Lunaria Coste di Moro Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (DOP) 2019, 14% ABV
€19.95 O’Briens Wine
a wine more for conversation rather than contemplation!
There’s no seeing through the dark ruby red of this Montepulciano from Abruzzo. Red fruit on the nose. On the palate, it is soft and intense, slightly tannic with an
press release
INTRODUCING BEÁR BIA - A PODCAST CELEBRATING THE UNISON OF IRISH FOOD & DRINK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY DEE LAFFAN & OISÍN DAVIS
Lineman Organised Fun Hopfenweisse 5.6% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
“Pillowy weisse is really nice when we slap a lash of hops in there”.
Pillowy for sure and under that white head it has a mid-gold colour. Aromas of fruit, clove and banana are moderate. It is hoppy and full-bodied, with a
Taste of the Week.
Steam Cooked Chicken fillet by the Chicken Inn
Our lettuce plants didn't get off to a great start this year but now they are flourishing with a second lot rapidly catching up. As a result, salads are regularly on the
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| Continental |
Tezza Corte Majoli Valpolicella: A Fresh, Fruity Organic Red
Tezza Corte Majoli Valpolicella (DOC) 2021, 12.5% ABV
€18.00 Bubble Brothers.
“we prefer to produce wines to our own principles”
This 2021 Valpolicella from Tezza winery, nestled near Verona, proudly reflects the winemaker's philosophy: "We prefer to produce wines to our own principles." The result? A
On the craft trail with Downtime, Larkin's and Boundary
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Knockboy Mountain IPA 5.1% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
East Coast meets West with both pine and fruity aromas.
This Knockboy Mountain Pale Ale is pale and hazy with a soft white head. Pine heads up the moderate aromas, with citrus also featuring. A low bitterness count but the hops still stand out and that pine again emerges on the juicy and refreshing palate. A decent drop indeed and
Pergola Roses Shine in Blarney Castle Gardens
Pics June 19th 2024
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| Sun lover |
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| Picnic time! |
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| Allium |
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| Carnivorous (and below) |
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| Lebanese cedar |
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| Eternal Ascent by Blessing Sanyanga |
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| Red seat |
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Sitka spruce tree (Picea sitchensis) is the highest tree our estate, measuring approximately 45 metres/145 teet in height. |
Tenuta Bellafonte Pomontino Montefalco Rosso (DOC) 2019, 13% ABV
RRP: €22.95. Stockists: 64 Wine, Greenman Wines, Bradleys Cork, Le Caveau online
An excellent blend of Sangiovese and Sagrantino from Umbria.
This Montefalco Rosso from the centre of Italy has a mid-ruby colour. The nose is inviting and elegant with cherry, smaller red fruit and a touch of
Bradleys
Hopfully welcome a new brewer and a new beer.
Pale orange, close to lemon, is the colour of this session ale by Hopfully. It is also hazy as might expect from a New England style. Juicy stuff on the palate where exotic fruits lead the way before a dry and slightly tart
Wexford: A 48-hour visit
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| Cuan Aingeal. A remembrance garden for children who have died in tragic circumstances |
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| Tuna Poké Bowl |
Tuna Poké Bowl by Maki Sushi
Back to the English Market for this Taste of the Week, an amazing Tuna Poké Bowl by Maki Sushi. Full title is Ahi Tuna Bowl and it consists of Fresh Tuna, Mango, Avocado Wakame, Edamame and
METROPOLE HOTEL LAUNCHES THIS YEAR’S JAZZ FESTIVAL CLUB
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| Fiona Tierney "Lady Fi" and Jorge Kachmari of the Underscore Orchestra. Pic: Brian Lougheed |
New York Brass Band, The Swing Cats and Harry Connolly on the bill
Dual Dine and Swing options too
The Metropole Hotel, original home of the Cork Jazz Festival, will once again play
Beer Of The Week
Exceptional beer as you might expect from five centuries of heritage
Guinness with Timmermans Lambic & Stout 6% ABV, 37.5 cl bottle, Carry Out Wexford
Blended and bottled in Belgium, this Lambic & Stout is a terrific drink. It is a blend of three beers: the Guinness West Indies Porter (1801), Guinness Special Export (first brewed in 1944 exclusively for John Martin) and Timmermans Oude Kriek (from the world’s
Journey Through Time:
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| Ready for dinner? Ashworth Soup Tureen |
Johnstown Castle in Wexford isn't just a historic landmark; it's a time capsule whispering tales of bygone eras. My recent visit, fueled by a curiosity sparked by a €7.5 million renovation project, was an eye-opening adventure into Ireland's rich past.
A food safe was quite common, usually made of timber with a tight mesh over the front to deter flies and so on and was often hung on outside walls. |
A Glimpse into Gilded Age Gastronomy
Imagine a lavish feast fit for royalty. Our journey begins with a
Poggiotondo Terre di Cresci Chianti Classico (DOCG) 2021, 14.5% ABV
RRP €30.95. Stockists: Blackrock Cellar, wineonline.ie
Try it with Florentine Steak, rare of course
Our latest Chianti Classico has a vibrant garnet colour. Black cherries and plums, floral notes and spice may also be detected in the aromatics. Spice and fruit on the palate are matched by the lively acidity as the elegant delightful
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| Exquisite clams! |
Craving a taste of Portugal? Look no further than Farol, the exciting new restaurant lighting up Sundays Well! Nestled in the former Vikki's space, Farol offers a vibrant taste of Portuguese cuisine that's sure to tantalise your taste buds. Farol, meaning "lighthouse" in Portuguese, isn't just
press release
For One Night Only New York’s The Dead Rabbit Bar
To Take Over Cask in Cork
Ian Alexander, Bar Director of the world-renowned The Dead Rabbit will be in Cask serving cocktails on June 18th from 7 pm to 10 pm
The Dead Rabbit, a highly acclaimed New York bar, has been recognised with
Integro Negroamaro Puglia (IGP) 2022, 13.5% ABV
€16.95 at O’Briens Wine
A pure expression of the land where it is grown
Intense ruby is the colour of this organic wine from the heel of Italy. Very fruity nose with cherry prominent. Cherry and red berry fruit flavours in the palate and it is a little on the
On the craft trail with two Kerry beers and a Kilkenny cider. West Kerry, Killarney Brewing and Highbank Orchards
West Kerry Blue Rose Ale 5.1% ABV, 500 ml bottle Bradleys
West Kerry threw out their rule book and this beautiful traditional ale is the result.
Colour is a light hazy gold with zillions of microbubbles crowding towards the soft white top. That dry hopping, an extra touch, is immediately noticeable in the aromas and on the palate. It has a pleasant, flowery, spicy, citrus-like quality with a slight
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| Time to open up! |
Chapeau to Frank Schiltkamp (the city's self-proclaimed football-loving "Dutchie in the City") and Benny McCabe (serial entrepreneur behind Cork's beloved Heritage pubs) who have transformed Brennan's Cookware shop into
Hotel Press Releases SU24
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Summer in the City at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel
Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel Launches Exciting Summer Soirée Series
on the Iconic Rooftop Bar & Terrace
The luxurious, Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Summer Soirée Series, a trio of vibrant summer events set to take place on the hotel's iconic Rooftop Bar & Terrace in June, July and August. These three exclusive gatherings promise a perfect blend of gourmet cuisine, bespoke cocktails, and live music, making them the ultimate destination for summer entertainment in Dublin.
Guests at the Summer Soirée Series will be treated to tantalising
Taste of the Week.
Choice of three.
Choose one, or all three!
I've been enjoying some superb Irish-made cheese in recent weeks. It is tough to pick one as Taste of the Week so I'll highlight all
Rosso di Caparsa Toscano (IGT), 13% ABV
RRP 23.95; Stockists:, 64 Wine, Greenman Wines, Bradleys Cork, Le Caveau online
A natural expression of a traditional grape from the heart of Tuscany
This Caparsa Sangiovese has a brilliant medium red colour. Sangiovese aromas can
Calling all seafood lovers! If you find yourself in Wexford with a hankering for fresh, flavourful fish, look no further than La Côte Seafood Restaurant. Nestled on Custom House Quay, this gem might have eluded me on a previous visit to the area, but let me tell you, it was worth the wait!
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| Soul |
Location, Location, Location (and a Train!)
Finding La Côte is a breeze. Just head to
Beer of the Week
Hopfully with Bradleys Leeside NEIPA 6.5% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
delightful blend of juicy flavours
Bradleys and the small Waterford brewery Hopfully have pulled together to give us this “delightful blend of juicy flavours”. Hopfully, who recently
Uncover a Wexford Gem:
Jaspers Restaurant in the Crown Quarter
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| Meet Banba, Fódla or Éire, one of the three Irish goddesses in a lofty eye-catching mural within Jaspers. |
Step into a vibrant oasis at Jaspers Restaurant, the jewel in Wexford's Crown Quarter. This bustling complex offers everything from cosy stays to lively music and comedy, and excellent food, all right in the heart of town. And the adventure begins on
Tenuta Fenice Nero D’Avola Sicilia (DOC) 2021, 14% ABV
€16.00 Bubble Brothers.
The phoenix rises! A superb wine. “I think my grandfather would have been very proud.”
This rich, ruby-coloured wine is made from vines abandoned for decades after a devastating earthquake in western Sicily in 1968.
Dino Taschetta tells quite a story on his label: “…Residents had no choice but to
Wexford Jewel.
La Vista Cafe at the National Opera House
La Vista Cafe isn't just a cafe – it's an experience! Perched on Level 3 of Wexford's National Opera House, it boasts jaw-dropping views of land, river, and sea that will have you singing its praises (almost as loudly as the opera performances!). This 50-seater cafe boasts
Beer of the Week
Hopburgh Schwarzbier (Black Lager) 5.2% ABV, 500 ml bottle Bradleys
A rich and roasty dark lager.
Black, with tints of red, is the colour of this black beer, not from Germany as you might think, but from Hopkins & Hopkins at Dublin’s Bow Street Brewery, reportedly a side project of JW Sweetman’s head brewer. This Schwarzbier, a traditional
Taste of the Week
Wexford Strawberries
It's that time of year again when strawberries appear and the rush begins. You know they are in season when you see the roadside huts with the Wexford strawberry signs appear on roads many well outside the county.
I have been
