Aptly described as ‘a love letter to the craft of butchery’, The Irish Beef Book by fifth-generation butcher Pat Whelan and food writer Katy McGuinness celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Gill Books have issued a special reprint edition that sees proceeds going to two charities, The Capuchin Day Centre and Cork Penny Dinners.
Long regarded as a solid reference point for cooks of all hues, The Irish Beef Book encompasses everything from a handy guide to choosing quality meat, to delicious recipes covering all aspects of nose-to-tail eating. The book is crammed with suggestions for consuming meat more sustainably, with a comprehensive set of recipes including tips for making the perfect Sunday roast, along with ideas for delicious accompaniments such as sauces and sides.
The book also features the inclusion of less-familiar cuts, some of which have fallen out of favour over the years, with suggestions for great meals which offer particularly good value in these cash strapped times.
Indeed, the chosen charities can attest to the level of food poverty currently being experienced here, with Cork Penny Dinners providing 2,000 freshly made meals per week to those in need, while the Capuchin Day Centre is currently looking at increases of 17% on the 327,178 meals and food parcels they provided in 2022.
Copies of the special limited edition of the classic cookbook are currently available at bookshops, Dunnes Stores and online, priced at €22.99.
Words: Martina Murray
