Spice Night at Isaac’sTaste Tingling Tuesday
DIY! Continue reading »
Archive for October, 2016
Spice of Delight at Isaac’s
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
New lager for old
A post by The Beer Nut at The Beer Nut
Back in the spring I read with interest on a number of sources about a project Carlsberg were doing to recreate an old recipe from their archives. Continue reading »
Taste of the Week. Kerala Buffalo Curry
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
Taste of the Week
Kerala Buffalo Curry
When staying in a French town, I found there were two essentials that had to be located immediately. One was the Tourist Office and the other was the local traiteur.
The latter was a source of top notch prepared or semi-prepared dishes. And so I was delighted to see a notice in O’Mahony’s Butchers in the English Market quietly proclaiming that they had Kerala Buffalo Curry on offer.
And not alone that. Continue reading »
Oriental Beef – Nearly there, nearly…
A post by Conor Bofin at One Man's Meat
…but, not quite. No, I thought I had done all I needed to do but, I have a bit to learn just yet. Let me give you a little back story. I had been glued to the computer for a long morning’s work. When I looked up, it was nearly 2:00 PM and I had a growing headache. Hunger had come, been ignored and gone away. Continue reading »
10 October 2016 – Shopping Tips
A post by Caitriona Redmond at Caitriona Redmond – Wholesome Ireland
Excuse me while I dust off the keyboard this Monday. It is nearly Hallowe’en season after all so now is as good a time as any to resurrect the shopping tips! This week there are great deals to be had on staples for the freezer. Remember your freezer is one of the best allies you will have when trying to feed your family on a budget. Think of it as a ‘pause button’ for food. Continue reading »
Dingle Diary. Blas and the Festival
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
Dingle Diary. Blas and the Festival
The Supreme Champion
Massive crowds attended the Dingle Food Festival (1st and 2nd ofOctober) but it was much quieter in the town when I arrived on the previous Thursday morning, just one of the dozens of judges gathering in the Skellig Dingle for the Blas 2016 judging. Continue reading »
Hello from the other side
A post by The Beer Nut at The Beer Nut
Normality and routine returns today after three weeks on holiday from the daily grind. I spent most of it bimbling around the USA but you’ll have to wait a few weeks while I sort my stack of beer notes into semi-coherent blog posts if you want to find out what I drank there. Continue reading »
[Competition] Win a pair of tickets to JN Wine Portfolio Tasting
A post by dudara at Stitch and Bear
I recently put together a listing of all upcoming wine events, featuring many “Meet the Makers” type tastings, which are a great way to try out lots of new wines and meet the people that make them. I was delighted to be contacted by one of the featured wine merchants, JN Wine, who generously offered me some tickets to give away to two of my readers!
JN Wine will hold their annual Portfolio tasting in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin on November 11th, and tickets cost €20. Continue reading »
Ice Ice Baby – Smoothies.
A post by sheila kiely at Gimme the recipe
Amuse Bouche
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
She improvised bandages and covered the wound with a makeshift compress. Then she poured the coffee and handed him a sandwich.
“I’m not really hungry,” he said.
“I don’t give a damn if you’re hungry. Just eat,” Salander commanded, taking a big bite of her own cheese sandwich.
Blomkvist closed his eyes for a moment, then he sat up and took a bite. His throat hurt so much he could barely swallow.
from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson (2005). Continue reading »
If Any Beer Can, Franciscan Well Can!
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
If Any Beer Can, Franciscan Well Can!
Ireland’s favourite craft beer now available in can
During last weekend’s Dingle Food Festival, I called into the craft beer tent, at the back of Geaney's Bar in Main Street, last Saturday afternoon and was immediately at home as the first stall was that of the Franciscan Well. They were showing their new cans, three of my favourite beers all wrapped up and looking good and shiny.
If Any Beer Can, Franciscan Well Can!
Ireland’s favourite craft beer now available in can
During last weekend’s Dingle Food Festival, I called into the craft beer tent, at the back of Geaney’s Bar in Main Street, last Saturday afternoon and was immediately at home as the first stall was that of the Franciscan Well. They were showing their new cans, three of my favourite beers all wrapped up and looking good and shiny. Continue reading »
Potato Seafood Chowder – Potatoes More Than a Bit on the Side
A post by Nessa Robins at Nessa's Family Kitchen
In Ireland, we’re very fortunate to have potato growers, on our doorstep, who are passionate about producing the best of potatoes for our dinner table. Potatoes have always been immersed as a part of our history and this long standing merit should be celebrated. When better to honor our potatoes, and the people behind them, than on National Potato Day, which happens to be taking place today, October 7th. Continue reading »
Swift Baked Crispy Potatoes #Ad
A post by Caitriona Redmond at Caitriona Redmond – Wholesome Ireland
It’s National Potato Day in Ireland today and when I was asked to develop a new recipe especially for the celebration I found it hard to say no. If you ask me, everyday is a potato day! There’s a reason why I don’t grow potatoes at the allotment. I certainly could if I wanted to, it’s just that we have so many fantastic local potato producers close to home that I prefer to support them instead. Continue reading »
The Whiskeys of Ireland by Peter Mulryan.
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
Review: The Whiskeys of Ireland
by Peter Mulryan
Midleton
“Whiskey. Irish for droplets of pure pleasure.” WB Yeats.
You’ll find tour guides in the many new Irish distilleries telling you that whiskey is a corruption of the Gaelic Uisce Beatha (water of life). No need to believe those novices! Continue reading »
Who you calling a homophone?
A post by The Beer Nut at The Beer Nut
Our host for the October Session is Derek from Ramblings of a Beer Runner and the topic he has chosen is gose, the native beer style of Leipzig. This light wheat beer, typically brewed with coriander and salt, survived near-extinction and has gone on to become one of the world’s most fashionable styles among the crafterati. Continue reading »
Down Under with O’Brien’s. Advice: Watch those sales!
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
Down Under with O’Brien’s
Advice: Watch those sales!
I always try and keep an eye out for the regular sales at O’Brien’s Wines. Some are quite short-lived. That was the case with their Australian & New Zealand one. But I did make that and bought these two, the Penfolds at 16.76, the D’Arenberg at 15.96. A decent saving and very decent wines indeed. I should follow my own advice more often! Continue reading »
Cooking for happiness
A post by Cuisine Genie at Cuisine Genie
I have been trying to write this piece for a very long time and put into words why cooking fills a need within me. Since this article was published in the Irish Times in September I have been overwhelmed by the number of messages and emails from people telling me that they understood this feeling too. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I loved writing it. Continue reading »
Taste of the Week. Aran Islands Goats Cheese
A post by Cork Billy at RESTAURANTS AND FOOD
Taste of the Week
Aran Islands Goats Cheese
Gabriel in Donegal
I found this Taste of the Week at A Taste of Donegal where Gabriel (you might know him, as he also does bus tours on Inis Mor, the largest of the islands) had a stand and was handing out samples of his Aran Islands Goats Cheese.
I tasted three in all: the soft cheese, the same soft cheese with Dillisk added, and a Greek Style cheese (not unlike Feta). Each was delicious and I came away with a container of each. Continue reading »
Running on fumes
A post by The Beer Nut at The Beer Nut
A random pick from the back of the beer fridge: La Fumette by Belgian brewery MilleVertus. It’s an ambrée, which is a style that I don’t recall ever liking an example of, but the bonus is it’s fumée as well. Plus it’s 6.5% ABV, which is higher than usual, I think. That’s got to be good.
Though bottle conditioned the sediment stayed stuck to the bottom and I got a clear glassful of something definitely amber. Continue reading »
[Events] Irish Cocktail Festival 2016
A post by dudara at Stitch and Bear
Simply put, the Irish Cocktail Festival is a celebration of cocktails made with Irish spirits. It runs from October 10th - 15th, with venues from across the 32 counties of Ireland showcasing their specially crafted, Irish cocktail. A full listing of all venues, their cocktails and special offers is available on the Great Irish Beverages website. Participants will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite cocktail using the hashtag #BestIrishCocktail on Twitter or Facebook.
In addition to the venues, there will be several special pop-ups taking place as part of the 2016 Irish Cocktail Fest.
On October 6th, join Dave Mulligan of Bán Poitín for a look into the history of poitín and the events that defined our "Notorious Irish Spirit". Dave will talk through the difficulties of starting a poitín brand, the struggle of changing people's views and the worldwide future of our national spirit. Cocktails will be provided on arrival, paired throughout the event with tasty bar snacks provided by the Charlotte Quay kitchen. Tickets cost €23.99 and are available from Eventbrite.
Traditional favourite soft drinks Club & Cidona will host a Club & Cidona Irish Cocktail Pop-Up between October 12th - 14th at the Jar pub on Wexford Street, Dublin
The brainchild of master bartender Oisin Davis, the Dublin Cocktail Festival first appeared several years ago, and has now gone nationwide in 2016 as the Irish Cocktail Fest. This festival has simply gone from strength to strength and represents a great way to taste some of the very best Irish cocktails and spirits.
Simply put, the Irish Cocktail Festival is a celebration of cocktails made with Irish spirits. Continue reading »
Sponsored Posts
Competition: Bottoms Up for Christmas Crackers
Pairing great wine with great holiday food is what CuriousWines.ie’s Cracking Christmas Case is all about, hand-picked favourites including holiday classics and some of their best-selling wines of 2011 are all brought together in this glorious mixed case, complimenting Christmas fare from roasts to puddings in spectacular style.
Curious cases start at just €95.00 with free delivery, and this particular case of festive delight retails for a deeply discounted €115. Happily, we’ve got one to give away to a lucky winner at FoodFight.ie. – all you need to do to enter is tell us in the comments below what you’ll be cooking up for Christmas dinner this year, and we’ll pick a winner from the entries on December 16th. (And if you don’t win and still want to grab yourself a holiday bargain, last orders for Christmas dispatch are December 20th!)
Cooking Up iPad Happiness
Every cook we know loves their iPad (or lusts after one) for clipping, reading and cooking from online recipes right in the kitchen. Well, Clickcase.ie has what may be the ultimate kitchen gadget for iPad lovers: the Speck Handyshell slots around your iPad 2 so it can be hung from any rack, drawer or cabinet knob, keeping your iPad at eye level and safe from spills and mess. Genius!
Clickcase, Irish retailer of brilliant iPad and iPhone accessories, is giving one crimble red Handyshell away to a FoodFight.ie reader just in time for Christmas. To enter, all you have to do is head over to the Clickcase Facebook page before December 8th and tell us why you love your iPad or iPhone in the kitchen!
#thegreatirishbake – Temple Street Children’s University Hospital
Bake, sell, raise money and help Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.
This November The Great Irish Bake is back and Kitchen Hero Donal Skehan is helping out with sharing recipes and promoting the event. The Great Irish Bake is in aid of helping sick and seriously ill children get the treatment they need. Head over to The Great Irish Bake to register online and be in the chance of winning a trip to New York when you help raise funds for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. The site also has hints, tips, recipes and all that goes with an event like this.
This is the Facebook for The Great Irish Bake and of course the Twitter hashtag is: #thegreatirishbake
The Great Irish Bake organisers have shared a recipe with us and also a picture of Donal Skehan with his kids from his first marriage. Some of this might be a lie.
Stained Glass Windows Christmas Cookies Recipe
Ingredients (Makes approx 30)
- 300g of plain flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon of mixed spice
- 100g of muscavado sugar
- 150g of butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 pack of foxes fruits or jolly ranchersThe Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. In a standalone mixture beat together the butter and sugar. Add in the egg and
mix through.
3. Using a wooden spoon mix through the flour, baking powder, salt, mixed spice
and vanilla extract until you have a biscuit dough.
4. Turn the dough out on to a floured surface and roll out to about 1cm in thickness.
5. Cut out biscuit shapes, place on the lined baking tray, then using a smaller cutter
or a small knife cut out the center of each cookie.
6. Sprinkle the crushed sweets into the centre of the cookie and place in the oven
7. Cook in the oven for about 15 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before transferring to a wire
wrack.