Great Taste Award for G’s Jams

Great Taste Award for G’s Jams

Helen Gee was thrilled with her recent good news. The founder and managing director of G’s Gourmet Jams, said: “We are a small artisan producer here in Abbeyleix and we have Great News, just received 3 Gold Stars for our Rhubarb & Ginger Jam in The Great Taste Awards and shortlisted to the top 50 producers in Britain & Ireland and nominated for the Golden Fork.”

“We are delighted with this award. Great Taste recognises the craft and dedication that goes into making superb food and drink. Our aim when producing our products is to keep it traditionally made with passion combining great taste and texture, using only 2 ingredients.”

Helen set up her now award winning jam company in 1998 as part of an alternative farm enterprise. The products are handmade, the old-fashioned way with just the saucepan and the wooden spoon and two key ingredients: top quality fruit and sugar.

Cyril (Helen’s Husband) grows fruit on the family farm, Sandra (Helen’s Daughter) having just completed her Diploma in Food Speciality works in Production and Clive (Helen’s Son) runs the sales and marketing side of the business. Even in these recessionary times, sales are constantly increasing month on month. G’s Gourmet Jams supply their products nationwide to supermarkets, speciality food shops, hotels, restaurants, delis, butchers etc.

The top 50 food and drink products were chosen from the 123 entries that had gained a coveted 3-star gold and each one has now been nominated for a Golden Fork Award, the highest accolade in fine food and drink which will be announced at the Awards’ dinner at London’s Royal Garden Hotel this September.

To achieve a 3-star grading involves at least 25 experts unanimously agreeing that the product tastes divine. But to be included in the Top 50 Foods in Britain and Ireland meant each one had to satisfy the discerning palates of a further 25 dedicated foodies. These products all deliver the most extraordinary taste.

See the video here

Like Tempranillo? You’ll love this

Like Tempranillo? You’ll love this.
Finca Museum, Crianza 2008, 100% Tinta Del Pais, Cigales (Spain), 13.5% abv, €15.35 (13.82 online) Karwig Wines

It’s quality all the way here. The fruits are hand harvested and then the best bunches are selected before it is aged in French and American oak. Tinta Del Pais, in case you don’t know, is another Spanish name for Tempranillo with which most of you are no doubt familiar. If you like the Temp, then you’ll love this.

It is quite a dark red with plum, cherry and subtle spice on the nose. It is fruity and juicy, no shyness here, and the palate will willingly take it all onboard. It arrives with a flourish and the lingering finish isn’t bad either. Similar in style to Rioja. Good value. Highly recommended.

Lunch Treat at O’Brien Chop House

Lunch Treat at O’Brien Chop House

 Having worked up an appetite during an amazing sunny morning on The Vee, we dropped down to Lismore and sought out O’Brien’s Chop House for lunch. Best decision of a very good day in the area! The lunch, in the garden, was top drawer. Local food - they get their meat from McGrath’s on the main street - served simply, as they say themselves. Simply superb!

 We got a lovely greeting from Richard Reeve and his friendly and efficient staff and were soon at our table, under the dappled shade of the garden trees. A really smashing facility and what a pity it hasn’t seen very much use this grey summer. Still, they have plenty of seats indoors and indeed many were taken up for lunch.


One of our starters was the Apple & celery salad with toasted hazelnuts, Cashel Blue and a yoghurt dressing (€7.90). It wasn't mine but I did get a few samples and it was gorgeous, a brilliant combination of textures and flavours, really well balanced. Very pleased too with my own choice: Ballyvolane saddleback pork terrine with pistachio and pickles (€8.90). Looked well and tasted well.

We both agreed on the main course: fillet of Hake with sea vegetables and a lemon/butter sauce (€21.90). The Hake was cooked to perfection and the sauce and vegetables were an apt accompaniment. The sea vegetables were brilliant, comfortably crunchy and with a robust taste. Oh and we also got some tasty spuds! Highly recommended, if you get the chance.

With the sun beating down, the rosé was always a likely wine choice. O’Brien’s have a gem: Artadi Artazuri Garnacha 2010  from Navarra, €7.25 per glass, also available in 150ml pitcher, 250ml pitcher and full bottle.

But the drinks highlight for us was the Elderflower Bellini (€7.95). The Prosecco provided bubbles galore and there are inviting scents and flavours via the Elderflowers. Well worth a try!


Saw the Badger and Dodo  logo in the bar on the way in, so guessed the coffee would be good. It sure was, sterling stuff. Excellent way to finish off an excellent meal.

You Can’t Beat a Beetroot!

You Can’t Beat a Beetroot!

You can;t beat a beetroot, says The Butler's Pantry Executive Chef Niall Hill who reckons he has cracked this beautiful purple gem. Luckily, Niall loves to share his recipes using traditional Irish ingredients that are in season and easily accessible; taking a classic ingredient and putting his own modern twist on it.

“I love experimenting with every new season’s ingredients, their different flavours, colour and textures.  In season this month we will start to see root vegetables such as celery, beetroot, carrots, parsnips and swede.  Beetroot is one of my favourites as there are so many ways to enjoy this purple jewel and awaken your taste senses”.

Root vegetables were very accessible as they were not difficult to grow and store. Beetroot evolved from wild seabeet, which is a native of coastlines from India to Britain.   As with a lot of traditional ingredients in Ireland throughout the last century, they have been influenced by what was accessible across the British Isles.

Nutritionally beetroot is famed for its ability to purify the blood and kick start the liver. Many people are averse to beetroot, familiar only with the pickled variety. Fresh beetroot has so much more to share in terms of flavour (sweet, slightly earthy), texture (smooth and velvety) and colour (dark red/purple).

In the kitchen, try it cooked, peeled and in a salad, roasted for Sunday lunch, as a refreshing consommé or create a delightful feast for the eyes in a delicious risotto.

Beetroot makes a great ketchup which goes fantastic with a rosemary grilled chicken, cold cuts and a cheese board – see Niall’s recipe below and he also has a smoked beetroot variety available in The Butler’s Pantry shops.

Niall’s Famous Beetroot Ketchup:
Cooked beetroot diced                     300g
Garlic                                                  1 tsp
Cider vinegar                                       200ml
Onions diced                                       1
Honey                                                  100ml

Method:
        • Place all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil
        • Turn the heat down and simmer for 20 minutes
        • Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth
        • Season to taste, chill and serve cold.


The Butler’s Pantry have shops in Blackrock, Clontarf, Donnybrook, Greystones, Temple Hill Monkstown, Rathgar, Sandycove and Sandymount

Waterford Gears up for huge Harvest Festival!

BUMPER HARVEST FOOD FESTIVAL ON THE MENU 

At the launch: Alexandra Anton and
Dawn McGrath  – photo Patrick Browne

Waterford City is gearing up to host the country’s biggest food festival ‘Harvest’ from September 10th-16th which will feature a variety of Ireland and the UK’s top Celebrity Chefs at locations across the historic city centre.

Neven Maguire, Kevin Dundon, Darina Allen and Richard Corrigan will all be out en force to showcase their culinary skills in addition to BBC’s Martin Dorey, the presenter of the hit TV series ‘One Man and his Campervan’ and author of the Camper Van Cookbook.

At the launch: Maria, John and

Jessica Halley – photo Patrick Browne

Slow food tours, wine and whiskey tasting, giant street markets, an artisan beer festival, cookery demonstrations, restaurant trails, a family fun day and lots of music and entertainment have been lined up to satisfy all appetites throughout the weeklong festival.

The 2012 GIY Gathering will take place in the city during the Harvest festival and sees BBC’s Alys Fowler and Mark Diacono of River Cottage join a host of Irish stars on September 15th & 16th.  The GIY Gathering will also include guest speaker Roger Doiron from the US, the inspiration behind Michelle Obama's White House vegetable garden and founder of Kitchen Gardeners International.

Commenting on the programme launch for Harvest today in Waterford, Festival Chairperson, Anne Marie Caulfield said,

“We are delighted to announce details for the fifth year of the Harvest Festival. Last year over 50,000 attendees came to the city during the Festival and we are confident that this year’s diverse & exciting programme will attract many more. Harvest Waterford is always a celebration of great Irish food and we’re particularly proud to showcase the culinary range & expertise of the region which makes this Ireland’s largest food festival’.

Festival-goers of all ages can also enjoy a traditional harvest celebration.  We have everything from a ‘Revival of Forgotten Skills’ workshop to a Tea-dance, a Threshing display and a real Farm which will be positioned in the centre of our ancient city”.

Festival highlights include the Festival opening on Monday, September 10 with  cookery demonstrations in the City Centre and a Curry war! Other highlights will include the National Young Butcher Competition, a Good Food Ireland Showcase,  Artisan Beer Festival & BBQ and ‘Sunday Best’ - the largest open-air food market in Ireland which will see Waterford’s South Quays and John Robert’s Square transformed into a giant market place.

The annual GIY Gathering which will take place during Harvest brings together some of the world's leading experts and advocates on home-grown and local food from Ireland, the UK, US and New Zealand.  The event will bring together up to 400 people from around Ireland for a two-day festival of learning about growing your own food in Ireland’s oldest city.

According to its founder Michael Kelly “It will appeal to novice and expert growers alike and includes approximately 30 talks, debates, demos, workshops, forages, Q&A sessions and much more.”

Commenting at the launch Gary Breen, Failte Ireland said, "We are delighted to support the Harvest Festival in Waterford, Ireland's biggest food festival. Food plays an invaluable role in driving tourism in Ireland, we are a nation abound with the highest quality fresh produce and festivals like the Harvest festival carry this ethos. Last year the Harvest attracted no less than 50,000 visitors and judging by the wide and varied programme unveiled today, we are sure it will be an even greater success this year."

The city will be in festival mode from September 10 to 16 with events on offer for all the family. For a full programme of events see waterfordharvestfestival.ie

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week:
Glenisk Natural Yoghurt with fresh Raspberries.

Food and Drink Spotting
Coffee tasting session

They tell me it’s not all about wine at L’Atitude 51.



“We also love and serve great coffee. So, in association with Badger & Dodo, our gourmet coffee roaster, we are offering a coffee tasting, or ‘cupping’, session – the first of its kind to be held in Cork. The session will take place in our Wine Workshop where you’ll be able to sip and sniff your way across a number of beans and blends.

Cupping is similar to wine tasting where comparisons can be made between varieties, coffee sampled at different stages of the brewing process, and aromas and after-tastes analysed. This session will be a fun approach to cupping – an introductory lesson to let you know what happens to the coffee from crop to cup, how roasters assess their coffees ... and we’ll even let you have a go at tasting and assessing for yourself - you’ll taste some very real differences in coffees from different origins!

The event takes place on Wednesday 15th August @ 7.00pm in our Wine Workshop on the 1st Floor. Admission costs €8 - this includes a 250g bag of gourmet coffee to take away. As numbers are limited, booking is essential - so if you’re interested, email us info@latitude51.ie or call us on 021 2390219.
More Coffee
Congratulations to Gareth Scully, the Master Coffee Roaster, at long established Irish company Robert Roberts whose Java Beans were one of only 120 products out of 8,800 to win 3 stars in the Great Taste Awards in London.

Ard Bia Cookbook
A unique family-friendly cookbook, a source of inspiration for modern healthy living, a keepsake for the loyal fans of the restaurant, a memento for visitors to Galway, a celebration of the enduring energy of Ard Bia and all involved  in it. That is how the Ard Bia Cookbook, published by Cork University Print, is being described.

“Ard Bia is about expecting great local food with an unusual twist, the best of Irish produce served with a little exotic magic: seasoning Atlantic scallops with tangy sumac, indulging pomegranate cake with freshly whipped Irish cream, pairing produce from local artisan heroes such as butcher-turned-charcutier James McGeough with eclectic influences from the Middle East and beyond.

The book represents a day in the life of Ard Bia, with the first five chapters taking the reader through the various times of day, from morning through lunchtime, mid-afternoon snacks through evening supper or dinner, finishing with something extra, sweet or cheesey. The final chapter is an important element of the book. This pantry section can contain much of the overflow of information from other chapters, and will be a go-to for further explanation for novices.
More info on the €39.00 book here

Drinks
Over 300 specialist beers from across the globe will be showcased at the third annual ‘Deveney’s of Dundrum Lughnasa Beer Festival’ on Friday, 19th August, at the POD Complex on Dublin’s Harcourt Street. beerfestival.ie

In you’re in Dublin today, why not check out Ely where the wines of Germany & Austria, two of the most underappreciated wine making countries in Europe, are featured. Details here

Matt Kane of Curious Wines has been increasing his experience recently: In Argentina Jesus juice is the name given to red wine mixed with cola. In Spain it is known as calimocho, where the cocktail is said to have originated. I am ashamed to say, even as a reasonably well experienced wine drinker (although I know I’ll never stop learning), I have never mixed red wine and cola. Nor lemonade and white wine, which I believe is another popular mix. Read more 


 Shorts

Rozanne Stevens gets her teeth into Clonakilty Black Pudding.

For he who has everything! Boxer Gifts Stand Clear Man Cooking Apron

Bord Bia’s Fish Cakes with Chilli and Coriander sauce

You'll have Time for a Quart?

Have You Time for a Quart?


West Kerry Brewery’s Carraig Dubh Traditional Porter, 5.5% abv, €3.99 at Bradley’s, North Main Street, Cork.

This hand crafted porter from the West Kerry Gaeltacht is sold in 50cl bottles. It is bottle conditioned and made from malted barley, hops, yeast and spring water “from our own spring”. Not very much information on the website. The email address is brewery@tigbhric.ie.

Colour, you’ve guessed it, is black (dubh) with a fragile creamy coloured head. Nothing fragile about the rest of it. The introduction to the palate is smooth, seductive, chocolate-ly and there is no letting go as the lingering finish is along the same lines. One to sip and savour, arís is arís.



Franciscan Well’s Rebel Red Irish Craft Ale, 4.3% abv, part of 4 for €10.00 deal at Bradley’s, North Main Street.

An award winner back as far as 2001 but only recently available in bottle (50cl). Ingredients are water, malted barley, English hops and ale yeast. The back label is crowded but has very little info on the ale itself. You can go to the brewery site for more details.

There is a mild hoppy aroma on the nose and an inviting creamy head on an amber/red body. Engaging mouthfeel, full flavoured with a lip licking malty sensation before a good dry finish. Well balanced. Go on. Have a cut, as we say around here.

Granny Griffin Knows Best

Thai Green Curry

Granny Griffin Knows Best

Granny Griffin’s famous Apple Pie was on the menu last Friday when we visited the Garden Restaurant at Griffin’s Garden Centre in Dripsey. 

It wasn't the only highlight as it was Fiver Friday, meaning that some main courses were available at a fiver. Indeed, the prices are always reasonable here as you can see from the bill, everything a fiver or under! 

But don't worry. Prices may be keen but the quality is there, certainly in that delicious Apple Pie. It went down a treat. So too did the expertly produced Pavlova, the real thing. 

It was quite a dull day but this comfortable restaurant is bright  thanks to acres of glass and looks out on to the colourful shrubs and flowers in the Garden Centre, a lovely room and also quite a busy one at lunchtime. On a better day, you have the option of eating outside where the tables overlook the river.

Quite a few people, most in fact, opted for the self service option and that moved along smoothly. We were served at the table, with friendly efficiency and courtesy. We all went for the Vegetable Soup as a starter and this was well up to scratch as was the brown bread.

Now what kind of mains would you get for a fiver? How about a beef stew? Griffin’s support local producers and the beef came from Aghabullogue; you can’t get more local that that.

It was excellent, a lovely stew. The other fiver special on offer was a Thai Green Curry and that too was top notch; Chicken was well cooked and those bowls for both the beef and curry were quite substantial. Still, there was room for dessert including that famous pie.

Next time, I’ll have to get a photo with Granny and will even wear a hairnet if necessary!

Kissing Time Again

Kissing Time Again

Beso de Vino, Seleccion 2010, Cariñena (Spain), 13.5%, €9-11, stockists.

Many of you will be glad to hear that Beso de Vino have released the 2010 Seleccion, a delicious blend of 85% Syrah (15 year old vines) and 15% Garnacha (40 year old vines). Antonio, the little bull, has declared besos otra vez (Kissin’ time again).

And why not. The Beso de Vino bottles have been very popular since introduced by Wine Alliance a couple of years back and their Maurice O’Mahony reckons they just keep getting better.

Colour is red, bordering on black, while the nose speaks of Cherry and Blackberry. Flavour flows from the first sip; it is moderately spicy, soft and dry with a decent finish.

Besides it has a stunning quality/price ratio. It may not be a very complex wine but it is very good. Highly recommended.

For those of you not familiar with the Beso de Vino bottles (the words mean Kiss of Wine), you will have the pleasure of meeting Antonio, the small but perfectly formed cartoon bull on the labels. He is a friendly fellow, not adverse to a kiss himself. Now that last sentence is a bit of toro (tarbh)!

Step up to a Dining Room with a View

Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder  is the harbour front restaurant of the Water’s Edge Hotel in Cobh. The views out over Cork Harbour are excellent – indeed you may well see a cruise liner float by between courses – and the food is not half bad either.

It is a bright room with comfortable seating.  Service during our recent lunch call was friendly and efficient. By the way, not all the windows have a view of the harbour.There are a few that overlook the neighbours who are The Quays, another waterside restaurant. 

The lunch, with some friends from the town, was unplanned but none the worse for that. Nobody though wanted to go the whole hog. Just one starter and that was a very tasty Bruschetta of Brie (with roasted peppers, summer squash and onion jam).

One of the party was happy with his Watersedge Toastie. The filling was honey ham, cheddar and red onion.

The most popular main course was the day’s special: Warm Chicken, Serrano Ham and Potato Salad with Chive Dressing. Must say I enjoyed mine even though I thought the ham was rather overwhelmed by the rest of the dish, an opinion not shared by a fellow diner. 

Prices were reasonable enough. For instance, the Toasted Sandwich cost €7.95 while the Warm Chicken salad came to €11.95. The house wine (both red and white) was €5.25 per glass (perhaps not the greatest value you’ll get).

We had been in the town for the Food and Heritage Day  and were royally entertained for a few hours. Really enjoyed the day and the lunch. 

Amuse Bouche

At least to start with, the table fairly groaned with food – ‘a rude kind of plenty’, one source called it – even if the fare was hardly up to the standard Bengal society was used to. ‘Ill-concocted soups, queer-looking ragouts and jelly the colour of salt water,’ sniffed one lady. The hold contained 40 tons of salted meat, including beef, pork, bacon and tongue, 15 tons of potatoes, 6 tons of flour, 2 tons of cheese, 4 tons of groceries, five barrels of herring, and six chests of oranges and lemons.
From the Caliban Shore by Stephen Taylor.

Exquisite Rosado from La Rioja

Marques de Caceres, Rosado, Rioja 2011, 13.5%.

Vibrant summer fruits on the nose while the colour is a really strong pink. In the mouth, the fruit is delicious; the wine has a charming mouthfeel and a decent dry finish. This blend of Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha hits the right rosé spot. Exquisite but not at all delicate. Highly recommended.

This type of wine is associated with sunshine and higher temperatures and indeed I got it out Sunday evening when the big yellow ball made one of its rare appearances this summer. But I wouldn’t follow the guideline too seriously as there are many occasions when a rosé is suitable.

I bought this bottle, and a few companions, while on a recent trip to Spain but you should be able to find it in places like Nash Wines, TheWineshop.ie, and Wines Made Easy.

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the week, at Manning's Emporium, Ballylickey.

Celtic Cook Off Short Break 11 to 13 September 

Taste of West Cork Food Festival offers three days of enjoyment based around the exhilarating Celtic Cook Off event.

“Join us in West Cork to:
• Meet our own award-winning Artisan Producers and taste their products
• Meet the internationally-acclaimed chefs participating in the Celtic Cook Off – Gary O’Hanlon for Ireland - Jack Stein for Cornwall - Shaun Hill for Wales - Stephane Delourme for Brittany – Butch Buttery for the Isle of Man – Tony Singh for Scotland
Plus Roy Brett from The Ondine Restaurant – Martin Shanahan from Fishy Fishy – Tim Anderson 2011 MasterChef Winner
• Come to the Celtic Cook Off Produce Market, where the competing chefs will choose their ingredients and then enjoy Celtic Food Fusion as they, and the producers, create lunch
• Enjoy the buzz as six top chefs compete in the Celtic Cook Off 2012
• Relish A Taste of Ondine as Roy Brett re-creates the menu of his famous Edinburgh restaurant here in West Cork
• Learn to smoke fish with a hands-on session with Sally Barnes at the award-winning Woodcock Smokery and get to take home your very own smoked fish
• Get afloat with champion kayaker Jim Kennedy and Sally McKenna of the Bridgestone Guides to learn how to forage for seaweed and make lunch on the beach
• Delight in an evening of cookery skills demonstrated by your own guest chef, food writer and blogger Mei Chin as she creates a West Cork Food dinner just for you – audience participation encouraged!
• Visit Glebe Gardens with its new restaurant and meet Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds – No Food Without a Seed

We can accommodate six food enthusiasts only so please book now to avoid disappointment. Organise your own group of six and you’ll win a €50 voucher for food or wine from Ballinwillin House www.ballinwillinhouse.com”

Get all the details here


Drinks

Curious Wines seem to have found “relations” down under and you can see some of the Curious Kiwi wines on their site.  The label may be playful but they say this Pinot Noir is a serious red wine.

“Exotic and exciting aromas typical of Pinot Noir, with its velvety texture and firm red fruit. This is delightfully soft and juicy, with plum, cherry and cinnamon flavours. An elegant background of oak brings softness and balance without smothering the vibrant yet focused fruit.”  Worth a check as there are some good Pinot Noirs coming from the Marlborough area.

Fans of Beso de Vino will be glad to know that the Seleccion 2010, a blend of Syrah and Garnacha, is now released and available here. Maurice O’Mahony of importers Wine Alliance tells me it keeps getter better and better. This warm spicy red is available at around the €10.00 mark. Very good value indeed.

Wine Diary: Sunday 16th September, 4.30pm
 ‘A New Zealand Wine Adventure in Ballymaloe’, at The Grain Store at Ballymaloe
With New Zealand winemakers Larry McKenna, Escarpment Wines, Martinborough & John Hancock, Trinity Hill Wines, Hawkes Bay.

Peter Handzus ‏@PeterHandzus
Thinking about Good Bed and Breakfasts in French #wine regions http://bit.ly/OmkfD4 via @WineTravel #winelover

BeerBloggersUK ‏@BeerBloggersUK
New content: World Ipa Day: I am sure all you beer monsters know that Thursday 2nd August heralds the 2nd ... http://bit.ly/R6Nyvl #beer

Matt Simpson ‏@BeerSommelier
Craft beer leads uptake in NZ breweries: The number of New Zealand breweries almost doubled over the past ... http://tinyurl.com/cux8dc6 #beer

Shorts


Rozanne Stevens proposes   Summer Entertaining with Sumac Spices

Blarney Woollen Mills introduce Fish Fridays at The Mill Restaurant!  BlarneyWoollenMills ‏@BWMHotel

A Taste of Spain ‏@atasteofspain
Beach bars in Spain  vía @guardian #food#travel #Spain

Brigit Strawbridge ‏@BeeStrawbridge
Wonderful....an entire site dedicated to Edible Flowers! #food #remember_to_leave_some_for_the_bees

Food ‏@Food
Chicken with Herb-Roasted Tomatoes and Pan Sauce: Recipe from Bon Appétit ht#Food

Top Lunch at O'Connor's Seafood

O’Connor’s Seafood Restaurant

 Enjoyed a lovely friendly welcome on our first visit to O’Connor’s Seafood Restaurant  in Bantry at the weekend.


We had been impressed with the outside of the well kept building and with the nautical display in the window. Walls are nicely decorated with photos and the Good Food Ireland Map, proudly displayed . The restaurant is both comfortable and cosy and the seating is really really good, as were our first impressions.

And that continued with the service. It was excellent, top class, friendly and informative, chatty, yet not in your face. And it wasn't just us. A Scottish couple nearby got a brilliant run down on what was available locally and in Cork City.


Of course, the most important ingredient is the food. We came for the fish, of course, but the Sunday lunch menu is quite extensive and meat eaters won’t be disappointed either, as you can see on the photo of the menu.


I picked the Pan Seared Hake with the tomato ragout and tempura Samphire (€13.00). Simple enough. The chef let the fresh fish do the talking here and it was excellent. Must say also that the ragout and Samphire were absolutely delicious accompaniments. Not to mention the spot-on side dishes of vegetables and potato wedges.

They had some tempting regular desserts but the day's special was my pick and it was Cherries (they are in season), Chantilly Cream, and all on a base of broken Toblerone biscuit. Very nice indeed.

It is a case of quality in, quality out. Most of the suppliers are local and include Central Fish Market Bantry, Jack McCarthy Kanturk, Bantry House Walled Gardens, Bantry Bay Crab, Cashel Blue Cheese, McCarthy’s Butchers Bantry, Michael Moore fruit and veg and Oysterhaven oysters and Mussels.

Pat Kiely was chef here when O’Connor’s won a national award a few years back. After a spell at the Rising Tide, he is back now as owner and has assembled much of the team from those days. The place is a credit to himself and his staff. And well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Other nearby attractions: The Ewe Experience and Bantry House

Good Value NZ Pinot Noir

Tahuna, Hawkes Bay (Australia), Pinot Noir 2010, 13.5% abv, €13.50 at  Karwig Wines

The white Kiwi feather features on the neck of the bottle from this winery which has vineyards in both Hawkes Bay and Marlborough .

Colour is light red, not see-through, while you'll get scents of cherries and raspberries on the nose. The same fruits feature on the elegant palate. It is juicy, slightly spicy, with a smooth lingering dry finish. Flavour rich, easy drinking and good value.

The winery's aim is to "produce rich, soft and approachable wines of exceptional quality"'. Exceptional might be pushing it but it is certainly very good. Recommended.  

Seaweed ingredient in Mayo Pudding

Kelly’s Greenway Pudding

Pictured at the launch of Kelly’s Greenway Pudding yesterday (Monday 30th July) at Mulranny Park Hotel were Anna Connor (Walking Development Officer, Mayo County Council), Sean Kelly (Kelly’s Butchers, Newport) and Dermot Madigan (Manager, Mulranny Park Hotel).

Here’s a clever response to the highly successful Greenway walking and cycling trail. Kelly’s Butchers, Newport, Co. Mayo have introduced Kelly’s Greenway Pudding sporting a map of the Greenway trail on the label. The new pudding, which contains Atlantic seaweed, was launched at Mulranny Park Hotel by Anna Connor (Walking Development Officer, Mayo County Council) and Dermot Madigan (Manager, Mulranny Park Hotel). The Greenway goes through Newport and walkers and cyclists pass by Kelly’s door when they are on it.

“We’re part of the Gourmet Greenway food trail”, says Sean Kelly of Kelly’s Butchers, “We have a lot of cycling and walking tourists coming into the shop and we wanted to create something specially for them. That was the inspiration for Kelly’s Greenway Pudding. We find the tourists are fascinated by the label, they love a souvenir that shows the Greenway itself. It’s our modern twist on the old stick of rock.”

Seaweed from the wild Atlantic shore is the special ingredient in the Greenway Pudding which is available as both a black and a white pudding. The taste is distinct, with a delicate hint of the ocean, but still has the unique Kelly’s flavour and texture. As with all Kelly’s puddings it holds its shape very well when cooked, which chefs love.

Kelly’s have also introduced a brand new seaweed flavoured sausage to their range, bringing the total of speciality sausages to an impressive 15.

At just €6 a pop Kelly’s Greenway Pudding  is proving an irresistible draw for Greenway users and locals as well. It is exclusively available in Kelly’s Butchers Shop, Newport and at Knock Airport. You have to come to Mayo to get Kelly’s Greenway Pudding .

Top Creme de Cassis for your Kir

Trenel, Creme de Cassis de Bourgogne 2011, 15%. 

Well, well, well. I've tasted a few of these over the years, but this is surely one of the best. In fairness, most of the others would have been tasted as part of a Kir, where it is mixed with white wine and the blend then drunk as an aperitif.

Cassis, as most of you know, is blackcurrant and the liquor is most definitely from that fruit, looks like it, smells like it and tastes a bit like it. Sugar and alcohol have been added to the fruit and the mix here is brilliant, the alcohol giving the fruit a real fillip. 

Trenel boasts that he is the "liquoriste de Bourgogne". This bottle proves beyond doubt that he sure knows what he is doing. Not surprising really as he has been doing it since 1928!

While I did like sipping a little of it on its own, it is probably best mixed. Here are the classic ways.
Kir: Creme de Cassis (1 part) and white wine (9 parts).

Kir Royale: Creme de Cassis and champagne.

Bantry Meets the Challenge

Bantry Meets the Challenge

Click on image to enlarge.

The sun shone as the week long Atlantic Challenge came to an end in Bantry on Sunday. Even though we arrived relatively early on Sunday morning, we had the feeling that we had missed a great night on Saturday and that was pretty much confirmed everywhere on Sunday!

It certainly accounted for a leisurely start to the day. Not too many people around until after lunch when the wind died down and the sun came out and so too did the crowds. The Food Fair was the focus of much attention as were the bands playing on the square.

I walked out to the pier to see the long boats of the Atlantic Challenge at rest and a pretty sight they made with their national flags flying in the stiff breeze and the magnificent scenery in the background. By the time we got back to the centre, the Food Fair was picking up.

If you were hungry after the night before then you were in the right place with hot food being provided by various stalls, pizzas and Thai among them. Not too many producers around but great to meet up with Benoit Lorge and Mella’s Fudge again.

Clockwise from top left: Blacksmith demo, Mella's Fudge, Rachel Dare of Organico doing her cookery demo, Pizza stall, attendance at cookery demo, Salad from Organico, Herbal teas and Olive stall. Click on image to enlarge. 

The cookery demonstration area was every popular with quite a line-up that included Henry Heggarty of Wokabout, Caroline Moore of the Seaside Kitchen, Rachel Dare of Organico Café (they also had some gorgeous salads on their stall), Pat Kiely of O’Connor’s Seaford Restaurant (where we enjoyed a splendid lunch), and Benoit Lorge with a sweet chocolate finale.

After lunch, we joined the throngs, took in the music and paid another visit to the food area. Great to see the kids catered for in the square with the Bubbles in the Water and the Bucking Bronco proving popular.

Would have liked to have stayed on for the Atlantic Challenge presentations late in the evening but had so say goodbye to beautiful Bantry though not before a call to Manning’s Food Emporium in Ballylickey where we enjoyed a chat and a drink. After that there was time for a stroll around the nearby Carrigass Castle, where there are some lovely walks and picnic areas.

New from Glenisk! Pure Original.

GLENISK INTRODUCES NEW NO ADDED SUGAR RANGE ‘PURE ORIGINAL’


Got a selection of the new No Added Sugar yoghurts from Glenisk to try recently. I have quite enjoyed the three: Natural, Blueberry and Mango.

Of course, I didn’t leave well alone but tried out a few variations. For instance, I jazzed up the natural with a few bunches of raspberries form the back garden and that went down a treat. The Natural also came in very handy for making the Wholemeal Banana Bread (recipe in Sally Bee’s The Secret Ingredient).

Sally’s books are quite popular in this house and, in the same book, she has a recipe for using natural yoghurt and fruits. Basically you whiz the yoghurt and fruit together and then put them up in smaller yogurt pots and freeze them. Didn’t do that but Sally says they are as popular as ice cream with her kids.

The Glenisk fruit yoghurts are really creamy and tasty and hardly need improving by me. I enjoyed the blueberry one just as it came but must admit to “tampering” with the Mango. Got a tip from @RTEFood  on Twitter and added in some granola (from Staple Diet of Wexford) and must say it worked out quite well.

So there you have, a few ideas to get the best out of the lovely Glenisk products. But don’t worry if you haven't time on your hands as they are excellent just the way they are!

Below is the press release that came with the yoghurts.


A PREMIUM NEW RANGE OF ORGANIC YOGURTS THAT DELIVER PURE PLEASURE FROM PURE TASTE.

3rd July: Glenisk, Ireland’s award-winning organic dairy is celebrating its 25th birthday with the introduction of ‘Pure Original’, a premium range of organic yogurts which contain only yogurt and fruit – and nothing else! Like all Glenisk organic yogurts, Originals are free from artificial or GM ingredients and synthetic chemicals – and they are also free from added sugar. The yogurts contains a  beneficial probiotic culture, l.casei, to help promote healthy digestion.

With no artificial ingredients, and available in delicious flavours; Natural, Mango, Blueberry and Mango & Pineapple, served in distinctive transparent pots – with Glenisk, what you see really is what you get!

The range is available in NATURAL, 500g which is made simply with fresh organic milk and a probiotic culture. Both the MANGO and the BLUEBERRY Original yogurts, 450g feature a decadent layer of fruit on the bottom and a deliciously pure and creamy topping of natural organic yogurt on top. They have no added sugar, and because they are organic, they’re also free from any artificial ingredients, chemicals, GM ingredients.  Each contains a beneficial probiotic culture for healthy digestion.

Also with no added sugar, PINEAPPLE & MANGO Original comes in a 4x125g multipack, and contains a blend of organic yogurt mixed with delicious tropical fruits. The convenient format makes them perfect to pop into lunch boxes or gym bags for a healthy on-the-go snack.

Glenisk MD, Vincent Cleary comments: “creating new and better organic yogurts is our goal. Recently, we reformulated our baby and kids yogurts to remove refined sugar and the response from customers was so positive, we realised a demand existed for a similar range for adults. We’re especially proud to launch our new Originals, with no added sugar, as we celebrate our 25th birthday this year.”

Glenisk Pure Original is available at a recommended retail price of €1.99 for the large pots and €2.69 for the multipack, from leading supermarkets and independent retailers.

Further information on all Glenisk products is available at www.glenisk.com, or you can become a fan of our FAcebook.com/GleniskOrganic to be in with a chance to win prizes and keep up with the organic conversation, or follow us on www.twitter.com/glenisk for daily updates.

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week! So refreshing.

Food and Drink Spotting  
Bantry Festival of Food
As Bantry’s Atlantic Challenge contest draws to a close, and after the pirates have had their revelry on the 28th, it will be high time to relax and enjoy the finer things in life.
On Sunday 29th July, the Bantry Festival of Food, sponsored by Bord Bia, is bringing together foodies, chefs and food producers on the shores of Bantry Bay to enjoy the best of the great food West Cork has to offer.
As you watch the curraghs, windsurfers and wooden boats in Bantry Bay, you’ll get to pick up tips from local chefs, and sample your way through stalls that showcase the best of Irish food.

Fenn’s Quay. Busy Week
Fenn’s Quay have announced a series of events for next week as part of Cork Food Week.
On Monday, you may join Head chef Kate at the table and taste a special menu – designed only for this one night. Be the one who chats with the chef while eating dinner. Kate will introduce and explain each course and will answer any question you have about the food. Price pp: €30 incl. 3-course menu & wine. Monday 30th July - 7:30pm.

On Wednesday, there is a food Blind tasting menu, also €30 (incl. 7-course tasting menu & glass of wine). And on Friday, a Food Quiz will be held. Price pp: €15 incl. finger food & glass of wine/bottle of beer. Please note that places are limited and booking is essential. Email biasasta@hotmail.com to reserve a place or for more information.

12 mile menu winner
Great to see Midleton’s Sage Restaurant rewarded for their innovation with the prize for top dish (12 Mile)  at last week’s enjoyable Cork Food Fest. Springfort’s feather blade beef once again caught the eye or should that be taste buds. Must say I thought the dishes overall – starters and mains in particular (didn’t try too many desserts!) – were top notch.
For my own part, I’d like to have seen more recognition for the excellent menus of near neighbours Hayfield Manor and Fresco. Didn’t get a chance to try all the food but another dish that I thought was fantastic was the Thai Chicken Noodle Soup by Isaac’s.
And, moving to glasses, wasn’t that a fantastic Sherry exhibition and tasting by Colm McCan of Ballymaloe!

Shorts
Interesting view on Irish pubs here thanks Irish Fireside Corey ‏@IrishFireside
Q & A: Irish Pubs and Etiquette

Irish Food Bloggers ‏@IrishFoodies
Good morning! Have you entered our latest competition yet for a master class and dinner at the Carton House Hotel?

Avonmore Launch New Fresh Dessert Cream 

Carlow Café makes the Best Scone in Ireland!

Carlow’s Café Formenti makes the Best Scone in Ireland!

Goodall’s of Ireland Reveals the National & Regional Winners of the Nation’s Favourite Scone

2 One of the great culinary debates has finally been laid to rest as Goodall’s of Ireland have announced the winner of their search for the country's Best Scone! This morning Carlow’s Café Formenti has been revealed as the winner of a €1,000 prize fund, but more importantly the coveted title of ‘Best Scone of Ireland’!

The competition caught the public imagination with #bestscone becoming one of the top trends talked about on Twitter last week.   A shortlist was compiled from public nominations cast on Twitter and Facebook and was  then voted for on the www.goodalls.ie blog, with almost 10,000 votes being cast from around the country.

Café Formenti’s unusual ‘Scruffin’ a cross between a muffin and a scone, encouraged loyal customers and fans to get behind the Carlow based café, and owner Richie Fenner commented on his delight at the victory for the café,

“Cafe Formenti, along with being a working cafe where we cater for all tastes in Carlow town, is also a community, where all walks of life come to interact.””

Four regional winners were also selected from the shortlist of 12 finalists; The Halo Café in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Keogh’s Café on Trinity Street in Dublin, Tierney’s Costcutter in Ennis, Co. Clare, and The Tuckaway Coffee Shop in Waterford, and each eatery will receive a €500 prize.

Speaking on behalf of Goodall’s Gareth Watkins commented,

“We wanted to celebrate the best of Irish baking – not the fancy stuff but tasty everyday stuff, that when it’s done well can be fantastic.  We all know scones can vary from the mediocre to the truly great and Café Formenti  represents the best of modern Irish food”.

Any bakers wishing to try their hand at making Ireland’s best scone can have a look at www.Goodalls.ie where Goodalls will  publish the café’s top tips on scone making .  You can join in the great scone debate on  Facebook.com/GoodallsIreland or follow the conversation on Twitter.com/GoodallsIreland.

Afternoon in the Idaho Cafe

Afternoon in the Idaho Cafe

Surprised to see so many customers in the Idaho Cafe at 3.00pm on a drizzly Tuesday afternoon. Just goes to illustrate that this Caroline Street venue is as popular as ever and that goes to the credit of Richard and Mairead Jacob and the way they have been running it for eleven years.

Their way is really a philosophy, a combination of simple things: local ingredients, well cooked, and served with a smile and a chat and, oh yes, a large dollop of hard work behind it all. Simple but superb. And obviously appreciated by their many regulars.

I think their Facebook Page sums it up very well: “We are a small, but perfectly formed Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, coffees and drinks to an eclectic and much loved group of customers.

Our menu brings you great breakfasty treats such as Waffles with Bacon, Porridge, Bacon and Cheddar Croissants and our famous Bacon and Sausage Baps.

Lunch revolves around more great Irish ingredients served with simplicity and style. Shepherdess's Pie, Smoked Fish Pie, and hot toasted Baps are complemented by regularly changing Salads.

We are striving to source ALL our core ingredients from a 100km radius of Idaho Cafe, Bacon, Sausages and Black puddings come from Limerick, Our cheeses are from west Cork, Our apple juice is from Cappoquinn, Breads from Cork City..... I think you get the message !!!!”

We were treated to Afternoon Tea. This is not a regular on the agenda but is available on request. We had a great chat with the proprietors as they took little breaks in their turn. Dubliner Richard is the front of house while Corkonian Mairead is the chef. She is always trying something else and we got a chance to sample her delicious Sweet Geranium Syrup that is going down well with some of the breakfast regulars who take it with the porridge. 

We had started with a local product, Frank Hedderman’s gorgeous salmon on brown bread. Again local, simple and simply delicious! Perhaps the highlight though was Mairead’s Gooseberry Crumble. This was made from their own home grown red gooseberries and was simply outstanding.

Impossible to top that but the final treat came close! These were the macarons made by John and Sylvie McCormick. They look much the same as any other colourful macaron but the fillings are something else. If you don’t believe me, why not try them out at Mahon Point Farmers Market.

And, one more thing, why not try out Idaho Cafe itself?  A place to relax and replenish your resources, just a few yards from Patrick Street.

Are you the super Home Cook Hero?

HOME-COOK HERO


You could be the 2012 Home-Cook Hero  and walk away with the award and an incredible €1,500 worth of prizes. Fancy a crack? Then read on.

This nationwide competition is being organised by Easy Food Magazine and is for the Supermoms, Superdads and Superkids out there who are famous in their own house. Have you got that tried and tested recipe that goes down a treat every single time and draws the compliments of regulars and visitors alike?

You will have to specify a category for your recipe. Pick from Best Burger, Catch of the Day, Cáca Milis, Deli-licious, Fabulous Fowl, Larder Luck, Squisito, Start your day..the honey way, Take 5, and Tiny Tastes.

I met Easy Food Magazine‘s Jenny Cotter at the recent Cork Food Fest and she told me all about it and is hoping the word gets around to those hidden kitchen talents: “Amateur cooks of all ages on the island of Ireland are eligible to enter. If your friends, mother, father, grandparents, school or college haven’t heard about this national cookery competition yet, forward the link and persuade them to enter here.  You can also nominate anyone you think is a home cook hero!”

Fun in the City: Food and Kids

Food and Kids
A fun day out organised by Cork Restaurants

No kiddin'

As part of Cork Food Week, Cork Restaurants, Cork Opera House and Trendmicro have joined forces to bring families a fun filled cost effective day out in the City Centre.

Tuesday 31st at 12.00 – Bishop Lucey Park

           Bring your Own Teddy Bears Picnic

Bishop Lucey Park will become a Teddy ear clinic for the day where families have the choice of bringing their own picnic or buying packed lunches at a low cost at the park. So grab a blanket and come down to join in the fun with Face Painters, Teddy Bear clinics, story telling and, if we are really really lucky, the ‘Van Trapp Family’ might come down for a sing-a-long from Cork Opera House!!

More here.

The Cork Food Week hasn't forgotten the adults. The kick off comes this Friday with a massive Titanic Ball in the City Hall in aid of the Cope Foundation. And the other major event happens on August 4th when the happy pirate gangs head off on the Pannier Champagne Cork Gourmet Trail. For more info on these and the other Cork Food Week attractions, please click here.

Midleton's Lion of St Mark

Pizzeria San Marco

In Venice, you will see the Lion of St Mark all over the town. You will also see it on the wall of Pizzeria San Marco which is just down the road in Midleton. 

Here the restaurant, which opened two years back and has been making friends since, proudly boasts about their authentic Italian dining experience. They have an authentic Italian wood-burning oven and charcoal grill. And also that Lion of St Mark on the wall.

Had been hearing good things about this Pizzeria over the last 12 months and got a chance to call down last week. It is on the Cork City side of the town, not too far down from the site of the weekly Farmers Market. Front of house are very friendly and the chairs are comfortable.

The menu is wide ranging, as you see for yourself by visiting the website. I’ve always enjoyed the shared meat dish that other Italian restaurants use and we went for it here and were delighted. The Antipasto Platter consisted of Cured Italian meats with a selection of cheeses, olives and sun dried tomatoes and cost €10.30. It was a well-balanced plateful and was helped on its way by a gorgeous Montepulciano.

We had actually been about to pick a Sangiovese Merlot from the understandably short list until our genial waiter Mario suggested the Caldora Montepulciano. It is from the Abruzzo region with a full body, intense, persistent and fruity. And, as Mario said, goes well with meat and cheese. Cost per bottle is 22 euro, per glass 6.25.

As you’d expect, they have a long list of pizzas. The special on the night was the Macroom Pizza, featuring the Toomsbridge Buffalo cheese, but I went for the Carciofini which had tomato, mozzarella and artichokes and cost €11:30. Must say, glad to say, it was top notch, a great mix, well balanced and the artichokes more than held their own.

CL picked the Lasagna: Baked pasta layered with Bolognese and Béchamel sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese, served with garlic bread (€12.50). I had a sample and it was just brilliant and, more importantly, she concurred, enthusiastically.






We were pretty full after the opening two courses and shared the Tiramisu: A layer of "savoiardi" biscuits with coffee liquor, mascarpone cheese and cocoa – €6.50. After the first spoonful, we were inclined to order a second helping but beat off the temptation.