Rachel Allen

Rachel is an Irish celebrity chef, known for her work on television and as a writer. She appears regularly on Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). She is a frequent guest on BBC's Saturday Kitchen, and is one of the presenters on the Good Food Channel Market Kitchen show. Her style of cooking has been praised for it practical nature--simple but delicious food, ideal for family and friends. She was brought up in Dublin and left home at eighteen to study at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School. After graduating from the school she cooked at the Ballymaloe House Hotel, eventually returning first to test recipes and then to teach at the school. She worked for a while as a caterer in Vancouver before returning again to teach at Ballymaloe. In September 2004, RTÉ broadcast Allen's first series in Ireland Rachel's Favourite Food, which has also been broadcast in Australia, Italy, and elsewhere. A book, Rachel's Favourite Food, accompanied the series, published by Gill & Macmillan. Two further TV series and books followed, Rachel's Favourite Food for Friends and Rachel's Favourite Food At Home; reruns of the latter became part of Create's television schedule in the United States starting in September 2010. She has written for many Irish publications, including three years with Irish lifestyle magazine Image and a weekly column in The Sunday Tribune Magazine. She has also contributed to BBC Good Food magazine and AWT At Home magazine. Rachel also designs a line of products for Tipperary Crystal, including crystal stemware, porcelain dinner sets, and kitchen/dining essentials. In July 2012, she became Dr Rachel Allen after receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Ulster at Belfast's Waterfront Hall for her contribution to the culinary arts. Her mother in law Darina Allen also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster in 2003. The BBC has described Rachel as an "Irish cooking queen" and Good Food magazine believe she "has put Irish cooking on the map in recent years". Rachel has a devoted fan base both in the UK and Ireland, and the popularity of her television programmes continues to rise. She is represented in the UK by Useful Talent.