Showing posts with label L'Atitude 51. Show all posts
Showing posts with label L'Atitude 51. Show all posts

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Return of L’Atitude’s CineCafé. Sushi, Saké and Miyazaki

Return of L’Atitude’s CineCafé
Sushi, Saké and Miyazaki

L’Atitude’s CineCafé started its 2016 run with the enthralling Japanese film Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011), the story of an 85 year old chef who runs a 10 seat three star Michelin sushi restaurant in a Tokyo subway station. Not alone do L’Atitude entertain you, they also feed you and, for this occasion, local Japanese chef Takashi Miyazaki was on hand to do matching food, a small plate of big delights.

And that wasn't the end of it - remember all this for 15 euro. We had an opening wee glass of an Italian natural wine from Piemonte, a drop of Saké at halftime and a drop of Shōchū, a distilled version, for the road. Quite a night and the next CineCafé event, a sherry based one, is due on the third Wednesday of February. The upstairs room, decorated on this occasion with origami by Celine, is ideal for these events.

The film's blurb says: At the heart of this story is Jiro's relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro's legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father's shadow. We didn't really see that much tension between the two, on the contrary.

Sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro's sushi bar. But often your 21 course (bite!) meal is over in 15 minutes. Jiro puts your piece on your slate and you eat it immediately!

Not so quick though if you’re an apprentice here. Your training could take ten years! Then, one day, you are told you've made it. Not all hopefuls last the pace - some pack it on after one day.
One of the jobs for the newcomers is to massage the Octopus. In the early days, this was a 30 minute stint but Jiro has increased it to 45.He is always trying to improve his sushi, thus the long massage. And a tip for Irish sushi imitators. Serve your rice at room temperature, not cold!

He is the undoubted master in Japan and son Yoshikazu buys the best fish available in the market. That market is huge, the tuna lined up like battalions. And you wonder how long more that particular fish will last if so many are needed every single morning for this part of the city alone. Yoshikazu is also anxious about the future supply.
For all his fame and his insistence that a good palate is essential to being a chef, Jiro is a humble man, humble enough to acknowledge that the best palate he has come across belongs to the famous French chef Joël Robuchon.
I won’t tell you too much about it as the film is easily found on the internet and this is one link where you can see it in its entirety.
Miyazaki, who has been getting great praise for his little restaurant/takeaway of the same name, was introduced at the start and his plateful came during the interval. He explained that, since we were in a wine bar, he used red wine with the duck and it was delicious. So too was the prawn - “the head is the best part” - and the salmon sushi and the sea bass sushi were also delightful.
You can see Takashi in action in his kitchen in Miyazaki which is on Evergreen Street, at its junction with Barrack Street. You can also have his food at home, thanks to Deliveroo, but it's great to get in there and get one of the six or seven high stools! I’ve been there a few times and my first vist is recalled here.
Just like Takashi, I too succumbed to being in a wine bar and sampled a few from L’Atitude's amazing list, dozens of terrific wines available in many options, from a small tasting glass to the full bottle.
I started with the Forrest Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand), elegant and altogether excellent, €5.70 for a 125ml glass. My companions were enjoying the Palacio de Bornos Verdejo (Rueda, Spain) and I was allowed a few sips of this and found it smooth and fresh with loads of fruit.
And we finished the night drinking a lovely Madregale bianco, a blend of  60% Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and 40% Chardonnay (from Abruzzo), simple and refreshing but with inviting aromas and no shortage of equally pleasing fruit flavors (4.20 a glass). And the good news is that they also do a red, both available here at L’Atitude. Importer Pascal Rossignol of Le Caveau (he also enjoyed the evening) tells me that they are becoming quite popular as house wines. Not surprised.
There’s a lot going on in L’Atitude: wine courses, tastings, films, music and wine and food of course. Check it all out here or just call in to Number 1, Union Quay, Cork, across the road from the City Hall, across the river from the Clarion Hotel.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

L’Atitude Hosts The Menu at Pieta House Fundraiser

L’Atitude Hosts The Menu at Pieta House Fundraiser
Joe's very happy with help from Derek (left) and Yoann (L'Atitude)
It was a good night in L’Atitude 51, with Joe McNamee (The Menu) and Leslie Williams (Examiner Wine Correspondent) in command, Joe in the kitchen, Leslie pouring a selection of wines. And all present, customers, L’Atitude owners and staff, joining together in supporting Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm or suicide.

Pieta House offers One to One counsellling, Family support, Self/Family/Friend referral, and Free professional therapy. Pieta House in Cork is at Highfield Lawn, Model Farm Road and the phone number is 021 434 1400. See the contact details for other areas at www.pieta.ie
Beaujolais bán
Back to Joe and Leslie who gave us a great evening, good food and good wine and a large measure of craic, all made possible by the staff at L’Atitude and the sponsors. Check out the list below, a list that includes many of the top local producers.

Bubbles were served as we arrived. Not just any bubbles. Ours came from the Wiston Estate in the South of England. This Blanc de blancs is very highly rated and produced by Limerick winemaker Dermot Sugrue. The same bubbles also made an second appearance, perfectly accompanying the Oyster dish. There was a choice here as the Oysters came complete with a shot of the new premium vodka Kalak.
Leslie in action
Have to say O Risal by Terras Gauda has been one of my favourite Albarinos for a while now and I was delighted to see Leslie pour it when the Chicken and Dillisk broth arrived.

Thursday of course was release date for Beaujolais Nouveau and we were treated to a natural one. “This is from the Gamay grape, a wine for pleasure. So drink it and be happy,” exhorted Mr Williams as he poured. He is always full of surprises and one was his introduction of a white Beaujolais, quite a beauty too, made from Chardonnay by Jean Paul Brun.
Harty's Oysters
And soon we would have another unexpected twist from Leslie when he poured a Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas 2012 Vintage Port to accompany the Beef Brisket. A lovely dish and a gorgeous port but did they go together? Opinion was divided!

No such divide though with the next pairing which saw Longueville House Apple Brandy matched with Tarte Tatin. A natural!
Tuna by Sally Barnes
And then a sad moment as we clinked glasses of Riesling in remembrance of Joe Karwig who died recently. The Willi Haag 2004 Riesling Spatlese, only 8% abv, was a terrific match with the Smoked Durrus Dote and the crackers from Sheridan’s.


Still not quite finished. An espresso cup of Golden Bean Coffee Halambo AA (custom-roasted for The Menu himself) was my finalé while CL went for the Kingfisher Teas Moroccan Mint Green Tea with Honey, a sweet drop indeed. And further sweetness at hand too as plates of Yoann’s Muscadine Truffles made an all too brief appearance.
Beef brisket (O'Mahony's Butcher)
PIETA HOUSE FUNDRAISER
L’Atitude 51, Union Quay, Cork
Thursday, November 18th, 2015

Miso & Saffron Butter, Sourdough Bread

Chicken, Dillisk, Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers

Bare Nekked Harty's Oyster/Harty’s Oyster, Kalak Vodka, Honey, Black Garlic Lime Mayo/
Rye Crisp, Mustard Crème Fraiche, Pickled

Cold-Smoked Loin of Tuna, Ballyhoura Mushrooms, Leaves, Radishes

Beef Brisket, King Oyster Mushroom, Oyster Mushroom, Leek, Radish, Cavelo Nero

Smoked Durrus Dote, Sheridan’s Brown Bread Crackers, Garden Cherries & Black Pepper

Tarte Tatin, Vanilla Ice Cream

Golden Bean Coffee Halambo AA (custom-roasted for The Menu)
Or Kingfisher Teas Moroccan Mint Green Tea, Honey
& Joann’s Muscadines Truffles

WINES DONATED BY
WINES DONATED BY
KARWIG’S Carrigaline, Marcus Gates
LE CAVEAU, Kilkenny, Pascal Rossignol
WINES DIRECT, Mullingar, Fionnuala Harkin
TAYLOR’S PORT Porto Chris Forbes
CLASSIC DRINKS Cork Steve Dwyer

PRODUCE SUPPLIED COURTESY OF …
OYSTERS
Joe Harty, Harty’s Oysters, Gortnadiha Lower, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
HERRING
Kirsti O’Kelly, Silver Darlings, Corbally Road, Limerick
KALAK VODKA
Patrick Shelley www.kalakvodka.com
MUSHROOMS, CEP OIL, CEP VINEGAR
Lucy Deegan & Mark Cribben, Ballyhoura Mushrooms
BEEF
Eoin O’Mahony, O’Mahony’s Butcher, English Market, Cork
COUNTRY BUTTER, CRÈME FRAICHE, YOGHURT
Alan & Valerie Kingston, Glenilen Farm, Drimoleague
SOURDOUGH BREAD
Declan Ryan, Arbutus Bread, Mayfield, Cork
VEGETABLES, LEAVES, HERBS
Derek Hannon, Greenfield Farm, Knockraha, Co Cork
CHICKEN, EGGS
Tom Clancy, Ballycotton Free Range Poultry, Ballycotton, Co Cork
SMOKED TUNA
Sally Barnes, Woodcock Smokery, Castletownshend
CHEESE
Jeffa Gill, Durrus Cheese, Durrus, Sheep’s Head, West Cork
BLACK GARLIC
Bryn Perrin, West Cork Garlic, Enniskeane
SHERIDANS’ BROWN BREAD CHEESE CRACKERS
Jane & Richard Graham-Leigh, Cookies of Character, Dunmanway
ICE CREAM
Marcus Hodder, Yum Gelato, Crosshaven, Co Cork
APPLES
James Scannell, Knockmealagula Orchard, Ovens, Co Cork
COFFEE
Marc Kingston, Golden Bean Coffee Roasters, Ballymaloe
MOROCCAN MINT GREEN TEA
Mico & Colm Hassett, Kingfisher Teas, Co Wexford
PREMIER CATER HIRE / NATIONAL EVENT HIRE CORK

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

L'Atitude 51. More Than A Wine Bar!

L'Atitude 51. More Than A Wine Bar!
Wine aces: Emma (left) and Beverley

Since 1968, when people in Catalunya talk of Barcelona FC, they say “it is more than a club”. Perhaps from now on, L’Atitude 51 will be referred by its many friends as “more than a wine bar”. For that was the gist of the citation read out in Dublin last week when the popular Cork venue was awarded the Wine Award of the Year in the 2015 Georgina Campbell Awards, Ireland’s longest-running hospitality awards, and highly respected by the industry.
Co-owners, Beverley Mathews and Emmanuelle Legrand, told me that they are extremely proud and honoured to receive this award in recognition of their efforts to create a better understanding of wine and encourage people to step out of their oenological comfort zones. This award is the crown they have been working towards since opening less than 3 years ago; despite that, it came as a complete surprise to both ladies when the announcement was made. Beverley and Emmanuelle stress that this journey could not have happened without the loyal following of customers who have supported L’Atitude 51 from the outset.
The key philosophy behind L’Atitude 51 is to make wine fun and exciting, and to that end they are always on the lookout for new and original activities to promote wine. The recent virtual skype tasting organized for Culture Night, which is cited in Georgina Campbell’s review, is one such event and was the first of its kind in Ireland.
They also organize a monthly CineCafe, which features a movie with a food and/or wine theme and incorporates a tasting in keeping with the movie. They also hold regular wine classes. Besides wine, music also plays a prominent part in their calendar of events with live gigs aplenty. Always striving to keep things fresh, they are currently in the throes of a complete overhaul of their wine list in an effort to get people drinking “better”. The new list will be launched in time for L’Atitude 51’s 3rd anniversary at the beginning of December – so keep an eye out for it!
Contact
L'Atitude 51 
Beverley Mathews - Emmanuelle Legrand
Tél. : 021 2390219
Email : info@latitude51.ie

The Award Citation
L’Atitude 51 Wine Café, Cork
This is the only category of our Awards for which we encourage applications. While we also take note of other outstanding wine offerings encountered on our travels, interested establishments may submit their wine lists for consideration, and they are then judged together with other aspects of the wine experience.  
Billing itself as a wine café, this quirky riverside venue is part tapas bar, part wine bar - and, run by French and Irish friends, Emmanuelle Legrand and Beverley Mathews, it has a distinctly continental flair. Emmanuelle and Beverley have a serious passion for wine, which they love to share with customers.
Alongside the well-sourced ingredients for the café or evening tapas menus (great selection of European and artisan foods served up as delicious taster plates), you’ll find a creative wine list on an oversized blackboard listing over 50 bottles, half of which can be sampled as tasting glasses (75ml), or ordered by the glass or carafe. Daily specials come with a suggested wine pairing, and a 'wine flight' (tasting to compare several wines) can be arranged in whatever combination interests you. Or you can take part in their 'mystery wine challenge', where they select three wines for you to taste 'blind' - if you get them right, they refund you the price of the three wines...Win or lose, it's a fun way to learn more about wine.
Other interesting drinks include Irish craft beers (8 Degrees on draught, Dungarvan by the bottle) and Longueville House cider, as well as an international list and cocktails too. Upstairs, wine workshops and tastings - including meet the winemaker evenings and tutored whiskey tastings - are held in a room with great river views. And innovative events are a special feature of L'Atitude 51 - a recent example was an internet tasting, where wines were tasted in Cork with insight coming from the Irish winemakers in Sussex, South Africa and New Zealand on Skype (big screen). Whether to focus on learning or simply while away an afternoon or evening sampling the tempting wares, it’s an inviting spot. Very much a bar with benefits.
Events to come...
GIGS
- Thursday 16th October
Lynda Cullen, Jamie O’Shea
Jazz Festival @ L’Atitude51
- Friday 24th October (10.30 pm – Free) Lyda
- Saturday 25th October
Eileen Healy – Edel Sullivan
- Sunday 26th October
Colin McLean Latin Trio

L’ATITUDE CINECAFE
Movies you “See & Taste”
Wednesday 22nd October at 8 pm
Babette’s Feast
Tickets 12 euros (includes tasting)
Booking essential : Tel. 021 2390219 or info@latitude51.ie

RHONE WINE WEEK
Thursday 6th November
"A Wine Goose Chase"
This is an interactive wine tasting combined with storytelling which takes you on a trip with the tenacious Irish people who transformed the wine world and didn't let coming from a grape-free land stop them!
Tickets €20 Doors 8pm Show starts at 8.30pm
Booking essential : www.awinegoosechase.com

Friday November 7th "A Taste of Ventoux"
Presentation and tasting with Fred Chaudiere of Chateau Pesquié – an estate located at the foot of the Ventoux Mountain in the Southern Rhone, run by 3 generations of winemakers.
Tickets €15. - 7.30pm
Booking essential :
www.chateaupesquie.com/en/welcome.php
www.latitude51.ie
page1image15736 page1image15896

Monday, September 22, 2014

Sparkling and Still on Skype. Wine Geese on the World Wide Web.

Sparkling and Still on Skype.
Wine Geese on the World Wide Web.
Dermot Sugrue, at home in Wiston, talks to the tasters in Cork
A Decanter Gold Medal winner was among the wines featured at a novel international tasting based at L’Atitude 51 (Cork) last Friday as part of the nationwide Culture Night. The work of three of the younger generation of Ireland's Wine Geese was celebrated with the winemakers talking about their vineyards (in Sussex, South Africa and New Zealand), telling us all in L’Atitude about their various wines as we sipped them in Cork and watched the winemakers on Skype (big screen, bien sur).

Beverly Mathews, Colm McCann and Maurice O'Mahony, who organised the 2013 series of Wine Geese visits, were behind this venture, the first public internet wine-tasting in Ireland, and the speakers on the other side of Skype were Dermot Sugrue (Wiston Estates, Sussex), Marion Smith (Elgin Ridge, South Africa) and Fleur McCree (Little Beauty, New Zealand).

Dermot, a Limerick man, had wanted to be a winemaker since he was 16 but it was some thirteen years later before he started a Viticulture and Winemaking Course in England's Plumpton College. His progress was astonishingly rapid thereafter, much like the English sparkling wine industry, and his Wiston wines are regular award winners.

Wiston Estate vineyards are on pure chalk soil, just like in Champagne… This gives finesse, aging potential and a certain Je ne sais quoi. They are showing so beautiful, though still so young. And are in the top restaurants in the UK."

We tasted two. First up was the Blanc de Blancs NV. This has been voted the best in England. “It has a sense of richness that belies its youth. It is one hundred per cent Chardonnay, mostly 2011 plus reserve from 2010 and has spent 18 months on its lees.”

He described the Rosé 2011 as “a freak of nature”. The year was unbelievably warm, a poor Spring but a great Summer that extended into September eventually yielding very ripe grapes. “An accidental Rosé, our most successful wine, still very young and so exuberant early on.

“That exuberance is now fading and it is maturing into a sour cherry type. From over one hundred English sparkling wines, this Rosé has won one of just Decanter three golds.” It may be a freak of nature but Dermot hopes to replicate it in 2014. This year has been similar in many respects to 2011 and fingers are crossed for the harvest next month.


Marion, in the vineyard
Next stop was Elgin Ridge in South Africa and here we met Marion Smith (right) from Ballyjamesduff - her cousins still run the family farm there. The farming goes on at Elgin Ridge and Marian is the largest breeder of Dexter cattle (the native Irish breed) in the Western Cape. Sheep “mow” the grass between the vines. Elgin Ridge is organic.

The Dexters
But there were no vines there when Marion and her husband Brian arrived about eight years back. The farm had lain idle for some time and that made it easier to go organic. “We are living the dream and have wonderful workers here.” 

As she spoke the vineyard behind rapidly fell into total darkness. “I miss the long bright evenings sitting out in Ireland”, she said and invited anyone visiting in the area to drop in and see them. Be sure and take a look at the website. It is a gorgeous place, so many animals.

We tasted their 282 Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyard is 282 metres above sea level and the vines benefit from the cool afternoon breeze and the proximity of the ocean. It is a different style of Sauvignon Blanc with a beautiful freshness.

Fleur McCree, whose ancestors (the Cox family) hail from Passage West, is a serious winemaker but is always game for a laugh. We were thanking her for getting up early in Marlborough until she pulled the curtain behind her and showed us the Tower Bridge in London. Fleur spends much of her time on the road selling her gorgeous Little Beauty wines.


Marlborough is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc but this time we were tasting Little Beauty’s Pinot Gris. “We have a tiny strip of Pinot Gris. ..The bad weather doesn't get to the East Coast … We have huge sunshine hours and not much rain… Hot by day, cold by night is good for Pinot Gris.”


"It is a prolific grower, too much so, too much fruit is no good! You must discipline the variety, quite hard - cut the bunches by hand! It is also thick-skinned and that stops the sunshine getting through. So open up the canopy to aid ripening. The fruit is hand harvested and it is gentle handling all the way after that".


“The aromas are herbaceous, stone fruits (peaches, nectarines). It is almost creamy, hints of mild spice. Notice that textured element when you lick your lips and inside your mouth. It is an interesting wine from a sensation perspective, oily and concentrated. It is better served not so cold as it then expresses itself better, not so shy. It is a very popular variety, very approachable.” It sure is. One of the best of its kind as far as I am concerned!


“What would you pair it with?”, somebody queried.
“With your cornflakes,” came the rapid reply. “One of your five a day!”.  She did go on to say Asian, particularly Asian with nuts, peanut Satay is her own favourite. She also recommended Pork belly with chilli and garlic etc or maybe pork roast with apricots.

And then she pulled that curtain, bringing this innovative long distance tasting to an end.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Shawlies Swing on Coal Quay Stage. The Bonded Warehouse: the future?

Shawlies Swing on Coal Quay Stage
The Bonded Warehouse: the future?
A lively bunch of shawl clad women got the 2014 Coal Quay Family Festival off to a swinging start as they took to the stage for a couple of songs. The stage would be busy for a few hours after that with all types of musical groups in action. All part of the Cork Heritage Day and a very appropriate time to remember the past in the heart of the city, politicians (at least one) and priests present as the original shawlies and their families were remembered in song and prayer, and pigeons released in memory of the past and in hope for the future of this vibrant area.
Busy at Coal Quay Farmers Market
And much of the vibrancy is provided by the relatively new businesses in the famous street. The likes of the Cornstore and the Bodega and the spanking new Rising Sons Brew Bar played key roles on Saturday. And then you had the buzz of the Farmers Market, a very genuine market, probably underrated market, where most of the stall holders are actual farmers and producers. I made some tasty purchases here, particularly from Ballyhoura Mushrooms, Caroline and Orchard Cottage Dairy.

The Cornstore's Mags O'Connor dishing out crubeens galore.
And indeed it was here, at the food shop (open Thu-Sat), that I had my first drink of the day, a complimentary glass of wine. And I wasn't the only one enjoying the vino as the sweet voice of mezzo soprano Amanda Neary spilt over the sunny street.

The Bodega were serving free bodice but the queue was massive and I couldn't get near but I did avail of a sample of the smooth and gorgeous Mi Daza stout, courtesy of the Rising Sons stall. And more food at the Cornstore. Out on the street, Mags O’Connor and her merry helpers were dishing out tasty crubeens and a terrific lamb stew (with pearl barley).

Read more about the Coal Quay and the hard-working people behind the annual festival here .

Inside and outside the bond. The vault on the left was the regular store for Hennessy's brandy for decades.
The Bonded Warehouse  (perhaps best known as the bond) also has a long past but what of its future? Later on Saturday afternoon, along with a few dozen more and under the expert guidance of Harry Golden, I visited the ancient building which has been a bonded warehouse for wines and spirits for over 200 years. Temperature (about 12 degrees) never varies and is perfect for the storage of wine.

But not for much longer. A new purpose built bond is now operating in Little lsland and the holdings here in Custom House Quay are being run down. So this public tour, only the second ever, could well be the last and it was with some nostalgia that Harry showed us around. What will become of it in the future? Harry sees huge potential here - there are after all about five acres on this last triangle of land where the two channels of the River Lee meet.
In the bond: Harry Golden (centre) talks of the past and of the future.
It is a listed building but still there is enormous potential in this magnificent location. Just hope the dreams don't become choked with red tape.

Some of Saturday's visitors were half hoping to find a dusty bottle of wine or brandy in the vaults but the ones we visited were empty! Though hopes rose briefly when glass was spotted in a hole in the wall. Just an old light bulb!
In the Coal Quay
One of the vaults visited was Number B17 and that had a long association with Hennessy’s Brandy of Cognac. The Hennessy family originally came from North Cork and, over many decades, their brandy was unloaded at the quay and sent down a line of rollers in the vault to be stored in the bond until the importing merchant paid the due tax.

Beverly Mathews, Maurice O’Mahony and Colm McCan, the trio who organised the Wine Geese series last year,  had organised the bond visit, with help from Harry of course. And later Beverly invited us back to L’Atitude, the lovely wine bar on Union Quay that she runs with Emma Lagrande.


Ladies of the Coal Quay

And here we heard of another of the more recent Wine Geese. Colm McCan told us that Marian Smith grew up in Ballyjamesduff and now runs the Elgin Ridge Winery  (it is 282 metres above sea level) in South Africa. And the generous L’Atitude gave us all a glass of the 282 Sauvignon Blanc, a lovely fresh wine. It is an organic operation and interestingly Dexter cattle help keep the vineyard clean!



Before we started the bond tour, we had a look at the interior of the Custom House, open all day for the Heritage event. Highlight here is the 1906 boardroom (especially the delicately patterned ceiling). If you didn't get there this year, put it on your list for next year. Must say, I’m looking forward to Heritage Day 2015 already.

Deputy Lord Mayor Kenneth O'Flynn finds a spot on stage for a young lady. Dishing out Mi Daza stout; and the pram, an essential on the old Cold Quay!