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) 

Fresh and Local at Bull McCabe’s

Fresh and Local at Bull McCabe’s

Fresh and local is the policy at Bull McCabe’s  on the Airport Road. Meat comes from Ballyburden Meats in Ballincollig, relishes from Christie’s Celtic Kitchen in Carrigaline and fruit and vegetables from Waterfall Farms.

And there is also a good choice of local drinks available. At lunch yesterday, I downed a cool pint of Friar Weisse from the Franciscan Well. Other choices available include Howling Gale Ale from Eight Degrees and Cider from Stonewell in Nohoval. And they have a different guest beer every month.

Let me just stick to the drink for a minute. Their whiskey comes from Midleton Distillery and Bull McCabe’s is a venue where you may enjoy a Jameson Reserve Tasting. It costs just €12.50 to do the tasting which includes a Whiskey Appreciation Guide and 25 mls each of Jameson Select Reserve and Jameson Special Reserve 12 year Old and, wait for it, 25mls of Jameson Gold Reserve.

The tasting is a feature of the regular Tuesday Ruaile Buaile Nights at the Bull where you have a three course meal, the tasting and entertainment for a grand total of €32.50. Sounds like fun.

The carvery lunch there is very good, lots of meat dishes and salads available, also sandwiches and wraps. A bit too hot for the soup so I went direct to the Roast Beef with all the trimmings (€12.90) while CL picked the Baked Salmon (11.70).  Two faultless plates, very enjoyable, especially the cooked to perfection vegetables (carrots and cabbage).

No shortage of homemade desserts available including Strawberry Roulade, Coffee and Walnut, and Apple Pie. My choice (two spoons, though) was the gorgeous Pear and Almond.

They also do a Tuesday lunchtime tenner special and yesterday’s offers, again with all the trimmings, were Roast Stuffed Turkey and Homemade Lasagne.

Owner Derek told me that their Evening Special (two courses for €17.50) is proving very popular. Here, you may have a main course with a starter or a main course with dessert. Other big draws on the evening menu are the Burger, the Chicken Fajita and the Chicken Curry. The Blackboard Specials are available Monday to Friday 5.00 to 9.00pm. Dinner is also served on Saturday, same times.

It is a busy spot. And a lively one. Lots of fun and events there. Not so long ago they had their Iron Man contest, one with a difference as the object was to find a guy who could best handle a clothes iron! Watch out for their Food and Beer Matching event, coming up, most likely in September.

Being close to the airport and to a few hotels in the area, Bull McCabe’s gets quite a lot of foreign visitors. Derek tells me that Irish beef is very highly regarded by them. He wasn't surprised at that but was slightly surprised to hear a group of Austrians declare that the Franciscan Well’s Friar Weisse was the best beer they had come across!

Great to see a bar/restaurant that supports local producers doing well. Long may it continue?

·         Bull MCCABES, AIRPORT RD, CORK

·         CARVERY LUNCH
MON-FRI 12:15-2:30PM, SAT-SUN 12:30-3:00PM

·         EVENING MEALS
MON-SAT 5-9PM

·         021 432 2142

Superb Vin for your Table!

Superb Vin de France

Dômaine Aonghusa Mazuelo 63+,  2011, Vin de France, 14%, €15.30 Karwig Wines.

Irish winemaker Pat Neville made this dark red aromatic wine in his hilly Languedoc vineyard. The word Mazuelo is sometimes used for Carignan in Spain and the 63+ apparently refers to the youngest Carignan vines that were part of the blend.

Unorthodox or not, this is a gorgeous fruity wine, a superb lip smacking red, well balanced and with a good dry finish. Vin de France is a designation that has been used since 2010, partly to replace the Vin de Table. But it is a lucky table that has one of these Aonghusa bottles on it. Very Highly Recommended.

You may read some of Neville's winemaking philosophy - he does have some wines with Corbieres AOC designation -  on his website  or wait until the Autumn (September 5^th) when Karwig Wines will have Pat and his wines at a dinner in Fresco Bistro as part of the WineGeeese Series.

Cave d`Irouleguy, Mignaberry 2010, 13.5℅.

From the western edge of the Pyrenees to the eastern and to what is the smallest French AOC, that of the Basque area called Irouleguy. They use the Tannat grape a lot in their red (and rose) wines, good for the heart but with a reputation of being tough on the palate.

But I reckon the local winemakers have it spot-on here in this award winning red. Harvested by hand and raised in barriques, this wine, purple coloured by the time you pour, is delicious and generous, with good fruit concentration and crisp acidity.

My only problem was that I drank it too soon, should have kept it for a few years. Looks as if I'll have to return to the Pays Basque. Meanwhile, if you are in south west France on hols or at a rugby game, didn’t hesitate to treat yourself to a bottle of Mignaberry and see if you handle the Tannat!

From Dungloe to Kenmare: Eight Irish Tea Rooms

Irish Tea Rooms

Adare's Old Creamery

Never heard tell of the Adare Old Creamery store until a recent visit. Now feel like I should tell you all about it. It is just a few hundred yards from the County Limerick village and it quite fascinating.

Maybe you want to buy a doll’s house or furniture for it. Some beautiful scented candles perhaps. Maybe high quality china such as Aynsley or Belleek. Well, this is the place to check out – see it on Facebook.

Downstairs there is an old style sweet shop (including ice-cream) and upstairs a gorgeous tea-rooms (with the best apple pie ever!). Fun animations all over the store. Books and clothes and much much more in this treasure house. And later in the year it turns into an incredible Christmas store. A must visit.

Three Tea Rooms: one in a church, one in a churchyard and one in a "big house" kitchen.

Drumcliffe Tea House (Sligo)

Ben Bulben

“Under bare Ben Bulben’s head” sits Drumcliffe church and the churchyard where poet William Butler Yeats is buried. “Horseman pass by” is the last line of the famous epitaph.

Today’s horseman though is more likely to sup at the Drumcliffe Tea House, also in the church grounds, before turning the key in the ignition.

Here, just outside Sligo on the road to Donegal, they serve good teas and coffees (Bewley’s), “mouth-watering cakes and desserts” and good “wholesome food”, including soups and tarts.

There are Yeats and Irish interest books to browse through and a selection of good quality original souvenirs. Plenty of parking for the churchyard and there are well kept toilets in the tea rooms.

Scrummylicious Bakery and Tearoom (Dungloe, Donegal)

The old chapel in Dungloe

Another famous Irishman, happily still with us, Daniel O’Donnell, famously used to serve tea to the world and mainly to the world’s wife. That function has now been taken over by the unusual Scrummylicious Bakery and Tearoom in Dungloe, County Donegal.

You’ll find this friendly place in the old chapel at the top of the main street.  Not alone does the cafe offer teas and coffees (Robert Roberts) but they also have a full bakery service. The products can be taken home to enjoy or enjoyed in the unique tearoom within the old church building.  “Our tearoom has a select menu of gourmet sandwiches, wraps, bagels, light meals and delicious homemade soups”.

The converted building also hosts the tourist office, the library and other local services, and, yes, toilets!

Doneraile Court Tea Rooms (Doneraile, Cork)

Doneraile, with outside eating area.

Tea Rooms in the old kitchen, open daily, and a Farmer’s Market  are among the recent attractions added to Doneraile Court in North Cork. The old pile itself, just off the main street in Doneraile, is surrounded by hundreds of acres of parkland where you have a great selection of walks.

Called in there the other day for a sandwich. This was filled with real ham, cut from the bone, and was a bargain at four euro. A toasted sandwich, packed with chicken and served with a salad, came to €4.50. But there is quite a menu here. Soups, sandwiches and curries and also breakfast dishes and a specials board for during the day. You can even order some items to take away. Lots of picnic tables scattered around the park also.

Four Tea Rooms: Town, city, coast, mountain.

Jam and cream in Bandon

Lovely scone and  gorgeous plate at the Duchess.

Never really associated myself with tea rooms but I’ve been in at least four over the past few months.

Began with a call to the lovely Tea and Garden Rooms in Ballyvaughan (Co. Clare); next up was the Phoenix Park Tea Rooms; up the Kerry hills next to the Pancake Cottage before the most recent call to the Duchess Tea Rooms in Bandon.

It was a bitterly cold morning in Bandon and after a visit to the local Farmers Market a hot cup was required. Just happened to be passing the Duchess Team Rooms and popped in. Nice bit of heat there and three or four welcoming sofas, just like home.

Sat myself down and soon I was tucking into a really well made fruit scone with no shortage of cream or jam. Coffee was excellent but next time, I must try the tea as they have a massive selection.

There is great degree of comfort here, lots of calming colours all around and perhaps the ideal place for afternoon tea with a wide assortment of finger sandwiches, scrumptious mouth-watering delicate pastries, little cakes and scones to choose from.

It is the best part of two years since I indulged in the full afternoon tea. Wonder if the Fota Island Resort Hotel are still doing it.

Just like the Duchess Rooms, you may enjoy a little lunch or a light meal in all the tea rooms. Had a great Fish Pie in the well situated Tea and Garden Rooms in beautiful Ballyvaughan. This is a lovely spot, right alongside Galway Bay, and with gardens front and rear. But if you go here, you will not be able to avoid the sweet cakes. As you go in, you’ll see them in all their tempting colours, the table groaning underneath.

The Phoenix Park Tea Rooms, just across from the entrance to the Dublin Zoo, looked splendid under the Autumn colours of the many nearby trees and, as we ate, the squirrels were hopping around outside.

They are open all day long and include some terrific organic stuff on the menu, including the coffee and tea. All the vegetables, salads and fruits are from Kinneden Organics in Roscommon, the chicken is from Cootehill in Monaghan. And their sourdough is by Arun Bakery.

On the road from Sneem (Co. Kerry) to Moll’s Gap, there is a place called A Strawberry Field  where you will find Pancake Cottage, which is open all year round. The views from the garden are splendid, weather permitting!

While you may enjoy a cuppa here, maybe with a Dutch Apple Pie, their speciality is the pancake. The selection of pancake toppings just goes on and on, sweet and savoury, and also a kids menu.

Another tea room well worth a call, just like the other three.

Bordeaux Evening at Crawford Art Gallery

Bordeaux Evening at Crawford Art Gallery

Left to right: Pierre Lawton, Colm McCan and Ted Murphy

A Bordeaux evening, that saw wine merchant Pierre Lawton in conversation with Ted Murphy (author “A Kingdom of Wine – the Story of Ireland’s Wine Geese"), drew many to the sculpture gallery of the Crawford on Thursday night. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the ongoing WineGeese series.

It was indeed a very good night for the WineGeese “committee” of Beverly Matthews, Colm McCann and Maurice O’Mahony. Maurice opened the evening: “We dreamt this up in January and now it’s true!”

Ted Murphy, widely credited as the originator of the Wine Geese concept, told us of the Lawton family, in particular how one of Pierre’s direct ancestors, Hugh Lawton, had been mayor of Cork city in 1776.

Four from Bordeaux.

Indeed, the Lawtons had a huge presence in Cork city and county and held many high offices, all the while continuing their trade with their relations in Bordeaux who, via Abraham Lawton, entered the wine business (buying and selling) in the 1700s.

And Ted was enthusiastic that the old trade links and cultural connections between the two Atlantic cities could be reinforced and new ones forged. He announced that UCC is to enter a student exchange programme with Bordeaux. And then showed us a very impressive recent tourist leaflet cum map from Bordeaux detailing the many Irish connections.

He then drew our attention to the nearby John Hogan sculpture of The Drunken Faun who, he joked, had wasted some pretty expensive wine. Indeed, some of the wines that Pierre then introduced do not come cheap but there was no danger of them being wasted! Pierre explained: “Thus is a horizontal tasting. Same vintage but different wines.”

Pierre

1 – Chateau Clauzet Saint Estephe 2009

2 – Chateau Branaire Ducru Saint Julien 2009

3 – Chateau Clerc Milon Pauillac 2009

4 – Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac 2009

All kinds of wine related topics were touched on, in a light and humorous way, by Pierre, including the ups and downs of buying en primeur, the risks (and rewards!) of playing backgammon with Philippe de Rothschild (wine #3 above) and the Chinese involvement in the wine market.

When we came to the Lynch-Bages, he let us know that a M. Lynch, then Mayor of Bordeaux, once seriously upset a certain Napoleon! Pierre, in a cheeky aside, shared this tip: the taste of Lynch-Bages is close to that of Mouton, but cheaper!

Horizontal tasting!

Ted

And the famous Bordeaux bottle? Yes, you’ve guessed it. That was invented by an Irishman (Mitchell) so that bottles could be stacked on their sides. 

Pierre also had a very practical tip for these hot days. To cool wine, drop an ice cube into the glass for a few moments, then remove and taste the difference. 

One got the impression that Pierre is not a lover of some wine critics, particularly those that overly use technical terms. “Enjoy the wine,” he advised. “Don’t be prejudiced by what you read.” Sound advice from a man that knows!

Amuse Bouche

On the way home, Striker....stopped in at the Stone Cold Creamery and bought a two-litre carton of ice for Cody and Shana – blue bubble gum, their favourite.

Once back in the car, Felicia stared at the odd blue colour of the dessert and made a wary sound. “This stuff looks like it was made in Chernobyl.”

Striker grinned: “Looks like your attempt at risotto last week.”

“Hey, at least I try – what have you ever tried to make for us?”

“I do all my cooking in the bedroom.”

“Yeah? Well next time you need to preheat the oven a little more.”

from The Guilty by Sean Slater.

Summer in Blairs County

Summer in Blairs County

Summer time finds us in Blairs County, dipping into some gorgeous salads and sipping ( maybe even gulping!) some terrific craft beer in the gardens of Blair’s Inn.

Don't know of any other restaurant where you get a Beer List as a separate offering from the Wine List. And they have some fantastic beers to choose from. A couple from Dungarvan Brew Company on cask, the hugely popular Howling Gale Pale Ale from Eight Degrees along with Friar Weisse (a favourite of mine) from Franciscan Well on draught and loads more in bottle.

Cashel Blue and Roasted Pears

Top beers in bottle include the tasty West Kerry Brewery Blonde Ale (known as Beal Ban) and don’t forgot you can also have the ace Stonewell cider (dry or medium dry) in bottle from the Nohoval Brewing Company.

And then there is a star studded line-up of imports, including a  couple by Brew Dog and Sierra Nevada from the US. There is a “jokey” presentation employed by the Belgians that make Brugse Zot Blonde Ale but the brewers aren’t clowning around and this 6 per-center is a serious gem and highly recommended. Really enjoyed that one.

Oh, I almost forgot. We did go there for the lunch. And we weren't disappointed on that score either. Those Oysterhaven mussels, neat and tasty, are delicious, especially with  that White Wine and Garlic Cream Sauce.

Copper Coast Ale
from the cask!

It was super hot in the Blair’s Inn kitchen and still the team came up with the goods. Absolutely thrilled with my mains: Warm Salad of Cashel Blue Cheese and Roasted Pears. CL took the cool route and she was impressed with the Cold Meat Platter of the Day (mainly chicken and O’Crualaoi’s corned beef) served with salad, pickle and their own gorgeous Chutney.

What better way to finish off this delightful summer lunch, eaten as the little river bubbled along at the end of the garden, than with a bowl of luscious strawberries!

Now stop clowning around with my Brugse Zot. Wonder if Mr Bradley has some of those in North Main Street!

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

Sunny Day Lunch at Walton Court

Sunny Day Lunch at Walton Court

Thirty degrees plus in Ireland! My Mama never told me there'd be days like this. Maybe she did but I didn't hear her as she plastered on the oil, you know, the one that ensured you burned a nice even brown! Big boy now, so had my hat on as I took my seat at the outdoor table in the Courtyard Cafe at Oysterhaven's Walton Court yesterday. Moments earlier, Christine Girault, who runs the cafe and also the Garden Room, the weekend restaurant, had taken our order. 

Soon, we were tucking in. The colours of the food matched the mid-day sunshine and Christine herself was in sparkling form, even throwing in a cúpla focal as we chatted. CL thoroughly enjoyed her Smoked Salmon while my Hummus, with a wee bowl of tapenade added, matched it for quality. You can see the current lunch menu below. 

Wine is available here but I enjoyed a bottle of traditional French lemonade while CL supped her sparkling Elderflower Cordial. Lots of drinks here, including Dungarvan Brewing Company’s beers and a locally roasted coffee. 

The menu is augmented for the weekend evening meals (Tapas and Casual Dining) in the larger Garden Room. You'll have catch of the day and do watch out for the artisan Aldudes Valley ham, Chorizo and Urepel Brebis Cheese, (also from the Pyrénées) and, from closer to home, the tapas menu may well include Apple Wood Smoked Prawns from the local Oysterhaven Bay Smokehouse. 

Opening times

Courtyard Cafe: Tu-Su 11.00am to 5.00pm.

Garden Room: Fr-Su 6.00pm to 9.00pm

(021) 477 0878

Doneraile Farmers Market

Doneraile Farmers Market

Enjoyed my recent visit to the Farmers Market at Doneraile Court. It is a rather small market but there is quite a bit of quality there. And, of course, you can make a day of it by adding lunch in the Tea Rooms plus a walk in the park which has the added interest of three herds of deer.

My first stop was the Bee Sensations Stall where Tom and Croén Ruttle sell honey from their own hives. And not just honey in jars but also in comb form. Besides they use honey instead of sugar in their jams. And these are irresistible! How can you say no to Strawberry, Champagne and Passionfruit? Especially after trying a sample.

We also bought a pot of their Croén’s Kitchen Gourmet Honey, Plum and Passionfruit jam where the Passionfruit tones down, in a nice way, the sweetness of the plum. And another pot that found its way to the city was the Gourmet Honey Seville Orange and Ginger Marmalade.  And some jars of honey as well.

They also do Natural Beeswax Candles and Soaps, Honey Based Sweets, Breads and Preserves.

Hard to drag oneself away from Bee Sensations but we did and got as far as the Skellig Pantry, all the way from Ballinskelligs with some gorgeous fish products, including smoked trout. Also some patés and the one we enjoyed most was their tasty tub of mackerel.

Had a pack of cheese crackers, courtesy of Dan of the Mustard Seed in the car, and was looking for something to go with them. Found it at the Odd Couple Stall, the same Odd Couple that operate an Italian shop in McCurtain Street. They had a range of artisan cheeses from Italy; they personally know the producers. I was interested in the Pecorino, a semi-mature one from Sardinia (they also have some from Sicily). And must say that it went down perfectly with the crackers.

Also picked up a few other bits and pieces at different stalls, including a half dozen organic eggs that cost a rather hefty €3.50. Others stalls there include Dolls House Designs (amazing dolls houses) and the Good Little Cook with their pastas and sauces, including their  award-winning cocoa tagliatelle and Joanne, the Cake Fairy, based in North Cork, who’ll make all your cake dreams come true!

And there is more. Well worth a trip down from the city – you’ll be there in no time. The next market is scheduled for July 14^th (11.00am to 3.00pm).

Blas na hEireann update on Bee Sensations July 2015 here

Loire Lesson #5 Red all over

Loire Lesson #5
Red all over

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre 2005, Cuvée La Grange Dîmière, 12.5%, €21.35 Karwig Wines.

This red has red fruits, traces of vanilla, on the nose. On the palate it is light with typical Pinot Noir raspberry flavours, also hints of wild strawberry, with a good long dry finish.

Roger is one of the top Loire growers and 2005 was a very good year there. If you get your hands on one of these, why not try it with a salad featuring one the Ummera smoked products (duck, chicken, salmon). Very Highly Recommended.

Le Pensée de Pallus, Chinon 2010, 12.5%, €25.50, Ballymaloe Wines (at Brown Thomas)

I’ll be in Chinon next month, hoping to get better acquainted with the local reds, especially after sampling this one from the new Ballymaloe pop-up wine store at Brown Thomas in Patrick Street. This is a top cuvée from a top producer and worth getting to know.

“Made in the modern style”, this is light and elegant. This Cabernet Franc is fresh, savoury and juicy on the palate, well balanced though with good length. Highly recommended.

Al Fresco at Cobh's Titanic Bar & Grill.

Titanic Bar & Grill

Hard to beat eating by the water when the weather is as good as this. I enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the Titanic Bar and Grill in Cobh yesterday. On the outdoor deck, of course, watching the harbour cruise and Spike Island tour boats come and go and the kids diving into the deep cool water from the nearby pier.

Had started the morning with a visit to Fota Wildlife Park. Great to see the car park close to full and many punters, including lots of children, who are well catered for with special events and play and activity areas.

On then to the harbour town itself which was quite busy as well, people out and about and that five foot walk (by the deepwater quay) proving popular. Parked there and made my way on foot for a hastily arranged rendezvous with another couple at the Titanic.

I went for one of the specials: the Pan Fried Hake Fillets served on a bed of rocket with cherry tomato and spring onion salsa and rustic potatoes (11.95). Another winner at the table was the Green Thai Curry (13.95). This came with sauté vegetables and basmati rice and you had a choice of chicken, prawn or beef. Beef was the chosen one here.

Quite a choice of mains as you could pick from a Prime Irish Beef Burger, Traditional Fish and Chips, Smoked Salmon and Gubbeen Bruschetta, a Cajun Chicken Wrap and many more.

No shortage of choice in the Starters either. One of our gang enjoyed the Hot and Sticky Chicken Wings (extra napkins provided without you having to ask for them). Mussels were also available as was a Traditional Chicken Caesar Salad and A Sesame Crumbed Brie Cheese. More too including soup of the day, which was Celeriac, Apple and Sage.

Great to eat outdoors but quite a few were inside as well, closer to the bar! It is of course a full bar so you have all the usual choices but they also have some craft beers including Galway and Dungarvan and the popular Stonewell Cider is also available.

Food and Drink Spotting

Food and Drink Spotting

Ballymaloe Pop-up at Brown Thomas

Ballymaloe have hit the city with their new pop-up wine shop upstairs at Brown Thomas, by the Table Restaurant. Their new space has quite a catchy design and you can’t miss it!

The shop opened last Thursday and I called this week and had a great chat with Colm McCan and Fionn Little. Colm, the sommelier at Ballymaloe, tells me the older wines and natural wines are being kept in their on-site Eurocave which has three temperature settings. “It will be just like getting the bottle from the cellars in Ballymaloe.”

Colm, as you probably know, is very keen on his sherry and has quite a few on display here, including some En Rama. But Port lovers are not forgotten and Madeira fanciers have a good selection to choose from.

Colm is looking forward to having a few tastings in the store over the coming weeks and he is also high-lighting the Wine Geese events with a fine display of wines with Irish connections.

The wine shop has something for everyone. Colm: “We have wines from €12.50 upwards, bubbles from €14.95.” So why not pop in to the pop up and have a chat with the friendly folks there and see what suits you from the large selection on offer.

Cloudberry Bakery 

Cloudberry Bakery are also new to the Emporium in Brown Thomas. Had a chat with Sam and she told me they make artisan cakes and desserts - anything from colourful cakepops and cupcakes, to show-stopping wedding cakes. “Our ingredients include Belgian chocolate, unsalted butter, Madagascan vanilla and local free-range eggs.”

Sampled their chocolate brownie which was gorgeous but the bite that really caught my attention was of one of their tempting Macarons. This was the lemon, made using with their own lemon curd. It was different to the norm and absolutely delicious! So now you have two calls to make when next you’re in Brown Thomas.

Shorts, from the net

Amicus Restaurant We attended the Eat the Street Awards Ceremony at the weekend. A very entertaining and fun event! Not only are these girls excellent restaurant critics, they are also talented singers, dancers and actors! We took away two awards: Spiciest Food for our chicken wings and Best Service for the warm welcome, friendly staff and the nicest Manager they had ever met. (Damien)

O’Donovan’s Off Licence Do YOU want to win tickets to INDIEPENDENCE Music & Arts Festival this Summer? All you have to do is create an object out of empty cans or bottles and upload the picture of your finished piece through our competition tab or through private mail!

Manning's Emporium We are looking for an experienced barista and deli counter assistant. Ideally someone who would have basic knowledge of Irish Farmhouse cheese and an interest in artisan food products. If this sounds like you or someone you know please email laura@manningsemporium.ie with contact details.

Griffin’s Garden Centre
Tomorrow is Fiver Friday and what a great menu:
A Home-grown Salad Dish and Granny Griffin's Home-baked Brown Bread with Free Tea or Coffee for just €5!
Aghabullogue Angus Beef Hotpot topped with sautéed potatoes (gluten free)
or
Breaded Fillet of Haddock served with chips and a homemade tartar sauce
served from 12:30pm, only while stocks last!

Check out the Poacher’s Inn Newsletter http://www.poachersinnbandon.com/poachers-newsletter-july-2013/

All the way from Cairo...Raspberry Dirt Cake at DUKES Pâtisserie & Tea Lounge in Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Amazing raspberry butter cream! http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/3751878