FIG Restaurant at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, is the latest star shining brightly on Los Angeles’ westside. Having read their review in the LA Times, I was delighted to see another organic restaurant close to home that not only got a good review but also seemed to have integrity in their concept:
“At FIG, we put ingredients first. Our menu is built around what’s in peak season and we are always seeking out the region’s best growers and producers.  Continue reading »

While I visited Green City Market last fall , I had yet to reap the benefits of their summer produce until this past weekend. And with purple rain carrots (pictured above) to squash blossoms to tables of fresh herbs to the best raspberries I have ever tasted, there was certainly a lot to see (and taste). I wish I lived closer to the market so I’d be able to pick up this awesome produce every weekend but regardless, I’ll definitely make an effort to go back more regularly.  Continue reading »

I had a craving yesterday as I was making a roast dinner for some pudding so I had a look through the crazy amount of recipes I have bookmarked online and came across Sticky Toffee Pudding by The Daily Spud (one very talented blogger who beat me to win the much coveted Irish Blog Award for the Best Food/Drink Blog in 2009!). I had all the ingredients to had/good substitutes for ones I didn’t have so I had to make it!  Continue reading »

A.  Continue reading »

This week we asked Emily Doran of Emily Doran Photography in Cork to give us her top tips on preparing for your wedding photographs. Of course a good photographer helps, so over to the expert!
Prepare to be amazed
I think preparation is key for each wedding day. I always try to visit the ceremony and reception venues, and especially the bridal party photo shoot location beforehand. That way I can really get the most out of a location and don’t waste any time on the day.  Continue reading »

<!– @page { As the Summer wears on the signs of recession biting into the food and wine industry in Ireland are taking shape.  Continue reading »

Special offers at Tesco this week include:
Yoplait Frubes (9 pack) – Buy One Get One Free (€2.69 each)
Marques de Leon Red and White Wines (75cl) – €4 each
Breakfast Deal – Denny Gold Medal Sausages (227g), Hickory, Maple or Traditional Rashers (180g) and Black and White Pudding (199g) – buy all 3 for €4
Most of these…  Continue reading »

Long time readers of Robertfranciswine will remember I completed a 8 bottle wine series on the wines of Lidl before christmas – click here for previous posts.
The videos were very popular and even got a mention on @conorpopes fantastic price watch blog on the Irish Times website – click here.
Well good news – the Lidl press team have been in contact and just over a week a go I collected 4 bottles from the Headford Road store in Galway to review.  Continue reading »

This recipe is probably the closest one to the way I like my Chocolate Chip Cookies to be, I adpated it from this recipe from the King Arthur Flour website and it seems to be pretty foolproof.  The cookies are crunchy and chewy all at the same time, which, in my books is a winner!  Continue reading »

Got a really nice piece in the Sunday Independent magazine yesterday, about the blog, book and the band!  Take a peak!  Continue reading »

I have seen chefs make marshmallow a few times and have often thought about giving it a go, but never have. When this challenge came up I was keen to give it my best shot and my Fiance was also extremely excited about the prospect of chocolate covered goodies.
The cookies seemed to come out well so then was the challenge of the marshmallow.  Continue reading »

I have seen chefs make marshmallow a few times and have often thought about giving it a go, but never have. When this challenge came up I was keen to give it my best shot and my Fiance was also extremely excited about the prospect of chocolate covered goodies.
The cookies seemed to come out well so then was the challenge of the marshmallow.  Continue reading »

Dad was up in Derry visiting his family recently and, as usual, came home armed with a load of groceries from Sainsbury’s. They have some pretty decent treats, and their own range items are – in my humble opinion – a damn sight better than those of Tesco or Dunnes.
Some special offers this week include:
McGuigan…  Continue reading »

Sunday Business Post – Tomas Clancy
TO TRY: Mitchell’s Gold, AC Graves Supe´rieures, €15.50 from Mitchell & Son, CHQ, IFSC, Dublin 1; 54 Glasthule Road, Sandycove, Co Dublin; Marlay Park Retail Centre, Grange Road, Rathfarnham; and online at www.mitchelland son.com (88)

Just next door to AC Sauternes in Bordeaux is the huge AC Graves region, famous for its dry whites and soft reds.  Continue reading »

Is anyone still shopping up north (I ask gingerly)? With price cuts at pretty much every Irish supermarket, are prices here now matching up to those in the north? My sister Barbara, the ultimate authority on Northern Irish value, is busy with her new baby, so my main source of information has dried up.
Here’s a…  Continue reading »

A trolley load of goods at SuperValu, measured by the supermarket on June 21, has fallen from €129 to €98. There’s over 2000 price cuts in store, and a selection of special offers this week includes:
Bank Holiday Breakfast Deal: Shaw’s Traditional Rashers 6’s (210g), Shaw’s Sausages 10’s (454g), Shaw’s Mini Pudding – prices reduced on…  Continue reading »

Saintes – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Bars
If you find yourself in Saintes, either shopping or on a tour of the historice sites of the town, and need a nite to eat at lunchtime then you could do worse than call to the Cafe Brasserie Les Arenes.There is ample free parking across the street that you may use for shopping or sightseeing.  Continue reading »

Superquinn’s new, user-friendly website is making it a lot easier to keep track of their special offers. This week, you can pick up some items for the barbecue, including:
Selection of pre-packed fish: €4 (save up to €3.99)
BBQ Meal Deal: 4 Burgers and 8 Sausages, Superquinn Coleslaw and Potato Salad (280g), Garden Salad Bowl (225g) –…  Continue reading »

As usual at Dunnes Stores, their website gives a quite comprehensive list of current special offers. This week you’ll find:
Denny Sausages, Rashers and Pudding – Buy all 3 for €5
Petit Filous Fromage Frais 12 x 60g – half price – was €3.89, now €1.94
Some of Dunnes’ offers are valid until Sunday August 9; others expire…  Continue reading »

Irish Times – Pat Carroll
WINES OF THE WEEK 
This week’s bottles of the week illustrate six different label styles.
Traditional German 
Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2007, 12%, €18.95-€19.95.
Traditional label, but nothing old-fashioned about the wine.  Continue reading »