearing and learning. All the best,
Helene
Hello there Helene
Thank you for your kind words and support for the Irish people !
I hope this finds you well in New York.
I bet Kerrygold will be happy !
Rachel
Bravo Rachel I am so tired of the image of the drunken Irish. Do those fools know that we produce the best food and wine in the world. In 2006 a book by a Corkman Dr. Ted Murphy title “A Kingdom of Wine” won the gourmand award for best history of wine in any language in the world. Of course we all know how the Irish saved civilization. ABC take up her challenge and let her show you the REAL IRELAND.
Henrietta
Thank you so much for your support.
Yes, I did know about this book. I believe their is a 2nd edition due out in a few months? I hope so.
Regards
Rachel
Very well written and completely true!!!
You go girl.
Thank you Deborah
This is going to be tough but hopefully it gets the message out.
Rachel
Beautifully written. I hope they take you up on your challenge. So proud to know you!
Thank ou so very much for the support. It’s a good show. I don’t want to upset or hurt anyone. It’s just time that Ireland gets a little more than she deserves.
Rachel
You know Rachel, it only takes ONE day on this island for visitors to experience and enjoy the wonderful food we have to offer. Pick your county and you’ll find a wealth of artisan producers. The markets in every city and town are bustling. And it’s not just the producers who are passionate about food. It’s the ordinary “man on the street” too. So I do hope The Chew take up your challenge. They won’t need much time to discover a miriad of hidden gems in my beloved country – and there’s an enormous welcome waiting…..
Fiona…thank you..
Dear ‘The Chew’ see what I mean….. you are very welcome to visit !
Well said Rachel! As an American living in Ireland I cringe as well when I see those stereotypical images flash on the screen or are shared with me by friends and family. I cringe because my people (the Americans) have once again taken the easy way out – stick to the tired old malarkey and turn a blind eye to the riches that Ireland has to offer. The food culture of Ireland is alive and thriving – any producer could have done a quick search on Twitter to have found that. But instead, this show went for the easy laugh and let themselves down – I have seen the show and also look forward to learning something new from them. When they went with the “shamrock-alia” approach I was disappointed to say the least.
I applaud your efforts to teach those in the States that Ireland is a land of rich heritage that doesn’t contain a single leprechaun (that word isn’t even in my daughter’s Irish dictionary) nor are well all falling off bar stools and shooing the pigs from the fireside. Wake up ABC and realise you have an opportunity to create GREAT television here!
Ah Wendy…so lovely to hear. You and I are living mirrored lives ! I’m Irish living here with 2 teenage American boys and really love it here too. I hope I don’t come across as sour grapes. Not my intent.
Sometimes it would be easier if we spoke different languages altogether , because although we speak ENglish we don’t fully understand each other. We have so much to offer/share /enjoy.
Thanks again for your support.
Kind Regards
Rachel
Those who say “the Irish aren’t known for their food” have never eaten at your house. Well said, Rach.
Thanks Sal… that’s kind of you.
Rach
Well done Rachel, its akways dissapointing to see misrepresentatiion and know it to be so while also knowing that the real story and representation coukd be so much more fun and interesting than the makey upey paddywhackery. I am all for fun but we all work too hard for the quality and uniqueness of our work to be lost to fiction. Well done for caring. I am sure the makers of the tv program didnt set out on purpose to misinform and maybe our national food message needs more thought and rethinking. Maybe the makers of such show will be glad of more help to make a great show for StPatricks Day 2014
Kind regards
Pat
Patrick
You hit the nail on the head. This is something I really want the show to know. It’s a good show, really it is. I don’t think there was any malice nor do I think anyone was trying to offend us. I’m not that sensitive ! However, it just means that the message needs to be sung louder !
By the way, I did a show with a station out of Florida & Atlanta on Friday morning. The show is an hour long but I wanted to let you know that I was talking about you and your primroses. I will share the link for you. I can’t remember how far in to the show I mentioned you. Sorry.
Yes I expect the show is very professional but maybe Irelands responsibility to show more clearly what tge real food story is. Hopefully it csn be a win win type communication process.
Wow thanks for mentioning the Primroses Rachel. Tomorrow the basket of Primrose Moneygall will be presented at the White House. I just got word tonight An Taoiseach had it for a photo call today. It looks amazing really full representation of the joys of Spring. I will email you a picture when I get it.
Pat
Cheers! An American Mom with an Irish Soul. I want to see YOU on the show. Maybe this will give them something to really chew on.
Thanks Kristin
Lets see what happens!
I totally understand where you’re coming from. I hope The Chew take up the challenge.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Rachel
Thank you Rachel for trying so hard to give a truer image of Ireland and its cuisine. I was close to tears reading down your article as I feel such regard and protectiveness for our farmers, market-gardeners and fishermen, all who work tirelessly and give us quality food. I am not a farmer may I add. Our farming industry has indirectly been hit because of the horse meat scandal that is now gripping Europe. Not that horsemeat may not be acceptable but because our fresh meat has traceability back to the farm. The message is very strongly buy FRESH meat from the butcher or supermarket-from the cheaper cuts to the more expensive. We have been shown that prepared and frozen foods contain lots of rubbish and little nutrition. Time to return to basics around the world and cook from scratch Luckily there is lots of choice in Ireland. The image of the drunken Irish is offensive and as you rightly remark not all of us fall off bar stools. A little PS. My American son in law, on his first visit to Ireland, was bowled over by the fact that the sheep and cows came over to the fence along the roads he travelled with my daughter! That is how close we are to the land and what is really important in life. Keep up your good work Rachel. Pat.
Thank you for your support. This is a long road and although we have some presence over here in the USA, we still have a long way to go. It takes all of us to spread the message . We owe to our heritage and culture to kindly remind people who are otherwise misinformed or uneducated. Education is the key.
Rachel
Wonderful post Rachel! I too struggle with this outdated version of Ireland, and strive through my own blog to show a beautiful Ireland that has nothing to do with these outdated stereotypes.
I was really disappointed last year during that big Notre Dame game that happened in Dublin, when a twee “Irish village” was set up in Templebar so tourists could go and experience a slice of traditional Irish life – but it’s a life that no longer exists! I couldn’t understand why in a vibrant and modern city like Dublin that a fake village would be set up to convince people that we still live in thatched cottages, sit around turf fires and use donkeys as a form of transport. Why were we not extolling our city’s highlights and encouraging tourists to come see what the real Dublin is like?
Sorry to rant a bit there lol, I just mean that if we are to change how the outside world views us, then there is also a change that needs to happen within Ireland and our tourist industry. We need to stop hanging on so hard to a culture that is in the past, and start being proud of the Ireland that we have become, and there is so much to be proud of! That’s why blogs like yours are wonderful, we need more people out there advocating for this new Ireland that has just offerings just as rich as our traditional culture
Thank you so much for taking the time to both read and respond. I was in Dublin last September ! In fact I was there because my oldest son was playing varsity football for Jesuit Dallas ! I was so disgusted about the tours that were on offer for our high school kids that I actually organized one for us ! I ended up having 400 people come for a day to ‘Oldbridge House’ in Co Louth. All the footballers & cheerleaders from Dallas, Arizona and Wisconsin got to see & learn about the historical ‘Battle of The Boyne’. Oldbridge did a fantastic job. People wandered the house and gardens, learned some history and then we all went to St Peter’s in Drogheda, home of the head of St Oliver Plunkett !
We had a cross cultural exchange also. I arranged for the Lord Mayor of the town to meet with the President of our school and the Texan Drill tean performed in all their glory. Irish dancers graced the stage and ‘Drogheda Lightening American Football Team’ joined in also. The Barbican was packed and adults and kids alike rocked the house ! We now have new friends and memories.
Wonderful post Rachel! I too struggle with this outdated version of Ireland, and strive through my own blog to show a beautiful Ireland that has nothing to do with these outdated stereotypes.
I was really disappointed last year during that big Notre Dame game that happened in Dublin, when a twee “Irish village” was set up in Templebar so tourists could go and experience a slice of traditional Irish life – but it’s a life that no longer exists! I couldn’t understand why in a vibrant and modern city like Dublin that a fake village would be set up to convince people that we still live in thatched cottages, sit around turf fires and use donkeys as a form of transport. Why were we not extolling our city’s highlights and encouraging tourists to come see what the real Dublin is like?
Sorry to rant a bit there lol, I just mean that if we are to change how the outside world views us, then there is also a change that needs to happen within Ireland and our tourist industry. We need to stop hanging on so hard to a culture that is in the past, and start being proud of the Ireland that we have become, and there is so much to be proud of! That’s why blogs like yours are wonderful, we need more people out there advocating for this new Ireland that has just offerings just as rich as our traditional culture
Thanks Rachel for speaking out
I support you.
I appreciate that a lot.
It could be a great show for them and offer superb content too
This is a beautiful and so well written post, and quite moving too, thanks. I am a French mum living in Ireland, I advocate quality of Irish products and cooks creativity whenever I can. I am thrilled with the current trend of new chefs and foodies. But I often found that Irish people themselves don’t think so much about their country food, it is a pity really.
Bonjour, et merci !
Thank you so much. I tend to agree with you. I think in some ways, we have done some of this to ourselves really by not embracing our own country cooking on a local level for so long. We do indeed have plenty of bad cooks too but that has never been the fault of the ingredient ! Each country has it’s share of good and bad but on the one day of the year, where they celebrate Irish culture and food , why not do it properly and still have fun and creativity?