Chef Brian McDermott has pleaded with people to root out their cupboards and go back to basic cooking and baking during the coronavirus crisis.
The well-known businessman was forced to close his own Foyle Hotel in Moville and lay off 24 staff last weekend.
He regularly appears on RTE and at food festivals around the country promoting wholesome food from the kitchen table.
Brian said people need to look at what they are eating now more than ever.
“We need to root out our cupboards and go back to cooking healthy and simple food. I know first-hand the pain people are suffering.
“But we should go back to basics and use all the food we can in our larders to keep ourselves healthy and nourished.
“There is no need for panic buying and stocking up. Most homes have plenty of supplies of flour and tinned goods and we need to be inventive with what we cook,” he said.
The chef said young people who are off school can also use this as an opportunity to learn how to cook simple dishes or to learn how to bake.
“Kids are going to have a lot of time on their hands and the kitchen is the perfect place for them to learn.
“Instead of sitting on Playstations for hours parents can encourage them to learn how to cook or bake from simple recipes.
“They can learn a few of these recipes so that they have them for life when all of this passes over and they move on with their own lives,” he added.
