Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

The Irish Examiner Christmas Coffee Morning in aid of St Vincent de Paul will take place on Tuesday, December 18 at 10.30am. Roisin Quain tells me the coffee morning, in the Irish Examiner offices, also marks the culmination of their Christmas Cake Recipe Competition. “Our 12 finalists will be in attendance and Darina Allen will be announcing the winner. Darina will also be taking culinary questions from the floor.”

“Michelle Darmody will also be there to share her baking tips in time for Christmas. We will also have some really fantastic raffle prizes to give away, members of the UCC choir singing carols, cakes, mince pies and Christmas cheer. Tickets are €5, and are available from our reception and over the telephone on 021 4802209/021 4802208.”

Cooking for Cork Penny Dinners
Staff of Neville Jewellers are all set to cook and serve Christmas Dinner at Penny Dinners. Almost 150 Christmas dinners will be served at Cork Penny Dinners by the staff and management of Neville Jewellers on Sunday 16th December.

A family run business since 1971, John Neville and his team will swap the tools of their trade for kitchen utensils and aprons, and have a fabulous traditional turkey and ham Christmas dinner planned for diners of 4 Little Hanover Street in Cork.

“Thankfully Christmas is a busy time for retailers in Cork”, said John Neville, managing director at Neville Jewellers.  “Our stores in the shopping centres in Wilton and Blackpool as well as Winthrop Street have been busy, but we really wanted to give something back to those less fortunate during the holiday season”.

The team at Neville Jewellers are looking forward to cooking and chatting with the diners and hope to bring some Christmas cheer to a wonderful charity that continues to provide food and support to so many of Cork’s people in need.  Donation boxes for Cork Penny Dinners are also in store at Neville Jewellers should shoppers wish to make a contribution to this Cork charity.

Theatre of Food Back on Parade
Theatre of Food pop up at Cork Christmas Market
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th December
Theatre of Food is ‘popping up’ at Cork Christmas Market this year to bring some top tips for festive fare your way.  Popping up at weekends throughout the market run, the Theatre of Food with Bosch kitchen will host fantastic participants

Saturday 15th December
10am The Beauty of Brussels Sprouts
Caitlin Ruth of Deasy’s Harbour Bar & Restaurant in Clonakilty, who, alongside Bridget Healy will be celebrating their love of, and the glory and beauty of the humble Brussels Sprout – with recipes from the traditional, to crostini toppings and coleslaw, it promises to be a good one!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deasys-Harbour-Bar-Seafood-Restaurant/126741324027491

11am COOKIES & COCKTAILS
Shannen Keane, owner/operator of Diva Boutique Bakery and Cafe an award-winning bakery located in the heart of Ballinspittle, will be treating you to 3 types of cookies, Russian teacakes, Linzer cookies and Linzer cookies with a twist, as well as making 2 - 3 quick and easy cocktails for entertaining   Recently their mince pies were rated with a gold star in the Irish Examiner’s best mince pie review.  www.divaboutiquebakery.com


Sunday 16th DECEMBER

12pm   crust to crumb baking
Patrick Ryan from Firehouse Bakery & Bread School, situated on Heir Island in West Cork promises to bring a bit of festive real bread baking to Theatre of Food, with all the classics: mince pies, stollen and panettone but with the unique Firehouse style.  Think of delicious mincemeat swirls with brandy butter icing, flower-pot panettone and Brioche that will certainly set the heart rate racing. A fun demonstration with lots of tasters! www.thefirehouse.ie

1pm MEXICAN FOOD GIFT IDEAS
A workshop on Mexican Food Gift Ideas with Lily Ramirez-Foran, the writer behind ‘A Mexican Cook in Ireland’, a food blog where she shares her Mexican family recipes and her adventures in her Dublin kitchen.  Lily has been living and cooking in Ireland for over 10 years with her Irish husband and business partner, Alan Foran.  Together they run ‘My Mexican Shop.ie’, an online shop with everything you need for an authentic Mexican feast at home. Lily is a member of the Irish Food Bloggers Association and passionately believes in the Slow Food ethos of good, clean and fair food.  She works full-time for an Irish not-for-profit organisation and divides her days between her full-time job, the business and cooking and writing for the blog.  Busy bee, she usually finds time for a cooking demo or class.

URRU Culinary Store
Bandon’s URRU has announced its Opening Hours for Christmas & New Year:
Sun 16 Dec 2 - 5.30
Mon 17 - Saturday 22 Dec 8.45 - 6
Sun 23 Dec 10 - 5.30
Mon 24 Dec 8.45 - 4.30
Tues 25 - Thurs 27 Dec Closed
Fri 28 Dec 10 - 5
Sat 29 Dec 10 - 5
Sun 30 Dec Closed
Mon 31 Dec 10 - 5
Tues 01 January Closed
Wed 02 January Back to Normal 8.45 - 6

Wines in Clon
News from last month’s B & G wine tastings in Clonakilty and for more wine news with an Irish angle check the company's current newsletter here


Shorts

Potato Gratin recipe from Pat Whelan 

Surf and Oink

Last orders From Vuneyards Direct

Mary Daly ‏@MaryDalyHACCP
"Now taking bookings for our Primary Course in HACCP & Food Safety on 21/01/2013 in Cork. Please see http://www.marydaly.ie  for course details