Beer of the Week. Wide Street Plush Pale Ale

 Beer of the Week

Wide Street Plush Pale Ale 4.3% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

This turned out to be quite the ambush, not at all what I was expecting. A very pleasant surprise indeed and Beer of the Week.

Pale gold is the colour of the Plush Pale Ale by Longford’s Wide Street. The aroma is mostly citrusy. And citrus, along with some piney notes, also on the palate, where you find an excellent balance between the malt and bitterness of the hops. The insertion of oats has, as usual, made for a smoother body and, overall, it is an excellent easy-drinking beer.

You’d hardly associate this mild-mannered ale with the mixed fermentation methods and 100% Brettanomyces beers that Wide Street is deservedly well known for. Mild-mannered yes but still full of enhanced fruity flavour (grapefruit included) and both refreshing and thirst-quenching.

The Hops: Centennial and Cascade.

Centennial, named after the centennial anniversary of Washington state, is incredibly well-rounded and useful for bittering, flavour, aroma, and dry-hopping, according to producers Yakima Hops. It quickly developed the nickname Super Cascade for its vibrant citrus and soft pine characteristics. Cascade, which here contributes floral and citrus notes, is used in many ales, including the classic Sierra Nevada.

Esporão 2022 Alentejano. A taste of Alentejo sunshine at an affordable price.

Esporão 2022 Alentejano (IG), 14% ABV

€17.95 at Bradleys

A taste of Alentejo sunshine at an affordable price.

This deep ruby organic red boasts a captivating bouquet – aromas of ripe plums and cherries merge delightfully with a floral and herbal nuance. The first sip is a revelation.  Full-bodied yet surprisingly fresh, the wine offers a cascade of juicy red fruit flavours, beautifully balanced by a hint of spice and silky, well-integrated tannins. The finish is long and persistent, leaving you wanting more.

Offering a taste of the Alentejo sunshine at an affordable price, this easily makes our Very Highly Recommended category.

It’s a delightful expression from Herdade do Esporão, a historic estate in Portugal's sun-drenched Alentejo region. Here, amidst rolling hills and vineyards bathed in sunshine, its boundaries have been unchanged since 1267. They have been crafting exceptional organic wines since 1985 and their dedication to and innovative techniques shines through in every sip.

The 2022 Alentejano, from the Alentejo area in the southeast of the country, is a blend that showcases the region's diversity.  Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Syrah, and native Portuguese grapes like Trincadeira and Tinta Miúda come together in perfect harmony,  each sip is a testament to Alentejo's unique terroir, the year of the vintage, the character of the various grapes and Esporão's commitment to quality.

Check out  our Top Wines 2024 list (with stockists and short reviews) here 

Looking for better value? All under 20 euro. Click here

The country has scores of native grape varieties in regular use, the Touriga above for instance. The Alicante Bouschet is an important variety in Alentejo. It is one of those grapes where both the skin and the flesh are red, that is to say a teinturier grape.

* This is a Portuguese wine region located in the Alentejo region. The entire region is entitled to use the Alentejano IG designation, while some areas are also classified at the higher DOC level under the designation Alentejo DOC. More here from Comissão Vitivinícola Regional Alentejana. 

Poderi Del Nespoli Sangiovese - a wine for every occasion

Poderi Del Nespoli Sangiovese Romagna (DOC) 2020, 

13.5% ABV, €12.00 O’Donovan’s.

This is a wine for every occasion

This easy-to-drink organic Sangiovese is a wine for every occasion, proclaim the producers.

.It has a bright red ruby with violet highlights. Aromas are rich, with cherry and plum prominent. Full-bodied, it is smooth and intense, and fresh as well. Tannins are delicate through to the long finish. Highly Recommended.

The history of Poderi del Nespoli spans four generations of Romagna winemakers “with an unshakable faith in their land and its fruits, tirelessly dedicated to its promotion employing constant research and improvement”.

This Sangiovese comes from organic grapes. This viticulture takes advantage of the natural fertility of the soil, which is enhanced by limited works, improving the biodiversity and avoiding any kind of synthetic chemical products.

Food pairings suggested are Pasta with ragù or tomato sauce, roasted white meat, and partially matured cheeses. Wine Folly points to its high acidity that makes it amenable to a wide variety of vegetable and spice-driven foods; “think tomato, red pepper, and just about anything grilled”. Serve at 16-18°C.

Sangiovese is Italy’s most planted wine variety and is especially associated with the famous Chianti of Tuscany. It is also cultivated in other parts of central Italy, such as Umbria and Marche. And in lesser quantities in other places such as Romagna (part of Emilia Romagna) where this one comes from. Poderi del Nespoli is situated about 75 minutes from Bologna (widely considered to be the food capital of Italy).

* This post is part of a series of Italian wines produced by usually small or medium-sized wineries that are organic and made from native grapes. Taking some “guidance” here from the recently published VINO. Mightn’t always net the hat trick but hope to score two from the three each time. I have quite a few lined up but I’m happy to consider any suggestions or help. #OrganicItaly 

Experienced Paul Ryan is the new executive chef at Cork International Hotel. The Mallow native has over 20 years experience including roles in the USA and Middle East.

CORK INTERNATIONAL HOTEL APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF

Mallow native Paul Ryan has over 20 years’ experience including roles in the 

Middle East and USA

The experienced Paul Ryan is the new executive chef at Cork International Hotel and he wants to enhance the ethos here where sustainability is at the heart of the food produced by the team of chefs. His experience will be invaluable. The Mallow native has more than 20 years of expertise working in hotels, restaurants and airports where he developed dishes for business and first-class airline catering.

He said: “Sustainability

Taste of the Week. Milk Chocolate & Marshmallow Cluster by Skellig Chocolate

Taste of the Week

Milk Chocolate & Marshmallow Clusters 

by Skellig Chocolate

Didn't make it as far as the beautiful St Finan's Bay and a view of the magnificent Skelligs during April's visit to Kerry.

I may have missed out on a visit to Skellig's Chocolate which is nestled between the mountains and the Atlantic where the Skelligs may be seen but I did manage to get my hands on some of the chocolates during a stop at the Avoca Shop on Molls Gap.

And it was here that I bought a box of these clusters, our Taste of the Week. They are simply made. The mini marshmallows are simply enrobed in the milk chocolate for a taste sensation. When you bite into the little chocolate-coated lumps, the unmistakable chewey texture of the marshmallow reveals itself and then there's no stopping you! Enjoy this gooey delight.

* By the early 20th century, marshmallows were introduced to the United States and available for mass consumption. They were sold in tins as penny candy. 

Mark Your Calendars, Foodies! And Families! Clonakilty Street Carnival Returns with a Culinary Extravaganza And celebrity chef Kevin Dundon!

 Mark Your Calendars, Foodies! And Families!

Clonakilty Street Carnival Returns with a Culinary Extravaganza

And celebrity chef Kevin Dundon!

Andrew Loane owner of Oak Fire Pizza, Diarmuid O'Sullivan & Mary T Daly of Irish Yogurts at the Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival launch 2024. Photo by Andy Gibson

Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and soak up the festive atmosphere! West Cork's beloved Clonakilty Street Carnival – sponsored by Irish Yogurts Clonakilty – is back on Saturday, June 15th, 2024, promising a jam-packed weekend unlike any other. Brace yourself for a gastronomic adventure that will leave even the most discerning foodie grinning from ear to ear.

Pearse Street Transformed 

Imagine

Harper's Island Wetlands

Harper's Island Wetlands

Saturday 04.05.2024

Crap apple blossom?

Sand Martin nesting bank

Furze and distant tree

COLUMBINE or Aquilegia (according to Google Picture Search)

Teasel (will have lots of prickly heads later in the year)

Cuckoo Flower?????

The extended Allen family are sad to announce the passing of Hazel Allen

 A statement on behalf of Ballymaloe House 

Ballymaloe House and the extended Allen family are sad to announce the passing of Hazel Allen, née Lalor, who died peacefully on 3rd May,  in the care of Marymount Hospital, surrounded by loved ones, following a long illness.

Hazel was born on October 16th, 1950, in Cullohill, Co. Laois and spent most of her working life at Ballymaloe House, arriving first in 1969 and soon becoming involved in running the country house hotel and restaurant, as well as being a founding member of the Blue Book. Over the years Hazel was integral in bringing Ballymaloe from the small business she joined to the well-known name it is today. 

Hazel will be dearly missed by her husband Rory, children Cullen, Fawn, Darren, Caragh and Roisín, her 15 grandchildren, sons and daughters in law, the Allen family, friends, staff and guests of Ballymaloe.

Funeral announcement to follow.

A red-gold rarity. This Kloster Sud from Germany is a very special beer! Drink of the Bank Holiday Weekend!

Drink of the Bank Holiday Weekend. Special…

Klosterbrauerei Weissenohe Kloster Sud 

5.4% ABV, 500ml bottle Bradleys 

A red-gold rarity

Amber to dark red is the colour of our beer from the Kloster Sud (the South monastery). Aromas of Lightly toasted malt aroma.  The expected malt sweetness is experienced on the palate. Indeed it is richly richly malty, with caramel and notes of light spice. It is straight-up refreshing, totally satisfactory right through to the lingering bitter-sweet finish. 

An amazing beer, this Kloster Sud is brewed according to the Märzenbier tradition. But don’t call it a lager or Märzen. It may be bottom-fermented like a lager but thanks to the rare so-called three-mash process and a long ageing process it has a distinctive character with a balanced malt sweetness, fruity acidity and a subtle tartness.. The brewery suggests it is suitable for strong roasts, steaks, smoked meats and even desserts.

It is full and soft and is called a Franconian Red (not to be confused with Belgian reds). This is a historical and renowned southern German style. If you like Märzen, you’ll probably like “red beer.”

Thought I might see Rothbier (German for Red Beer) on my label but the brewery, the Weisenoher Klosterbrauei, do have Spezial Bier on the neck and I can certainly agree with that.

It is a staff favourite in Bradleys and that is where I was tipped off about it. Danke Bradleys!

For One Night Only, Aniar in Galway Collaborates with Chef Meeran Manzoor of Rare at Blue Haven Kinsale

press release

For One Night Only, Aniar in Galway Collaborates with Chef Meeran Manzoor of Rare at Blue Haven Kinsale

JPMcMahon Aniar (Pic Andrew Downes)

 

Award-winning chef Meeran Manzoor will join JP McMahon in the newly renovated Aniar 2.0 for one night only on May 30th. 

In the latest edition of the Chef Swap at Aniar series and part of Blas Na Gaillimhe’s month of food in May (Blas na Bealtaine). Two unique styles of food will form

"A light and fruity beauty, easily drunk." Pedro Parra's ‘Vinista’ Itata, Chile.

Pedro Parra ‘Vinista’ Itata (Chile) 2019, 12% ABV

RRP €25.95. Stockists: The Cinnamon Cottage /
JJ O’Driscoll Superstore Ballinlough / Donnybrook Fair /
The Corkscrew / Avoca

"A light and fruity beauty, easily drunk." 

An attractive light red colour is a feature of this Pedro Parra ‘Vinista’. Aromas are also light and inviting with cranberries, some spice and herb as well. No shortage of that fruit on the light and vivacious palate either, all complemented by a gentle kick of acidity. Fruity and light along with featherweight tannins. String quartet rather than full orchestra, it is immediately harmonious right through to the engaging finalé. 

‘Vinista’ comprises 100% País sourced from 120-year-old vines, aged in concrete and stainless steel. Pais is a red grape variety of great historical importance. It was the first Vitis Vinifera grape variety to be exported (via the conquistadores) from the Old World to the New World in the 16th century. It is known as Criolla Chica in Argentina and as Mission in California.

Pais is pronounced as pah-ees. Don’t say no just because you’re not familiar with it. You’ll miss out on a light and fruity beauty. An easily drunk wine and Very Highly Recommended.

Pedro Parra (via Liberty Wines)

Pedro Parra is a major favourite of mine. He has spent decades working internationally but bit by bit realised he really wanted his own vineyard and winery and so he set up in Itata near the ocean, 500 kms south of Santiago, the capital of Chile. And this Vinista, the fruit sourced from 120-year-old vines planted at 300 m above sea level, is one of the results. It was my wine of the year in 2020. 

Besides wine and family, Pedro’s other great love is jazz music. His three single-vineyard Cinsault ‘Premier Cru’ wines are aptly named after legendary musicians: Freddie Hubbard, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk.

You may well spot DO Secano Interior Itata on the label. It means  Itata Interior Dryland (secano meaning 'dry land' or 'unirrigated') and is the special DO for wines made from País or Cinsault in the area of southern Chile between the Mataquito and the Bío-Bío rivers.

Cork's Stonewell win International Flavoured Cider Trophy, awarded "an esteemed accolade" at yesterday's Worldwide Brewers and Cidermakers Industry ‘Oscars’

 Worldwide Brewers and Cidermakers Taste Success at Industry ‘Oscars’

Cork's Stonewell win International Flavoured Cider Trophy and awarded "an esteemed accolade"  

Stonewell's Daniel Emerson raising his trophy! Pic by Simon Dewhurst

Of the 13 trophies awarded, six went to Europe, four awarded to Asia, two to North America, and one Australia

For the first time in the Awards’ 138-year history, two brewers were crowned trophy winners in The Smallpack Ale competition

 

Winners from across the globe have received

Greenes Restaurant in Cork City Reopens with an Opulent New Look and Menu

 Greenes Restaurant in Cork City Reopens

 with an Opulent New Look and Menu

Greenes Restaurant on MacCurtain Street in Cork has reopened with a brand new image, plush interiors, statement lighting and a contemporary, producer-led, traditional Irish food style menu. 

After closing its doors in February, the team at Greenes has been busy behind the scenes creating

Blarney Castle Gardens . May Day Visit

Blarney Castle Gardens 

May Day Visit

The Judas

A must-try from the Monferrato Hills: GAIA “Brich” Barbera Piemonte

GAIA “Brich” Barbera Piemonte (DOC) 2021, 14% ABV

RRP: €18.45. Stockists: 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau

 

A must-try from the Monferrato Hills 

This beautiful wine from the Monferrato Hills is a must-try!“Brich” is derived from bricco, the Piedmont dialect word for hill top or crag, while in Italian, it means jug!

This organic wine has a dark ruby colour, and fruity aromas of cherry and blackberry. On the palate, it boasts ripe dark fruit flavours with a juicy, spicy, and fresh acidity. It has a smooth and elegant finish that leaves a lasting impression. 

It is Very Highly Recommended and pairs well with pasta dishes with a meaty sauce, salami or cheese and it is perfect with pizza!

Brich is a collaboration between Gianluca Ravizza of Cascina Gaia and Eric Narioo (Vino di Anna) in the hilly Monferrato region of Piedmont. The vineyards cover 20 hectares of rolling hills, surrounded by an ancient forest, and include an orchard and working farm.

Barbera makes some terrifically exciting wines. 

The recently published VINO acknowledges that “the grape has played second fiddle to Nebbiolo for years” but also insists that Barbera “is capable of making some terrifically exciting wines”. 

According to Grapes & Wines (2015) about half the Piedmontese vineyard is given over to Barbera, “and it is from Piedmont that the finest, most concentrated examples come”. With Brich, we’re in the right place, on the right track, right here!

This post is part of a series of Italian wines that are produced by usually small or medium-sized wineries, are organic and made from native grapes. Taking some “guidance” here from the recently published VINO. Mightn’t always net the hat trick but hope to score two from the three each time. I have quite a few lined up but I’m happy to consider any suggestions or help. #OrganicItaly