Interesting Green: Jetsetting with .... Rachel Allen

Weekend Today, May 14 - 15, 2011, Page T4, Travel
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Source Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Travel/EDC110514-0000233/Jetsetting-with-,,,-Rachel-Allen
By Serene Lim, SereneLim@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:46 AM May 14, 2011

PHOTO: Rachel Allen - The variety of food in Asia is just amazing ... I absolutely adored the experience. I really love the food.

Weekend Today, May 14 - 15, 2011, Page T4, Travel

http://www.tasteofedinburgh.co.uk/images/sized/images/uploads/news/Copy_of_July_1-531x70011-531x700.jpg
http://www.tasteofedinburgh.co.uk/news-article/learn-how-to-bake-cherry-crumble-cake-with-rachel-allen1/

PHOTO: Serene Lim
Weekend Today, May 14 - 15, 2011, Page T4, Travel
http://www.todayonline.com/Travel/EDC110514-0000233/Jetsetting-with-,,,-Rachel-Allen

IRISH eyes were smiling - and totally at ease talking about her travel adventures and mishaps. "My best and worst travel experiences was in Southeast Asia," laughed TV chef and cookbook author Rachel Allen, who dropped by for the World Gourmet Summit recently.

"I was robbed but, oh please, don't write so much about that because I also got to taste the best and most amazing food here."

Guess good grub trumps bad security for this food lover.

PHOTO: Rachel Allen - IRISH eyes were smiling
http://ee.ivenus.com/images/uploads/Rachel-Allen.jpg

As a chef, where are your favourite places to visit for great food?

Rachel Allen: To be honest, Asia hands down. The variety of food in Asia is just amazing. I spent about four to five months travelling around Southeast Asia 12 years ago - I absolutely adored the experience. I really love the food.

The Mediterranean's great for food, too. Oh, Mexico and Guatemala as well. I love the smell of corn tortillas and coriander. For specific cities, I love New York for its constantly evolving and exciting food scene. I hardly go to the same place twice.

PHOTO: Lots of beautiful places in Ireland
http://photos.listhub.net/RMLSMN/3921354/0

Being Irish, could you tell us a great place to visit in Ireland that's usually overlooked?

There are lots of beautiful places in Ireland. If you drive through Cork City towards West Cork and County Kerry, you'll see some really beautiful sights along the waters. The seafood is fabulous, there are villages with little buildings and houses in different colours. The pubs serve excellent food. Many cheesemakers live around there, too. It's all very pretty and quaint but not in a twee sort of way.

PHOTO: Rachel Allen
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http://www.papaja.pl/?section=info&subsection=kalejdoskop&id=4080

How do you really feel about airplane food?

You know what, it's always one thing I look forward to on the plane because it's a distraction. I often wonder why you don't get nice plates of charcuterie or a casserole - food that can sit more easily - rather than a dressed salad and a cooked steak which shouldn't be sitting for so long. But I know I shouldn't criticise because it must be a logistical nightmare getting the food to the plane and passengers.

PHOTO: Dietetyczne ciasto buraczkowe (Polish) - Dietary beetroot cake
http://www.blok.koty2.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/ciasto-buraczkowe-5.jpg
http://www.blok.koty2.com/dietetyczne-ciasto-buraczkowe/

How do you ensure you eat well on your travels?

Yeah, eating well can be hard when you travel, except in Asia as you can eat really well and cheaply at the street food stalls. It does take a bit of searching out. I always try to buy a food guide like Zagat for wherever I go. I like flipping a guide book while travelling even though I have an iPhone. Of course there's always friends' recommendations and Google!

By Serene Lim, SereneLim@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:46 AM May 14, 2011

PHOTO: Entertaining at Home [Hardcover] by Rachel Allen (Author)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pab40xXiL._SS400_.jpg
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Entertaining-at-Home-Rachel-Allen/dp/0007309031/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289298036&sr=1-1

Rachel Allen's Dinner Parties airs every Friday on BBC Lifestyle (StarHub TV Ch 432) at 8pm.

Reference

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Jetsetting with .... Rachel Allen