BEST OF 2009

2009 REVIEWA personal list from restaurants visited this year. Sorry I couldn’t get to all.  Continue reading »

YING’S PALACE   Made an overdue visit to Ying’s Palace Chinese Restaurant last night and found it even better value than previously and that without any drop at all in quality.I usually go for one of the set meals. They have one at less than 16 euro and three between twenty and twenty three euro.We (these set meals are for two minimum) started with the prawn crackers and then had the soup, followed by shredded duck with little pancakes, salad and sauce.  Continue reading »

Okay, Jamie got one, Rick Stein got one (at least a Christmas edition) and now Clodagh McKenna got one – her own magazine. The launch issue is just out and of course I had a peak. The magazine is called Homemade and it is not just about cooking but also entertaining – how to dress a table, how to make personalised place settings, thrifty homemade chic etc.  Continue reading »

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This is another Christmasish (not a word but who cares) recipe that really only fits in here ’cause of the seasonal colour of the pomegranate sauce and marinade. This all came about really because I had some chicken and a bottle of Pom in my fridge, which has pretty much been there for while (the Pom juice, that is). Sometimes the best recipes are inspired by what you have on hand so I figured I’d give it a go see what happens.  Continue reading »

This looks to be pretty smart (if a little clunky in places) and could make up for the complete lack of shop floor knowledge when it comes to wine.
But here’s the thing. Should it be that hard to choose a bloody bottle of wine that would warrant a whole application to be developed?  Continue reading »

The Guardian Food and Mouth Blog has the most rigorous article on roast potatoes that I’ve seen anywhere: they try four different recipes with three different varieties of potatoes, resulting in twelve different types of roast potato.  You really have to respect that level of commitment to spuds.  Continue reading »

Up until now, my only experience of Chicago-style pizza was the type available in freezer cabinets. I think Pizza Hut do a deep pan pizza also, but again, it’s a miles away from the real thing. According to a lot Chicago foodies and bloggers, the place to go for pizza is the modestly named Pizzeria Uno. “Unos” is now a nationwide chain, but we visited the original restaurant in downtown Chicago.  Continue reading »

By Jean McGuire
On a recent visit to Monaghan, we had the pleasure of being taken to The Squealing Pig, known locally as “The Pig”, for a meal.
It’s not a very impressive establishment from the outside and indeed not much better from inside. Had it not been recommended to us for good quality food we might well have passed on by. The building is on three floors, with the restaurant on top.  Continue reading »

JULIAN GRAVES
Julian Graves is one of the outlets operating in the Killarney Outlet centre. Quite a choice here of nuts, seeds, sweets, fruits and so on. “A bit of what you fancy” as they say themselves.Quite a choice but are you really getting a discount here? Take their Liquorice All Sorts. Regular cost in the UK is £3.99 (£2.99 on the website). In Killarney it is €4.59.  Continue reading »

The spirit of Christmas. Image from www.sxc.hu.

Like many people, I’ll be looking to buy a few bottles of sweet, sweet booze for Christmas.  I only need to pick up a few for gifts and for the house, and don’t have a large enough order to warrant a trip to the North.  While doing some shopping in Dublin city yesterday I was hoping to pick up some bottles and get a few decent deals.  Continue reading »

Hurrah, Bubble Brothers finally are launching a wine club in 2010. A new wine club for Cork, meeting 10 times a year at The Castle Bar & Trattoria at Blackrock Castle to enjoy good wine and good company (since I will be there in very special surroundings. Write to club@bubblebrothers.com for more details. First meeting will take place Thursday 28th January 2010 at 7:30 – 9:30.
There are no details on the website, so you will have to email them.  Continue reading »

COSTA COFFEE
Costa Coffee shops are springing up around Cork city but my first visit to one came in Killarney yesterday when we called to their place in the local Outlet Centre.Comfortable seats, plus a recommendation from our local “guide” beckoned us in and I enjoyed my cup of Americano. Took a medium but it was actually quite large . It cost €2.90 and tasted very well indeed.There is no table service here. You go to the counter and pick up your coffee and scone or whatever.  Continue reading »

We’re planning to have a few friends over for New Year’s Eve. Instead of coordinating a full sit-down dinner, I’m planning a spread of bite-size delicacies. A plate of hors d’oeuvres balanced in one hand with a glass of champagne in the other is my idea of a party — even when it’s just me and Reuben. I make this beef tenderloin recipe often for parties. It’s easy, can be made in advance, and everyone seems to love it.  Continue reading »

After the disappointment of London’s 2 Michelin star restaurant “The Square“, we were now firmly back on track with our recent visit to the Las Vegas outpost of  “L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon”. Frenchman Robuchon is a restaurant legend and a pioneer of nouvelle cuisine. His clutch of restaurants hold a total of no less than 18 Michelin stars. He once temporarily deafened his then protégé Gordon Ramsay by throwing a langoustine at his ear.  Continue reading »

The first time I had brisket was when I was working for a caterer at a Hanukkah dinner here in LA. I was fresh off the boat so I wasn’t versed in this Jewish tradition, though over the years I’ve become well versed in the variety of foods served around this time of year. This is in honour of all my Jewish peeps.
I’m a huge fan of braising meats because this technique of slow cooking over longer periods of time makes the meat super tender and intensely flavourful.  Continue reading »

If you keep track of my foodie goings on via twitter you may have read that on Monday I took a drive up to Athboy in Co. Meath to visit the headquarters of Sheridans Cheesemongers.  In this quick video the lovely Elisabeth Ryan from Sheridans talks us through her choices for her Christmas cheese board.  I will be posting full details on each cheese with more details so stay tuned!  Continue reading »

Oh no, I’m so ashamed. Yesterday I brought to an end my recent poor diet of vegetable fat, salt and sugar with a healthy fruit and yogurt breakfast and a green vegetable stir-fry for lunch, followed by some nuts, juice and wholemeal bread as an afternoon snack.  Continue reading »

I’ve always been a fan of porridge. It’s one of those things that seems to fit in perfectly with a cold morning at the cottage: a steaming bowlful, topped with some stewed fruit and a dollop of natural yoghurt is just the thing to set myself and Little Missy up for the day. She eats the regular sort, which I grind up with my immersion blender (always useful but now indispensable) before cooking, but I’ve gotten hooked on Flahavan’s Pinhead Oatmeal this winter.  Continue reading »

….here is the proof…..bloggers can become chefs…..as easy as easy peasy. The Good Mood Blog is run by Donal Skehan (who looks about 15 years old) and he has publish the Good Mood Food Book (are there anymore variations of ‘ood’???) and has received great reviews. I should really start writing recipes down…if I remembered them afterwards
Anyhow, the blog is really cool. He has a little cousin who helps him along and the whole blog has a great feel to it.  Continue reading »