Plant-based food entrepreneur Aisling Cullen shares her life in food

Aisling Cullen set up Thanks Plants in 2020, having previously operated a coffee house and restaurant before shifting to manufacturing. In 2015, whilst living in Malaysia, Aisling opened a coffee house and when she moved back to Ireland in 2017, she continued her food journey and started creating delicious plant-based recipes made with whole foods and homemade recipes. And so, Thanks Plants was born.

What’s your go-to breakfast?

During the week, I will have a bowl of cereal, but at the weekend I will do a full fry-up with facon (fake bacon), tofu scramble and Thanks Plants sausages.

If you’re impressing friends and family at a dinner party, what are you serving up?

Last weekend, I had a big family roast dinner and made a lentil and mushroom wellington, roast garlic potatoes, creamy leek and mushrooms, maple glazed carrots, mixed steamed greens and gravy.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

I’m inspired by different Instagrammers and I’m loving @unclelouskitchen and @calumharris right now.

Sweet or savoury?

Savoury.

Fine dining or pub grub?

Fine dining as I haven’t gotten really dressed up for a dinner in ages!

Favourite restaurant in Ireland?

I keep going back to BigFan on Aungier Street. Yamamori is great too.

Best coffee in Ireland?

Proper Order, Smithfield.

Food for thought — Is there room for improvement within the Irish food/restaurant/hospitality scene?

The cost of entry to open a restaurant is huge so it’s really hard for young, creative foodies to get into the business. I’d love to see a way to support these people more.

Chef’s kiss — Tell us about one standout foodie experience you’ve had recently.

I was in Morzine in France over Christmas and in a restaurant called L’Etale they had a vegan tartiflette which is a cheesy, gooey, baked casserole with potatoes and usually bacon but they had smoked tofu in this one. It was divine and really comforting.

Compliments to the chef — Now’s your chance to sing the praises of a talented chef, beloved restaurant or particularly talented foodie family member.

If you are looking for a really great cookie, Aisling Tuck makes the most amazing sweet treats at Naked Bakes.

Secret ingredient — What, in your estimation, makes the perfect dining experience?

Wine. And lots of it.