Oxtail is probably the most over-looked cut of beef. Which is just how I like it, because that keeps the price down. You do need to slow cook it, but the result is an incredibly rich, sticky, tender meat with fat that melts in the mouth like only the best steaks. Drool-inducingly good.
Now, as a heads-up I should say that this meal takes 5-6 hours to prepare. The vast majority of that is.  Continue reading »

Oxtail is probably the most over-looked cut of beef. Which is just how I like it, because that keeps the price down. You do need to slow cook it, but the result is an incredibly rich, sticky, tender meat with fat that melts in the mouth like only the best steaks. Drool-inducingly good.
Now, as a heads-up I should say that this meal takes 5-6 hours to prepare. The vast majority of that is.  Continue reading »

There are many things you might find yourself doing on a Saturday morning – being a guest, this past Saturday, of broadcasting legend Dave Fanning on his weekend radio show on RTE’s 2FM was one of the less usual (and, as it turns out, more enjoyable) of those things.  Continue reading »

There are many things you might find yourself doing on a Saturday morning – being a guest, this past Saturday, of broadcasting legend Dave Fanning on his weekend radio show on RTE’s 2FM was one of the less usual (and, as it turns out, more enjoyable) of those things.  Continue reading »

Easy on a Sunday. Man who Walked Above Water.
Sun 15th June 2014

While taking a walk around the outer road (Quai Goslar) of the Arcachon marina this morning, something caught my eye out in the water. Not a boat – there were quite a few. But this looked like a man above the water without any visible means of staying up. It was a bit far for the camera but the lens picked him up and showed the secret. He had me fooled for a while!  Continue reading »

I’ve started Chinese lessons. Once a week Wei Wei, who was Shan’s bridesmaid, comes to my house. We spend a few hours poring over her notes while I try to get my head and tongue around Chinese phrases, echoing the sounds and tones familiar in Beijing. My dream is to surprise Shan’s Ma Ma, my qing […].  Continue reading »

Back sometime in the middle of May, I received an email from someone over at Glebe Farm Foods http://www.glebe-flour.co.uk/gluten_free/home.php inviting me to taste test their range of food. I’ve only ever seen Glebe Farm Foods in passing at the odd health food store, however I have never tried anything by them before so I was happy to be introduced to something new. 

So the fine people over at Glebe Farm Foods sent me a staggeringly generous selection of their products.  Continue reading »

Lazy Saturday. In Beer, Banish the Bland!
Sat 14th June 2014

When in France, we tend to take it easy at the weekends, avoiding the crowds in the popular areas and the traffic on the major roads. Today followed that pattern. A late rise was followed by a leisurely visit to the local market where Stuffed Tomatoes were bought for lunch and Roast Rabbit for dinner.  Continue reading »

After a well-deserved break in the new food capital of Ireland, Kilkenny, we thought we'd round off our holiday by visiting Taste of Dublin.  We missed it last year and I was wondering if it would be the same old layout with the same old exhibitors as had been the case year on year.  I was very pleasantly surprised with the 2014 event.  Continue reading »

Bringing butter back? Well, if it’s on the cover of Time Magazine, it must be true (just try and forget about this one). Now that….  Continue reading »

Sweet maple syrup, tangy vinegar and salty soy sauce with a kick of freshness from coriander really make for an extra special pork chop in this recipe. I particularly love serving them with griddled Baby Gem lettuce (a trick I picked up in America), which turns this humble salad green into something smoky, meaty and fresh.  Continue reading »

In the Medoc today. €1439.80 wine. €14.00 lunch.

Fri 13th June 2014

Cherry Cake

I have neglected talking to you about the Menu du Jour in French cafés. You’ll have no choice but you’ll have a very satisfying meal for somewhere between ten and fourteen euro.

Our latest example came today in the Medoc wine village of Listrac. They had a board outside offering the Plat du Jour for €7.50.  Continue reading »

I have to admit, I do like gin and tonics. I am pretty fussy though. There are only one or two brands of gin that I really like, I also like a lot of ice and there has to be a decent wedge of lemon. Without the lemon, it’s just not a gin and tonic. I am that crazy person that spends about three minutes squeezing all the lemon juice out before I dare take sip. For me, the lemon is kind of an integral part, so it got me thinking – what about a gin and tonic with home-made lemonade?  Continue reading »

Earlier this year I decided to start swimming again. I have a love/hate relationship with exercise, in that I’d love the results of it but I hate the effort of it. I’ve tried many things over the years and the only thing that I stuck at was walking, but for me personally and being a tad impatient, the results never seemed to come fast enough.  Continue reading »

Thai is probably my favourite Asian food and it has certainly gained popularity in Ireland in the last few years. Many of the dishes tend to be quite healthy and heavy on the veg, while still tasting really zingy and delicious! Another plus is how quick many of the dishes are to prepare and this salad is no exception. This recipe serves 2 as a main course.  Continue reading »

It’s a beautiful sunny day and I’ve some news and reviews to share.  Including Lidl’s new Nespresso compatible pods, Bellarom; a pint mug I found for sale (you will want one too); Bloom 2014, toilet training essentials and more!
A couple of weeks ago we headed to Bloom 2014 with the kids. I admit I was more than a bit anxious after last year’s experience where it was a beautiful sunny day and we couldn’t move around the tents.  Continue reading »

Sun, Sand and Steps
Arcachon. Thursday 12th June

From the top of the Cap Ferret Lighthouse, a view of the “neck” of the Arcachon Bassin Bassin d’Arcachon Tourisme On the far side, you see Arcachon itself; on the near side are boats just lifted off the mud by the incoming tide at Cap Ferret. On the right, in the middle band, you can just make out some oysters beds.

The mighty old sun is still hanging around these parts. The sand is always here.  Continue reading »

Clearing the backlog of the Outstanding By Design audio and video releases, here’s the latest podcast release for the week including the full audio from the design talk session around Katu Honey with Laura Mcauley of Navigate By Design and Kristina Moody of Value-Added in Africa.
Oustanding By Design was a Biabeag event held at Highbank Orchards in Kilkenny last month.  Continue reading »

Superb Le Patio Dinner.
But how does a 12 euro wine become a 50 euro one?
Day 10 in Arcachon

Le Patio Restaurant, a couple of hundred yards from our base in Arcachon, comes highly recommended. Even Mr Michelin is a fan. We strolled down there in the evening sunshine yesterday (had made a reservation with Maitre D’ Sebastien on the morning) and now we are big fans of the food and the friendly service.  Continue reading »

Time for another Irish beer round-up, prompted in part by the arrival last week of a new beer and a new brewing company. Andrew Murphy and Feargal Chambers (one teacher, one pharmacist) have just established Four Provinces Brewing and the first beer was launched in L. Mulligan Grocer.The Hurler, brewed at Trouble Brewing, is intriguingly styled a “copper ale” rather than a red.  Continue reading »