Aisling Kelly how to turn a prime local food source into an experience
Aisling Kelly with her favourite gadget!
In November 2022 Aisling Kelly and her staff are celebrating the eight anniversary of WB Yeats Coffee House. Aisling finds herself back in the premises she lived above as a child, running a café in what was for years the family pub, The Punchbowl. After studying Business and Tourism, working in San Francisco and completing her Degree in Edinburgh Aisling worked in travel and education.
In March 2014 the unthinkable happened: Aisling’s father Kevin died. Turning tragedy into an opportunity, that November she opened W.B.’s Coffee House to warm enthusiasm from the local community, and particularly from her mother. Aisling has recently revamped the whole cafe and like so often in life, personal connections are often the turning point for exciting developments.
So marrying an Oyster farmer there was only ever one outcome: She has now opened Irelands first dedicated Oyster Experience that can be booked Thursdays to Saturdays. It is fascinating to listen to Aisling on our Sligo Food Tours and learn how different aquatic habitats produce different Oysters and why Sligo Oysters are different to Galway Oysters. It is often the first time ever our guest have eaten an Oyster and it’s often a taste-opener!
So while it took quite a while to literally use one of Sligeach’s prime food resources (Sligeach means "abounding in shells" or "shelly place") and turn it into a food experience in 2018, the Oyster experience and the Oyster Farm Tours have been very successful. The cafe has undergone more renovation recently to make the in-house oyster experience even better with more space and interactive videos.
Here is Aisling Kelly uncovered
What is your favourite food? Fresh fish & shellfish
Finish the sentence: A chef is an artist
The country you travel for food: Having travelled all over the world, I have a new appreciation for Irish food & producers.
Three things you always have in your larder/fridge? Eggs, milk & fresh fish.
What is your most used gadget? My phone.
Do you read cookbooks and which one do you come back to? Neven Maguire “Home economics for life” - love it & so simple.
Who is your inspiration (not necessarily from the food world). Oprah
What are you currently listening to? Meditation & podcasts on personal & business growth.
Something people don’t know about you? I love to go horse riding out in Lough Bo equestrian centre in Riverstown. Freedom, excercise & fun!
What will be hot in 2023? Living simply & spending more time in nature.
