BEER HEAVEN

BEER HEAVEN

For two days this weekend, Cork’s Franciscan Well, will be Beer Heaven for micro-brewery aficionados as no less than 20 Irish microbreweries will represented in one place. No wonder they say the Franciscan Well Easter Beerfest is the single best way to taste the best beers that Ireland has to offer. 

A new North Cork Brewery, Eight Degrees, will make its debut here with an ale called Howling Gale. Let’s hope that will be the only gale around the North Mall. The beer fest starts at 2.00pm on Saturday and concludes at 11.30pm on Sunday.

For all the details click here.

Easter Family Celebrations @ Midleton Farmers Market

Easter Family Celebrations @ Midleton Farmers Market

This Saturday we have lots of music and fun activities for kids

Traditional Easter Egg Painting
Live MUsic
Face Painting
Lots of Chocolate treats from O'Connails

So come early and bring the kids for a Great Day at the Market

Domaine Aonghusa's Classy Syrah

Domaine Aonghusa Corbieres Noah 2007 Syrah, 14.5%, Karwig (€16.50), 

This is a spicy full bodied red, 100 per cent Syrah. The nose is redolent of black fruit and there are herby hints. The concentrated fruit continues through to the palate where strong tannins balance it up. A really well made Syrah. You won't be disappointed with this dark dark red one.

Languedoc: Chateau de Peyrepertuse

DUNSLAND: WALLED GARDEN - EASTER EGG HUNT - TOP NOTCH NOSH

DUNSLAND EASTER FUN

Called to Dunsland Garden Centre  the other day and was

NASH 19: TWENTY OUT OF TWENTY

NASH 19: TWENTY OUT OF TWENTY

Nash 19 surprised me again when I called for lunch last Friday. Not just the friendly welcome, the informed service, the introductory breads and olive oil and then the amuse bouche. All that is still there. But how do they manage to vary that menu, day after tasty day. And there is a new wine list to boot.

After a chat with Claudia, who told us all about the menu (including their famous Producers’ Plate), we decided on a main course that was Indian, based around a fantastic tasting marinated chicken from East Ferry. If you see them around elsewhere, grab one. They are magnificent. And this was particularly so, served up with a Tarka-Dahl lentil sauce, a crispy fresh salad and a spot-on Naan bread.

From that new wine list, I treated myself to a glass (€6.50) of Prinz Donatus Von Hessen’s 2009 Riesling, a beautifully apple flavoured wine giving a direct drinking pleasure especially with the Indian dish.  

Haven’t been impressed with Tiramisu of late but must say that Nash 19 have come up with a winner, a decent slice of the cake, infused with strong coffee and a unmissable note of alcohol. Will call for that again!

EASTER WINES

EASTER WINES


The team at From Vineyards Direct have come up with really attractive offers to bring even more cheers to the Easter Weekend. Orders received prior to 1pm on Wednesday will be delivered prior to 6pm on Thursday, just in time for the weekend.........and don't forget, one can't buy any alcohol on Good Friday !!

 Dominique Geary is happy that  “our selection of five wines will suit all budgets and will  happily marry with traditional  Easter Fare”.

IN PRAISE OF EAST CORK. WELL WORTH A VISIT!

IN PRAISE OF EAST CORK. WELL WORTH A VISIT!

East Cork rarely hits the tourist pages. Many writers routinely extol the attractions of West Cork and its friendly people. That friendly bit annoys. As if somewhere between Kinsale and Glounthaune, you draw a line between

NEW YORK ROAST #6

WATCH OUR FOR NEW YORK ROAST NO 6!

Petroleum and coffee had no value a few centuries ago.  Now, they keep us going. And this new coffee will keep you going more than most.

EASTER PARADE

EASTER EGGS FOR ADULTS & MEALS FOR KIDS

Chic, petite and delicious. No. Not me. But Pandora Bell’s Real Eggshells filled with Praline Chocolate, the perfect gift for loved ones and, yes, even me! You can get them singly for €2.95 and a basket of five for €16.00.

20% DISCOUNT ON CURIOUS CHARDONNAY

Cuvée à l'Ancienne, Mâcon Charnay Chardonnay 2009, 13%, €10.39, Curious Wines 

This cuvée (or blend) has a pale straw colour with hints of green and  pleasant peachy aromas. On the palate, it is full, with citrus  prominent, and a gentle acidity. Over all the wine is fresh and lively with a lasting finish. Indeed, it is one of those wines that didn't promise all that much at first but which went on to deliver very well.

Négociant /Producer www.Boutinot.com recommends

3 TIERS OF TEMPTATION

AFTERNOON TEA IN THE AMBER LOUNGE

Following a tip-off, I called to the Fota Island Hotel  last Friday to sample their Afternoon Tea. Now, I’m passing on that tip. If you want to treat yourself and your loved one, maybe a pal or a visiting relative, then make a beeline for the Fota Resort and call to the Amber Lounge.

IRELAND'S MASTERCHEF

THE SEARCH IS ON TO FIND IRELAND’S FIRST EVER MASTERCHEF CHAMPION!

Are you passionate about food and love to cook? Do you constantly impress your friends and family with your culinary skills? Are you an amateur cook with amazing talent? If so, you might have what it takes impress our judges, Nick Munier and Dylan McGrath to become Ireland’s first ever MasterChef Champion!

Don’t miss out, APPLY NOW for the chance to win the coveted title of Ireland’s first MasterChef Champion and a cash prize of €25,000!          

For further information and to apply go to:

www.rte.ie/masterchef

Application deadline is 27^th April 2011

FALLON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF RAI

KILDARE RESTAURATEUR ELECTED NEW PRESIDENT OF THE RESTAURANTS ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

Mr Brian Fallon, Restaurateur, Fallons of Kildare is the newly elected President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland. With over 20 years experience in the restaurant sector, Mr Fallon  is the 16^th President of the Association and his term will be for two years. His father Frank Fallon also served as President over 20 years ago.

He succeeds Mr Paul Cadden. The Restaurants Association of Ireland  is the premier representative body in Ireland, and the national organisation representing over 600 restaurants employing over 64,000 people.

During his presidency, Mr Fallon  plans to

EL BULLI'S BEER CREATION

THE BEER THAT EL BULLI BREWED 

Estrella Damm Inedit is a creation of Ferran Adria and the team at El Bulli’s, a unique never-been-done-before beer blend. This creation is meant to go with food but I found it goes perfectly well without it also. It is one of the best, if not the best, beers that I’ve tasted.

Inedit – as you know, there are other varieties of Estrella - was created to pair “with the most exquisite and challenging foods. Foods that contain: citrus and oils...Bitter notes:...Asparagus, Artichokes...Oily textures: salmon, tuna, fatty cheese.”

Built a meal around those challenges, salmon and asparagus on the main course, and the beer, served in wine glasses, was a splendid match. It is cloudy, is lightly carbonated, has a creamy texture and the soft full body leaves a long and lasting finish.

Next challenge doesn't appear on the shortlist. This was a

Celebrate the Thai New Year Festival in Skibbereen

    Celebrate the Thai New Year Festival in Skibbereen

Elephant Island is a Thai restaurant recently opened in Skibbereen by Marc and Saifon Phonchot. They offer authentic Thai cuisine focused on using the best local ingredients.
Elephant Island are celebrating the upcoming Thai New year by hosting a festival weekend from Friday 15^th till Sunday 17^th of April.
In honour of the festival they have four new dishes on the menu using the best local produce and offering these new additions at half price for the duration of the weekend. Highlights include Crispy Quail egg dumplings using fresh Quail eggs from Brendan Ross in Dunmanway and Seared Schull Scallops with glass noodles, ginger and corriander served Thai style. 

The four dishes and

IASC, FEOIL, MILSEOG and more at THE FARMGATE

FARMGATE CAFE  

A budding Irish food producer asked a more experienced operator if he should make something new and spectacular. “No,” was the reply. “Do something simple and do it well!”

The wise head must have had Cork’s Farmgate Cafe  in mind. They buy the fresh ingredients downstairs in the English Market, cook it well and then present it on the tables upstairs. Just brilliant. And yes, I know, one needs a great deal of training and expertise to get the simple things so right.

Like many restaurants

CLASSY FRUIT OF AN INDIAN SUMMER

Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale, Chardonnay 2009, 13.5%, €16.99, stockists   

During a recent French holiday, the question of what information should appear on the label came up. Our host was quite adamant that it should be the wine-maker’s name and had no time at all for those who want the grape variety there. “We use up to nine different grapes in one wine here. How do you fit all of them on the label?”

So we start now with some info on Kevin O’Brien the maker of this top drawer Chardonnay. The James Halliday Wine Companion 2010 has honoured Kangarilla Road as a 5 Star Winery.

Praise too from

LocalMarkets.ie Celebrates National Launch

Online Food Producer Marketplace Goes National!

  

An innovative online retail business, that offers customers the convenience of having premium quality food delivered to their own home, is celebrating the launch of itsnew nationwide service.

LocalMarkets.ie, a Cork-based business that was

CORK FOOD: NEW PRODUCTS, NEW PLACES

CORK FOOD: NEW PRODUCTS, NEW PLACES

Interesting stroll around town yesterday, after fuelling up with a coffee and scone at Electric on the Mall.

Called into Nash 19   for Karmine’s new product: Cider

CALIFORNIA TASTING

ZIG ZAG ZIN

Zig Zag Zin was just one many Zinfandels tasted at Jacobs On the Mall who, on Monday afternoon, hosted a tasting for the Wine Institute of California.

The Zin is the grape most associated with the huge West Coast wine industry. Monday’s selections were excellent though I must say I really liked the Beringer Founders 14.5% on the Febvre stand where Peter Corr was an excellent host.

Left to r: Peter Corr (Febvre), Kevin Crowley (Fenn's Quay) and Maurice O'Mahony (Wine Alliance)

They also had the Cake Bread Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most