Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week.



Did you know that the Cornstore are now dry aging their own beef with Himalayan salt and that means their steaks are extra special at the moment. "Imported Himalayan salt  is used to absorb humidity in the aging unit over a period of up to 35 days resulting in the most tender, flavoursome beef one is ever likely to taste."






Real Wine - Celebrating the Artisan Grower

 Wine talk and wine tasting with Eric Narioo, of Les Caves des Pyrène, and Pascal Rossignol, of Le Caveau,  in The Grain Store at Ballymaloe

Sunday 26th May, 6.30pm

This is a great opportunity to listen to two passionate and experienced wine experts in this area, over a very pleasant, informal, yet educational talk, and a tasting of different artisan wines

Eric from Les Caves de Pyrène and Pascal from Le Caveau both specialise in artisan wines sourced from individual growers, that are 'true to where they come from, which are made by hand with minimal interventions in the vineyard and winery, and which show maximum respect for nature and the environment'.

Sunday 26th May, 6.30pm  €15 (includes wine tasting of eight different wines)

Further information & to reserve places

colm@ballymaloe.ie

Tel: 086 0859034

www.ballymaloe.ie

Sage Expands!

Midleton’s award winning Sage Restaurant will be closed for renovation from June10th to 15^th. Kevin Aherne explains: “We will be re opening with a new Cafe/Wine & craft beer hub AKA The Greenroom next to the restaurant. The Greenroom will be open Tue-Sat from 9 am till late . We will have all your morning needs from coffee to scones to light bites. Lunch will be from 12-4 with Sandwiches, wraps, organic salads, soups,cakes, tarts & more. With a large emphasis on local as always . From 4 o’clock on, the craft beers and wine will be flowing with local cheese and producer platters. We will be running our mug club where you can personalize your own mug with Susan from Crafty Hands. We will also be running a take away service at lunch time if you don’t have time to sit down and join us.”

Irish???. Maybe. Maybe Not!

Thanks to Mary Daly on Facebook for this piece.....

Did you know that we import over €5 billion worth of food and drink every year? Many of our well knows brands that we presume to be Irish, in fact are not!! 

Siucra, Lyons Tea, Kimberley Biscuits, HB Ice-Cream and many of our meats, fruits and vegetables are all imported. 

Imagine the affect on our economy if we were to actively seek out Irish alternatives? Supporting Irish food producers means we enhance local economies, create jobs and reduce's our carbon footprint.

Shorts

Roz Crowley visits the Firehouse Bakery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgLDZAYUXno&feature=youtu.be

EXTENDED SUMMER HOURS AT CAFÉ PARADISO! · 13 MAY 2013

“Here’s some good news for a Monday, and for every Monday in this coming summer. To better use the long balmy evenings and the expected harvest bounty from Gortnanain Farm, we’re extending our dinner service to six days all summer long, including Mondays.

From Monday 3rd June and until 24th August, our summer hours are:

Dinner – Monday to Saturday from 5.30pm;

Lunch – Saturday noon to 2.30pm.

Don’t know if many of you saw this bit of fun with Julia Childs on twitter during the week. Like sharing a laugh or two so here goes again:

@JeffreyMerrihue: Julia Childs Mash Up: http://bit.ly/10vGmbX  yes really.

Kate Lawlor of Fenn’s Quay has her first book coming out next month:

Fenn's Quay ‏@FennsQuay9m

Exciting times here @fennsquay we’ve just got the first proof of @fqchefess book which will be launched next month pic.twitter.com/L9M6eAaxsR

11 Stunning Cakes That Look Exactly Like Other Foods
Read the full text here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/29705/11-stunning-cakes-look-exactly-other-foods#ixzz2TA9H43DM 
--brought to you by mental_floss! http://mentalfloss.com/article/29705/11-stunning-cakes-look-exactly-other-foods @Greatfoodtweet

Marc Stroobandt ‏@beerinfo10m

The earliest use of the term India pale ale was … in Australia? http://wp.me/p3uv9-U5  via @wordpressdotcom

Electric

“we are crying out for staff - especially experienced wait staff, good money and plenty of hours if youre not afraid of a bit of work - cvs by email only to ernest@electriccork.com”

Good Food Ireland

***Recipe*** 
Delicious Seasonal Rhubarb & Ginger Crumble 
by Renvyle House Hotel
http://bit.ly/10OLUE7

Another Rhubarb Tip:

Roz Crowley ‏@RozCrowley14h

Boil 1L orange juice + 2tbsp brandy + star anise. Use to poach new season rhubarb until barely soft. Good with vanilla ice cream #roztips

Food and Drink Spotting. Smoker Bill Casey.

Food and Drink Spotting

Bill Casey.

Shanagarry Smoked Salmon

Lots of big names at the Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine last weekend but also some "smaller" names, very important to the local scene. One such is Bill Casey, the man behind Casey’s Fish Products and in particularly the Shanagarry Oak Smoked Organic Irish Salmon.

Came across this quality product a few months back at Pat Short’s Pub in nearby Castlemartyr and took the opportunity to revisit it on a slice of brown bread at Bill’s stall in the Big Shed in Ballymaloe.

The company is a family run business, is based in Shanagarry, and supplies the hotel, restaurant and export markets. The Smoked Salmon is produced using the highest grade Irish organic Salmon, reared in the Atlantic Ocean off the West Coast.

For smoking Bill uses a mixture of oak and beech chippings. “Great attention to detail is paid in the process from salting, washing and smoking, to ensure a uniform and consistent product.”

And, you’ll be glad to know that all pin bones are removed before packing. Apart from salt and smoke, no additives are used in the process.

Contact details

Address: Shanagarry, Midleton, Co. Cork.

Phone: 021-4646955 and 086-6611468.

Email: smokiecasey@gmail.com.

Cronin’s Pub May-hem!

Put the 26th May in your diary for a Soul & Seafood Experience: three chefs, outdoor seafood dining and all while listening to the sounds of "Soul Driven" a seven piece soul band from Cork.

Denis Cronin, the pub’s in house cooking guru, will be whipping up his famous Mad Fish Stew. Alongside will be Ted Berner and Ivan Whelan of Wild Side Catering. Expect oysters, mussels, periwinkles and a whole lot more fabulous fishy treats, for you to enjoy.

More info here

From  3 - 7pm, Sunday, 26th May.

Shorts

Nevin's Cheese Cake at BallymaloeLitFest gets international praise!

Come celebrate this Thursday 9th May, Richy's 11th anniversary. For one night only house wine for 11 Euro per bottle. Call 023 8821852. Bookings only at the Clonakilty restaurant.

Douglas Tea Room are joining the fun of the French Dining Weekend from this Thursday (9th) to Sunday (12th). Check out the menu!

Tweet from: Jacobs On The Mall ‏@JacobsOnTheMall GREAT NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT! Starting this Thursday 9 May we are opening for lunch each Thurs & Fri from 12-3. Sample menu here! http://jacobsonthemall2010.arobis40.com/sample-lunch-menu …

Goat cheese and Serrano ham, an unusual combination.

Don’t forget the 2nd French Food and Wine Festival (mainly in On the Pig’s Back in Douglas) starts this Thursday evening and continues until late Saturday. Details here.

Food and Drink Spotting: Castle Hotel a winner!

Food and Drink Spotting

Castle Hotel & Leisure Centre Scoops  ‘Best Customer Service’ Award

The boutique 4 * Castle Hotel in Macroom, Co. Cork beat off stiff competition and was voted best ‘customer service’ hotel in Munster by the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) in its annual restaurant awards.

The prestigious awards which are the largest in the country are run on an annual basis by the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) and are highly sought after by industry professionals. The ‘best customer service’ award recognises establishments who go beyond the call of duty in a consistent and industry appropriate manner.

 Owner, Don Buckley said “The Irish Restaurant Awards are renowned for recognising and rewarding achievement and excellence within the Restaurant and Hospitality industry. It is a lovely surprise and boost for management and staff. It will spur us on in continuing to exceed customer expectations- after all customer is king!”

The Castle Hotel is no stranger to awards was recently ranked 12th within the top twenty five hotels in Ireland in the “customer service” hotel award category by the world’s largest travel community, Trip Advisor. Other accolades include a Certificate of Excellence for 2011 and securing best “bargain” and “family” hotel in 2012.

 Industry category nominations will be judged by the National Awards Academy in late May and independently assessed by KPMG. County winners will then go on to compete for the Regional and All Ireland title which will be announced in the Burlington Hotel on 10th June 2013.

Laurenz V Charming Takes Generation Grϋner Title

At Exclusive Blind Tasting Event In Dublin

Laurenz V Charming has been crowned number one Grϋner Veltliner at a recent ‘Generation Grϋner’ blind tasting event held at the Shelbourne Hotel.

Organised by Dieter Hϋbler and Laurenz Maria Moser, partners in Austria’s Grϋner specialist producer Laurenz V, Dublin was the forth leg of the Generation Grϋner tour to be held all over the world, preceded by London, Zurich and Vienna with further tastings planned for Dubai, Hong Kong and Asia later this year.

Laurenz V Charming beat 23 other wines from eight countries including Austria, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Slovakia, USA and the Czech Republic. This same wine came second in London so went one better in Dublin to take the title!

The top five Grϋner Veltliner wines resulting from the blind tasting in Dublin were:

·         Laurenz V Charming Grüner 2011 (AUT)

·         Weingut Hammel Pfalz 2011 (GER)

·         Bott Frigyes 2011 (SK)

·         Yealands Estate 2012 (NZ)

·         Weingut Weegmüller Vom Balkon der Pfalz  2012 (GER)

The wines were scored out of 20 and the scores for each wine were tallied at the end of the tasting. The judging panel included seven of Ireland’s respected wine journalists as well as Julie Dupouy, Ireland’s Sommelier of the Year 2012.  Austria has now claimed the best wine on two occasions tying with Germany who has also claimed two victories.

Laurenz Maria Moser of Laurenz V said: “We are delighted that LAURENZ V Charming has taken the Generation Grϋner title in Dublin. We are happy to have started this initiative to evaluate the different styles of Grϋner produced around the world, and to find out what might exist beyond the Austrian styles. Having a look at the development of Grϋner on a world scale might help to broaden the horizon for Austria’s Grϋners.”

Kitchen Garden Workshop

Elke of Bia Sasta tells me that Kitty is returning to The Cottage of Bia Sásta, to continue “to share her skills and knowledge with us to ensure that we all have a fab kitchen garden. We will learn how to transplant seedlings, how to plant directly, how to keep weeds at bay and how to enrich your soil. All this is topped with a lunch prepared by me and I have planned something nice for you. You will go home with a pile of new knowledge, information material, a full tummy and a little gift. If you like to join us on Saturday, 11th May at 10am near Grenagh, please email me on biasasta@hotmail.com to reserve a place for €20 inkl. all the above.”  

Ben & Jerry on Tour! Ben & Jerry’s flavour fans will get the chance to experience the new flavours in the most delicious surroundings as The Core Tour returns to Dublin with not one but two events in Dublin on the 9^th & 11^th May. The Core Crusader van will hoof it to two locations alongside a brand spanking new Ben & Jerry’s barn area, where fans can enjoy their chosen scoop of their favourite Core flavour while chilling on hay bales, enjoying the sunshine and listening to top tunes from some of Ireland’s best up-and-coming bands! Get all the details here. 

Shorts

Easy Jambon snack:  http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3490995

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week. Hendricks Gin at Bradley's, North Main St

Three for Tea

Lately, I’ve been buying some premium teas online from Fixx Coffee in Dublin. And I’ve been thoroughly enjoying them.

“Ronnefeldt is synonymous with high quality and exquisite teas blended to perfection. Each portion of tea is presented in the Teavelope which boasts an innovative seal that protects the individual flavour so that neither fragrance, aroma, nor flavour can escape.” 

My purchase included three of these Ronnefeldt teas and they are:

Rooibos Vanilla - A flavoured herbal infusion from South Africa, gently scented with delicate vanilla to create a full bodied taste.

Earl Grey - Full bodied and intensive in flavour, this Darjeeling blend has a refreshing bergamot (citrus) aroma.

Camomile - A herbal infusion of the flowering Camomile herb, this tea has a tangy and aromatic taste, creating a pleasant and relaxing effect.

If you are into this type of tea, you are in for a treat. I am enjoying all three. Perhaps the Rooibos is my favourite but only just. I am just as happy with the other two.

Fixx, best known for their Cuban coffees, – I have their popular Cubita on the go at the moment – also do other teas, including the Cha Teas range, all good.

By the way, if you’d prefer coffee, then I’ve come across a rather good one by Badger and Dodo. Indeed, most of this Cork roaster’s coffees are good but my current favourite is Rwanda Gisuma.

Ballyvolane House Newsletter Spring 2013

Ballyvolane House are looking forward to co-hosting a Garden Open Day at Ballyvolane House from 12 noon to 5pm this coming Sunday, 28 April 2013. 

·         » Tour of the gardens by Jer Green at 2.30pm.

·         » Plant & book sale in the marquee.

·         » Afternoon Tea in the marquee.

·         » Admissions €5 per person & €10 per family.

All proceeds to Ardglass Wind Turbine Action Awareness Group.

Did you know that Ballyvolane (in Castlelyons) are open for dinner throughout the spring and summer and always welcome non-residents. They do just one sitting at 8pm and offer a 4-course set menu each evening. Read more here http://ezines.bristlebird.com/t/ViewEmail/r/61EE68477E9E48002540EF23F30FEDED/96C8EAF4B6836E2EF990754F028F0E8F

Wine

From Vineyards Direct were in Bordeaux last week tasting the 2012s and were impressed with the quality of the vintage, which was much better than originally thought - added to which, the Bordelais have seen sense and are bringing their prices down.   

“This is a ripe forward vintage that will provide us all with delightful drinking clarets in a few years time. We are kicking off the 2012 En Primeur campaign with what promises to be the biggest bargain of the year - Château Méaume at just €68 per case IN BOND is the perfect affordable every day drinking claret and we highly recommend you stock up.” 

To know more, click here.

Shorts

A Filipino noodle dish for you! http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3442009

Fresco Eaterie & Bistro

Remember we serve breakfast from 9 am until 11.30am. Try our porridge with apple and cinnamon, only €2.50.

Wine matching via Mon Vigneron ‏@MonVigneron52s

[Activité] Apprenez à marier le chocolat et le fromage aux #vins à #Bordeaux http://bit.ly/ZEf5rv 

We all know about Pork Belly. How about Lamb Belly? http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3449471

Diva Boutique Bakery

Attention to our Kinsale Customers: you can now buy our fresh baked breads in Kinsale Tues-Fri at the Kinsale Health Food Store! How cool is that?! — at Kinsale Health Store.

Margaret Smith ‏@UmNumNumm5m

The schedule of classes for the next month or two http://www.umnumnum.ie/adults 

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

“A thrilling weekend of food &
food cultural activities.”

Slow Food Ireland and Sandbrook House present Grandmothers Day 2013. The festival returns to Sandbrook House this year and it is bigger and better than before.

Join us for a weekend of celebration, as we investigate our Irish food heritage and encourage families to come together and remember lost skills, pass on inherited wisdom and celebrate good, clean fair food.
 

Saturday 20^th April

Join us for “Slow Roots, a Food Symposium”. This will be a public symposium involving IT’s from across the island as we investigate “How can our Irish food heritage create jobs for this generation?”  Click here to find out more…
 

Sunday 21^st April

Grandmothers Day gives families the opportunity to spend time together, remembering and recording lost skills and the precious inherited wisdom passed down by previous generations. Join us for a fun filled day of activities, workshops, entertainment and delicious cookery demonstrations!   Click here to find out more...

Irish Examiner Food Festival

The cork food festival will be held on the beamish and crawford site in the city centre between the 25th and 28th of July. If your business or brand would like to be involved or would like more information please contact us on corkfoodfestival@gmail.com . As this is a smaller site we will have limited capacity for exhibitors. (Fitzgeralds Park is under renovations and we will be back there next summer)

Kenmare Food Carnival

Our fundraiser 'A Taste of Kenmare' is only a fewdays days away. Through the funds raised we will be having the second Kenmare Food Carnival. Our video shows the highlights of year one which would not have been possible without the success of last years fundraiser. If you are looking for a great night out then please consider joining us on April 27th for fun & food by the sea at 'A Taste of Kenmare' and know you will be helping our dream for another fantastic food carnival become reality 

http://youtu.be/G8CQJ8FV71E

Wine

As part of the Bringing the Wine Geese Home Gathering series of events, we are delighted to announce that Emma Cullen of Cullen Wines in Margaret River, Australia will showcase their wines at a special dinner in Cafe Paradiso on Tuesday 28th May.

Cullen Wines are renowned not only for their sophisticated quality but also for the philosophy behind their production, being produced on a certified biodynamic, carbon neutral and naturally powered estate. Rest assured, the Paradiso kitchen will be cooking up a storm to match these wines through a multi-course meal.

This will be a single sitting dinner event with limited availability, and booking is essential. Tickets, at €65 for dinner and accompanying wines, can be booked by calling the restaurant on 021 4277939.

Shorts

HP Guinness Sauce

Beef sushi anyone 

Bia Sasta Events

Amazing Sausage Roll 

Marc Stroobandt ‏@beerinfo9s

BBC News - Beer-glass shape alters people's drinking speed - study http://bbc.in/S5dxFf 

Food and Drink Spotting. A Wine Geese Special.

Food and Drink Spotting

The Wine Geese Events

Next event in the series of WineGeese events,sees one of Ireland's most gifted and respected wine writers and broadcasters visit Ireland's wine capital!

Tomás Clancy, well known Wine Writer and Presenter of the Irish Wine Geese series on RTE's Lyric FM, will talk about the incredible influence that the Irish have had (and continue to have) on the world of wine. He will also guide us on a wine tasting of his personal selection of Irish Wine Geese wines. It promises to be a wonderful evening

If you would like to listen to his brilliant four part radio series on the Wine Geese, the link can be found on Tomas Clancy's website here

A special visit deserves a special venue and the WineGeese oranisers are delighted to be hosting this talk and tasting in the Sculpture Galleries Room in the  Crawford Art Gallery in Cork's City centre.

Thursday April 25th. 6.30pm Cost: €10

Venue : Crawford Art Gallery

Booking is strongly advised as all events to date have sold out quickly.

To book, please contact Colm McCan on 021 4652 531

or by email on colm@ballymaloe.ie

Another one for the diary

Thursday May 16th

Venue : Latitude 51

Fleur McCree of Little Beauty, Marlborough, New Zealand, will retrace her family steps back to Cork in a presentation and tasting of her wines in association with Maurice O’Mahony of Wine Alliance.

A Dublin Bay Wine Experience 

Thomas Barton wines are sponsoring the one-woman play ‘A Wine Goose Chase’ by Susan Boyle as part of the ‘Bringing the Wine Geese Home’ initiative at the Dublin Bay Wine Experience, which is taking place in Dun Laoghaire on May 18^th and 19^th.

‘Bringing the Wine Geese Home’ is a wine initiative, in association with The Gathering, which will feature wine events and promotions that focus on wineries with an Irish connection.

 ‘A Wine Goose Chase’ play is the story of the Irish men who left Ireland in the 18th Century and established themselves in the wine industry around the world. It seems only fitting that Irishman Thomas Barton is a part of the storyline as he established Barton & Guestier, Ireland’s most loved French wine brand, in 1725.

Originally from Fermanagh, Thomas Barton travelled to Bordeaux and set up business as a wine merchant. When Thomas died in 1780, his grandson Hugh took over the business. During the French revolution, Hugh Barton was imprisoned and condemned to the guillotine in Bordeaux in 1794. He escaped and sailed back to Ireland with his wife, leaving his business in the hand of his French friend Daniel Guestier. Hugh came back to France in 1802 where he and Daniel Guestier teamed up and the brand Barton & Guestier was born.

In the 1830s Hugh Barton came back to Ireland to retire, where he first bought and lived in Barberstown Castle, before buying some land in Straffan in Co. Kildare to build his family home, the Straffan house, which is now the East Wing of the K Club. In the late 1830’s Hugh’s son, Thomas Johnston Barton, bought the Glendalough estate in Annamoe in Co. Wicklow.

And....the Irish connections don’t stop there! Thomas’s daughter Anna married Professor Robert Caesar Childers and their grandson was Erskine Childers, who went on to become the fourth President of Ireland in 1973!

Samples of the exquisite Thomas Barton Reserve Medoc will be available throughout the performance for the audience’s added enjoyment.

Tickets €15pp and can be purchased from:

 The offices of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chambers or from www.dublinbaywineexperience.ie

https://www.facebook.com/Dublinbaywineexperience

Shorts

 @Latitude_51 New Wine Fundamentals Course Level 2 starts this Sat at 3.30 for 4 weeks, costs €25/class (€90 for 4) pic.twitter.com/H0TN13l1wa

 Gurnard Goujons   http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3368027

What to do with left-over sushi - http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3387314

Ailish Drake ‏@AilishDrake

Do you like home grown, organic vegetables? Would you like to learn how to grow them? Next workshop focuses on... http://fb.me/FhVw1wQv