Cork Profile: Mike Clifford of Cork Down Syndrome Youth Club

Tell me about your cooking?

We cook for our youth club with chef Hugh on Wednesdays. He is great fun.

Tell us what you cook:

I make pastry and sometimes curry and pasta or pizza. We can take what we bake or cook home to our family – they love that!

What is the most enjoyable aspect of what you do?

I love chopping the vegetables.

Who is your favourite chef?

Neven Maguire or Mark Moriarty

What is your favourite food?

Prawns or chowder.

What is your favourite restaurant:

Cornstore for wings – I love them.

How do you get to Cork when you go for dinner?

Sometimes we go on the train and walk around.

Who has had the biggest influence on you in your life?

Neven Maguire - I love his cooking shows and I met him twice. He came and did a show for Down Syndrome Cork.

Did you work in a restaurant?

I did my work experience at the Dingle Skellig Hotel. I set tables for breakfast and served from the bar, and I had great fun. I had to clean up and then I had a day in the kitchen as well.

What is your favourite cooking thing to do?

I love peeling prawns with mom, and mussels as well and peeling carrots. My dad has a garden this year and we have potatoes and carrots and cabbage, turnips, onions, and lettuce and my neighbour has a tunnel and we rob her tomatoes for pasta!

What is your favourite place in Cork?

My house. I love it!

When are you at your happiest?

When I am at home in my house.

What is your hidden talent?

I play the drums.

What might we be surprised to know about you?

I love to do dancing and love going to the Fleadh.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

We are very excited for cooking at Cornstore Restaurant as part of the Cork on a Fork Festival. I still have to decide if I will go cooking or work in kitchen – both are good options!