The Volvo Ocean Race, from Alicante to St Petersburg, is currently all at sea – on the longest leg of the race, from Qingdao in China to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Ian Walker, skipper of Irish entry Green Dragon, celebrated his 39th birthday on board on February 25th with a bottle of Guinness and a slice of birthday cake. The cake was smuggled on to the boat by representatives of Good Food Ireland, which has been relentlessly promoting Irish food at most of the port stops along the race route, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland.
Maurice Keller, chef proprietor of Arlington Lodge in Waterford, was part of the Good Food Ireland Showcase team in Qingdao, as well as in Cape Town, and it was he who charmed his way into the kitchens of the Shangri-La Hotel to knock up a birthday cake that would withstand 14 days at sea, as well as pass muster with the Green Dragonnutritionists. Irish tea brack was decided upon, and as no cake tins were available, Keller baked it in a saucepan, before stowing it away out of the skipper's beady eye. mcdigby@irishtimes.com