Blarney Castle Gardens
Pics: July 21st 2021
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| Herbaceous Border |
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| Bamboo archway |
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| Blarney House |
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| Castle and tower |
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| Herbaceous Border |
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| Herbaceous Border |
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| Rose pergola |
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| Western Red Cedar |
Friday, July 23, 2021
Blarney Castle Gardens July 21st 2021
Design Pop: Talks and panel discussion schedule..
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TRIGON HOTELS TOP THE BILL ON ‘OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE’
TRIGON HOTELS TOP THE BILL ON ‘OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE’
Cork group’s team delighted to see ‘massive efforts’ rewarded
Trigon Hotels has claimed victory at Ireland’s inaugural Operational Excellence Awards. The group, which includes the Metropole Hotel, the Cork International Hotel and the Cork Airport Hotel won the Hotel and Leisure category and were finalists in the overall Operational Excellence Award division.
The awards developers, Business River say the programme aims to recognise and reward those committed to ‘operational excellence and business transformation’. In their submission to the judges, the Trigon hotels team highlighted how both of these topics were priorities for them over the past 18 months.
Since establishing a company-wide COVID-19 committee at the start of 2020, Trigon Hotels has led the way in adopting necessary health provisions and transforming their business to cope with the great upheaval its industry is still enduring.
The three hotels also devised new and innovative ways of being part of their respective communities, like afternoon tea deliveries, a takeaway cafe service, online cocktail demonstrations and a wide range of other digital offerings via the ‘Hotel at Home Hub’.
Trigon Hotels has also been busy on the Health and Safety and Sustainability front. 2020 saw the group recruit a Health and Safety coordinator and each of the three hotels now also has a trained Mental Health First Aider. The group’s Greening & Sustainability working group has been in place for 12 months.
Aaron Mansworth, Managing Director from Trigon Hotels says: “We are truly delighted to get this good news from the Operational Excellence Awards. Each one of our team has worked so hard and been through so much over the past 18 months and they absolutely deserve this recognition. I’d like to thank the award judges for the opportunity to showcase our hard work and of course our fantastic and loyal customers who have been so supportive at a very difficult time.”
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Good Day Deli. They Got You Covered
Good Day Deli. They Got You Covered
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| Burger in the hot sun! |
When the move to outdoor dining gathered momentum, most restaurateurs were thinking how do we protect our diners from the rain. But very few were thinking how do we protect our diners from the sun! None of us expected this current heatwave.
Great to have the sun but these high temperatures have certainly brought a new set of problems with it! Some of us, of a certain age, are less inclined to make the effort to head downtown. And I also think it takes the edge off the appetite. We were in Good Day Deli the other day and were prepared to go the whole nine yards, as it were, and that included dessert. But after a lovely main course in the glaring sun, there was no appetite left for the sweet stuff!
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| Cool from Ovens |
We had mixed luck on a few trips this last month or so. Rather than highlighting the poor ones, I’ll tell you about the very good places. One that impressed in June was the Fiddle & Bow in Doolin with its extensive gazebo/canopy line-up with low sides that reached almost to the ground plus a line of private booths. The Fish Box in Dingle also had a series of these booths (mostly 4-person), nicely finished and constructed, that allow for sixty covers.
In Cork city Princes Street, with its line of adjoining parasols and the high sided buildings at each side of the narrow street, provide quite a lot of cover from the elements. But other places aren’t as lucky and the extra sun is proving a problem - I almost got burned when I picked up my knife and fork that had been left, obviously for quite a while, on the sunny side of my table; I quickly dropped them.
In fairness though, I didn’t hear one word of complaint when dining outside, either in a mist or in the unusual heat. It seems to me that customers are game to make the best of it as are many of their hosts as well. The more we pull together the further we will go.
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| Fish from the Coast and Tacos from Tipp |
So back to Good Day Deli who, as in previous occasions, run a good ship with regard to the Covid regulations. You get a good run-down on how to proceed on arrival and that doesn’t mean a lecture; time for smiles and chats too as is always the case here.
You may get your menu from a QR code on the table but I thought I was a step ahead having had a look at the menu online before coming down. We were in for the lunch menu (begins at 12.30pm, ends at 4.00pm); the Morning Menu runs from 10.00am to 12.30pm.
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| Our view! |
Choices included a Seasonal Tart (featuring Hegarty’s Cheddar), Spiced Carrot Fritters, and their well-loved GDD Buddha Bowl with seared Toons Bridge Halloumi). My pick was the Big Kiwi Burger (16.50), a house made lentil burger topped with creamy Ardsallagh Goats Cheese, sweet beet relish, layered with caramelised red onion, leafy greens, carrot ribbons, with hand cut fries. I could have added an organic fried egg for two euro but thought I had enough on my plate.
And it was indeed an excellent plate, lots of textures and flavours there and no shortage of satisfaction either as the helping was generous. And their sweetish Brioche bun was a delightful if unexpected highlight. Had been looking forward to trying their Bushby Strawberry Soda but that was off the menu. Instead, I enjoyed (as I always do) a bottle of the delicious Mealagulla Apple Juice, one of the best around and a regular on the menu here.
As you can gather, their support of local producers has been unwavering since they started here a short few years back. They say: “Sustainable food nourishes us, protects the natural environment and supports thriving local economies and communities."
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| Red Abbey, just a few metres from Good Day Deli entrance |
We were dining outside, of course. They have a line of gazebos on a higher level in the garden but these are reserved for groups of four people. We were on their patio and, while there is an awning overhead, CL was trying to fit herself into a diminishing slice of shade as she enjoyed her Kai Moana Fish Tacos (17.95). This is lightly battered Irish Hake on Blanco Nino Tortillas with raw slaw, pickle and coriander aioli, served with hand cut paprika fries. This is a regular dish here and never disappoints.
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t make it to dessert! Next time? Maybe not. Their Morning Menu is very tempting as well!
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
O'Briens Spanish Wine sale from 21st July to 2nd August
O'Briens Spanish Wine Sale
from 21st July to 2nd August
Here's two to start with!
Ars Nova Navarra (DO) 2014, 14%, €13.96 (was €17.45)
Dark ruby is the colour of this fresh and elegant blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the northern fringe of the Navarra wine region. The darker berries (blackcurrant, blackberries) and herb-y notes feature in the aromas and accompany the wine onto the palate as well. It’s complex with spice also in the melange. But it is that fresh acidity that helps harmony reign in this blend and lifts Are Nova into the Very Highly Recommended category.
Founder José MarÃa Fraile: “We like freshness and elegance and luckily we’re in the coolest part of the appellation. It is super green where we are, a big contrast with the desert in the south. The Atlantic influence, the cool summer nights, and picking late in the season is good for the grapes and we get that natural acidity.”
Tandem was founded in 2003 by José MarÃa along with Alicia Eyaralar, and a small group of wine-loving relatives and friends. The vineyard is quite close to Pamplona.
This rich and complex red has been aged a minimum 24 months in concrete vats plus 9 months in 300-litre French oak barrels. Open, decant and let it breathe for half an hour before enjoying with a roast leg of lamb (or duck!).
The Latin Ars Nova translates to new art and indeed Ars Nova was a musical movement in the 14th Century which brought about the advent of volume in music. And Tandem thought this very applicable to their philosophy of this wine which also has their trademark acidity.
Watch out also for other Tandem wines on offer, including Ars in Vitro, Tandem Mácula, and Tandem Inmácula
Granbazán Etiqueta Verde Albariño Rias Baixas (DO) 2019, 13% €14.95 was €19.95
A few years ago, at a tasting in Cork, a wine professional’s statement that you never get a bad Albarino met with general agreement by those at the tasting table. What you do get however are some really excellent ones, that stand out from the crowd. This Granbazán is one of the stand outs, even if it's not their number one Albarino.
Colour of this gem is a light golden straw. Citrus aromas are expected and present, not so much the green apple though. The palate is outstandingly flavoursome, complex and zesty, citrus-y and briny with a slight spritz. Amazingly fresh acidity, dry of course and that slightly saline aftertaste. A striking mix of flavours that make you think fish for pairing, everything from ceviche to fish tacos, from mussels to plump oysters, from sardines to sushi. Very Highly Recommended.
O’Briens agree: A perfect match to any seafood. From the team behind our perennial-favourite, Contrapunto Albariño, Etiqueta Verde comes from the beautiful Bodegas Granbazán estate in the heart of the Salnés Valley in RÃas Baixas.
The winemakers tells us that the fruit comes from vineyards of over 35 years old, “from a soil with high granite content, on the banks of the Arousa estuary, and with a strong Atlantic personality .A classic Albariño with the characteristics of the Salnés subzone. Destemmed and cold macerated for 6 to 8 hours. Controlled fermentation in a stainless Steel tank. Rest on its fine lees without batonage. Bottled 4 to 5 months after fermantation is complete”. A
And they add more pairings: spicy white meats and cheeses such as Camembert and San Simón (both from cows milk, soft and creamy) or Cabrales (a famous blue cheese).
As mentioned above, the Granbazán Contrapunto Albariño is a customer favourite in O'Briens and is massively reduced to €12.95 and another to look for is Granbazán Limousin.
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With close on 90 wines reduced, the sale covers most of the Spanish regions. There is even a six bottle offer of Rioja. Some of the major producers are listed, including Torres. Many of you will be familiar with Campo Viejo - look out for their Garnacha.
And being Spain, it is not just still wines. There are at least two interesting sherries on the reduced list. Toro Albalá Fino Eléctric, from the lesser known Montilla-Moriles region, is made from the Pedro Ximenez grape but, instead of being sweet as you might expect, is bone dry. They also produce an Oloroso from the same grape and that too is reduced. And they both come in the smaller 50cc size, making them convenient to try!
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