Food And Drink Spotting

Food And Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week by McCarthy's Natural Dairy from Macroom.
This Lemon Labneh is a strained natural yoghurt and can be used as a
substitute for soft cheese. Works well with strawberries, on biscuits,
smoked salmon etc. Tried it with the salmon and enjoyed.
Stockists, for this and other McCarthy products,
 include Bradley's, North Main Street.

L'Atitude 51

Castle Oliver, a magnificent Irish Castle built with Red Sandstone in the Scottish Baronial style on 15 acres with breathtaking views of the Ballyhoura mountains in Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick, will be opening its doors to the public for National Heritage Week. Historical guided tours from Saturday 17th to Sunday 25th August 2013, see more info at www.castleoliver.ie

To mark the occasion and celebrate Ireland’s oldest cellar, L’Atitude 51 will be hosting a series of Wine Tastings deep in Castle Oliver’s cellar. Four different wines with a distinctly Irish connection will be presented and tasted, along with a glimpse into some of the secrets of this historical cellar.

Tastings: Saturday 17th Aug and Sunday 18th, 2 pm and 5pm.

Barton & Guestier's Easy Pairings

‘The Pairing Collection’ are appellation wines coming from four of the most prestigious wine regions of France (Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Loire and Rhone) and centres on the perfect food and wine pairing experience. With three reds and two whites, ‘The Pairing Collection’ offers French wine that’s right for any occasion, whether you are preparing a celebration for your family or grabbing a burger with friends. The collection is made up of five wines: Chops & Burgers (Bordeaux Red), Salmon & Trout (Bordeaux White), Chicken & Turkey(Côtes du Rhône), Lobster & Shrimp (Muscadet Sèvre et Maine), and Cheese & Crackers (Beaujolais Villages).

Not sure what to cook for dinner? No problem! A personal recipe from Barton & Guestier's Chef de Cuisine Frédéric Prouvoyeur and a QR code is located on the back label of each bottle, linking you to a dedicated website www.thepairingcollection.com which features lists of additional recipes that go perfectly with each wine.

Maperath Farm

We really hope that you can make it to a lovely event we have on August 24th just outside Kells on Maperath Farm. An afternoon of 'soap box' style discussion on current trends, controversy & visions for food production and food tourism in Ireland. We have a great panel including Pauric White from the Forge Restaurant and Cookery School, Kevin Sheridan of Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, Michael Hoey MD of Country Crest, Daphne Le Vinge Shakleton of Lakeside Organic farm along with guests from the Department of Agriculture, Food Bloggers, Foragers, Food writers and more!

Join us in the 'Big talk tent on the little farm' on Saturday August 24th where we will take the lid off all the steaming topics of food in Ireland........

It's FREE, fun and only a couple of hours but please let us know you are coming!

Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=570168369691884&set=a.462457263796329.97395.462443730464349&type=1&theater for all updates and directions etc.

Duck a l'Orange with Carrots, Chicory and Fennel at the Citron in the Fitzwilliam Hotel (Dublin).Check out the Autumn  Menu here

LimerickMilkMarket

Country Choice on Tour was the destination for international TV chef Bobby Chinn's intro to Irish Hereford beef. Peter did flash fried Hereford ribeye with a Dillisc and sea salt crust served with Caramelised onions, Cashel blue cheese and warm griddle bread. The food was all cooked on open griddles at the Nenagh show. Chef Bobby judged some of the cake classes in the Industries hall.

Chef Bobby also featured Ballymaloe House, The English Market and Aniar in Galway.
Bobby told Minister for food Tom Hayes that the Nenagh Hereford was the best beef he ever tasted!

Cachaca.

This is cachaca. Pronounced k-saw-sha, it is a fermented beverage distilled from raw sugar cane. People around the world have been drinking it for generations in a cocktail called a caipirinah, the national cocktail of Brazil.  Novo Fogo  produces cachaca in a zero-waste distillery. Read more here 

Glenisk Pop-Up

When: Saturday August 17th, 12:30 – 2pm

Where: Glenisk Pop Up Shop @ 51 Dawson St, Dublin 2

Who:  The Glenisk team and Caitriona Redmond

Caítríona Redmond is the voice behind the fantastic food blog Wholesome Ireland.

Mother & wife, Caítríona began her foodie writing on becoming a full-time stay at home mum. In the current climate Caítríona, like many of us, found herself trying to feed her family within the constraints of a tighter budget. Wholesome Ireland is about Caítríona herself and how she manages to do just this while providing nutritious, tasty and healthy meals for her family. The blog is a wealth of knowledge with articles such as Saving Money in the Sun & How Not to Go Shopping along with purse friendly recipes, lunch box ideas and home- made alternatives to many of the higher priced store products.

The Frugal Family Food Demo will be an opportunity to pick up some tips from Caítríona on making savings and cooking for your family and also some delicious recipes to try at home. 

To register for your place on this demo, please emailupfront@glenisk.com and put ‘Frugal Family Food Demo’ in the subject line.

Hope to see you there! 

Featuring the Beringer winery

Working with family can cause headaches, even divide a family, but it can also bring a family closer, allowing it to sustain for generations. The greatest thing about family, though, is that they are not always blood relatives. Beringer Winery is the longest operating winery in California, and it seems that once one is there, they never leave. The ability to sustain tradition while innovating for the future is at the heart of the Beringer family. Maybe that’s why they are the only winery to ever have a red and white be Wine Spectator‘s number one wine. See more on very interesting video here

Recent Video Work by Roger Overall

Any food producer looking for ways to promote his or her products could do worse than take a look at these recent promotional videos.

The Poacher’s Inn: http://vimeo.com/70026018

Sage and the 12 mile menu: http://vimeo.com/71364004

The Burren Smokehouse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14zR4tMuiGc

Bia Sásta Foodie Events for August: http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=701445d90ec5e77a7d158692b&id=0ed7c16d4b&e=7672e60f31

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Retracing the footsteps of Cork’s Winegeese

Ted Murphy, wine historian and author of 'A Kingdom of Wine - The Story of Ireland's Wine Geese' - will lead a walking tour, ‘retracing the footprints of Cork’s Wine Geese families’ - their connections in Cork - the street names, buildings and places, and people originally from Cork, connected with some of the famous wine families of the world.

Starting point: The Port of Cork Building (inside reception area upstairs.)

Time: 3.30pm, Saturday 17th August 2013

To book places (free event, but advance booking advised) please contact the ‘Bringing the Wine Geese Home’ committee members - contact details http://bringingthewinegeesehome.com/contacts/

A Taste of Austria with Operettas

The Haffner family of Rolf’s Country House, Baltimore invite you to experience an Austrian night with two renowned singers from the Opera House of Vienna, one of whom started his career in the Viennese Boys Choir, and they will perform operettas to compliment the Viennese menu.

Venue: Rolfs Restaurant, Baltimore
Date & Time: Friday 6^th September, 7pm
Price: Three course set menu
Contact: Reservations and inquiries 028 20289

Bread Sold Unwrapped

Q Is it a legal requirement to wrap bread in Farmers Markets or local shops? 

It is not a legal requirement to wrap bread at farmers markets or local shops. It is however, a legal requirement that food is protected from any contamination. This applies to all food at all stages in the food chain. So, if the bread is properly protected it does not have to be wrapped.

In deciding if bread needs to be wrapped you need to consider.....

More on the subject here from the FSAI http://www.fsai.ie/faqs/bread_sold_unwrapped.html

A Taste of West Cork

Farm to Fork.

This event gives the visitor an unique opportunity to experience an organic beef farm, followed by a demonstration by Willie Walsh, Craft Butcher, of the various cuts of beef and culminating in a beef feast in the traditional surroundings of Annie May’s bar and restaurant.

Venue: Micheal Hurley’s Organic Beef farm, Walsh’s Craft Butcher shop and Annie May’s Bar and Restaurant.
Time: 4:30pm, meet at Castlehaven GAA grounds, Walsh’s at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:30pm
Price: €20, early booking essential
Contact: 028 22930
Monday Sept 9th

Bubble Bros

One bottle free when you buy five, until end of August

Replenish your stocks with a straightforward deal.
Choose any combination of six bottles from our shops until the end of the month, and get the least expensive bottle free when you mention this promotion. It couldn't be simpler to say NO to ordinary wine and turn every day of good weather into a special occasion.

Feast of 29 Crops

Caroline and Eddie's Farm, Cloghduv. Off the Macroom Road

Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 5.00pm

Sit down beside the lake and enjoy live music from The Hard Ground. Walk through winding paths and see where everything is grown, all chemical free. The feast, designed by The Rocket Man, will be based on the farms harvest.

Barbecue's, paella pans and grills will be all fired up to serve starts and deserts on the hoof.

For the feast we will be digging a pit in which we will be roasting lamb for 24 hours leading up to the event with of course all 29 crops making an appearance.

Relax and drink local beer as the sun sets over the lake.

This unique one-off event promises a family fun evening with a camping area provided for those who may plan on enjoying themselves into the night.

Tickets are priced at €50 per head and this includes entrance to the site, a feast fit for kings and a few glasses of all things nice. Children come free.

Tickets available at:

Mahon Point Farmers Market - Rocket Man's Stall

Douglas Farmers Market - Rocket Man's Stall

Midelton Farmers Market - Rocket Man's Stall

Coal Quay Farmers Market - Caroline's Stall

Macroom Farmers Market - Caroline's Stall

la spoon patisserie ‏@laspoon20122m

Barbecue for hope foundation @the Walton court,Oysterhaven ,Sunday 18 th August 2 to 4 pm RSVP

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week is this superb thirst-quencher
made by the folks at Glenilen Farm.

All Ireland Putóg Throwing Competiton

Charismatic butcher Sean Kelly of Kelly's Butchers, Newport, Co. Mayo proudly launched the Kelly's All Ireland Putóg Throwing competition with the help of Mayo footballer Jason Doherty. The All Ireland Putóg Throwing Competition is the highlight of the Newport Festival this August Bank Holiday Sunday and begins at 5pm.

Shot putting rules apply and the longest lofter will take home €300 and the coveted title of course. Aspiring Putóg putters can enter on the day but must get meet a pre-qualifying putt before taking to the main competition area. The judge's decision is final.

Kelly's Putóg is the traditional form of the black pudding, originally made in every farmhouse countrywide.

Stewart Eddy is Cornish Champion for 2013 Celtic Cook Off

Award winning chef and owner of Victoria Inn to represent Cornwall against the other Celtic Nations.

Following in the footsteps of Arty Williams of the Cove Restaurant in Maenporth and Jack Stein of the Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Stewart Eddy will be travelling to West Cork in Ireland in September to represent Cornwall in this year’s Celtic Cook Off.

The Celtic Cook Off in West Cork continues to build on the success of the inaugural event in September 2011 by attracting top chefs from the Celtic regions to take part in what is becoming one of the landmark culinary events of the year. The cookery competition has proved very popular with the paying public, the local food producers, Fáilte Ireland, the media and all of the Chefs who have been involved. 

One chef from each of the Celtic Nations, Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, the Isle of Man and Brittany is invited to cook one dish for the six expert judges with ingredients sourced from West Cork producers, plus one wild card ingredient from their own region. The chefs cook in two groups of three in front of a live audience of over 200 food enthusiasts, there can only be one winner!
read more here 

Best in season from Bord Bia

Do you know which vegetables are in season now? You should now able to go to your market or greengrocer these days (July/August) and buy Aubergines, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, virtually all the salads and herbs. Bord Bia has just published a terrific guide to what is in season each month of the year, a guide that will help you buy Irish. Check it out here 

News from the Barton & Gustier vineyards– July 2013

How the weather has hit... and more....

2012 was a rather difficult vintage to manage but, despite disparities in some regions, the quality is generally good.

The expectations for the 2013 harvest are higher, but still very uncertain. Let’s have a stroll through the French vineyards and see how things are going… Read more

Shorts

patshorttsbar ‏@patshorttsbar2m

Getting geared up for the Kiltha river trad fest.Music starts on Fri with Niall and Caoimhín Vallely.Food music and craic.

Oktoberfest Beag shared a photo.

Just over 5 weeks to the opening night of Cork's best festival,Oktoberfest Beag !! Oompah!
Have ye got your tickets yet? Remind your friends by tagging them below because table reservations for this event will run out fast! Tickets Staring from €10. See www.oktoberfestbeag.ie  for more detail.

FoodSafetyAuthority ‏@FSAIinfo42s

FAQ FRIDAY: Is ‘free range’ the same as organic? Free range does not mean organic. To find out why, click here: http://bit.ly/15PMrED 

Annies Sunday's Well ‏@anniescork18s

Complimentary Starter or Dessert with every dinner main course valid for dinner 1st-31st August 2013!! T&C apply

Tomorrow is Fiver Friday in the Restaurant at Griffins Garden Centre, Dripsey Cork. "There is no where Nicer for Lunch and at great Value of Just €5.00"

Amandine Confectionery

The best kept secret of south east!

August bank holiday -get a tasty dessert: Amandine's yummy tarlets & cheesecakes selection, 6 for €10.99 only!

(Amandine Patisseries, opened daily in Mahon Point, Cork & City Square, Waterford).

Also available in:

- DUNGARVAN (Twomeys Eurospar Abbeyside),

- HI CAFES WILTON & Merchant Quay SC, CORK

- DUNNES STORES BISHOPTOWN CORK

- and in MIDLETON (Hurleys' Supervalu).

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week

This Miner's Red, all the way from Donegal, is one of the best red ale's I've come across. Recommended. Available in Bradley's, North Main Street (€2.99).

Left to right: Tricia Kehoe, Sonia Birrer and Louise Devoy, with Calinka "The Tea Shop dog"

Banish Rainy Day Blues with Yerba Mate!

If you’re looking for something to kick start your day, or even something that will get you through the afternoon without keeping you up all night, The Tea Shop on MacCurtain Street has just the answer as it prepares to introduce Guayaki Organic and Fair Trade Yerba Mate to Cork City this summer.

A favourite for centuries with the indigenous tribes of South America and known as ‘nature’s most balanced stimulant’, Yerba Mate is high in anti-oxidants and has been consumed to enhance vitality, clarity, and general well-being. This herbal tea is a product of the Californian based company Guayaki, the world's first Fair Trade Yerba Mate supplier and renowned for its environmentally sustainable projects worldwide.

Now with growing interest from their customer base and a desire to promote this natural and tasty stimulant as the energy source of choice for Corkonians, The Tea Shop have just received their first order from Guayaki and are now serving a range of Yerba Mates, including Mate Lattes and Mate Mochas. Read more

Meath Food Safari

With words such as treaceability, sustainability and labelling hot on the lips of food consumers, Meath Producers have decided to open their doors in a novel way to demonstrate how supporting local is best. There will be two such Food Safari's taking place in Meath on August 4th and 5th.

The 'Bia Bus' will be loaded on August fourth with enthusiastic foodies around South Meath, starting in the gourmet village of Slane and visiting Producers such as Burkes Farm Ice Cream, Boyne Valley Blue Goats Cheese, The Whole Hogg Pork Producers, Keoghs Premium Vegetable Farm, there will be quirky stops along the way and it will accumulate in a Producers BBQ at the renowned Boyles Pub in Slane for some apres Safari fun.

The next day sees the Bia Bus follow the same format taking to the producers of North Meath including the Award Winning Kilbeg Dairies, Ryan Farm, Kerrigans Mushrooms and Hogans Turkey Farm. Again, there will be stops along the way and the day will accumulate in a producers BBQ in Jacks Porterhouse in Kells.

Tickets for the food safari are at an amazing rate of only €40.00 for the day which includes 'Bia Bus', tastings and Producers BBQ, so don't just visit the Boyne Valley this summer, taste it! Full details of how to book as well as all other events are to be found on http://www.meathfoodseries.ie/ or www.facebook/meathfoodseries.ie  

For further information; Contact Olivia Duff on 087.6167546 or livduff@yahoo.com or info@meathfoodseries.ie

Wine Tastings

Via The Wine Store Ireland

Join us for our fourth series of wine tastings in August and September.

Each week a guest speaker will present a selection of wines from the given region and we'll serve up a supper dish to match. All wine tastings take place at ely bar & brasserie and start at 7pm sharp.

Beginning with "Alternative Australia" on August 8th (Thursday) at ely bar & brasserie, IFSC.

We are all familiar with the Aussie Icons – Powerful, spicy Shiraz and ripe, tropical Chardonnays. But what’s really going on in Australia? Looking closer reveals a fascinating wine scene, bursting with ideas and experimentation. We will take a look what is making waves over there – up and coming regions, wine makers and exciting new varieties. Price: €45.00

Followed by:

"The Secrets of Spain" on August 22nd. Price: €45.00

"South America Treasures" on September 12th. Price: €45.00

"South Africa –Between two worlds" September 26th. Price: €45.00

To register please visit http://www.elywinebar.ie/about/wine-apreciation/ely-wine-tastings

Shorts

Glenisk Pop-Up Store Celebrates An Extra 10 Weeks With A Selection Of New Creative Combinations…

Due to to popular demand, Glenisk is delighted to announce its Dublin based UPFRONT AND PERSONAL pop-up store is set to remain open until the end of August at the corner of Dawson  Street and Duke Street. Read more here.

TheOrange Sour, with Hennessy Cognac

History of Port Wine 

Bottling and preserving tips via AllrecipesUK Ireland 

West Cork Garlic ‏@westcorkgarlic17 Jul

Real Olive Company now selling West Cork Garlic on their stall at most West Cork markets.

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Taste of the Week
Courgette and Walnut Bread
from the recipe by the late Margaret Browne
in her book Through My Kitchen Window.
This is the bread that won the National Award for
"Breaking the Mould of Irish Baking" in the 90s.
We use the recipe regularly. The bread may
be enjoyed at any time of the day
but is especially appreciated here at breakfast.
Bought the 1996 book in KIlleagh's Greenbarn
last year; they may still have copies.

Why not visit the St Tola Goat Farm

We welcome tours of all kinds to our beautiful 65 acre organic farm! We are available for school tours for both national and secondary students, university and college students and holiday and vacation trips for all ages.

Our tour takes approx 1 hour and includes a full tour of our working organic farm. There is a chance to pet our beautiful goats, see them during feeding time and get a better understanding of organic farming. A cheese making demonstration is included and also a tasting of our gourmet cheeses.

Our farm is just south of the Burren and only half an hour from the Cliffs of Moher - it can easily be incorporated into a full days touring.

Please Note

Tours and Tastings are available all year but must be booked in advance

Tours are available Monday to Friday only

Contact Grainne for booking and tour prices on Tel: 065 683 66 33 or sales@st-tola.ie

More details here

Shorts

Eat healthier

Gardeners are more likely to eat a wider range of fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs than non-gardeners with resulting health benefits. Even if the gardener is not engaged in growing edible crops an inherent ‘gardener’s awareness’ of health and green issues develops.

Just one of the many benefits of gardening according to this Bord Bia post 

Nevin Maguire

Avonmore Sponsors Neven Maguire Demos. One of Ireland's best known and loved celebrity TV chefs, Neven Maguire, has launched a series of cookery demos in association with Avonmore and will be held throughout Ireland... Click Here. Includes Salmon and Asparagus recipe!

Castle Hotel Macroom

October 13th - we host The Fawlty Towers Dining Experience! NOT to be missed. Tickets selling fast! Dinner & Show €45pp - Get yours quick! Private Message us directly with your contact details and we will get back to you or phone reservations on 026 41074

 Midleton Food & Drink Festival

Check out our new website www.midletonfoodfestival.ie

Annie’s Thai dinners

Today Thursday to Saturday... no set time and everything is individually priced! Details here 

Fenn's Quay US evening...

This Friday night, Fenn's is holding a special American Cuisine Night in honour of Bruce Springsteen's visit to Cork. American recipes with local Irish ingredients made with care and attention by No. 5 Fenn's Quay Restaurant. A perfect follow-up after Cork welcomes Bruce Springsteen the night before. Bring your ticket stub for a free glass of wine. Details here

Roasted Duck In Plum Sauce. Airline food? http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3810782

Bantry Festival

Bantry Food Trail onSaturday via Suzy Aherne

all part of the Pirate and Food Festival (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) 

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Walnut and Date cake via Lorge Chocolatier Kenmare.
See his delicious chocolate and nougat and more at
this weekend's Kenmare Food Carnival.

Farmer's Market for Camphire International Horse Trials & Festival

Local food and craft producers from across the region are set to feature at the Camphire International Horse Trials which will take place in west Waterford from July 26 to 28.

For those with a sweet tooth Maurice Butler from the Dungarvan based Butler’s traditional Ice cream will be on hand to ensure visitors enjoy some of Ireland’s finest handmade Ice-cream, Baldwin’s Farmhouse Ice-cream from Knockanore and Candy Rock Lane from Cork will also be on hand with sweet treats.

The Summerhouse Café from Lismore will be onsite with their popular local produce along with Helen Murphy’s Catering whilst Volcano Wood Fired Pizza will serve up delicious artisan pizza from their mobile wood fired pizza oven.

According to Festival Organiser, Billy Garvey, “Visitors to Camphire will be able to sample some wonderful local food produce whilst enjoying all the equestrian action of the Trials.  Furthermore, the wonderful views of the Blackwater valley provide a truly unique setting to enjoy what will be a great weekend in our outdoor Village.”

Read more here 

Free Wine and Poetry!

Don’t miss the Free wine at Felix Dennis's poetry readings this week in Dublin and Cork - there's gallons of it, according to Stuart of From Vineyards Direct. Dennis is “one of the most popular, critically acclaimed poets of recent times attracting thousands of dedicated fans across the globe”. Check him out here. 

 €20 - Tickets / €10 Concessions (Includes pretty much unlimited FVD Wine.....a good time guaranteed). 

Dublin - Thursday 11th July

The Button Factory

 Cork - Saturday 13th July

The Firkin Crane  

Galway’s Masquerade Extravaganza

A carnival of masked revellers, led by a lively band, will wind through Galway’s medieval streets on Saturday 28th September during the highly anticipated Gala ‘Mardi Gras’ style masquerade event, sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants.

Combining five bands, three venues and one great party, the evening is tipped to be the 2013 festival highlight! Guests are invited to don their most colourful clothes and captivating masquerade masks as they venture on the movable feast. In each of the three venues, guests will indulge in a different course of delicious seafood while being entertained by live performances ’til the wee hours.

The Galway Oyster Festival has been hailed by the Sunday Times as “one of the 12 greatest shows on earth” and ranks in the AA Travel Guide among Europe‘s 7 Best Festivals as well as most recently winning a place in the Independent UK 10 Best Food Festivals.

As this vibrant city pulls out all the stops for The Gathering, 2013 is the year to taste the celebrated hospitality and vibrant atmosphere that is gloriously Galway. More info from info@galwayoysterfest.com