Thursday, August 13, 2009

La Kaz in Talmont


Talmount Sur Gironde


Surprised to find La Foret closed on this Tuesday evening; headed down to Talmont to La Promontoire but that too was closed.
Lesson: check before you go, as many restaurants close for both Monday and Tuesday, others for just one of those days.
La Kaz, another establishment in Talmont, was open; we got a table there and soon the place was packed, putting pressure on the two serving, though our flamboyant fellow didn’t show it. They did their best but service was slow. Nothing great on the menu here so settled for a lovely pizza (11.50). Also enjoyed my dessert of Poire Belle Helene and the wine which cost €5 for a 50cl carafe.





People were expecting a thunderstorm and there was a little nervousness when one or two of the sheltering sunshades began to rattle in the wind. But nothing, only a few heavy drops, followed and there was a beautiful sunset on sea and cornfields as we drove inland to the gite.


Check out my review of La Kaz - I am cork - on Qype

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Chez Mémé in Royan


Royan - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Italian & Pizza


Five in the afternoon, we hit the road to Royan and walked across the main sea front to take a look at a couple of smaller beaches on the western side.





Having eaten well at lunch time, we didn’t need a big meal again.





No problem in Royan which has some three hundred eateries, quite a few of them along by the marina and Front de Mer.





We settled for a pizza in in Chez Meme, one of a string restuarants in the sea front arcades. A couple of pizzas (9+9.5), 50cl of wine (5.50), two desserts (5.50 & 6.50) filled the belly.





Service was excellent and friendly and the food wasn’t bad either! Sun still belting down strongly on the beach as head for the gite.


Check out my review of Chez Mémé - I am cork - on Qype

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

La Forêt

Meschers sur Gironde - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants

Back to the gite but the cupboard was bare so headed out to the generous plates of La Foret.




Take this meal for value. A pave de Saumon au four (oven cooked darne of salmon), well garnished, and served with some tagiatelle (15.00), followed by Tarte Normande, apple and rhubarb (5.50), a half bottle of wine (3.00), and a coffee (1/80), total an incredible 25.80.




Another worthwhile visit to a restaurant that is very popular with the French –didn’t see any other foreigners there!


Check out my review of Restaurant La Forêt - I am cork - on Qype

Saturday, August 8, 2009

MARKET LANE

Cork - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Irish

MARKET LANE

Downtown Friday night and time on your hands before mealtime? Call in to Counihan’s. Enjoy a glass of wine and live jazz (starts at 6.00pm).
Did just that last night and then headed for Market Lane. It is a no booking establishment so we had to wait a few minutes for a table.
With a glass of excellent Chenin Blanc (5.90) at hand, I tucked into the Pan-fried Sea bass with sweet potato mash and a chunky salad (the spring onion pieces were quite robust, perhaps too much so for anyone whose teeth aren’t what they were), wilted greens and tarragon butter sauce €18.95. I had no problem on that score and enjoyed the good quality dish.
I wasn’t as impressed with my dessert: Orange and vanilla bread and butter pudding. It was well presented but quite ordinary and I could not give more than five out of ten. However, the other dessert at the table, a Mango and passion fruit sorbet with fresh fruit, was very highly rated.




All in all, it was another good meal at a reasonable price in the deservedly busy establishment. A good way to sample the cooking here is the Early Evening Offer: soup, main course (big choice), mini chololate pot and tea or coffee for €20.00, Mon - Thurs.

Market Lane, 5 Oliver Plunket Street, Cork. 021 4274710, http://www.marketlane.ie/
Check out my review of market lane - I am cork - on Qype

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

L'Ilot, harbourside cafe in Boyardville (Oleron)

On a clear day....you can see La Rochelle from Chassiron


ISLAND LUNCHBREAK


Weather uncertain as we headed for the island – Ile d’Oleron – this morning. But we need not have worried. As we reached the Viaduc, the sky was clearing. We headed for Le Chateau d’Oleron to watch the oyster farmers at work. Best viewed form the heights of the citadel – there you have a terrific view of the harbour and the estuary and the fleet of flat bottomed boats coming and going to the oyster beds.

Then up the coast to Boyardville and a little lunch – moules a la Italienne + frites, cost nine euro - at a little place near the main parking for the beach called L’ilot. On then to the tip of the island to see and climb the lighthouse, the 150 year old Chassiron.

Climbed the 224 steps no bother to enjoy great views, large over the sea in all directions and small to the foot of the building where a very nice garden (a new feature) has been laid out. Great value for just €2.50.
Back down the other side of the island to make a call to La Cotiniere where the fishermen land their catches and where the fish auctions take place. Saw some very big “meagre” delivered to the auction rooms.
Then back to the gite, the pool and the barbecue. It is now gone 8.30pm and the sun is still shining strongly on the back of the gite. C’est la vie!.





Check out my review of Phare De Chassiron - I am cork - on Qype

Monday, July 27, 2009

Café Brasserie Les Arènes in Saintes


Saintes - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars



If you find yourself in Saintes, either shopping or on a tour of the historic sites of the town, and need a bite to eat at lunchtime then you could do worse than call to the Cafe Brasserie Les Arenes.
There is ample free parking across the street that you may use for shopping or sightseeing. We had been down at the Roman arena (see http://swissroll07.blogspot.com/) and took the path back to the town and came across this bar.
On the boards outside, it advertised a three course lunch for €10.50, four course for €13.00.
We took the smaller menu. My main course was a beef brochette with salad and chips; dessert was a fine slice of lemon tart and we finished off with a decent cup of coffee, all for €10.50!
Service was efficient and friendly and there are toilets in the back. It was the first of a few calls.


Check out my review of Café Brasserie Les Arènes - I am cork - on Qype - see also: http://swissroll07.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

NEW NI FOOD SHOW

Tesco Taste Northern Ireland will take place on 11th & 12th September in Belfast’s Custom House Square.
It will be FREE entrance to the public and is the brainchild of Tesco’s Northern Ireland Office, the show aims to showcase and celebrate the fantastic breadth and quality of Northern Ireland’s produce to a wider audience.
The event will host some fantastic local exhibitors, and visitors can literally take a culinary tour around the region, sampling and meeting the people who grow and produce much of Northern Ireland’s food and drink.
A Celebrity Cookery Theatre will be one of the highlights of the show and will host demonstrations from the region’s leading chefs.

PR is Rachael Gasiorowski (Rachael@denvirmarketing.com) and she'll let us have updates in the run-up to the event.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Marche Rue Gambetta in Saintes


Saintes


We’re in Saintes for the market, walking up Rue Gambetta with small groups of locals and tourists. And then we’re in the thick of it. Two facing rows of stalls turn into another street and the space is crowded.





Like Royan, this is mainly a food market. We’re already well stocked but pick up a few bits and pieces, like some very tasty Saigon rolls (some with shellfish and veg, others with poultry and veg), some cod (not the salted morue) but the fresh cabillaud and a chunk of Munster cheese, the Munster a valley in Alsace.
We are parked near the Arc Germanicus Take a few pics there and head back to the gite for lunch.
If you have a choice, the market in Royan is better, just as the Le Clerc in Royan is much better than the one in Saintes


Check out my review of Marche Rue Gambetta - I am cork - on Qype

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Domaine de la Mothe in Thézac


Thezac, Charente Maritime, France


One of the highlights of a trip to the French countryside is a visit to the local vineyard.





There are a few in the Thezac area, each with its own coloured signs. We followed the yellow of Domaine de la Mothe.





There we met Madame Masse who was born in the farm where we are staying! We also met a couple of very courteous locals in the middle of their purchases.





Madame gave us a generous tasting of Pineau, both white and rose. We bought some and also some of her lovely whites (columbard) and reds (merlot), each at 2.60 a bottle.





At the end of the friendly transaction – where we managed to have a long rambling conversation, even though she didn’t use a word of English – she threw in a bottle of rose for free!





It was the first of three visits to the Domaine and each was very enjoyable. We met her hard working daughter on the final visit and our purchase was rewarded with a smashing bottle of very old Pineau!


Check out my review of Domaine de la Mothe - I am cork - on Qype

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Guy Laurent Traiteur

Restaurants line edge of Royan Marina
Royan


Our favourite traiteur in the Royan area is Guy Laurent. Here we bought a prepared meal €7.73 for two and two sets of tartes (Clafoutis and Apple) for €6.30. Then, with two bags full and a loaf under the arm, back to the car and then to the gite.





The Greek style tomato (bought in large indoor market there) fits the bill for lunch and after that we head to St Georges de Didonne, paddle in the sea, walk along beach and enter the town where we stroll to the centre and the pleasant square, noting the restaurants (the search for food never stops) and so on.





For dinner at the Gite, we have the traiteur’s Turkey in Tomato sauce, having started with some smoked salmon. Dessert is the gorgeous apple tart and all that, along with bottle of Rose from local producer Madame Masse (Domaine de la Mothe), makes for a cheap but lovely meal.


Check out my review of Guy Laurent Traiteur - I am cork - on Qype

see also: http://picasaweb.google.com/cork.billy/BestOfFrance09?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_or4_tuMicQA&feat=directlink

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Hennessy Distillery in Cognac

€6,400 a bottle!!!
Cognac


COGNAC 09/06/09
On the brandy trail today, following the footsteps of Richard Hennessy from Killavullen. First though we needed lunch on arrival in Cognac. Called to a small cafe near the Martell distillery. For €16.00, we got one plate each, one packed with shredded kebab meat plus chips and salad, one packed with Merguez sausages plus chips and salad, along with 2 waters. Quite a feed.





Then walked down to the banks of the Charente to pick up our reserved tickets for the Hennessey tour. Crossed the river by Hennessy boat to a storage area to begin tour and then back again to the main admin. area, all the time accompanied by an English speaking guide.





Finished up in the shop (Boutique) of course for a tasting. The amount of tastes you had depended on how much you paid for your tour. The plebs got just the ordinary Hennessey available in Ireland but we paid €12 instead of €9 and got two tastings, the second a Fine de Cognac. The Fine was really much better and we ended up buying a bottle for about €38.00 – the ordinaire cost €30.00.





Interesting tour, though we felt that the one we made a few years back to Henri Martin was the better of the two. Being a Corkman, I’m letting the side down but at the Martin distillery, you get a tour on a little train and you also see the barrels being made on site.


Check out my review of Les Quais Hennessy - I am cork - on Qype

Monday, July 6, 2009

L'ESCAPADE


St Georges de Didonne - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants


In Royan (or more accurately its joined on neighbour St Georges de Didonne) on Sunday night, we struck it lucky. Many establishments were closed, having done great business earlier for Mother’s Day lunches.
L’Escapade though was open and we were among their first evening customers. Having eaten various bits and pieces on the 600km journey down, we didn’t need a whole pile so when we spied Moules Frites on the menu, we went for it.
We didn’t spot the word gross, the one they really meant. We got at least kilo of mussels each, all in a beautiful cream and onion sauce and a basket full of chips each.
We got stuck in and the shells piled up. Kept going until the very end and then used a spoon to sample further the wonderful cream and onion sauce and, despite the highish €16 tag for a half bottle of Entre Deux Mer Sauvignon blanc, promised to come back soon.


Check out my review of Restaurant L'Escapade - I am cork - on Qype

Saturday, July 4, 2009

LA FORET


Meschers


Royan is popular with the Irish, among others, and the Michelin recommended La Foret is not too far out on the east, on the road to Talmont. It is easy to find.
Started, aside from a few small appetisers, with a massive Goats Cheese and Tomato plateful, containing several slices of a tart that had the cheese and tomato, several rings of another cheese at the four corners of the plate, various bits of fruit and crudités and topped with a “sail”, made up of two rashers on two skewers.
The other starter was also huge, a Carpaccio of various fruits: several slices each of melon, grapefruit, watermelon, pineapple, and grapes, along with a plentiful supply of sorbet. The centre point here was a glass of the local Pineau which you couldn’t really free until you ate most of the fruit.
Main course was Bauvette, a top class beef dish with parsley butter and caramelised onion, served with a few chips. Quite an amount of beat filled the long dish but there was bowl of salad on the side and also more chips. Massive and it went down well.

Then came the cheese course. I forget the first one on offer as we each went for the second which was a white cheese with cream and cognac. Beat that!
Then on to the desserts, all this remember in the €26.00 euro menu. Picked the classic Ile Flottante – melt in the mouth decadence. The other dessert at the table was a Terraro: a sorbet type combination of very fruity boules of frozen fruit (including blackcurrant, strawberry etc) all surrounded by sliced strawberries.
It was an unbelievable meal at quite a busy restaurant and the price was of house wine (red, white or rose) was, believe it or not, €6.00 for a 70 cl carafe.
There are a couple of set menus but the a la carte is huge, opens out like a broadsheet. There is no English version so you could struggle to get though it unless you have very good French. But take a chance. It is worth it!
The cooking, the presentation, the service, the location of La Foret and its ambiance is excellent. But be warned about those huge portions!


Check out my review of La Foret - I am cork - on Qype

Friday, June 19, 2009

LA TABLE


Meursac

We are staying in Thezac. Meursac is a nearby village and the place where La Table is to be found. It is behind the church (see picture), close to the community centre (hall, swimming pool, tennis courts).
It is a gem, run by Julie and Julien Massonaud. Service is courteous and with a smile and a little English and the food is top-notch and you can eat indoors or out. After a couple of small free appetisers and a campari (not free), I made a spectacular start with nests (and they looked the real thing) filled with goats cheese and tomato along with a green salad. The advisor had a Mushroom Terrine, with toasted walnut bread, olives and gherkins.
We each had the same main course, Volaille (in rough puff pastry case) with thinly sliced mushrooms in a prawn (yes, believe it or not) sauce. Absolutely gorgeous, the fish and poultry and mushrooms also coming together for a fabulous main dish.
Desserts too were excellent. One was an apple pastry combination served with ice cream while I had the chef’s surprise: chocolate and caramel layers on a biscuit base with a lemon ice cream and a mango coulis. Lovely stuff.
The three course meal came with a price tag of €19.00 a head. The wine, a Bordeaux blanc, cost €18.00 and we finished off with two good coffees at 1.30 each, every bit as good but a lot less expensive than you’d pay in Jacques.

• By the way, when you see chevre on a French menu, it invariably means goats cheese not goat meat.
Check out my review of la table - I am cork - on Qype

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Le Cottage

(picture of vanilla pods)


Settled on the nearby Le Cottage in Les Arces (pronounced to rhyme with a collection of bottoms) for dinner. The restaurant is run by an Irishman Doug and his French wife Axelle. We made the reservation and arrived at seven.

First course was a maigret du canard (smoked) salad for the advisor while I had an asparagus salad (spears, hardboiled egg, little cubes of grapefruit, toasted almonds slivers and leaves). Both were brilliant.

My main was duck with gratin dauphinois, puréed pea and other seasonal vegetables. The adviser had lamb with much the same veg but no gratin. Didn’t think that pureed pea could taste so well but it was gorgeous as were both dishes.

Dessert was also on a very high level. We both went for the oven baked lemon cheesecake, recommended by Axelle who has a terrific command of the English language. The cheesecake, served with a few strawberries, rounded off a fantastic meal.

We took the house wine and that worked out at just €7.00 for a couple of jugs that totalled 70cl. Total cost of the meal, including a cup of coffee, was exactly €63.00. Back then though the back roads, passing the cornfields and vineyards as dusk came down all around.

*By the way, Le Cottage also serves draught Guinness and jus de Guinness is mentioned in some of the dishes.
Check out my review of Le Cottage - I am cork - on Qype

Monday, June 15, 2009

Le Flora (Ringaksiddy-Roscof)


Le Flora (6/6/09)
Storm forecasts notwithstanding, the Advisor booked a window table at Le Flora restaurant. That, by the way, is the top restaurant on the Brittany Ferries ship Pont Aven.
The gales never came on the Ringaskiddy – Roscof trip (14 hours) but the promise of a top notch meal was delivered on the high seas.
Starter was Shredded Crab, wrapped in Avocado puree and accompanied by a green bean mix and salad. Terrific!
Main course was pork – Pluma Pata Negra: pork steak, probably underdone by Irish standards but, accompanied by a potato cake (understated description) and a simple crispy lettuce, it was absolutely gorgeous.
Dessert for me was a Crumble Pommes, beautifully done with a few big black berries and a little swallow of fiery Calvados to swallow it down. Loved it and also loved the other dessert at our table which was a Soufflé Grand Mariner with a little glass of the famous liquid to accompany it.
By the way, between the mains and desserts, we had the pleasure of picking three cheeses each from the cheese board. Can’t remember them all but the Tombe and the Livarot were the highlights for me.
After the sweets, the coffees were accompanied by a mini Cornetto.
There is a big range of wines available at low to high prices. Felt good so settled or a special offer, a Chateau Haut Surget from the Bordeaux region that cost about 24 euro. No regrets as it was a top notch wine.
Annoyingly, considering that most of the countries are now in the Euro, Brittany Ferries still favour the use of the UK pound on board, though in many cases both currencies are noted.
The total bill for this high quality meal, including a litre bottle of awful Vittal water, came to £76.90 or €90.45.
Check out my review of Le Flora - I am cork - on Qype

Sunday, May 31, 2009


Cork - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars

SOHO WHAT? SO GOOD

Downtown Saturday about six. Started at Lapps Quay to see the tailend of the annual Ocean to City Rowing event. Quite a buzz, a few hundred people, bars and restaurants busy and food stalls doing a roaring trade. We had to leave the food as we were heading for the Soho Bar & Restaurant.

Called into the Clarion to show my advisor the Atrium. While there, accidently met one of the management staff, a very pleasant fellow who gave us a little tour, that included the impressive Synergy Restaurant. It can seat up to 150 but which is well laid out with little semi-private areas where a couple would not feel overwhelmed by the crowd. So we said thanks very much for that and started out for SOHO.
We went through Patrick Street and came across a ragged looking Eastern European band (not really sure where they were from but their literature was in Cyrillic script) playing what sounded like gypsy music.
They were very active and an entertainment in themselves (they play The Roundy this Wed June 3rd) and then they were unexpectedly joined by a guy wearing his CK underpants and a ball and chain. He danced and they surrounded him as they played and we all had a laugh.

The feel good experience continued in SOHO. Starters were pan seared scallops followed by Pan seared duck. Both were top class and so too was the wine, a Fleurie AC Beaujolais Cru, Gamay 2007 (by Mignot). Desserts didn't disappoint either and they were a Lemon Tart and a Sticky Toffee Pudding.
There is quite a range of prices here so you can stick to a budget or go for broke. The atmosphere, the lay-out and especially the service – we had our best waitress in a long time, friendly and helpful – were all excellent.
Check out my review of Soho Bar and Restaurant - I am cork - on Qype

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

FOOD & DRINK SKILLS

An All Ireland Food & Drinks Skills Conference will be held in Cromleach Lodge, Sligo on Wednesday 20th May 2009.

Sharon Sweeney is involved in a Food Training Network (Taste4Success): "We have organised this day long event on facing challenges and opportunities, promoting products and where to cut costs and differentiate in the Food & Drinks business.I would be grateful if you could let your readers know this event is on."

"The event is a platform to pull together food companies in the North, West Midlands to present our needs to Forfas and (hopefully) the Tainiste's Office re our contribution to Food in Ireland and for us to seek for greater importance and indeed funding towards food companies development and training here. Other bodies such as Taste Council of Ireland and Hugo Arnold as well as Good Food Ireland will be speaking at this."

http://www.taste4success.ie/
info@taste4success.ie
"Join Food Industry Experts, on facing challenges and opportunities, promoting products, where to cut cost and differentiate, food demonstrations and much more…

Guest Speakers: Alan Nuzum, CEO Skillnets
Marie Bourke, Forfás, Human Capital and Labour Market Policy Department
Geoff Lamb, Business Development Manager, Food & Drinks Sector Skills
Margaret Jeffares, Managing Director and Founder of Good Food Ireland
Hugo Arnold, Head of Quality Assurance, Good Food Ireland
Peter Ward, Chair of Taste Council, An Bord Bia, artisan food producer
John Gorman, HR Manager - Green Isle/Northern Foods/ Goodfellas Pizas, President of the Irish Institute of Training and Development
Eoin Magennis, Policy Research Manager Cookery

Demonstrations by: Peter Ward, Chair of Taste Council, An Bord Bia, artisan food producer Sharon Sweeney, Leading designer and creator of innovative cakes and handmade Chocolates of Cannoboe Confectionery Moira Tighe, Irish Chef of the Year 2000 and Chef/Owner of the famed Cromleach Lodge Country House Hotel & Ciúnas Spa


More info
www.taste4success.ie
info@taste4success.ie
- Sharon Sweeney - Cannaboe Confectionery - 0719644778 www.cacamilis.com/blog

Thursday, May 7, 2009

LUNCH WITH LUIGI

Cork - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants

LUIGI MALONE’S

It was an hour past my lunchtime and I was in Emmett Place, the right place and time to try out Luigi Malone’s all day (up to 5.00pm) menu.

No regrets, very enjoyable, good food, good value, friendly service. Main course was a Jambalaya: chicken, prawns and tomato salsa with tagliattelli. Spicy, tasty and filling. Cost was less than a tenner and a glass of wine on this menu cost just 3 euro.

Finished off with their famous Toberlone Cheesecake with a cup of coffee and the cost for the combination was €5.90. The cheesecake was lovely –though I didn't particularly notice anything that would make it famous – and the coffee was fine.

Enjoyed the break and would recommend the place.
Check out my review of Luigi Malone's Restaurant - I am cork - on Qype

Friday, May 1, 2009


Kilkenny

During a recent short trip to Kilkenny, I enjoyed a meal at Fleva's. For a couple of Euro less, you get a three course at Lautrec Bistro (St Kieran’s Street). Portions are probably bigger here (not that they are small in Flevas) but quality is high. I enjoyed my braised lamb and the unusual dessert of orange tasting semolina with blueberries. They also do a Plat du jour for €21.00.

Wines at each establishment started around €5.75 per glass but the best glass of wine I had was at the big Left Bank Bar, down by the Castle. Most of the bars here are small but this highly decorated bright place has soft sofas and a roaring fire and bamboo plants growing to the high ceiling. I took my six euro glass of Merlot over to one of the sofas and didn't leave for an hour, a very enjoyable hour indeed.

It was a quick and enjoyable visit to the place that bills itself as Ireland’s Medieval City – not quite true. Officially it may well be a city but many towns are as big and you do have to work to find the medieval bits. The population is about 22,000, not much more than that of Douglas. It is about the same as the non city of Tralee and much less than non city Dundalk (35,000)! But obviously the Cats won the argument some time ago! Same as they’ve won so many hurling titles – now you can’t take that away from them!

For more on Kilkenny go to: http://swissroll07.blogspot.com
Check out my review of Lautrec Bistro - I am cork - on Qype


Kilkenny

Historic Kilkenny is a short enough trip from Cork or Dublin.

Highlight is the gallery in Kilkenny Castle, a must visit, but you can take or leave the tower (don't think you’d get planning permission for it nowadays).

Countryside is pleasant with some fine ruins (Jerpoint Abbey for example, a much better visit than the remaining bits and pieces of Duiske). Some lovely villages too within a short distance of the city, particularly Inistioge (Don't forget a visit to nearby Woodstock) and Graiguenamanagh (on the Barrow).

Arriving in the town, had lunch at the hotel, the Kilkenny Inn (a mid range decent enough three star, quite close to the small town centre). Lunch was a Cajun chicken in a tortilla, with chips and salad, all for less than a tenner. Nicely done and good value.

Kilkenny seems to be a favourite trip to for the Dublin food critics (also hen and stag nights - check that out when booking your hotel). You could fall over the many awards around the place. The door at Fleva (High Street) is loaded with Bridgestones. It is well worth a visit. I had a three course early bird there for €26.00. Mains was Pork with cheese and a mustard jus and the desert, bread and butter pudding with whisky soaked raisins, looked and tasted amazing, should have taken a photo.
Check out my review of Flevas - I am cork - on Qype

ENCORE!

MILANO: THE SECOND TEST

Sometimes, I’m wary of returning to a restaurant where I’ve had a good meal. Milano though passed the stress test with flying colours.

We again had pizza: the Padana, which has rich goat's cheese, spinach and red onion with tangy caramelised onion confit and a drizzle of garlic oil and the Giardiniera which has asparagus, artichokes, mushrooms and fresh red peppers with santos tomatoes, olives and garlic on a rich sauce of tomato and pesto.

I thoroughly enjoyed the latter. I had a piece of the Padana but thought it a little too sweet for my taste (the caramelised onion), but it did go down well at the other side of the table.

Drinks aren’t that cheap at Milano. They do the well known Peroni beer and it did go well with the pizzas but at close to €9.00 for a 60cl bottle, it is expensive.

One of the desserts was Tiramisu. Quite a chunk of it arrived on the table – much more that what you’d get in Italy – and it was absolutely gorgeous.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

QYPE

QYPE: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO


Taking a trip soon? Dublin? London? Bordeaux? Anywhere in Europe?

Where to eat? What to do? Then QYPE’s for you – try it at http://www.qype.co.uk/ie021-dublin

Cork people have their favourite pubs in Dublin. But, how about a change? Try Shebeen Chic. Find it at http://www.qype.co.uk/ie021-dublin

Cheap air fares means going to London is like taking the bus. Now that you’ve done all the regular tourist places why not do something different, like taking a thrilling RIB run on the Thames. Check it out at: http://www.qype.co.uk
France is one of the most popular destinations for Irish holidaymakers. Going there this summer? Where to eat in Bordeaux? Just type in the city you want and hey presto you got all the restaurants conveniently listed in the areas in the city, such as the Old Quarter.

Did it come up in French? No bother. QYPE is multi-lingual – just change to Anglais.
Going further? Vienna, Athens, Copenhagen..many more... are covered..restaurants and entertainments reviewed by the punters..check it out before you go or when you’re on the road...
QYPE – don't leave home without QYPEing.....

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

MILANO

Milan Cathedral
GOOD OFFER AT MILANO'S


Didn't see any brick oven but the pizza at Milano’s in Oliver Plunkett Street was good. So too was the welcome, the service and atmosphere in a restaurant that was very busy early on Wednesday evening.

Perhaps the rush was partly down to the promotional voucher in the local Evening Echo that gives you one free pizza for each ordered. Not a bad offer at all so I said I try it out.

We started with a little intro, some marinated olives in one bowl and Rustica Tomatoes in another, each costing €2.95 and each very very tasty indeed. Promising.

Pizza is the order of the day here and you see the three chef conveyor line in front of you if you have a seat in the back half of the well lit, well laid out establishment.

We both order the Il Padrino (€13.95), torn chicken with rustica tomatoes and a mix of chargrilled Italian vegetables, on a rich sauce of tomato and pesto. It was a smashing pizza, tasty and moist and gone too soon.

Not a big choice of wines but do you really need a big choice for pizzas? Bottles will cost you around €23-24 while you can get a glass for about €6.50 or a 25cl serving for eight or nine euro.

Finished off the Italian way, something sweet with the coffee. We didn't want a full dessert so settled for the new introduction which is called Semi Freddo Reale: Creamy gelato dessert made with nougat, praline and marsala wine, served with a shot of espresso on the side. Gorgeous. And it was two happy campers that went out the door.

Friday, April 17, 2009

THE CONTINENTAL



Thursday evening at 6.30pm and the recession raging! Thought I’d walk in to Luigi Malone’s. No way – booked out! Walked across Patrick Street, down to The Continental – we were the only two there for the duration of our high quality meal. Come on folks – give this gem a try!

They have an early Bird to tempt you: 2 courses cost €19.90, 3 cost €24.95. Great choices, great food. They dish out brown and white breads with butter, hummous and oil. Nice touch.

Started with a Black Pudding, bacon and apple salad. The plate was full and the starter itself full of exciting tastes. The other starter on the table (you had quite a decent choice) was a smoked salmon pate and that too was excellent.

The main course, again you had a choice of about four on the budget menu, was also a winner. It was a spinach and almond cannelloni with tomato. What a taste! Memorable.

Also quite filling so we shared a dessert, a crepe with ice cream and an orange butter. Good but not quite in the same class as the earlier courses.

A 500 ml carafe of the house wine, red or white, will cost you €13.95. The Continental may be found at 7 Maylor Street (021 4253900).

I am not the only one happy with a visit to the Continental – see http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ and check up on Cork restaurants where this one is rated number one of 103, Luigi Malone’s well down in mid table.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

CLARION - The Atrium


Pas Mal

The Atrium Lounge in the Clarion Hotel (Lapps Quay) is a good spot for a light lunch. Certainly, I enjoyed my recent visit and found the prices quite reasonable.

I had a Toasted Focaccia (with Greek cheese and tomato), served with a salad and a handful of potato crisps. It was quite substantial and the cost was €8.50. I had a glass of Siete Sauvignon Blanc (€5.75) with it and was very happy with the meal.

You get quite a choice of similar dishes - my companion had a Chicken Quesadilla - and they also have a selection of sandwiches.

The Atrium is more or less an extension of the lobby. It is not self service. You are served at your table as you sit in very comfortable seats.

So, if the shopping gets too much and you need a pit stop, call into the Clarion, relax and treat yourself.

* In modern architecture, an atrium (plural atria) is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within an office building and usually located immediately beyond the main entrance doors

Monday, March 23, 2009

MARKET LANE SCORES HIGH AGAIN

View of Gruyere
TOP LUNCH VENUE


Enjoyed my lunchtime visit to a very busy Market Lane last week.


Started with the French Onion soup, with Gruyere, and it was a very good start indeed. Then on to the haddock dish, served with potato and chorizo. A magnificent plateful and very very tasty.

I had been on the lookout for a white fish dish as I strolled town and looked at a few menus (Isaac’s, Boqueria, Star Anise, Continental) before I settled on the market lane and they sure didn't let me down.

That meal confirmed the Oliver Plunkett Street venue as my top lunch venue. There is extra value there these days: a lunch special at €10.00 and an early bird at €20.00. Well worth a try!

I can also confirm that my favourite Chinese is still Ying’s Palace in Mayfield. Checked out the local opposition, the Orchid in Ballyvolane, recently but my opinion is that there is better, in terms of both food and value, available at Ying’s Place.

Friday, March 13, 2009

HISTORIC KILKENNY

The Tholsel, with Fleva (and Bridgestones) close by.
For more on Kilkenny go to: http://swissroll07.blogspot.com/


IN KILKENNY

Historic Kilkenny is a short enough trip from Cork.

Highlight is the gallery in Kilkenny Castle, a must visit, but you can take or leave the tower (don't think you’d get planning permission for it nowadays).

Countryside is pleasant with some fine ruins (Jerpoint Abbey for example, a much better visit than the remaining bits and pieces of Duiske). Some lovely villages too within a short distance of the city, particularly Inistioge (Don't forget a visit to nearby Woodstock) and Graiguenamanagh (on the Barrow).

Arriving in the town, had lunch at the hotel, the Kilkenny Inn (a mid range decent enough three star, quite close to the small town centre). Lunch was a Cajun chicken in a tortilla, with chips and salad, all for less than a tenner. Nicely done and good value.

Kilkenny seems to be a favourite trip to for the Dublin food critics (also hen and stag nights - check that out when booking your hotel). You could fall over the many awards around the place. The door at Fleva (High Street) is loaded with Bridgestones. It is well worth a visit. I had a three course early bird there for €26.00. Mains was Pork with cheese and a mustard jus and the desert, bread and butter pudding with whisky soaked raisins, looked and tasted amazing, should have taken a photo.

For a couple of Euro less, you get a three course at Lautrec Bistro (St Kieran’s Street). Portions are probably bigger here (not that they are small in Flevas) but quality is high. I enjoyed my braised lamb and the unusual dessert of orange tasting semolina with blueberries. They also do a Plat du jour for €21.00.

Wines at each establishment started around €5.75 per glass but the best glass of wine I had was at the big Left Bank Bar, down by the Castle. Most of the bars here are small but this highly decorated bright place has soft sofas and a roaring fire and bamboo plants growing to the high ceiling. I took my six euro glass of Merlot over to one of the sofas and didn't leave for an hour, a very enjoyable hour indeed.

It was a quick and enjoyable visit to the place that bills itself as Ireland’s Medieval City – not quite true. Officially it may well be a city but many towns are as big and you do have to work to find the medieval bits. The population is about 22,000, not much more than that of Douglas. It is about the same as the non city of Tralee and much less than non city Dundalk (35,000)! But obviously the Cats won the argument some time ago! Same as they’ve won so many hurling titles – now you can’t take that away from them!

For more on Kilkenny go to: http://swissroll07.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Best of Britain and Ireland

The Best of Britain & Ireland ’09 Exhibition
a travel event happening in London during March.
UPDATE!!!!

There have been some major changes to the video recipe competition we highlighted not too long ago



Firstly there is now a fantastic prize, a culinary tour in the Cotswold with accommodation and up to £200 travel expenses provided up for grabs. Secondly we have now partnered with lookandtaste.com on the competition to make it even easier to enter. All you have to do is tag your video bobi09com



Full details are here: http://www.lookandtaste.com/go/competitions/bobi/



It would be great if you could get involved, either by entering yourself or just mentioning it to anyone you think would be interested. All our blog readers will receive 30% discount on double ticket. You can book a double ticket (two adults) for just £10.50 – that’s a 30% discount on the full price of £15.



To access this great offer, call 0871 230 5588 or visit http://www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk/ and quote BOBI30.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

CHINESE CHALLENGE

Chicken with orange - gorgeous


EATING AT THE AMBASSADOR



Went to the Ambassador, a well established city centre Chinese restaurant, last night. Enjoyed a good meal: a set menu for two costing €65.00. Wines start around 20 euro.

We had the usual prawn crackers, crabmeat and corn soup, a combination dish (little envelopes of meats, a breaded fish piece, skewers of chicken, cubes of duck... sauces, dips), a three part main course (chicken with orange, Chinese Duck and shredded beef fillet in a black bean sauce). All top class.

And now a note for establishments such as Jacques that charge over the odds for coffee. We got a small cup of a decent coffee and, twice more, they called to the table offering top-ups. Nice touch.

It is a comfortable place and the service is good and delivered with a smile. No shortage of staff. They fill your water regularly, pour out your wine, take your coats and even put the napkin on your lap.

They have about six set menus around this price, along with an extensive a la carte of course. No doubt it is a good place and I didn't have any quibble at all (on the contrary). But, by way of comparison, you can get a very similar menu in Ying’s Place (Mayfield) for about 60 per cent of the Ambassador price. You pays your money... as they say.

Monday, March 2, 2009

The Best of Britain & Ireland

The Best of Britain & Ireland ’09 Exhibition
a domestic travel event happening in London during March.

Best of Britain & Ireland ‘09 exhibition is to be held on 26-29 March 2009 at London’s ExCeL. It celebrates the best of Britain and Ireland, and is looking for the best of British and Irish cooking through an online competition. They are inviting amateur and professional chefs to celebrate and show off their favorite British or Irish meals. The best video recipes will then be showcased to over 20,000 visitors to the ExCeL centre on the 28th and 29th March and on The Best of Britain & Ireland website: http://www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk/

Click here for details: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddtdjkcd_314fv2hnmdx

Firm favourites

FEBRUARY SUMMARY

It has been a month of favourites, regular visits to Isaacs and even more so to Jacques . Both stood up well to the stress testing. Enjoyable fish dishes in each spot, Haddock one evening in Isaacs, Hake at Jacques.

Jacques is pretty expensive but value is good though I find paying €3.50 for a cup of coffee (a good cup I must admit) annoying and won't be doing it again.

There is value to be had in Jacques on the €25.00 menu which is available most weekdays and up to 7.00pm on weekends. The number of choices is limited but what you do get is top class food and the menu changes regularly.

The recession is biting and there are an increasing number of early birds available around town – make sure you check the local press before you go out.

During the Celtic Tiger we probably got used to speedy and efficient service in the restaurants – sometimes you were glad to get in, they were so busy. But the old personal warm friendly touch was lacking in most places. Nobody was discourteous. But, once the formalities were concluded, there was nothing extra, proprietors and staff didn’t even use the Irish fallback of the weather in conversation.


Now that things are slowing down, it might be no harm to cultivate that kind of rapport again. A warm greeting doesn't do any harm. I know myself that certain shops in town are a joy to visit. Ronnie Moore’s and O’Leary’s Camera World are good examples. I started going there years ago, felt welcome and still go there. Restaurants please copy.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Market Lane

JANUARY UPDATE

Tried to beat this gloomy weather with lunch at The Continental today but it was closed for a holiday break. Followed the Advisor and her brolly, what a lethal weapon, across to Market Lane and what a lunch we enjoyed.

Naturally smoked Haddock with sautéed potatoes, broccoli, Chorizo and an onion cream sauce, absolutely gorgeous, plates cleaned.

Desserts: a White and Dark Chocolate Mousse for me and a Pineapple capriccio with a Blackcurrant sorbet for herself. We could have ended up licking the plates.

Two coffees and two glasses of house wine brought the bill to €57.00.

FOOD SOURCES: go to North Main Street and get your Italian bits and pieces at Casanova’s delicatessen La Botteghina. I got some Almond Cookies (€2.90) there recently. Dunk them in your dessert wine and enjoy!

O’Herlihy's at St Luke’s is a good place to go to get artisan breads and cakes along with other fine foods. Parking is terrible but it is worth it!

Anyone got any info on Bromley Lodge (to your left by Slatty Bridge) before you cross the bridge to Fota. Car park was packed there last Saturday but I couldn't call.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

My Favourites in Cork

YEAR END RECOMMENDATIONS


ENJOY

Favourite high end restaurant: Jacques

Favourite Bistro: Isaacs

Favourite medium priced restaurant: Market Lane

Favourite Italian: Casanova

Favourite Chinese: Ying’s Palace

Favourite Hotel restaurant: Pembroke Grill in the Imperial.

Favourite pizzeria: The Brick Oven in Bantry.

Favourite Dessert: While the desserts in Jacques are excellent, my vote goes to Jacobs on the Mall for its Date and Butterscotch Pudding.

LUNCH
Hard to go wrong here as you will get a decent lunch in most places in town, especially Market Lane. The outskirts are also well served: try Killumney Inn on the west, The Boot House on the north and the Elm Tree on the east. You will get a good roast of the day in any these.

For something different why not try Boqueria, the Tapas Bar in Bridge Street. On a recent visit I enjoyed a bowl of paella (loads of chicken and shellfish and served with a tarty side salad, for a €10.00). Just to add a note of caution, a glass of wine here (starting at €7.00 and mostly from Catalonia) is a full 25cl, a third of a bottle, and substantially more than your usual glass.

Friday, November 28, 2008

RACHEL'S RIGHT


A VISIT TO ISAACS


Rachel Allen recently proclaimed on TV that Isaacs (McCurtain Street) is her favourite bistro. She has many who’ll agree with her, even if the place was less than half full last night.

We had a smashing meal there. I must admit I was particularly pleased with the “Wine of the Month”, so pleased in fact that I didn't even notice that they charged me €25.00 instead of the €24.00 on the menu. It is a Lugana (from an area close to Lake Garda - see http://www.italianmade.com/wines/DOC10186.cfm ) and is produced by Zenato. One of the best whites I’ve tasted in a long time.

Started off with a lovely plate of tapas between us. Great variety for €10.90. Then on to the main course. I had one of the day’s specials, Turbot on spinach with a Beurre Blanc sauce. Very good. The Advisor went for the Moroccan Tagine, shank of lamb with couscous. Again top class and quite reasonable at €18.80.

Dessert (€7.00) was also quite good and a little different: a Tunisian Orange Cake, served with a berry compote and crème fraîche. The orange taste was not dominant but it had a lovely light citrus flavour. Light and tasty.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

ENCORE

JACQUES SCORE HIGH AGAIN

Got a comment recently from Mel who included Jacques in a short list of his favourite restaurants. It is on mine as well.

Was in there last night and had a gorgeous meal. I chose Brill on a bed of greens with a hollandaise sauce. Absolutely worth the wait, a magnificent combination. There was no doubt that the Brill was the star of the dish, the sauce there to offer appropriate support.

A few days earlier, I had been in Amicus and made the mistake of ordering the Trio of Fish without properly studying the menu. It was smothered in the rich creamy sauce. The haddock wasn't too bad but the other two (salmon and sole) were anonymous. The advisor had Sole with a Butter sauce and her fish and veg were all swimming in the sauce.

In Jacques, they do it properly as they respect the main ingredient. Last night, the Advisor’s main course was an absolutely spot on Monkfish tempura. The fish was gorgeous in a very light batter. Again the fish was the star, the batter the support

Desserts are top class also in Jacques. Last night, I had the most divine Bread and Butter Pudding, with winter fruits (raisins and apricots mainly) sumptuous, scrumptious, while the Advisor had her favourite raspberries with vanilla pod ice-cream.

Wine was an award winning Sauvignon (Luc, I think) from the Beziers area of the Midi. It is the current house wine and costs €22.90. Enjoyed it. Enjoyed the evening.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

EAST IS BEST


FOOD FIT FOR KING

at YING'S PALACE



One of my favourite Chinese restaurants is Ying’s Palace in the Mayfield Shopping Centre. In a very comfortable nicely decorated room, it provides top class meals at a very reasonable price. The only pity is that the restaurant side is poorly supported, though the takeaway is doing very well indeed.

Last night, we took the Set Dinner for Two, cost €20.80 a head. There is also a Set Dinner which is slightly cheaper and another (which I can certainly recommend) that is slightly more expensive. There is also a special that comes in at under €16.00.

But back to the €20.80 menu. You start off with a generous plate of prawn crackers. The first course is a Meat Sung, a beautiful combination of minced pork (or chicken) with cashew nuts served with vermicelli noodles and you can make your own delicious little parcels with the crispest lettuce. Gorgeous.

I need superlatives too for the Chicken and Mushroom soup. Didn't quite know what to expect here but I needn’t have worried. In a clear liquid (chicken stock), swam extremely thin slices of mushroom and little pieces of chicken, along with tiny pieces of spring onion. No additives here, no artificial colouring. Top notch.

The main plates kept up the standard: King Prawn Satay in a bowl, Duck Cantonese style on a big platter. The King Prawn was faultless and the Duck was the most exquisite dish of its kind that I have tasted in a long long time.

They are pretty weak on deserts here (usually jelly and ice cream) and we were happy enough that none was included in this special but we did finish off with a decent cup of coffee and a couple of mint chocolates. With the meal itself, we had a half bottle of a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that cost €8.90. There is a good selection of wines, all at reasonable prices.

Well worth a visit and I’m really amazed that so few try it out. The total for the meal for two came to €50.50.

Friday, October 31, 2008

ROSSINI'S

When in Cork, do as the Romans do...


I don't think there is much point in going to an Italian Restaurant in Ireland and ordering Salmon or Steak (unless they have Florentine steak on the menu).

Following my own advice, at a far from full Ristorante Rossini this Friday night, I picked Cannelloni alla Bolognaise as my main course while the Advisor went for the Homemade Lasagne. We had no regrets whatsoever. While the plates may have been adjusted to suit the Irish palate (no shortage of mince meat), the taste and eating experience was pleasurable, very enjoyable indeed, all washed down by a €13.00 carafe (50cl) of house red.

The meat and sauce left little room for dessert but I was tempted by the Apple and Caramel tart (served with Ice Cream) and we shared it. Again, it was very enjoyable. We also had two cups of excellent coffee.

Total bill came to €63.50 approx. For that, we had a good meal and also some nice live music (solo guitar).

Rossini's is a long established venue, run by Patricia and Salvatore Toscano. It is in Princes Street, tel. 021 4275818

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

TIGER TWILIGHT?

http://www.barn-restaurant.com


BACK TO THE BARN






Recession beaters were out in force at The Barn last Friday night. Well, maybe not in force, since the expensive venue (on the Glanmire Road out of Mayfield) was half full or half empty – take your pick. The meal here (five course) does cost €50.00 a head. It is invariably good but is it worth fifty? Once rampant tigers, now with lighter wallets, may have be settling for less (then again it was the Jazz Weekend).

In any event, the customers that did turn up were all seated together in the one area, a sensible move. The pianist entertained and the food came at a comfortable pace. The Barn is built for comfort and ease. Service is good and there is never a rush. You can sit in the armchairs at the bar and have an aperitif (€6.20 for Campari and soda) as you go through the big menu.

A selection of tasty breads was offered as we started with a delicious tomato and basil soup. I then had a smashing Duck and Pears Salad starter while the advisor went for an excellent Pastry envelope of Mushroom and Bacon. My mains was a tasty fillet of ostrich (not something you get very often) while the other mains was a crispy duck, both served with potato and seasonal vegetables, both top class.

Then came that tempting fully laden dessert trolley. Both fell for the mille feullie. Gorgeous. And then we had a cup or two of good coffee, served with some very tasty cookies indeed.

Wines start about the €25.00 mark. Ours was a Rioja Crianza, velvety, warming. It had it all: bouquet, flavour and aftertaste, not to mention the 14%. Cost was €28.00. The bill came to €134.00. Comfortable venue. Lovely people. Good meal. If you have an occasion to celebrate or guest to entertain, The Barn (now 30 years on the go) won't let you down. But your wallet will be even lighter!

http://www.barn-restaurant.com

Monday, October 6, 2008

Marks & Spencer

M & S QUICKIE


Starter:
Houmous and Foccacia Breadsticks ---- €1.90
Mains:
Thai Green Curry ----€11.98
Dessert
Tarte Citron -----€3.09

Total for two ----€16.97

Good food, Good value!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

JACQUES


FOR A FEW EURO MORE



Jacques is a Cork institution. It is every bit as good as its reputation, regularly enhanced by the awards that come to the Phoenix Street Restaurant. The only award I have is my custom and, having enjoyed Friday night’s visit, I’ll be back there again soon.

Prices, on the face of it, are a bit stiff: €11.50 for starters, the high 20s for mains. But compare. Two weeks back, I paid €88.00 for a poor quality meal in a Bantry pub. Last night, I paid three euro more in Jacques. The money was similar but the meals were not as Jacques was different class.

I had the Rack of Lamb on Hummus (with mustard), with vegetables and potato (which had been cooked with herbs and peppers). Carrots were included with the veg and they were cooked to perfection, which is not always the case. Indeed, everything was cooked to a tee and it was a gorgeous plateful.

Desserts cost €7.90. I really enjoyed my Plum Clafoutis while the Advisor was thrilled with her Cork grown raspberries (a generous quantity of berries, not your wishy washy puree) with vanilla pod ice-cream.


The wine list is extensive and has its expensive side. For instance, you can pay €300.00 for Hermitage la Chapelle 1985. But we settled for the house red, currently a French Merlot, which cost about €22/23 and was well worth it.

If you want to check out the meals and wines available why not go to http://www.jacquesrestaurant.ie/ and then make your virtual tour into a real one!







Thursday, September 25, 2008

Bantry Bay


Beautiful Bay, Beautiful Days



Enjoyed a few days in this brilliant September weather in Bantry, staying at the well located well run Maritime Hotel on the harbour side.

There is a cluster of eating places at the start of the square just a couple of hundred yards up from the hotel. Don’t miss the Brick Oven Pizzeria and Bistro. Yes, it has a genuine brick oven and you won’t find that in every Italian pizzeria.

Being in Bantry, we went for the Bantry Bay Mussels served in a Provencal style sauce, a beautiful “sauce” that required a big spoon. Salad and Fries accompanied the €17.95 main course version of this dish – you can also get it as a starter. Wine was a Blue Ridge Blanc from South Africa; this refreshing tarty blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc cost €20.00.

The meal, including a couple of decent desserts, came to €68.00, more or less what we paid the previous night at The Snug next door. In the Snug you will get what we Irish call a “good feed”, not always the same as good food.

We had heard quite a bit about the Snug and, frankly, were very disappointed. Again, we went for a fish main course. If you can't get a goof fish dish in Bantry, it is bad news. Battered Cod, served with a salad and fries, was the other order.

I got a plate full, plus the chips in a bowl. The salad didn't impress. The potato salad had been plonked on the plate along with half a carton of coleslaw and a few leaves. The batter used was the old type heavy duty flour batter that smothered the fish, which was a pity as the cod itself, the forgotten about main ingredient, tasted fresh and good. They use the lighter beer or lager type batter in the Brick Oven.

The style of presentation was also evident in my starter, a crab meat salad (€10.00). Again a few lettuce leaves, undressed, were laid in the bowl. Then what looked like half a jam jar of meat was plonked down on it and it was finished off with a spoon or two of mayonnaise. Again it was a pity as the crab tasted very fresh and nice, aside from a few bits of shell that had not been picked off.

The wine list is limited, consisting of four quarter bottles (two red, two white) and four full size bottles. The meal consisted of two starters and two mains. It was a poor opening night but the Brick Oven made up for it.

We took advantage of the fine weather to visit two of the three nearby peninsulas. First trip was to the end of Sheep’s Head. There is a lovely little café there, everything homemade and we had two generous bowls of a well made soup (along with two brown scones), all for ten euro.

On the Mizen, we visited the cafe in the visitor centre where we got good quality and good value. Two chicken wraps, served with a nicely dressed salad (The Snug could take a lesson here) and a little bowl of relish, along with a big pot of excellent tea, came to about €13.00.

By the way, breakfast in the Maritime is top class; there is a big choice and good quality as you’d expect in a four star hotel. Their main restaurant is at the top end price wise but the bar serves good food at reasonable prices (less than what you’d pay in the nearly square) up to nine o’clock.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

BOOTHOUSE LUNCH

NOT A FREE LUNCH IN CORK


Back in the last decade of the last century, the Boothouse Bar in Whitescross (just a few miles from Cork City) won a string of awards for its food and drink.

The smallish thatched establishment is still going strong, still serving food. The only trouble is that the menu rarely ever changes and since variety is the spice of life, I don't go there that often.

Maybe it is a case of if it is not broken, don't fix it. But if that was the case, we’d still be going around on horseback. In food, you just have to have variety, have to take a chance.

I was in the area yesterday and called in and, yes, the blackboard had the old familiar look to it. There are soups, two or three meat dishes, a fish dish, various sorts of open and toasted sandwiches and a few desserts.

I had a decent vegetable soup (€4.00) and took my usual choice there which is stuffed roasted chicken with vegetables and potatoes. All very reliable but nothing out of the ordinary.

The cost for two came to €32.00 and that figure rang a bell. A few months back, I was in Rome and had an evening meal in a small restaurant just off the famous Piazza Navona. Cost for the two courses, including a €10.00 bottle of wine and a bottle of water, came to €32.00! Yes, €32.00 for the two of us, exactly the same as yesterday’s fare in the Boothouse. And I can guarantee you that the meal in Rome wasn't soup and chicken!

Still, in fairness to the Boothouse, the €12.00 main dish at lunchtime (it was €11.00 last November) is more or less the standard in the local Cork restaurants. You will pay more or less that in the Rising Tide, the Elm tree, The Killumney Inn and in many of the places in town. Most people accept it but are we really getting value here.

If you are around town and on shopping expedition, you could do worse than call into the old Riches Stores cafe (now by Debenhams) in merchants Quay. You have quite a choice here but two veteran lady shoppers advised me that there is an excellent salad bar where you can have a fine plateful of meat (chicken or turkey usually) and leaves, pastas, potato and other salads (pick what want) for about €6.00. A glass of iced water costs nothing extra.
* Another bargain at the moment is the early bird in the Imperial Hotel on the South Mall. One of my pals was there last Sunday evening (I'm not sure is the offer is there every evening) and had a starter, main course and tea or coffee for €20.00 and she was delighthed with the meal and the value.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Hello,

Just a little note to say that Aisling, Mary and Amy from the 'Recipe for Success' production team will be at the West Cork Food festival in Skib this Sunday.
We are there to promote the show and canvas for applicants so please feel free to drop by, ask questions or pick up an application form!

Cheers,
Aisling.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

DUNNES STORES

BETTER VALUE – UNDER YOUR NOSE!!!


Do we foodies look down on Dunnes Stores? Could be guilty myself. Mistake!

Take last weekend. Called in and picked up a tub of crayfish tails for less than €1.99. Add some leaves and mayo and you get much better than your average prawn cocktail, more to get your teeth into and certainly tastier.

Main course? Picked up a half leg of lamb, cost €6.49. Top class traceable meat and very enjoyable, made even more enjoyable by a red from Bordeaux (Chateaux Fonfroide) which Dunnes were selling at half price (€6.99), in a promotion that is still going on.

I didn’t realise it at the time but the dessert I picked up, a Chocolate and Raspberry combination (€2.96), was from Heinz Weightwatchers. It was quite good, a crumbly chocolate base topped by the pureed berries in a jelly.

Good quality all round and good value, made even better value by the fact that there was ten per cent off everything at the checkout.

Monday, September 8, 2008

GAMBIENI'S


HEAVY ON THE SALT


The latest visit to Gambieni’s Restaurant in Carey’s Lane started well. We each had the Spicy Meat Balls, Tasty & Juicy Meat Balls in a Hot & Spicy Sauce. They lived up to the billing and we had no worries ahead of the main course.

The advisor ordered Pollo Alla Romano, a dish we’ve had on several occasions here before. It is Grilled breast of chicken topped with red onion, roasted peppers, mushrooms in tomato & red wine sauce. She tucked in but soon discovered a very salty taste indeed.

I had chosen the Pollo Alferado, Grilled chicken breast with mushroom, red onion, scallions, garlic in a creamy white wine sauce. Very salty also. So salty in fact that I thought they had mixed in salty rashers among the strips of chicken. I even checked it out in the dim light but no, the salt taste was coming from the chicken itself.

We advised the staff and they were astonished, didn't know where the salt had come from. They checked behind the scenes but no answer. We were offered free desserts but instead settled for a cup of coffee each on a rare disappointing night at this city centre venue.

Monday, September 1, 2008

MARKED DOWN - BIG TIME

MARKS & SPENCER
TOP MARKS


Marks & Spencer had a “Dine in for Two” offer, the weekend before last. I suspect it’s finished now but keep an eye out in case of a repeat as it was good quality and good value.

For €12.50, you got a main course, a side dish (veg or potato), dessert and bottle of wine. When my four parts were totted up on the register, they came to about €23.00, so the saving was substantial.

The main course in our case was an excellent Mousaka. The tasty Dessert was a Summer Berry Terrine (easily enough for four) while the wine was a totally adequate good quality Dolphin Bay Shiraz from South Africa.

I’ll repeat it, if they do. Well worth it!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

THE ELM TREE



You can safely add the Elm Tree to your list of lunch venues on the eastern side of the city. It is just beyond Glounthaune on the old Cork Midleton Road and can be easily found if you exit the current new motorway via the Cobh sign but instead of going to Cobh on the first roundabout after the exit, turn back left (1st exit) in the Glounthaune direction.

I was there today. Service is by way of carvery. There is a choice of about six main courses. I took the roast leg of lamb, with gravy and stuffing, along with roast and mash potato and, as she says herself behind the counter, “all the vegetables”.

It was quite a generous plateful. More importantly, it was excellent, well cooked, and very tasty. The roast potato I got was slightly on the hard side but the mashed was perfect . Not bad at all for €12.00.

Reconstruction is taking place there at present, so space is much more limited than usual. Get there early.
The Elm Tree
Glounthaune,
Co. Cork.
Tel: (021) 4351024
Fax: (021) 4524946

Saturday, August 16, 2008

THE ISLAND GATE


EARLY BIRD AT THE GATE



The Island Gate is one of a few restaurants that have recently advertised Early Bird offers. The Four Liars is another and I have heard good reports from a couple who went there within the past fortnight.

The Island Gate has a two course offer at €20.00. You can have a mains with either a starter or dessert.

There is choice of about four starters, including soup. I enjoyed my spicy potato wedges with salad.

Main courses (a choice of six on the early bird) at the table were Pork Medallions with a creamy cider sauce) and a Basil Chicken Dish. Both were good quality, tasty, no complaint at all. As an accompaniment, you may pick two from salad, fries, mash and vegetables.

One of the party finished with a gorgeous Bailey’s Cheesecake, delicious and so light.

The wine list is being changed at the moment. The current house wines come in at a very reasonable €17.50 – let’s hope they don’t change that. The presentation of the wine was a little on the sloppy side. No tasting was offered and there was no keep it cool facility for the white.

Service was friendly, no delays. Overall, the meal was good and so too was the price.

Monday, August 11, 2008

LUNCH IN THE LANE

A TALE OF TWO SOUPS


The Lunch menu in the Market Lane is not that much different from the Evening Menu.

And the Seafood soup (€6.95) is not that much different from the ordinary soup (€4.95). At lunch today, the advisor got the regular soup, a nice tomato one. I got the Seafood variety which was the same tomato soup with cheese shreds, croutons and a few fishy bits added. Both were quite good – no complaints on that score. But I felt they took the lazy way to an extra two euro with the seafood soup.

The Quiche, well made and studded with pieces of tomato, pepper and even nut, was very very tasty and was served with an herby potato salad and leaves (which were beautifully dressed). It was excellent, a lovely main course for lunch.

We opted for the our usual desserts here and, with a half litre of house white, the bill came to €56.90.
Market Lane is highly recommended. The phone number is 021 4274710 (note that they don't take bookings for less than six people).

Sunday, August 3, 2008

FORGOT THE STARTER?

HERE'S A TIP>>>

Staying in tonight? You have your main course and your dessert? But forgot the starter!

No bother.

Just pop in to your local Aldi – they have stores all over now. Get one of the bowls of Les Olives du Marché. They have a variety under the Crespo brand and the one I enjoyed lately consisted of pitted green olives with chilli and parsley. Top class and you get 110g, with cocktail sticks included, for just €1.79.

VIENNA WOODS -- RISING TIDE

Lunch Venues
Just a reminder that if you find yourself on the eastern side of the city at lunchtime, you have a choice. Two recent venues for me were the Vienna Woods (near Glanmire) and the Rising Tide (in Glounthaune). Both are in scenic locations, though the tide needs to be in at Glounthaune if you are to see it at its best. Both continue to do good lunches. I enjoyed my chicken at the Woods and the Lasagne (Irish style) at the Tide.

SCOOZI'S

QUEUESIES....

No problem finding parking downtown last Saturday night. The streets looked deserted. Where was everyone?

Quite a few in Market Lane – no table available for an hour, we were told. Up the street to Scoozi’s. Twenty minutes wait here. They usually overstate it. We waited and were at a table in less than five minutes.

Enjoyed my La Reine Pizza, the smaller one served with salad and chips. Two in the company took the lasagne. This was the usual Irish style dish, loads of meat. Very tasty. The fourth mains was chicken, called Pollo Alla Scoozi, breadcrumbed and stuffed with garlic cream cheese and chives.

No complaints about the food and none either about the house wine: a bottle of Merlot (18.75) and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc (4.75). Total cost, including tips, for a very satisfactory meal was about €90.00.

Then onto the nearby Long Valley for an after dinner drink. This long narrow bar is of the traditional variety and none the worse for that. Quite a popular venue but with many calling for the just the one drink there is quite a turnover and you can usually get a seat, very important if you are of a certain age.

Friday, August 1, 2008

ASK ABOUT FOOD




John Maguire tells us that the site was created in order to provide a forum for the discussion of all things related to food (and drink) in Ireland.
"If there's something you'd like to know about food, have information to offer, or simply want to let Ireland (and the world) know about a food-related service that you provide or that you've tried, then AskAboutFood is the place to be.
The AskAboutFood community is growing fast and we're aiming to be the largest, most comprehensive Irish food information exchange site."


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