When film maker and tv producer, Declan Cassidy began to develop the idea of a series that would use good food to focus on some of the cultural backgrounds that now make up the Irish family, a name kept popping up in recommendations for someone to host and mentor it. Tara Walker is not only a hugely popular TV chef and author, but she is closely linked with sustainable food producers along the historic and somewhat mystical Boyne Valley. Declan is also a director with non-profit community media company EurAV, so, along with members of the team there, a funding application was prepared for Coimisiún na Meán, under their Sound and Vision initiative. Some additional funding was needed, and Maeve Harkin and team, of Louth Local Development Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, stepped up to support the project. Dublin Community Television – DCTV – agreed to broadcast the series, both on its Virgin Media 802 channel and streaming on their website. 

The green light came, and, with it, an opportunity for first-time Ukrainian producer Yana Prokopenko to work alongside Declan in pulling the show together. With a call out on Declan’s TikTok account and some busy footwork from Yana, six representatives were signed up. Fusion Kitchen would see food from Brazil, India, Ireland, Nigeria, South Korea and Nigeria. The stage – or, rather, the table – was set. Through EurAV, the production team has been a mix of community media professionals and trainees. Each week they stand behind lights, cameras and microphones, salivating as the Fusion Kitchen participants cook for each other and then devour the meals. So far, though, whomever is cooking with Tara has made sure that there’s enough in the pot to feed the hungry crew!