Magpie Cottage Dairy in Cork

MAGPIE COTTAGE DAIRY
The Magpie Cottage Dairy runs a little goat’s cheese products stall at the Mahon Point Farmers Market each Thursday (10.00am to 3.00pm). Magpie has two main items, each in a jar. One is a herby cheese in balls in sunflower oil and the other is the cheese with the addition of sundried tomato. The jars are dated and the product will keep well, even after opening.
Having previously sampled the Tomato version, we picked the plainer jar this time and may well indeed follow the recipe we heard from the man in the stall: put some cheese into your chicken breast, wrap it up with Parma ham or similar and you’re on your way to a lovely dish.

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The Rising Tide in Cork

THE RISING TIDE
Had a ball at a birthday party in the harbourside Rising Tide at the weekend and all ten in the party agreed. Great staff, courtesy and good humour very evident; they even volunteered to take group photos, all very much appreciated.
Food wasn't half bad either. Decent selection of mains from about €15.00 to mid 20s. All excellent as were starters and desserts. House wines started from 20 euro and were fit for purpose.
Very enjoyable overall and would recommend the Glounthaune venue. Watch out for their Christmas parties at €40.00 – should be well worth it. Recent customer Lady Gaga enjoyed her visit here!

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O'Connells Fish Stall in Cork

KAY O’CONNELL’S FISH
O’Connell’s Fish stall is by far the biggest of the (too few) fish outlets in Cork’s English Market, supplementing their extensive stock of fresh fish (usually brought up from Castletownbeare that morning) with quite a few fish products such as kippers and continental style fish soup.
Service is efficient and friendly and the staff are always ready for a bit of banter. Got some salmon and sea-bass there today from the well iced counter.
Fish is quite expensive in the market and I often wish for more competition.

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Grand Parade Boardwalk in Cork

GRAND PARADE BOARDWALK
The newly completed Boardwalk at the South Mall end of the Grand Parade is not the biggest in the world but it has its uses.
If the day is fine, you can sit down and have a drink or snack, and enjoy the views. To the left you look down the south channel of the River Lee towards the Holy Trinity Church. In front, you may watch the world go by over the pedestrian bridge and to the right, you have a fine view of the South Gate Bridge with St Fin Barre's Cathedral looming over it.
The coffee dock is yet to open but that will add to the facility and enhance your break from work, shopping or sightseeing.

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The Barn in Cork

THE BARN
The Barn is one of the old reliables in Cork. I went there the other evening to try out their €25.00 early bird menu.
The Egg Mimosa (with garden salad and balsamic vinegar) looked the most exciting of the four starters (plus soup) available but I enjoyed my Salmon Fish Cake and the Classic Duck and Chicken Liver Pate also went down well.
The old reliables were wheeled out for the main course. You could choose from Pork Steak, Sirloin (3 euro extra), Salmon and Chicken, also a Beef Pie. They came as ordered. My steak was perfectly cooked and the Salmon with veg and a warm potato salad was “absolutely beautiful”. The Beef Pie was quite substantial.
Three desserts were served at the table – they don’t bring their famous trolley to the Early Birds! All three were fine. I really enjoyed my Mango Cheesecake, the Rich Chocolate Cake was seen off but perhaps the best of the three was the Pavlova (the real thing) with fresh fruit and Crème Anglaise.
There is a high standard of friendly service here and, with the restaurant less than quarter full (On a Thursday night), we were well catered for but in an unobtrusive way, with an adequate two queries during the meal (is everything okay?).
Wine prices have dropped to the Early Bird level and we enjoyed an easy drinking Shiraz from OZ (GB 56 2007) for €20.00. The spacious Barn is very comfortable – some find it a little old fashioned but it had many devotees. And the smokers among the regulars will be glad to see that a new “smoking room” is nearing completion.

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Cork's Christmas Market

MARKET MUSIC

CORK CHRISTMAS MARKET
Cork’s Grade Parade is the venue for the city’s Christmas market over the next three weekends.
It opened with a fanfare last Friday, coinciding with the switching on of the Christmas lights. The highlight here is a so called winter garden, designed by the well known wedding designer Franc who has transformed Bishops Lucey Park into something of a wonderland, open only between 5.00 and 8.00pm Fri-Sun.
The trees are lit up and here and there are groups of reindeers drawing sleighs of light, illuminated “gazebos” where young and old (there is mistletoe hanging there) can have photos taken; here too the kiddies can take a ride on a carnival roundabout and leave a letter for Santa.
The market “showcases the best of local food and crafts” – how Chinese made trinkets fall into the category is beyond me - in some fifty stalls stretching from the park to the river. So off you go. Maybe you’ll solve your present problems. At the very least, enjoy the music and the magic in the subdued lighting of the park. And mind that mistletoe! Mrs Santa could be waiting for you.

Check out my review of Cork's Christmas Market - I am cork - on Qype
See Mike Hannon's market video at: http://www.vimeo.com/8282906

HELP FLOOD VICTIMS

HELP CORK FLOOD VICTIMS


PELE SIGNED JERSEYS AND BALLS ARE SOME OF THE PRIZES IN NEXT MONDAY'S FUND-RAISER IN SILVERSPRINGS

Get the details at http://raisingcork.com/blog/

Sallymills in Limerick

SALLYMILLS
Called to one (at least one) of the food stalls at the Grand Parade Christmas Market, occupied by Sallymills, cake makers from Limerick.
Picked up a couple of their tartlets, one with berries, and another with apple. The standard is quite similar to Heaven’s Cakes. Cost 2 euro each and worth it.
They do artisan cakes, desserts, wedding cakes etc and also deliver.

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The Ashburton Bar in Cork

THE ASHBURTON BAR

Warm. Comfortable. Friendly. Cosy.
All words that could be applied to the Ashburton Bar last night.
There weren't that many in – it was bad night weather wise. A dozen or more were scattered around, some chatting, some reading the newspapers, others watching the TV, still discussing the Henri hand ball!

It is a different story when there is a Premier or Champions League game on the big screen. Then the “Ash” is full, with plenty of "slagging" going on between the various sets of fans.
But I enjoyed a chat and a couple of well served pints in the calmer atmosphere last evening.

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Heineken Ireland in Cork

THE KILN

Enjoyed my recent visit to the Kiln, the hospitality “pub” of Heineken Ireland.
There are no public tours of this brewery and unlikely to be according to a spokesman who said the modern computer controlled processes, largely conducted out of sight, weren't conducive to a tour situation. ”Who wants to see a few people pressing buttons?”
So if you want to get to the Kiln you’ll have to rely on an invitation. I have been lucky enough to get a few over the years and things have changed there in the last 12 months.
Previously, you had a choice of Heineken products e.g. Murphy’s Stout plus Heineken and Amstel lagers. But since the Dutch giants took over the other brewery in the city, you may now sample Beamish Stout and Fosters Lager.
It is still a little strange to see the two rivals now advertised side by side on posters around the Kiln. But I took advantage of the occasion to enjoy a few pints of Beamish this time. Variety is the spice of life!

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Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig, Cork

ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL

Enjoyed a re-union meal at this Ballincollig hotel last evening. There were about one hundred at the function, much more at a farmers’ meeting in the next function room, but the staff dealt comfortably and efficiently with the demand.
The food was excellent. There were three choices of starter and three of main course (beef, chicken, cod). The chef didn't take the easy way out. For instance, the fish came in an inviting herby crust. The vegetables – mange tout, green beans and carrots – were well cooked, not too hard, and not too soft. Dessert consisted of a “medley” of small portions. We had ten people at the table and all were very happy indeed.
Service couldn't be faulted and the banter with the staff was a part of a very enjoyable evening indeed.

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The Old Oak in Cork

THE OLD OAK

Made my way to the Vision Centre today to see the Tony O’Connell photos but the North Main Street venue is closed on Mondays.
On my way back through town, felt like a coffee. The Old Oak was close at hand so I called in. Don't be fooled by the short frontage on Oliver Plunkett Street – this is a substantial bar.
A friendly reception awaited me at the counter and the smiling assistant, all gloved up for hygiene, served me a decent cup of coffee plus a blue-berry muffin for just €2.00. Yes – two euro for the two. There are bargains to be had.
It was easy to find a seat in mid afternoon, though there was a good scattering of customers in. Had a quick look at the lunch menu and saw that again the prices were quite reasonable. Waved to the barperson on the way out and got another smile. Enjoyed the short break and I’ll call again.

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Heavens Cakes in Cork

HEAVENS CAKES

This five year old patisserie stall in the English Market is well named. Here you get the tastes of pastry paradise, made locally!
My latest purchase consisted of two French style tartlets: one a Berry and Almond mix, the other of Lemon Curd, €2.00 each. Both were delicious.
Service is always good and, while the wrapping may not be quite up to the French standard, it is not far off it and, in any case, is totally adequate.
Web is www. Heavenscakes.ie but it didn’t work last time I tried it.

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