VARIETY AT THE LIBERTY GRILL

JULY SPECIALS

The Liberty Grill in Washington Street is up among my top restaurants in Cork. Cooking and service are excellent. Though the Grill, based on the US East Coast neighbourhood restaurant concept, is justly famous for its burgers, there is never a shortage of variety on offer, that variety often enhanced by the addition of monthly specials.

Fancy an early meal today? Then why not have a look at their July Brunch and Lunch specials.

Brunch (‘til 5pm) 
Scrambled Serrano 6.95 
Shredded thinly sliced Spanish serrano with scrambled 
free range eggs on sourdough toast and served with 
tomato relish (with glass of cava plus tea or coffee 12.50) 

Irish Strawberries (v) 5.95 
with natural yogurt and toasted hazelnuts 

Banana Tempura (v) 5.95 
Sweet banana lightly dipped in a buttermilk batter, 
shallow fried and served with a choice of pancake 
or French toast, maple syrup and cream 


Lunch (from 12 midday) 

Peri-Peri Chicken Burger 13.50 
West Cork chicken breast, marinated in peri-peri 
sauce, chargrilled and served with avocado and lime 

Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad (v) 8.95 
A summer salad of local leaves, young beetroot, 
Ardsallagh goat’s cheese with toasted barley, broad 
beans and sweet pickled gooseberries 

SLOWFOOD CORK CITY - A MYSTERY TOUR

Slowfood Cork City has teamed up with some of the best restaurants in Cork to offer foodies great food in relaxed surroundings. The chosen restaurants are well known for their support of local producers and growers and their creativity to create amazing dishes.

 

The evening will start of at 6pm on Tuesday 13th July with a lovely glass of bubbles at Interior Living in MacCurtain Street. Simone Kelly will welcome us in her shop which is a treasure chest full of exciting furniture, giftware and a larder with lots of foodie goodies. Slow Food members will remember Simone as the previous convivium leader of Cork City - we are still missing her immensely. Her knowledge about local produce and food is second to none and I am sure she will share her knowledge with you on the night.

 

From there we will start our mystery tour - and since it is a mystery night, we won't give any more details.

 

Please note: As the restaurants involved are keeping their tables free for us, we will need confirmed numbers by the 8th July. Upfront payment is necessary (payment can be made at Interior Living by cash or cheque - no credit cards can be accepted). A minimum number is required to make it worthwhile for the restaurants - the event will not go ahead if numbers are not met.

 

Please wear comfortable shoes as walking between the course is required.

 

Price for members is €40 and for non-members €45. Included in the price is a 3 course meal with a glass of wine for starter and main course and tea/coffee for dessert.

Please inform us if you have dietary requirements and we will try to accommodate you.

 

As always, please email Caz and Deirdre on corkcity@slowfoodireland.com

 

Old Millbank Smokehouse in Buttevant

OLD MILLBANK SMOKEHOUSE


A couple of weeks back, I enjoyed the Good Food Ireland plate for lunch at Nash 19. One of the items included was a smashing smoked salmon made by the Old Millbank Smokehouse in Buttevant.
Geraldine Bass is the lady behind the Willow Pond enterprise and I spotted her stand at a recent Farmer’s Market. Smoked Salmon and Trout were displayed but I was after something else and that was her Salmon Pâté.
Four euro bought me a fine tub of it. Started it yesterday for lunch and we agreed that it was a class product, subtle yet strong enough. Great stuff and that will be finished off soon as a starter for our wet Friday night in.

You'll find Old Millbank at the Mahon Point Farmers Market (below)

Check out my review of Old Millbank Smokehouse - I am cork - on Qype

IDAHO CAFE

 THE IDAHO CAFE

Downtown for a few hours today, principally to say Bon Voyage to the Clipper 09-10 race as the ten racing boats left the city quays on the last leg of their 35,000 mile trip around the world.

Took a walk in the rain over to the Idaho Cafe for a slightly early lunch. I choose the Potato and Gubbeen Cheese with Bacon and was glad that I did. I could have eaten the Morris Piper potatoes on their own but, mixed with the Gubbeen, the combination was unbeatable.

The Cafe is small but comfortable enough. Service is friendly and efficient and the cooking is top class. My main course, with a small salad, cost €11.00.

Oonagh Poynton in Youghal

POYNTON – RHINECREW COOKERY

“Oonagh Poynton is a truly fine cook....she is as expert with the sweet as she is with the savoury.” So says the Bridgestone Guide (2010).
Came across a selection of her cakes and jams at the Mahon Point Farmers Market recently and helped myself to a jar of her thick-cut marmalade. It went down a treat (well not all of it –yet) with some white bread from the Natural Foods Bakery and I must say I was very happy with the purchase, wrapped very nicely indeed by Mr Poynton.
Being from Youghal, you will find her products at local markets such as Lismore and the West Waterford Food festival and her cookery classes at Rhinecrew are also quite a draw. The marmalade has broken the ice for me and I’ll be on the look-out for her products in the future.
Just one little puzzle: she is generally referred to as Oonagh on the net and in the Guide but hubby told me the U on the jam-jar was for Una.

Check out my review of Oonagh Poynton - I am cork - on Qype

Mileeven Fine Foods in Kilkenny

MILEEVEN FINE FOODS

Always willing to try something new and always on the lookout, I picked up a pot of Honey with Sour Cherries recently at the Kilkenny Shop in Shanagarry. Mileeven, a company based in Piltown, is noted for its innovation and mixes its honey with Blueberries, Hazelnuts and Irish Mist among other ingredients.
Maybe I should have tried the Irish Mist. I must admit that I won't be buying the Sour Cherries blend again. It didn't go down that well. I didn't regard the mix as at all successful with the cherries spoiling the honey and vice versa. Still, that won't stop me trying products from the highly successful company in the future.
But I could well be buying them through the net. This little 250 gram jar cost €4.50 in Shanagarry, over double the price from the Mileeven website shop! (http://www.mileeven.com/)

Check out my review of Mileeven Fine Foods - I am cork - on Qype

MAHON POINT FARMERS MARKET

MAHON POINT FARMERS MARKET

Dull morning in Mahon today but the Farmers Market was as lively as ever. Reached the venue just around opening time and started with a five euro bag of mackerel from O’Driscoll’s of Schull.

Passed Una Poynton’s jam and cake stand and realised I had finished the last of the marmalade at breakfast. Una wasn't there but hubby was and my jar of thick cut was wrapped neatly in a fancy bag.

Headed then for Green Saffron and decided to try it out by buying a meal in a tub: lamb, rice and bread for two. Instructions of course came with it, generously detailed by the man himself.

Then called to the Gubbeen Smokehouse  spot to buy the five star Chorizo. That will be served with our favourite Spanish rice recipe.

A trip around here could take all day, so we had to be somewhat selective but couldn't resist the Old Millbank smoked fish stall where we bought some of their delicious salmon pate.

Also made a stop at the Natural Foods Bakery  where a round of a terrific organic white bread set us back €2.65.

Don't normally shop at Tesco’s but since we were there.... we filled up the trolley, yoghurts from Glenilen and some Czech beer buried deep in the load.

Janet's Country Fayre in Wicklow

JANET’S COUNTRY FAYRE
Relishes and Chutneys generally improve whatever you have on the table: meats, cheeses, and salads. And Janet’s Country Fayre produce one of the best ranges of chutneys and relishes you are likely to find and have been doing so since 1994 when the Wicklow enterprise was established.
Came across a stand of the products, some of them cheekily named, a few days back and bought a few. Only one, the Special Vinaigrette, has been tried out so far and all attendees at a small dinner party remarked favourably on it.
There are many more products including Ploughman’s Chutney, Tomato and Chilli salsa, Cucumber Pickle, Smart Ass Sauce and Really Good Ketchup. Watch out for their very helpful leaflet with many suggestions (even recipes) as to how to get the best from the tempting products. All the info may be accessed at the website: http://www.janetscountryfayre.com
Check it out!

Check out my review of Janet's Country Fayre - I am cork - on Qype

The Club Brasserie

THE CLUB BRASSERIE


Made my first visit to the Club Brasserie this week. It won’t be the last. Great food, good value (in local terms) and excellent service always brings the customer back.
Started by studying the Early Bird (25 euro for 3 courses) and the A la Carte. Then put those aside as a packed specials board was brought to the table, enough tempting dishes for a week’s visits.
Picked the Tomato and Basil Soup to start with. I was on a winner straight away as this was an excellent bowlful. Oh, and the bread was top class also.
Then on to the main courses. Mine was the Seared Tuna with tomato, avocado, green beans and potato gratin. The fish was just so, tasty and moist and the vegetables fitted the bill to perfection. The other main course at the table was an Aubergine and Onion Tart with a sweet tomato chutney, salad and potato wedges. A little on the sweet side for me but she just loved it.
Dessert was Crème Brulee, with a difference, the difference being a mix of summer berries, a classy way to finish off a classy meal. Total, including €14.95 for 50cl of the house wine special, came to €68.70.

Despite all the good things here, it was a very quiet Thursday night, just a handful of people in. Should be better next week when the round-the –world Clippers will be docked at nearby Albert Quay.

Club Brasserie, Lapps Quay, Cork +353 (0)21 427-3987

Check out my review of The Club Brasserie - I am cork - on Qype

ALL RECIPES UPDATE

Just got an update from Diana of All Recipes with news of a cookbook giveaway right here

You can also get some brilliant summer and barbecue recipes on the site

You may even be tempted to contribute a recipe or two yourself and join in the fun

SUPER DRINKS

SUPER DRINKS

It was in the poems of 1963 Nobel prize winner Giorgos Seferis, a Greek, that I first remember coming across the exotic word pomegranate. And it was a long time after that that the fruit, especially its juice, became generally available in this country.

I was reminded of this as I was tasting some samples from the widely available Pomegreat range, not just your plain Pomegranate but some unexpected blends. I tasted two of these, the first with Blueberry and the second with Beetroot. The Blueberry was fine but I must admit that I was more than pleasantly surprised by the Beetroot blend, quite a nice rounded drink. The plain also was fine.

The range is widely available (including Dunnes and Superquinn) and costs around two euro a litre.

A recent study by a group of doctors at St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital has been particularly important in supporting the claim that Beetroot is of super food status. Read more here.

Pomegreat, the makers of the pomegranate super juice drinks, claim that these drinks can help in the lowering of blood pressure and you may study that report here 

South County in Douglas (Cork)

SOUTH COUNTY

Met a few friends at the South County in Douglas one night this week. I really liked this expanded bar. Big bars are sometimes like a big shed but good use has been of the space here which has been arranged into a series of nooks (some bigger than others) but all within easy reach of a counter.

Indeed, the friendly staff here are “pro-active”. I was on my way to the counter when an assistant met me, took the order and delivered it to the table. It was a little on the late side for the food but they do operate a cafe here, more than likely to the same high standards.

Impressed too with the toilets. These are clean and spacious and the walls are decorated with a series of “saucy postcard” type cartoons. I was having a laugh but the fellow next to me, obviously a regular, said he’d seen them all before and more than once!

Check out my review of South County - I am cork - on Qype

KILKENNY CAFE (SHANAGARRY)

KILKENNY CAFE (SHANAGARRY)

Left Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens on Tuesday, feeling hungry. A bit ironic, isn't it? But the famous school doesn't have its own cafe. Not to worry and we headed for the Kilkenny Cafe in the village, in the former Stephen Pearce emporium.

Walked through the shop. The cafe, indoor and outdoor, is at the far end. We were warmly greeted and took a seat outdoors overlooking the local fields and looking out towards Ballycotton. With a dinner arranged (fresh hake from the English market) for the evening, we didn't need anything major.

Started with a delicious Potato and Leek soup (€4.50) and a couple of slices of gorgeous freshly made brown bread. Skipped a variety of well priced main courses – tempting salads, burgers, Paninis – and ended with a pot of tea and scones (with all the trimmings, including jam and cream). Total came to just over seventeen euro.

Took a stroll through the shop and bought a few food items. Service, at both restaurant and shop, was first class, very friendly and efficient. So, if you are in East Cork, an under-rated area where there is so much to see and do, I’d recommend you mark this cafe as a stop on your tour.

BALLYMALOE COOKERY SCHOOL GARDENS

BALLYMALOE COOKERY SCHOOL GARDENS 

Made a very enjoyable visit today to the Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens (and Farm Shop). Arches of traditional varieties of apple, with a few hens and cocks resting and scratching, lead you on the way.

Highlights for me were the Herb Garden and the Herbaceous Border. Other gardens are the vegetable garden, the fantastic Maze (planted in 1996) and the Pleasure Garden (with trees, bigger shrubs and a pond with fountain).

There are over 70 varieties of herbs in the garden, laid out in a formal parterre edged with box hedges. Plenty of fresh herbs then for Ballymaloe House and Cafe but it was an old-timer Sage that caught my eye. This knurled specimen (photo) must have been over twenty years old.

The herbaceous Border is almost worth the €6.50 entrance fee on its own. Planted in 1996, it has thrived here, though not without a great deal of care and attention. Here, deep borders of fabulous perennials and grasses make it one of the very best of its type.

At the end of the border is the Shell House, with shell decoration by artist Blott Kerr-Wilson. Unfortunately, the door was bolted and I had to take my picture through the glass. Still, you get some idea of the intricacy of her work. I forgot to ask on the way out about the closure (temporary or permanent).


NOTE 10.11.10: Blott Kerr-Wilson has been in touch and you may see much better pictures of the shell house on her site here.

Did call to the shop and picked up a few of Darina's products. Disappointingly, while the gardens belong to the famous cooking school, there is no cafe in this location, that being a mile or two away alongside Ballymaloe House.

The entrance to the gardens is via the road opposite the church in Shanagarry. All the details at www.cookingisfun.ie

BARRY'S TEA WANT YOUR MUG (SHOT) - LAST CHANCE

Just got this late message from Barry's Tea. If you want your face on their new packs, act now. Read on....

Just thought I’d let you know, since you’re a Barry’s Tea fan and everything, that dreams are about to come true!! As a big thank you to everyone who voted for Barry’s Tea in the SuperValu People’s Choice Awards Barry’s are offering all fans a chance to send in their pics to be immortalised in a collage on packs of Barry’s Tea 80’s. The boxes will be on sale in SuperValu’s nationwide in the coming months.

If you think your readers would be interested in sending any pics of themselves, friends, pets etc to be potentially included we’ve got one day left for this offer and all they need to do is send in (high res) pictures to barrystea@thinkhousepr.com. There’s some more info onwww.facebook.com/barrystea and keep up with Barry’s on twitter check it out on @BarrysTeaTweets.

Thanks so much and don’t forget to send YOUR pic in too!!

Laura

NASH 19

NASH 19 

Lunch can be a pretty routine occasion, almost like a pit stop. Not though if you go to Nash 19. Different class.

Friendly Rose took us through the menu in detail and gave a few recommendations. We liked the look of the Good Ford Ireland Plate at €13.95 and went for it. Served, tapas style, it was a mini feast of tastes and colours, including a Squash Soup taster, Smoked Salmon from Buttevant’s Old Mill, Nash’s own chicken liver pate, Oisín and Milleen cheeses with Nash’s own delicious biscuits, Crowe's Pork Belly and Bacon and Gubbeen salami, all with their own relishes.

When you go out to eat, you really want something different, different to what you can manage at home. This was it. Couldn't fault any little piece of it. My favourite bites? Perhaps the Chicken Liver which was better than recent Foie Gras tastings. The Bacon tasted just like the real thing should and the salami was also a highlight.

Moved onto dessert then. Had a share of Walnut Cakes in the Dordogne recently but that didn't stop me picking the Cherry and Walnut Cake. So well made, done to a “t” and so very very lovely. Also sampled the Berry Pie and was half sorry I didn't take that but then I’d have been half sorry I hadn’t taken the Cherry and Walnut.

Will have to go again. And again. Lovely place, lovely people and, yes Tom Doorley, this was an enjoyable meal.

MURPHY'S ICE CREAM (DINGLE)

MURPHY’S ICE CREAM

Stopped in my tracks today on way out of town. Ice Cream from Dingle said the sign on McCurtain Street. Must be Murphy’s, I said to myself.

The shop was Kalma Flowers and yes it was Murphy’s. Bought myself some (3.00 a tub) of the Vanilla. One little lick of the supplied spoon was enough to confirm that this was a class product.

The fight between herself and meself for the last bit (which usually happens over the last drops of wine) was fierce but, under the rules, honours were evenly shared as was the ice-cream (I thought so anyway).

http://www.murphysicecream.ie

Strand Street, Dingle, Co. Kerry

+ 353 (0)66.9152644

WINE TRANSFUSION

WINE TRANSFUSION

“Your wine. Red or white?” the French hospital orderly asked. The foreign patient, wired up, tubed up, doped up, was confused. “You may have two dekalitres,” the no nonsense orderly continued.

It was almost too much for the Serb patient in the Perigueux hospital. A day earlier, in the Dordogne town of Sarlat (photo), he had suffered a heart attack. Hurried phone calls were made and, five minutes later, not one but two ambulances were at his door.

He was whisked to the local hospital. They  checked him and decided to send him to Perigueux, eighty eight kilometres or so to the North West. The helicopter flew him there and he was operated on immediately, a life saved.

Not it was lunch time of the following day. Lunch was even something of a surprise but then the offer of wine almost led to another heart attack, a relieved Milos told me some four years later as his Irish wife recalled with gratitude the help given by her new French neighbours as this was just their second year or so in the area.

Not surprisingly, Milos, a former Guinness employee, was full of praise for the French health service. There was one error though: he got a bill for nine hundred euro for the copter. He paid it but was then told the bill should never have been sent to him and got a full refund. Mary Harney take note: an efficient service will do, we’ll pass on the wine.

The decilitre, one tenth of a litre, is used as a wine measurement in some European countries and, personally, I have come across it in Austria.

Molaga Honey in Timoleague

HONEY HONEY
My sweet tooth picked something up on the radar today as I walked through the English Market. It was honing in on a pot of Molaga honey, in a butchers of all places. “Must be good. At that price,” I said to the man behind the counter. “It’s brilliant, they’re all going for it,” he replied. He would, wouldn’t he?
Paid over my €2.80 for 240 grams and, as I wheeled away, spotted a bigger jar for €3.60. Maybe next time. This first pot isn’t bad at all, really enjoying it. As you might have guessed, if you remember anything of your Irish, it is produced in Timoleague. Kevin Collins is the man and he may be contacted at KevCollins@eircom.net and 0238846208. The butchers, by the way, are P. Coughlan.

Check out my review of Molaga Honey - I am cork - on Qype

RHUBARB WHIP

EASY DESSERT

Been working hard in the garden this sunny day but the reward won't come until tomorrow when I’ll enjoy a favourite dessert: Rhubarb Whip. Last outside job today was to pick a pound of the red sticks, the basis for this very easy recipe.

RHUBARB WHIP

Serves 6/7

1 lb of rhubarb;

¼ pint of water;

4 ozs of sugar;

1 Raspberry jelly;

7 oz can condensed milk.

Method:

Cook rhubarb in water and sugar until soft. Add pieces of jelly and stir well until melted.

Leave to become cold. Whip milk. Fold into rhubarb and jelly. Leave in fridge overnight to set.

Serve with ice-cream, cream and grated chocolate.

DON'T DRIVE THE TOURISTS AWAY

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

A couple of feel good factors around town today. One, of course, was the weather. The other, even more of a constant, was the courtesy shown by those I met in the retail industry, mainly on the food and drink side.

Made a ten o’clock call to Nash 19 for a cup of coffee and a scone. Don't know how they pick the staff here but they are all brilliant, all helpful. I know a few by now but even those that are not known to me have the same lovely attitude. No wonder the place is always busy. By the way, bought a pot of my favourite marmalade on the way out.

Then onto the English Market to the Ballycotton Seafood stall. Just one man on duty and a queue building up. He didn’t flinch under pressure as he filleted like Billy-o, all the while showing good humour and courtesy to a customer who didn't seem to be very well up on fish.

The Ballycotton man also kept an eye on the queue, making sure that each was served in turn. He fairly flew through the fish and indeed I noticed two foreign couples who stopped to see him in action. My turn came and I ordered five pieces of hake. Got four from the first fish so that meant he had to go and do another to get the fifth piece. No bother at all and soon I was on my way with a smile on my face, not least because I thought the 10.47 charge was quite reasonable.

Stayed in the Market then and walked across the aisles to the Alternative Bread Company. What a selection they have there. I spotted a Country Baguette, no salt, no dairy. I ordered one and the helpful assistant suggested she’d cut it in two to make for easy carrying. Good idea. The two pieces fitted neatly into a bag and there was no danger of poking any of my fellow bus passengers in the eye.

The courtesy wasn't all from the female side. My very first call was to O’Leary’s Camera World, one of my long-time favourites, there to load up a wagonload of digital files after the recent holiday. Didn't know any of the lads on duty as I started at the machine. Seconds later, a young man came over to know if I wanted any assistance. Didn’t just then but did towards the end and we closed the deal with a smile.

Later I had the pleasure of calling on two naturally courteous gentlemen, Mick Atkins (who runs a rapid jewellery repair service) and Maurice O’Mahony of Karwig Wines.  Not often that the morning’s good humour lasts so long. It will stretch even further if South Africa win this evening, not that I’ve anything against Uruguay.

Some people tell me that the French are rude. While there is always a danger in making general statements about a nation – the French no doubt, proportionately, have as many idiots as we have – I must say that in extended holidays there over the past two years and in many other breaks there before that, I have always found terrific manners and courtesy, in shops, in markets, on the street and on the road.

Maybe we have some catching up to do but I think, led by the service industry and our own good humour, we are getting there, getting very close indeed. We need to do so if the tourists are to keep coming back, same as I’ll keep going back to this morning’s shops and outlets.

twebt5

Twebt has been getting so popular, it usually trends on Twitter on the Sunday night it's on. Many people wonder what it is.They wonder and wait and then are sorry they missed out.

What’s twebt?
It’s a blind tasting that we do on twitter. All welcome, all you need is a free twitter account and the mystery bottle. Click right Here for all the info from Brian Clayton, one of the organisers.

BARBECUE WINES PART 2

See full story of 4 weeks in the Dordogne at Corkman on Tour 
RED WINES FOR THE BARBECUE NIGHTS

Pecharmant Is Bergerac King

Got your wines in for the barbecue weather coming up? Here are a few tips, based on a recent trip to the Dordogne in France. But you don't have to fly off to Bergerac to stock up as most of these are available locally and on the net from Karwig Wines in Carrigaline and at other wine merchants and you’ll find them at a more reasonable price than Bordeaux equivalents.

I had been talking to Maurice O’Mahony of Karwig before the trip and he helped me compile my shopping list and, in addition, loaned me his precious copy of French Wines by Robert Joseph who has quite a high regard for the Bergerac wines.

The Bergerac reds are regarded as every bit as good as many of their Bordeaux neighbours and I put Pecharmant (a Bergerac AOC wine) top of my list, the individual winner being R du Roi. There is a lot of competition from bordering areas, headed up by Cahors where Malbec is prominent and including Fronsac, Buzet, Madiran, Gaillac and quite impressive Bandol.

Tried them all and didn't leave out Bordeaux either. One of the most interesting I came across was Montagne St Emilion. This Grand Vin de Bordeaux cost €6.99. This is apparently a wine from a Bordeaux “satellite” but if I’m on the last spaceship out of here, I’ll be happy to stock it up with this one. A Premier Cotes de Blaye wasn't half bad either.

The local Sarlat restaurants usually show much more red on their lists, to suit the local cuisine no doubt. Bergerac are the stables and then you get a selection of Pecharmant and of Cahors before moving on to the more expensive Bordeauxs.

I was lucky in the Auberge de Mirandol when a waiter pointed to sign on the wall and suggested I try their suggested Pecharmant called R du Roi (2004). It was splendid as was their Wine of the Month from Cahors. Unfortunately, the waiter told me the Pecharmant was not on sale locally.

On the hunt for the reds, I visited the House of Wine in Bergerac and got lost in the Cahor Vineyards (all pics from Cahors) before managing to find a large Cave where I stocked up. I also added to the list by purchasing at various specialist wine shops and, of course, the supermarkets.

The Cahors purchases included a Malbec at €4.00 a bottle, one of the cheapest I bought. Had I been a local I could have bought a good deal cheaper, if a barbecue was imminent. For instance, in the Cahors Cave, they had a vin de pays on sale for €3.00 a bottle and that was reduced to €2.25 in you bought twelve.

There is not that much vin de pays in the Sarlat area but I did get one, from Domme, at the supermarket. Just picked it up and threw in the trolley, only to find out later on that, at over 8 euro, it was my most expensive purchase that day. Thanks to Milos, who owned our holiday home, I was also able to taste some excellent Vin de Pays du Perigord but each time I went to the Cave to buy the place was closed.

There is any amount of local aperitifs and après digestifs made in the Dordogne and I was privileged to be given a free glass of a famous Old Plum Eau-de-Vie on my last night in the Mirandol. It was absolutely high quality. On the way home, passed a shop and saw a load of it on display but, unfortunately, the shop was closed for the night and closed when we drove out of town early the following morning.

That was one regret. But I did manage to purchase a bottle of Banyul, the fortified (port-like) wine from the Mediterranean coast. And I didn’t forget to stock up with some Sarlanoix, the nut liquor that I first came across in the area in 1993.

And the purchasing didn't stop on leaving the Dordogne. Despite the presence of many top Bordeaux names, I stayed loyal to Bergerac and added to my stock on board the Brittany ferries Pont Aven on the way from Roscoff to Cork where I also took the opportunity to replenish supplies of Campari, my favourite aperitif.

I am well set up for the summer. How about you?

My favourites

Pecharmant: R du Roi, Chateau de Tiregand Comtesse de St Expury 2007, Chateau Peyretaille.

Cahors: Chateau Les Haut d’Aglan, Château Les Bouysses 2002 (€7.40 a bottle) and a Cotes D’OIt Malbec 2005 (€4.00), St Didier Parnac Prestige, Chateau Le Coustarelle, La Cassot, Cahors 2005,

Bergerac: Chateau Belingard

Bergerac Red

http://www.karwigwines.ie/pc/Cotes-De-Bergerac-Rouge-Ch-Belingard-7p154.htm

Bandol

http://www.karwigwines.ie/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=9&keyword=bandol

WINE FOR THE BARBECUE

See full story of 4 weeks in the Dordogne at http://swissroll07.blogspot.com 

SWEET WINE TIME AT THE BARBECUE

Got your wines in for the barbecue weather coming up? Here are a few tips, based on a recent trip to the Dordogne in France. But you don't have to fly off to Bergerac to stock up as most of these are available locally and on the net from Karwig Wines in Carrigaline.

Did some research before the four week long visit and so knew a small bit about what was available but didn't expect to fall in love with the local Moelleux (medium sweet wines).  I always thought that people who won't drink Chardonnay or won't drink Merlot are making a big mistake, cutting themselves off from so many possibilities. I confess my mistake, in white wines, was to confine myself to dry or medium dry.

That changed by accident, thanks to a hasty purchase on the evening of our arrival in Sarlat. The local Lidl was open and I grabbed a bottle of Jurancon from the box. Had stayed in the Basque country a few times so I knew what I was getting.

Expecting a dry white, I got something of a surprise when I put it up on the apartment table and looked at it closely for the first time. It was “goldy” in colour so I checked the label and found on the back that it was Moelleux, a semi-sweet wine.

It turned out to be a treat as did quite a few other Moelleuxs that followed it during the four weeks in Sarlat. Most of those were local Bergeracs. All are fine on their own but especially as aperitifs and as accompaniment to the local Foie Gras or indeed to any other pate or terrine. And they’ll do nicely with your desserts as well.

Of course, if you really want to go to town on it with the desserts, then the really sweet wines are what you want and again the Bergerac area is full of them, thanks apparently to a long forgotten Dutch trade which saved the wine industry here when the English market was cut off due to one of the many wars fought in the area between the French and English.

The wine from neighbouring Sauternes is well known but both Monbazillac and Saussignac are Bergerac AOCs as is Rosette. We enjoyed a visit to and a tasting at the Chateau at Monbazillac and you may read more on that at http://swissroll07.blogspot.com.

Not feeling up to the sweet or semi-sweet? Then why not try the rosé. Bergerac make lovely fresh rosés and the one we had at a lunch at the Meeting of the Waters (the Dordogne and Vezere Rivers) in Limeuil, officially one of France’s prettiest villages, was a delightful example. Funnily enough, the one we liked most, though not easy to get in the area, came from further down in the south-east, namely a Bandol .

With so many good days forecast, you could pick a different type of wine for each. But if you prefer to stick with the dry whites, then there is no shortage from the Bergerac area. The normal Bergerac sec or Cotes de Bergerac sec are all fine, hardly distinguishable from many of the Bordeaux sec. 

Montravel is another AOC area in Bergerac and their range includes many decent dry whites. Also available are good bottles from Cotes de Duras and Gaillac.

To finish off the barbecue, put on a few bananas. When done, skin them and slip them quickly onto a base of ice-cream and then add a tablespoon or so of Sarlanoix, a nut liquor. If you don't have it, rum or kirsch will do fine. But do it all quickly, including the eating!


Pictures: Chateau de Monbazillac (main pic), Sarlat barbecue (left) and Monbazillac vines (right)

Our next wine post will look at the reds of the Dordogne area. 

DAY 28/29 End of the Line

See full story of 4 weeks in the Dordogne at http://swissroll07.blogspot.com

DAY 28/29

The intention was to have a good night’s sleep before an early start Friday to the 500 miles plus journey from Sarlat to Roscoff. But that was knocked on the head, both by that late eau-de-vie plus the lightning from a neighbouring storm that floodlit the garden area around and about midnight. Still, we made the ferry with plenty of time to spare. (You'll find autoroute tips on my other site http://swissroll07.blogspot.com 

While the loading can be a bit of a lottery, we were one of the first to get on board. We were hungry so headed for the self-service restaurant, the Angele. Two steaks with potatoes (chips or gratin) and all the vegetables you wanted, plus two desserts and 50cl of Rhone valley wine came to €29.00. They didn’t last long.

Enjoyed a pint after that in the bar. Kronenberg 1664 was the choice and a pint and a glass came to €6.20. The journey home, started at 9.30 French time on Friday, arrived 10.00am Irish time Saturday, was smooth and uneventful and the sun was out at Ringaskiddy as we berthed!

DAY 27

DAY 27WEEK 4, DAY 27

WEEK 4, DAY 27

Montfort, Le Roque Gageac

The day started delightfully when we saw a couple of deer crossing the gardens.

The rain had yet to appear as we arrived at the viewing point above Montfort to have a look at the big bend on the Dordogne. And there were a few drops as we drove off towards La Roque Gageac.

The threat from above was still evident as we arrived at the riverside village, looking much sadder than a few short weeks back when we took a sunny trip on the boat. Now the gabarres are temporarily out of business because of the rise in the river which has flooded the embarkation points.

The village itself is also blocked off and most shops closed and, as it’s not due to roadworks, one can only assume that the danger may be from the rocks above. We do take a stroll around but the rain arrives as we leave to head back to the gite.

Time then to say goodbye to our gite owners, Milos, his wife Rosemary and their son George, before heading out to Sarlat for one last meal at the Mirandol. We stick with the traditional this evening.

Starters are Foie Gras with toast and relishes followed by the Duck confit cassoulet. After the goats cheese and salad we both go for Crème Brule. Our wine this evening is our favourite Pecharmant, the R du Roi and, courtesy of the house, we finish off with a local speciality, a classy Prune Eau de Vie!

River rises and puts Roque Gageac boats out of business...

Found this pair on lawn this morning...

DAY 26

During a break in the rain, we made our final visit of this trip to the Sarlat Market this morning. It was all rather subdued and as we don't plan to eat in anymore we weren’t really on the lookout for purchases, though I did help myself to a cheese cutter and serving tool which set me back all of five euro.

Subdued was also the operative word as we walked through the medieval centre this evening on the way to Auberge de Mirandol. The Mirandol though was quite busy with ground and second floors full.

We have praised the value available in the set menus in restaurants in Sarlat but once you go a la carte the prices creep into Irish territory.  Take this evening’s bill for example: Three courses for me and two for the advisor, along with a half bottle of a very satisfactory Julian Savignec Bergerac sec (Sauvignon and Semillon), came to €62.00.

My starter was a Hot Goats Cheese Salad, that is a couple of rounds of the local cabecou on toasted bread with loads of lettuce and other greens. I enjoyed my mains of a fillet of Hake with a lemon butter sauce and the local potatoes and veg and finished off with a favourite dessert: Iles Flottante.

The rain really put a damper on the eating business this evening and as we headed back towards the car we saw many of the restaurants with their chairs up on tables, having surrendered to the inevitable and hoping for better things tomorrow. Aren’t we all?

Pictures from the cave, inc entrance tunnell on right

Casino Supermarches

With the rain pouring down in the morning, I did a wine review and noticed a few deficiencies. Rectified that to some degree with a visit to the local Casino (Supermarket!) on the way back from visit to Chateau de Castelnaud. Reinforced the Bandol and Pecharmant Red. Also bought a bottle of Vin de Pays du Perigord (Vin de Domme 2008 - Merlot and Cabernet Franc).

With the weather dodgy, we decided to stay in this evening and that Vin de Pays went well with the excellent Navarin d’Agneau (€8.34) that we bought in the traiteur. Surprisingly, the Vin de Pays was the most expensive bought today.

Starters were crevettes in pastry, also from the traiteur. Desserts were inviting strawberries followed by a pastry with the name of Religieuses, though I think the same may be referred to as a Nun’s Fart. We bought the pair of Religieuses in the supermarket but for quality in pastry you are guaranteed much better in the specialist shops. 

Photo shows young knight being dressed for battle at Castelnaud today

Corkman on Tour

Keep up to date with my Dordogne days at http://swissroll07.blogspot.com/

DAY 25 Castelnaud

The petrol lady was right: "Bad, demain." Still, we managed a visit to nearby Castelnaud, details later, if I can get the internet again...

DAY 24

The sunshine helped today which started with a walk into Sarlat to our traiteurs but disappointingly, and you often find this in France, they were closed on Mondays. Should have known better. Still all was not lost. Called to a corner shop Epicerie on the way back as we knew they also do prepared dishes and here we picked up some Pork in a Madeira sauce.

Returning from an afternoon visit to Chateau  Hautefort (above), we called to the Carrefour supermarket in town and bought some other bits and pieces. Now, with a bottle of excellent Buzet just opened, we are all set for a fine easy going meal in the sun. Must make the best of it. A petrol-lady, close to Hautefort, when I remarked in basic French that today was fine, told me: “Ajourdoui oui. Bad Demain!”

WEEK 4, DAY 23

WEEK 4, DAY 23

Very dull morning here in Sarlat, livened up by a solitary peal of thunder and a short shower and more pleasingly by the purchase of some Bandol Rose from the local Casino where we’d gone to dump the bottles of the previous week and stock up on essentials such as bread and milk. The Bandol cost €6.50. Was on the lookout for a red and white from the area but no joy here.

In the lazy afternoon, walked through a different part of Sarlat, including the public park, and came back through the town centre, checking the restaurants for this evening. The weather is dull and there are few people out and about even though the temperatures feel as if they are in the low 20s.

Despite checking out a few “new” venues, we ended up at our “old” favourite Auberge de Mirandol. And what a meal we had for €18.00 each. Their suggested wine was a Percharmant, a 2004 R du Roi for €16.00. It was absolutely excellent and perhaps our favourite wine of the three weeks so far.

We started the meal with Foie Gras mis-cuit with three different relishes, including a Monbazillac jelly. Second starter for me was the Marinated Salmon (with Salad) while the other one was a well presented half Melon with a fair dash of that Monbazillac wine in the centre.

We agreed on the main course, not very substantial but gorgeous: Breast of Duck in a  truffle sauce with Sarlandais potatoes and haricot vert. Then followed he usual cheese course though this time it was cabecou (with salad) rather than Rocamadour.

There was an extra in the dessert line-up and I went for it. It was the melt in the mouth French classic Isles Flottantes. We also had Crème Brule and that too was excellent. A big crowd in to the Mirandol on this unpromising Sunday night and that is a good sign of an excellent restaurant where the food and the service is always top class, always friendly, despite the odd language mix-up.