Stonewell Cider Cheers! Win yourself a hamper.

Stonewell Cider Cheers!

Win yourself a hamper.

Stonewell Irish Craft Cider have enjoyed  “an astonishing year” and are spreading the cheer on Social Media. 

In 2016, the Nohoval (Cork) cidery were crowned the Supreme Champion at the National Irish Food Awards (Blas na hEireann) and also won accolades at international events. “None of which would have been possible without the support and encouragement from you, our customers."

So, for Christmas, they are running a competition on all their social media. It starts today 1st December and the winner will be announced on 15th December. The prize is a Stonewell Christmas hamper containing a selection of Stonewell Cider products along with produce from local businesses such as Hassett's Bakery and Carrigaline Farmhouse Cheese.

It is easy to enter. Simply ‘like’ the Stonewell Facebook page and post a photograph of a Stonewell Cider (drinking, cooking, wrapping presents etc) using #stonewellchristmas on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Good luck!

And, speaking of cooking, watch out for the Cinnamon Apple Cake video which will be up on the 5th December.

Web:  www.stonewellcider.com

Twitter: @stonewellcider

Facebook: /Stonewellcider

Chance to Win a Box of Wine

Chance to Win a Box of Wine

Hard to believe but I've a recipe in the Irish final of a Cono Sur competition. The public can vote on it, so I'm asking you all to please go to this link (you don't have to join anything) and vote for our Scallops and Bacon http://bloggercompetition.conosur.com/index.php/vote

Please pass this message on.

By the way, thanks to Cono Sur, one lucky voter will win a box of wine.

Goodfella's Competition

Competition now closed
Winner is Bob Kavanagh of County Carlow

Does your family like pizza? Thanks to Goodfella’s Extra Thin pizza, we can offer one of you a PizzaFest party for your friends and family. To win ten vouchers for delicious Goodfella’s Extra Thin Pizza, simply send email with Yes Please in subject line to corkbilly@ymail.com
Don't forget to enclose your name and address! Closing date: 30th July.
Republic of Ireland addresses only.

                                                                      Goodfella’s Pizza launches a trio of tasty, thin treats.

Pizza fans ready their ovens for a slice of extra thin from Goodfella’s.

Goodfella’s Pizza, Ireland’s No.1 pizza makers has done it again and launched another new delicious product, the brand new ‘Extra Thin’ pizza range. The new 10” pizza, with a feather light 4mm base, is infused with olive oil offering a lighter, crispy; eat with only 10-12 minutes cooking time, perfect for those special ‘me time’ moments.

The Extra Thin range comes in three mouth-watering variants of Vegetable & Goats Cheese, Mozzarella & Pesto and spicy Chorizo & Pepperoni.

The Goodfellas Team says, “Our Extra Thin pizza range is a delicious, premium addition that we are delighted to share with the Irish market. With three delicious topping combinations, it’s the quick and easy dinner treat to bring a little bit of Italy to your kitchen table.

Goodfella’s Pizza company has been rolling out dough in Ireland for over twenty years, bringing a slice of authentic Italian life to homes across the country with seven delicious ranges catering for all tastes.

For more on Ireland’s No.1 pizza range check out GoodfellasPizzas.ie 

Wanted: Ireland's Best Fish Dish!

Wanted: Ireland's Best Fish Dish!

To celebrate its brand new All You Can Eat Everything offer on Bill Pay, Three mobile is searching for Ireland’s Best Fish Dish. Irish foodies are being challenged to battle it out in the kitchen to have their fishy creation judged by a panel of foodies including Masterchef UK star John Torode and have their dish crowned, Ireland’s Best Fish Dish

Three, Ireland’s largest high-speed network is asking fish fanatics across the country to submit their tasty entries to IrelandsBestFishDish@three.ie by Thursday July 11^th. Entries must include the recipe and supporting imagery of the finished dish. They will be judged on technique, ingredients, creativity and presentation by top Irish foodies Ross Golden-Bannon and Andrew Rudd (left). The chosen two finalists will then go head-to-head in a once-in-a-lifetime cook-off event in Dublin’s Medley restaurant and have their dishes judged by Torode and his Irish foodie panellists

The winner of the competition will be treated to the ultimate foodies weekend away for two in the stunning Cliff House Hotel with dinner at its famed Michelin star restaurant and a brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 handset.

Speaking of the competition, John Torode said: "I'm delighted to be travelling over to Ireland to help find Ireland's Best Fish Dish. I have heard many stories about the quality of fish in Irish restaurants that I look forward to seeing a high standard of entry from the amateur chefs across the country, seeking to create their perfect dish. I have always expected a high level of cooking and this competition will be no different."

Santa's Tea is coming...

Santa's Tea is coming...

Listen up folks! Thanks to Barry's Tea, we've a big bunch of boxes of Santa's Tea as a gift for you! But you gotta be quick - closing date is Sunday next at noon. Send me an email  here with the words Yes Please Santa in the subject line. Don't forget your name and address! (RoI addresses only).


Barry’s Tea has created a very festive limited edition Santa’s Tea box which is for sale exclusively on barrysteashop.ie for tea fans at home and abroad. The box retails at €3.49 and is the perfect stocking filler for young and old.

The Barry’s Online Tea Shop also hosts the full Barry’s Tea range and a plethora of tea gifts for the entire family. The Online Shop was created to help the needs of tea fans living abroad who may not have access to their favourite tea brand. Tea fans should take note that the final postage date for sending a box of Santa’s Tea to a loved one within Ireland is December 19th.

Hamper to be won!

Competition is now closed - we have a winner: Michael Wall of Waterford.

Robert Roberts Hamper

We’ve got a terrific prize for you, thanks to long established Irish company Robert Roberts who are once again celebrating a success in the Great Taste Awards. The hamper contains some of their award winning teas, coffees and herbal teas as well as a cafetiere and tea pot.  Interested? Then email me at   corkbilly@ymail.com with Yes Please in the subject line. Easy.
The prize can be delivered to Republic of Ireland addresses only. Closing date is 12 noon on the 29th of August.

BARRY'S TEA COMPETITION

BARRY’S TEA FOR YOU – THIS CHRISTMAS

There was a lot of interest in our recent post on the special Santa pack from Barry’s Tea. Briefly, Barry’s Tea created the limited edition Santa’s Tea box which is for sale exclusively on barrysteashop.ie for tea fans at home and abroad. The box is only €3.25 which is a winner for stocking fillers and sending to family and friends across the world via The Online Tea Shop

Now the good news is that they are giving us ten packs for a free contest, a contest that you may enter from home and abroad. But you need to get cracking. Tuesday next (Dec 6th) is the final date for posting abroad. So move on over to our Facebook and just press like or comment and all entries will go into the hat next Monday at noon Irish time and the ten winners will be chosen.

SIX TOP YOUNG CHEFS IN EURO-TOQUES FINAL

Its Hotting Up in the Kitchen

Euro-toques Young Chef Competition 2011 – Finalists announced

The temperature has been high in the kitchen and now the finalists, six outstanding young professional chefs from around the country, have been announced (8 November) each competing  for this year’s Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year 2011.

The Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year, in association with BIM & Failte Ireland, is the only professional culinary competition in the country based around local and artisan food ingredients. Through mentoring and training based prizes the competition aims to contribute to the professional development of promising young industry professionals.

Despite the recession the number of skilled chefs in Ireland significantly falls short of the demand in Irish kitchens and restaurants; many qualified chefs travel abroad and not enough return home!  For 21 years, the Euro-toques Young Chef competition has been searching for – and nurturing - the future culinary talent of Ireland.

Celebrating this achievement are Kamil Dubanik (23) from Knockranny House Hotel, Westport; Aisling Gallagher (24) from Ballynahinch Castle, Galway; Kyle Greer (24) from No 27 Talbot Street Belfast; Micheal Harley (22) from Rathmullan House, Co. Donegal; David Magaeen (24) from Restaurant Victoria Belfast and Margaret Roche (23) from The Cellar at The Merrion Hotel Dublin. (detailed biogs below).

Such industry chefs as Paul Flynn, Ross Lewis and current Euro-toques Commissioner-General Gearoid Lynch are involved in the competition judging, along with representatives from competition partners BIM and Failte Ireland. Candidates, who must be under the age of 25, submitted a written recipe entry and were then shortlisted for interview and a blind taste test. From these two stages, six finalists were selected to compete in the final.

The heat is now on!  These six finalists now have the next 3 weeks to devise and practice their dishes for the culinary skills test final in Chapter One Restaurant on Sunday 27th November. They must prepare and plate 2 portions of an original dish, using Dublin Bay Prawns and Achill Island Turbot, and present it to the panel of 5 chef judges for tasting, within 70 minutes. On the skills test judging panel Paul Flynn (The Tannery Dungarvan) and Ross Lewis (Chapter One Restaurant Dublin) will be joined by Lorcan Cribbin (Il Segreto Restaurant Dublin), Marc Amand, MD La Rousse Foods and panel chair Neil McFadden. Both Cribbin & McFadden have competed for Ireland on a World Stage in the renowned Bocuse d’Or and know what it takes to compete at that level.

In addition, over the next 3 weeks, the six young finalists will also need to perfect their dishes for a tasting menu which will showcase their talents for state, industry and media guests at the 5 star Merrion Hotel Dublin on Monday 28th of November. Each of the finalists will be introduced to guests before their course is served. At the end of the presentation lunch  the 21st Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year will be announced.

Despite the recession the number of skilled chefs in Ireland significantly falls short of the demand in Irish kitchens and restaurants; many qualified chefs travel abroad and not enough return home!  For 21 years, the Euro-toques Young Chef competition has been searching for – and nurturing - the future culinary talent of Ireland.

“We are crying out for talented, hard-working chefs in our kitchens right now” commented Gearoid Lynch, Commissioner General Euro-toques Ireland at today’s event.  “It is very heartening to see young chefs such as these six, who are willing to push themselves, aim ever higher and who see a future for themselves in this industry. This competition allows us to contribute to their development as chefs and also to hold them up as examples to those who may come after them; both in terms of what is expected of them, but also what they can achieve. It is also hugely important for us to recognise the experienced chefs who give their time and commitment to training future talent. Our competition partners BIM and Failte Ireland have recognised the role that chefs have to play in promoting Irish food and tourism, and we must ensure our industry lives up to that expectation by investing in its future”.

The competition emphasises training and development, with the role of the mentor being central to the process.  This years sponsors are BIM and Failte Ireland and their involvement reflects their recognition of the importance of chefs in building Ireland’s national and international food reputation, the pivotal role that ‘local food’ plays in this and, above all, their commitment to education and development in this sector.  This year’s competition is also supported suppliers La Rousse Foods, Findlater Wine & Spirit Group and Bragard, and Industry partners The Merrion Hotel Dublin, The Ivy London and Chapter One Restaurant.

The top prize for the 2011 Young Chef of the Year will be the opportunity of an all-expenses paid stage at The Ivy, London's favourite restaurant, under Executive Chef Gary Lee. Plus a one week stage at the award winning Michelin star Chapter One restaurant in Dublin under the tutelage of Euro-toques head chef Ross Lewis.

Among the overall prizes, each of the finalists will win a unique food experience with BIM and Failte Ireland. BIM will host a one day practical on-site introduction to the complex world of the seafood industry, visiting a seafood facility and discussing how fish is caught or harvested, bought, and sold, and what this all means to a chef. Including meetings with key industry personnel, processors and industry chef.  Failte Ireland will host a Food Tourism road trip - an educational 4 day food focused road trip taking in ‘hands-on’ cooking time  in top professional kitchens, visits to artisan food producers;  tastings, demos, unique meal experiences  and overnight stays with exemplary Irish food and hospitality operators.

For more info, including biogs of the young chefs, read here...

THE VERMONSTER IS COMING!

THE VERMONSTER IS COMING!

You’d better watch out. The Vermonster is coming. But don’t worry, this is one mega ice cream hit by Ben & Jerry.

And the better news is that you can beat the pack to the first taste. We’ve got four vouchers, each for a 500ml tub of this dreamy US flavour, to give away to Irish fans.

THE VERMONSTER is a delicious concoction of maple syrup ice cream with caramel swirls and pecan chunks. Mmmmm. To make The Vermonster that little bit sweeter, Ben & Jerry’s will be bringing it to Ireland as 100% Fairtrade, meaning all ingredients in the ice cream from cow to cone will be Fairtrade.  

It’ll be on shelves in 2012. We can hardly wait to dig our spoons in!

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is email,  with subject Yes Please, to corkbilly@ymail.com before midnight next Thursday (18^th). Winners will be drawn at random and vouchers will be sent to Republic of Ireland addresses only. 

RED ALL OVER

WINE ALLIANCE COMPETITION  

ENTRIES CLOSE 8.00am MONDAY 2oth!!!!

It’ll be Red all over on September 19^th and to celebrate Cork’s success in reaching the All-Ireland football final we have a cracking prize for you: 6 bottles of classy Spanish red wine, perfect for the celebrations.

The Rojo Mojo Tempranillo (2009) and the Rojo Mojo Shiraz (2009) are new to Ireland and are being imported exclusively by Wine Alliance

The Question: Did Cork wear red or white jerseys in the 1973 All-Ireland final when, helped by two goals (and a point) from Jimmy Barry-Murphy, they defeated Galway? This is a slightly tricky one – you don’t expect us to give the wine away too easily. 

If you need a hint, go here and scroll down to (or search for) Blast from the Past. Video clue here.

Send your answer to: b1946l@gmail.com

BARRY'S TEA WINNER

Congratulations to Belinda Daly of Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, the winner of our recent Barry's Tea Competition. We asked

STRONG TEAM FROM BARRY'S TEA

Strong team from Barry's, plus regulars Gold Blend and Classic.

BARRY’S TEA

Strong Line-Up For Competition

Barry’s Tea have been regular sponsors of sports events over the years so it is only fitting that our current competition has a sporting theme. 

Whatever the result between Cork and Down later this month, Barry’s will always put a full team out for you. The prize, on this occasion, is a gift box filled to the brim with the entire Barry’s Tea Speciality range along with the usual Classic and Gold Blend treats! Their strongest side possible! 

Have a go; the question is not too difficult. Closing date is September 9th (8.00am).

When did Cork last win the All-Ireland senior football title?

Was it 1890 or 1990?  Send your answer to cork.billy@gmail.com

If you want a hint, go to http://www.gaa.ie/about-the-gaa/gaa-history/rolls-of-honour/