Sea Gulls on Slea Head Drive

It’s funny how easily we’re pleased on this side of the world. Although it’s raining again today, the last two days were beautiful, and for that brief time, all the sogginess of the summer was forgotten. I happened to be entertaining an Italian visitor and had a day off, so we headed out Slea Head for a drive.  Continue reading »

This is the first in a series of posts on knife technique. Practicing proper knife technique will make prep work safer, more efficient and more enjoyable. It’ll also give you something to show off to your friends! If you’re the sort who hates prep work because it takes ages, you always seem to cut yourself, and the veg always seems to end up uneven or crushed, then this is what you need to work on.  Continue reading »

And a bargain too!  Continue reading »

I’m the Sourdough aficionado, using natural yeasts to raise my bread. Now – and it’s been brewing for a while (pun very definitely intended) – the Husband is just after taking delivery of his own yeasts as he prepares to embark on a long-discussed, thought-over and well-researched foray into the world of making beer at home.  Continue reading »

I was asked to do a cake for someone in work whose aunt had been living with her for some time, due to illness I think, and was now going back to her own home. It took me a good few days to decide what to do but I noticed a magical house cake in one of my cake books and thought I could base it on that. I think it worked out quite well and the recipient actually cried when she saw it, so I’m taking that as a compliment (or a huge insult!).  Continue reading »

The previous incumbents of Le Presbytere were three nuns and, despite finding lots of empty bottles in the Cave, we have always assumed that they led a dull staid life.
As we are enjoying the house so much I sometimes feel little pangs of guilt at the life style contrasts between us and them.
This morning in Beziers I came upon this photograph which relieved me

It seems that the previous incumbents were perfectly capable of having a good time.  Continue reading »

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Rob and I were in a shop recently and while in the queue to pay for our milk and bread Rob spotted fudge among the sweets. We didn’t get any but the night before seeing it I had been reading this month’s Easy Food Magazine which had a recipe for fudge in it (which I had bookmarked), so it only seemed right to make some seeing as he was eying it up.  Continue reading »

All the rage – With chains like “Schnitzie” surfacing throughout New York, the Schnitzel (brought to America by European Jews) is catching on. (New York Times)
Faux flavors – Raw foodies contend you can make anything raw taste just like it was cooked with spices and dehydration. Or, I could just cook it, right?
Jammed tomatoes – As if you didn’t have enough ideas of how to eat your tomatoes this summer, you can also make jam!  Continue reading »

 
Francesco I Chianti Classico
Riserva 2003
Chianti Classico is a very fashionable region at the moment, with some fantastic
wines coming from Chianti and more precisely the region of Chianti Classico.
The wines from this region are believed to be richer and have better balance,
and structure then other Chiantis. 2003 was a particularly hot vintage in Tuscany
so some wines are not very well balanced.  Continue reading »

 
Errazuriz Estate
Merlot 2007
Ahh Chilean Merlot, I think possible
the most likely entry point for all wine newbies !
Errazuriz has a pretty reputation
for producing solid, keenly prices wines from throughout Chile. With this Estate
Merlot being sourced mainly from the Curico Valley which is located towards
the middle of the central zone of Chile’s wine region.  Continue reading »

If you’re in the Mallow vicinity tomorrow, Saturday 23 August, call in to URRU as Arun Kapil of Green Saffron will be in store between 11am and 3pm, talking about his range of fresh, intensely flavoured spice blends and Indian ingredients, offering plenty of tips and tricks for making the most of them.  Continue reading »

When I was coming up with the menu for my party last week, my client asked for some sort of rice salad to be added. They weren’t sure what they wanted so I looked at my menu and figured I’d keep it pretty clean and healthy. I also wanted to keep the vegetarians happy as well as offer some soakage for the drink. Trust an Irishman to think of that!
Recipe:4 servings3 cups cooked brown rice (about 1 1/4 cup dry)1 mango, peeled and chopped4 scallions (green onions)
Dressing:2 tbsp.  Continue reading »

1.3 million unopened yoghurt cartons are thrown out by householders in the UK. Every year? No, every day. That’s according to a report from May of this year, called the WRAP report.
WRAP, a not-for-profit company established in the UK in 2000 to provide practical solutions for a range of waste issues, have conducted what they claim is the first comprehensive study into household food waste in the world.  Continue reading »

Special offers from Louis Albrouze on Leeson Street. If you call in, tell them sourgrapes.ie sent you.
Domaine Barbanot 2004 Côtes du Rhone Villages

Silky smooth Rhone from a small producer, with hints of pepper, mint and even chocolate on the palate, gentle tannins and a lovely warm finish.
Was €13.95, Now € 9.95
Domaine Cheze 2003, Cuvee des Anges, Saint Joseph

A stunningly powerful Syrah (100%), from 50 year old vines producing only 5000 bottles.  Continue reading »

My shopping list, like everyone’s I suspect, is pretty repetitive.
Mostly what I buy this week is much the same as I bought last week, last month and last year.  Now and again something new claims a place or we go off something and I stop buying it. But not often – it takes quite a…  Continue reading »

Wine Spectator‘s Executive Director, Thomas Matthews, responds to the Award scam on their forum. It’s good to see “the other side” of the Wine Spectator awards story.
In a situation that called for cool heads, I think they’ve handled it reasonably well but they could have gone a lot further. Something along the lines of “We were wrong, we’re sorry and here’s what we’re going to do about it”.  Continue reading »

I’ve realized lately that my desire to make things from scratch actually runs in the family. I have a brother that likes to brew his own beer, pick the blackberries from his backyard to make homemade compote (much like Miss Orangette), and even made me homemade blueberry ice cream for my birthday one year. So for his birthday this year, it was only fitting that we bought him The Soda Club so he can add homemade seltzer to his list of creations.  Continue reading »

I’ve come across an interesting new Irish wine business recently. Denis Hartnett, formerly of Berry Brothers has setup Vintage Wine Investments which offers fine wines sales and professional advice on cellaring wine and purchasing wine for investment.
Denis currently has some good offers on en-primeur Bordeaux from the bumper 2005 vintage – contact him directly to find out more.
Irish Times.  Continue reading »

An author and researcher, Robin Goldstein, entered his restaurant, the “Osteria L’Intrepido” for a prestigious Wine Spectator prize, an Award of Excellence.
He sent in his fee of $250, a cover letter, the restaurant’s menu and a wine list.
Osteria L’Intrepido won the Award of Excellence, published in the August 2008 issue of the Wine Spectator magazine.  Continue reading »