Corinna Hardgrave, the respected Irish restaurant critic and food writer, passed away on October 5, 2026, at the age of 64 after an illness. In the tributes that followed, one name appeared consistently: her husband, Steve Hardgrave. For readers searching “Corinna Hardgrave husband,” the answer is straightforward. Steve was her longtime partner, the father of their two daughters, and the person who described her role at The Irish Times as “her dream job.”
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Who Was Corinna Hardgrave?
Born in County Carlow and raised in Dublin, Corinna began her working life at Guinness straight from school. She later worked as a flight attendant in the Middle East before moving into promotions and public relations in England. Her food-writing career took shape after the family returned to Ireland following the birth of their first daughter.
Over more than two decades she built a strong reputation:
- Restaurant critic and wine writer for Irish Tatler
- Wine columnist for the Irish Independent
- Food writer for The Sunday Times
- Weekly restaurant critic for The Irish Times for six years
She also contributed travel pieces, held a WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits, and won multiple awards, including the Restaurant Critic Award at the Irish Food Writing Awards in 2025.
Meet Steve Hardgrave – Corinna’s Husband
Steve Hardgrave kept a low public profile. Unlike his wife, who reviewed restaurants and interviewed top chefs, Steve rarely appeared in the media. When Corinna died, he spoke briefly and warmly about her work, calling the Irish Times role “the culmination of all her writing and eating.”
Little detailed biographical information about Steve is publicly available. What is clear is that the couple shared a long marriage, raised two daughters together, and supported each other’s lives through career moves across countries. Steve remained by Corinna’s side through her final illness and is now listed among her immediate survivors alongside their daughters.
Their Family Life Together
Corinna and Steve’s family life centered on their two daughters, Katherine and Isabelle. The couple’s return to Ireland after time abroad marked the start of Corinna’s serious food-writing career, suggesting the family prioritised stability once children arrived.
Public mentions of the family are limited and respectful. Corinna occasionally shared travel moments on social media that included family, but she kept personal details private. Steve’s comments after her death focused on her professional fulfilment rather than private family stories, reinforcing the couple’s preference for a quiet home life away from the spotlight of restaurant reviews and food awards.
Quick family facts Detail Information Husband Steve Hardgrave Daughters Katherine and Isabelle Survived by Husband Steve and two daughters Public profile of Steve Low; spoke only after her death Family base Ireland (after earlier years abroad)
Corinna’s Career and Final Years
Corinna joined The Irish Times during the Covid pandemic, navigating the unusual rules of outdoor dining and takeaway boxes while still delivering sharp, fair reviews. Colleagues praised her for never attacking restaurants unfairly yet never hesitating to point out high prices or poor service.
She continued writing until shortly before her death. In 2025 she collected another Restaurant Critic Award, a recognition of the consistency and skill that defined her work. Steve’s description of the job as her “dream job” suggests he fully understood how much the role meant to her after years of building a career around food, wine, and travel.
Conclusion
Steve Hardgrave was Corinna Hardgrave’s husband, the father of their two daughters, and the quiet partner who supported her through an impressive career in Irish food journalism. While he remained largely out of the public eye, his brief comments after her death on October 5, 2026, revealed deep appreciation for the work that defined her later years. Corinna leaves behind a body of writing that shaped how many people in Ireland thought about restaurants, wine, and travel. Steve and their daughters now carry her private memory, while readers continue to remember the critic who always put honesty and good food first.
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