Strangely I didn’t learn this on my recent travels in the deep south of the US. It’s based on a vegetarian version from the Café Fresh Cookbook. The chorizo and prawns make all the difference though. This is a really good dish for many reasons: it’s really warming on a cold day, it looks beautiful as it is really colourful and it’s easy to make.
We served it as the main course at a Caribbean themed supper club, while friends provided jerked chicken wings and a fruity desert.  Continue reading »

I went for lunch the other day in Brambles Cafe, upstairs in the Stillorgan Shopping centre. I know there are a few Brambles outlets around Dublin but I hadn’t been to one before. I’m also aware that they use organic ingredients and are fair trade – good for them. However, offering organic produce is not reason enough to charge what they please.
I ordered two ‘large coffees’ and two ‘Gourmet sandwiches’.  Continue reading »

Cork – Shopping – Food & Drink – Wine, Beer & Spirits – Breweries
THE KILNEnjoyed my recent visit to the Kiln, the hospitality “pub” of Heineken Ireland.There are no public tours of this brewery and unlikely to be according to a spokesman who said the modern computer controlled processes, largely conducted out of sight, weren’t conducive to a tour situation.  Continue reading »

Cork – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Pubs
THE ASHBURTON BARWarm. Comfortable. Friendly. Cosy.All words that could be applied to the Ashburton Bar last night.There weren’t that many in – it was bad night weather wise. A dozen or more were scattered around, some chatting, some reading the newspapers, others watching the TV, still discussing the Henri hand ball!
It is a different story when there is a Premier or Champions League game on the big screen.  Continue reading »

The cafe and deli KC Peaches on Dublin’s Pearse St is running a Thanksgiving Food Drive to support St Vincent de Paul.  They’re asking for donations of good-quality, non-perishable foods that the Vincent de Paul Society can distribute to needy families this Christmas.  Food can be dropped off at KC Peaches during the month of November, and anyone donating food will get a 10% discount on purchases in the cafe.  Full details on the scheme are available here, and KC Peaches is located at Unit 10a, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Pearse St, Dublin 2.  Continue reading »

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Many wine experts believe the Burgundian AOC of Meursault produces the world’s best white wines. That’s a pretty big statement, which I suppose is impossible to prove or disprove. Although one thing is for sure, there are vineyards within Meursault, particularly along the border of Puligny, that are responsible for truly world class wines.
Meursault produces white wine from the Chardonnay grape.  Continue reading »

Sometimes my heart sinks when Reuben asks for “something light” for dinner. More often than not, I want to tuck into a full plate of something hearty, hot, and filling for dinner. “Light” is not appetite inducing to me, except on the hottest of summer days. But, like cooking for vegans or picky eaters, I like the challenge of cooking light. This was a first-time recipe for me, but will definitely go into my regular rotation.  Continue reading »

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the majority of Indians did not know how to make a cup of tea and were reluctant to drink one. Now that India is both the world’s major producer and consumer of tea, this seems incredible. It confounds the myth that the British acquired their love of tea from their Indian subjects. In fact, it was the British who introduced tea to the Indians.  Continue reading »

There is something just right about organic and gardening. Organic and gardening seem to go together like crackers and cheese, or laurel and hardy.

Add school children into the mix, and organic almost becomes de rigeur. This probably says a lot about societies’ impression of children as innocent little bundles of delicate joy, as well as the very real physociological developmental differences between children and adults.  Continue reading »

Making holiday meals can be a lot of work. Do you spend most of your day in the kitchen slaving over the stove? Or maybe you’re responsible for a dish to bring and you’re not so much the cook? Either way this is a super simple side dish that’s quick and fresh.  Continue reading »

The rain continues to pour down, and the flooded streets and angry waters seem to reflect the mood of the country after last night’s soccer defeat to France. I enjoy watching soccer, but I am not a mad soccer fan. And yet, I could help being swept away in the excitement last night as Ireland’s Robbie Keane scored to make the dream of going to the World Cup seem suddenly very real.  Continue reading »

It’s back on again this weekend, chaps. I just snagged myself a lovely-looking whole chicken for Sunday dinner. As usual, it’s very popular and it’s best not to go at busy times.  Today I saw a lady with Dinner for Two multiplied by SIX in her trolley.
The selection this time includes:
Mains:
Ready To Roast Honey Glazed Gammon
Medium Oakham Chicken
The Grill Ginger & Lime Coriander Chicken
Lasagne Al Forno
NEW! The Cook Menu Chicken Feta Lattice Pie
NEW!  Continue reading »

Add as much parmesan as you like

I’m in Italy at the minute, and I’m eating so well. We all know the food is good in Italy. But the prices! I’m in the mountains of Tuscany, where workers and wives alike can pick up a fabulous three-course lunch for less than a tenner.
Yesterday, I ate a gorgeous barley minestrone, followed by sliced steak in a tomato, caper and olive sauce, with potatoes and chard.  Continue reading »

The Goodwineshow Cork 2009
Over the past couple of weeks/months you probably saw references to the Good wine show either here on my blog, other blogs in Ireland or the national press media.
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the event on the Saturday. From what I could see the event was a rip roaring success with people flocking from all around to taste the wines from Bubblebrothers, Karwig Wines and Curiouswines.  Continue reading »

ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL
Enjoyed a re-union meal at this Ballincollig hotel last evening. There were about one hundred at the function, much more at a farmers’ meeting in the next function room, but the staff dealt comfortably and efficiently with the demand.The food was excellent. There were three choices of starter and three of main course (beef, chicken, cod). The chef didn’t take the easy way out. For instance, the fish came in an inviting herby crust.  Continue reading »

The offers available at Aldi this week have a distinct ’stocking up for Christmas’ theme:

Christmas Gingerbread House, €8.99.  WARNING: These look adorable, but in my experience, no-one will eat them.
Chocolate praline bauble, €5.99
Marzipan bar, 85c

In toys and electronics, they have:

Computer, €699.99
12 megapixel digital camera, €89.99
Walking dinosaurs,€16.99
Tonka Trucks, €19.99

These offers and more are available on their website.  Continue reading »

I wasn’t at all impressed by BrewDog’s misnomered Hop Rocker lager so haven’t been inclined to run out and try their other lighter offerings. But enough positive comments about 77 Lager have filtered through to me to make me go out and buy a bottle of this one.
Universally described as very much a hops-forward lager, I was expecting something along the lines of Brooklyn’s, but it’s a much more intense experience.  Continue reading »

No more French cheese.  Continue reading »

Lidl have three for two on a number of products this week:

Farley’s Rusks
Muller Rice
7up Free

There’s also Heinz Juice for Babies on three for two, however, this product is an intrinsic ripoff: it’s just normal juice diluted with water.  So basically you’re paying more for less juice. Just buy good quality apple juice with no added sugar and dilute it yourself, I reckon.
Chicken legs, drumsticks and thighs are all €4 for two packs.
All Lidl food offers are here.  Continue reading »