Dare anyone mention banana leaves or turmeric to an Irish mammy in 2002. When Dayantha and Kamalika Ranasinghe moved here from Sri Lanka, boiling was the one and only way to cook a carrot.

Thankfully, a lot has changed in Irish cuisine since then. We now want food that’s full of flavour, and Multyfarnham Cookery School is showing people just how to achieve this, but without the fuss.

“A lot of people overcook their food, and they don’t know how to blend the tastes together and match the flavours.

“Take plain old chicken, for example. We show you simple ways to take it to a whole new dimension, by infusing your meat and greens with lovely spices and flavours, such as lemongrass, cumin, and cajun,” says Dayantha – or Dan, as he is known by locals – who is an established chef by profession.

Having travelled the world together as award-winning chefs in five-star hotels, Dayantha and Kamalika settled in Co Westmeath in 2002, where they ran a successful coffee shop in Mullingar for many years.

“We had a patisserie-style coffee shop with good food and lots of high market cakes and breads. We were always very busy, and our customers would come and ask us: ‘How can I make this?’” he says.

With their know-how and skills, they wanted to show people simple ways to make basic food in five-star style, and so they moved to Multyfarnham, to the old agricultural college building, and set up a cookery school.

Finance was their greatest challenge, and so the Local Enterprise Office helped them with funding to get the business started.

A range of cookery classes are now on offer at Multyfarnham Cookery School, from “dinner parties made easy” and “birthday cake decorating”, to “gluten-free cooking” and “Italian dining”.

“You shouldn’t have to feel under pressure at dinner parties, they’re only a bit of fun, so we show you how to make them easier. The food we prepare is straightforward, and you can do it in advance without losing any taste or nutritional value.

“People nowadays are so busy and stressed, so we show them how to batch-cook, too. Breads are especially easy to prepare. You can make the dough here and just bring it home and freeze it. We try and make the classes educational and fun,” Dayantha says.

Kiddy cooks

Multyfarnham Cookery School also offers a range of children’s classes for children aged five and upwards. The younger ones can have fun creating a mess in the kitchen, while learning some basic cooking skills.

Seasonal classes are offered for Halloween and Christmas festivities, and birthday parties are also catered for, where kids can make and bake a birthday cake from scratch.

“There’s a herb garden planted outside, and we like to take the kids out and show them the different types and let them pick their own. We also teach them a bit about the culture of the places that the food comes from.

“Some kids have no interest in cooking until they come to Multyfarnham, and they have fun with the food and make friends. Now they’re going home and telling their parents how it’s done!” he laughs.

“Basic Food with a Modern Twist” is their most popular course, designed for those wanting to improve their knowledge in the kitchen. Participants are instructed on how to prepare and cook with more confidence, and also to plan ahead.

The course covers menu planning, presentation, soups, starters, main courses, sauces, side dishes, breads and desserts, and the cookery school supplies all ingredients and course materials.

Dayantha and Kamalika’s eight year old son, Dinath, who grew up in Ireland, also loves to give his parents a helping hand during the classes.

AT HOME IN IRELAND

Over 9,000km away from Sri Lanka, the Ranasinghe family now call Ireland their home.

“Culture-wise, Irish people are very similar to Sri Lankans. They’re very friendly and easy-going, and that’s one of the reasons why we like it here so much.

“We had the choice to move to America to work, many years ago, but my wife decided she loved it here. She loved the people, and country living.

“Yes, we came a long way, but we’re very happy here in Ireland. We’ve made so many new friends and we could never leave.

“I get calls all the time, even in the middle of the night, from my friends, saying: ‘Dayantha, I’m making this cake, I’m stuck, and I need your help,’ and we love that,” he smiles.

CONTACT

For more information on Multyfarnham Cookery School visit www.multyfarnhamcookeryschool.ie or contact 087 6271164.