Is it just me or is September flying by? Halloween will be here before you know it and these adorable fall cakes served in mason jars are the perfect dessert for your Halloween party.
It’s super easy to make these cakes. Just use your favorite box of white cake mix, divide the batter into two bowls and use food coloring to dye the batter black and orange. You could also make a candy corn cake by dying the batter orange and yellow.  Continue reading »

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New Cafe at Toons Bridge Dairy
The Real Olive Company and Toons Bridge Dairy this summer
opened a little shop beside their warehouse and buffalo dairy in the old
creamery,  Toons Bridge, near Macroom,
West Cork.
“We sell our buffalo milk produce (mozzarella, ricotta, butter,
raw milk, aged cheese, cream cheese and yoghourt) and our Mediterranean foods
(olives, oils, Iberico meats etc.) We.  Continue reading »

Majestic. That’s the word I’d use for the Brooklyn Black Ops bottle, a tall tapering 75cl embossed with the Brooklyn logo and labelled silver on black with matter-of-fact sans serif lettering. It’s the sort of class that bottles which strive to be classy never quite manage and makes you feel like you really have something as you twist the cork cage open.  Continue reading »

While I hate scaring the horses, the death of a patient in London from suspected SARS grabbed me by the scruff of the neck today. The news came hot on the heels of an announcement I noticed by the Saudi Ministry of Health yesterday stating that a new form of the coronavirus has been diagnosed in three people, causing the death of two of them; the third is still undergoing treatment. Coronaviruses are considered to be one of the common  agents of the common cold.  Continue reading »

It’s a very flirtatious carbohydrate.

Well now, with a statement like that, you may forget all notions of humble spud-hood.  Continue reading »

When I first met the man who became The Hubs over a decade and a half ago, he had a nickname bestowed on him by his charming friends.  He was known as Bobby.  Why?  Because his favourite food was chicken and King of The Hill was a huge hit at the time.  Fifteen years on and some things never change.  Continue reading »

  This confection is based around the theme of something savoury that’s sweet. Meat the meatballs and spaghetti cake. As my eldest boy turned 4 this week we had to celebrate with a party. However because his Birthday fell on a weekday it would have been difficult to get all the family together in the…  Continue reading »

When I was a child it was my father who would read to me each night, even though generally he would only be in the door from a hard days work, this was never made an issue of and he would  deliver each story, mostly from memory, with such dramatic expression I felt as though each night I was at the theatre.  Continue reading »

The blog’s 3rd birthday came and went a few days ago.  I didn’t forget, I was acutely aware that it was due to swing around, but I just couldn’t find the time to sit down to write a post to mark it.  The last few weeks have been hectic, to say the least, for me and most days I can’t tell if I am coming or going.  Sometimes life just gets like that though, busy busy without so much as a spare moment to bless yourself.  Mr.  Continue reading »

Sundays aren’t long in coming around, are they? This time last week I was already heading towards my second cup of coffee on the quay in Waterford and today it’s home for some project planning while figuring out what to do with the coffee picked up in Waterford. While I work on the latter, to continue the Sunday Brunch series, here’s ten articles plucked from the news in the food world this past week. If any of them strike a chord, leave a comment below and let me know.  Continue reading »

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The British Cheese Awards were held last night in Cardiff and there was more success on the night for Irish cheese producers, including another Gold win for local (to me) producer Helen Finnegan at Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese in Stoneyford whose Knockdrinna Gold came away with Best Goat’s Cheese out of a category containing 148 cheeses. The honour last year also went to an Irish producer with Galway’s Killeen Farmhouse Cheese taking the awards.  Continue reading »

India at the Farmgate
Jaipur Restaurant Dublin came to Cork’s Farmgate for Culture
Night and their team of chefs got a surprise. “We’re doing okay but no one told
us about these queues,” one said. And they did more than alright as the punters
flocked in last night. And so too did the Farmgate team, keeping the flow going
and organising seating for everyone.
Jaipur showcased the pan-Indian.  Continue reading »

Pistachio Cake. Or Caca Pistéise as Gaeilge for the Irish contingent (Mum, you’re reading this right?).  Or maybe it’s more of a bread. Either way, I really think you should make it too. And invite me over and we’ll have a couple of slices, buttered, with a cup of tea. 

Pistachio/Pistéise Cake/Bread

It’s a bit like a banana bread, but with no bananas and pistachios instead. And it’s green.  Continue reading »

Somebody has been telling me our lunchboxes seem to be getting a bit smaller lately. To which I replied, that pile of ironing just keeps getting bigger, doesn’t it?

Now in my freshly ironed clothes (merci chéri), I’m happily tucking into this week’s Lunchbox Of The Week. A combination of two of my favourite things; pancakes and crêpes. They work well served cold too, but Mr. Moustache zapped his in the office microwave for a few seconds. Some like it hot.  Continue reading »

I posted about Bushmills Irish Honey last March, when it was launched in the US. In late August it finally surfaced in Ireland, at least in Dublin airport, where I spotted it.

To be fair to Bushmills, I must declare that I don’t like the taste of honey. I got a sample of it in the airport shop in a little cup, though, and didn’t pick up so much on the honey.  Continue reading »

Food is one of the great pleasures in life, but having a healthy digestive system is equally important. People who suffer from allergies, autoimmune disorders and other illnesses have to keep an eagle eye on ingredients and preparation. I’ve suffered with bad acid reflux, heartburn and a whole heap of other nasties for over 10 years now. Through trial and error, I’ve effectively eliminated wheat from my diet as well as red wine.  Continue reading »

It’s not very often that we can review our weekly giveaways with such a personal recommendation, but after trying many varieties of these Farmer’s Garden by Vlasic© pickles, we can ensure that this prize is a good one! Keep reading to see our review and learn more about their newest pickle varieties.
With tailgating season finally here, we know that a set of these Vlasic© pickles are just what you need for your next sports or TV-watching party.  Continue reading »

Westport Food Festival, a three day event, is on this weekend 21st – 23rd September. The festival showcases the best food that Westport, Mayo, and the surrounding counties of the western seaboard have on offer, along with a variety of cooking demonstrations, food workshops & competitions.

Westport town centre will once again be turned into a tented Food Village with stalls offering the very best of food from Mayo producers, restaurants, hotels, cafes and chefs.  Continue reading »