Today I’m joined on the podcast by my dear friend Deirdre McCafferty, the owner of my most favourite restaurant Cornucopia and recent winner of the An Post Best Cookbook of the Year 2019 for The Green Cookbook which is fully plant based.
Deirdre was instrumental in my journey last year after the death of my Mum. I’d known Deirdre from my days as The Girl Against Fluoride campaign and our event we hosted in Cornucopia.
Deirdre got on the phone with me few weeks after the funeral and her words of wisdom helped me climb out of the pit of despair and find the strength to build myself brand new after the death of my beautiful Mum and my old self as my Mum’s daughter and right hand woman.
Deirdre is a lighthouse of inspiration. After setting up Cornucopia in Dublin in the early 80s with her husband Neil they brought vegetarianism to a country reared on meat and two veg. Following the birth of their two daughters and a few years into establishing Cornucopia, Neil got sick with pancreatic cancer and passed away.
The image I have of Deirdre today is a strong women who has stayed dedicated to her life’s work. I never knew what her devastation of losing her soul mate Neil possibly felt like until my own Mum became suddenly unwell and passed away after being in a coma for 12 weeks. She became my lighthouse to show me it was possible for me to not only move through the experience of grief and loss but that I could transform into a much bigger and better version of myself. For that I am always grateful.
On the theme of moving from fear to trust I delve into the topic of grief, loss and running a business with heart and passion while being grounded in the practicalities of the physical world.
Deirdre is a way shower of consciousness in the most beautiful way. Herself and Neil spent time working in the Hippocrates Health Institute in the US where they were introduced to the world of raw veganism 40 years ago. Now in almost 2020, veganism and plant based foods have well and truly entered the mainstream. Although for Deirdre it’s really about satisfying tasty food that makes you feel loved and nourished.
So many truthbombs were shared by Deirdre that I know you’re going to love so sit back with your favourite juice or warm drink and enjoy this episode. Once you’ve listened in come back and let me know your thought in the comments below.
When you’re in Dublin go have a meal in Cornucopia on 19/20 Wicklow Street. It’s such a treat and they have the nicest hot dinners and desserts around.
Buy a copy of The Green CookBook here: Click here or where good books are sold. A great Christmas gift for the plant based lover in your life or for yourself to include new plant based dishes in 2020.
Connect with Deirdre www.cornucopia.ie
Let us know you’re biggest takeaway message in the comments below.
Love
Aisling xo
