Snapchat is the social media channel that stumps most. Sharing super-quick, seconds-long video updates and pictures which expire after 24 hours (and sometimes after being viewed once) seems a little odd, right? Beauty troops may have embraced it first, but foodies are now taking full advantage of Snapchat for its simplicity and ease. It’s the perfect place to share recipes, talk through your weekly shop and showcase a more personal, unfiltered glimpse of your food world. With over 1 billion snaps sent every day across the world, Ireland is one of the most engaged Snapchatting countries, second only to the UK and US.

It’s an educational tool too, as you watch and learn from friends, fellow food obsessives and talented cooks in step-by-step, easily digestible recipe tutorials in an instant and interactive way that Youtube videos just can’t offer. We joined in the past year and have watched Snapchat soar in use amongst the Irish food community and we’ve rounded up the definitive guide of Irish foodies killing it on Snapchat right now…

KenmareFoodie

From her incredible repertoire of #mykitchentable recipes and beautiful snapshots of Kerry and West Cork, Karen Coakley’s Snapchat is simply addictive and a must-follow. Kenmare Foodies blogger Karen is one of the most knowledgeable and educational snappers out there. Cooking full recipes from scratch once or twice a day pretty much every single day, she will make you seriously appreciate food in a way you’ve never thought possible with sensational dishes and ideas for leftovers.

BakeMyStyle

Miriam O’Sullivan is a Kerry girl borrowed by London with an infectious humour and a fantastic blog, Bake My Style. Always smiling, spreading positivity and encouraging followers to join in with her weekly ‘random act of kindness Wednesday’, she bakes, blogs, vlogs and is seriously stylish with a passion for quirky fashion. Miriam’s currently snapping her way through Ballymaloe Cookery School’s 12-week course throughout spring from Co. Cork – a rare opportunity to experience the prestigious culinary course from afar!

KellyLouCakes

Kelly Ging is the owner of bakery Kelly Lou Cakes in Portlaoise and her Snapchat is an insight into the life of a busy baker and successful young businesswoman. Wonderfully warm and perennially positive, Kelly does full baking tutorials once a week and appeals to every sweet tooth who watches with what’s going in and coming out of the ovens each day. From Snapchat to the small screen, she’s been snapped up by Ireland AM on a couple of occasions, so we predict it won’t be long before she lands a TV show of her own!

DonalSkehan

Though now leaving Dublin to relocate to Los Angeles, Donal Skehan is a prolific snapper who shows a sillier side to his happy-go-lucky demeanour on the social app. You’ll fall in love with his rescue dog Max, or ‘Maxie’, as he calls him, and you’ll be floored by the stunning views he posts, whether at home in Howth, North Dublin, or from the Californian coast. As an international cookbook author and acclaimed cookery show presenter, naturally his food snaps are impeccable and drool-inducing, goes without saying!

TheNakedBlondie

After an astonishing weight loss, health overhaul and lifestyle transformation using Slimming World, Kildare-based Nicola Carolan is the woman to follow if you’re on the programme yourself or just want an everyday insight into what is/isn’t allowed. Her results speak for themselves and she’s got charm by the bucketload, with honest updates on her goals and progress seasoned with motivation and inspiration for others too. Jamie Oliver is a big fan, no less! Check out her blog too, The Naked Blondie.

TheHonestProj

Frances Walsh shares plant-based recipes from her blog The Honest Project with a side of incredible insights into the nutritional properties of ingredients, from local farmers market produce to health food shop staples. She will inspire you to clean up your kitchen act with fresh, gorgeous dishes that are full of flavour – and you won’t miss the meat! Whether waxing about wheatgrass, showing you how to make simple vegan crackers or spotlighting a different ‘veg of the week’, you’ll come for the great food and stay for the daily glimpses of Teddy and Coco, her cute pair of bichons.

WholesomeIE

Budget blogger and author Caitríona Redmond of Wholesome Ireland uses Snapchat to show followers how to plant and grow your own food; snaps using a cúpla focal to encourage us all to speak as Gaeilge more; and offers general updates about life on a budget, whether that’s thrifty shopping tips, what to bulk cook or how to organise yourself more efficiently in the kitchen.

EatDrinkRunFun

Rory Carrick – from EatDrinkRunFun blog – works in Dublin’s city centre and lives in coastal Skerries, so his snaps are a mix of outdoor runs by the coast and indulgent nights on the town, sampling the best of Dublin’s restaurants and bars.

BabaduckFood

You’ll relish weekends of #sandiecam, where Arklow-based Aoife Ryan’s cute shih tzu arrives for a leisurely visit and gets spoiled like a furry princess but Babaduck blogger Aoife’s never far from the kitchen and makes really delicious, comforting and homely dishes that you’ll absolutely need the recipes for. A dab hand at bulk and prep cooking, she’s got an arsenal of tips and will ensure you utilise and organise your fridge and freezer much more effectively.

FoodieCafe

Chloe Harris runs Foodie Café, a fantastic fledgling health food café in the heart of Dublin’s IFSC and is a real entrepreneur with an incredible sense of taste. Fond of a rant as much as a silly laugh, she’s relatable and engaging. Her recipes may err on the ‘cleaner’ side of eating but her delivery makes everything incredibly achievable, exciting and easy.

AliDunworth

Food consultant, branding guru and social media darling, Ali Dunworth’s begun to put her own recipes on Snapchat with really snappy tutorials that cut right to the point. Full of fantastic ideas for fresh veg in particular and some great cookery tips, you’ll want to follow her for an inside peek into recipe testing at an expert level.

Finally, you can follow us (@Gastrogays) for our daily updates, personal recipes and to see London life through our eyes as well as bits of international travel and our frequent food-filled trips back home. We cook recipes on it a couple of times a week and always try to keep it fresh, simple and fun.