Rachel Allen

Rachel Allen (born 21 March 1972, in Dublin) is an Irish celebrity chef, known for her work on television and as a writer. She appears regularly on Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).

Career as chef

Allen went to the Ballymaloe Cookery School at the age of 18.^[1] 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^{[citation needed]} 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, Canada, 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.^[2]

Allen is a frequent guest on BBC's Saturday Kitchen, and is one of the presenters on the Good Food Channel Market Kitchen show. In 2008, she was in a series called Rachel Allen: Bake! for RTÉ.

Allen 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.^{[citation needed]}

Allen designs a line of products for Tipperary Crystal, including crystal stemware, porcelain dinner sets, and kitchen/dining essentials.^[3]

In 2012, she was involved in a controversy over hunting pictures of her posted on Facebook. She soon appeared as a guest on The Saturday Night Show to discuss her behaviour.^[4]

Personal life

Her Icelandic mother, Hallfridur Reichenfeld, was in the fashion business and had clothes shops. Her father, Brian O'Neill, had inherited the Winstanley shoe manufacturing business.

Allen lives at a seaside home in County Cork with her husband Isaac, the son of television chef Darina Allen, and their three children.^[1]

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.

References

External links

• Official website
• Rachel Allen Recipes on Good Food Channel
• Rachel Allen at the Internet Movie Database
• BBC's Saturday Kitchen
• Biography at Create (TV network)