Grill Seeker is a brand new four-part cookery RTÉ Player Original series presented by Nico Reynolds. This exciting series will introduce chef Nico’s unique and energetic style and capture the essence of his popular Instagram account. Fast-paced and fun Nico’s slick recipes will be shot in a back garden with everything cooked on charcoal grill. We’ll get a glimpse of Nico’s Dublin as he takes us along for the ride on ingredient hunts and foodie pit stops.
Many of us are planning a summer in our back gardens this year, so the timing for “Grill Seeker” couldn’t be better. There’s no soggy sausages or burnt burgers on the menu here, Nico’s recipes manage to be fun, fast, aspirational and delicious with loads of tips for novice grill seekers. Think Jerk Chicken Fillet Rolls, Sesame Prawn Toast and Grilled Veggie Flatbreads. He’ll even transform a bag of chips into something very special…you’re gonna have to trust us on this one.
Nico’s cooking takes inspiration from recipes learnt from his Jamaican granny combined with his extensive travels in South America. Expect depth of flavour & aromas from the Caribbean, South American zests, and influences from Peru, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. And of course, there’s plenty of Irish in there too from the reimagined chicken fillet roll, chipper chips and using local Dublin suppliers. This is the Irish food he knows and loves and there is never a dull moment in Nico’s cooking.
“Grill Seeker” is the ultimate garden party we’ve been waiting for after a long winter – bright, feel good and smokin’ hot!
ABOUT Nico Reynolds
A Dublin native, from a young age Nico had a head in the cupboard and an eye over the shoulder of his Grandmother learning about the depth of flavour and the variety of spice in Caribbean cooking and soul food. Bringing this knowledge to Latin American he ran a catered event company and a small restaurant in Buenos Aires for 6 years.
“My Jamaican granny would bring informal bottles of scotch bonnet hot sauce by the litre to Dublin that I would in turn, bring back to South America and introduce into creative projects with chefs and cooks from around the world .This became the starting point for my recipes adding them to colourful South American palates. Finding different ways to use my grannie’s sauce for marinades, sauces, dips and bases became an obsession”
Upon returning to Dublin Nico opened a pop-up restaurant called Lil Portie where he could cook the food he wanted. Caribbean cooking with Latin influences via Ireland. Lil Portie soon became one of the must eat spots in Dublin and even gained international recognition after the restaurant was featured on Vice Media’s Season 4 – F*ck That’s delicious with Action Bronson.
Since then Nico has continued to cook pop-up dinners, collaborating with well known Irish chefs and brands. He also makes regular appearances on Irish TV in cooking segments. He continues to create unique, interesting and exciting recipes all the time, showcasing his cooking, shopping and creativity on Instagram to a growing following.
“Culture is a force for unification. A shared history between us may not always be obvious on the surface but often the interpretations are from distant whispers that now become now ringing echoes. They are the bare elements of the human condition and the urges that every human must express; from the primal scream to the social gathering” Nico Reynolds.