Last weekend, I had lunch in Palestine, a mid-afternoon snack in southern India, dinner in the Mediterranean; and brunch the next day in the South Pacific, just for good measure.

All- I should quickly add- without leaving what many consider to be the true culinary capital of the world: the people’s republic of Cork.

(And yes, I’m aware that some may consider this statement treason, coming from a Kerry woman. But, look, you have to hand it to the neighbours sometimes.)

This self-directed food tour was a belated birthday present for my long-suffering husband. Over the last 20 years or so, I’ve bought him everything from flying lessons and trips to Iceland and Paris, to a drill, a bike rack and a ladder; which he maintains was actually the best gift of them all.

So, what do you get the man who truly has everything? Well, the answer must surely be food.

We had restaurants like Izz Café (Palestinian) and Iyer’s (South Indian) on our “must-visit” list for a very long time, so babysitter secured, I put my loose itinerary together and we took our empty tummies on tour to Cork city.

the power of good food: it can transport you beyond the “every day”

It turned out to be the nicest 24 hours I have spent anywhere in a long time, exploring such a variety of different cuisines, watching the world go by and just spending quality time together, which can be in short supply sometimes.

Returning home, I really felt like I had been away on an adventure, which just shows you the power of good food: it can transport you beyond the “every day”. It also reminded me of how lucky we are to have such talented people here in Ireland, sharing the very best culinary traditions from their homelands. You could never leave Ireland and still travel the world through your tastebuds. I think that’s something we should celebrate.

Janine Kennedy talks to the organisers of the Global Kitchen series in Kilkenny, where food is being used as the ultimate connector to help bring different cultures together. Elsewhere in this edition, Sarah McIntosh shares all you need to know about the Fair Deal scheme, Caitriona Bolger visits the Farmer’s Yards social organisation at Mountbellew Mart, and we also have the latest installment in our memoir writing series (page 29). For my part, I really enjoyed speaking to fashion designer Faye Anna Rochford about her decision to leave her dream job in the US to return home to her family farm in Wexford to start her brand, FéRí.

But back to food once more. There is no shortage of inspiration to be found in the latest edition of ICL Food, compiled by Janine and out just in time for the Easter celebrations. The photographs alone from Cinnamon Garden in Ashbourne would inspire me to hightail it to Co Meath for my next “food tour”.

For now though… what’s for dinner?

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