Owner of Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, Co Cork, Ireland, Darina Allen is teacher, food writer, newspaper columnist, cookbook author and television presenter. She graduated in Hotel Management, Dublin Institute of Technology.

Darina is a member of Taste Council of Irish Food Board, Chair of Artisan Food Forum of Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Food Safety Consultative Council of Ireland, Trustee of Irish Organic Centre, Patron of Irish Seedsavers. She has won numerous awards including cooking Teacher of the Year Award from IACP 2005, Recipient of Honorary Degree from University of Ulster 2003, Winner of Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year 2001, Waterford Wedgwood Hospitality Award 2000, Langhe Ceretto Prize 1996 and Laois Person of the Year 1993.

She also received the Gilbeys Gold Medal for Catering Excellence jointly with Myrtle Allen 1992 Hon, Fellow of Irish Hotel and Catering Institute. Founder of first Farmers Markets in Ireland and involved on an ongoing basis in helping set up new markets. Darina is currently chair of the Midleton Farmers Market and councillor for Ireland in Slow Food Movement and President of East Cork Convivium of Slow Food.

Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine (3rd-6th May) will bring some of the world’s best known chefs, critics and wine experts to East Cork. We are so honoured to have Madhur Jaffrey, Thomasina Meirs, Claudia Roden, Donal Skehan, Neven Maguire, Tom Doorly and Mathew Forte to name only a few. Please visit www.litfest.ie for more information and for our free fringe festival in The Big Shed