Rachel Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Allen
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Allen at MAD Symposium in 2014
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| Born |
Rachel Sheila O'Neill
21 March 1972 Dublin, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2000–present |
| Known for | TV chef |
| Television | Rachel's Favourite Food Rachel's Favourite Food for Friends Rachel's Favourite Food at Home Rachel Allen: Bake! The Restaurant My Kitchen Rules |
| Relatives |
(Son) |
Rachel Allen is a famous Irish chef. She is well-known for her cooking shows on TV and for writing cookbooks. You might have seen her on Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland's national TV channel.
Contents
Becoming a Chef and Author
Starting Her Culinary Journey
Rachel Allen began her cooking adventure at 18. She attended the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. After finishing her studies, she worked as a chef. She cooked at the Ballymaloe House Hotel. Later, she returned to the school. She helped test new recipes. Then, she became a teacher there. She even worked as a caterer in Vancouver for a while.
From Kitchen to Television
In September 2004, Rachel got her first TV show. It was called Rachel's Favourite Food. RTÉ broadcast it in Ireland. The show also aired in Australia, Canada, and Europe. A cookbook with the same name came out. It was published by Gill & Macmillan.
Two more TV series and books followed. These were Rachel's Favourite Food for Friends and Rachel's Favourite Food at Home. These shows were also popular. Reruns of Rachel's Favourite Food at Home even aired in the United States.
More TV Shows and Writing
Rachel Allen often appears on BBC's Saturday Kitchen. She was also a presenter on the Market Kitchen show. This show was on the Good Food Channel. In 2008, she starred in a series called Rachel Allen: Bake! for RTÉ.
Rachel has written for many Irish magazines. She wrote for Image magazine for three years. She also had a weekly column in The Sunday Tribune Magazine. Her recipes have appeared in BBC Good Food magazine. She has also contributed to AWT at Home magazine. Rachel's cookbooks have sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
Restaurant Ventures
In March 2017, Rachel opened her first restaurant. It was called Rachel's. The restaurant was in Cork's Washington Street. She started this business with her husband, Isaac. They also partnered with a publican named Paul Montgomery. The restaurant later closed for a big renovation. It reopened with a new name, Dwyers of Cork. This new name honored the history of the building.
In September 2019, Rachel Allen returned to TV. She became a judge and co-host. This was for the popular Irish show The Restaurant. She joined chef Marco Pierre White on the show.
Rachel's Life Outside the Kitchen
Growing Up in Dublin
Rachel grew up in Foxrock. This is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Her mother, Hallfríður Reichenfeld, was from Iceland. She worked in the fashion business. Rachel's father, Brian O'Neill, had a shoe manufacturing business. Rachel and her older sister, Simone, went to Alexandra College. She attended this school from age three to 17.
Family Life
It was a three-month cooking course that sparked Rachel's love for food. While at Ballymaloe Cookery School, she met Isaac Allen. He was the grandson of Myrtle Allen, a famous chef. Rachel and Isaac started dating when they were both 18. They got married in 1998. Their wedding was at Cloyne Cathedral. The reception was held at Ballymaloe House. They went to New York for their honeymoon.
Rachel lives in Shanagarry, County Cork. This is a lovely seaside home. She lives there with her husband Isaac. Isaac is the son of TV chef Darina Allen. They have three children: Joshua, Scarlett, and Lucca. Lucca is a racing driver.
Special Recognition
In July 2012, Rachel received a special award. She got an Honorary Doctorate in Science. This was from the University of Ulster in Belfast. It was given for her great work in cooking. Her mother-in-law, Darina Allen, also received an honorary doctorate from the same university in 2003.
Rachel Allen's Cookbooks
Rachel Allen has written many popular cookbooks. Here are some of them:
- Rachel's Favourite Food
- Rachel's Favourite Food for Friends
- Bake
- Rachel's Favourite Food at Home
- Rachel's Food for Living
- Home Cooking
- Entertaining at Home Hardcover
- Easy Meals
- Cake
- Rachel's Irish Family Food
- Rachel's Everyday Kitchen
- All Things Sweet Hardcover
- Coast: Recipes from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
- Recipes from My Mother Hardcover
- Home Baking Hardcover
- Soup Broth Bread
