East Cork Food Now. A One Day Snapshot

East Cork Food Now. A One Day Snapshot

With the 5km limit banished, we headed east on a little ramble that took us through Midleton to Killeagh and then back to the coast around Ballycotton. The weather was sunny and quite warm, all in our favour, as we had a quick, though far from exhaustive, look at what was going on food-wise in the area.

First stop was the relatively new Grumpy Bakers in Midleton. There was a little queue (partly for coffee) outside. Inside our first choice sourdough has been sold out (at about 10.00am). But they did have what turned out to be an excellent wholemeal sourdough and a delicious rhubarb and custard Danish.

Superb local cheddar available at Joe's Farm

Next stop was in the lovely countryside north of Killeagh where Joe’s Farm operates. You’ll know Joe and Sandra through Joe’s Farm Crisps (which have a wide distribution). But did you know, that once the pandemic struck, they turned part of the yard into a farmers market. Of course they have lots of their own vegetables and potatoes for sale but much more besides, including produce from Waterford (Tom Baldwin’s ice-cream) and Achill Island (Sea Salt and Sea Salted Fudge) and Laois (The Merry Mill). No shortage of more local produce either including home baking and the most delicious Raspberry Jam (produced by the adults and children of the Cooking Club in Youghal). In no time at all, we had our bags full and ready for road. Oh, by the way, they don’t do credit cards so be sure and bring cash (including perhaps a few small denomination notes).

The sun was well and truly in charge as we pulled into the car park opposite the Sea Church Restaurant and Concert venue. By the way, the newly installed Sea Church van opens for business on Wednesday April 28th. It will be open 7 days a week 10AM - 4PM for all your coffee and cake needs.

We strolled in toward the village proper where CUSH restaurant is offering an At Home service. We didn't get that far though. Spotted an ice-cream cone outside the Trawl Door and, in a separate room called Coney Island, got a couple of delicious cooling beauties, Strawberry along with a Rum & Raisin both made by Glenown Farm of Fermoy. We could also have had a lot more including an East Cork Mess or a Ballycotton Banoffee! Had a quick look at the Trawl Door itself which was busy. Lots of good stuff here, including a selection of wine and a very tempting deli counter. Must call there again when it’s less busy and when I don’t have an ice-cream in my hand.

Strawberry ice!

The Blackbird and The Schooner Bar here are not able to open of course under the current regulations but each offers takeaway at weekends. The popular Skinny's Diner also has weekend hours posted up on the window but you may need to check in advance.

Back then to pick up the car and our next destination was the beach at Ardnahinch. Here, the car park was close to full. On the beach itself as we walked along, we could see about 15 colourful "kites” in the sky at the next beach up, Ballinamona, quite a spectacle provided by the kite surfers as they enjoyed the brisk wind!

But we weren't there to see them! We were looking for the Trawler Boyz from Ballycotton who set up shop every weekend in the Ardnahinch Car Park. But we were too early as they weren’t due to start for another hour or two. There are some good reviews coming from that three person operation and they later reported selling some 500 meals during their few hours there. Check their Facebook page for opening times. Hours currently shown are: Fri & Sat 4.30-8.30; Sun 1.000-7.00. Tel: 086 4073057.

After Ardnahinch, we headed to a very important date, to collect our “At Home” dinner from Ballymaloe House. These meals come in all types of boxes and bags but none presented as classily as this one, it even had a bunch of tulips attached! We got a great welcome and a lovely chat as well. And the meal, featuring the first of their asparagus, East Cork Beef Cheek, a gorgeous panna cotta plus a super Irish cheese plate, was also high class. Details and next menu here.  

Ballymaloe Pop Up Wine Shop. Saturday afternoons only.

As we arrived, Colm McCan was opening up a Pop-up wine shop at the front of the Grainstore. He had a well-judged selection of organic and natural wines, also the Ballymaloe Gin. And also there was their very own cider, made with apples grown on the farm, including Dabinett, Crimson Bromley, Santana, Topas, Delles Bell and Dellinquo. You can get it only in Ballymaloe or though the At Home menu. Delicious and refreshing as we found out when we got home and relaxed in the garden before getting that marvellous dinner onto the table later on. Quite a day in the east.

PS: A day or two later, we were in Knockadoon. You’ll find the Lobster Pot food truck in place at the pier here, again opening at the weekends.

Burns Family Playing A Blinder At Home On The Farm

Burns Family Playing A Blinder

 At Home On The Farm

Joe and Sandra at the Farm Shop.

The Killeagh farm of Joe and Sandra Burns is pretty well known for its stall at local farmers market and for its delicious vegetable crisps (available all around the country). They were going well on both fronts until Covid19 struck. Bang went the markets. Bang went the food festivals and with them a huge chunk of the crisps business.

But the resilient pair are fighting back. The business from the markets has been largely replaced by their superb Farm Shop. Believe it or not, the idea for this came from a little pioneering venture at the farm gate last year by daughter Meghan, one of their three children.

Parsnips. No shortage!

In the middle of all this, instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they found time to think of people less fortunate. Back in May, with huge help from the neighbours, they raised over €600.00 for Pieta House at an event in the farm.

And Joe told me that it is the neighbours who are the mainstay of the success of the Farm Shop. Here, though the shop is in the yard by the house, they operate a “honesty box” system. The price list for the vegetables is displayed (also available online); cash payment is put in an envelope and then into the box.

Joe, with Toby, and daughters Meghan (left) and Katelyn.

And what a choice you have! Fresh out of the nearby fields, you can have carrots (including rainbow carrots), parsnips, swede/turnip, white turnip, cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, white cauliflower, purple cauliflower, romanesco, beetroot, kale, rhubarb, celery, courgette, onions, plus eggs, strawberries, mushrooms, tomatoes.

All the colours of the beet!

Of course, there are spuds, new at the moment, Queens or Ladyclaire. And Roosters. By the way, those Ladyclaires are the ones they use for their crisps (the white ones) and they are very good for boiling, steaming and chipping. And speaking of crisps, well they’re there too, the original Veg (carrot, parsnip and beetroot), Beetroot, and Mixed Potato.

A superb selection of fresh produce in the middle of the lovely East Cork countryside. Not in the middle of nowhere, by the way. This treasure trove is just about six minutes off the main Cork-Waterford road (N25) in the village of Killeagh. 

If you’re coming from the city, instead of turning right for Youghal at the eastern end of the village, take the small road (L3806) straight up past the church. Tap P36 X582 into your Google maps and you’ll be there in no time. You’ll see a sign or two for the farm as you get closer. 

One of the highlights from last year was the pumpkin picking season. Groups of kids - play school, primary, families - came for the picking. No less than 83 children in one group from Mayfield. They enjoy the picking but also get the full tour, lots of tasing of raw veg - the coloured beetroot is a big hit. 

It is educational in a fun way for the visitors and the Burns family absolutely enjoy it themselves and are looking forward to December 2020. In a year or two, there’ll be apples to be picked as well. Joe has planted some 100 trees. The deers, displaced by clear-felling in nearby wooded hills, took an interest at first but seem to have eased off and the apples are growing well.

Pumpkins, sheltered by the barley.

Close to the lines of apples, a couple of hives have been installed by a local beekeeper as Joe and Sandra seek to improve pollination of the apples and other fruit and also expand the diversity of the farm. Another section of land has been planted with oats and linseed and it is allowed grow for the benefit of the birds under a Glas scheme.

Purple cauliflower and Romanesco

Sandra is perhaps best known for the crisps, originally produced in a small mobile kitchen (2014*). In fact, they had really started in the farmhouse kitchen. The mobile kitchen was quickly outgrown and now they have a very impressive brand new permanent facility on site. Here they can do much more. The packaging though is slow and proving something of a bottleneck. A new machine had been eyed up to ease the pressure but, being a fairly large expenditure, its purchase has had to be postponed because of Covid.

All quiet in the crisps unit!

With the farmers markets now off his agenda, Joe is enjoying some extra spare time and they, as a family, are getting out and about a bit more to cheer on their local teams and so on. Still, there’s always something being planned. Take Sandra for instance. She recently shared a Beetroot Brownie recipe with the shop’s customers and “it went down a treat.” She promises to work on another few! No standing still around here!

Sandra and Meghan at a festival in Ballymaloe. Covid19 put a stop to all that. Fingers crossed, festivals will be back soon

The Farm Shop is open every Thursday Friday & Saturday 10-6

Joe’s Farm 

Drishane More

Ballycurraginny

Killeagh, Co. Cork P36 X582

* Back in 2014, I tweeted: Just got to get Joe's Farm Crisps on Twitter. Brilliant product. They're still not on but at least you'll find them on Facebook now!

Down on the farm!