Taste of the Week. Mella's Butter Fudge Irish Cream Liqueur

Taste of the Week

Mella's Butter Fudge Irish Cream Liqueur

Mella's Butter Fudge with Irish Cream Liqueur.

Indulge in the delicious flavours of Mella's Butter Fudge Irish Cream Liqueur, our Taste of the Week.

Mella's passion for making fudge began at a young age when she helped her mother in their kitchen overlooking Bantry Bay. Today, in Clonakilty Industrial Estate, she uses the creamiest West Cork butter to create her old-fashioned, yet never out-of-fashion, crumbly buttery fudge.

But what makes this fudge truly irresistible is the addition of Irish Cream Liqueur produced by Skibbereen-based West Cork Distillers. The combination of the rich and decadent fudge with the creamy liqueur is simply mouth-watering.

The fudge is widely available - I got mine in Roughty Foodie in the English Market - but don't wait too long to try this enhanced fudge, as it won't last!

Beer of the Week: Rascals Empire Haze NEIPA. Make some room in your fridge for this beauty!

Beer of the Week

Rascals Empire Haze NEIPA, 6.0% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

Make some room in your fridge for this beauty!

Rascals, celebrating 10 years of making beer, recently joined forces in a New York City with KCBC, Finback Brewing and Return Brewing as well as Crosby Hops to produce this oustanding New England IPA.

It has the usual rich colour, hazy of course, of the New England style. It promises lots of fruit and delivers but in a balanced way. Rye say the hops really bring it to another level. And it’s hard to argue against that when you savour the delicate orange, pear and apricot flavours and aromas along with hints of pine.

That delicious combination comes from the Vista (CGX) Hops, also Cascade CGX and Idaho 7 T90. Wheat and oats malts bulk up the body, giving a pillowy mouthfeel from the  first sup to the last drop.

By the way,  every Rascals limited edition beer for 2024 is a collaboration. Hope they are all as good as this one. Very Highly Recommended.

A Golden Gem from Portugal. Quinta Da Ribeirinha Contracena Curtimenta Tejo

Quinta Da Ribeirinha Contracena Curtimenta Tejo (DO) 2022, 11% ABV

€22.00, on offer €17.60, Matsons (Bandon, Grange, Youghal)

Quinta Da Ribeirinha Contracena Curtimenta Tejo (DO) 2022

A Golden Gem from Portugal

This "orange" wine from Quinta Da Ribeirinha is a refreshing change from the norm. Made from 100% Fernão Pires grapes, it boasts a unique golden hue and a vibrant citrusy flavour profile.

The winemaking process is equally intriguing. The grapes spend seven days in contact with their skins during fermentation (with native yeasts), giving the wine its distinctive colour and extra depth. After that, it's aged in a mix of French oak barrels and concrete tanks, adding complexity and smoothness.

This Contracena Curtimenta is a medium-bodied delight, with a crisp acidity and a lingering finish. It's perfect for those who love a bit of adventure in their glass. With its refreshing citrus notes, we recommend pairing it with sushi rolls.

The Fernão Pires grape is a leading white grape in Portugal, with lime, peach and orange blossom notes. This iteration is Very Highly Recommended.

The Tejo wine region in central Portugal is spread on each bank of the eponymous river. The Tejo (Tagus to us, Tajo in Spain) is the largest river of the Iberian peninsula. It ends its over 1,000 km run in the Atlantic, having passed through Lisbon. 

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**** I've often mentioned here over the past few years that one can find great value in Portuguese wine. If you walk into a Matson store (Bandon, Grange and Youghal) you'll find a real indication of this. With Wine Development Manager Nicolas Sicot at the helm, they have sourced quite a few other wines from Quinta Da Ribeirinha. Labels include Val De Cabanas and Val De Lobos, all excellent value at €13.00 but even better at a tenner. You'll have no bother finding them in Grange as there's a display just inside the door. In any case, Nicot or his team will help you.  I'll be highlighting some of them here over the next few weeks but the tip is to get to Matson's now!

The Scenic Walk at Camden, Crosshaven

 The Scenic Walk at Camden, Crosshaven

I was in Carrigaline recently with a few hours on my hands. I saw the 220 bus for Crosshaven and jumped on and it took me all the way to Camden. Because it was a Monday, I was thinking that the fort would be closed and so it was but I was enjoying the views over the harbour.

Then, right alongside the

San Polo Rosso Di Montalcino. Delicious with depth and character. Very Highly Recommended.

San Polo Rosso Di Montalcino (DOC) 2021, 14% ABV

RRP €37.95. Stockists: Kelly`s Off Licence, Jus de Vine

Delicious with great depth and strong character. Very Highly Recommended.

Rosso Di Montalcino (DOC) is regarded as the lighter, younger and less expensive cousin of the area’s well-known Brunello (DOCG**), created so that

A Sustainable Summer Feast: The Met Bar & Restaurant Shines

 A Sustainable Summer Feast: The Met Bar & Restaurant Shines

Celebrate summer flavours and local bounty at Cork's iconic Met Bar & Restaurant. The Metropole Hotel's Summer Special Menu is a culinary delight, championing fresh, seasonal ingredients while minimising waste.

A Feast for the Senses and the Soul

This €32.50 menu, available seven days a week from 5 pm, offers a delightful choice: a main course from seven tempting options and a

On the craft trail with a trio of Very Highly Recommended Beers from Hope, Bullhouse and Third Barrel

On the craft trail with a trio of Very Highly Recommended Beers from Hope, Bullhouse and Third Barrel 

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Hope Overboard Witbier 4.8% ABV,  440 ml can O’Briens

Hope tells us this pale gold beer is a Belgian-style Witbier, disclosing also that it is infused with curacao orange peel and juniper berries, not that there’s any major sign of

Celebrate Global Flavours at the Taste of Kildare Festival 2024

press release 

Celebrate Global Flavours at the Taste of Kildare Festival 2024

Derry Clarke, Natalie Collins, and Pippa Clancy, all set to go!

 

This September, food lovers are invited to indulge in a culinary celebration like no other at the 2024 Taste of Kildare Festival. Set against the scenic backdrop of Naas Racecourse from the 20th to the 22nd of September, this year's festival is brought to you by Into Kildare, the tourism board for County Kildare, and is supported by Ballymore. The festival, now in its third year, promises

Connemara Calling: A whirlwind tour of Wild Beauty and Delicious Bites

Connemara Calling: A whirlwind tour of Wild Beauty and Delicious Bites

Superb Chicken dish at Misunderstood Heron.

Glasshouse in walled garden at Kylemore Abbey

Connemara stole a piece of my heart over a recent whirlwind 3-day trip. Foyle's Hotel became our cosy home base in charming Clifden,  a lovely 3-star hotel filled with friendly faces. You immediately see why it has been so popular over the centuries and remains so.

Westward Bound: Smokehouses, Scenery, and Seafood

Our days were dedicated to exploring

On the craft trail with Kinnegar, Hope and Killarney

On the craft trail with Kinnegar, Hope and Killarney

Kinnegar Wee Bunny Session IPA 4.0% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

Wee Bunny, up for a session, joins his older and bigger siblings in Kinnegar family

The Wee Bunny has a bright straw colour under his soft white head, with the bubbles rising through a medium haze. A punchy Citrus kick on the palate follows Citrus aromas, as the American hops show their character. Quite a pleasant surprise, that is

“Fresh, fruity, an everyday wine with lots of Tuscan character.” Serego Alighieri BellOville Toscana

Serego Alighieri BellOville Toscana (IGT) 2019, 13.0% ABV

€20.95 O’Briens Wine

“Fresh, fruity, an everyday wine with lots of Tuscan character.”

The colour of this smooth supple organic wine is a deep ruby red. Rich berry fruit and liquorice on the nose. Firm and richly fruity, but soft

A Culinary Journey Awaits at Clifden's Lamplight!

A Culinary Journey Awaits

 at Clifden's Lamplight

Chicken

Clifden's Lamplight isn't just a tapas bar; it's an experience for the senses. This charming spot offers a delightful exploration of small plates from around the world, all crafted with fresh, local ingredients and a touch of seasonal magic.

Tapas for Sharing and Savoring

The heart of Lamplight lies in its

Taste of the Week with Jack and Janet.

Taste of the Week

Jack McCarthy's Pastrami and Janet's Country Fayre Ploughman's Chutney.

Another visit to the English Market and another Taste of the Week, the superb Jack McCarthy pastrami from On the Pig's Back. We also bought some of Jack's