Looking through all the pics from Christmas. So much good eating: a lovely ham cooked in Cidona a la Catherine Cleary (with Highbank Orchard Syrup), plates of Christmas cookies, spiced beef and spiced pies and spiced beer. But this is my favorite picture. I don’t even like most of the veg in this pan, but…  Continue reading »

Fresh Abanero Chilies

I need to start this with a belated HAPPY CHRISTMAS or FELIZ NAVIDAD to all my readers. It’s been a couple of very busy weeks with the running up to Christmas (including my birthday!), which was full of last minute catch up, a nasty flu I have been trying to shake for about six weeks and generally, just a lot of work.  Continue reading »

I reckon that I’ve driven over 1,300 km in the last 2.5 weeks. Although I live in Dublin, my newest client is based in Cork, and I’ve also been trekking between Cork and Waterford for family Christmas obligations. In the two and a half years I’ve owned my beloved car, I’ve nearly doubled the mileage on it and I’ve only slept in my own bed 2 nights out of the last 20. 

The funny thing is that I kind of like being out on the road.  Continue reading »

We’ve been busy in the wintery world of ice cream, trying to tie up a BES scheme to help us expand.
The BES has been set up (and will be managed) by Quintas in Cork, and although we have a fund that approved a chunk of the amount we’re looking for, it was less then we had hoped, so we’re short in terms of getting the BES fully subscribed.  Continue reading »

I would like to wish you all a (belated) happy Christmas.  I had a wonderful day with Mr. LMUTB and my family.  Our little house was full to bursting.  Presents were exchanged and paper strewn.  My niece and nephews played and rearranged my Christmas decorations.  The adults chatted and laughed.  Mr. LMUTB and I cooked up a feast and we all ate far more than we should have.  It was pretty perfect really.  I hope that you had a wonderful day too, where ever you were.  Continue reading »

The Royal Spice Indian restaurant on Patrick Street, Kilkenny, a regular fixture on my dining calendar. Yes, I'll be back there regularly in 2012 but I'll need to find some new restaurants to eat in as well to make the list.

No, I’m not talking about solving any crises surrounding restaurant wages, food wastage or skipping out on restaurant bookings. Each year, I make a small resolution to do more of something that I enjoy.  Continue reading »

With the big holidays behind us, it’s time to start thinking about some of the delectable food holidays that give us the opportunity to indulge in new flavors and foods. Keep reading to see how we think you should celebrate National Chocolate Day, and tell us what you make!
On National Chocolate Day, we encourage you to indulge in a little sweetness and taste some chocolate. Dark chocolate is actually good for you, as it has lots of cardiovascular benefits.  Continue reading »

“Years ago, I spent a week reporting from the European parliament
in Strasbourg. One evening, a group of MEPs asked if I would join them for
dinner….. The meal exquisite – one superlative dish followed another – though I
could scarcely enjoy it, since I knew that my paper…would be deeply unhappy about
refunding the monstrous bill I could expect. Finally it arrived and I started
to search for a.  Continue reading »

With New Year’s Eve upon us this weekend, I thought that a few tasty and easy to make Dips would come in handy if you are planning a house party for the occasion! The dips can be used with crisps, crackers, potato wedges, cut-strips of carrot or celery, tortillas, oven chips, breadsticks, samosas, spring rolls or anything else that takes your fancy! These recipes each make enough for 10-12 people. Happy New Year!  Continue reading »

Eden

I didn’t have my reviewer’s hat on when I dined here recently with my in-laws. However, I remembered later that Eden is listed in The Dubliner – 100 Best Restaurants so I had to rethink my decision. So here goes…
Mr W and I were the first to arrive. We decided to wait in the reception area  for the rest of our group and  I ordered a Gin and Tonic to sip while we perused the menu. It took a bit too long for for my drink to arrive.  Continue reading »

Once Christmas night has come to a close I always feel like the festivities for this year are truly over. I won’t take the Christmas tree down just yet, but it will making an exit from the building pretty soon. As a family we really enjoyed the Christmas celebrations, as the children are all getting a little older and can partake much easier in the preparations.  Continue reading »

The run up to the Christmas season is obviously a busy time for restaurants, generating much needed revenue (with over 20% of the annual restaurant income being generated in in 3 weeks). Office and work parties mean that large tables are reserved well in advance allowing the restaurant managers to plan, purchase stock and organise work rosters.

Over the past year on Twitter, I’ve noticed the occasional tweet from assorted restauranteurs about confirmed bookings who fail to show.  Continue reading »

Once Christmas night has come to a close I always feel like the festivities for this year are truly over. I won’t take the Christmas tree down just yet, but it will making an exit from the building pretty soon. As a family we really enjoyed the Christmas celebrations, as the children are all getting a little older and can partake much easier in the preparations.  Continue reading »

I thought you folks might like this clip of the Curtlestown wren boys playing at my local crossroads which is a rural Irish tradition on St. Stephen’s Day. These days no wren is hunted or killed as was the pre-Christian custom but the wren boys (and girls) still wear the traditional raggy clothes, straw “mummers” hats and disguise themselves. Many years ago the wren boys hunted a wren through the hedgerows which eventually came to a sticky end, poor thing.  Continue reading »

Just when you thought the whole tatty Christmas market thing was over, I bring you a beer brewed specifically for taking the edge off shivering around the stalls looking at a million identical wooden angels and tiny log cabins while magma-hot glühwein raises blisters in your mouth before instantly turning undrinkably cold.
It’s called Christkindlesmarkt Bier and is from Tucher in Nuremberg.  Continue reading »

I hope everyone is having a great day and aren’t stressing too much about the Christmas lunch. In the event of something going wrong just increase measures in the cocktails keep calm and persevere. Have a wonderful day everyone. .  Continue reading »

“Remind me to make the trifle later,” says Ma.
There’s little chance that I’ll forget. It being Christmas Day, this is no mere trifle (though mère trifle, on the other hand, it most certainly is). It will add to the already too much food that will be prepared for today’s family gathering, and Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a heaving, over-stuffed table.  Continue reading »

Holly waiting for Santa Claus to arrive……..
 
 Thanks to everyone for visiting my site this year and a special thanks to the ever patient OH.  Continue reading »

I know I am more often than not going on about a product called Gookies. With good reason, I might add. Gookies is a gluten free, wheat free, fresh cookie dough roll that comes in a variety of flavours.  Continue reading »

Midleton Market this morning.
Happy Christmas to all the stallholders at Midleton, Mahon and elsewhere.
It has been a pleasure meeting you over the past 12 months – see you all again in 2012.
Click on image to enlarge.  Continue reading »