It’s a good time to retreat to the kitchen.

And with the wind howling outside and plenty of wet evenings ahead of us throughout the winter, Cork chef Rory O’Connell is ready to show us all how to whip up some magic meals at home.

How To Cook Well with Rory O’Connell premieres at 8pm on Wednesday, November 1st 2023 on RTÉ One.

O’Connell, who co-founded Ballymaloe Cookery School with his sister Darina Allen in 1983, is marking his 40th anniversary of teaching students to cook with the new seven-part series, which includes short contributions from just a few of his thousands of students, including Eoin Cluskey from Bread 41, food writer Lily Higgins, Jack Kirwan of Sprout, Colm Keane of Daddy’s Café, and Scott Holder, owner of the Los Chicanos Mexican Food Truck.

In each programme, Rory prepares three dishes that make a perfectly balanced three-course meal, or which can be served individually.

“My career began in restaurant kitchens where I learned from great chefs – good restaurant kitchens can be places of great learning and a generous chef will impart knowledge on a daily basis to his cooks,” Rory told us.

“Almost without realising it, I too became a teacher, at first in some of the kitchens I had cooked in, and later in the more formal setting of a demonstration room.”

“In the series, I have chosen dishes that I feel are great teaching dishes and stand the test of time. Old favourites, yes, but still relevant, still delicious, still dishes I want to cook and eat.”

In the first programme, Rory starts with Grapefruit, Lovage, and Cucumber with Grapefruit Granita, followed by Poached Mackerel with Bretonne Sauce, Tomato, and Basil Fondue.

There’s a mouthwatering Irish Coffee Meringue with Whiskey Caramel Sauce to finish too.