Terras Gauda Abadía De San Campo Albariño. "a very juicy and fresh wine"

Terras Gauda Abadía De San Campo Albariño Rías Baixas (DO) 2022, 12.5%

RRP: €20.95. Stockists:  64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny

a very juicy and fresh wine.

This bottle is bursting with brio, is fresh and fragrant, and immediately engaging. The colour is a clean green-tinged yellow with definite citrus traits on the nose. The palate is filled with citrus and mineral sensations. Yet it is very well balanced, with quite a persistent and pleasant finish. Excellent overall, it shows the magnificent qualities of this increasingly popular grape. Very Highly Recommended.

Aging is not recommended. Or is it? You will see some experts, such as Hugh Johnson, giving this the DYA designation, meaning drink youngest available! The producers concur. 

But there is at least one contrary opinion. Finest Wines of Rioja (2011) debunked a “popular misconception” that these wines are meant to be drunk within one year of the vintage. “..a quality Albariño, bottled during the first spring after harvest, with a balanced structure relying on fresh acidity and a good mineral character, will be at its best after its second spring and will continue growing in bottle for some years.”

Le Caveau tells us it works brilliantly when served with tuna steaks. It is also ideal with seafood, shellfish (Percebes!), fish... “or almost anything coming out of the Atlantic.” The winery recommends serving it at a temperature between 10°C and 12°C and adds that it can also be enjoyed with Asian cuisine. It is best appreciated chilled on a hot summer day.

Thought to be related to Riesling and presumably brought by Cluny monks to 12th century Iberia, via France, the relatively recently fashionable Albarino grape is now mainly associated with Rías Baixas in northwestern Spain.  It is also grown in neighbouring areas in Portugal where it is spelt as Alvarinho. Indeed, recent studies suggest it is native to Galicia and Portugal.

Kinsale’s Le Bistro is well worth le détour

 Kinsale’s Le Bistro is well worth le détour

Dining out

From the outside, it resembles a bistro that you see in any small town in France. Well, the sunshine was extra generous that day, with the colours of the frontage and the flowers catching the eye (the floral arrangement by @daisychainkinsale is just perfect). We are not in France, but in the middle of the Irish seaside town of Kinsale, looking straight ahead at Le Bistro. Parking is available just outside, but we soon realise that it’s also the police station, and these spots are reserved. We soon find a nearby parking lot.

Chicken burger, in Blaa

The welcome in the bistro is warm and friendly. We are taken to our table, which features comfortable chairs and a small vase of flowers on top, along with cutlery, condiments, and paper napkins.  The menu is soon delivered and we see a good choice between sandwiches and hot dishes. Having driven down, we had to forego the wine (a short list, but it covers most of the popular grapes) and opted for the water instead.

Desserts

No shortage of tempting sandwiches in Le Bistro. Cajun Chicken and smoky bacon feature in the Chicken and Bacon. Home-baked and glazed ham shine in the Ham & Cheese Toastie. Slow-cooked brisket is the mainstay of their Beef Sandwich. They also offer a Pork Belly Ciabatta and a Rustic Char-grilled Chicken Wrap. The Vegan Wrap consists of homemade hummus, red onion marmalade, jalapenos, tomato, lettuce, and vegan cheddar. 

We had been told that the special for the day was Quiche (10.95) with black pudding and caramelised onion, salad, and French fries, and that was CL’s choice, which proved to be a good one.

Quiche

My pick was the Rustic Chargrilled Chicken Burger (€16.95), served with tomato, lettuce, cheese, and homemade tzatziki sauce on a toasted Waterford blaa, accompanied by French fries.  It was my third blaa in about ten days, and I would certainly like to see it used more often, as it is nice and soft, compared to those toasted sourdough doorsteps that are so beloved by some cafés. Recent dishes include Pasta Salad with grilled Halloumi and Caesar Salad with Chicken.

At that point, we realised Le Bistro has an outdoor area and we moved there for dessert. It is located at the end of the oblong restaurant space, and we were guided there, then upstairs, and into the sunlight. The kitchen is also located here. Le Bistro, by the way, is located in the building that previously housed Carole Norman’s Crackpots Encore (and also the Supper Club).

Sandycove, Kinsale

As you enter the restaurant, the colourful display of the day’s cakes catches your eye. The temptation lingers and is reinforced when you leave the table to choose! To accompany the excellent coffee, you can choose from Carrot Cake, Caramel Slice, Apple Crumble, Rocky Road, Brownie, and Apple Sponge (from €3.50 to €5.95). My tip is the Carrot Cake, a terrific example, and the lighter Apple Sponge is pretty good as well.

Emily Furey and chef Regis Herviaux are the friendly and efficient couple behind Le Bistro; they also run Kelly’s Coffee shop in Mountbellew, Co. Galway.

Kinsale's Farmers Market (every Wednesday)

Eating and drinking the best of local at the 2025 Ballymaloe Festival of Food. Here’s a sample or two!

Eating and drinking at

 the 2025 Ballymaloe Festival of Food. 

I did it my way! Here’s a sample or two.

As always, there were some amazing chefs and amazing dinners on offer at the 2025 Ballymaloe Festival of Food. With the weather so fine, dining Al Fresco fitted my bill quite well, and I picked dishes from a range of stalls. Fiadha (from Kerry) and their Pulled Pork in a Blaa was a tasty gem. Another enjoyable lunch dish was the La Bolognese, a traditional Italian Ragu made with minced Angus Irish beef from Christian Spaccamonti's IMonsu Market. Catch him at the local Farmers markets including Kinsale, Douglas and Mahon Point. For a garden supper later on, a quartet of Hederman's smoked mackerel fillets did the trick! Plenty of sweet stuff too including from Yum Gelato and, below, the Raspberry Bow Tie from the Grumpy Bakers.

Non Alcoholic drinks are often in the conversation these days. There was even a Festival session about them on Sunday morning. Here's the logic (?) behind the name of this newish one: a beer defined by addition, not subtraction - a special yeast and a trilogy of hops helps unlock that true beer character. The result, an alcohol-free extra pale ale that's intense in flavour (our fierce side) yet mellow enough for any occasion (our mild side). Many Irish non alcoholic beers are not great but this was quite impressive and I bought a pack.

Four years ago, Artisan Sea Salt Harvesters West of Dingle began with more hope than cash (the starting budget was €300). Ballyferriter-based, they hand-harvest their sea salt from the ocean off the Dingle peninsula. Now, they have expanded quite a bit and have five different flavours "which enhance every meal you add it to. We only use natural ingredients in our blends." I've been a fan since day one.

Another small company at the festival was Mad Beans, founded just a few years back by Tipperary couple Martin and Jenny Blanchfield. They say: This dream-turned-reality isn’t just about pouring the perfect cup—it’s about making a real difference. We love coffee (obviously), but we also believe business should be a force for good. That’s why 50% of our profits go straight back into the community." They now offer a Brazilian and a Columbian coffee but it was their Cold Rush, a powerhouse concentrate —refreshing, smooth, bold, and strong - that caught the eye in Ballymaloe, helped no doubt by the warm weather. Looking for recipes for iced coffees? Try their recipe page here.

Leitrim Hill Creamery is a small holding goat farm and creamery in Drumcong, County Leitrim. They make small batch artisanal raw milk cheeses utilising milk from their own herd of goats as well as milk from partner farmers in the region. I haven't opened this pack yet but the taster at Ballymaloe was superb and a useful keep it cool bag clinched the deal!

Hungry Soul from County Clare produces this range of Cream Cheese Alternatives. My favourite was the Garlic and Chive, and I have a pack in the fridge.

Honey is a staple in this house and this particular Wildflower one, rather scarce at present, is a favourite. It is 100% Irish and raw. Galtee Honey Farm is home to 200 colonies of Native Irish Black Honey Bees – a threatened honey bee. It is nestled at the edge of the picturesque Galtee Vee Valley in Tipperary. It’s a three-generation family business, founded by Micheál Mac Giolla Coda in 1970. Now his daughter Aoife and grandchildren work with him – making raw wildflower honey, candles, skincare and food wraps.  

 There were plenty of tours and walks during the festival, and we joined Ballymaloe's head gardener, Mags, who took us on an informative tour of the Ballymaloe Walled Garden. The garden featured everything from cut flowers to forced sea kale, rhubarb, and the more unusual, such as the emerging cherries (above) and the promising peaches (below). 

Ichibanya Sushi & Noodles Bar. So many tempting dishes

Ichibanya Sushi & Noodles Bar

So many tempting dishes

If you’re in Bishopstown, whether a resident or visitor, and feeling hungry, why not give Ichibanya Sushi & Noodles Bar a call? This bright 50-seater place offers a friendly welcome and an extensive menu that will take quite a while to read.

The best place to start reading is the Sushi section, which has some sub-sections. If you are new to Sushi, it may be a good idea to start with individual pieces, such as Maguro Nigiri (Raw Tuna) or Suzuki Nigiri (Raw Seabass). Nigiri is a popular type of sushi consisting of a small mound of vinegared sushi rice topped with a slice of raw fish or other seafood. 

If you have experience with sushi (or sashimi), you could do worse than order the Nigiri Mix. That’s what I did on my recent visit, and I certainly enjoyed the seven-piece selection of Salmon, Tuna, Seabass, Unagi, Cooked Prawn, Cooked Octopus, and Crabstick.

The Bento Boxes are good value here, and there is often one on special offer, as was the case with ours: the Chicken Teriyaki Bento (deep-fried teriyaki chicken, mixed salad, gyoza, rice). 

A traditional Bento typically includes rice or noodles with fish or other meat, often accompanied by pickled and cooked vegetables in the compartmentalised box. Other Bento boxes on offer here include a Beef Yakiniku Bento (wok-fried beef in yakiniku BBQ sauce, mixed salad, takoyaki, rice), a Salmon Teriyaki Bento, and more!

Our little group also got the Chicken Katsu Curry, a pretty generous amount of chicken with rice, some small pieces of vegetables, and a little ginger. We also got a bowl of Miso Soup, which comes automatically (no extra charge) with quite a few of the dishes here (including the bentos).

Some of you are probably familiar with Ramen dishes, and here, you can choose from six different types. We also missed out on trying the Noodle dishes, such as Yaki Udon (Japanese-style stir-fried thick wheat noodles with chicken) and Beef Udon (medium-cooked sirloin beef in hot bonito soup).

Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink, and they sell two here: Nigori Yuzushu Sake and Hakutsuru Sake. Had I been having a drink, I may well have opted for the Plum Wine. Quite a few soft drinks are available, plus teas and coffees.

Starters and appetisers each have their own section on the menu. And then there is dessert! I’m sorry, I skipped the sweet ending, in particular the Japanese Cotton Cheese Cake, a fluffy, soufflé-style cheesecake with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and the Rainbow Mille Crepe Cake, a colourful, multi-layered crêpe cake filled with cream cheese, offering a delightful taste with every bite. Next time!

Ichibanya Info

📍Unit 3, High Street, Bishoptown Road T12 KF85

☎️021-4541611

⏰Opening hours 12.30pm-9.30pm Dine-in & Takeaway & Delivery (via Deliveroo and Just Eat. 

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/ichibanya_cork/

Web (Including ordering): https://www.ichibanya.ie/

Mo Chara Gin & ALDI Partner for Ireland’s first 5km Gin Run

press release

Mo Chara Gin & ALDI Partner for Ireland’s first 5km Gin Run

World Gin Day on Saturday 14 June 2025, will see Ireland’s first 5km Gin Run organised by Mo Chara Gin in partnership with ALDI Ireland.

Participants will run from the ALDI Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan to the Old Carrick Mill Distillery, conveniently located five kilometres away, where Mo Chara Gin is created and distilled.

The run is to celebrate the delicious new Mo Chara Strawberry Gin, as well as the beautifully redesigned bottles across the Mo Chara range. 

Each participant will receive a 50ml bottle of all three flavours of Mo Chara Gin - Strawberry Gin, Passionfruit & Mango Gin and Pineapple Gin. Cash prizes of €300, €150 and €50 will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers.

Steven Murphy, founder of Old Carrick Mill Distillery, Co Monaghan, commented: “We have worked with the ALDI team for several years, and we continue to be impressed by their support of artisan Irish producers. 

We are excited to host Ireland’s first 5km Gin Run, a fun way to celebrate World Gin Day.

With the support of ALDI, our small batch gins have been able to reach a larger target audience, and we are delighted to see our newest gin featured in 163 ALDI stores nationwide. We can’t wait to hear what consumers have to say once they taste the products.”

The race will cost €25 to enter and is restricted to adults over 18. For the entrance fee, participants will receive a branded race jersey, bespoke Mo Chara medal, ALDI goody bag including three 50ml Mo Chara gin samples, and an official finish time.

Proceeds will be donated to Inver College Carrickmacross, St.Daigh's National School Inniskeen and the local active retirement group (The Ramblers).

Entrance is done online and can be done by using the link HERE.

All Mo Chara Irish Small Batch gins are available in 163 ALDI stores nationwide while stocks last.

Steven has created a selection of wonderful cocktails with the gins, three of which are easy to make at home this summer—the recipes are below.

Passion Fruit & Mango Frozen Daiquiri

• 100ml Mo Chara Passionfruit and Mango Gin
• 1 Large mango
• 200g Ice
• Juice 1/2 a lime
• 25ml sugar syrup

Method:

1. Put all ingredients in an electric blender and mix until they resemble a frozen slushie. 
2. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with a slice of mango.

Strawberry Basil Spritz

• 100ml Mo Chara Strawberry Gin
• 120ml Strawberry basil purée
• 60ml Lime juice
• 60ml Sugar syrup
• 60ml Elderflower liqueur
• Soda, to top

Method:

1. Blend a punnet of strawberries and half a pack of basil together in a blender, strain through a sieve to create your purée.
2. Pour the gin, purée, lime juice, simple syrup and elderflower liqueur into a shaker with ice.
3. Pour into a wine glass, top with soda. Garnish with a strawberry slice and basil leaf.

Pineapple Cooler

• 35ml Mo Chara Pineapple Gin
• 15ml Elderflower liqueur
• 25ml Fresh lime juice
• 25ml Sugar syrup
• Fresh mint - 5-10 leaves
• Apple juice – to top up glass

Method:

1. Pour the gin, lime juice, sugar syrup and elderflower liqueur into a shaker with ice.
2. Pour into a highball glass and top with apple juice and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

https://www.instagram.com/oldcarrickmilldistillery/ 

Race entry Link: https://in.njuko.com/mo-chara-5k-gin-run-20251747046157399

RACE DETAILS

Race start time: 10am

Arrival Time: 8am

Parking

parking on site at Old Carrick Mill, Derrylavan, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, A81YV10

They will be running a bus from the Old Carrick Mill to the start line.

Anyone with a wheelchair we kindly ask you to park at the start point in ALDI Carrickmacross.

Race Entry Pack Pick Up

Monday 9 - Friday 13 June the team will be onsite for participants to pick up their race pack. 9.30am to 4.30pm

Late night pick up on Friday 13 June until 8pm

Participants can also get their pack in the morning at the entry point to ALDI car park (open from 8am).