Based in Cork, Alan and Valerie Kingston believe that the rebel county is best for Irish food.
Alan and Valerie Kingston founded Glenilen Farm in their West Cork kitchen in 1997 with a belief that good food comes from simple, wholesome ingredients. Nearly 30 years on, Glenilen Farm is one of Ireland’s most beloved dairy brands, but that philosophy of simple and nutritious eating remains a core part of what Glenilen Farm do, and how they approach food.
What are your top three restaurants in Ireland?
We don’t eat out often, as we have a little camper van and portable BBQ that we try to get as much use out of as possible. There’s nothing we love more than finding a remote part of Ireland to park and enjoy the spectacular views! This does mean when we eat out, it’s always a treat, and we love to get inspired by what we eat. Three standouts for us would be:
- Dock Wall in Union Hall, West Cork. We had a beautiful meal there over the summer.
- The Fish Basket at Long Strand near Clonakilty is a favourite for a casual lunch after a walk on the beach. They always have the freshest and best ingredients.
- For a very special occasion, Blairscove in Durrus, Cork.
We love how each of these places pride themselves on showcasing so much West Cork produce.
Best coffee spot in Ireland?
It would have to be Wildflour Bakery in Innishannon. They do great coffee, but also delicious bread and pastries made from scratch. Bakeries like Wildflour are so important to the industry, as they are an incredible example of preserving the skills of pastry and baking, as well as serving simple, wholesome food. Countries like France really champion pastry and baking as career paths and we’d love to see Ireland do the same, especially with the quality of our produce.
Wildflour will be opening up even closer to us in Bantry, so we look forward to going and tasting their wares even more often.
What county in Ireland does food the best?
We’re both Cork-born and bred, so we’ll have to say Cork!
Cork is the home of all things dairy, the famous Butter Market, and the pioneer cheesemakers: Gubbeen, Milleens, Coolea and Durrus – and of course, Myrtle Allen. All of these are food heroes that blazed a trail for those of us who came behind them.
What’s your favourite meal to make?
We love to eat with the seasons, especially when we can get fresh fruit and vegetables that we have grown ourselves, or from Alan’s brother, Peter, who is one of the few small vegetable growers left in Ireland. Late-June is one of our favourite times to cook, as the produce available is spectacular.
Our most-loved dish at that time is a roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, with the first of the new potatoes and French beans from our garden, and carrots from Peter. Not only is this such a delicious dinner, but there is an extra satisfaction to the meal when you’ve grown elements of it yourself, or you know exactly who has grown what you’re eating. It’s second to none!
If you’re in a time pinch at home and need to rustle up a quick dinner, what is your go-to recipe?
A favourite quick-fix meal for us is a Thai green curry with chicken; even when we’re in the camper van it’s a go-to. It’s so tasty and light, especially when topped off with fresh coriander at the end.
What advice do you have for aspiring foodies in Ireland?
We would have to say that if you have some space, learning to grow your own food really helps you appreciate what you’re eating and the effort that goes into it. We understand growing space is minimal for most people, but if you have a small balcony or even a windowsill, it is a great skill to learn and will bring so much satisfaction to every meal you prepare. Once you connect yourself to how you get your food, you develop a deep respect for those whose livelihood is made this way, which makes enjoying food on every occasion even more special.
Glenilen Farm is available in select supermarkets nationwide. You can find out more information on their website: https://glenilenfarm.com/.
