The Best of Britain & Ireland ’09 Exhibition
a travel event happening in London during March.
UPDATE!!!!
There have been some major changes to the video recipe competition we highlighted not too long ago
Firstly there is now a fantastic prize, a culinary tour in the Cotswold with accommodation and up to £200 travel expenses provided up for grabs. Secondly we have now partnered with lookandtaste.com on the competition to make it even easier to enter. All you have to do is tag your video bobi09com
Full details are here: http://www.lookandtaste.com/go/competitions/bobi/
It would be great if you could get involved, either by entering yourself or just mentioning it to anyone you think would be interested. All our blog readers will receive 30% discount on double ticket. You can book a double ticket (two adults) for just £10.50 – that’s a 30% discount on the full price of £15.
To access this great offer, call 0871 230 5588 or visit http://www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk/ and quote BOBI30.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
CHINESE CHALLENGE
Chicken with orange - gorgeous
Went to the Ambassador, a well established city centre Chinese restaurant, last night. Enjoyed a good meal: a set menu for two costing €65.00. Wines start around 20 euro.
We had the usual prawn crackers, crabmeat and corn soup, a combination dish (little envelopes of meats, a breaded fish piece, skewers of chicken, cubes of duck... sauces, dips), a three part main course (chicken with orange, Chinese Duck and shredded beef fillet in a black bean sauce). All top class.
And now a note for establishments such as Jacques that charge over the odds for coffee. We got a small cup of a decent coffee and, twice more, they called to the table offering top-ups. Nice touch.
It is a comfortable place and the service is good and delivered with a smile. No shortage of staff. They fill your water regularly, pour out your wine, take your coats and even put the napkin on your lap.
They have about six set menus around this price, along with an extensive a la carte of course. No doubt it is a good place and I didn't have any quibble at all (on the contrary). But, by way of comparison, you can get a very similar menu in Ying’s Place (Mayfield) for about 60 per cent of the Ambassador price. You pays your money... as they say.
EATING AT THE AMBASSADOR
Went to the Ambassador, a well established city centre Chinese restaurant, last night. Enjoyed a good meal: a set menu for two costing €65.00. Wines start around 20 euro.
We had the usual prawn crackers, crabmeat and corn soup, a combination dish (little envelopes of meats, a breaded fish piece, skewers of chicken, cubes of duck... sauces, dips), a three part main course (chicken with orange, Chinese Duck and shredded beef fillet in a black bean sauce). All top class.
And now a note for establishments such as Jacques that charge over the odds for coffee. We got a small cup of a decent coffee and, twice more, they called to the table offering top-ups. Nice touch.
It is a comfortable place and the service is good and delivered with a smile. No shortage of staff. They fill your water regularly, pour out your wine, take your coats and even put the napkin on your lap.
They have about six set menus around this price, along with an extensive a la carte of course. No doubt it is a good place and I didn't have any quibble at all (on the contrary). But, by way of comparison, you can get a very similar menu in Ying’s Place (Mayfield) for about 60 per cent of the Ambassador price. You pays your money... as they say.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Best of Britain & Ireland
The Best of Britain & Ireland ’09 Exhibition
a domestic travel event happening in London during March.
Best of Britain & Ireland ‘09 exhibition is to be held on 26-29 March 2009 at London’s ExCeL. It celebrates the best of Britain and Ireland, and is looking for the best of British and Irish cooking through an online competition. They are inviting amateur and professional chefs to celebrate and show off their favorite British or Irish meals. The best video recipes will then be showcased to over 20,000 visitors to the ExCeL centre on the 28th and 29th March and on The Best of Britain & Ireland website: http://www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk/
Click here for details: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddtdjkcd_314fv2hnmdx
a domestic travel event happening in London during March.
Best of Britain & Ireland ‘09 exhibition is to be held on 26-29 March 2009 at London’s ExCeL. It celebrates the best of Britain and Ireland, and is looking for the best of British and Irish cooking through an online competition. They are inviting amateur and professional chefs to celebrate and show off their favorite British or Irish meals. The best video recipes will then be showcased to over 20,000 visitors to the ExCeL centre on the 28th and 29th March and on The Best of Britain & Ireland website: http://www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk/
Click here for details: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddtdjkcd_314fv2hnmdx
Firm favourites
FEBRUARY SUMMARY
It has been a month of favourites, regular visits to Isaacs and even more so to Jacques . Both stood up well to the stress testing. Enjoyable fish dishes in each spot, Haddock one evening in Isaacs, Hake at Jacques.
Jacques is pretty expensive but value is good though I find paying €3.50 for a cup of coffee (a good cup I must admit) annoying and won't be doing it again.
There is value to be had in Jacques on the €25.00 menu which is available most weekdays and up to 7.00pm on weekends. The number of choices is limited but what you do get is top class food and the menu changes regularly.
The recession is biting and there are an increasing number of early birds available around town – make sure you check the local press before you go out.
During the Celtic Tiger we probably got used to speedy and efficient service in the restaurants – sometimes you were glad to get in, they were so busy. But the old personal warm friendly touch was lacking in most places. Nobody was discourteous. But, once the formalities were concluded, there was nothing extra, proprietors and staff didn’t even use the Irish fallback of the weather in conversation.
Now that things are slowing down, it might be no harm to cultivate that kind of rapport again. A warm greeting doesn't do any harm. I know myself that certain shops in town are a joy to visit. Ronnie Moore’s and O’Leary’s Camera World are good examples. I started going there years ago, felt welcome and still go there. Restaurants please copy.
It has been a month of favourites, regular visits to Isaacs and even more so to Jacques . Both stood up well to the stress testing. Enjoyable fish dishes in each spot, Haddock one evening in Isaacs, Hake at Jacques.
Jacques is pretty expensive but value is good though I find paying €3.50 for a cup of coffee (a good cup I must admit) annoying and won't be doing it again.
There is value to be had in Jacques on the €25.00 menu which is available most weekdays and up to 7.00pm on weekends. The number of choices is limited but what you do get is top class food and the menu changes regularly.
The recession is biting and there are an increasing number of early birds available around town – make sure you check the local press before you go out.
During the Celtic Tiger we probably got used to speedy and efficient service in the restaurants – sometimes you were glad to get in, they were so busy. But the old personal warm friendly touch was lacking in most places. Nobody was discourteous. But, once the formalities were concluded, there was nothing extra, proprietors and staff didn’t even use the Irish fallback of the weather in conversation.
Now that things are slowing down, it might be no harm to cultivate that kind of rapport again. A warm greeting doesn't do any harm. I know myself that certain shops in town are a joy to visit. Ronnie Moore’s and O’Leary’s Camera World are good examples. I started going there years ago, felt welcome and still go there. Restaurants please copy.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Market Lane
JANUARY UPDATE
Tried to beat this gloomy weather with lunch at The Continental today but it was closed for a holiday break. Followed the Advisor and her brolly, what a lethal weapon, across to Market Lane and what a lunch we enjoyed.
Naturally smoked Haddock with sautéed potatoes, broccoli, Chorizo and an onion cream sauce, absolutely gorgeous, plates cleaned.
Desserts: a White and Dark Chocolate Mousse for me and a Pineapple capriccio with a Blackcurrant sorbet for herself. We could have ended up licking the plates.
Two coffees and two glasses of house wine brought the bill to €57.00.
FOOD SOURCES: go to North Main Street and get your Italian bits and pieces at Casanova’s delicatessen La Botteghina. I got some Almond Cookies (€2.90) there recently. Dunk them in your dessert wine and enjoy!
O’Herlihy's at St Luke’s is a good place to go to get artisan breads and cakes along with other fine foods. Parking is terrible but it is worth it!
Anyone got any info on Bromley Lodge (to your left by Slatty Bridge) before you cross the bridge to Fota. Car park was packed there last Saturday but I couldn't call.
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