I never really enjoyed spaghetti carbonara in Italian restaurants; it always seemed too heavy and stodgy, with the cream drowning out the flavours.  It wasn’t too surprising to find out that the cream is a completely unneccessary and inauthentic addition to the classic Italian carbonara: it’s immeasurably better without it.
This recipe is easy, and best…  Continue reading »

Over on Kieran Murphy’s unfailingly excellent Ice Cream Ireland blog, this Black Sesame ice-cream looks divine.
It’s a little bit of work but quite cheap to prepare. I reckon this would make the perfect end to a Thai, Chinese, or Japanese dinner. Most of the ingredients are available anywhere, although black sesame seeds might be a…  Continue reading »

This is a quick, easy, healthy and economical soup that tastes great. For the best taste and health value use organic carrots. There are 2 ways if making this soup – the first is quicker and heathier, the second perhaps a little more tasty!  Continue reading »

After running a post a couple of weeks back on offers from the coffee chains, we got some more tips on good places to get cheap coffee and lunchtime deals:
Dee says her local Cafe To Go (in Sandyford Industrial estate) have 2 for the price of 1 coffees between 9:30 and 10:30 and again from…  Continue reading »

Bewley’s are  running an exhibition and competition in honour of Fairtrade Fortnight:
You could win a free trip to Nicaragua including flights, accommodation, and guide. Bewley’s is also giving away free afternoon treats for two every day throughout Fairtrade Fortnight. To enter the competition you need to go to Bewley’s Facebook page, become…  Continue reading »

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that the only gin I drink is Tanqueray. Well, unless it’s 4am and I’m in one of Belfast’s late-night shebeens trying to remember my name. Then, and only then, anything would be acceptable.  Continue reading »

Sunday Business Post – Tomas Clancy
TO TRY: Condado de Haza, Ribera del Duero 2006 (91), €21.50 from Searsons in Monkstown, Co Dublin and selected wine shops nationwide
“Bold, raucously heavy and concentrated fruit, wild spice and a toasty sweet coconut edge to the long finish complete this modern masterpiece.”
TO BUY: Torres Gran Coronas, Reserva 2003 (89), €16.49 from O’Briens
“The Gran Coronas Reserva cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo blend is an outstanding, polished wine.  Continue reading »

Click here to view the embedded video.
In the lastest of my video blogs we are going back to school – A number of people have contacted me asking what they need to do if they want to learn more about how to taste a wine.
I have tried to capture most of the important points on what you need to look for.
So why not pour yourself a glass and try and taste along with me.
Check it out and see ya next time on robertfranciswine.ie.  Continue reading »

Posted by Niall
I love food and I love wine but even though I know a lot about food I have never really been an expert on the wine front. My biggest problem, and this is a problem that a lot of people suffer from in my opinion, is that I know what I like and I tend to stick to it.
Since I have started meeting all the wine guys in Ireland I have got better but I tend to gravitate back towards Chateauneuf du Pape for red and Pouilly Fume for white.  Continue reading »

Those keeping an eye on us in the last couple of weeks will have seen my contributions to the new wine blog on Look and Taste. I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Niall Harbison, the star of the show on the leading food video site, has agreed to return the compliment, with a regular contribution to our blog’s second love!

I met Niall for the first time in person on Saturday night at the Irish Blog Awards.  Continue reading »

My last encounter with an ale matured in whisky casks was very pleasant but left me with a few questions about this style of beer. I outlined a bit of the chemistry involved in whisky maturation, particularly the aromatic organic compounds produced during the toasting of old bourbon and sherry casks. I was still left with the question of where the tart character came from and whether or not the beer would be better without it.  Continue reading »

Come in on Mondays and take advantage of our great wholemeal bread offer – 2 loaves for €3.00!
Stock up on Organic Soyamilk from Provamel at only €1.29 while stocks last
Buy 5 KG Organic Brown Long/short grain rice for only €10 – normal price approx €1.99 for 500g so our offer is half price!
Coming soon: Great value on bulk buying of Organic basmatti, Quinoa, Organic red Lentils, Organic Oats and much more….
All these available instore while stocks last.  Continue reading »

Come in on Mondays and take advantage of our great wholemeal bread offer – 2 loaves for €3.00!
Stock up on Organic Soyamilk from Provamel at only €1.29 while stocks last
Buy 5 KG Organic Brown Long/short grain rice for only €10 – normal price approx €1.99 for 500g so our offer is half price!
Coming soon: Great value on bulk buying of Organic basmatti, Quinoa, Organic red Lentils, Organic Oats and much more….
All these available instore while stocks last.  Continue reading »

 One of the most dramatic flavours I encountered on our Tokyo trip was black sesame ice cream. It has a nutty, roasted flavour and it tastes like no ice cream I’ve tried before. Of course, black sesame is used quite a bit in Asian cooking, but it seems very well suited to ice cream. This is not a flavour for everyone, but there are people who have tasted it in our shops over the last week who have simply raved.  Continue reading »

 One of the most dramatic flavours I encountered on our Tokyo trip was black sesame ice cream. It has a nutty, roasted flavour and it tastes like no ice cream I’ve tried before. Of course, black sesame is used quite a bit in Asian cooking, but it seems very well suited to ice cream. This is not a flavour for everyone, but there are people who have tasted it in our shops over the last week who have simply raved.  Continue reading »

Irish Times – John Wilson
This week John focuses on some of the great Cs of French wine with some great selections.
Sourcing Cahors
I was pleasantly surprised to find that several wine merchants import Cahors. In addition to the wines listed below, I tasted several excellent wines from Clos des Gamots and Domaine Chevaliers d’Homes at the Wicklow Wine Company (www.wicklowwineco.ie). The Clos des Gamots 2000 (€19) showed a wonderful maturity and perfect structure.  Continue reading »

Irish Times – John Wilson
This week John focuses on some of the great Cs of French wine with some great selections.
Sourcing Cahors
I was pleasantly surprised to find that several wine merchants import Cahors. In addition to the wines listed below, I tasted several excellent wines from Clos des Gamots and Domaine Chevaliers d’Homes at the Wicklow Wine Company (www.wicklowwineco.ie). The Clos des Gamots 2000 (€19) showed a wonderful maturity and perfect structure.  Continue reading »

It’s not too late to grab your free pancakes at IHOP! In honor of Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, the restaurant is giving away free pancakes from 7 am to 10 pm to help symbolize the last splurge before Lent begins tomorrow. In exchange for a free short stack (3 pancakes), IHOP asks that you consider donating to Children’s Miracle Network. So far, they’ve raised $35,000 nationwide.  Continue reading »

My cooking hero Ruth Hegarty has very kindly supplied us with another recipe; this time for a simple but impressive chocolate cake.
Chocolate Cake
You cannot devote space and time to dark chocolate without getting people to make this chocolate cake. Every time I make it, people ask for the recipe and eat another piece. It’s from…  Continue reading »

I went to Aldi and Lidl on the way home last night to stock up for Pancake Tuesday, and was taken aback (in a good way!) by the total cost of my basket in each shop.
Aldi:
2 bunches of asparagus
2 punnets of strawberries
1 bag of cashew nuts, 175g
Total cost: €4.95
Lidl:
2 litres milk
Bag of organic Fairtrade bananas
Large…  Continue reading »