Over The Moon in Skibbereen

OVER THE MOON

Just had the most enjoyable meal in Skibbereen restaurant Over The Moon. Imagination, excellent cooking, fresh ingredients plus a friendly and efficient service all added up to a very pleasant occasion and one of our best meals in quite a while.

Starter: salad of beetroot, feta, olives, tomato, and toasted seeds. That got us off to the best of starts. Light and sharp, just the job.

Mains: cod, butternut puree, with green beans, beetroot, potato with a walnut dressing. What a combination! Just loved it.

Dessert: Apple and berry crumble. Not quite what you’d expect. The apple and berry came in a hot glass with a muesli like topping and, for contrast, we had a blob of ice cream on the side. Unexpected but gorgeous.

We also struck it lucky with the wine, a Spanish Blanco Nieva Verdejo (2008): close to dry with little bubbles. Got your attention immediately and held it all the way. Cost €25.00. Two course early birds cost €25.00, three courses €30.00. Worth a drive down from the city and certainly worth a call if you’re staying in the area.

Check out my review of Over The Moon - I am cork - on Qype

EASTER RUSHING IN

THE CHOC OF IT   

Easter is coming fast and if you’ve been fasting – even if you haven’t -  then you have some good things coming, thanks to our chocolate makers.

My sweet hit of the year so far has been the real shell eggs that the imaginative Nicola of Pandora Bell has come up with. Yeah. Real  hens shells (see pic) filled with top class chocolate. Available in Cork at Bramley Lodge, O’Keeffe’s (St Luke's) and Nash 19.

Nash 19 is also the place to go for Benoit Lorge's handmade Easter Eggs. Mairéad O’Brien: “He makes them in Kenmare and is a member of Good Food Ireland too. Pop into the shop to see the full range. Prices to suit all pockets.”

Easter came up during a French class during the week and Francis says her favourites come from Eve's Chocolates and her gorgeous stuff is available from the factory/shop on the Magazine Road, close to Dennehy’s Cross.

Worth a detour as they say in the best guides and, by the way, all three appear in the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide (2010). And so do O’Connaill’s of Carrigaline. You can study their range and have a hot choc at the same time in their shop in city centre French Church Street.

And the English Market’s Chocolate Shop is yet another Bridgestone entry. Most of those in the queue won't be bothered about guides – they know there’s good stuff here and they won't be waiting until Easter Saturday to stock up. Neither should you!

No time for the shops? Then try this competition, courtesy of Tweeter @dailyspud. It is for a hamper full of wines and chocolate, a win wine situation, and details are available at Daily Spud

Prefer to make your own? Looking for ideas. Well, the Daily Spud (above) has a few and so too do the folks at All Recipes
Editor Diana Moutsopoulo tells me they have quite a few recipes including one for Easter Bunny Cakes   - pictured above

Alternative Bread Co in Cork

THE ALTERNATIVE BREAD COMPANY

There is amazing choice on offer at the Alternative Bread Company counters in the English Market (Cork), baskets of fresh bread made and supplied by quite a few bakers, including regular products such as traditional sodas, to gluten free, foccacias and sourdough and rye bread.

I picked up a rye loaf there today, intending to compare it with the one I bought at a reduced price at the Coal Quay market stall of Tom’s Bakery of Kinsale last Saturday.

When I bought my load this morning, I didn't know at the time that the supplier of rye to the ABC is German baker Thomas Heuneburg of Kinsale.

The cost today was €3.00 as against €1.90 on Saturday. The difference? Today’s was fresher, no doubt about that.



+353 (0) 21 4251347
Email: fitzsheilam@hotmail.com

Check out my review of Alternative Bread Co Ltd - I am cork - on Qype

Mark's Cheese at farmers markets

MARK’S CHEESE

You will see stalls selling, and with a sign up saying Mark’s Cheese, at most of the Farmers Markets.

Mark Hosford is a seller rather than a producer and collects, minds and sells the cheeses of many local producers. They have a huge selection and helpful staff.

Recently, in Mahon, I bought some of that excellent and well known Hegarty’s Mature Cheddar while, even more recently, at the Coal Quay Market, I purchased a terrific, though less well known, Kilmichael Soft Goats Cheese.

Keep an eye out for these stalls and don't hesitate to ask a question as you’re sure to get an informative answer.

Check out my review of Mark's Cheese - I am cork - on Qype

Sunview Goats Cheese

SUNVIEW GOATS CHEESE

In Terleton (West Cork), Anne and Brian Bond make a terrific Kilmichael Soft Goats Cheese from the milk of their Sunview herd. This is beautiful and mild, easily spreadable.

If you’ve never eaten goats cheese before, then this is the one to start on. But that doesn’t mean that those of you experienced in goats cheese should give it a miss. Far from it. There is something in this great product for everyone!

The cheese is available from the Mark’s Cheese stalls in local markets. I bought mine in the coal quay on Saturday.

When I got home, combined it with some leaves, rye bread (by Tom’s Bakery), an organic tomato salsa (Just Food), and had a great open sandwich.

Check out my review of Sunview Goats - I am cork - on Qype

Tom's Bakery in Kinsale

TOM’S BAKERY

Hadn’t come across Tom’s Bakery before until I saw their stall at the Coal Quay Market (in Emmett Place) on Saturday morning.

Quite a choice of breads available (see photo) and I picked up a loaf of their Rye bread, a choice endorsed by the man on duty who said it was his favourite. It was substantially reduced on Saturday and cost €1.90.

It is a smashing bread and went down well in this house. Tom’s Bakery is based in Kinsale and also has a stall at Tuesday’s Farmer’s Market in the seaside town.

Check out my review of Tom's Bakery - I am cork - on Qype

Greenes Restaurant McCurtain Street Cork

GREENES

Had coffee and scones in Greenes by the waterfall this Saturday morning. Great coffee, great scone (not to mention jam and cream) – all well presented by a friendly waitress. Sat back in the comfortable chairs and enjoyed it very much indeed. Cost for two: €10.40.

It was one of the three best coffee and scone combinations that I've enjoyed recently around town. Nash 19 and the Hawthorn Bar on the Lough were the others.

Check out my review of Greenes Restaurant Hotle Isaacs - I am cork - on Qype

Gilbert's in Cobh

GILBERT’S

Gilbert’s is the newest restaurant in Cobh and we made a snap decision to drop down there last night and it worked out well. The bistro style Pearse Square establishment, which claims to be different, has a couple of attractive early bird offers though we went for the a la carte option.

Lamb Kidney and Smoked Pancetta Salad €6.50
in a creamy brandy sauce

Salmon and Tiger Prawn Mousse €6.95
infused with fresh herbs, chilli and chive vinaigrette

These were our starters. The mousse was excellent but the Kidney and Pancetta was certainly different and very very good – I really loved that sauce.

Pan-fried Fillet of Halibut €23.95
with savoury risotto, creamy shellfish sauce

This was the main course. Each plate had two big chunks of fresh halibut, a sparingly used sauce, and was served with vegetables and potatoes, giving quite a substantial course. The Risotto wasn't bad though a bit too strongly flavoured, taking away somewhat from the fish. I’d have preferred something like Ratatouille or some other tomato based accompaniment.
No room for dessert but we enjoyed our coffees. Service was very friendly, discreet and excellent all through.

Check out my review of Gilbert's - I am cork - on Qype

FRENCH FOOD

EAT YOUR WAY TO FRANCE

Last June we headed to France for a four week stay. The eating started immediately...

Storm forecasts notwithstanding, we 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!

That was the start of of a great meal, the start of a terrific holiday where we spent more time in restaurants and markets then we did on the beaches of the Charente Maritime.

If you are planning a trip to that area, then get all my 2009 tips (places to visit, markets, cafes, day trips, restaurants) here  Just click on the France label

RIPP'Ss BRATWURST in Cork

FOOD PARADE

Barry’s Tea, the market sponsors, were serving up mugs of tea as we reached the Grand Parade Outdoor Market after the Cork St Patrick’s Day Parade had passed.

It wasn't the only food stall with a queue. Indeed, every food stand, and there were dozens, was busy. In the end, settled for Ripp’s German Bratwurst. It was a welcome bite for four euro.

The sausage and spices along with the onions were excellent though the bread bit wasn't the greatest. Still, it went down well, despite the fact that I couldn't face another queue for the tea!

For all my parade pics see http://corkandabout.blogspot.com

Don’t forget, this weekend, 18th -20th of March, Cafe Gusto are launching BYO to all their Facebook fans and Twitter followers. This is the promise: “If you visit with your favourite bottle of wine to accompany our delicious mezze, antipasti and tapas dishes, we will NOT charge our usual €4 corkage if you mention facebook or twitter on ordering.” Now you know!

Check out my review of RIPP's BRATWURST - I am cork - on Qype

AHERNE'S OF YOUGHAL

AHERNE’S HOTEL and
RESTAURANT


It has been a long time since I visited Aherne’s in Youghal and I made up for that this weekend with a trip to try their tasting menu:

Flat Oysters with a mini-Guinness;

Seared Castletownbere Scallop with an Herb Butter. Drink: Prosecco;

Grilled Sea Bass with Avocado & Chilli Salsa. Drink: Sauvignon Blanc;

Smoked Parmesan & Roast Vegetable Risotto. Drink: Alsace-Gewurztraminer "Hugel";

Aherne’s Sorbet;

Surf & Turf (Char-grilled Baby Fillet Steak & Prawns) Chile. Drink: Chile Crucero Cabernet Sauvignon;

Farmhouse Cheese. Drink: Warre's 1999 Late Bottled Vintage Port;

Sticky Toffee Pudding;

Irish Coffee.

Quite a meal. We were first in to the restaurant at seven and it was ten or afterwards before we finished. Business was quite slack on Friday, maybe a calm before the storm of Mother’s day.

The standard, as you’d expect, was very high indeed. All the courses were excellent and highlights included the scallop; the bass and particularly the salsa; the risotto also; steak (not quite the baby indicated) was splendid as was the cheese selection, not to mention the port; the sticky toffee was very rich and so tempting and the Irish Coffee rounded it all off.

Service was very friendly and efficient throughout our stay and we also enjoyed our breakfast the following morning. I almost forget the bread, brilliant at both meals.

The hotel part is rather small, there being just eight or nine rooms. But the rooms and the beds are very spacious and very comfortable. There are tea and coffee making facilities and the bathroom is well stocked.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience. But if you want to catch the Friday meal cum accommodation offer that we had, you’ll have to be quick as it runs out this month.

Le Gourmet in Youghal

LE GOURMET

Before making an exit from Youghal yesterday, called to Le Gourmet in the River Gate Mall. It is a bakery/cum traiteur, owned and run by award winning French chef Jean Francois Bernard.

Quite a choice of freshly prepared food and I choose the Boeuf Bourguignon, a couple of pastries and a brown loaf.

The Bourguignon was excellent value at a fiver a pack and you could have fed three from the two I bought. The beef was top class and beautifully cooked and the sauce, with loads of little mushrooms, was terrific.

Quality also in the baked pieces and that meant we had a very nice meal at home that evening.

Le Gourmet also provides other breads, savoury meals, fish dishes, pastries, gateau and de luxe hampers and are also involved in the outside catering business.

Quality, value and service is the motto and it has got Jean Francois into the Bridgestone Food Guide.

Photo shows a mound of meringue on the pastry table.

Check out my review of Le Gourmet - I am cork - on Qype

Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork

VIENNA WOODS
Back to the Vienna Woods today, after quite an absence. Took the soup of the day (€4.50), Potato and Broccoli, as a starter and it was quite good. Main course was a Cajun Chicken Warp (9.95), served with a dip, plus chips or wedges or salad. Very substantial and very tasty.

There is a huge selection in the Crawford Room day-time menu, including the usual roasts of the day, salads, and Tex-Mex, along with much more substantial main dishes.

Service was friendly and efficient. They certainly believe in filling you up here and the only caveat I’d add is that the glass-roofed room gets very very warm indeed. You can escape by going closer to the bar and using the older room alongside.

Photo shows older part of hotel; it has a much larger modern wing as well.

Check out my review of Vienna Woods Hotel - I am cork - on Qype

Green Kiwi Coffee in Cork

GREEN KIWI

The colourful portable mini stall used by Green Kiwi can be seen regularly around the city and suburbs: at markets such as the Coal Quay, Ballincollig and Nangle's Garden Centre (2nd Sun of each month). You can find it anywhere: I’ve seen it early mornings, operating on the main street in Ballincollig, and even in the Regional Park (see photo) on Sunday mornings, serving a welcome hot drink (coffee or chocolate) to walkers and footballers alike.

Came across Joanne O’Doherty’s vehicle at the Coal Quay (in its new temporary location by the Opera House) last Saturday and enjoyed my cup of coffee so much that I bought a pack.

The Cofesa brand has its roots in the outdoor cafes and bars of the villages of Andalucia but the Spanish company now sells much further afield as well. The Inda Cafe, the one I bought, is made from a fine selection of Arabica beans, roasted in the traditional manner.

Check out my review of Green Kiwi Coffee - I am cork - on Qype

The Real Irish Food Company in Drogheda

REAL IRISH FOOD COMPANY
You never know what good things you will find on supermarket shelves these days. Recently, we told you how the organic products from Cobh’s Just Food are sold by Supervalu and will soon be sold by six Dunnes Stores shops in the Cork area.

Dunnes already stock the Follain range of jams and relishes. Their marmalade is one of my favourites; another is that made by Bramley Lodge in Carrigtwohill.

Just this weekend, in Dunnes in Ballyvolane, I picked up one of the very best strawberry jams I have ever come across. Based in Drogheda, the Real Irish Food Co make jams (including marmalades), relishes, dressings, salsas and cooking sauces. Keep an eye for this and other products from the award winning company, founded by Bronagh Conlon in 1997.

Check out my review of The Real Irish Food Company - I am cork - on Qype

CORK COASTAL FOOD TRAIL

Photos: Millennium Hall (right) and Clarion Hotel (below)

CORK FOOD TRAIL

Now that Cork has been included on the Lonely Planet’s and Yahoo China’s top ten cities for 2010, I decided to get in before the crowds.


The Millennium Hall (pictured) was my destination last Saturday. It is the lesser known of the two halls within the Cork City Hall complex, all of us more familiar with the big Concert Hall. The new Millennium is about quarter of the size of its neighbour and can take 340 Standing/Reception or 200/250 Seated.

Both were busy last weekend. There was a big festival in the Concert Hall while the Millennium hosted the Re-Discover Cork tourism showcase. I paid a visit there, along with many others, to see the many attractions in the city and county ranging from the town of Youghal in the East to Castletownbere in the West.

Picked up a bagful of leaflets and brochures and a few money-off offers here and there and, as a direct result, am off to Youghal next weekend to sample the culinary expertise available at the famous Aherne’s Restaurant.

Aherne's is one of the places mentioned in a very handy brochure that I picked up on Saturday: Cork's Coastal Food Trails. It is an attractive booklet and manages to mention quite a few, though by no means all, of the eateries along the extensive Cork coast. It is a Failte Ireland publication and available form their Office in Aras Failte, Grand Parade, Cork or check out the website at www.discoverireland.ie/Cork

SPELT OUT

SPELT SPELLED OUT!

Sometimes groups of specialists, including foodies, use buzz words and expect everyone else to know what they mean. Spelt is one I’ve come across recently. What is is?

Found it well explained at Cathy's Spelt for Health 

“It is a member of the same grain family as oats and wheat but is a different species. Spelt breads are low in gluten, high in protein and are easily digested which makes them a very good option for people who are wheat intolerant.”

Now you know and, if you want to see the real thing then, if you are around Cork on Friday 12 of March, call in to Nash 19 and meet Cathy who supplies them with her fantastic Spelt for Health Mix. She will be in the Food Shop from 11 am to tell more about her products and to give out samples of her bread and flap jacks.

Cobh Farmers Market

COBH FARMERS MARKET

The Cobh Farmers Market (held in and around the Heritage Centre in picture) was a big let-down for me today with just a handful of stalls opening up, about six in all. It is supposed to be very good in the summer – looks like I’ll have to wait and see. In any event, won't be in a hurry down again.

Got some roughly filleted fish from a basic stall up the town.

The harbour town looked very well indeed and the walk along the West Beach area was very enjoyable.

Check out my review of Cobh Farmers Market - I am cork - on Qype

Bierhaus in Cork

BIERHAUS
Looking for a new beer experience? Then you could do worse than consider the Bierhaus on Pope’s Quay as your first stop.

They say, and it certainly looks like when you sit in the bar and look at the many boards and notices around the place, that they have over 70 beers from home and abroad to choose from, including Krombacher, Galway Hooker, O’Hara’s Stout, Rebel Red and Hoegaarden and also a special guest draft beer each month.

I was there last evening and went for a Czech lager called Staropramen (Star of Spring), brewed in Prague since 1871 and exported to dozens of countries. Enjoyed my full bodied pleasant pint, even though the bar was quite cold.

Oh, by the way, if you are not into trying out new beers and you are dragged along by your buddies, don’t worry as the Bierhaus does carry local favourites such as Murphy, Guinness and Heineken.

Check out my review of Bierhaus - I am cork - on Qype

HARDWOOD

HARDWOOD


Hard times? Let Hardwood come to the rescue. Every Tuesday and Wednesday evening, the Pope’s Quay venue is offering you a three course meal for just €20.00.

Called there last night and was well pleased. Started with Steamed Castletownbere Mussels, served with a generous Burgundy Roast Garlic Tomato “soup” and good brown bread.

Then to the main course. One was Braised Rustic Pork Hock, slow cooked pork shank served with rustic roast potato and onion with white wine steamed cabbage. The other was Cod with Pak Choi, Rice Balls with feta and a mango reduction. Both were different and each was gorgeous. Quite impressive.

The third course was a scoop of ice-cream and that is exactly what we got. Nothing special but a nicely flavoured scoop that went down well.

Overall, a fine meal for the price and one that would give you confidence that the skills are there to deliver on their a la carte from Thursday through Sunday. Service was friendly and efficient.

Just Food in Cork

JUST FOOD

Have been trying out some of the Just Food organic range recently.

They do a large range of soups, everything from Mushroom to Moroccan Chickpea and much in between, including Vegetable and Peanut, one of my favourites (not that I’ve tried them all yet).

They do Organic Pasta Sauces. But don’t just stick to the pastas. These sauces, just like the soups, are versatile and may be used in many ways. For instance, I used the Ratatouille with Cod to make a smashing dinner dish. 

The Cobh based company also do Hummus, Salads, Pestos and other items (including Muesli and Chicken Liver Pate).

Kevin and Deirdre Hilliard are the couple behind the small outfit, now based in the old Verolme Dockyard (Rushbrooke), and she was happy with the business when I met her last week.

Speaking of 2009, Deirdre (right in group photo) said that their sales were up: “Our existing shops kept their end up while our new outlets contributed to a rise overall. People are now eating in more often and are on the lookout for something different such as our soups, which can also be used as sauces.”

“In any event, organic customers are resilient, especially with regard to small ticket items. Besides, organic items are not always more expensive. Our soups for instance are cheaper per kilo than many of our non organic counterparts. Our marketing and packaging is honest. We don't give you a big packet with less content. Indeed, we use see-through containers.”

Last winter was really good for sales and the trend continues, the soups doing very well in January and February, perhaps because of the long cold spell. No wonder, Just Foods is looking forward to yet another good year.

All in all, it means that the outfit has come a long way since it was a “hobby” for the Hilliards as they sold their produce from the corner of a shared stand in Midleton Market. They have been in Rushbrooke for the past two and a half years and now employ eight people.

Deirdre is looking forward to the next big challenge: supplying a recently secured contract for six of the Dunnes Stores shops in the Cork area.

That contract is but the latest recognition for the Hilliards. Last year (2009), they repeated the feat of the previous year when winning five medals at the Blas na hEireann Food Awards in Dingle. 


Their Muesli and Cucumber Pickle were among the gold winners as was the Spicy Lentil Soup (getting it for the second year in a row). They are also happy with the good things said about them in the Bridgestone Food Guide (2010).

But even though they are doing well, Deirdre knows that you can't take anything for granted. Once, in the 60s and 70s, large newly built ships were “slipped” down to the river right where we stood talking. Hundreds were employed in that long defunct dockyard.

 “There is a lot of history in this place,” she says. Just Food is a firm with a promising future, making its own little bit of history. So far. So very good.

MID-WEEK UPDATES

 Twebt Mystery Bottle

Have you got your hands on the mystery bottle for the Twitter wine event (#twebt) on Sunday March 7^th? 

Time is running out if you want it delivered to your house for the fun event which apparently trended in Ireland last month; 12 noon tomorrow Wednesday is deadline for ordering by post. All the details are at here while the wine (€19.00, inc. delivery) can only be ordered from Karwigs

Cafe Gusto are introducing BYO (Bring your own bottle) to allow you to accompany their delicious range of mezze, antipasti and tapas dishes.

Sister establishment, the Liberty Grill, has announced a bunch of specials for March. You’ve got stateside specials like Sweet Potato Gumbo and the one I’ll be looking out for is the Dromoland Estate Rabbit with Napa Valley garnish (cooked in Zinfandel red wine). 

The Natural Foods Bakery in Cork

NATURAL FOODS BAKERY

The Blackrock based Natural Foods Bakery also has a cafe in Paul Street. They produce and serve handmade breads, luxury cakes, gourmet sandwiches and speciality foods (wheat free, gluten free etc.). The café also serves coffee and tea.

Cakes include a gluten free Chocolate one, a Cherry Bun and a zesty Lemon Cake. All very tempting but the one I picked recently at their market stall was a slice of Date Cake with dates, sunflower seeds and a touch of ginger. Must say it was very tasty indeed (I do like my dates) but is heavy enough and the slice was more than sufficient.

Definitely worth a look of you are passing Paul Street or the other locations

Check out my review of The Natural Foods Bakery - I am cork - on Qype

COAL QUAY MARKET (in new location)

COAL QUAY MARKET

For most of 2010, you’ll find the Saturday Coal Quay market at a new temporary location in Emmett Place, alongside the Opera House.

Here you will see your usual favourites such as O’Driscoll’s Fish (but be quick, they were sold out by noon yesterday), The Natural Foods Bakery and quite a few other food outlets as well as stalls selling shoes and boots and clothing and so on.

The Cornmarket Street area is being renovated, hence the move to Emmett Place. The new location is also very central and also quite spacious.

LIBERTY GRILL

LIBERTY GRILL

When you walk into the Liberty Grill, you are struck by the happy buzz. It is full again this Friday evening (we started at 6.45pm), all enjoying the good food, well cooked, well presented and served by a smashing staff.

A share of people are dining en famille. Don’t come across it much around town. The well behaved kids are well catered for here; they even get their food ahead of the adults.

Are you to limited to burgers and chips here? No. Far from it. There is a huge menu in this early 'til late venue. Burgers for sure, all made from the best local produce. Then there are tempting salads, fish, poultry, lamb and beef along with vegetarian dishes. Something for everyone.

Started with a Southern Fried Chicken salad: slices of southern fried chicken on a bed of

seasonal leaves with Jalapeño peppers, toasted cashews and tomato salsa. The advisor enjoyed the Deep Fried Cambozola (Italian cheese) with a cranberry coulis. Mine cost €7.95, hers €4.95. Promising start.

 My main dish was the Tennessee Flambé (17.95). This consisted of tender medallions of the very best beef, peppered and flambéed in a shot of Jack Daniels and served with mushrooms, sweet balsamic onions and crispy garlic potatoes. This was absolutely brilliant, couldn't recommend it highly enough.

The other main course at the table was a Salad Niçoise (14.95), a truly healthy and tasty mix of line caught yellow fin tuna, potatoes, hardboiled eggs, olives, French beans and seasonal salad leaves. This was quite a substantial dish and lived up to the description.

 There is an adequate selection of wines available, most between twenty and thirty euro, though the house wine costs just €17.25 (4.65 per glass). There was also a Wine of the Month available at 5.25 a glass. I enjoyed my Montemartel Cotes du Rhone (Syrah, Grenache and Carignan) very much.

 But the white, a Claire Moreau Muscadet Sur Lie, was a really gripping drink and you needed only the tiniest drop to become aware of the quality. Both wines are available at the Wine Buff, just across the road. You also have a number of sparkling wines available and a popular feature is the non-alcoholic Mocktail, a favourite with kids and adults alike.

Overall, the choice and the value are fantastic (through breakfast, brunch, lunch and evening) and you really need to check out the website http://www.libertygrillcork.com/ to get the picture. Even then, you won't see the bunch of seasonal dishes that are added every month.

Denis O’Mullane and Marianne Delaney own and operate the Liberty and also the nearly Cafe Gusto (another interesting venue for coffee and lighter bites).

We asked Denis how the name came about and what it signified in food terms.

 “It is actually a shortened version of our first shot which was ‘Liberty Belle Cafe and Grill’. After seeing the room with its large windows and dark furniture, we knew we were going to do an American East Coast Neighbourhood restaurant, where grilled foods make a rather large part of the menu.”

BL: Who are the key players?

Denis: “Our customers, staff and suppliers.  Our customers for their loyalty and critical honesty. Our staff who work extremely hard and who have the unenviable job of starting from scratch everyday to ensure most honest product possible without a lot of shortcuts. Finally our suppliers who have to listen to us moaning if the quality isn’t right.”

BL: You must be pleased with your Bridgestone listing? 

Denis:  To be honest I feel a little uneasy about professional reviews as Liberty Grill is a neighbourhood restaurant which can be found on every block in major cities in the US, with a very simple function to feed from dawn to dusk.  An eminent restaurateur on our street queried whether being a member of Good Food Ireland sets expectations which don’t marry with what we are doing, we are currently considering our position.

BL: What of the future?

Denis: Cork is actually buzzing on the food front with most restaurants doing pretty well. I think with a little more co-operative effort, we have an interesting couple of years ahead.

CURRENT FAVOURITES

UPDATE


Top five from recently visited restaurants in Cork:

Fenns Quay, Nash 19, Bramley Lodge, Liberty Grill and Continental.

Next five:

Boardwalk, Boqueria, The Brick Oven, Rising Tide, Farm Gate (Cork).

You’d expect the Farm Gate to be in the top rank but it is too bloody cold up there these days. I don't fancy eating lunch, no matter how good, in my overcoat.

Twebt Mystery Bottle

Have you got your hands on the mystery bottle for the Twitter wine event (#twebt) on Sunday March 7th? Time is running out if you want it delivered to your house for the fun event which apparently trended in Ireland last month. All the details are here while the wine (€19.00, inc. delivery) can only be ordered from Karwig Wines

CRAWFORD GALLERY CAFE

THE CRAWFORD GALLERY CAFE

The Crawford Cafe, in the art gallery of the same name, is a lovely place to visit, not least because of the friendly and helpful staff. With walls painted light blue and art works exhibited all around, the cafe is spacious and a great city centre spot to meet someone.

The menu is quite inviting with excellent lunchtime mains courses and plenty of drinks from water to apple juice to wine available also. The prices range from about ten to fourteen euro.

With a dinner date on the agenda for the night, I didn't need that much when I called at lunchtime today. Got myself the most beautiful tomato soup (€5.50) in a big bowl and that coupled with two lovely slices of brown bread was a decent filler.

Thought I’d finish off with a coffee (2.40) but then spotted some cakes and went for a chocolate and orange shortbread (pictured), recommended by the manager. Gorgeous, but will have to put the dinner back a bit.

Baking Emporium in Dunmanway

BAKING EMPORIUM

Dunmanway’s small scale Baking Emporium makes a variety of cakes, breads, confectionery, muesli and seed breads. So do other bakeries. So what is different about Dunmanway?

I put it to the taste recently when I bought some of their stuff in the city. My choice was Emmental Cheese and Pumkmkin Seeded bread. Loved it and will be buying more, for sure.

This is organic seed bread and the range has won awards. They make four Wheat varieties and two Spelt varieties. They say it is a delicious crunchy alternative to normal bread and I agree. Worth watching out for!

They are on sale at farmers markets and also at On the Pigs Back in the English Market. For more details, check out their website http://www.bakingemporiumltd.com

Check out my review of Baking Emporium - I am cork - on Qype

Milleens Cheese in Cork

MILLEENS CHEESE

Charles De Gaulle (1890-1970) once said that the French had 365 different cheeses. The French politician was familiar with the southwest of Ireland but when he visited the country he would have found it difficult to locate any real cheese.

Milleens is generally credited with producing the first modern Irish Farmhouse cheese in 1976 and the company improved it over the following years. It is still going strong. Picked one up recently at On the Pigs Back in the English Market and enjoyed it.

It has a mottled peach, and sometimes orange, washed rind and within is a paste that goes from semi-firm to spilling cream. The flavour is a complex mix of delicate herbs along with a spicy tang. That spicy tang doesn't suit everyone but personally I have no problem with it and is in any case tamed when mixed in with a salad.

My piece was marked Milleens Dote. Wasn't too sure about the Dote but it is simply the term use to indicate a 200g round, the smallest size.

The soft cheese is made by the Steele family from the milk of Freisan cows on the rugged Beara peninsula. It is a regular award winner and features regularly on the cheese board of top class hotels and restaurants.

Check out my review of Milleens Cheese - I am cork - on Qype
Photos show fishing boats at Castletownbere and De Gaulle memorial in Sneem

WINE MYSTERY

WINE MYSTERY

Enjoy a little mystery on your Sunday evenings? Enjoy a little wine at the same time? Now you can combine both in the third Twitter Blind Tasting Event.

The wine will be delivered to your door but won’t have the usual labels visible. A bit of scouts honour is required here but remember this is a fun 90 minutes or so. Have a look, have a nose, have a taste – all at a leisurely pace.

You and your fellow drinkers will all the time be updating twitter with your opinions. If you don't have any, then just read the others (some are very witty) and have another sip. No competition here, no prizes, just a bunch of wine lovers having a bit of Sunday night fun, starting about nine.

The wines in the previous tastings were supplied by Curious Wines and Bubble Brothers and Carrigaline outfit Karwig Wines are doing the honours for the March event. The mystery bottle costs €19.00, including delivery in the Republic.

Don't worry if you are new to Twitter. Brian Clayton, one of the organisers, has all the info you need, in plain English, on his excellent introductory post.

Kevin Crowley of the famous Fenns Quay restaurant in Cork is another man involved behind the scenes and you’ll be following him and Brian on Twitter as they’ll be guiding you through the process:  when to open, when to taste and so on.

You can also follow the event hashmark:  #twebt. Don’t worry at all about the technical side of it – Brian’s post is very clear on twitter and how to use it. Just enjoy the wine and enjoy the company. Enjoy the craic.


So what are you waiting for? Click on Karwigs above and take the first step towards solving that mystery.

Blackrock Market in Cork

More pics at http://corkandabout.blogspot.com/

BLACKROCK MARKET

It may be one of the smallest markets around but Sunday morning’s gathering in Blackrock is not without its fans. Some drive in, some stroll down, even spotted a pair roller skating to the venue today!
And why not? It has a lovely riverside location and plenty of parking and space enough for the dozen or so stands that start opening for business around the 10.00am mark and stay there until 2.00pm.
Despite the small number of stands, quite a lot is covered. Here you can get hot drinks (O’Connaill’s coffee and chocolate among them) and hot bites such as crepes. Then there are burritos and soups and more substantial food items like fish and bread. Even noticed a jewellery stand there.
So, if you missed out on the bigger presentations like Mahon (Thursday) and Midleton (Saturday), then all is not lost and a visit to the bottom of the Marina and the fishing village of Blackrock could well save the day for you!

Check out my review of Blackrock Market - I am cork - on Qype

O'Connaill Chocolate in Cork

O’CONNAILL’S CHOCOLATE

You never know where you’ll find O’Connaill’s Chocolates but everywhere wouldn’t be a bad answer.
Not alone do this Carrigaline based company have their own outlet, well positioned in city centre French Church Street, but their products are sold by many top rate food outlets (such as O’Keeffe’s in St Luke’s) and, in addition, they never ever neglect a market space, being regulars in Mahon and Midleton.

They have chocolate products galore, the strength of their bars going from 30 to 100 per cent. And they can heat you up on a cold day with some delicious hot chocolate (€2.50). Well I find it delicious any way but, taste being what it is, some people do find it the sweetness just too much.
That is the way we are built but you still don't lose out if you find yourself in front of an O’Connaill’s stall as they also sell some decent coffee (€2) to go. My most recent visit came on a Sunday morning in Blackrock and, as the frost lingered well into the day, I really enjoyed my hot cup as I watched the rowers pass by on the river.

Check out my review of O'Connaill Chocolate - I am cork - on Qype

The Boardwalk Bar and Grill in Cork

BOARDWALK BAR AND GRILL

Make a visit to the Boardwalk Bar and Grill to check out their inviting €22.50 three course early bird offer.
Made feel at home straight way by the friendly staff who were excellent and on the ball throughout the meal in the busy buzzy comfortable dining room. The bar at the other side looked equally inviting.
After sampling a tasty seeded bun, picked the squid from a choice of four starters. The rings came in a nice thin batter and were accompanied by a sweet chilli dip and some lettuce leaves (nicely presented in a little paper cone).
Again there was a choice of four dishes for the main course. The salmon and spinach looked good at a nearby table but I went for the Angus steak. It was a fine piece served with onion rings, the sauce coming in a separate container (a sensible way of doing it).
There was some piped out tasteless texture-less mash on the plate and that was left there at the end. Then three little saucepans were placed on the table, one containing well cooked broccoli and green beans, another with some decent chips and the third, more potatoes, this type a gratin (with some hard overdone pieces). That made it three types of spud with one course! Hardly necessary and a record for me, I think.
Desserts chosen were New York Baked Cheese cake and a Citrus Tart. Both were okay but we’d have been better off to have taken the glass of wine instead. The offer is for three courses or two courses with wine but you are asked at the very start to nominate your dessert with the order.
We did have two glasses of wine, each costing €5.50. One was a South African Cabernet Shiraz, the other a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, both very pleasant and fit for purpose

Check out my review of The Boardwalk Bar & Grill - I am cork - on Qype