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VALENTINE’S DAY is Saturday and whether you’re in the market for a wine gift or you just want something slinky to sup with your sweetheart we’ve got 9 tempting suggestions here. (If you’re not worried about subtlety just head straight to the sizzling ‘Passion Has Red Lips’ Cabernet-Shiraz.) But be careful not to knock back too much on the big night, as while wine provokes the desire, it can of course in excess take away the performance.  Continue reading »

There’s not long to go until the most romantic day of the year so I thought I’d share some of my favourite Valentine’s treats and desserts that you can spoil your special someone with (or skoff on your own!) this Feb 14th. Whether you’re a complete chocoholic or prefer something on the less decadent side of the scales, there’s a romantic recipe to suit everyone!  Continue reading »

This decadent and delicious chocolate tart is perfect for a dinner party dessert. Serve up generous slices with a scoop of good quality vanilla ice-cream and cups of coffee!  Continue reading »

The  West’s Awake.

Find it Fresh in Bradley’s

Opening day in Bradley’s

Fresh from West Cork is back in town and you’ll find it installed in Bradley’s, North Main Street. Walter, familiar to many of you from his stint last year in the English Market, fronts the operation and is as enthusiastic as ever.

And why wouldn’t he be?  Continue reading »

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What a weekend it was here in Limerick at the very first Irish conference of the Weston A.Price Foundation. Organised by friends of mine and attended by over 300 people who are passionate about their own nutrition and learning how to live according to a more traditional diet, this was an inspiring event that fuels us all to take our health into our own hands. For more stories about how much the way we eat can affect our lives read my friend Dee's blog here.  Continue reading »

I don’t know if there was ever a time when food was simple. The ingredients we cook with, the way in which we cook them and how we eat have always been indicators of status. Here in Ireland, the high society who lived in grand houses dined on the finest foods for centuries while peasants subsisted on potatoes, oats and hardy vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, cabbage and kale.However, I think food has become more complicated in recent years.  Continue reading »

Carignan, Mourvèdre and Bourboulenc.
Not Just Good Blenders!

Carignan, Mourvèdre and Bourboulenc are not normally let out on their own, not in Ireland.
The three grapes are best known for their role in blends, in the Rhone, Provence and Languedoc. Mourvèdre is probably the most familiar in Ireland as it is the “M” in the GSM wines of the Rhone where G is Grenache and S stands for Syrah.  Continue reading »

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“It’s like Marmite,” said one of the judges, “people either love it or hate it.”
Coddle, that is. Rare ould Dublin coddle. And the judges in question – myself, food and wine writer Leslie Williams and Sunday Business Post editor Gillian Nelis – had been called upon to adjudicate at what was surely a rare ould Dublin event: a Coddle Cook Off.  Continue reading »

One of the things that I love about typing up this list is that I benefit too. I can honestly say that I’ve picked up a good few of the deals from my shopping tips this week and saved money in the process. Here’s hoping you save some hard-earned money too.
ALDI
Did you know that Chinese New Year is nearly here? The Year Of The Sheep will start on 19 February next and in anticipation Aldi have stocks of Chinese cooking implements and ingredients on sale from yesterday (8 February).  Continue reading »

Château Bauduc’s Gavin and Angela Quinney have just bottled the 2014 vintage of their stunning Sauvignon and rosé and we’re delighted today to be able to offer you a serious pre-order opportunity to secure these wines at a 29% discount, or not far off bin-end prices.  Continue reading »

Crianza is a general Spanish wine term relating to the upbringing or maturation of a wine prior to its sale. But it also has a locally defined meaning in each region: in Rioja, for example, a Crianza must by law spend one a minimum of one year in wood plus a year in bottle (as with this wine). Crianza is arguably the most ‘typical’ style of Rioja.
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The post Lagrimas de Maria Rioja Crianza (Spain) appeared first on Curious: The Curious Wines Wine Blog.  Continue reading »

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day but if you’re anything like me, the temptation of grabbing a coffee and croissant and the go is sometimes too hard to resist! Not anymore! I want to show you how quick and easy it is to prepare my healthy, balanced but most importantly delicious Apple & Cinnamon Porridge which you can enjoy during the week.  Continue reading »

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Midleton Distillery Tour
Happy Angels Hover Over 1.2m Casks

In Warehouse 39B

“This is the biggest Pot Still in the world,” said David McCabe, our guide on a tour of Midleton Distillery. The copper giant that he showed us in the old distillery has a capacity 143,872 litres and is no longer in use. Copper has some key properties that make it highly suitable for the task: it is easy to shape, has good conductivity and removes impurities.  Continue reading »

This poor tasting note on Odell’s Tree Fort tripel has sat alone and unloved in my notebook since the middle of last year. Today I’m sending it off into the world with a couple of its compatriots. Tree Fort is an interesting one: 8.2% ABV and showing all the heat and density that normally comes with the style, though substituting a dry chalkiness and floral lavender where the yeast spices might normally be.  Continue reading »

Una Ni Bhroin (L) in Avoca

While now an established enterprise Beechlawn organic farm is very much growing too. The east Galway farm-based business, run by husband and wife team Padraig Fahy and Una Ni Bhroin, has grown before during and after the recession. 

Oliver Moore: First up Una, tell me about the farm and business .You’ve managed to keep growing even through the tough times?  Continue reading »