Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

With all the love in the February air, this Taste of the Week just had to be a sweet one. Had earlier opened a bottle of Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau to pair it with that beautiful new St Tola Goat Cheese in the Lorge Chocolate case and still had a lot of it left. What now to match it with?

 I had the answer all along. When I bought the bottle, the lady in the Rasteau shop said chocolate and indeed if I remember rightly I sampled some there in that lovely part of the lower Rhone. Off then last Saturday to the English Market and called to Niall Daly at The Chocolate Shop.
What a selection! Had a little chat with the man himself and soon I was on the way home with a pack of Valrhona Grands Crus, a dark bitter-sweet chocolate with 70% cacao.
With the dinner finished, I tried out the match, the dark chocolate and sweet fortified red wine. And I was very happy with it. That lady in Rasteau knew her stuff. The chocolate, already quite a lovely mouthful, had its best qualities enhanced by the wine. Taste of the Week, without a doubt!

Coal Quay Convenience

You don’t have to go to your big supermarket for convenience shopping. Last Saturday found me at the far end of the Coal Quay Farmer’s Market, down towards the north channel of the river.

Didn’t have too much time to spare and most of that was spent in the line for O’Driscoll’s fish. Didn’t resent a bit of it as the fish is so fresh, the value outstanding. Got enough West Cork hake for three for six euro.

The stand across the way was Caroline’s, a very popular fruit and vegetable stall, and here I helped myself to a bunch of leeks. A few yards away was a well known face though new to the Coal Quay. Mark of Ballyhoura Mushrooms, well known at the main farmers markets, now has a stall here every Saturday.

While packing some of those colourful Oysters mushrooms, rose in this case, he told how he thoroughly enjoyed the Foodie Forum held earlier that week in Galway and was very impressed with North Cork chefs Bryan McCarthy and the up and coming Jack O’Keeffe.

So there you are, a few pleasant minutes passed and dinner in the bag. Convenient or what!


Shorts

O'Donovans Off Licence
The Irish Examiner recently reviewed Club Brasserie very favourably…we’ve chosen it for our Cork Supper Club event, an association of fine food and wine presented by Jane Ferrari. Tickets are €50 per person including all of the wine selected to go with each course. Call Rose or Deirdre to book on 0214296060, places are limited so book soon!


Breaking News from the Bringing The Wine Geese Home Front.........New Website is now up and running with a diary of upcoming events, so you won't miss out on any of the action!
Check it out on: http://bringingthewinegeesehome.wordpress.com/

Roz Crowley ‏@RozCrowley1
You did well with the mince pies, but how are your choccy cake skills? http://youtu.be/RkyQ8qad-CY   Gauntlet thrown! #cakeoff

Porterhouse Food Menu available from Monday 11th February!

To celebrate we will be offering 2 for 1 on all main courses at the Mardyke from Monday the 11th to Sunday 17th February.
(Pre - Book offer only)
Ph:             021 4273000      .

Valentine’s Tiramisu from Hong Kong 

Baby Pancakes Brunch, anyone? Follow the link to learn this mouth-watering recipe! http://thekarmickitchen.blogspot.com/2011/02/southern-saturday-with-virginia.html

Flemings Restaurant - Valentine's 6 course menu.... Cappuccino of Wild Mushrooms with truffle .....and that is just the 1st course......tempted? Only a few tables left for Friday and Saturday!

Cookwithavonmore.ie has teamed up with Clontarf Castle to offer one lucky visitor a chance to win a romantic break with dinner for two at the luxurious Clontarf Castle in Dublin ...

Caroline@Bibliocook ‏@Bibliocook One for the diary: off to @BallymaloeCS next Tues 19 Feb for @8degreesbrewing talk, tasting and food matching... http://fb.me/u53x3G5A