Walk on the Wildside

Ted Berner of Wildside catering is the man to call if you’re planning a bash or just love a bit of spit-roasted suckling pig. And, who doesn’t love that?

Can you tell us a little bit about Wildside Catering – how it came about? It?all started In Dingle a good few years ago when my love for cooking and having parties outdoors was turned into Wildside catering. I then moved up to the Big Smoke (Dublin) and got busy messing around with pots, pans and fires all over Ireland and abroad. Serving good food to good hungry people is what I do.

What is your food philosophy at Wildside? If the Bear will kill it, I’ll cook it! I’m incredibly fortunate to have developed an amazing grounding in and respect for our local produce. We nearly only use produce from home here in East Cork and also from different artisan food producers in and around Cork and West Cork, like fish from the pier in Ballycotton 15 min away. Using imagination and inspiration from friends and family from all over the world and applying that to our cooking, you get amazing food!

What’s the most memorable event you’ve hosted recently? I was delighted to get the task of organizing the “Big Shed” at the?Ballymaloe Litfest?of Food and Wine. It was to become the heart and soul of this already amazing festival, a space where people from all walks of life could relax and enjoy themselves, eat, drink and of course party into the night!? For me, it was an open invitation to fill an old farm shed full of incredible food producers, street food, music, art, craft brewers, children’s food and other artistic creations. People loved it! It’s happening again on the 16th – 18th May 2014, so make sure you’re free.

What’s your favourite thing on your current menu and why? I’m quite partial to the O’Flynn smoked duck breast with PX soaked blueberries and fried sage or I’ve been seriously enjoying different mushes- in particular, a roast beetroot and toasted walnut mush we do. How could you not!

Are you doing any other festivals this year? I wish I was but unfortunately?have?a few other things on. There is however an interesting Garden, Food and Horticulture Festival planned here at Ballymaloe the last weekend in August, where the Big Shed is due to reopen its doors!

What can you do for people hosting a private party??If you want to host a party like no other, get in touch (www.wildsidecatering.ie)! Together with my buddies The Queens of Neon (www.queensofneon.com) and All Bar None (www.allbarnone.ie), ?we take care of all the arrangements. We can turn your house into a 1970 disco club, a sophisticated fine dining restaurant or a country style festival! There are no restrictions on creativity. We have it down to a T!

Any changes/plans afoot for you at Wildside? Me plans and Wildside are changing all the time. Love it…

If you weren’t in the food business what would you be doing? Making electronic music.

What places/experiences are on your foodie wish list to visit/do? I have to check out the Jokkmokk Winter Market Sweden, Meatopia in New York and of course I’ll be at the Dingle food festival in October.

By Lizzie Gore-Grimes?