It’s a few years since I last went beering in Asia. I must confess, however, that I’ve never come home hankering after any particular beer I’ve tried there, even though there’s some great stuff to be had if you put the effort in to look for it.  Continue reading »

Let’s cut to the chase, because time is short: if you want to help resurrect the traditional Irish spirit known as poitín, you can kick a few bucks into the 1661 Poitín venture on Kickstarter. Only five days remain for this project to meet its funding requirement, so don’t tarry!
Poitín (or poteen) is the other great Irish spirit, a sort of a democratic version of whiskey.  Continue reading »

 There really are so many amazing food & wine events happening around the country. This free event which will be hosted by the New Zealand wine brand, Brancott Estate, came to my attention and I just had to share it with you. It sounds like a really spectacular foodie adventure, which I’m sure there will be great interest in, so register with www.brancottestatestaycurious.com for your chance to win some free tickets.  Continue reading »

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I like to think that I’m living a well rounded life, all balance and harmony. The reality is different – I’m writing this eating crackers and cheese. Too lazy to cook. But that’s ok, I’m not really hungry right now. I ate a Whopper earlier from a motorway service station. Spent 12 hours on the road today with just a slice of apple tart for breakfast. Living the dream baby.
In order to create balance for all my badness I’m going to post a kale recipe.  Continue reading »

FENN’S
QUAY FOODIE FACE-OFF
Fair play to Fenn’s Quay’s  Head Chef Kate Lawlor: she has organised another foodie face-off in her restaurant over the coming Wednesdays. Paul Axford and Sarah O’Riordan are the contestants in the second semi-final of what is properly called Chef du Jour and the winner will take on Waterford’s Jeni Pim (above, left, with Kate) in the final. First up is Paul.  Continue reading »

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Lots of families – including mine – have a little thing called Mexican night every couple of weeks. Whether or not you practice your Spanish skills at the table, everyone can agree that it’s fun to have an excuse to bust out the Mexican food and have a little fiesta at home. Keep reading for my best recommendations of casseroles to celebrate this fun family night.  Continue reading »

I studied Taekwon Do (the Korean martial art) for several years, so I got pretty good at shouting instructions such as Spinning back kick and X-shaped block in Korean. I also learned to count as well as learning a few small bits and pieces of Korean history. However, Taekwon Do classes didn’t prepare me to order Korean food.  Continue reading »

With the sounds of Jose Gonzalez playing in the new speakers fitted in the roof, I work my way through a hazelnut latte as I type, having digested a pork and chicken terrine (shot below) with salad in the newly refurbished and now reopened Food Hall at Kilkenny Design Centre.  Continue reading »

With the sounds of Jose Gonzalez playing in the new speakers fitted in the roof, I work my way through a hazelnut latte as I type, having digested a pork and chicken terrine (shot below) with salad in the newly refurbished and now reopened Food Hall at Kilkenny Design Centre.  Continue reading »

“People are more keen on making dinner than decorating dinner“

Spring is in the air, and thoughts turn towards growing once again. While the busy full time horticulturalist is always active, those who supply gardeners see something of a spike in interest this time of year.  Continue reading »

Doesn’t it seem, when you get to a certain age, that birthdays seem to swing by every six months?
It does not feel all that long ago since my last one. I am sure that the iPhone alarm, going off all day to alert me that my birthday is all but upon us, is wrong.
Apple malfunction for sure.
I had tea earlier today with a friend and we reviewed the ‘book’ together.  Continue reading »

So, we went off-farming for a week.
A much needed dalliance;
a celebration of sorts.
We journeyed down to a wintery Costa Del Sol, Spain…
Where there was an endless blue sky
brimming with sun every day.  Continue reading »

Let’s cut to the chase, because time is short: if you want to help resurrect the traditional Irish spirit known as poitín, you can kick a few bucks into the 1661 Poitín venture on Kickstarter. Only five days remain for this project to meet its funding requirement, so don’t tarry!
Poitín (or poteen) is the other great Irish spirit, a sort of a democratic version of whiskey.  Continue reading »

 Chardonnay Marsanne, star of the Pfeiffer Parish
 
Pfeiffer, Carlyle Chardonnay Marsanne, 2008 Australia, 13.5%,
€14.55 Karwig Wines 
Carlyle is the name of the parish
where Australia’s Pfeiffer Wines  are based and Chris Pfeiffer is so proud of this Chardonnay Marsanne wine that
he named it after the parish.
This is about as local as you can
get and these little things are important.  Continue reading »

I’ve been dying sick with the flu all week so decided to make this soup. Nothing makes me feel better than a warming bowl of soup, and of course you can never go wrong with bacon.

A lot of people don’t make pea soup at home as they find it quite tasteless compared to the versions they get in restaurants, my little secret is to add both onions and shallots. I find using both you get a rounder fuller flavour.  Continue reading »

Donegal Food Coast ‘Cook Off’ pitches two opposition TDs against each other!Two local Donegal TDs are lined up for a face-to-face “Cook Off” on Friday 9th March, in Redcastle, Co Donegal, to help promote “The Food Coast – Donegal’s Good Food Initiative”.The evening will begin with Community Chef Brian McDermott demonstrating a classic fish dish using Greencastle fish and other Donegal produce.  Next up will be TDs Pádraig MacLochlainn and Charlie McConalogue going head-to-head to cook a main course using local ingredients from a mystery basket of produce.  The Dáil deputies will be assisted by two students from the Letterkenny Institute of Technology’s Tourism School.  Continue reading »

After reading reviews of Skinflint here, here, here and here, although they were a mixed bag, I really wanted to like this place. We turned up on a Saturday evening and there were maybe three other people there in the small space. Along with the name, the aesthetic is “recession chic” (I hate these coined terms, along with the dreaded, ubiquitous “pop-up”).  Continue reading »