Myrtle Allen
Encyclopedia
Myrtle Allen is an Irish
Michelin star winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant The Yeat's Room of Ballymaloe House
in Shanagarry
, County Cork
. Besides her cooking duties, she has also been a writer, hotelier and teacher.
In 1943, Myrtle Hill married Ivan Allen, a vegetable grower, who was working at the farm Kinoith in Shanagarry. In 1947 the couple bought Ballymaloe House and the surrounding farm. Ivan managed the fruit- and vegetable farm and worked on Kinoith, while Myrtle took care of the children and the manor. Later, in 1958, Ivan Allen inherited Kinoith from Wilson Strangman, the deceased owner.
With her husband a successful grower of fruit and vegetables, Myrtle had an abundance of fresh products in her kitchen. Under the guidance of her husband, an avid gourmet, she learned to cook by taking cooking courses at the School of Commerce and self-study. That went quite well and in 1962, she was cookery correspondent with the Irish Farmers Journal
. Originally the Irish Farmers Journal was a publication of Macra na Feirme
. Myrtle Allen was very active in this young farmers organization, eventually becoming "Vice President for the Munster Region" of the "National Council" of Macra na Feirme in 1959. A bid for the presidency in 1963 was unsuccessful.
In 1964, Myrtle decided to start a restaurant in her own dining room dubbed The Yeats Room. Later she changed a few unused rooms into rooms for a guesthouse, what grew to the hotel Ballymaloe is today. By the 1960s she and her sous-chef, Darina O'Connell, started giving courses in cooking. Later Darina, then married with son Tim Allen, moved the cookery classes to Kinoith under the name of Ballymaloe Cookery School
.
In 1986 Myrtle Allen was one of the founders of Euro-toques International and founder of Euro-toques Ireland. Euro-tocques was ment as an organisation of professional cooks which would promote and protect Europe's culinary heritage and defend the quality of food.
In 1998 Myrtle Allen was widowed when her husband Ivan died at the age of 83.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Michelin star winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant The Yeat's Room of Ballymaloe House
Ballymaloe House
Restaurant The Yeat's Room of Ballymaloe House is a restaurant located in Shanagarry in County Cork, Ireland. It is a quality restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in the periode 1975-1980. The Michelin Guide awarded the restaurant the "Red M", indicating 'good food at a reasonable price',...
in Shanagarry
Shanagarry
Shanagarry is a village in east County Cork in Ireland. The village is located along Ireland's south coast, and is known for the Ballymaloe Cookery School, the home and gardens of celebrity chef Darina Allen...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Besides her cooking duties, she has also been a writer, hotelier and teacher.
In 1943, Myrtle Hill married Ivan Allen, a vegetable grower, who was working at the farm Kinoith in Shanagarry. In 1947 the couple bought Ballymaloe House and the surrounding farm. Ivan managed the fruit- and vegetable farm and worked on Kinoith, while Myrtle took care of the children and the manor. Later, in 1958, Ivan Allen inherited Kinoith from Wilson Strangman, the deceased owner.
With her husband a successful grower of fruit and vegetables, Myrtle had an abundance of fresh products in her kitchen. Under the guidance of her husband, an avid gourmet, she learned to cook by taking cooking courses at the School of Commerce and self-study. That went quite well and in 1962, she was cookery correspondent with the Irish Farmers Journal
Irish Farmers Journal
The Irish Farmers Journal is a weekly farm newspaper sold in Ireland. It is the best selling farm magazine in the country selling over 70,000 copies per week...
. Originally the Irish Farmers Journal was a publication of Macra na Feirme
Macra na feirme
Macra na Feirme , abbreviated MnaF, is an Irish, voluntary, rural youth organisation. It was founded in 1944 by Stephen Cullinan, a rural science teacher....
. Myrtle Allen was very active in this young farmers organization, eventually becoming "Vice President for the Munster Region" of the "National Council" of Macra na Feirme in 1959. A bid for the presidency in 1963 was unsuccessful.
In 1964, Myrtle decided to start a restaurant in her own dining room dubbed The Yeats Room. Later she changed a few unused rooms into rooms for a guesthouse, what grew to the hotel Ballymaloe is today. By the 1960s she and her sous-chef, Darina O'Connell, started giving courses in cooking. Later Darina, then married with son Tim Allen, moved the cookery classes to Kinoith under the name of Ballymaloe Cookery School
Ballymaloe Cookery School
The Ballymaloe Cookery School is a privately run cookery school in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland that was opened in 1983. It is run by Darina Allen the well known celebrity chef, cookery book author and pioneer in Ireland of the slow food movement and is located in the grounds of an organic farm....
.
In 1986 Myrtle Allen was one of the founders of Euro-toques International and founder of Euro-toques Ireland. Euro-tocques was ment as an organisation of professional cooks which would promote and protect Europe's culinary heritage and defend the quality of food.
In 1998 Myrtle Allen was widowed when her husband Ivan died at the age of 83.
Awards
- 1975-1980: one Michelin star
- 1975-1981, 1983-1984 and 1987-1988: one star in the Egon Ronay Guide
- 1981-1994: Red M awarded by the Michelin GuideMichelin GuideThe Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
- 1984: Cesar Award in the Good Hotel Guide
- 1988: Ballymaloe House included in the Courvoisier book of best hotels
- 1990: the Ackerman Martell Guide the black four leaved clover for excellence in all aspects of the hotel and restaurant business
- 1991: Ballymaloe House included in Harpers and Queen 'The one hundred Best Hotels in the World'
- 2000: Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa - awarded by the University College Cork
- 2011: Taste Icon award - presented by Taste of Dublin
- 2001: Lifetime Award - Women and Agriculture awards
Books
- The Ballymaloe cook book; 1984
- Myrtle Allen's Cooking at Ballymaloe House; 1990