Irish Times – John Wilson
Franz Haas Pinot Bianco 2006, Trentino Alto Adige, 13%, €18.99.
A very classy fresh, crisp, dry white, with great intensity and length, showing some citrus and rich peaches, set off nicely by subtle almond notes. This would go perfectly with white fish – maybe hake or sole – baked or grilled. Continue reading »
Archive for April, 2009
Media Round Up – Saturday 25th April 2009
A post by admin at Robert Francis Wine Blog
Competition 2: Win a Wine Appreciation Course
A post by Lar at Sour Grapes
UPDATE – WINNER ANNOUNCED – Elly Parker, Comment #2
Continuing with the fantastic giveaways, I’m delighted to announce the next competition:
A full day’s Wine Appreciation Course with the Wine Board of Ireland worth €135. Continue reading »
We?re on Facebook!
A post by jean at CheapEats.ie
CheapEats.ie now has its very own Facebook page, where you can visit us, become a fan and scribble on our walls. Please do all of those things, we’d be delighted. And tell your friends, they’re nice too. Continue reading »
A Misconception Of The Swine Flu Scare
A post by Hillary at Chew On That
As your purveyor of recipes, Recipe4Living and Chew on That would like to inform you that just because we are being cautious not to contract the swine flu doesn’t mean you can’t make your regular pork, bacon or ham dishes at home. While the swine flu virus was spread from infected pigs, it was from touching the pigs, not eating them. Continue reading »
Hunter Valley: Not just for the tourist
A post by Matt Kane at Curious: The Curious Wines Wine Blog
While the concept of Curious Wines was a mere twinkle in Michael’s eye, I was fortunate to be traveling around the world with my mad girlfriend. Visiting some of the most famous wine regions, I was without the knowledge that just over a year later I’d be sitting at the front line of the industry.
After the most incredible few months traveling through South East Asia, and south down Australia’s eastern coast, we arrived in Newcastle, just north of Sydney. Continue reading »
Review: The Hardwood, Cork
A post by peter at CheapEats.ie
Our friend Roz from Cork sent us in this review of the Hardwood Restaurant:
Despite an unfortunate name, the Hardwood Restaurant in Cork is heavenly. Who ever runs this place has taken all the good bits you imagine from the service Mr Knightly might have received in Jane Austen’s Emma, unstarched the collars and mixed it… Continue reading »
Win a Two Night Break at the Woodlands Hotel
A post by peter at CheapEats.ie
CheapEats.ie has teamed up with the Woodlands Hotel in the beautifully picturesque village of Adare, Co. Limerick, to give away yet another great prize.
The winner and thier guest will enjoy the Adare R&R package, which includes two nights Bed &Breakfast, dinner on one evening, a bottle of bubbly in their room, use of bathrobes and… Continue reading »
Let’s hang Winkleman up like a Piñata
A post by noreply@blogger.com (John Ferris) at Food and Drink
So it wasn’t to be for Vyvyan. The young one lost out to glamorous elderly lady, Linda Evans, pictured in her hay day in Dynasty (right). I gotta admit that I was never one for Dynasty at all. In fact, when her name was mentioned I hadn’t the foggiest who she was. And neither she wasn’t on my radar as a winner. I had, after a false start with Jody, picked Ade as the potential winner, and if truth be told (even Linda would admit it), he was the better chef. Continue reading »
And the winner is?
A post by jean at CheapEats.ie
We revved up trusty old Random.org once again to pick our winner for the John’s Meats competition…
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
42
Timestamp: 2009-04-28 09:38:11 UTC
So congratulations Noel! You are the lucky winner of a €50 voucher to spend at John’s Meats. We are envious of the magnificent barbeques that you are sure to have.
If… Continue reading »
Mini Aubergine and Feta Kebabs
A post by peter at CheapEats.ie
Over the past few months, I’ve built up a big freezer full of soups, stews, and casseroles. Last week, I decided to use the food up and didn’t do any shopping.
But I still had a miserable fridge with about half an aubergine and some feta cheese. I didn’t want them to go to waste either,… Continue reading »
This Just In: Free Grilled Chicken at KFC!
A post by Hillary at Chew On That
Sorry for the late notice. All day today you can pick up a free piece of KFC’s grilled chicken at participating stores. Just released, the grilled chicken product is KFC’s effort to renew the fried chicken restaurant’s reputation as one that has healthy options. I’m not sure I buy it, but I might go and try some!
For more details, click here. Continue reading »
What the Sundays said about food.
By Sinéad Keogh
COUNTDOWN TO CHOWDOWN
The fourth Taste of Dublin festival is coming up this June, advises the Sunday Business Post. Tickets are reduced in price this year, starting at €15, with some of the chefs and restaurants involved involved including Kevin Dundon. Kevin Thornton, Ely, Balzac, Unicorn, Locks and Jaipur. It’s happening from June 11th to 14th in the Iveagh Gardens.
YUMMY DRUMMY
Also frm the Sunday Business Post, news that Harvey Nichols in Dundrum are launching their Pret-a-Portea next week. The event will feature a number of goodies inspired by the designers to mark the launch of the spring collection, advises the SBP. Cakes, macaroons and yums of all types will be served daily from 3pm – 5pm in the First Floor restaurant from Tuesday May 2nd - €30 per person or €40 per person with a glass of Harvey Nichols brut champagne.
WINE AND DINE
Finally from the Sunday Business Post, Grafton Street’s shiny Westbury are holding a wine tasting and dinner this Thursday and Friday night with O’Brien’s Wines and Dave Powell of Torbreck Wines in South Australia. Tickets are just €9.95 for Thursday and orders on the night will receive a 20% discount. The five-course dinner and wine event on Friday night at the Westbury’s Wilde restaurant on Friday night is €75 and bookings are being taken now – a nice way to ease yourself into the bank holiday weekend
FORKING OUT
The restaurant reviews in brief.
BARGAIN BASEMENT BITES
At the Sunday Indo, Lucinda O’Sullivan is back with more meal deals as a slew of restaurants try to get in on the offers action. Just a few of her recommendations include Kilkenny’s Campagne where chef Garrett Byrne is offering a two/three-course prix-fixe menu at €24 or €28. Dishes on offer include navarin of lamb and daube of Hereford beef. Waterford’s La Boheme is offering a table d’hote menu Tuesday to Friday from 5.30 – 7pm for €29, which is coming in at the same price as Zak’s restaurant at the Athenaeum Hotel in Waterford Harbour.
TOAST OF THE COAST
Ross Golden Bannon of the Sunday Business Post tries out Hartley’s in Dun Laoghaire this week. Starting with a salad of goat’s cheese, candied beetroot and orange with crystallised walnut which he pegs “all hype”, he fared better with the grilled free range chicken supreme with wild mushroom, bacon and pinto bean cassoulet which was “moist, iwth a rich flavour and a very generous portion”. His companion enjoyed seared tuna with pipernata and green olive tapenade, dubbed “quite the treat, really”. Rounding off proceedings with a nicely done cheese list Golden Bannon concludes that Hartley’s is “not short of talent, just consistency”.
CHAPTER ONE AND ONLY
At the Sunday Tribune, Katy McGuinness tries out Michelin-starred Chapter One for a spot of lunch to see how the 17-year-old restaurant is faring in the current economic climate and finds the eaterie on top form. Dishes making the grade included a starter of Leek and Potato soup with herbed chicken dumpling and truffle oil; Black Pudding and Veal Sweetbread Boudin and Sauté Queen Scallops, Sauce Soubice. A main of Cod, Brandade of Smoked Haddock, Watercress Puree, Light Béarnaise and Purple Sprouting Broccoli was written up as “substantial, full of flavour, simple and well-judged” and it seemed everything chef Lewis touched turned to gold, with starters, mains, cheeses and sweets consistently impressing. McGuinness awards 5 stars out of 5.
A liquid poem to the glory of the hop
A post by Thom at Black Cat Brewery
Stone are at it again. The blurb on this bottle of Ruination IPA isn’t as polarising as that of Arrogant Bastard, but the need for the brewers at Stone to talk to consumers is just as strong.
I’ve waited some time to try this beer. It is supposed to be a must have for hop lovers but I am not drawn in by the 100+ IBU boast on the bottle. It’s bitter; big deal. IPA and hop bombs are about hop flavour and aroma to me and thankfully this beer has this trait in spades. Continue reading »
Mint Sauce
A post by Conor at Toasted Special
As far as I’m concerned, spring lamb is at it’s peak right now in terms of tenderness and flavour. I don’t like to mess with a tried and trusted formula; it’s got to be mint sauce with my lamb. Here’s a good recipe to accompany your gigot.
Ingredients
a good handful of mint leaves
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp English mustard
salt & pepper
Chop the mint leaves finely and mix with the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl. Continue reading »
From one daring baker disaster to another
A post by Sarah Bell at Stuff yer bake
This months challenge was a delicious cheesecake. I have tried a few cheesecake recipes before and some have been lovely but never “the best cheesecake I’ve ever tasted”. This one, I have to say, was not much different but I think that was more down to operator error than the recipe.
I went for a chocolate and Amaretto flavour with amaretti biscuit base, which was delicious but the texture wasn’t great, base and topping included. Continue reading »
A post by Billy Lyons at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD IN CORK
Cork – Hotels & Holidays – Hotels
LUNCH AT THE ATRIUM
The Atrium Lounge in the Clarion Hotel (Lapps Quay) is a good spot for a light lunch. Certainly, I enjoyed my recent visit and found the prices quite reasonable.
I had a Toasted Focaccia (with Greek cheese and tomato), served with a salad and a handful of potato crisps. It was quite substantial and the cost was €8.50. I had a glass of Siete Sauvignon Blanc (€5.75) with it and was very happy with the meal. Continue reading »
A post by Billy Lyons at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD IN CORK
Cork
At the Continental
Thursday evening at 6.30pm and the recession raging! Thought I’d walk in to Luigi Malone’s. No way – booked out! Walked across Patrick Street, down to The Continental – we were the only two there for the duration of our high quality meal. Come on folks – give this gem a try!
They have an early Bird to tempt you: 2 courses cost €19.90, 3 cost €24.95. Great choices, great food. They dish out brown and white breads with butter, hummous and oil. Nice touch. Continue reading »
A post by Billy Lyons at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD IN CORK
Cork
GOOD OFFER AT MILANO’S
Didn’t see any brick oven but the pizza at Milano’s in Oliver Plunkett Street was good. So too was the welcome, the service and atmosphere in a restaurant that was very busy early on Wednesday evening.
Perhaps the rush was partly down to the promotional voucher in the local Evening Echo that gives you one free pizza for each ordered. Not a bad offer at all so I said I try it out. Continue reading »
Burgundy/Champagne 09: 2nd night in Beaune
A post by noreply@blogger.com (Will) at Irish Wine Contemplations
Following on from our mammoth tasting with Philippe Chavy we rushed back to Beaune in order to make our dinner reservation in Ma Cuisine. I’d never been to this restaurant before but its reputation is legendary not only for the high quality of the food nor informal yet friendly service but also for it’s exceptional, relatively inexpensive winelist. After a quick stop in our hotel to change our. Continue reading »
Pricewatch Tests Vegetable Stock
A post by peter at CheapEats.ie
In this week’s Pricewatch in The Irish Times, Conor Pope taste tests five different vegetable stock brands. Top marks go to Marigold Swiss Bouillon and Marks and Spencer Concentrated Vegetable Stock.
I’ll often make my own chicken stock. But I’m never bothered to make my own vegetable stock: Marigold is just as good or even better…. Continue reading »
