My Holidays

TV chef Edward Hayden

TV chef Edward Hayden

Best holiday?I had always declined invites to Spain from my friends Jim and Olivia with their daughters Lucy and Kitty. But I decided to go there after my father died and we had such a great time. We were in quite a remote area near Alicante. We sat around the pool eating, drinking and relaxing and were content enough in each other's company not to fill the silences.

Worst holiday?Ten years ago, my sister Anne got married in Trinidad. On the beach I took my top off for a swim. Later, when I looked in the mirror, I was red raw with sunburn. The chemist made me strip to my underwear to look at my burns! All the wedding photos are me sitting upright so the clothes wouldn't touch my skin.

Dream holiday?Relaxing out on the white beaches of the Maldives.

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Favourite place in Ireland?An Ghrianán in Termonfeckin is a stately home run by the ICA and is a really chilled-out place with beaches nearby.

Where to next?I'd like to go back to New York as I love Broadway. But it will probably be the more economical option of London.

In conversation with GENEVIEVE CARBERY

* TV chef Edward Hayden’s book Food To Love is published by O’Brien Press (€14.99)