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Ballymaloe Festival of Food Podcast
Graham Herterich, the Cupcake Bloke on Irish Food Icons, Nostalgia and Community
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In this episode of the Ballymaloe Festival of Food podcast, our hosts Joleen Cronin and Bree Allen sit down with chef, baker, author and café owner Graham Herterich, also known as The Cupcake Bloke.
Ahead of this year’s Ballymaloe Festival of Food, Graham talks about the thinking behind his playful afternoon tea inspired by Irish brand icons, from Tayto and Clonakilty Black Pudding to Mikados and soda bread, and how food memories shape the way we eat today.
The conversation moves through Graham’s journey from growing up above a butcher shop to training as a chef, stepping away from restaurant life, writing Bake and Cook, opening Ernie’s at the Shackleton Centre in Athy, and finding meaning through food, family and community.
This is a generous, funny and deeply human conversation about Irish food culture, nostalgia, producers, chosen family, and why embracing what we already have matters more than ever.
- Graham explains what he really does beyond the label “The Cupcake Bloke” and why creativity sits at the centre of his work
- Growing up above a butcher shop, baking with his granny, and how early food memories shaped his path
- Training as a chef, working in restaurants, and stepping away in search of a slower, more meaningful way of life
- A surprising chapter of his life spent exploring a religious vocation, and what it taught him about care, nourishment and purpose
- The evolution of his career from wholesale baking to market stalls, cafés and books
- How Bake and Cook came to be, and why traditional Irish recipes paired with modern twists matter to him
- Discovering that Irish food is deeply connected to global food cultures, from tagines to meatballs and stews
- What Graham is preparing for the Ballymaloe Festival of Food: an afternoon tea inspired by Irish brand icons
- Why food nostalgia matters, and how recreating childhood moments (like running your finger down a Mikado) can spark joy
- His love of soda bread, everyday food and cooking what makes people happy rather than chasing trends
- Why the Ballymaloe Festival of Food feels like coming home, and how festivals support producers and community
- The importance of “foodie family”, chosen family and shared support within the food world
- Opening Ernie’s at the Shackleton Centre in Athy, and why it feels like a homecoming
- Running a family business with his sister and niece, and the comfort of trust in hospitality
- Honest reflections on illness, care, gut health and the role good food plays in difficult times
- Graham’s hopes for the future of Irish food and why we need to lose the shame around our own food culture
- Comfort food confessions, solo dining favourites and where he loves to eat when he’s off duty
Thanks for listening to the Ballymaloe Festival of Food Podcast. You can find out more at ballymaloegrainstore.com and follow us on all platforms @ballymaloegrainstore
Until next time, let’s keep savouring the stories.
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