The Sweet Life: Meet Irish Pâtisserie Champion Asia Mahealani
From Hawai’i to Galway, Asia shares the childhood memories that sparked her passion, the launch of her own business, and some favourite food spots that inspire her in Galway.
My earliest memory is when I was three with my Grandma Jeannie on Maui, Hawai’i. She gently woke my sister and me at 4am so we could “help” bake bread for her business. I vividly recall walking downstairs and being enveloped by the best smell of fresh bread and sweet cinnamon. She’d give us dough to play with and we would help bag and tie the finished breads.
Afterwards, of course, we got to eat the ono treats! Grandma baked and delivered bread and scones around the island for 45 years before retiring as a beloved local icon.
My days vary a lot now that I run a small business. During the height of wedding season, most of my week is spent baking, constructing cakes, preparing decorations and doing the final decorating – every order is different.
I love pears in autumn, especially poached with warm spices. They work beautifully with both light chantilly and rich caramel, making them a lovely transition from summer’s fresh desserts into winter’s comforting flavours.
One of my most memorable casual meals was fish and chips at The Bar on Inis Mór, run by Bridie. I was never a huge fish-and-chips person, but we ate it three days in a row because it was so good! I also really enjoyed eating on Inishbofin – from crab at Murray’s to chowder at The Galley. There’s amazing and affordable seafood out there.
In my fridge, I always have veggies, Jung-Su kimchi (made in Co. Galway), Kewpie, miso, gochujang, chilli sauces, meat (shout-out to lamb from Portumna) and everything needed to make my hubby’s daily ham sandwiches for work-lunch. In the pantry, there’s usually rice, furikake, shoyu, mirin, sesame oil, spices, eggs and fruits. And always some instant noodles, tteokbokki or frozen pizza for comfort-food emergencies.
In Galway town, our most-visited spot (besides Supermac’s!) is Bunch of Grapes: a cosy pub for the yummiest toasties and pint by the fire.
For a fancier date night, we love Tomodachi for sushi and oishi specials while people-watching over William Street, and Daróg, where Zsolt’s wine selections are always right up our alley. Magpie Bakery is my favourite for laminated pastries.
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