Clodagh studied in France and NYC, and then went on to train as a chef at Ballymaloe Cookery School, followed by 3 years working as a chef in Ballymaloe House in Cork, Ireland. After an inspiring visit to the Midleton Farmers Market, she decided to take a leap of faith and leave the kitchen to set up her own stall at that market. Soon after, she was developing other farmers markets around Ireland and set up a commercial kitchen making pates, which her cousin Barrie Tyner now sells at farmers markets in Cork.
Currently, she writes a monthly column for The Gloss Magazine which comes free with the Irish Times. In addition to her regular column, Clodagh has also a written for the Irish Times, The Sunday Tribune, Aer Lingus Magazine, Delicious Magazine, Image Interiors, and RED Magazine. Clodagh has appeared as a cook and promoter of local produce on RTE's, Out of The Blue; Rick Stein's Food Heroes, (BBC2); TV3's Ireland AM Show; RTE’s The Late Late Show, Saturday Cooks (ITV), Saturday Kitchen (BBC1), The Today Show (NBC in USA), RTE's The Afternoon Show, BBC’s Food Poker and is a regular chef presenter for UKTV's Market Kitchen.
Clodagh has published three books -- her first book The Irish Farmers' Market Cookbook, which was a bestseller, was published by Harper Collins in November 2006. Her second book, entitled Fresh From the Sea was published in 2009 by Gill and Macmillan. Clodagh’s most recent cookbook, Homemade, published by Kyle Cathie in 2010 was awarded the prestigious Gourmand award for Best in the UK category.
In 2011 Clodagh launched Homemade in the States to great success. It is available in bookshops and lifestyle stores acrossed America including, Barnes and Noble and Anthropologie. Since the launch of the US edition of Homemade, Clodagh has been a guest on the Martha Stewart Radio Show, and will appear on the Nate Berkus Show Autumn 2011. Forbes labeled her ‘Ireland’s Rachel Ray – a Hot New Brand’.
Clodagh filmed two television series to accompany her Irish Farmers Market Cookbook, entitled Fresh From the Farmers Markets which debuted on RTE 1 in 2007. Part two of the series was broadcasted over the summer of 2008 and was also picked up by media outlets in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Her third series, Fresh From the Sea, opened to rave reviews in June of 2009 on RTE 1. The series also aired in New Zealand the autumn of 2009 and on UKTV the spring 2010. The fourth series of the same name aired June 2010 on RTE 1.
Outside of her media work, Clodagh has travelled the world giving cooking demonstrations in the USA, Italy, the UK and Holland. Autumn of 2008 saw Clodagh take on the fashion world with her exciting new ‘glam’ kitchenware range. Her personally designed 1950’s-inspired aprons are available from her website and are in over 50 outlets throughout Ireland and the UK. In 2010, Clodagh teamed up with the Village at Lyons in Co. Kildare to open the doors of her new cookery school called The Village at Lyons Cookery School with Clodagh McKenna. Additionally, she opened the Canal Café by Clodagh along with her fabulous kitchen store called The General Store by Clodagh. The Village at Lyons, located only 30 minutes from Dublin City Centre and is situated along the Grand Canal, is a perfect retreat for from the hustle of everyday life. Visitors can take part in hands-on cookery courses taught by Clodagh or they can pick up a picnic lunch from her café to enjoy along the banks of the Grand Canal. Clodagh has also organised a Farmers Market every Friday at the Village at Lyons which features some of her favourite producers from around the country.
This September 2011, Clodagh will be launching her brand ‘Homemade by Clodagh’ in Arnotts department store in Dublin, which is the largest department store in Dublin. Under the banner ‘Homemade by Clodagh’ there will be Clodagh’s Kitchen (a restautant), The Food Court and The Food Market.
Said Clodagh: “I am thrilled to get the opportunity to bring my homemade philosophy to the heart of Dublin City with Arnotts, which is not just Dublin but Ireland’s landmark department store. It has always been an ambition of mine to bring the very best of homemade food to a wider market and, with so many customers coming through the doors of Arnotts, this is a realisation of that dream.
We will be honouring the homemade ethos in both cafés and, at the same time, showcasing the very best of Irish suppliers as every dish served will be made, in so far as that is possible, from freshly sourced local produce. I have already begun working with the staff, who are extremely excited about what lies in store and we are looking forward to September and unveiling our refreshing new look and exciting menus for both restaurants.”
Clodagh's fifth series for RTE will be titled Homemade.
For More information log on to Clodagh's Website or email erin@clodaghmckenna.com
See below for Clodagh's showreel
