Conventional wisdom tells us that people spend more on ‘vices’ during a recession, drowning their sorrows with booze, fags, scratchcards and the dogs. However it looks like things are going against conventional wisdom here (as they so frequently do) – the Irish Times has reported that alcohol sales are showing an ‘unprecedented’ fall. There certainly…  Continue reading »

After a suggestion from Will at http://irishwine.blogspot.com/ I have started a google map for restaurants that cater for BYO. There doesn’t appear to be one resource for this  – so if you know of any in your area please let me know and I can add them.
For Google Map Link Click Here.  Continue reading »

Bloom, a five-day lifestyle and gardening event, opened in the Phoenix Park yesterday. I headed along for a quick preview and had a really lovely afternoon.
There’s a huge market bursting with delicious, world-class, small Irish food producers. Cheeses, chocolates, cakes, preserves, pies, meats, soups, juices, and dips sit happily alongside Caribbean, French, and Asian producers…  Continue reading »

Our fanastic Renvyle House Hotel giveaway closes at 5pm today – don’t forget to enter!  Continue reading »

It’s just your average Friday morning at Teach Basil. The Barnes, who is leaving us soon for the Sunday Life (incidentally if you want to apply for his job the deadline is noon today, click here for application form), rushed in to arm wrestle the Koffeeman. At stake was his pride during one of his last days at the Belfast Media Group, where he’s been for at least 8 or 9 years.  Continue reading »

Drumroll……… “Presenting the first ever Daring Cooks Challenge………….. Ricotta Gnocchi!!!!!”
Yes I’m like 2 weeks late posting this but life took over then sickness did so I’m only getting to post this now.  Continue reading »

…. okay not the ‘real’ UN but 4 gorgeous girls all from different nations. Wendy, Sabrina, Sue and myself headed off to the West last weekend. We didn’t really have a plan other than that we wanted to leave the city for a weekend. So we headed off in the general direction of Doolin – with a little detour to Sixmilebrigde (you have to visit the village pub with their duck pond – too funny).  Continue reading »

Understanding the balance and flow of power is crucial to understanding what people say, what they don’t say and what they imply.
Below is the original version of what appeared in the Irish Examiner yesterday, Thursday 28th May.
It was reported various places that multiple retailers are set to ask for a 40% price reduction from their suppliers of organic produce.  Continue reading »

Our congratulations to Karen Wilkins, from Llanion rowing club in Wales, who won a fine mixed case of wine from ourselves. Mike joined Siubhan McDevitt from Oceantocity in Meitheal Mara to draw out the lucky entrant. Karen will have something to help take away the pain of the race.
The Ocean to City race takes place on the June bank holiday weekend, Saturday 30th May, in Cork harbour.  Continue reading »

I used to think these raspberry banana pancakes were good but friends, I’ve found a pancake recipe that’s even better. Actually I shouldn’t take credit, my sister in law was the recipe finder and she made chocolate chip strawberry pancakes for dinner one of the nights while I was visiting. One bite of the perfectly cakey pancakes (pan cakes are supposed to be cakey not floppy!) and I immediately erased all other pancake recipes from my memory.  Continue reading »

I’m slightly late in posting this (and like a million other things!!!!!!!) but life has been rather busy the last few months and I’ve not had time for blogging, but have been baking and cooking when I get the chance.
So this is my post for this month’s Taste and Create hosted this month by Min and Shell at The Bad Girls’ Kitchen.  Continue reading »

I’m slightly late in posting this (and like a million other things!!!!!!!) but life has been rather busy the last few months and I’ve not had time for blogging, but have been baking and cooking when I get the chance.
So this is my post for this month’s Taste and Create hosted this month by Min and Shell at The Bad Girls’ Kitchen.  Continue reading »

Let’s start with breakfast. You have probably  seen steel cut oats here and there, maybe you’ve  read about them on your favorite food site or seen them on a shelf in your local grocery store. Whatever the case, this steel cut oat health trend is the real deal. Steel cut oatmeal makes a healthy and hearty breakfast, touting more nutrition and taste than your average packet of  instant oatmeal.  Continue reading »

Let’s start with breakfast. You have probably  seen steel cut oats here and there, maybe you’ve  read about them on your favorite food site or seen them on a shelf in your local grocery store. Whatever the case, this steel cut oat health trend is the real deal. Steel cut oatmeal makes a healthy and hearty breakfast, touting more nutrition and taste than your average packet of  instant oatmeal.  Continue reading »

I think most of us will agree that fast food can be delicious and satisfying in the right place at the right time. Such as Rick’s Burgers on Dame St in Dublin, at 3am after a scatter of pints.  However, there is some fast food that makes the skin crawl, which no amount of pints…  Continue reading »

I think most of us will agree that fast food can be delicious and satisfying in the right place at the right time. Such as Rick’s Burgers on Dame St in Dublin, at 3am after a scatter of pints.  However, there is some fast food that makes the skin crawl, which no amount of pints…  Continue reading »

Laurent and Neasa Miquel had great success at the London Wine Trade Fair this year with Laurent Miquel’s Viognier Nord-Sud 2007 awarded the 2009 Viognier trophy at the Top 100 tasting.
But hey, that was London, what about us in Ireland?
Well to celebrate, there’s a prize of a magnum (a double bottle) of delicious Viognier. Just pop a comment below. Competition closes 10th June.
What’s Viognier?  Continue reading »

Rosé wines are traditionally produced using a special technique of leaving the crushed red grapes to soak with macerating white grapes. But blending red and white wines will also produce a rosé of sorts, and that, says the European Union, is what’s needed by French, Spanish and Italian winemakers to attract new markets such as China.

The intention is to legalise the blending of white and red wine. Only 2% red wine is required to provide the colour close to a normal rosé.  Continue reading »

We’ve reviewed Cafe Bar Deli here before, but having eaten there again the other night, I just wanted to once more praise their salads.  Not many restaurants offer such a wide variety of interesting, unusual salads and for such good value: the large salads are enormous, more than enough for a filling meal, and cost…  Continue reading »

Superquinn have some great special offers on, all of which are valid until Tuesday June 9. There’s so many that I’m not sure where to start… Here’s a selection:
Half-price Irish ham fillet – reduced from €11.79 to €5.89 per kg
Romantic Meal Deal: 2 Irish Part Boned Chicken Breasts, Superquinn Roast Potatoes with Rosemary (400g), 2…  Continue reading »