Bandon Vale in Cork

BANDON VALE FINE CHEESES
Bandon Vale is dedicated to providing quality products and offers a selection of shredded, block, sliced and pre-packed products, ranging from cheddars to bespoke blends and mixes.
But this fairly large producer, a member of the West Cork Regional Branding Initiative, under the Fuchsia logo, also sells some speciality packs, mainly cheddar.
The one I bought recently was their Glandór Red Leicester. I was very happy with it. It had a mellow yet distinct flavour and is quite a nice change from the usual cheddar.

Check out my review (and contact details) of Bandon Vale - I am cork - on Qype

BALLYCURRAGINNY FARM in Cork

BALLYCURRAGINNY FARM
Hard to beat fresh vegetables, just out of the ground. And what a display the Burns family (from Mt Uniacke, Killeagh) had at the Mahon farmers market on a recent frosty morning.
No artificial lights. But there was more than enough illumination in the low sun. The display and the obvious health of the veg was irresistible and soon the bag was full with Brussels sprouts, celery, carrots and gleaming cauliflowers.
Reminded me of the days when I grew my own, pulled them, cleaned them and put them into the pot!

Check out my review of BALLYCURRAGINNY FARM - I am cork - on Qype

O'Hanlon's Off Licence in Cork

O’HANLON’S OFF LICENCE
The relatively new establishment in the Mayfield Shopping Centre is well established after 18 months and my recent call showed why.
They are a friendly lot in this off licence. Loads of free advice on the best beer buys locally and also some down to earth advice on their extensive stock of wines.

They informally steer you through the maze of types and prices and don't just hand out the expensive bottle. They want customers, sure, but they want happy repeat customers. I went off with my purchases, including a Wyndham Bin 555 Shiraz, and will be back.

Check out my review (including map)  of O'Hanlon's Off Licence - I am cork - on Qype

Pandora Bell in Limerick

PANDORA BELL - The Sweetest things...

My sweetest thing this Christmas? Pandora Bell's honey nougat. Sense-ational. Picked up a couple of packets at O’Keeffe’s (St Luke’s). Gorgeous. No wonder the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide has named this new Limerick confectionery label as its Newcomer of the Year.
Bridgestone’s John McKenna says of Pandora Bell, “You want to see and taste perfection? Here it is, again. Nicole Dunphy's salted caramels and nougats and lollipops are of a standard no one in Ireland has ever achieved, and she has just started her Pandora Bell business, so what awaits us in the future? We can't wait.”

Neither can I.

Check out my review of Pandora Bell - I am cork - on Qype

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Away from the shops today at an icy Fota - see n-ice set of pics at http://corkandabout.blogspot.com Happy Christmas!!

BITS OF FOOD LIT

ODD FOOD BITS

"It is not uncommon for a bottle of Lafite ’96 to fetch a couple of thousand dollars more at auction in China that it would in Europe. Many (?) Chinese enjoy the showmanship of presenting important guests with this kind of celebrity wine, and my favourite aspect of it all is that many prefer to take it with a splash of coke.” From Around the World in 80 Trades by Conor Woodman.

“Wang Long’s mother works in a foreigners’ hotel..... She told me that foreigners are really wasteful. They throw away the tea bags after just one cup. And the tea isn’t good enough for them – they have to add milk before they can drink it.”

 From Beijing Coma by Ma Jian.

"Gregory the Great always used to recommend making the sign of the cross over a lettuce in case you swallowed a demon that happened to be perched on it leaves.”

From The Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple.

“Ham and Eggs: A day’s work for a chicken. A lifetime commitment for a pig.”

From Ronnie Moore’s 2009 Calendar.

In Michael Eaude’s Catalonia he refers to a mediaeval recipe for Roast Cat which involved roasting the animal in oil, garlic and herbs. The brains, by the way, were removed before cooking.

In the 1840s, a Florida physician named John Gorrie, trying to cool the rooms where patients were suffering from yellow fever, figured out how to make ice using mechanical refrigeration, paving the way for household refrigerators that appeared in American homes en masse in the 1920s and 1930s
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1862562,00.html#ixzz0YKancgNq

 “......a woman held up a duck whose throat she had cut and stroked her gently while a little girl held up a cup to catch the blood for making gravy. The duck seemed very contented and, when they put her down, she waddled twice and found that she was dead. We ate her later, stuffed and roasted.”

Hemingway, describing a visit to Miro’s summer home near Barcelona.

GUBBEEN SMOKEHOUSE SAUSAGES

GUBBEEN SMOKEHOUSE

Many of you will be familiar with Gubbeen cheese products. But how about the sausages from their smokehouse?

Bought a couple of packs from their stall in the Mahon Point Farmer’s Market today and tried out the ones with Sun Dried Tomato, Basil and Garlic. Absolutely lovely. Great texture, great flavour, all preceded by a lovely smell while cooking.

Looking forward to the second pack - tomorrow!

Mahon Point Farmers Market in Cork

MAHON POINT FARMER’S MARKET
Been a regular visitor to the Mahon Point Farmers Market but it continues to surprise. It was very frosty today, the start of a 3 day market stint up to Christmas Eve.
Some of the Thursday regulars were missing. Ballycotton Fish were there with some fine fresh fish. Moved on then to the nearby cheese stall and settled on the cheddar by Hegarty’s of Whitechurch. Picked up some gorgeous smoked sausages from Gubbeen Smokehouse and some chilli products (in jelly form) from Rebel Chilli before finishing with some inviting veg from the Burns Farm stall.

Despite the fact that a few of the regulars were missing, there was much more to see and buy here. The people serving at the various stalls are invariably in good form and helpful. For a full listing of stalls and products and updates go to http://www.mahonpointfarmersmarket.com/#/stalls/4532446411

Check out my review of Mahon Point Farmer's Market - I am cork - on Qype

Grand Parade Christmas Market

see Market video by Mike Hannon at:

 http://www.vimeo.com/8282906

Bubble Brothers in Cork

BUBBLE BROTHERS

Pleasantly surprised when picking up an order this week from Bubble Brothers store in Centre Park Road as the budget reduction of 60 cent per bottle had been applied. Sixty cent may not seem that great but when it is applied to a couple of cases, it can make quite a difference. Well done to Bubble and indeed to the other wine sellers who have rapidly applied the tax cut. I also noticed it in my pint at the Cotton Ball (did you see their Christmas lights?) last night.
Bubble Brothers, as you may know, have quite a selection at Centre Park Road. They have a lot less room at the English Market but they make the best of it. I suppose the rule would be: the Market for a bottle or two, Centre Park Road (easy parking) for a case or two. In any event, the same high standards of service and courtesy apply.
I’m looking forward to the Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the cases I picked up this week. Came across it at the Good Wine Show and thought it was a winner.

Check out my review of Bubble Brothers - I am cork - on Qype

2009 MY BEST PLACES

BEST OF 2009

2009 REVIEW
A personal list from restaurants visited this year. Sorry I couldn't get to all. Maybe it's just as well - I'd be fat or broke, maybe both



MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS

Les Gourmandises

Fenns Quay



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Continental

The Woodside



ALSO RECOMMENDED

Market Lane

Rising Tide

Soho



BEST FISH RESTAURANT

Fishy Fishy



BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT

Kudos (in the Clarion)



BEST SOUP

French Onion soup, with Gruyere and croutons (Market Lane)



BEST STARTER

Tomato Broth, served with a Gin Cream (Woodside).

Tomato and brie pot (Fenns Quay)



BEST MAIN COURSE

Duck in Plum Sauce (Continental)

Ham Hock (Les Gourmandises)



BEST DESSERT

Bread and butter pudding with whisky soaked raisins (Fleva Kilkenny)

Fresh fruit trifle, layered in a glass cup (Fishy Fishy)



RESTAURANT WISHES

A: That Brittany Ferries would open a land version (in Ringaksiddy or thereabouts) of Le Flora, the restaurant on board their Cork-Roscof ferry Pont Aven.

B: That Le Cottage and La Foret be beamed across from the north banks of the Gironde estuary to the North Bank of the Lee (preferably above flood levels!).

C: Fishy Fishy to open to city.

Ying's Palace in Cork

YING’S PALACE   
Made an overdue visit to Ying’s Palace Chinese Restaurant last night and found it even better value than previously and that without any drop at all in quality.
I usually go for one of the set meals. They have one at less than 16 euro and three between twenty and twenty three euro.
We (these set meals are for two minimum) started with the prawn crackers and then had the soup, followed by shredded duck with little pancakes, salad and sauce. Main course consisted of two sizzling dishes: beef on one, king prawns on the other, both gorgeous.
With these menus, you get a free glass of wine each and house wines start at €4.90 a glass. Coffee was included in the price and they also surprised us with some beautifully cut fresh fruit as a dessert (not on the menu). And another surprise on the way out when we presented with a Chinese calendar on a scroll.
Nice restaurant and nice people. The takeaway does very well indeed but is a shame that more don't take advantage of this excellent restaurant where the prices are very reasonable indeed.

Check out my review of Ying's Palace - I am cork - on Qype

Costa Coffee in Killarney

COSTA COFFEE

Costa Coffee shops are springing up around Cork city but my first visit to one came in Killarney yesterday when we called to their place in the local Outlet Centre.
Comfortable seats, plus a recommendation from our local “guide” beckoned us in and I enjoyed my cup of Americano. Took a medium but it was actually quite large . It cost €2.90 and tasted very well indeed.
There is no table service here. You go to the counter and pick up your coffee and scone or whatever. If you’re not into coffee they serve a wide range of alternatives including hot chocolate, teas and infusions, iced coffees and frescato.

Check out my review of Costa Coffee - I am cork - on Qype