Killybegs’ Ciara Shine Carlier says new cookbook will celebrate Irish seafood

Ciara Shine Carlier, a director at Kilbeggan-based Shine’s Seafood, told Donegal Live that her new cookbook was to be a “promotion of Irish seafood.”

Released on Monday, 13 October, Shine Carlier’s new book is entitled ‘Ciara’s Catch.’

The book 

“About three years ago, I said I would love to do a cookbook,” said Shine Carlier. “I gathered recipes from seafood ambassadors, friends, family, and social media buddies, and I have plenty of my own recipes.

“A lot of what I cook is quite quick because I have two kids. I decided to gather some of my recipes and useful information that I thought people would like to know about us and the business.

“Each of our products has a lot of selling points that a lot of people might not know. Unique information pieces. 

“I have always found that information piece to be quite interesting, and I took it from there.”

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Food, and specifically seafood, has always been a major part of Shine Carlier’s life. She told Donegal Live that cooking had always been a passion for her, ever since the days of Shine’s Takeaway in Killybegs, which was sold in May 2016 after being in operation for 21 years.

“I wanted the cookbook to be a promotion of Irish seafood and the benefits of our seafood, whether you buy it from your local fishmonger or from us,” commented Shine Carlier. “ We are an island nation, and we are quite low consuming of seafood.”

When asked about her favourite recipe, rather than automatically choosing a tuna or mackerel dish, fish related to Shine’s Seafood products, Shine Carlier highlighted a monkfish dish.

She said: “My favourite recipe is a Monkfish Traybake. It is so quick and easy and full of protein and vegetables. I am obsessed with monkfish. It is a fabulous fish. It can be a more expensive fish, but it is really nice. It holds together quite firmly. 

“It is one of the dishes you can have ready in the morning, and my kids love it, which is a bonus. I love anything that you can just bung in the oven.”

Shine Carlier was also thankful for the reception she has received ever since she has announced she was releasing Ciara’s Catch. 

“It has been more positive and more exciting than I could have ever imagined. I had been working on this for so long, and I had not told people. Everyone has been so positive about it.”