Mary and Sheila Fresh Fish

FISH AT BALLINCOLLIG MARKET

Made a quick visit to the Ballincollig Farmer’s Market last Wednesday and met the fish selling ladies from West Cork, Mary and Sheila. I had forgotten I called them lively in an earlier post, maybe my spell checker changed it from lovely.

We had a chat about fish and how the fashions are changing. You hardly ever see whiting nowadays while the now popular monkfish were once thrown back overboard. Like me, they enjoy their meals out and we all agreed that Over the Moon in Skibbereen is top class and they also had a good word to say for Le Voyage at the Wine Vaults restaurant in the town. They were surprised that the gurnard dish, that we enjoyed recently at the Silk Purse, was so expensive (€23.15).

While we were chatting, they were filleting some fresh hake for me and the charge was a very reasonable €11.50 for five big fillets that were all thoroughly enjoyed at home that very evening.

The girls, by the way, do a lively (that word again) business in the Skibbereen Market very Saturday morning and that was where I first saw them in action. And Swanton Plants, where I bought some herbs on Wednesday in Ballincollig, are also regulars in the West Cork town.

On a previous visit to Ballincollig, I had a chat with Joy of Joy’s Jams saying I preferred marmalade with peel. She didn’t have any at the time but didn't she go away and make a batch for me and the minority that enjoy the peel. Thanks Joy, I’m enjoying that pot now!

Check out my review of Mary & Sheila Fresh Fish - I am cork - on Qype

Ballincollig Farmers Market

BALLINCOLLIG FARMERS MARKET

Called to the Ballincollig Farmers Market this Wednesday morning. It is nicely located in the lanes of the new shopping centre but is fairly limited, not very many stalls, at least on this occasion.

Had a lively conversation with Joy O’Driscoll of Joy’s Jams, mainly about her marmalades, and ending up buying a jar of her gooseberry (€3.50) and a jar of her dark Seville Marmalade (€3.80).

Next call was to the Tom’s Bread. We’ve been coming across them lately (previously in the Coal Quay and also, via ABC, in the English Market). This time bought a lovely baked wheat bread (€3.90) with a scattering of hazelnuts surprising the taste buds every now and then. Very enjoyable.

Kept circulating and helped ourselves to some decent looking carrots from the farmer’s stall, avoided the highly visual temptation of Katie’s Cup Cakes and some hot food stalls, including a creperie, before buying a couple of herb plants at €2.00 each from the helpful man at Swanton’s Stand, a stand seen regularly in their home base of Skibbereen where the market, much bigger than Ballincollig’s, take place every Saturday morning.

Check out my review of Ballincollig Farmers Market - I am cork - on Qype