On The Food Trail From Italy To Portugal

Neven Maguire has always loved to learn from other kitchens. With his Food Trails series on RTÉ, he took the viewers along for the ride.

Italy First

In Neven's Italian Food Trails he travelled from Venice to Sorrento, through Parma, Modena, Florence and Tuscany^[2]. There were six half-hour episodes^[2]. He took a water taxi up the Grand Canal, flew a microlight over Parma and hunted for truffles in Tuscany^[2].

He also took a risotto lesson from a Michelin-starred chef and a coffee lesson from Italy's champion barista^[2]. Back in the kitchen, he cooked dishes such as a classic ragù and a peach and amaretti cake^[2].

Then Portugal

In 2025 the third series of the food trails took him to Portugal^[1]. Over seven episodes he travelled from the north of the country to the south, one region at a time^[1].

In one episode he climbed into the Serra da Estrela, the country's tallest mountain range. He tried his hand at shepherding, met a cheesemaker who works the old way, and finished with a chocolate crémeux and poached pears^[1].

The series was made by Inproduction TV and Scéal Creative and broadcast on RTÉ One on Wednesday evenings at 8pm^[1]. It was another chance for viewers at home to travel without leaving the sofa, with a familiar guide at their side.

Home Comforts

Back in Blacklion, the family business had grown a lot. By 2025 MacNean House had 60 staff and 20 bedrooms^[3]. Yet the restaurant still serves one sitting a night, for no more than 60 guests^[3].

That same year he played his first DJ set in 30 years, at Electric Picnic^[3]. More than five decades after his parents opened the doors, Neven is still travelling, still cooking and still coming home to Cavan^[1][3].