Jim Tynan

Home grown cook book is selling like hot cakes

‘Jim’s Kitchen’ proves a recession beating recipe

A cookery book completely produced as a local enterprise in Laois is proving a surprise best seller in the run up to Christmas. ‘Jim’s Kitchen’ the brainchild of Mountrath chef, Jim Tynan has already sold two thousand copies just three weeks after its launch and is on its way to selling out.

“We sold almost one thousand copies at the launch alone and the book has been a great boost for our business,” explained Jim Tynan who has operated The Kitchen and Foodhall in Portlaoise for the past 27 years. “It’s like we’re an overnight success after all this time but we are thrilled that the book has been photographed, produced, printed and published entirely here in Laois. We erred on the side of caution by printing three thousand paper backs as we felt hard backs would be too expensive in the recession. We are past the breakeven point so the book is more than going to clear its costs and we have to sit down now and consider a re-print or even a book two, such is the demand.”

Ballymaloe’s Darina Allen, who attended the book launch to endorse Jim Tynan’s policy of promoting Irish food produce said that the reaction to ‘Jim’s Kitchen’ is remarkable. “I’ve published 15 books and I’ve never witnessed anything like this. The crowds at the launch were amazing and a reflection of the high regard in which Jim Tynan is held and his reputation for good food.”

This recession busting success story is in stark contrast with the forecast by the Restaurants Association of Ireland that, one third of Irish restaurants would close in the next six months, if the Government did not take urgent action in the budget. They estimated that 80 per cent of restaurants are now losing money.

Martin Connolly, whose company Print Central designed and printed ‘Jim’s Kitchen’ in Portlaoise commented, “We have proved that you can publish a book to the highest production values and still make money without going half way round the world to places such as Singapore or Dubai like so many Irish books on our shelves this year. It is hilarious to hear the Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan scolding cross-border shoppers for supporting ‘her majesty’s government’ when even the two former Taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Albert Reynolds had their autobiographies printed in ‘Great Britain’. That’s not very patriotic or carbon footprint friendly.”

‘Jim’s Kitchen’ is on sale for €20 and Jim Tynan says that he has already had to refill the special pen he got from his children for signing copies four times and “I’ve hardly had any time for making Christmas cakes and plum puddings for the shop.”

*For more info on ‘Jim’s Kitchen’ see also Doing the Business section.