15th April 2021
The Awbeg River runs through the Park's 166 hectares where you also see groups of deer (all fenced off, so you may bring the dog but on a lead of course). Also there is the recently restored Doneraile Court and Tea Rooms, also a playground. One of Ireland's most popular attractions has plenty of parking and may also be accessed directly from the main street.
Blarney Castle Gardens
13th April 2021 |
| Fox in the grass. We did see a real fox here today, at least I saw the tail. And then it was gone. Also spotted a jay in the beautiful Fern Garden |
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| I like this, whatever it is! It is a blockhead, a water-carrier, or a Janus figure. |
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| Big teeth |
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| Watch this space over the coming months! |
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| Ivy and rope on a post |
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| First bunch of wild garlic flowers that I've seen |
The versatility of Shines Tuna
And do watch out for that Yellow Fin Tuna Belly
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| Shines Yellow Fin Tuna with Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella. |
I never really thought of the can of tuna in the cupboard as anything other than a handy standby. But all that changed over the past month or so. Beginning when a box of cans that I had ordered from Shines of Killybegs arrived at the house, six cans and two jars!
How could that all be used without us getting fed up of the fish? We did a little bit of research and found recipes in unexpected places. Firstly, Shines themselves have quite a few on their website and it was there that we started.
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| Shines Wild Irish Tuna |
Another look at the Shine page led to us following, approximately, John Shine’s own contribution: Tuna Mediterranean Wrap. Again, some substitutions were made and our “mix” consisted mainly of Shines Chilli Tuna, lettuce leaves, tomatoes, peppers. Easy to do and worked out well and met John’s description: “Healthy and tasty. Perfect lunchtime treat.”
So what next? Well, the answer was in the post. I had recently ordered The Anti-Cancer Cookbook (an excellent cookbook with all the royalties going to cancer research). A quick flick through on arrival and, without specifically looking for tuna recipes, two turned up. We picked the Tuna and Sweetcorn Fritters, something different, something quite tasty. We added a nice salad to the tuna (Shines Irish Tuna from a can this time) and sweetcorn with a Spicy Ketch-up (by Tipp’s 3 Men in a Trailer). And this surprise recipe turned out very well indeed!
I had read somewhere about tuna being used with Mozzarella and that became our focus for our next dish, another easy one. Yellowfin Tuna belly in olive oil was the chosen can this time - John Shine is very enthusiastic about this particular Tuna, with very good reason as this particular fish is so exquisite you could eat it straight out of the can. A quick trip to the local Dunnes Stores saw us get the Macroom Mozzarella from Johnny Lynch’s farm.
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| Tuna Fritters |
We didn’t need much more, some large tomatoes and basil for the cheese, and a bunch of cherry tomatoes for the salad. It looked nice and tasted even better. Thanks to an internet event, I had just received received the marvellous prize winning Rós Cider (Apple and Rhubarb) from local producer Stonewell. And Rós got on so well with the tuna and the cheese you’d have sworn they were made for each other.
We still have a few cans of Shines fish left (sardines certainly) but I doubt that we’ll top the Tuna belly, the Mozzarella and the Rós cider combination! Might well do it again soon as there’s still another bottle of that delicious Rós hanging around here.. I think!
Cheers on Beer, Wine and Spirits. Frost In France With Chateau Feely. #210415
Also Greenes, White Hag, O'Briens Wine, BeerCloud, Wines of the World, Legacy Cider, Bertha's Revenge, Corkscrew
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Frost in France. Very Interesting update from Carlo at Chateau Feely. Great Read!
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| Smoke funnels created by bales of hay being burned by neighbours to try to ward off the frost |
Given the interest in the unfolding frost saga we also published a post yesterday with details of why it is happening and what it means for you and us as humans on planet earth.
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We have teamed up with wine house 'Di Filippo' from the Marche region in Italy for another great night of food and wine tasting. This is an online Zoom wine tasting hosted by our Manager/Sommelier Frank (left), with the wine maker himself explaining his wines and the opportunity for Q&A. The evening will include 2 bottles of wine (white & red), Artisan Cheeses, Charcuterie, Condiments & Bread. This event will sell out fast so be sure to book fast! More info via https://greenesrestaurant.com/
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We’ve got great news - this week see’s our first ever nationwide retail listing in Ireland. Three of our core range beers are going to be available in every Lidl in the 26 counties. Little Fawn, Phantom and Ninth Wave are all taking to the shelves in a handy 4-pack. It may seem like a small cause for celebration, but it means a lot to the brewery and to craft beer in Ireland.
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In celebration of our upcoming annual French Wine Sale, (starting Tuesday 27th April) we are delighted to invite you to join us for a Burgundy deep-dive with Owner Winemakers Thibaut Marion of Seguin-Manuel & Antoine Olivier of Domaine Antoine Olivier, hosted by O'Briens Wine Director Lynne Coyle Master of Wine.
Whilst tasting along with Antoine and Thibaut, they will describe their elegant wines, share some of their vineyard stories and give us a taste of their Burgundian lifestyle.
Your event tasting pack will include 4 bottles of wine. All the details here
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BeerCloud
Here's a reason for April cheer! We love our sweet Beer Community and are offering a sweet 5% discount on The Handmade Chocolate Box. This is a subscriber exclusive! All you have to do is use the code HCB5 at checkout and cha-ching!
The Handmade Chocolate Box is a collection of 12 excellent craft beers selected by BeerCloud staff accompanied by a delicious handmade chocolate box by by Michael Donegan of Kilbeggan Handmade Chocolates.
Ain't no combination better than this!
*This offer is strictly while stocks last and expires on April 30th, 2021 @ 11:59pm
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Wines of the World.
Fancy a virtual wine tasting and food pairing?
We have teamed up with the Tiny Turnip and are offering a virtual wine tasting and food pairing for the May Bank Holiday weekend. The Tiny Turnip offers grazing boxes with a mix of meats, cheese and crackers – we have selected a white, rosé and red wine to pair with the grazing box.
Want to know more on how you can get your hands on one? Click here to read more and order yours now. This virtual tasting will be shared on socials on Friday April 30th at 7pm.
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Legacy Cider Get In The Spirit
In collaboration with West Waterford Festival of Food, we are hosting a craft cider tasting party!
Get ready to have the apple craic… Join Liam McDonnell of West Waterford’s legendary Legacy Irish Cider and James O’Donoghue of LongWays Cider Co. for this all grown up Cider Party. Get into seriously good spirits, as this live Zoom session explores tasting notes of a range of craft ciders with recommended food pairings, plus party games to keep the fun flowing, and keep you on your toes. More details here
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Finding Bertha's Revenge
Two Heartily Recommended Wines. A Pinot Blanc from Alsace, a Sangiovese from Montepulciano
Meyer-Fonné Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes Alsace (AC) 2018, 12.5%
€20.65 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
Seductive aromas of pear, peach and almond announce this beautiful pale straw coloured Pinot Blanc from Meyer-Fonné of the Alsace. A touch of sweetness, also on the nose, is found too on the palate, where white fruit, rich and fresh and smoky, is surrounded by a refreshing minerality. Precision, depth, purity all combine here. Delicious and moreish, with a very clean finish, this is Very Highly Recommended. Very good value too by the way.
Wine Folly says it will match up well with soft cheeses, salads with cream dressings and flaky fish (eg cod). Personally, I think it would have not problem with salmon or trout.
Le Caveau: Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes comes from a plot of old vines, it acts like Pinot Gris on the nose — rich, oily apricot and pear fruit— but the touch of white pepper and taste of freshly squeezed oranges is classic Pinot Blanc. A house pour at a number of Ireland's Michelin starred restaurants over the past 15 years. A sure fire hit each and every bottle opened.
Félix Meyer himself has come in for high praise.
"Félix Meyer is one of the more ambitious and successful young vignerons of Alsace.” Wine Advocate.
“ ... Félix Meyer still has humility, still has a sense of wonder, and is still capable of self-criticism. He is a seeker and a perfectionist. He is a terroirist, and when he speaks of a granitic soil, the wine in your glass tastes of it.”
Kermit Lynch, US importer.
No chemical fertiliser is used in the running of the vineyard, “only compost we make ourselves using raw materials derived from organic farming. Calcium and magnesian limestone is spread each year on the granitic soil terroirs to prevent acidification.”
Innocenti Rosso di Montepulciano (DOC) 2015, 13.5%,
€19.35 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
Light and bright ruby colour. Gloriously aromatic, with cherry and plum to the fore, forest fruits and herbal notes in the mix as well. It is medium to full-bodied; that warm fruit is there, some spice too, a lick of wood, really well balanced. Fine-grained tannins noticeable on a long and very dry finish. With a little more weight than your typical Tuscan red, this is easy-drinking and Very Highly Recommended.
I think we’ve all been confused at one time or another by Montepulciano on an Italian wine bottle. It is the name of a grape and of a town in Italy. According to Wine-Searcher.com the grape was named after the town and was once widely grown there.
Nowadays, the grape has found another home in Abruzzo (Abruzzo is a large area on the east coast), hence Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. In the late 20th and early 21st century, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo earned a reputation as being one of the most widely exported DOC classed wine in Italy (Wikipedia).
Our wine comes from the town of Montepulciano. This is in Tuscany, in the province of Sienna, and is one of the most attractive hill towns in the area.The main grape grown here is Sangiovese. Only the very best grapes are used for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The others are used for Rosso di Montepulciano. The Vino Nobile has the big reputation but the simpler Rosso is no mean wine either as our example indicates.
Importers Le Caveau tell this Rosso di Montepulciano is a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo grapes.
