I regard myself as really lucky to be involved in food as a career. My job takes me all over the place, to visit producers, chefs and food establishements which dedicate themselves to good things to eat. I also get to indulge my other love - writing. If I wasn't a food writer I'd love to be a novelist - maybe I'll get there one day!
My love affair with great food started many years ago in London, at the prestigious food store Fortnum and Mason. After gaining experience front of house, the lure of the kitchen beckoned. I spent lunch hours in the main kitchens of Fortnums, watching the chefs work and soaking up the lively, vibrant atmosphere. Eventually, I got the bug for it myself, and undertook a chef’s apprenticeship at Le Souffle Restaurant, then located in the Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane. I also studied formal catering qualifications. After graduating with honours, and by complete chance, my career took a totally new direction, as I went into food styling, which involves making food look pretty for the camera. It was a fun job which brought me into contact with a heap of crazy characters, celebrities and chefs in a period of over twelve years. My experience inlcudes working on several major UK titles including Hello!, as well as recipe development and styling for promotional literature, recipe leaflets, and food newsletters.
These days, I live in West Cork and spend most of my time visiting Ireland's artisan producers, writing and broadcasting. I still work as a stylist too, and styled all the shots for my own first book, which you can read about on this site. I'm also an avid campaigner for local foods and producers, and helped set up a farmer's market in my local town of Bandon. For those who need further information on my body of work, or would like to see a formal CV, please contact me at dianne@diannecurtin.com (or click Contact above).
