Local Shellfish Takes Center Stage at Goldie for Cork on a Fork Festival (16-20 Aug 2023)

Local Shellfish Takes Center Stage at Goldie for Cork on a Fork Festival (16-20 Aug 2023)

Oysters. Pics by Ruth Calder- Potts

For the highly anticipated Cork on a Fork Festival (16 – 20 August), award-winning seafood restaurant, Goldie (Oliver Plunkett St), will showcase the county’s rich bounty of sustainable shellfish with a mouthwatering menu on Thursday evening 17^th August 2023.  Guests can tuck into a feast of locally landed mussels, oysters, crabs, prawns and lobster cooked with Goldie’s signature flair to bring out their unique tastes and textures.

 All profits on the night will go to Ballycotton RNLI.

Head Chef Aisling Moore

“As well as being delicious, we want to highlight how shellfish can help create a healthier marine environment,” says Aishling Moore, Head Chef of Goldie. "It is also a good opportunity to show our support of Ballycotton RNLI. We are acutely aware of the invaluable service they provide to the small fishing community of Ballycotton where we source the majority of our produce for the restaurant. We look forward to a long, fruitful relationship with them” she added.

Sustainability is at the heart of operations at Goldie which has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2021. The restaurant is famous for using every part of every fish to create its menu. It also operates a ‘whole catch’ approach by creating new dishes daily based on what arrives on the day boats from nearby Ballycotton harbour, so there is no wastage.

The menu on the 17th August illustrates what an important role shellfish plays in fostering the health of our coastal waters. Both farmed and wild shellfish, particularly oysters and mussels, improve water quality by removing nitrogen, sequestering carbon and increasing biodiversity. Other varieties such as lobsters and crabs are most often caught in traps and pots, which is a low-intervention method of fishing. These pots are designed to allow undersized fish to escape and have little impact on the seabed.

There will be two sittings on the night at 5.30pm and 8pm.

Don't miss these FREE demos and talks at the Cork on a Fork Fest. Marquee, Festival Stage, and around the city.

Don't miss these FREE demos and talks at the Cork on a Fork Fest Marquee, Festival Stage, and around the city

Alan Kelly, The Milkman!

Rachel Allen, zero waste talks, Michelin star chefs, bread and butter making workshops, cookoffs, English Market cooking demos and much more

 

Save the date!  A 100-seat cooking demo marquee will pop up on Emmet Place (outside Crawford Art Gallery) all day on Saturday 19th August for Cork on a Fork Festival Featuring a host of exciting talks, demos and tastings, there’s something for everyone.  And the best part… all the events are free!  

 

Cooking up a storm in the Festival Marquee will be Celebrity chef Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Cookery School, zero waste chef Orla McAndrew, William Murray from Currabinny, Pamela Kelly from Farmgate, Cork Migrant Centre, and more.  

 

There will also be a fun Rebel County mystery box cook-off competition between with The Glass Curtain, Sage and others, moderated by Irish Examiner food writer Joe McNamee, and a live podcast with McKenna Guides, Michelin Chef Takashi Miyazaki from Ichigo Ichie, Michelin rated chef Aishling Moore from Goldie and Claire Condon from Good Day Deli. 

Justin - Bertha's Revenge

 

While you’re there, you can enjoy local treats from the adjacent Cork on a Fork Fest mini market, get info on healthy eating at the HSE stand, and have lots of fun with face-painting and live music during lunchtime and giant games with Let’s Play Cork in the afternoon.

 

Meanwhile, the Cork on a Fork Festival Stage will be housed at the 70-seat Crawford Art Gallery Theatre and will feature many informative and fun talks from food experts and local producers. On Friday 18th August, don’t miss ‘The Magic of Milk’ interactive presentation with UCC; Cork Food Culture in Literature, History and Heritage with renowned food historian Regina Sexton and more; an insightful chat between Guaranteed Irish and Cork producers, including Ballymaloe Foods, St Patrick’s Distillery, West Cork Eggs Ltd., and West Cork Biscuit; a Bertha’s Gin Talk and Tasting (almost booked out), a fascinating insight into Supermarket Food Trends and their impact on Health and the Planet; and a talk on Oysters and Irish Culture by the world Oyster Shucking champion. 

 

Moving on to Saturday, the Festival Stage will host family friendly demos, a panel discussion with leading names in Cork food who are not originally from the city; a  Healthy Eating Puppet Show for primary school kids (booked out), tips from Atlantia Clinical Trials on improving mood and brain health through a healthy gut, and what is sure to be a fascinating perspective on Cork Food with Cork's (and Ireland’s) leading food writers.

 

Orla McAndrew

All the demos in the Festival Marquee and Festival Stage are free thanks to the support of Cork City Council, Failte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East and The Wild Atlantic Way.

 

Not only that, but throughout the week, a host of other free demos and talks will take place throughout the city, including the opening symposium ‘Feeding Cork the sustainable and healthy way with Cork Food Policy Forum’, a fun Bread and Butter Making workshop and other demos at The Butter Museum, and English Market Cooking demos.

Chefs Brian (Glass Curtain) and Aishling (Goldie)
enjoying the launch in the English Market

 

There will also be ticketed demos including The Cork Oyster Shucking Championships at The Metropole, coffee roasting three ways at Izz Cafe, pizza making, cocktail making workshops, child friendly sensory cooking classes at St Peters, tutored beer tasting at Elbow Lane (booked out), Black Gold – Cork’s Blood Pudding Culture Talk and Tasting with Flavour.ie at Farmgate, coffee cupping, distillery demos, an International Tea Ceremony at Nano Nagle (booked out), a Sourdough and Wine Harvest at Callanans, and a food photography workshop (booked out)...the list goes on with more than 100 events.  Not only that but a host of community gardens will open to the public and do demos over the week.

 

Cork on a Fork Festival was established by Cork City Council in 2022 as a celebration of dining and nightlife in the city and the world-class produce found in the wider Cork region, this year’s festival has doubled in scale with many new events added to the lineup.

Whether you want to taste your way through the city on a food trail, take part in unique culinary experiences at a pop-up event, learn a new skill at a talk or workshop, enjoy live entertainment at a street event, or feast on the finest local food, there will be plenty to see, do and devour. With some events close to capacity or already sold out, and with just one month left, it’s time to make a booking to avoid disappointment. 

Cork on a Fork Festival is a Cork City Council Festival, supported by local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East, Pure Cork, Cork Business Association, Cork Airport, Atlantic Clinical Trials. 

The full programme can be found on www.corkonaforkfest.ie or follow @corkonaforkfest for live updates.

For a full list of demos and talks taking place during Cork on a Fork Festival see 

www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-on-a-fork-fest/what-s-on/demos-workshops-and-talks/

Here's hoping the sun shines as it did at this Cork food fest in 2012

Cork on a Fork Demo Marquee, Sat 19th Aug 

• 9.30am-10.30am: From Farm to Fork – cooking demo with Farmgate
• 10.45am- 11.45am:  Leftover Larder Love - zero waste cookery demo with Orla McAndrew.  
• 12.00pm- 12.45pm: Cooking demo (
• 1pm:  Rachel Allen cooking demo on local food.
• 2pm:  “The Art of Culinary Sustainability”.  A chat with Takashi Miyazaki from Ichigo Ichie, Aishling Moore from Goldie and Claire Condon from Good Day Deli, podcast live for McKenna Guides.
• 3pm: Rebel County Mystery Box Cook-Off
• 4pm: Cooking demo with William Murray, Currabinny 
• 5pm: Pupusas (stuffed tortillas/flatbread) cooking demo and sampling with Cork Migrant Centre.   

Cork on a Fork Live Stage at Crawford Art Gallery Theatre  

Friday 18th Aug

• 10am: “Magic of Milk” interactive presentation with Prof Alan Kelly UCC School of Food and Nutritional Sciences.
• 11am:  Cork Food Culture in Literature, History and Heritage Talk.
• 12pm. 1.35pm: Join Guaranteed Irish for an insightful chat with Cork producers - Ballymaloe Foods, St Patrick’s Distillery, West Cork Eggs Ltd., West Cork Biscuit.

• 2pm:  Bertha’s Gin talk and tasting with Justin from Ballyvolane House (almost booked out).
• 3-4pm:  A walk through the supermarket – Food trends and their impact on health and planet with Dr. Aylin Sahin, UCC School of Food and Nutritional Sciences.
• 4pm:  Of Irish and Oysters - a Salty History of Shuckin’Around and Irish Culture (according to Patrick McMurray - Oyster Sommelier & Champion Shucker).

Saturday 19th Aug

• 10am: Cork Food Policy family friendly event.
• 11am:  Cork Food Policy family friendly event.
• 12pm Cork on a Fork – a new Cork perspective.  A panel discussion with leading names in Cork food who are not originally from the city.
• 2pm:  Healthy Eating Puppet Show for primary school kids.
• 3pm:   Tips on improving mood and brain health through a healthy gut.
• 4pm:  Cork Food – a food writers’ perspective: PANEL with Cork’s (and Ireland’s) leading food writer.

***

CORK GEARS UP FOR OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP. World record oyster shucker to fly in from Canada to judge the competition

 CORK GEARS UP FOR OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP 

At the launch (L-R) Roger Russell, General Manager, Metropole Hotel;
Sandra Murphy, Group Brand and Communications Manager;
and Alex Petit, Group Executive Chef, Trigon Hotels. Pic: Brian Lougheed

World record oyster shucker to fly in from Canada to judge the competition 

The Metropole Hotel is getting ready for the Cork Oyster Shucking Championship which will form part of the Cork on a Fork festival next month.  Oyster shucking is the careful process of opening the shell to reveal the delicacy inside.

The three-time Guinness World Record Oyster Shucker Paddy McMurray, from Toronto, Canada will travel to Cork for the event.  Paddy, who delighted audiences with his talents at the Cork Oyster & Seafood Festival, will demonstrate his shucking skills as well as taking on the role of chief judge for the competition on the night.

The championship is open to participants of all skill levels - from beginners to oyster enthusiasts, seasoned seafood connoisseurs and professional chefs.  To ensure that all contestants have a fair chance, Paddy will conduct masterclasses earlier in the day. 

The evening will commence with an oyster reception, featuring a selection of Irish oysters.  The shucking competition will be the highlight of the evening, while guests will be treated to other activities such as an oyster hunt.  There will be entertainment on the night, while food writer Joe McNamee will be the MC for the evening.

Table packages are available for groups, complete with an assortment of seafood, light bites and canapés curated by Executive Group Chef of Trigon Hotels, Alex Petit.

Sandra Murphy, Group Brand and Communications Manager at Trigon Hotels, said; "We are thrilled to host the Cork Oyster Shucking Championship as part of this year's Cork on a Fork Festival.  We are delighted to welcome back the extraordinary talent of Paddy McMurray as our guest of honour and judge on the night.  As a three-time Guinness World Record Oyster Shucker and a celebrated figure in the world of seafood, Paddy's presence adds a level of excitement and expertise to the competition.  We invite all oyster enthusiasts, seafood lovers, and aspiring shuckers to join us for an evening filled with delicious flavours and the joy of celebrating the ocean's finest delicacy." 

The event takes place at The Metropole Hotel on August 19th from 7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Tickets are from €30 and are available on Eventbrite.  Those who want to participate in the shucking competition can email  smurphy@trigonhotels.com 

press release

The MET X Maharani Afternoon Tea. A Delicious Fusion Of Cork and Kerala

The MET X Maharani Afternoon Tea

A Delicious Fusion Of Cork and Kerala

Spices from Kerala.

The successful local Rebel City distillery, whose lead product is Maharani gin (with Indian botanicals), and Cork’s Metropole Hotel joined forces to celebrate last week’s Cork on a Fork Fest with an Afternoon Tea.

But one with a difference. The Met's new head chef Vasil Baci took inspiration from the gin and its ingredients to create a taste of India over 3 plates! And that was extended by an Amuse Bouche and we were also treated to a Maharani Gin (with some black pepper cracked in on top, a favourite hack of Pierce Lowney, the hotel’s Food & Beverage Manager).

Distillery co-founders Robert Barrett and his wife Bhagya set up Rebel City in Cork in early 2020. The Maharani is copper pot distilled and, along with the usual suspects, including the essential juniper, distiller Robert has added three botanicals from Kerala. 

One is Pomelo Fruit, officially Citrus Grandis. Then you have Cassia (Cinnamomum Cassia) and also Nutmeg Mace (Myristica Fragrans). All three are sourced from the women’s farming cooperative in Kerala, Bhagya’s home state. Robert is very happy with the Maharani (means high queen): “a fusion of two creative cultures, a gin of truly transcendent taste”.

Scone with Rice Pudding!

And so here we are in the beautiful tea rooms of the Met, relaxing in a Sunday afternoon as two southern cities come together on a series of plates. That relaxation is part of the afternoon tea ritual and so too is the tea (and that wasn’t forgotten here).

The usual formula, savoury, scones and sweet was followed but there was certainly a difference, thanks to the Indian inputs, and here Chef Baci, using the freshest of local produce, was absolutely spot on with the combinations. That skilfully applied enhancing spicy touch of the east was a factor for sure but a subtle one. Very well balanced, as is said in the world of wine tasting.

The Amuse Bouche was a good indicator of what was to come, local and exotic coming together to put us on the way to perhaps the best Afternoon Tea we’ve enjoyed in years. Loved the Star Anise and cinnamon sweet shell tart, Ardsallagh Goats Cheese, roasted red peppers, basil beetroot gel and crushed chili; here the spices and the soft flavours of the cheese and beetroot waltzed gently and satisfactorily on the palate.

Sweet!

Now for the first plate, the Finger Sandwich Selection:

  

Smoked bacon and egg mayo, garden chive mini sweet slider.

Mini spiced chicken tarragon cracked poppadum wrap.

Market Smoked salmon, saffron lemon mayo, Indian style pickled red onion, brown home-made treacle soda bread, Maharani gin spritz.

Aloo Masala bite, Vienna sourdough bread, Mango chutney.

Started that quartet with the lovely slider and then found the following ones as good as the other.

Next up was the Dressed Scone, a homemade buttermilk chai spiced fruit mini scone, whipped vanilla double cream, raspberry jam. Another winner from the kitchen.

Pic by Rebel City.

Now for that final sweet lap, the Sweet Treats.

Vanilla & Passion fruit set lassi, fresh raspberry and mint.

Homemade mini banana bread, pistachio strawberry cream.

Mini coconut and honey pancake roll.

Spiced Rice Pudding.

Mini 73% Chocolate delice.

And there was also an unlisted Macaroon on the plate!

Some really excellent treats here, starting with the lassi, and the banana bread was also a beauty (especially with that cream!). The chocolate lived up to its name. But that Spiced Rice Pudding was my favourite, enhanced no end by the hidden treasure of generous fruit. Terrific end to a lovely relaxing afternoon in one of the most comfortable rooms in the city.

Cheers to Cork and to Kerala and here’s hoping we’ll all meet again with a plate somewhere! 

This was my final outing of the Cork on a Fork Festival, a very enjoyable few days indeed. Here's to 2023!

The Met. A place to relax. (pic by the Met)

The Bookshelf Elysian hosts Cork on a Fork Dinner. And it turns out to be a superb evening!

The Bookshelf Elysian hosts Cork on a Fork Dinner.

And it turns out to be a superb evening!

Sweet sandwich!

The Bookshelf at the Elysian made a rare evening opening to host a one-off 4-course dinner experience for the Cork on a Fork Festival, with a specially created menu filled with produce from the region.  

Goats cheese, beetroot

The dinner, helmed by Head Chef Rebekah Harrington, was class from start to finish and featured an array of top notch local produce.

Pom'O x 2

In between the starters and the mains, we had a Mead interval. The meads, all by the Kinsale Mead Company, were Hazy Summer, Atlantic Dry and Wild Red. They were paired with nibbles that included Gubbeen Smoked cheese and Ballyhooly Blue (whipped) from Fermoy. Both the mead and nibbles impressed and you could see it forming the basis for similar demos at markets and other restaurants. More on Kinsale Mead Co here. 

Cider sparkling in the cloudiness

After a warm welcome, and with live music in the foyer, we were soon checking out the menu. There was a choice of three starters, each with a wine pairing (from L’Atitude 51). Out two were Chicken liver mousse éclair, piccalilli relish and Textures of beetroot, Sunview Goats cheese (from Kilmichael). The pair were shared and each was excellent and easily polished off.

Mead break

After the mead interlude, it was on to the mains. No need for sharing this time as we had each picked Free-range Caherbeg (from Rosscarbery) confit pork belly, blackberries, with Pom’O apple port jus. Just perfect. The pork was excellent and lifted by the amazing Pom’O by Killahora Orchards (that we would meet again at the end).

Pork Belly and that sauce!

Drinks? One was the Ameztoi Txacoli de Getaria Rosado “Rubentis” and the other was an unfiltered and delicious classy cider from orchards just west of the city. Each had plenty of acidity to go well with the pork and hard to pick between the Basque wine and the Irish cider. The only thing missing was that the wine wasn’t poured from shoulder height as they sometimes do in the lovely village of Getaria where this one comes from.

The Basque wine

Time for the sweet then. Two available so we took both. The Sandwich of meadowsweet namelaka and strawberry cremeux was a delicious as you’d anticipate, really well executed while the other, the Blackberry and lemon balm granita, with chocolate aero and candied nuts, was superbly refreshing. Thumbs up for two desserts worth waiting for!

Chicken liver mousse éclair

On then to the finalé. It was billed as a Dessert Cocktail featuring that fantastic Killahora Orchids Pom’O. But no cocktail! The Bookshelf decided that the Pom’O was so good there was no need to add anything and that proved to be a great call. What a finalé!

Blackberry & Lemon balm....

* Killahora on that unusual drink: “Our Pom’O is an apple aperitif made from rare apple varieties, grown in our 200 year old Orchards on the south facing slopes of Ireland’s County Cork. We mix the juice from our bittersweet apples with the finest apple brandy, then age it in Irish whiskey barrels for at least a year….”  More on the Pom'O here.

Following German Beer Rules Helps Elbow Lane Brew Winners. A Quart of Ale± #118.

A Quart of Ale± #118. On the craft journey with Elbow Brewery

Following German Beer Rules Helps

 Elbow Lane Brew Winners

Beer. In 5 easy lessons

“When we opened the Elbow Lane Brewery in 2014, we decided we would follow the German beer purity law known as the Reinheitsgebot.”

“It has worked and worked very well for us,” continued Elbow Lane Brewer Russell Garet as he opened last Wednesday’s tasting of their beers, part of a mini-series under the Cork on a Fork Festival umbrella. 

Russell Garet

That famous rule was introduced in 1516 by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria.  The decree allows for only hops, barley, water and, later, yeast in each and every beer. It has served Bavaria very well indeed.

We started the tasting with the Elbow Lane Lager. No surprise then that it is a continental style lager. “More recently we have started using Irish Lager malt, though with a small amount of German malt. The Irish though is just as good.”

Closed lanes and signs and Elbow Lane beers

“We don’t over-process, we use old brewing methods. The lager has a slight haze, is unfiltered and takes 6 weeks overall. It has slight aromas of vanilla and of the grassy hops.”

Stout for angels,
sinners & saints

It is a very pleasant lager, refreshing and ideal with lighter dishes and curry. Russell told us it accounts for 40% of sales and appeals to the drinker of lager, whether craft or in general. It weights in at 4.4% ABV and the hops used are Saaz, Hersbrucker (for its subtle aromas) and Hercules (for its bittering qualities).

Then we were on to the second most popular beer in the Elbow Lane range: the Jawbone Pale Ale, with an ABV of 5%. “The hop here is Cascade - a very popular hop - and immediately you notice its citrus aromas. There is not a lot of bitterness - we tend to lean more towards character to match the food. It has fruity qualities, but there is no fruit in the beer!”

It was the malt that took the spotlight in the next beer, another ale, this called Wisdom with an ABV of 5.2%. There is a high concentration of Crystal Malt which gives a bolder colour and a richer caramel flavour. You get toffee on the nose and more of the caramel on the palate. “Great with smoked and roasted meats,” advised Russell. So great in this very place!

Three malts

And now for something different, their Arrow Weisse with an ABV of 5% and typical aromas of banana and clove (from the yeast). One of my favourite styles, especially those made under the purity law.

And we finished with another favourite of mine, the Angel Stout (4.4 ABV). Here the roasted malt comes into play, contributing colour and flavour. “We focus too on the hops for bitterness and they (Hercules Germany, Pilgrim UK and Williamette USA) go in early in the process.”  And so we came to the end, sipping one of the very best stouts around.

Jawbone (left) and Wisdom ales.
Crystal Malt gives a bolder colour to the Wisdom.

The five beers are the core beers here. But they do specials and seasonals from time to time, including a delicious Porter during Covid. Earlier this year they issued a beer to support Ukrainian refugees and hope to have another special in the Autumn.

The original idea sprang from a UCC experiment that caught the attention of Market Lane’s Conrad Howard and it was decided to brew in Elbow Lane. The operation started in 2014 and the emphasis from the start was on styles that match the food being served in the Market Lane Group restaurants that now include ORSO, Castle Cafe, Elbow Lane, Market Lane and most recently Goldie.

Beer of course has been around for thousands and thousands of year. “The baking of bread and the brewing of beer go hand in hand,” said Russell. “Eventually the Greeks introduced beer to Europe. Later the monasteries became influential in brewing. The Industrial Revolution saw brewing go from small scale to industrial. By the 1900s, consolidation of brands led to six giant breweries, including Watneys, owning everything beer in England. Something similar was happening in the US.”

 Scientific discoveries such as pasteurisation, the isolating of yeast and beer filtration has influenced the course of beer-making.

Modern times saw the rise of craft brewing. Russell reckoned it was inspired by small wineries on the West Coast of the US. Brewers followed suit with the likes of Sierra Nevada among the leaders. “When I started taking an interest in brewing in 1986, there were just a couple of dozen small breweries in the states, now there are over three thousand.”

It emerged during the chat that Russell and Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery shared an Alma Mater and at one stage Russell’s New York brewery Chelsea was in competition with Brooklyn.

Fancy meeting you here! Garrett Oliver (left)
and Russel Garet.

Where do the names for these beers come from? Well, they are called after alleyways in the city. There is one exception: Arrow. There is a depiction of what might be an arrow over the entrance of Elbow Lane but there is an opinion growing that it may not be an arrow at all but a part of a gate as, back in the day, there were more than a few foundries in operation in the area.

What will the next one be called? I’m kind of hoping that it be a Porter and once that’s on the bottle, I’ll be happy!

* Big thanks to Russell for the tasting, He was superb, just like his beers!