Elaine Mahon is a lecturer at Technological University Dublin, where she teaches the history, sociology, and pedagogy of food. She was awarded a PhD in 2019 for her research on Irish state hospitality and diplomatic dining between 1922 and 1963.

A trained chef, Elaine teaches academic and practical modules, drawing on industry experience to support professional skills development. Her research focuses on gastronomy, culinary diplomacy and the politics of food in international relations, with a particular interest in the relationship between food, identity, and power.

She is a regular media contributor and, in 2025, was nominated by students for the TU Dublin Excellence in Research Supervision Award.

Elaine holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (2025), a Postgraduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching (2022), and a BA (Hons.) in Culinary Arts. Before taking up her current role, she worked as a chef for ten years and, in a previous career, held posts at the European Commission in Brussels and Spain. She has a strong interest in equality, diversity, and inclusion, and supports inclusive practices in education.

Elaine is a founding member of the TU Dublin Centre for Irish Studies, and co-editor of the Journal of Franco-Irish Studies. She is a trustee of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, where she coordinates the Young Chefs programme, and serves on the organising committees of the Dublin Gastronomy Symposium and the ‘Food and Drink As…’ Conference Series.

Founding Board Member, TU Dublin Centre for Irish Studies
Organising Committee Member, Dublin Gastronomy Symposium
Trustee, Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery
Editor, Journal of Franco-Irish Studies
Coordinator, Young Chefs Programme, Oxford Food Symposium
Organising Committee Member, 'Food and Drink As...' Conference Series
Guest Editor, Food, Culture & Society
Board Member, Association for Franco-Irish Studies
Member, Les Dames d'Escoffier

Culinary arts; food in international relations (diplomatic dining, diplomatic gastronomy, culinary diplomacy, gastrodiplomacy); food pedagogy; equality, diversity and inclusion; intersectionality; education; identity and cultures; practical professional skills; gastronomy; French gastronomy

2025 Learning, Teaching & Assessment Affiliate Learning, Teaching & Assessment - TU Dublin

In addition to Masters and PhD supervision, Elaine delivers the following modules across undergraduate and masters programmes:

• Food Pedagogy: Exploring Culinary Education
• Gastronomy 1 – Food in History
• Gastronomy 2 - Sociology of Food
• French Culinary Wine Terminology
• Fundamentals of Professional Pastry
• Introduction to Professional Pastry