Food lovers across the world are being given a virtual taste of Irish food with private online cooking classes by Michelin Starred chef JP McMahon.
The restaurateur and author is offering one-to-one classes to individuals as well as classes to groups of up to four people.
The theme of each class, which takes around three hours, can be chosen by the students and they can expect to complete five to six great dishes in this time.
JP has welcomed cooking class students from all over the world, and said that the online classes are a way to spread the great word of Irish food.
“We’ve been doing classes with people from all over the world, from Switzerland and Copenhagen to Seattle and San Francisco,” he said.
“Because people can’t travel to Ireland, they’re taking our classes to experience Irish food. Our future plans include expanding on our classes by recordings that can be rolled out as MasterClasses.”
JP, along with his business partner Drigin, is the restaurateur behind some of Galway’s most beloved restaurants including tapas restaurant Cava Bodega and Tartare Café + Wine Bar, a café by day and small plates restaurant and natural wine bar by night.
Both Cava Bodega and Tartare Café + Wine Bar have been operating a take-away only service since COVID-19 measures were enforced on Ireland.
Both will reopen as dine-in restaurants as restrictions are eased next week. Tartare will reopen Tuesday 30th June while Cava Bodega will reopen Thursday 2nd July.
Reopening the restaurant, Drigin said, “we have a strong local base in Cava and Tartare and we are looking forward to welcoming guests back into the restaurant. The takeaway has been very successful and we will continue it in Cava for the foreseeable future.”
JP is also co-owner of Michelin-starred Aniar Restaurant and Boutique Cookery School. While the popular cooking classes will remain as scheduled throughout the season, the restaurant will not reopen this year.
JP McMahon said, “Due to the pandemic and the lockdown, we’ve decided not to re-open Aniar this season.
“As we only have 16 weeks left of this current season, social distancing measures reducing the possibility of making the restaurant viable, and a complete absence of international tourism – which is our main base – the financial risk is too great for fine dining.
“We’ve decided instead to focus on our online cooking classes for the remainder of the season until October.
“Our regular classes in Anair will begin a little earlier in September and continue to March next year. We hope to welcome back our guests in April 2021.”
Prices for these tailored live classes are from €225 for one person to €560 for four people. To book a private class and for more information visit www.aniarrestaurant.ie
