I gotta tell ya. It’s a good thing that I am still addicted to reading the Sunday New York Times. No, it’s not folded up and happily nesting on my breakfast table at former buzzy haunts such as Pastis or the French Meadow Cafe, {which has been torture taken some getting used to}, but good things happen when I spend quiet Sunday time, sipping strong coffee and nibbling on Saturday night’s dessert while perusing the Times via my laptop.
Things like being introduced to Yvette van Boven. Continue reading »
Published January 23rd, 2013
I gotta tell ya. It’s a good thing that I am still addicted to reading the Sunday New York Times. No, it’s not folded up and happily nesting on my breakfast table at former buzzy haunts such as Pastis or the French Meadow Cafe, {which has been torture taken some getting used to}, but good things happen when I spend quiet Sunday time, sipping strong coffee and nibbling on Saturday night’s dessert while perusing the Times via my laptop.
Things like being introduced to Yvette van Boven. Continue reading »
Published January 23rd, 2013
Woodside Free Range Pigs
Bubbling Up Nicely
Taste of the Week in this house came from Woodside Farm. Actually, the Conroy’s at Woodside could provide a taste of the week every week, even if they confined it to their Free Range Pigs, pedigree Saddleback and pedigree Gloucester Old Spot pigs.
I have tried quite a bit of the range: Shoulder of Pork, Pork Loin, Pork Belly, Leg of Pork, Pork Chops. Continue reading »
Published January 23rd, 2013
Photo: Grub.ie
Over Christmas, I was in town finishing my shopping and I was feeling stressed, grumpy and hungry. The mania of the festive season tends to do that to you. Every restaurant and cafe I passed was rammed full of cheery diners, but all I wanted was somewhere quiet where I could escape the madness – bah humbug! I happened to pass Grüb, a newly opened eatery, on George’s Street. It was empty. I turned on my heel and went back inside. Continue reading »
Published January 23rd, 2013
Special offers at Aldi
Special offers at Centra*
Special offers at Dunnes
Special offers at Lidl
Special offers at Londis*
Special offers at Mace
Special offers at Spar
Special offers at Superquinn(click on the “value instore” tab for the latest offers)
Special offers at SuperValu*
Special offers at Tesco
*Offers available in participating stores only. Continue reading »
Published January 23rd, 2013
TWICE in the past two weeks I’ve been told that it takes ’21 practices’ to break a habit.
For example, if you took sugar in your coffee and had three coffees a day, once you’ve passed a week without sugar in your coffee (having consumed 21 coffees), you’re on your way to breaking the habit.
When I started the whole January detox thing I knew it wouldn’t be completely cold turkey on everything. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
If you dread weekly trips to the grocery store, then it’s time you give Peapod a try.
We recently ordered from Peapod for an office lunch and were impressed with the quality of the food. You can read our review here. Some of the produce was even better than what our local grocery store was selling!
Because we love Peapod so much we’re giving away six $50 Peapod gift cards so you can try it out yourself. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
Marie contacted us on Twitter to ask for tips for a good restaurant to get a late midweek dinner (after 9pm). Her criteria are: €20 budget per head for food (not including wine), south city centre location and preferably Italian, French or Traditional. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
Update, Jan 22, 5pm: We’ve had a phone call from the Musgrave Group, who have said they will send us a statement in due course.
It seemed like a great deal and a wonderful treat: coffee or tea for one cent with any purchase in Centra. Radio ads and websites promoted it, while we blogged about the deal on this site.
But the deal was, intentionally or not, very misleading, and many Centra customers have taken to their Facebook page to express annoyance. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
Castle Scoops 2013 Travellers’ Choice Award
In the Gearagh, a beautiful
natural attraction in Macroom.
The boutique 4 * Castle Hotel in Macroom, Co. Cork, beat off stiff competition and was voted a best ‘customer service’ hotel by Trip Advisor this week in its annual Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.
The Castle Hotel was ranked 12th within the top twenty five hotels in Ireland by Trip. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
Commenting on blogs takes up a lot of my time and not for one second do I feel it is a waste of time. I feel like if someone goes to the effort of writing a thoughtful (or thought provoking) piece and I have taken the time to read it because it interests me …. then it usually deserves a head-nod of some sort. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
Published January 22nd, 2013
Rico To The Rescue!
Rico Vallebella has opened the doors of his new Italian Restaurant in the city centre to the people of Cork who have been left out of pocket as a result of the closure of HMV. Rico’s Trattoria Pizzeria on Sheares Street, is offering 2 for 1 on all main meals in return for one HMV voucher.
Italian born Rico feels in the current climate “we have to look after one another”. Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
I vowed to post more recipes in 2013 and, like so many other New Year’s resolutions, find myself failing miserably by the end of January. Despite my blog negligence, I have been cooking up a storm. I now realize that the prospect of free time on the weekends thrills me because I know I will have time to spend a few hours on my feet in front of the stove, my desire to stand around and stir pots all afternoon the result of working a desk job, I guess! Continue reading »
Published January 22nd, 2013
Loathe as I am to go on one of my rants about cheap food in Ireland; the commentary in media, both classical (radio/television/print) and social has me on my high horse.
I love blogging, I love talking about food, I love cooking good food and yes I do it on a budget. That’s what this site is all about. Continue reading »
Published January 21st, 2013
Editor’s Note: Last week, I was informed by some Twitter users that the nickname Johnny Weir(d) is viewed as derogatory. I had no idea, and didn’t mean it that way in my earlier posts, but from here on out that nickname is banned from my reviews. Read on, foodies!
For this week, I have invited the author of Binky’s Johnny Weir Blog, Lynn Ingogly aka Binky, to do a tag-team styled recap of the episode with me. To the burgers, glitter, and milkshakes! Continue reading »
Published January 21st, 2013
We consumers. We love cheap food
Oh how we love cheap food, but then gasp in amazement that it might contain something unpleasant. This week’s shock discovery of horse DNA in Irish burgers grabbed headlines around the world. But are we, the consumers also to blame for this debacle?
Our lust for a bargain has been mirrored in the advancing market share captured by Lidl and Aldi in Ireland – we’ve fallen in love with the low-cost German model. Continue reading »
Published January 21st, 2013
A GALWAY bar and restaurant has claimed top spot in the Hellmann’s best sandwich competition to be crowned Ireland’s top sandwich. Aidan Cleary at the Cellar Bar and Restaurant in Galway fought off the competition with his ‘Cellar Cajun Spiced Chicken Ciabatta’ (pictured above) recipe to take the title. Continue reading »
Published January 21st, 2013
Idaho Cafe. Side Street Oasis.
It is small and perfectly formed, they say themselves. It is also bright and bubbly and has been bouncing on the same spot at 19 Caroline Street (at its junction with Oliver Plunkett Street) since 2001. It is of course the Idaho Cafe and themselves are the bright and bubbly Richard and Mairead Jacob.
“Real food for real people” was the original motto and. Continue reading »
Published January 21st, 2013
Eight whole years had managed to fly by since I’d last visited Brouwerij ‘t IJ. I’ve no idea how I let that happen. I used to love coming to the quirky little tap room under the windmill: very much a neighbourhood pub for a few convivial after-work drinks rather than an attraction for tourists or beer geeks (what are they?) So, a couple of days into 2013, we set off on a brisk walk through eastern Amsterdam to the brewery. Continue reading »
Published January 21st, 2013
