What the Sundays said about food.
By Sinéad Keogh
RECESSION BITES
From the Sunday Business Post comes a delicious spread on homegrown foods. The days of snapping up food from far flung places are gone says Catherine Murphy – but no matter, we were a little too hasty in leaving behind Irish produce in the boom years anyway. Murphy speaks to well known faces who champion Irish food production. Highlights include Darina Allen on the need to get serious about food tourism and for local hotels and restaurants to buy from local producers. Peter Ward, the chairman of the Taste Council also talks about small producers – saying consumers need to get out there and change their shopping practices when sourcing food. Denis Cotter of Cafe Paradiso in Cork adds that local food should be a matter of concern to the environmentally-conscious who want to do something about the carbon footprints stamped all over the kitchen floor when you buy something that’s been transported halfway across the world. Buy local and get that cabron foodprint down to a palettable Cinderella-slipper size.
CHALK AND CHEESE
Also in the SBP, news of Superquinn’s nutritional advice for children’s school lunches. Dr Evelyn Hannon will be giving tours of Superquinn stores and advising parents on healthy eating up until September 5th. Ask for details at the local store.
VIVA MEXICO
Rachel Allen’s Tribune Magazine column raves about the mouthwatering Mexican food on offer at Mamma Mexico in New York and London’s Wahaca. If you don’t happen to be in the neighbourhood of either, Allen recommends whipping up some quesadillas or Mexican scrambled eggs among other tasties. If you’re not up to the challenge, we’re sure buying some tequila and guacamole and a DVD of Desperado would do.
BECOME A SOUL BENEFACTOR
Back at the Sunday Business Post, Killiney’s Soul Food Co cookery school starts its new term on September 16th. Classes are on Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings and the range on offer includes Gluten-Free Cuisine and Cooking for the Family. Info and booking are online here.
CHOICE CUTS
This week the Sunday Independent have their Ireland’s Most Stylish 2008 issue, with a round-up of all the finest things in life. The top foodie inclusions are Deasy’s Seafood Restaurant in Ring Village, Clonakilty, Co Cork (023-35741) at No. 2, Ananda Indian restaurant – soon to be open at Dundrum Town Centre and a collaboration of Michelin starred Atul Kochar and Asheesh Dewan of the Jaipur chain – at No. 11, and the ‘great’ French onion soup at Chez Max, 1 Palace Steet, Dublin 2 at No. 14.
GONE IN SIXTY MINUTES
Also in the Sunday Business Post, Still restaurant at the Dylan Hotel, Dublin 2 are offering an express three-course lunch menu that can be served within an hour. Spend a few bob, Dylan’s on 01-6603000.
Forking Out
The food reviews in brief.
The SBP’s Ross Golden Bannon visits Shebeen Chic – which got the thumbs up in last week’s Sunday Tribune. What the Trib called chic, Golden Bannon calls shabby – mentioning “nailed to another wall are black toilet seats hung to resemble the Chanel logo”. However, the SBP reviewer delivers another hymn of praise for the food and Seamus O’Connell’s boxty gets its second seal of approval in as many weeks.
Katy McGuinness talks Mulcahy’s of Kenmare in Tribune Magazine, giving the Kerry eaterie 3 out of 5 stars. The food itself was positively received in the main, while McGuinness docks marks for slow service, a noisy hen party and a “bland and dull” starter. Not a Ken-total-’mare.