My Weekend: 'I love entertaining. I wish I could do it more'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

I live in Dublin 8 with my fiancé, Dave and our two-year-old daughter, Stella. Originally from Sutton, Dublin 13. My job is very mixed. I work as a chef (content creation, pop-ups, private catering, recipe development for brands), host (hosting demos, events and stages at festivals), and stylist (food styling for photography, recipe videos and tablescaping for events).

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Honestly, these days I love to chill as much as I can. But when the sun shines, I am delighted to attend an exciting event for a few hours.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you? Sadly, there is no choice with a two-year-old. But I wouldn’t change it, I still stupidly stay up late too.

Does work creep into your weekend at all? Yes, mainly due to social media. Weekends in spring and summer are busier due to festivals etc like the Ballymaloe Festival of Food.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you? Probably somewhere cool that I haven’t been to before like Stockholm. I’d bring Dave and Stella and maybe my family to help mind her.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries? I adore visiting Dave’s family home in Laois. It is on the canal and I walk along it all the time. It is so peaceful and quiet there, it’s a huge difference to our Dublin life.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends on the weekend? Always, if I am not working we are either visiting Dave’s friend and family in Laois or my friends and family on the Northside.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator? My number one hobby is treasure hunting, sounds mad but it’s true. My father was an auctioneer and antiques dealer so I have always had a keen eye for beautiful pieces. I love markets and charity shops. It’s brilliant to find props for my food styling work and some interesting clothes items for TV and public appearances.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter, do you have a signature dish? I love entertaining, I wish I could do it more. I grew up in a home that had guests for dinner almost every weekend. I loved how much joy it would bring to everyone and really believe it’s why I went into hospitality. My mom was the cook and host and my father the entertainer. I like to think I have bits from both of them. I adore making your own style meals like a taco table or a middle eastern buffet.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal? Any special meal in Cork city would be spent in Goldie, their food and ethos is incredible. A lunch spot would be the Bullman in Kinsale, I adore it there.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it? Usually popping a roast chicken in the oven, I try to make it different each week and tidying up the mess made over the weekend. Getting ready for the week ahead.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning? Haha you’ll have to ask her yourself but it’s usually around 7.30am.

Anything else you are up to right now...

I am so excited to be hosting a few talks at Ballymaloe Festival of Food and a gorgeous al fresco dinner with chef Conor Spacey and grower Barrie Quinn from Portnoo Market Garden.

Erica Drum is a TV chef, influencer, food stylist and supper club host.

She will be hosting the Farm to Fork pop-up dinner in the Walled Garden Pavilion with Conor Spacey and Barry Quinn tomorrow, May 17 at the Ballymaloe Festival of Food.

For tickets visit www.ballymaloegrainstore.com