FOOD FESTIVAL IN MERRY MITCHELSTOWN

Pics from Mitchelstown Food Festival. Report to follow. Click on image to enlarge.

MITCHELSTOWN FOOD FESTIVAL

Got my Sunday dinner in Mitchelstown yesterday, at the very enjoyable Food Festival. Got a whole lot more besides. Just as well I had a boot load of shopping bags.

That dinner, for two, was very simple. A selection of sushi (€7.00) from award winners Pure Sushi to start with. Then Chicken Korma (€10.00) by Green Saffron. And we followed that by sharing one of a few cookies (€1.50 each) made by the Cookie Jar.

There was a great turnout in the Mitchelstown sun, also a crowd of pesky wasps who obviously know where the good things are. The kids were well catered for with a lively play-area and nice too to see the Bothar goats drawing the attention and hopefully a few bob for their good cause.

Went up and down between the stalls three or four times, purchasing as we went. Items such as Hummus (by O’Callaghan’s Deli), Fruit Compotes by Clotilde, cheeses (including an herbed St Brigid’s ) from the Cailini Cais and a lovely currant cake from one of the many home bake stalls all went into the bags.

Time then for a nice reviving cup of coffee (€1.80) from Drury and a sit down under the marquee. The official opening was called about 1.30pm just as a shower threatened. But the shower, the only one of the day, was mercifully shorter than the speeches which included encouraging words by Minster Simon Coveney and Supervalu chef Kevin Dundon.

Samples galore to taste. Horgan’s had a fine stand of their meats and cheeses. And their star was the award winning Honey Baked Ham on the Bone. Gorgeous, watch out for that coming up to Christmas, also their spiced beef.

Ballyhoura Apples saw a great demand for their lovely juices while newcomers 8 Degrees Brewing were handing out samples of their two ales: Howling Gale and Sunburnt Irish.

Must admit I didn't expect to see a wine stand there and certainly didn't expect to see the Wine of Kings available. The Tokaji 5-puttony Aszu 2000 was staring out at me from a display rack. Couldn’t resist and, after a tasting, bought a 50cl bottle for €22.99.

Listowel’s Wellness-Baking shared the stand with the Vivamus Wine Importer and a pack of their Gluten free, sugar free, low carbohydrate Muffin ready mix (€3.00) also found its way into one of our increasingly heavy bags.

Time to go home and sort out that dinner!

GARDEN OPERA AT BURREN HOUSE

From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.ie) are proud sponsors of these events:

“Charity events at Burren House with the London Garden Opera Company”
The events are on two days on 3^rd and 4^th Sept .

All proceeds are going to Marymount Hospice, Cork Simon and Local Schools.

These are the wines that will be available to buy, on 3^rd and 4^th September, at Burren House.  They will be available either by the bottle or by the glass:

Whites:
2009   Chateau Bauduc Blanc, Bordeaux      €15      €5 glass
2009   Saint-Véran “Merloix”, Burgundy        €15      €5 glass

Reds:
2009 Altos De Oliva Garnacha, Catalunya               €10      €4 Glass
2009 Barbera D’Alba: Cascina Chicco ‘Granera Alta’  €15      €5 glass
2007 Chateau Teyssier, St Emilion Grand Cru          €20     €5 glass



For a full programme please visit : the Burren House website website www.burrenhouse.net (Saturday 3^rd September full day, garden Opera and Picnic = tickets €69 Sunday 4^th September 7-9pm = € 35)

All in a good cause! So pass the word on!
For more information on any of these wines please visit: www.fromvineyardsdirect.ie
or phone Stuart, Dave or Gareth at: 01 8457645

KARWIG VISIT

KARWIG VISIT

Enjoyed yesterday’s visit to Karwig Wines. To the real shop in Carrigaline, that is.

If you visit the website, you’ll see that there is 20% off on an inviting selection of Rosés, a selection that includes tempters from the South of France, such as Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé . 


I was tempted by that (over a fiver off) but, having tasted a string of Provencal beauties this summer, I picked the Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence. Marcus Gates was helping me make the choices at this point and he says that the rosés have been flying this summer and the offer will continue for quite a while yet.

He is delighted with them and also with my next choice: Chateau Haut Mirambet Entre-Deux-Mers 2010. The first one on my list was Kerpen Riesling Blauschiefer 2010. I had really enjoyed the 2009 version of this and Marcus reckons the current one is every bit as good, maybe better.

Had a chat then with Emilie Moore who was very proud of their Sardinian selection and now I’m looking forward to trying the Cannonau di Sardegna 2008 and also the Riserva 2007. The wines are produced by Sella and Mosca and the grape is 100% Cannonau.

Sorry not to see Joe and Betty around the place today and we all hope to see them both back in full action soon.

The 12 Mile Menu at Sage

SAGE’S LOCAL MENU

Midleton’s Sage Restaurant is one of the first in the country to come up with a local menu. It is known as the 12 Mile Menu and is available at lunchtime everyday (closed Mon) from 12-3pm in conjunction with their regular lunch menu.

You may see their August suppliers on the board at the restaurant and also on their newly revamped website.  The nature of this menu means that it changes daily and Kevin Aherne is always on the lookout for new suppliers in the vicinity.

Here are a few examples o f what you might find:

Slow-braised beef with bacon lardons & peas;

Roast shoulder of pork with apples & white turnip;

Buttered cabbage leaves stuffed with ham hock;

Local leaf salad with grilled courgette, roast beetroot & goats cheese.

I had recently tried their evening menu and was delighted with it as you can see from the review.  So I was quite confident as I headed down to East Cork today to try the 12 Mile menu. I wasn't at all disappointed.

I had missed Kevin’s tweeted recommendations but, by pure coincidence, picked them: the Onion and Leek Soup and the Braised Pork Shoulder with apples, white turnip and red cabbage. The creamy soup still retained a delicious onion tang and we each thoroughly enjoyed a substantial bowlful.

I was fully confident that I was on a winner with the pork as it is supplied to Sage by Martin Conroy of  @Woodside_Farm  a regular at Farmers markets, such as Midleton and Mahon (where I often call to see him).

There have been some standout meat dishes coming my way in recent months such as Springfort’s Braised Feather Blade of Beef and more recently Market Lane’s Blasket Lamb. Now I can add Sage’s Braised Pork Shoulder to the list.

It was so well cooked, a pleasure to eat. And that pleasure was enhanced by the tastiest white turnips ever. Not to mention the baked potato, well made apple sauce and perfect gravy. I also enjoyed the different twist to the taste given by the red cabbage though there was a slight disagreement from the other side of the table (a bit too sweet!).

Never thought I’d get so enthusiastic about white turnip but this just underlines the value of local produce. Mainly, it is fresh and then the Sage chefs know what they are doing.  There is that little bit extra to savour in each bite and that is what made the turnip, and everything else on the plate, stand out and give the taste buds a very pleasurable workout indeed.

TINDAL WINE COURSES

As you know Wine education in Ireland has slowed up considerably in recent months. Recently however I have seen an increase in interest again and am starting to fill a few classes which is great.

We would really appreciate it if you could feature our upcoming course dates in your relevant publications. If you need any more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We currently hold all our courses in the comfort of The Westbury Conference rooms but also hold courses nationwide when the numbers and demand arise.

We offer WSET Award Level 1, 2 and 3 in Wines and Spirits. Below find dates for Level 2 & 3. If people are interested in Level 1 we ask them to contact us directly as we tend to hold these courses in house for restaurants and hotels and are happy to give them some options to attend.

WSET Award Level 2: €430

Code	Format	Day	Date
WSETIL911	Day Course	Tuedays (3) 09:30 – 17:00	13th, 20th and 27th  September 11
WSETIL311	Day Course	Mondays (3) 9:30-17:00	14th,21st and 28th November 11

WSET Award Level 3: €700

CODES	FORMAT	DAYS	DATES
WSETAL1011	Day Course	Mondays (5) 09.30- 17:00	3rd,10th,17th, 24th Oct and 7th Nov 11
	Evening Course		Available by request.

Payment schemes are available on both courses with a deposit required and then weekly payments throughout the course.

We regularly update the courses on our facebook page (see below) and website www.tindalwine.com

Chardonnay winner from Curious Wines

Langmeil Eden Valley Chardonnay 2010 13%, Curious Wines €11.99, 4.5 stars

Not all plain sailing in South Australia (pic by Langmeil)

I liked this one from Curious Wines,  an excellent expression of this widely grown grape from a producer best known for its Shiraz. And it goes straight to my list of 2011 favourites.

Colour is a very pale straw and it has an inviting aromatic nose. With some of the mix spending a few months in French oak, this has a rounded user friendly mouthfeel. It is vibrant, fresh with a fruit tang and that is all carried into the decent finish.

Not too much more to say about it. Well worth the money as there is a 20 per cent discount on Australian wine for the month of August.

The Langmeil winery is based in the Barossa, adjacent to the Eden Valley, and here is some Technical Stuff from the vineyard:

2010 Eden Valley Chardonnay - Sourced from a small vineyard in the Eden Valley, this elegant wine is made from pristine, flavour ripe bunches, gently pressed and cool fermented. Most components remain un-oaked for freshness (70%) while some are finished in French oak (30%) for complexity as well as undergoing secondary malolactic fermentation to soften natural acidity. This wine exhibits fresh, full fruit flavours, fine structure and a dry finish.

FOLLÁIN: MO GRÁ MÓR

FOLLÁIN: MO GRÁ MÓR

August in a sunny field picking blackberries. Boys and girls all around. Loads of mature briars growing, lots of black berries. Bees and wasps whizzing. Jar in hands as we push into the briars. A big can standing on the margins, probably the same can that is used to bring the milk from the farmer every evening.

Just a little reverie. Brought on after tasting the magical Blackberry jam made by Folláin in West Cork. It is the real thing. Gorgeous. Just like homemade. The only problem is that it could lead to eating too much bread.

And then I move on to the Blackcurrant in the sample box. That reminded me of the fields of blackcurrants and the gangs of us picking them at Dring’s Farm. And also all the more exotic fruit  in the high walled garden.

Looking forward to eating more of the quality Folláin jams! Perhaps the strawberry will remind me of days at the Rathcooney Fruit Farm. The raspberry of visits to Carriganarra.

By the way, where have all the fruit farms gone? Are there any left in Cork? Well, at least we have Folláin and their marvellous range.

Folláin, the Irish for wholesome, was started close on thirty years ago by Peadar and Máirín O'Lionáird in Cuil Aodha. Didn't realise they have been around since 1983. But they have, and their products, widely available, have won many awards.

They have a smashing website at http://www.follain.ie. It is well worth a visit. It even contains a whole bunch of recipes with loads of ideas of how to use their jams, preserves and relishes.

FANTASTIC LAMB AT MARKET LANE

FANTASTIC LAMB AT MARKET LANE

Enjoyed some fantastic Blasket Lamb at Market Lane on Friday night. Our special: “Noisette of Blasket Lamb (on spinach) with feta and roast vegetable pie, chap potatoes and lamb jus.The lambs roam free, grazing on the diverse herbage of the sea soaked island. This diet of heather, herbs and grasses give the lamb its unique flavour.”

Free range is good but free range besides the sea is even better going by this experience. It was beautiful, tender and full of flavour.

It was probably the best lamb that I’ve tasted - ever. Much of credit here must go to the chefs at Market Lane. After all, you may have been give the best gem in the world but you unless you set it off well, the sparkle is wasted.

And what a setting on this plate. That feta and vegetable pie was gorgeous; the chap potatoes (which included some minced lamb) even more so. And the cost was a very reasonable €19.50.

I think you can be assured that whatever lamb this restaurant comes up with next – the Blasket is running out fast – will also be treated and served up well! And then there is so much more here on a very expansive menu. Something like 14 main courses, ranging from €12.96 to €24.49 (for fillet steak).

One that caught my eye for the lower amount was Slow cooked West Cork ham hock with creamy leeks, baked potato and broccoli. How about the Pan-fried hake fillet with broccoli, bok choi, bell peppers, sautéed potatoes and a walnut lime pesto for €16.28.

Enticing starters too. Sweet potato with Crozier blue cheese, spinach, dates and roasted pine nut oil for €7.63. I had started with a bowl of marinated olives and my dessert (all €6.00) was Layers of white and milk chocolate mousse with walnuts and Cointreau sponge. Wines range from €4.90 a glass to €29.50 a bottle and there is also a good selection of other drinks.

You could eat here for a month and not repeat yourself. And it is lovely lively place. The staff are all courteous and helpful and, on this occasion, all were very enthusiastic indeed about the lamb. And rightly so as it turned out. What a treat!

FROM TUSCANY WITH LOVE, SPAIN TOO!

Tuscany

It may be summer time but "The Boys" at www.fromvineyardsdirect.ie are always on the lookout and  and they have come up with two mouth watering surprises whilst you wait for the Burren House Wine Tasting list:

I.            A SUPER TOSCAN AT A PRICE DEFYING ALL COMPETITION:

Pietro Catelli’s Casa Catelli / Rosso Di Toscana IGT 2008

The grape varieties used to produce this wine are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese.

Bolgheri, because of its closeness to the sea, has a more temperate microclimate than in the Tuscan hills, meaning that Bordeaux grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrive.  From the 60s onwards innovative producers such the Antinori family experimented with these grapes, in this region, and the “Super Tuscans” were born:  red wines that do not adhere to the traditional blending laws.  Today Pietro Catelli follows this modern tradition! 

Casa Catelli / Rosso Di Toscana IGT 2008  

Appelation: IGT Toscana Alcohol: 13.5%

1-2 Cases €143.40 / €11.95 per bottle

3+ Cases €131.40 / €10.95 per bottle

II.           AND THE FRESHEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED OF ALBARIñOS:

Castro Baroña Albariño / Rias Baixas 2010 

 A fine example of Spain's top white grape variety made by Castro Baroña in the heart of Salnés, probably the best region for producing the extremely fashionable Albariño grapes. Albariño produces some of Spain’s most elegant and expensive whites and this is one of the best we've tasted.  This is a delightfully fresh wine, best drunk over the next couple of years whilst it is young. It pairs beautifully with goats cheese, or, as the Galicians do, with Gambas Pil-Pil and other shellfish. It is also delicious just on its own

Tasting Notes: Pale lemon colour, aromas of peaches and tropical white fruit.  Full, expressive with lush fruit aromas bursting from the glass and nicely balanced acidity. 

1-2 Cases €155.40 / €12.95 per bottle

3+ Cases €150.00 / €12.50 per bottle

VERMONSTER WINNERS

The winners of our Tom and Jerry Ice Cream competition are:
Donna Crowdy (Cork)
Sean Browne (Waterford)
Jason Morroe (Dublin)
Paul O'Connell (Cork).
Addresses are now being forwarded to Thinkhouse, the PR company, who will post out your vouchers. Enjoy!!

Ice Cream in a Bag

Try making this fresh, homemade ice cream with very little cleanup and no ice cream maker required.Thanks to Diana at  Allrecipes.co.uk

Free Ben and Jerry competition.

Massive ice cream attack. THE VERMONSTER IS COMING! Free Ben and Jerry competition. 
Entries close at midnight!!!!!

WEST CORK'S CARBERY WINS UK CHEESE GOLD

Dubliner Cheese wins GOLD at the prestigious

Bath and West Cheese Show

Award-winning Dubliner Cheese - The perfect ingredient for al fresco dining this summer

Dubliner cheese and baked potato

Dubliner Cheese, the delicious range of Irish cheese made by Carbery in West Cork to a traditional recipe, has beaten off stiff competition from bigger European cheese makers in countries such as Italy, Holland, Norway and Spain to win GOLD in the specialty hard cheese class at the prestigious Bath and West Cheese Show.

Niamh Lennon, Sales and Marketing Manager for Dubliner Cheese said:  “We are delighted that Dubliner Cheese has received such a prestigious award. This award recognises our dedication to producing some of the best tasting cheese available and demonstrates once again that consumers can choose the best quality, best tasting products from Irish producers. Dubliner cheese continues to maintain the gold stamp of approval!”

This most recent win further reinforces

MIXED BAG AT LIDL

A COUPLE OF LIDL WHITES

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC 2010, 12%, €6.95 at Lidl.

Colour is a pale honey with an aromatic nose. There is an immediate high impact dry tingle on the palate but lively fruit there also, all leading to a rounded wine with a decent finish. Very good value indeed.

Vermentino, the grape, is grown all over the island of Sardinia. It is the same as the grape known as Rolle and grown widely in Provence where it is made into some lovely wines (eg Chateau Miraval). For more info on Vermentino in Sardinia click here. 

Frascati Superiore Secco 2010, 12.5%, €5.95 at Lidl.

I wasn't as happy with the Frascati. Colour is very pale and it does have an aromatic nose. On the palate, citrus dominates and the refreshing hello fades under its domination. Just too much acidity.

Made with the traditional grapes of Trebbiani and Malvasia, Frascati is the wine of Rome and its tourists (picture). Perhaps there are better examples and you can find out more about the wines of Rome and Lazio (the area around it) here. 

THE SPINNING WHEEL AT GRIFFIN'S

GRIFFIN’S GARDEN CENTRE

Picture this. The sun shining on a terrasse. Dinners enjoying themselves at the tables. It overlooks the water. Here comes a motor boat with a water-skier going zigzag behind it.

You are not on the Med. Not dreaming. You are at lunch in the Spinning Wheel, the lovely restaurant attached to the stunning Griffin’s Garden Centre in Dripsey. I was there yesterday.

Click to enlarge

When we arrived at the centre to see the newly installed display gardens, designed by Margaret Griffin, we were greeted with some free nibbles. Loved my piece of tart with Ardsallagh Cheese.

First mission though was to take in those new gardens. They are just fantastic, something for everyone here. Most are set to a fairly small scale, some smaller than others, and so will suit the majority of people. The ideas though will suit everyone interested in livening up their space. I loved the use of colour (eg the bright red lamp, the pink wall, the white flowered corner and also the artefacts such as mirrors).

Well worth a visit for the display gardens alone. And particularly so this coming Friday when Dermot O’Neill will be along to officially open them, starting at 11.00am. It is just over twenty minutes from the western side of town.

Click to enlarge

I’m a regular (if infrequent) visitor here and usually call to the onsite Spinning Wheel restaurant which is right on the bank of the River Lee. This place is light and airy, loads of glass and lots of colour too, right down to the serving trays. It is open all day with lunch served from 12.30pm.

You can have light bites, tea and scones for examples, toasted sandwiches or something more substantial. Never shy at the table, I went for the award winning Jack McCarthy Black pudding, wrapped in bacon and served with a mix of summer berries and, of course, a side plate, this of carrots and haricots verts. A lovely meal in a lovely place for ten euro.

You may also but food items to take away here, such as cakes and scones and various preserves, including jams and relishes.

We got down to some serious business after lunch and grabbed a trolley, bought some plants, got some advice (the staff here are very friendly and helpful) and headed back to the car. But not before a look at the indoor shop, so well stocked you’d need a fair bit of time to browse through.

All in all, quite a visit on a sunny day. But don't worry too much about the weather. Quite a bit of the centre is under cover and you always have the shop and Spinning Wheel. If you can't make it on Friday, put it on your list of things to do.

THE MENU TO BEAT CHOLESTEROL. 3 recipes

FULL DINNER MENU

including Posh Fish 'n chips (right)

Watercress and Potato Soup

 

 

Number of Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

Cooking Time: 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 bunches

The Cholesterol Challenge

Flora pro.activ has teamed up with Supervalu and The Mooney Show on RTE Radio 1 to carry out the Cholesterol Challenge

Free cholesterol testing coming to a town near you!

Are you concerned about high cholesterol?  Do you know your number?  This
year the Flora pro.activ Cholesterol Challenge is travelling around the
country offering free cholesterol checks and expert advice on diet and
lifestyle.

The Flora pro.activ nurses will be visiting

CLIMB & DINE (and more) in MITCHELSTOWN

Chef Kevin Dundon will be at the food festival.

It's all happening in Mitchelstown at the moment   

Like to climb to the top of the Galtees. This is your big chance, all for charity and a barbecue at the end of it. Details here. 

If you're still hungry or if you can't climb the mountain, then visit the Mitchelstown Food Festival on August 28th. Looks like a great line-up. Details here.


And still more grub. Mary O'Callaghan of O'Callaghans Deli has organised a charity night in her restaurant for Somalia. All the info here.



Just been told that this latter event has been booked out. Well done to Mary and her customers!

THE MANY APPLES OF BARRYSCOURT

Click to enlarge

THE ORCHARD OF BARRYSCOURT

Did you know that the Office of Public Works have an orchard at Barryscourt Castle, near Carrigtwohill. It is laid out to a plan typical of those in use in the 16th century. There are records of orchards there since the 13th century.

Now is a good time to visit and see the fruits of so many varieties: including Beauty of Bath, Eight Square, White Russet, Irish Peach, Summer John, Northern Green, Worcester Permaine and many more.

There are also plantings of pears and quinces here. There is a notice board with details of the plants found in and around the castle, including medicinal plants such as mullein and woundwort and herbs such as parsley, “found in a variety probably surviving from the Middle Ages”. Also present is butterbur, which was used to wrap butter for market.

In the bawn of the castle, there is an herb garden and also a knot (box hedge) garden. There is no entry fee to visit the garden (or the castle itself).

Click to enlarge

To read my new post on BARRYSCOURT CASTLE please click here.

CORNSTORE CRACKER

THE CORNSTORE

The Cornstore is one well tuned outfit, slick and efficient. The excellent service comes with a chat and smile. And the food isn’t half bad either.

What a choice. Early Bird, July/August Fish Specials and an A La Carte selection about as big as a page of the Evening Echo with main dishes ranging from €14.35 to €32.95.

This is what I picked this weekend:
Cornstore Chicken Wings with Crozier blue cheese (€8.50);
Charred and carved duck breast with beetroot confit, sautéed spinach, mash potatoes and red wine jus (€21.65);
Wine: Bodegas Muriel Tempranillo Rioja Spain (5.95 gl, 16.95 50cl and 23.95 75cl).

Those chicken wings are hot babies (there is a whole flock of them in the dish) and you need and appreciate the dip to cool things down. A glass of water also helps. If there are two of you and you both like wings, then you can get a dish to share for €13.50.

With the wings out of the way and the hands cleaned, there was just a short wait for the main course, again a substantial dish. Really liked it, especially the combination of the medium cooked duck (they tell you in advance that that’s the way they do it!) and the spinach. The beetroot was a little on the sweet side (I found it fine) and provided another interesting taste combination with the meat.

There are huge choices of wine, up to 18 available by the glass, quite a few by carafe (50cl). The Tempranillo was spicy and fruity.

It was an excellent meal, Very enjoyable. And the Cornstore seem to be getting it right as the place was very very busy.

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. 

Market Morning.

MARKET MORNING

The Olive Stall at English Market

Markets galore this morning. Where to go? Midleton, Douglas, the Food Fair in Castlemartyr? In the end, settled for the return of the market to the Coal Quay and then a trip to the English Market.

The Coal Quay, which should have been back in action last November, finally had reason to celebrate today. Quite a few stalls back in the renovated street, many selling clothes, plants, and so on and a decent section of food stalls (including Tom’s Bakery – love their country baguette) at the river end.

No meat or fish there so that meant a visit to the English Market. So, following a Charlie Chaplin figure who was getting lots of looks, we made our way to the Grand Parade entrance and made calls to stalls such as Tom Durcan, Bubble Brothers, On the Pig’s Back and Iago as the bag filled up with lamb’s liver, Rosscarbery Recipe Cured Rashers, Manchego cheese and more.

Enjoyed a fine meal in the Cornstore last night but today it was their neighbours The Bodega who were open and ready to serve teas and coffees and more to the customers and stall holders of the newly returned market.

I made my way to their vacated temporary base at Emmett Place, a base they seemed quite at home in for the best part of two years. Called into the Crawford Cafe for a cup of coffee and scone, both top class. Price though was €5.15 while it was just €3.90 across the road at Luigi Malone’s. Make you wonder.

Coal Quay Market - back to base (Click to enlarge)

Top outdoor street food vendors announced at Dublin Street Food Awards 2011

 [yellow tail] People’s Choice Award goes to

The Paella Guys

11 August 2011

The Paella Guys have been announced as the winner of the [yellow tail] People’s Choice Award at the Dublin Street Food Awards 2011, which was held at an exclusive [yellow tail] summer wine party at Pygmalion this evening.

Cesare Benvenuto from Pio Cesare comes to town

The Restaurant @ Donnybrook Fair is delighted to welcome Cesare Benvenuto from Pio Cesare on Wednesday 28^th September at 7.45pm to host an Italian wine dinner.  Cesare will introduce a selection of traditional Piemontese wines which have been produced by his family for five generations in their ancient cellars, located in the town of Alba.  The evening is priced at €60 per person or €100 per couple.

These wines will be