Cooking up a Storm with Blasta Books

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Food Culture in Ireland has become increasingly important. Ireland prides itself on having the best fresh ingredients and the most innovative and exciting cooks. Join cookbook authors Lily Ramirez-Foran and Kwanghi Chan with host, freelance editor and food journalist Dee Laffan for a delicious discussion about their love of food, influences, and writing.

Kwanghi Chan

Kwanghi was born in Hong Kong and raised in Buncrana Co.Donegal and from the age of 8, he was helping out in the family restaurant kitchen. Kwanghi has extensive experience in the hotel and restaurant industries working in some of the best restaurants in Ireland gaining experience with the best chefs in the country. Over the years he has also represented Ireland in International Culinary Competitions with the Irish Culinary Team from the age of 20, During his quest, after numerous Awards including the World Championships in Holland and the World Cup in Luxembourg organised by WACS (World Association of Chefs Society) he was awarded a Silver Medal in the Culinary Olympics in Germany 2008. He has also Captained the Irish Culinary Team in doing so. Kwanghi was Head Chef at the 5* Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore Co.Waterford since late 2011- working at the 1* Michelin “House Restaurant” gaining 4 AA Rosettes in 2014. In 2014 he was awarded Winner of Le Grand Prix de Cuisine de L’Academie Paris by 25 MOF Chefs representing Ireland in Paris at this international competition. After spending over 3 ½ years as Head Chef at the Michelin starred Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore under Dutch star chef Martjin Kajutier, in 2015 he stormed onto the scene in Dublin with Soder+Ko, a hip collaboration between a Scandi bar and Kwanghi’s fine fusion cooking. In 2016 he starting ChanChan, making products (including a particularly fine miso based hot sauce, fine Spice mixes, black garlic products & other fine food products) that supply into food services & selling in supermarkets and selected award-winning artisan food stores across Ireland. This year in Hong Kong, working as an ambassador with Bord Bia Shanghai he began promoting Irish Grass Fed Beef & Lamb Initiative & working closely with the Irish Consulate in Hong Kong & Macau to promote Irish Produce in Southeast Asia. His latest Venture added to his empire is Bites By Kwanghi a street food concept that won him the 2021 RTE Player battle of the food trucks televised competition. Now, in 2022 he has a 100 seater restaurant & Bites on the go, in 2 locations in Dublin City Centre also picking up the food truck of the year 2021 Ireland guide highly commended in Food & Wine 2021 food truck of the year. Kwanghi is also a regular Chef on TV cooking on the Six O Clock Show on Virgin Media One and popping up in food festivals across the country and author of the first Irish Chinese cookbook in ireland called WOK 2022.

Lily Ramirez-Foran

Lily is the founder of Ireland’s leading Mexican boutique grocer and cookery school, Picado Mexican in Dublin and author of the popular food blog, A Mexican Cook. She has been living and cooking in Ireland for 20 years with her Irish husband and business partner, Alan. She’s a woman on a mission to showcase Mexican food and culture beyond its clichés and misconceptions. When not busy with work, Lily can be found in her kitchen experimenting with recipes, writing on her kitchen table and learning to grow food in her tiny urban garden. Shop keeper, food writer, story teller, mad dreamer and lover of all things Irish. She is a chef member of Euro-Toques Ireland, and passionately believes in the Slow Food ethos of good, clean and fair food. Lily is a regular face on Irish morning TV and a frequent radio contributor. Her debut book TACOS by Blasta Books was published to great acclaim in February 2022.

Dee Laffan

Dee Laffan is a freelance editor and journalist with over 15 years of experience in the areas of food, drink and travel. Former editor of leading Irish magazines Food&Wine, Easy Food and Yes Chef! and publishing director of fft. hospitality title, Dee is currently the editor-in-chief of Scoop food magazine, a new Irish magazine that she recently launched with Nine Bean Rows Books. Scoop is a biannual magazine that shares the inside story on Irish food and drink. Issue 01 is out in October 2022. Dee’s work extends to broadcasting, where she is co-host of Spice Bags Podcast – awarded ‘Best Irish Food Podcast’ by the Irish Food Writing Awards 2021 – and is a contributor on Ireland AM morning TV show. Her business also includes digital content consultancy, working with clients from all areas of the hospitality industry to create and manage digital strategies, content and social media. Dee’s passion for Irish food has led her to many roles in the industry: a tour guide for Fab Food Trails, host of stages at Taste of Dublin & Big Grill Festival, a judge of Blas na hÉireann and she is a proud member of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild.