THANKSGIVING AT THE CORNSTORE

Mary Murphy and Gertrude O'Brien from Rochestown
All photos by Ger McCarthy

THE CORNSTORE CORK CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING

The Cornstore, one of Cork’s culinary hotspots, has turned the delightful American tradition of Thanksgiving into an annual event in the Coal Quay and last Thursday the traditional Thanksgiving menu was given a delicious contemporary twist.

The Lord Mayor of Cork was represented by Cllr John Kelleher and a number of food writers and bloggers were in attendance, keen to sample Head Chef Mike Ryan’s outstanding menu that was hugely popular with diners.

Tim Clifford, Ballincollig, and Martina O'Donoghue, C103 FM

Starters included Quail terrine with a marinated boiled quail egg and spiced plum and grape chutney, Roast orange sweet potato soup with nutmeg froth or Flaked organic hand cured salmon (my choice), cherry tomato, avocado salad with lime and coriander dressing.  

This was followed by free range East Ferry roast turkey roulade wrapped in Kanturk pancetta, chestnut, prune, apricot and parsley with confit of the leg rissole and port jus. I thoroughly enjoyed that plateful.

Simon Whelband, Clonakilty and Clair McSweeney, Blackrock Castle Observatory

And all around me, diners were tucking into the turkey plus the other main dishes: Sea Bass with pumpkin fritters, okra grilled baby corn and carrot, orange and cardamom emulsion or Forest mushroom, toasted nuts and brown bread dumpling with roast crisp parsnips wilted spinach and clove cream sauce. All mains were served with creamed potato, red cabbage, braised carrots and Brussels sprouts.

Donna and Audrey Russell from Blackrock 

There were a number of mouth-watering desserts on the menu, including baked spiced pumpkin cheesecake with caramel ice cream, or Pecan nut, pear and Crozier blue cheese tart with local double cream.

Collette O'Connor, Manager, Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. John Kelleher and Imelda Power

My choice here was Brandied cherry and apple wrapped with puff pastry and served with whipped cream and it was absolutely gorgeous and I hope it becomes a regular on the Cornstore menu.

A special selection of cocktails embodied the spirit of the occasion, created by Mario Falb, award winning mixologist at The Cornstore. These included a delicious Ginger pumpkin martini and Spiced apple martinis. Special house wines for the meal included Spirit Hawk Californian Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon.

According to Head Chef, Mike Ryan, “Our Thanksgiving Dinner was aimed at families and friends. We are also very grateful to our loyal customer base during these very difficult times. We really appreciate their continued support,” he adds.

The Cornstore is now accepting bookings for Christmas parties and December dining. Please call 021 427 4777 to make a reservation or book online at www.cornstorecork.com.

THANKSGIVING AT THE CORNSTORE

The Cornstore Cork celebrates Thanksgiving on 18^th November

Do the Americans eat better than the French? 

You can find out at the Cornstore later in the month when head chef Mike Ryan once again takes up the Thanksgiving challenge.

The success of last year’s successful Thanksgiving Evening,  helped turn this delightful American tradition into an annual event at The Cornstore, a Cork culinary hotspot. The traditional Thanksgiving menu has been given a delicious contemporary twist. The Cornstore’s Thanksgiving Dinner takes place in the Cork restaurant on Thursday 18^th November from 7.30pm and is priced at €35, excluding wine. For Limerick details, see below.

Head Chef Mike Ryan has created an outstanding menu which is sure to appeal to all tastes including vegetarians. For starters, diners can choose from Quail terrine with a marinated boiled quail egg and spiced plum and grape chutney, Roast orange sweet potato soup with nutmeg froth or Flaked organic hand cured salmon, cherry tomato, avocado salad with lime and coriander dressing.

This will be followed by Free range bronze roast turkey roulade (photo) of chestnut, prune, apricot and parsley with confit of the leg rissole and port jus, Sea Bass or cod with pumpkin fritters, okra grilled baby corn and carrot, orange and cardamom emulsion or Forest mushroom, toasted nuts and brown bread dumpling with roast crisp parsnips wilted spinach and clove cream sauce. All mains will be served with creamed potato, red cabbage, braised carrots and brussel sprouts.

There are a number of mouth-watering desserts on the menu, to include Brandy Alexander crème brûlée, Baked spiced pumpkin cheesecake with caramel ice cream, Brandied cherry and apple pie with whipped cream or Pecan nut, pear and crozier blue cheese tart with local double cream.

A special selection of cocktails,  created by Mario Frake, award winning mixologist at The Cornstore,  will also embody the spirit of the occasion,

“We hope this evening will be a fun night out for families and friends, where people can also find out a little about Thanksgiving traditions around the world, and enjoy the one meal where according to famous American humourist, Art Buchwald, “the Americans eat better than the French!”

The special Thanksgiving menu is a set price of €35, excluding wine. Please call 021 427 4777 to make a reservation or book online at www.cornstorecork.com. The Cornstore is located at 40a Cornmarket Street, Cork.  

There will also be a Thanksgiving dinner on 18^th November at The Cornstore,

19 Thomas Street, Limerick, call 061 6090000 or see

www.cornstorelimerick.com for reservations.

MARY DOWEY AT THE CORNSTORE (2)

Last week, The Cornstore (Cork) hosted a Gourmet Evening, with leading wine writer Mary Dowey and Gilbeys of Ireland, aimed at food and wine lovers.

The evening celebrated the best of The Cornstore’s new season specialities, with a special five course tasting menu created by Head Chef, Mike Ryan, using the best locally sourced produce. This was complimented with delicious wines for each course from Gilbeys, selected by Mary Dowey.

Throughout the evening, Mary provided information about her selected French wines, as well as some general tips on wine tasting. 

Here are some pictures (by Ger McCarthy) from the evening.

 Denis Ryan and Adreinne Ring from Crosshaven 

 Jim and Fiona Curtriss from JC Products 

 Wine writer Mary Dowey and Head Chef Mike Ryan at The Cornstore Cork  

 Deirdre Magee and Tadhg Lane from Carrigaline

 Padraig Falvey from the Cornstore, Mary Dowey and Mark O'Connor from Gilbeys 

Billy and Clare Lyons from Mayfield

TOP NOTCH THURSDAY WINE AND DINE

THE CORNSTORE EXPERIENCE

Starring Mary Dowey and Mike Ryan

Renowned wine writer Mary Dowey was our guide for the evening of high class food and wine at the Cornstore last Thursday. Mary likes Cork and admitted she was trying to entice the husband to move: “It is much more cheerful here.”

The wine selection from the Gilbeys catalogue was all from France. Mary, who started writing about wine in 1995, has a soft spot for French wines: “If you are serious about wine, you never stray too far from France and never turn your back on France for too long.”

The fantastic evening kicked off with a Barton Guestier Sparkling wine. This Loire Valley wine is made with 100 per cent Chardonnay and provided the perfect start. And Mary remarked that, because of the acidity, champagne goes much better with some nibbles and the Cornstore came up with some really inviting ones, including a strawberry and cheese on a stick!

1^st course  – Terrine of foie gras, Margret duck breast, toasted pistachios and tokai with pomegranate coulis.  For this, Mary choose the Riesling Trimbach 2008, and this was a splendid example of her favourite grape. She also pointed out that it is one of the very few wines that goes well with spicy food.

2^nd course – Pan Seared wild sea bass with saffron potato, samphire, Jerusalem artichoke puree and caramelised walnuts. Here, Mary led us into Burgundy and to Louis Latour and their Montagny Premier Cru La Grande Roche 2007. Not a terribly well known AOC but that means the price is less. “The house though was founded in 1725. It is a reliable name, a beacon of re-assurance.”  A lovely  wine, floral and crisp, mid-weight and quite subtle.

3^rd course - Roast haunch of venison with beetroot confit, wild boar black pudding rissole and forest mushroom jus. The 2007 Chateau Magnol Haut Medoc was picked to accompany this terrific plateful and again it as a perfect match.

This is another wine in the stable of Barton and Gustier, the oldest established wine merchant in Bordeaux. Mary told us that the Barton, a Fermanagh man whose first name was Thomas, left Ireland in the early 1700s and set up his company in 1725. In 1802 , his grandson Hugh (who built Straffon House, now the K-Club) teamed up with Gustier to form B & G.

The wine is 50% Cabernet and 50% Merlot and spends 12 month or more in oak. On the nose, you get backcurrant, spice and a “mineraly” aroma. The palate is rich blackcurrant and there is a good “grip” of tannin. “It is a wine for meat: venison, beef or duck.”

4^th course - Farmhouse cheese board, with biscuits and fruit. Cheeses: St Gall (Cork) and Crozier (Tipperary).  For the wine, Mary took us over to the steep river banks of the Rhone and the vineyards of the Crozes Hermitage appellation. The example before us (which would have also matched well with the venison) was the 2006 Paul Jaboulet Aèné Les Jalets.

This well known 1834 vineyard had been going downhill somewhat around the turn of the century but a relatively recent Swiss investment has seen its fortunes turn for the better and this 100% Syrah (after a year in oak) was superb. Bright and peppery, soft and silky, its quality evident in the wine's concentration and deep black berry flavours. When I say peppery, I mean the more refined European (essentially Rhone) pepper and not the brash Shiraz blast that comes from another hemisphere.

5^th course - A selection of desserts: mini lemon posset with rhubarb compote, mini apple strudel and apricot tartlet. The wine just had to be Sauternes, “the most famous sweet wine in the world”.

This Thomas Barton 2005 example is made of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. As you'd expect it is very rich and lingers in the mouth. Considering that the Chateau Y’Quem Sauternes from the same year costs around €200 for the half-bottle, the Barton is another outstanding example “of their affordable range”. It costs about €20.00. If you don't finish the bottle in the one night, “it will keep in the fridge for weeks!”

While Mary was out front for the enjoyable evening, Cornstore head Chef Mike Ryan was busy behind the scenes. But his work spoke for him. It was superb; he didn't put a foot wrong from inviting start to satisfying finale. Hats off then to both Mike and Mary.

For further information on the Cornstore, check out their website at www.cornstorecork.com Mary has a holiday home in France, in Provence. Her own website is www.marydowey.com while she also runs one on Provence at www.provencefoodandwine.com

WINE EVENT AT THE CORNSTORE

WINE EVENTS 

Wine writer Mary Dowey is in town on Thursday (7.30) night to present an evening of Fine Food and Wine at the Cornstore .

Mary is one of Ireland's leading wine writers. With a background in food and travel journalism, she puts wine into a broader context than is usual in the sometimes narrow and pedantic world of wine criticism. She has written two wine books, one food and wine book and one travel book.

Mary enjoys describing regions noted for their food and wine with visitors in mind. Besides evoking landscape and atmosphere, she loves unearthing artisan food producers, interesting shops and unmissable markets; great restaurants whether Michelin-starred or miniscule and homely; hotels and B&Bs where eating well is considered as important as sleeping well.

 In all of her writing, she champions quality at a reasonable price, never losing sight of the consumer.

Mary has a home in Dublin and a pied-à-terre in north-west Provence.  See her website on the area here . She is a member of the NUJ, the Circle of Wine Writers and the Society of Authors.

Thursday then is an opportunity to learn about wine appreciation while at the same time enjoying the top class dishes from the Cornstore’s Award winning menus. Tickets are €59.00 and cover a six course meal with champagne and reserve wines included. Reservations on 4274777.

And on Friday there is another Food Wine event, this at the O’Brien’s Chop House in Lismore where the host is Anthony Tindal of Tindal Wine Merchants. The full menu may be seen here 

O'Briens,  renowned for its traditional robust locally sourced Irish food, is on the main street in Lismore and the contact number is 058 53810.

The Cornstore Wine Bar and Grill in Cork

CORNSTORE

Walked into the Cornstore last evening for another €25.00 Dine-in-Cork meal and was surprised to see the Cornmarket Street venue two thirds full at 6.45pm. Surprising because it was in the middle of a recession, early in the week, early in the evening, and also considering that the famous old street is under re-construction at present and you have to find your way through the various safety barriers.

One of the staff said the Dine in Cork Week was proving successful but there must be more than that to it. We had passed another participating restaurant and it looked close to empty. The Cornstore has been gradually making its reputation and has come up regularly on the grapevine in recent times. In addition, it has won a couple of regional awards and is going for national honours in the current Restaurant Association of Ireland contest.

We were about to find out what the fuss was all about. We got a warm welcome and were soon seated. My Gravlax starter (home cured organic Donegal salmon with capers and a red onion salad) was excellent. The Duck Liver Pate (with an apple and grape chutney and toasted sourdough bread) was of a high standard.
For the mains, I chose the Pork belly (with creamy mash, roast root vegetables with an apple purée and cider jus) and this was another five star plateful. There was a change to one or two items on the menu, including the cod. This was now served in a white bean (with tasty bacon bits and spring onion) cassoulet, quite a creamy one. Not quite on the same standard as the Pork belly but good nonetheless.

Sticky Toffee pudding wasn't on the advertised menu but it was one of the best I’ve come across and the other dessert, much lighter, was a delightful lemon posset with a rhubarb compote, served in its own hinged jar. Nice touch, nice dessert.

Two happy customers finished off with the coffee and a little bar of Milka chocolate, adding the Cornstore to an ever expanding list of quality Cork restaurants. No shortage of staff and the service was excellent all through and we had a laugh or two with our friendly waitress.

The Cornstore probably has the longest list of wine available by the glass in Cork. I counted eleven in the red section. Tasted a few. The house white was the Chilean Los Tilos Sauvignon Blanc (€4.95). The first citrusy mouthful really got your attention: sharp tangy and dry. The house red was Los Tilos Cabernet Sauvignon, a lively easy drinking wine also at €4.95.

If you are going to pay a bit more attention to the wine, maybe less to the conversation, then it would be worthwhile to pay a little extra. I enjoyed a glass of Spanish Bodega Muriel Tempranillo Rioja (€5.95) which was a better drink on all counts: deep red, fruity, great body and lingered well.

Check out my review of The Cornstore Wine Bar and Grill - I am cork - on Qype