FOOD writers John and Sally McKenna have upped the ante considerably when it comes to the sort of food served at book launches. At the party for their latest Bridgestone Irish Food Guide, they organised a regional food fair in the impossibly trendy Arthouse in Dublin's Temple Bar.
There wasn't a curling sandwich or a congealing vol au vent in sight - only tables loaded down with delicious, homegrown, homemade goodies from all over the country. The producers were placed strategically around the room - West Cork is down the back," explained Sally. "because everyone knows that there's great food in west Cork, but now there's great food everywhere in Ireland and we were keen to show that."
One of the most crowded tables was piled high with produce from Tipperary, where Peter and Mary Vard dispensed samples from their shop in Nenagh. Country Choice. Peter enthusiastically explained that he "only sells food that is naturally in season" - a philosophy which seems particularly timely given the current food scares.
The McKennas spent nine months working on the book and now have to deal with the whole business of being recognised when they go to review a restaurant.
"We book under assumed names, which helps," says Sally. They have recruited a small group of reviewers who help them check some entries. Sounding like the food world's answer to Superwoman, Sally gave birth to their son Sam just seven days after the couple completed filming their latest TV series, McKenna's Ireland.