If you’re a Brazilian or Nigerian home cook, this could be your TV moment!
If setting your creative talents free in the kitchen, with the scent of sizzling spices filling the air as a camera zooms in on a dish that tells your story, sounds good to you, then this might whet your appetite. Fusion Kitchen is about to bring Ireland’s diverse food scene to TV screens, and two spots are still up for grabs. If you’re a home cook from Brazil or Nigeria with a love for food and a knack for storytelling, this is your chance to share your culture, your passion, and your favourite dish with the nation while meeting local producers to integrate their products into your recipes.
Filming kicks off this May on multi award winning film maker, Declan Cassidy’s Fusion Kitchen, a six-episode series where six immigrants in Ireland invite viewers into their culinary world. With the help of Irish TV chef and author Tara Walker, who will present the series and be on hand to lend her expertise, each cooking enthusiast will prepare a traditional meal incorporating local, seasonal Irish ingredients, while sharing personal stories about their home countries and their experiences in Ireland. But this is more than just a cooking show. Each episode culminates in a communal meal, where dishes are savoured alongside music, dance, or another cultural tradition that brings the featured country to life. Think Come Dine With Me with a deeper, richer connection to the people behind the plates.
The show already features four fantastic female participants from Ukraine, Syria, India, and China. Now, the team is searching for two male home cooks—one from Brazil and one from Nigeria—to balance the line-up. No professional experience is required, just enthusiasm for food, culture, and a willingness to share your story in a friendly, welcoming environment.
Filming takes place in Louth at the start of summer with the finished series set to air on Virgin Media Channel 802, DCTV before being made available online.
Supported by Louth Local Developments Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and Coimisiún na Meán under their Sound and Vision initiative, Fusion Kitchen is more than just a TV show—it’s a celebration of Ireland’s evolving multicultural identity, bringing people together through the universal language of food. With excitement already building for its launch, this is a golden opportunity to take part in something truly special. If you think you could represent Brazil or Nigeria, get in touch with the team at contact@eurav.eu
Free media production training
The filming of Fusion Kitchen is also being used as an opportunity to provide some training opportunities in community television production for those interested in making documentaries, television shows or social media content.
“Community media is becoming increasingly important as we are bombarded with misinformation, deep fakes and scams,” explained Declan. “With community media, you’re hearing from people in your own community, talking about subjects they’re involved in. I’m involved with the non-profit organisation EurAV European Audio Visual, in Drogheda, and, with their help, I want to offer free training to people who are interested in making content that represents their communities or groups. Anyone interested can get in touch at contact@eurav.eu.”
The television and film maker has created six television series over the past three years and has a policy of providing opportunities for the public to get involved. To stay in touch with such projects, you can check his links at https://linktr.ee/declancreative
