Spanish Wine Sale at Supervalu. Look out for Lunático Double!

Spanish Wine Sale at Supervalu
Look out for Lunático Double!

Lunático Bianco Jumilla (DOP) 2018, 13%, Regular price €18.99, down to 12.00 during February offer.

This casual and easy-drinking wine has a rose gold colour, very clean and bright, quite attractive. Quite intense with both floral and ripe fruit notes. Creamy, with an unmistakable touch of oak (in which it has spent 3 months), fresh and fruity and a decent finalé. Perfect to pair with fish, white meats, medium strong cheese, cured fish, and Asian salads.  Take note of the serving temperature of 8 to 10 degrees. A superb Viognier and well worth looking out for in the sale.

Look out also for the Lunático red. This young Monastrell is part of SuperValu’s Specially Sourced Signature Range and has spent 12 months in French oak. It is 100% Monastrell (probably better known to many by its French name Mourvedre). Jumilla is one of the better areas for this grape.

Colour is medium purple with the legs slow to clear. Black berries feature in the aromas. On the palate, the rich berry flavours are enhanced by the sweet oak spice. It is rich and smooth overall with a long and pleasant finish and, I must say, I have a preference for the red over the white. But that’s personal. Do your own thing - especially in wine. 

Mosaic “Winemaker Selection” Priorat (DO) 2016, 14.5%, €12.00 (was 23.99) SuperValu

Full bodied red Priorat wines from a small region in Catalonia (north-eastern Spain), have been finding a much wider audience in the past few decades. So I was expecting good things from this Mosaic blend. And I got them.

Colour of this very accessible wine is purple. There are complex aromas with red fruits and spice featuring. Intense and full-bodied, moderate spice all the way, fresh and dry, tannins silky smooth with hardly a bite at all in a deliciously lingering finish. High quality here, and now at a terrific price.

Condado de Oriza Roble Ribera Del Duero (DO) 2017, 13.5%, €10.00 (14.99)

Say “hola” to this impressive youth from Ribera Del Duero where they’ll tell you they make better wines from the Tempranillo grape than their Riojan counterparts. 

Wine has been produced in this beautiful region since Roman times, though it became well known outside of Spain only in the 1990s. Just two hours north of Madrid, there are about 300 vineyards following the banks of the Duero River in the Castilla y León region, a flowing swathe of land that’s approximately 115 kms long and 35 kms wide. A few years back, Larousse Wine described the DO as “truly the queen of the Iberian peninsula and the cradle of the greatest wines”.

This Condado de Oriza is one hundred per cent Tempranillo (also known here as Tinta del Pais) and has been aged in new American oak for six months, a style known as Roble. After the oak, it is kept in bottle in the cellar for another six months.

It has a dark ruby colour. Ripe darker fruits (plum, cherry) in the aromas, plus spice and fresh herb notes. Rich fruit flavours fill the palate, muted spice, hints of the oak, full bodied and the finish is strong and long.

Serve it at 16 to 17 degrees and pair, the vineyard advise, with lamb chops, pies, cured or semi-cured Manchego or Gouda cheese, as well as dates wrapped in bacon.

Abellio Albarino Rias Baixas (DO), 12.5%, €10.00 (was 14.99).

Liked the colour of this current Wine of the Month immediately, an inviting medium gold. It is hand-harvested and ideal with shellfish and fish and also recommended for lightly spiced Asian chicken dishes. The medium intense aromas are of white fruit. It has a smooth character on the palate, intense fruit (pear, apple and peach) with refreshing minerality. It is zesty and well balanced.

On the Case!

As usual the Supervalu buyers have come up with a very attractive case deal, featuring the aromatic and soft La Miranda de Secastilla. Normal price for this six bottle deal in a wooden is ninety euro but during the Spanish sale you can get it for €50.00. Not to be sniffed at! Though you probably will have a nose or two at the fruity aromas before enjoying!

Like Cava, Spain's excellent sparkling wine, made in the same way as Champagne but better-priced, especially in this sale. We reviewed a couple recently - check it out here. 

* By the way....  If you buy any 6 normal sized bottles, including wines already on offer, you save another €10.00. So buy and enjoy responsibly.

Supervalu Highlight Increase in Sales of Cava during 2020 Spanish Wine Launch

Supervalu Highlight Increase in Sales of Cava

 during 2020 Spanish Wine Launch

Supervalu have had a long association with Spanish wines and recently launched their 2020 selection. It includes the two Cava below. 

Head wine buyer Kevin O’Callaghan: “Ten years ago, Spanish wines sales were dominated by red wines, but today Spanish white wines have enjoyed a 9% growth and now account for 22% of total Spanish wine sales, a sizeable increase considering ten years ago SuperValu’s Spanish white wine sales amounted to less than 6%...while Spanish Cava has also seen growth of 18%…”

Cava is a different distinctive under-rated sparkling wine, made in Spain using the same method as Champagne. There’s a great choice with the Spanish, mainly Catalan, wine whereas many of the big Champagne houses are nowadays owned by the LVMH Group and many smaller producers are now selling their grapes to the big names rather than sticking to the increasingly more difficult independent route. Prosecco is extremely popular in Ireland of course and sometimes I wonder why. Having said that, there are some really good examples of the main Italian sparkler.

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Heredad 12%, €30.00*.

Light gold is the colour of this elegant Cava, so elegantly presented, constant little fountains send micro-bubbles to the top while slightly bigger ones cling to the sides. Fruit (apple), and a touch of honey in the intense aromas. Mouthfeel is excellent (it has spent some time on the lees), and the high standard, fruity and full of flavour, plus that biscuity touch, is maintained all through to a long impressive finish. 

This premium Cava comes in a decorated bottle. Patiently resting in its precious bottle, it is allowed to quietly mature for the most time in the calm darkness of the Segura Viudas cellars before a last poignettage, from Head Winemaker Gabriel Suberviola, intensifies the contact of the lees for a more complex and finished bouquet. Poignettage occurs when the bottle is shaken vigorously so that the dosage liqueur marries perfectly with the wine. Some of you may be familiar with dosage; it not, check here. 

Notes indicate that it pairs well with meat dishes, such as pork and chicken. It is produced in the Penedès area (near Barcelona) and the blend is of just two grapes: Macabeo (67%) and Parellada.

Gran Troya Cava Brut NV 11.5%, €26.00*  

It may be a little less intense in all aspects than the Segura Viudas and it’s very approachable. If you haven’t tried Cava before, this is a terrific introduction. Indeed, if you are not familiar with Cava,  start with the Troya and then make Segura Viudas your next drop.

The Troya colour is a pale gold and there is no shortage of tiny bubbles rising to the top and forming a ring around the perimeter of the glass. It is reasonably intense, mellow aromas, and fruity in the mouth with a long dry finish. A fairly typical Cava. The grapes used are the traditional Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada “from our own vineyards”. Try with olives, grilled almonds. Serve at 6-8 degrees.

* Watch out for the regular Supervalu offers. For instance, during the second half of February, the Segura Viudas is on offer at €20, and I have seen the Gran Troya as low as €12.00.

Rosé Lovers to be Seduced at SuperValu This Valentine’s! And a few tips for the February sale.

Rosé Lovers to be Seduced at SuperValu This Valentine’s!
 And a few tips for the February sale.

Whispering Angel Half Price for 48 Hours, Exclusively at SuperValu

Largely associated with sun-kissed French terraces, the Hampton’s beachside bars and alfresco drinking… one of the world’s most fashionable rosés, Whispering Angel, will be half price at SuperValu stores nationwide for 48 hours only. On a first come, first served basis, be sure to get to your local SuperValu next Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th!

Normally retailing at over €30.00, Whispering Angel, referred to as ‘Hampton’s Water’ by the New York Post, will be available for just €15.00 on Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th February at SuperValu. This makes it a perfect gift for rosé lovers this Valentine’s Day or a must-have on Galentine’s Day the pre-Valentine’s Day event (February 13^th).

A Côtes de Provence rosé, the Whispering Angel by Caves d'Esclans is made from a thorough selection of the region’s very best terroirs, including the Motte, which is situated in the heart of Provence. Grapes consist primarily of Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle (vermentino), Syrah and Tibouren. The optical sorting ensures only the best quality fruit is used in the final blend. The fruit is destemmed and crushed slightly at 7-8° Celsius to avoid oxidation. The free-run juice and pressed juices are then vinified in stainless steel with batonnage taking place twice a week.

Whispering Angel has a seductive pale pink colour with silver reflections. The aromatic palette of this Provence rosé reveals bags of fruit, both tangy citrus peel and small red berries, along with a delicate floral fragrance. The palate of this rosé is bone dry, with a texture that offers plenty of substance without lacking in finesse.

The wine has amassed a huge global following from celebrities to social influencers and has collected an affluent array of awards globally, most notably winning Brand of the Year by M. Shanken Communications Market Watch. The Whispering Angel flash sale will be available in all SuperValu stores nationwide and online at www.SuperValu.ie on 13^th and 14^th February 2020.

press release above

****************

* So, she or he doesn't like rosé! No problem. Just go and grab an impressively packaged bottle of Cava from the Supervalu Spanish Wine sale (13-26 Feb); I'm talking about the Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad (20.00). The ten euro you'll save here could go towards the chocolates!

Some terrific reds also in the sale, including the Pagos de Labarca AEX, also at twenty euro. On the white side, there are a few Albarinos (including Abellio, a favourite here). The Lunatico red went down well here recently and now I'm looking forward to trying their white, down to €12.00 from 18.99.

Six Christmas & New Year Wine Doubles!

Six Christmas & New Year Wine Doubles
In no particular order! 

(Click on the individual wines to see short reviews and Irish stockists.)

I      Gallina de Piel, `Ikigall` Penedès (DO) 2018, 11.5%, €20.99 Liberty Wine
Blackrock Cellar; Baggot Street Wines; McHugh’s Off Licence - Kilbarrack Rd; Bradley's, North Main St., Cork
www.winesonline.ie
           Gallina de Piel Mimetic Calatayud (DO) 2018, 14.5%, €20.99 Liberty Wine
Baggot Street Wines; Blackrock Cellar; McHugh’s Off Licence - Kilbarrack Rd; McHugh’s Off Licence - Malahide Road; Drink Store Ltd; Bradley's, North Main St., Cork; www.winesonline.ie


II    Angiolino Maule, La Biancara, Masieri Bianco Veneto (IGT) 2017, 11.5%,               €18.85;  64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
       Angiolino Maule, La Biancara, Masieri Rosso Veneto (IGT) 2018,  14.0%,               €22.25; as above


III   Diwald Grüner Veltliner “Goldberg” Wagram (Austria) 2015, 13%, €20.75             Mary Pawle
          Domaine de la Bonne Tonne Morgon (AOC) “Cote du Py” 2015,                14%, €28.75 Mary Pawle

IV   De Alberto Organic Verdejo Rueda (DO) 13.5%, O’Brien’s
           De Martino “Gallardia” Cinsault Itata (DO) 2017 , O'Brien's


V    Lo Abarca Riesling 2017 €12.00 Marks & Spencer
       Chateau Vincens “Prestige” Cahors (AOC) 2013, 13%, €23.50 Vanilla                        Grape Kenmare

VI    Castellani Vermentino Toscana (IGT) 2017 €10.00 SuperValu
           Campo Viejo Garnacha Rioja (AOC) 2017 €10.50 SuperValu

Click on the individual wines to see reviews and Irish stockists.

Reds for Christmas? Supervalu's got you covered.

Reds for Christmas? Supervalu's got you covered.

Any of you who enjoyed the Campo Viejo tapas trails that used take place in Cork city a few years ago will know all about the Reserva. But have you met the Campo Viejo Garnacha, also from Rioja? It is my first pick from the current SuperValu Christmas Wine range. It’s a beauty as you may read below. And so too is the robust Stomper.

Reductions on a large selection of wines, both red and white, and beyond, continue right up to closing time on Christmas Eve. This post, the second of two, takes a look at the reds and may help you with your choices. Check out the whites and sparkling wines here.

Campo Viejo Garnacha Rioja (AOC) 2017, 14%, 

Usually, and still mostly, it is the grape Tempranillo that is used in Rioja but increasingly Garnacha is coming to the fore here and this Campo Viejo is their very first 100% Garnacha, the grapes coming from their own vineyard in Rioja. The wine is aged for four months in new French oak barrels.

Mid to dark ruby is the colour. Red berries, cherries and a waft of vanilla on the nose. Bright and lively and vibrantly fruity (strawberry, raspberry) on the palate, a wee bit of sweetness too, tannins too in the mix as the lengthy finish approaches.

Very versatile at the table: meat, pasta, appetisers, charcuterie, a vegetable lasagna have all been suggested. Watch out too for the Viejo Rioja Reserva, fruity and smooth and going for a song at ten euro, same price by the way as the famous Faustino.

Nugan Estates Stomper’s Cabernet Sauvignon Single vineyard Riverina 2015, 14.5%, 

Dark ruby is the colour here. Pretty intense aromas, blackcurrants featured, blackberry too, vanilla in there as well. You half expect it, yet the palate is surprised by the concentration of dark fruit flavours as the wine lives up to its Stomper billing. And the intensity, with sweet tannins in play, lingers in the long finish. Try with red meat, including venison.

Nugan tells us their “Cabernet vineyard requires more work than the Shiraz and it's become a favourite for the birds as the bunches ripen. There's never any short cuts on the barrel program and this wine sees only French oak, of which 25% is new. …We’re really proud of this and hope you like it”. I certainly liked it, one of the easiest-drinking Cabernet Sauvignon around. And now at a superb price.

Il Capolavoro Vino Rosso Appassimento from Puglia is another big red, €10.00 (down from 14.99).The colour is a rich ruby and you’ll notice the legs are slow to clear. There are intense aromas of dark fruits, chocolate notes too. On the palate, concentration is pleasantly evident; it is full of flavour with a touch of smooth spice, a hint of sweetness and it is juicy too. Easy drinking.

The Rhone is a source of some excellent wines and I’ve enjoyed a few from Vacqueyras over the years. The Remy Ferbras doesn’t let the side down here. Colour is ruby red and ripe dark fruits abound in the inviting mix of aromas. There is a great balance between the ripe fruit and spices, plus a hint of liquorice, impressive texture, full bodied and rounded. A good bottle to have on your table at this time of year.

No shortage of big reds on offer. They include the Special Guest Wine, an intriguingly entitled Uncle Zin Appassimento, not from California but a Primitivo in disguise from Italy.

Paço das Côrtes Friendship FADO Reserva (Vinho Regional Lisbon), 13.5%, €10.00 (13.99)

This Fado is a blend of Tinta Roriz (40%), Alicante Bouschet (30) and Syrah (30) and has been aged for 4 months in French oak. Colour is a dark ruby and there are aromas of ripe red fruits plus balsamic notes. Smooth, fruity and spicy, this warmly introduces itself on the palate. Quite intense all through but with good acidity and a persistent finish. 

Nice and satisfying with approachable ripe fruit, this ticks a lot of boxes and well worth looking out for on the SuperValu shelves. And, with its spectacular label you should find it easily enough! Kevin O’Callaghan, Head of SuperValu Wine, is a big fan: “The Fado is one of the best at that price position I’ve seen in a while….. This is a no-brainer for me.”

Have to admit, I’m a big fan of the Gamay grape which is the main red one in Beaujolais. Wines from here are not big and bold like some of the ones mentioned above.  But these lighter wines are very pleasant to drink and I see at least two in the current sale, each by André Goichot and each from a top area.

The best wines come, potentially, from the “crus” of Beaujolais. There are ten in all and the two represented on the Supervalu offer are Moulin á Vent and Fleurie. The Moulin á Vent is on offer for a limited time only.

Check out the SuperValu whites (and sparkling) here. 

SuperValu Christmas Wines. A few tips before you shop!

SuperValu Christmas Wines.

 A few tips before you shop!

Reckon I hit the jackpot with the Castellani Vermentino, my first pick from the current SuperValu Christmas Wine range. It’s a beauty as you may read below. Reductions on a large selection of wines, both red and white, and beyond, continue right up to closing time on Christmas Eve. This post, the first of two, takes a look at the whites (plus sparkling) and may help you with your choices.

Castellani Vermentino Toscana (IGT) 2017, 12.5%, 10.00 (16.99)

Vermentino may not be one of the better known white grapes but it is one of those Mediterranean whites that I like and this is one hundred per cent Vermentino. I like this one too and it is especially good value at the moment.

Colour is a very pale straw, very clear and bright liquid. Inviting aromas, with white fruit along with herbal and floral notes. Quite smooth on the palate, stone fruit flavours, long with a lively acidity which should help it with food. Soups, chicken salad, fish courses and appetizers are suggested by the producer.

Abellio Albarino Rias Baixas (DO), 12.5%, €10.00 (was 14.99).

I never say no to an Albarino and this zesty and well balanced Abellio is a favourite of mine. It is ideal with shellfish and fish and also recommended for lightly spiced Asian chicken dishes. The medium intense aromas are of white fruit. It has a smooth character on the palate, refreshing with intense fruit (pear, apple and peach).

For a few Euro more….

Goichot is the “maison” behind the Chablis on offer, at 15 euro. This, of course, is a Chardonnay, dry and fresh. If this is your first Chablis, you’ll probably find it much drier and fresher than the  non-Burgundian Chardonnays you've been drinking. It has the characteristic mineral aromas that hint of the dryness and freshness to come on the palate. It is quite a gorgeous mouthful, fruit and acidity in good balance and a super dry finalé.

Sauvignon Blanc Fans….

No doubt, there are a few Sauvignon Blanc fans out there and SuperValu have you well covered. The very classy Guy Saget Sancerre is out on its own. And you may also choose from a Brancott Estate, a Graham Norton edition, along with those from the reliable Chilean producers Santa Rita and Cono Sur. Over to you! Enjoy responsibly.

By the way, you can benefit again if you buy 6 bottles as that entitles you to another tenner off the total. In that case, a ten euro bottle actually costs you €8.33. Over to you! Enjoy responsibly.

Sparkling.....

Gran Troya Cava Brut NV 11.5%, €12.00 (down from 26)

Cava is a different distinctive under-rated sparkling wine, made in Spain using the same method as Champagne. If you haven’t tried it before, this is a terrific introduction.

Colour is a pale yellow and there is no shortage of tiny bubbles rising to the top and forming a ring around the perimeter of the glass. It is intense and fruity with a long dry finish. A classic Cava. The grapes used are the traditional Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada “from our own vineyards”. Try with olives, grilled almonds.

Pierre Darcys Champagne Brut NV €20 (29.99)

This pale lemon-yellow with is steady stream of small bubbles, its delicate aromas, certainly has got the usual characteristics; it is crisp and well balanced and runs out quickly! Try it with the smoked salmon!

Also on offer is the Graham Norton Prosecco Frizzante. Again there are lots of bubbles but this time they don’t hang around. This is a Frizzante (gently sparkling) not a Spumante (fully sparkling). You’ll also note a different closure on it - use your normal corkscrew to get started. While it is nowhere near as bubbly as the Cava, this calmer bottle is very very pleasant indeed.

Excellent Laffitte Family Wines Feature in SuperValu’s French September Sale

An excellent trio of wines from the Laffitte family in Gascony feature

 in SuperValu’s French September Sale

Some of the Gascony vineyards stretch to the foothills of the Pyrenees

Brothers Christophe and Sebastien Laffitte are producing these “Tandem” wines in Gascony (SW France), in a village where the family’s history can be traced to the 15th century. The three wines featured here are “about pleasure and togetherness. We hope you enjoy it at your table with the special people in your lives.”

If you do get to holiday in Gascony, you’ll find the locals very keen to talk about rugby, once they know you’re from Ireland. What they are not keen to talk about is Cognac! So be careful when ordering brandy, you are in the land of Armagnac, Cognac’s big rival. Indeed, some of the grapes that the brothers grow (Colombard, for example, are used in the spirit). Similarly, if you are in the mood for a sweetish drink, be sure and ask for Floc de Gascogne (not the Pinot des Charentes of the Cognac area). 

As the Laffittes indicate, these three wines are meant for regular celebration rather than meditation. A recent CNN article says that, in up and coming Gascony, this "everyday enjoyment" extends far beyond just a daily glass of wine. Pursuit of pleasure is seen as a key part of the Gascon lifestyle. And that fits in too with the aims of Supervalu wine buyer Kevin O’Callaghan who says he has wines in the French Wine Sale (5th to 25th September) that will excite all tastes, from the novice to the most experienced. 

Watch out too for the 12 Special Guest Wines - their run is limited to the duration of the sale. Kevin: “These wines offer amazing value..with customers able to explore the different French regions at prices ranging from €8-€50 and all in between.” The three below are listed as Guest!

Domaine Laffitte Rosé, Côtes de Gascogne (IGP) 2018, 11.5%, €8.00 (11.99).

 The grapes for this rosé (screwcap closure) are Cabernet Franc, Marselan and Tannat. The Tannat will surprise some people as it is regarded as a tough grape. But not in these parts. A few years back, I drank a rosé (Argi Dansa), a very good one I thought, in Irouleguy, and that was made with 80% Tannat.

Colour of this Laffitte is a pale pink. It is sweetly perfumed, mainly with strawberries/raspberries, hints of sherbet. On the palate it is soft and fruity, plus hints of citrus, refreshing and easy-drinking with a decent finish. One to enjoy, for sure, especially during our Indian summer!

Domaine Laffitte Red, Côtes de Gascogne (IGP) 2018, 12.0%, €8.00 (11.99).

This red is an excellent blend of smooth Malbec (80%) and fresh Cabernet Franc (20%). Nose is full; you get the vivid cherry and a whiff of spice from a foot or so away, a little vanilla too. Smooth and elegant on the palate, silky tannins and rounded fruit all the way to the finalé. Versatile: white or red meat, lunch or dinner

Domaine Laffitte Sauvignon Blanc, Côtes de Gascogne (IGP) 2018, 12.0%, €8.00 (11.99)

This Sauvignon Blanc, with its pale gold colour, has surprisingly intense aromas, with citrus prominent. It is ample and lively on the palate, a tangy touch, minerality present, with a decent finish to boot. Not bad as an aperitif and a sure bet with fish and seafood.

Another easy-drinking wine to complete the Laffitte trio, all excellent value. These are among the guest wines, just for the duration of the sale. Try them and if you like them get a few more in. Stock up the red and white for Christmas and a rosé or two as an aperitif when there is more heat in the house than outside!

Great Chance to Explore French Wine Regions

At the entrance to Vacqueyras.
Unfortunately, that's water coming out
of the tap, not wine!

With reductions on over forty wines, the SuperValu French sale provides quite the opportunity to go out and explore the various regions. Of course, Burgundy and Bordeaux will always have their followers. But do have a look at lesser known areas.

I am especially drawn to Burgundy but don’t forget that next door is Beaujolais and I always enjoy a well produced wine from that region’s Gamay grape. André Goichot is a reliable name here and you could do worse than try his Fleurie or the Moulin à Vent (one of the 12 guests!) and both are substantially reduced.

The Loire is well represented in the sale. No shortage of Sancerre on the list. If you like to move off the beaten path there the Coteaux Du Giennois (one of the lesser known areas here) and the Alchimie Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t disappoint. 

I’ve always been a fan of the Rhone reds and SuperValu have an impressive quartet lined up for you: Vinsobres, Vacqueyras, Gigondas and Chateauneuf itself. My favourite is probably the Vacqueyras. A good bottle to have on your table this Autumn, great with duck and roast meat dishes.

The Chicken Inn. All about Family and Flavour

The Chicken Inn. 

All about Family and Flavour

Civic recognition for the Mulcahys including
father Jack (left), mother Mary
 and Tim with citation.

The Chicken Inn has been in the English Market since 1955. They started cooking in the 1960s and at that stage a small rotisserie was sufficient to meet a fairly steady Saturday demand, a demand that grew during the summer when the holiday season kicked in and people regularly picked up a cooked chicken for the picnics.

They are still in the English Market of course and now have another base. Just last week, Tim Mulcahy, grandson of the founder John Lane, proudly showed me around their new facility at the Northside for Business Campus in Ballyvolane (just behind the fire station).

As demand for cooked chicken grew, the Chicken Inn bought in a special oven from the UK that allowed them cook slow and on the bone. And that oven has been transferred to Ballyvolane. Tim told me “the antique is going as well as ever”. Right alongside it is a new oven and each is capable of doing 375 chicken crowns at a go, all cooked on the bone by the way, “just 100% per cent meat, nothing added”. 

“Now we can do big orders with more confidence,” says Tim. “But we are not trying to get as much in and out as possible or as quickly as possible. It is still low and slow. We still are at the artisan stage, it is all about the flavour and that takes time and care.” The chicken is succulent. Check it out for yourself before you buy by sampling from the display plate at the market stall. (No retail at Ballyvolane, by the way!).

Ready to roll at new Ballyvolane facility

All about the flavour!

Both ovens cook with steam but in a different way. Water is fed into the new one from the top and directed onto the elements and then the steam is created. The “Antique”, now twenty five years old, uses a water bath to create the steam.

Tim gives huge credit to Denis, the man who oversees the cooking here. “He has been cooking with us for 49 years, has it down to a ’t’. He’s always had the touch and it is second nature to him at this stage”. Denis has seen huge changes during the decades and indeed is now in charge of the paperwork here as well.

And there’s a huge amount of it. Every single batch is tagged on arrival, each box of chicken has a label from the supplier and that label follows that batch all the way through - even gets cooked - to dispatch. And that means that each single chicken’s history (through reception, cooking, chilling) in the facility can be traced if need be. And that means reassurance for customers, both big and small.

“Our customers know what they are getting, they can rely on us. No one else is doing what we are doing. A big customer didn’t want any more plastic so we use greaseproof paper as a simple solution to packaging.” And because of the increased capacity and the increased ability to trace and track, the Chicken Inn has recently been able to secure two large local contracts.

Early days in the market

In the cooked/production area, the air is changed no less than twenty times per minute. You can’t move from one room to another willy nilly. If an opposing door is open, you won’t get access until that’s closed. It’s a bit like queueing to see the Last Supper in Milan. 

Cleaning is a constant. They also use a “fogging machine”. This reaches the spots that other methods can’t access, and it especially useful for fans and motors. And the regulations on hygiene - I had to get togged out with coat, hat and shoe covers - follow the chicken all the way through from inward delivery, through the different areas, to the blast chill (cold in there!) to their chill dispatch area.

New generation. Tim with daughters Judy
and Ali (right) at the Blas prize-giving.

Oh, the Chicken Inn continue to do their own spiced beef and turkey, that spice beef by the way is sold all year round. Tim told me a good yarn: “Only last week, a lady called and ordered, cooked turkey sliced, spiced beef and ham, for a confirmation lunch. And she told me she was going to tell her visitors, some from Dublin, that she’d prepared it all herself!”. Tim mightn’t be getting the credit but he took it as a great compliment!

And do watch out for their new product, which has been a while in development. Their Chicken Bone Broth, made here in a large stock pot in Ballyvolane, is now widely available in Supervalu and also from the market stall.

Tim had a lot of hoops to jump through as he set up the new facility, lots of help too though. “It is getting increasingly difficult, for small producers, to put a place like this together.” He showed me a “blucher drain”. He was quoted close to a thousand euro each and he needed 12! Luckily though, with help, he sourced them for a fraction of the original quote. The Chicken Inn has four people employed here, nineteen in total, 23 reasons to be proud.

Tim has great praise for the Northside for Business Campus, well placed for distribution on the North Ring Road. It is part of the Northside Economic Development Forum’s ‘Growing more than Apples’ initiative.  By working together the stakeholders aim to develop practical initiatives, with tangible outcomes, that support the regeneration of the 3 RAPID areas on the Northside. 

The  Northside Economic Development Forum itself is representative of Cork City Council, Cork City Enterprise Board, Cork City Partnership, Cork Chamber, Department of Social Protection, HSE, PLATO , The Revenue Commissioners, RAPID and the City of Cork VEC ad was set up in 2012 by the Cork City Development Board. Read more here  https://northsideforbusiness.ie/

Chicken Inn

1955 - John Lane started the stall in the English Market.

1960s - started selling cooked chicken.

1988 - suppliers to Michael Jackson concert in Cork

1992 - suppliers to Tall Ships, Cork

1993 - suppliers to Eurovision Millstreet

2010 - Their Honey Roast Ham won a Gold Star at the prestigious UK awards

2014 - awarded McKenna Guides plaque

2019 - new facility in Ballyvolane.

See Previous article on the Chicken Inn here