Post the Roast – 22/09/08

Photo owned by Jazreel Chan (cc)

What the Sundays said about food.

By Sinéad Keogh

THE PADDY PALETTE

Tribune Magazine carries a nice feature on the foods that only Irish people can seem to swallow with relish. From boxty to colcannon, the nation’s inexplicable fancies are explored. Why exactly do we continue to make Coddle, the dish that reputedly made its debut as famine food? What’s in a spiceburger? Why can’t you get red lemonade anywhere else? Is it barn brack or barmbrack? The Trib doesn’t bring us any closer to the answers, but a nostalgic jaunt down foodie lane just the same.

CREDIT CRUNCH LUNCH

The Sunday Business Post’s Bitesize section reveals that One Pico in Molesworth Place do a tasty three-course lunch menu for just €19.95. With choices of four starters, four mains and five desserts, chef Eamonn O’Reilly is serving up the lunch deal until the end of November.

FINDING NIMMO’S PIER

The Galway Oyster Festival takes place this weeks says the SBP. Events include a Mardi Gras party on Friday night and a full schedule of weekend activities at the marquee on Nimmo’s Pier. Events include the Elegant Lady competition and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. There’s also an oyster-tasting lunch on the Saturday at 1 pm. The west is your oyster, more info here.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Finally from the Sunday Business Post, Lakeshore Foods, known for their condiments, will be giving away their cookbook for free in supermarkets for a limited time. The Lakeshore Little Book of Recipes is free when you purchase two of their products.

FRUITS OF THE FOREST

Rachel Allen’s regular Trib Magazine column is all about foraging for your supper. She says that there are plenty of foods growing wild and free in the countryside from crab apples to damsons, plums, watercress, mushrooms and elderberries. Kick the credit crunch blues with a day of foraging at the Longueville House Mushroom Hunts info here or Darina Allen’s Ballymaloe on September 27th, info here.

RETRO RECIPIES

Also in Trib Magazine, a thumbs-up to retro cookbook Cooking in a Bedsitter by Katharine Whitethorn which was originally published in 1961. Perfect for anyone heading off to college or anyone holed-up in a recessionista one-room.

FORKING OUT

The restaurant reviews in brief.

CLIFF NOTES

Katy McGuinness visited The Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Co Waterford where she was impressed by chef Barry O’Callaghan’s innovative menu. McGuinness notes that the dishes on offer change every few days in tune with what local produce is available to O’Callaghan – and thinks the chef is aiming for a Michelin star. There were kind words for both the grub and the way it was presented, with mentions of the 62 degree egg (cooked overnight), Helvick prawn, organic chicken and bread pudding made with morels.

HOT TROTTERS

The Sunday Business Post’s Ross Golden Bannon had good things to say about Nassau Street’s The Pig’s Ear. The eaterie impressed with classics such as egg mayonnaise and shrimp cocktail and kitsch dishes like pig’s ear terrine and Hereford beef. Though there were a few blips, such as the lobster and pea omlette, the predominant view of the new restaurant at the former Jacob’s Ladder site is that it’s worth a look.

BISTRO A-GO GO

Over at the Sunday Independent, Lucinda O’Sullivan visited Tibor’s Bistro in Clontarf. O’Sullivan had warm words for the family-run restaurant, describing it as “French-style bistro food with Hungarian twists”. At €159.20 for four, Tibor’s was cheap at the price for the Sindo reviewer and her companions who enjoyed wild mushroom risotto, rib-eye steak and Normandy apple and almond tart among other delectable dishes.