TEMPTING

Like to try out the recipe of the month from the chef at the Cork Radisson? It is a very tempting Baked Salmon with Chorizo Risotto and Basil Pesto. Click here for the recipe. 

ELECTRIC

ELECTRIC

Electric, the new kid on the block, had a full scale trial last Saturday night and, from this diner’s point of view, came through with flying colours.

You can't miss this blue streaked building – the first on your right as you enter the Mall from the Grand Parade. And the name? Well it sounds cool but tradition has been honoured here as the building once housed the O’Shea’s electrical and garage business.

The restaurant is on the second floor and has views on three sides, of the river, the boardwalk and the Mall itself. Seating is comfortable and first impressions all round are very favourable.

Started off with the Home Smoked Duck, served with rainbow beetroots and leaves. By the way, the duck was much leaner that your normal smoked. Don't miss it!

And the continental feel continued

BEETROOT. GOOD FOR YOU?

DRINKING BEETROOT MAY HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS

The humble beetroot has come a long way in Ireland in recent years, now appearing in all the best places.

Take this weekend for example. On Friday, I was at the five star Hayfield Manor Hotel here in Cork. And here the red root took a starring role in one of the starters billed as “a salad with Roasted Beetroot and Carrot, Feta cheese, cucumber and caramelized walnuts” and very nice it was too.

Of course, the beetroot isn’t just in red. On Saturday, I was a guest at the exciting new Electric Bar and Restaurant in the South Mall. I saw that they had Home Smoked Duck, served with rainbow (red and yellow) beetroots and leaves. Couldn't resist it and it was gorgeous.

Hardly expected it to appear on my breakfast table this morning but there it was: Pomegranate with beetroot. It is one of a series of relatively new Pomegreat drinks from award winning Irish firm, Robert Roberts. And it is perhaps the favourite of the trio of samples that I tried over the past few days although I must say I also liked the one with Blueberry added.

The drinks are being marketed under the Pomegreat name and, aside from tasting well, could well have health benefits.

DINE IN CORK 5th to 14th NOVEMBER

Mark your calendar ‘Evening Echo Dine In Cork-Restaurant Week’ running from Friday 5th  November to Sunday 14th November

What’s On Offer In Restaurants?

Devised by the Restaurants Association of Ireland ‘Dine In Cork-Restaurant Week’ will see over 25 of the city’s top restaurants offering a special promotional rate of €25 per person for traditional three course dinner menus with tea and coffee – representing a 20% saving on traditional prices! From 7.00pm each evening customers will be presented with a three course special ‘Dine in Cork’ menu.

To see the menus and reservation details click here

PERROTT’S AT HAYFIELD MANOR

PERROTT’S

AT HAYFIELD MANOR

GOOD FOOD - GOOD CAUSE

 Leading chefs Rachel Allen and Andrew Rudd are holding an exclusive cooking demonstration to help support Concern’s work with women in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Haiti. 

Don’t miss out

The event will take place at The Metropole Hotel, Cork on Thursday 4 November at 7pm. Tickets cost €40 each and all proceeds will support vulnerable women in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Haiti through Women of Concern. Tickets are selling out fast so book early to avoid disappointment.

Book now

Get your ticket here. Or you can email liz.yeates@concern.net or colm.dolan@concern.net. Alternatively, call 01 417 7700.

THE WEEKEND CATCH

A bumper Weekend Catch, fresh from the Net.

THE WEEKEND CATCH

Restaurant Wine & Food Scene

via Twitter & Facebook

Control and click to follow the links and find out more.

Paco Guzman cooks up a Silk Purse storm during Jazz fest http://themeatcentre.com/wordpress/?p=823

adriancummins Adrian Cummins Restaurants will suffer if the government suck too much disposable income out of the economy thus loss of jobs.

Pandora Bell Confectionary Pandora Bell will be at the Craft Fair at the Limerick Milk Market today. It promises to be a great day with Halloween games and treats for the kids. Thank God for the new roof or I would be dusting down my wellies!

Nautilus restaurant is still on holidays :)
We will reopen next Thursday with a few new dishes on the menu.
Meanwhile, you can start planning your Christmas party by clicking on the link to the menus:
http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=307840757350&notes_tab=app_2347471856

Ballymaloe Ballymaloe House Delicious for the Autumnal days, Mulled Apple Juice at the 'Cafe at the end of the shop', Ballymaloe Shopwww.ballymaloe.ie/ballymaloeshop

Ballymaloe Ballymaloe House Sacha and Dave, Smith & Whelan Spanish Wines, Ballycotton; great selection of 'Large Format Bottles',

Liberty Grill We will be involved the Dine in Cork promotion in November
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dine-in-Cork/110730515616653

Little Buddha Cork NEW PRODUCTS: Manual Coffee Grinders now available in-store and online. Now you can have your fresh coffee in the morning. visit www.littlebuddha.ie

No.5 Fenns Quay Restaurant Fenns Quay is looking foward to the next Dine in Cork happening from the 5th november to the 14th inclusive for more information www.dineincork.ie or keep to date on the facebook page "dine in cork"

Bibliocook Caroline@Bibliocook Finally, a #foodcamp write up. Still flying from Friday's launch of the @IrishFoodies site. Time to knuckle down... http://fb.me/wcSKvWeo

FoodAndWineMag FOOD&WINE  The FOOD&WINE Magazine Christmas Show takes place at the RDS Main Hall on the last weekend in November (Friday...http://fb.me/KxSoygCj

foodforlivingie Food for Living Re-enforcing how important mental attitude and social support are with good health RT @greythinking: http://twurl.nl/4baho4

rednosewine Red Nose Wine You have until Oct 30 to win Icon wine http://bit.ly/b99qVE by following us on Twitter or Liking Facebook http://on.fb.me/bHuwKJ Please RT

SAVEURMAG SAVEUR We've come to appreciate turkey as an ingredient capable of incredible things... http://bit.ly/90lO2k

SAVEURMAG SAVEUR 10 Sweet Potato Recipes  http://bit.ly/czk8JY

Uvinum in English  How to taste wine without being a wine taster

Hallowen recipes - http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipes/halloween-recipes.aspx

Control and click to follow the links and find out more.

We search the net, via Twitter and Facebook, each Thursday evening and early Friday morning, for the latest from the Cork restaurant and bar scene. If you don't have either of the above, reach us at cork.billy@gmail.com. Deadline 9.00am Friday.

WINES FROM HUNGARY including Tokaj....

HUNGRY FOR WINES?

COME TO THE 1st INTERNATIONAL WINE & ARTISAN FOOD FESTIVAL IN

MITCHELSTOWN

TASTE A MEMORY

Just like mother used to....

TASTE A MEMORY FOODS

Ann Bradfield’s Taste a Memory Foods have come on in leaps and bounds since trying out a stall in Bandon Farmers Market just a few years back. Now they operate out of the Kinsale Road Commercial Centre. They have won national awards and the products are available in over 30 shops, with further expansion on the horizon.

But the same hands on approach is used as in the early days. ”Our range of Pasties are the only hand-made Pasties available in shops in Ireland. We produce Pasties using original methods dating back to the 1700s in Cornwall, Southern England.”

Tried out their Fish Pie at a recent exhibition and it was just perfect. Now for the Cottage Pie, the Chicken Pie and all those Pasties.

Unit 30, Kinsale Rd Comm. Centre 021 4840703
www.tasteamemory.ie

SUGAR SUGAR

SUGAR CAFE and PETITS FOURS PATISSERIE

Last summer, enjoyed some gorgeous macaroons in the Dordogne and then soon found out I could have been enjoying them here all along. Over in Washington Street, Christine Girault, in Ireland for 17 years, runs the Sugar Cafe and Petits Fours Patisserie.

Tasted the macaroons recently and they are absolutely delicious. The range here is hugely and hugely tempting: traditional French éclairs, Macaroons and Florentine Biscuits, Fruit Tarts, Mille-feuille and her own favourites Paris Brest, Opera and Flan Patissier....and she also does special occasion cakes.

The cafe is open 8.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday and here you can have the traditional French breakfast and quite a  variety of lunch treats (salads, baguettes, ciabatta, wraps etc.)

25 Washington Street West 087 6481452

http://www.petitsfours.ie

SAVOUR KILKENNY - THE REPORT

THE CON-FOODERATION OF KILKENNY 2010
Read Bibliocook's account of a great day for foodies....

TWO FROM CAHORS - ONE A GOLD MEDAL WINNER

CAHORS RAID NETS TWO GOOD 'UNS

One day last June, made a trip through the Cahors Vineyards. Started by visiting a couple of sleepy villages, got lost in the middle and ended up by purchasing a couple of cases in Parnac. 

In the bastide town of Montcabrier, pigeons cooed while children babbled contentedly in the school. More sounds of contentment in Duravel where the local café was doing quite a lunch-time trade.

A meander in the Lot

Then onto the River Lot and the quayside of Puy-L’Eveque, once a river port. Fine views here of the river and the old town and vineyards in the near distance. Views kept getting better. High up in Belaye, we had stunning views of both the Lot and Cahors Valley.

And even that was outdone when we called to nearby Albas which overlooks the Lot from a cliff. A few kilometres outside the two we got a magnificent view as the river formed a huge U shape in the valley below.

Despite the sign, was lost when I took this one

Then passed through the ancient Cathar fiefdom of Luzech and its imposing 12^th century keep before getting down to business in the little village of Parnac. Here the Cave Cooperative du Vignoble de Cahors (you see Les Cotes d’Olt on the signs) have a massive cave with a fine shop.

After a few tastings we settled on a Château Les Bouysses 2002 (€7.40 a bottle) and a Cotes D’OIt Malbec 2005 (€4.00), some rewards for a hard slog in the car.

Cotes D’OIt Cahors Malbec 2008: Aroma of black fruits and a deep red colour from this 100% Malbec. On the palate, it is well endowed with fruit, plum especially, and tannins enough to dry gums but nothing extreme. It is well balanced, velvety, almost creamy. There may well be more to come from it as “Good potential for aging” is written on the back label. 

PR: 7.5

Chateau Les Bouysses 2002, Cahors 2002: This won a Gold Medal in Macon in 2005 and is a blend of mainly Malbec (Auxerrois) and Merlot and boasts on the front label that is has been in oak: “Eleve en fut de chene.”

The nose is of black plum and cherries and the colour is red going on black. It is juicy and well flavoured with an adequate amount of tannin and hints of its time in oak. Supple with a decent weight and a good finish, there is very little not to like about this one. PR: 8.5

BREHENY’S BELLISH

BREHENY’S BELLISH

The Bellish is a play on embellish. They say: “The clover embellishes the land. We embellish your plate.”Maybe it sounds better in the Gaeltacht where the company is based.

But relish or bellish, I have no argument. Got some of their slow cooked red onion relish when I visited their stall recently and it sure went very well with some cheese I had to hand.

But Conall Breheny’s West Cork outfit have quite a range and are well regarded and some of their products have figured on national award lists in recent years. Worth a look and worth keeping an eye on. Could well emBellish your plates in the future.

Unit 6, Udaras Na Gaeltachta, Ballyvourney. 087 9477669
www/brehenysbellish.com

Check out my review of Breheny's Bellish - I am cork - on Qype