Weekend Walkies in Moanbaun Forest
Moanbaun sits on a high exposed plateau, off the Watergrasshill-Leamlara Road, giving great views of the surrounding countryside. More details from Coillte here
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Friday, October 16, 2020
Amuse Bouche
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| Photo via Pixabay |
But perhaps the least reassuring mode of transport on the Channel was observed by the master of the steam yacht SY Killarney. He sailed past a French officer and two Belgian soldiers attempting to reach England on a door. And balanced on the door, between the three passengers, were six large bottles of wine.
from Dunkirk by Joshua Levine (2017). Highly Recommended.
Ummera Smoked Products is among the Great Taste winners of 2020. And going for the Golden Fork next Thursday!
press release
Ummera Smoked Products is among the Great Taste winners of 2020
Great Taste, the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, has announced its stars of 2020. Out of 12,777 products sent in from 106 different countries, Ummera Smoked Products in Ireland was awarded a 3-star Great Taste award, which means the product was described by judges as extraordinarily tasty for its Smoked Organic Irish Salmon.
Judged by 144 of the most discerning palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as food writers and journalists, Great Taste is the most coveted of all food and drink awards. As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to an outstanding product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting.
This year’s winners have been found through a combination of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions, after the lockdown began just one week into the schedule. This necessitated a swift and comprehensive reinvention of the Great Taste process to ensure that robust judging standards were maintained and the quality of feedback was not compromised, all in time to provide a much-needed boost for food and drink producers during the all-important Christmas period.
Anthony Creswell, MD of Ummera Smokehouse explains: Seventeen years ago we were awarded a Silver 2 Star for our Smoked Organic Salmon, then Ten years ago in 2000 we were seriously honoured to be awarded a 3 Star Gold and a Golden Fork for our Smoked Silverhill Duck Breasts, and so we thought that ten years on we should enter again. And now we can put the 3 Star Gold logo on our smoked salmon! A couple of comments from the judges:
“Lovely texture, great mouthfeel, moist but in no way greasy, and a level of smoke that is measured to perfection. The salt level is also spot-on - in no way intrusive, its presence detected but only serving to lift and enhance the flavour and honesty of the fish. As one judge commented, 'as good a piece of smoked salmon as I've had in years.”
“This smoked salmon has a deep brownish orange colour and a smokey nutty wood aroma. The flesh is tender, creamy and rich in the mouth and the fish is moist but not flabby or greasy. There is a lovely natural fruity sweetness and a pleasant amount of salt that helps to brighten, lift and accentuate the fish's flavour. The fish is buttery and rich and has maintained plenty of clean minerality . The smoke brings a richness and fruitiness although is possibly a little too intense - some found a hint of acrid bitterness. Over all however this is fine piece of fish that has been well smoked.”
“A simple description for a product that delivers glorious flavours. This smoked salmon has been treated with great care, skill and precision. There is just the right level of smoke. It is rich but light, enhancing not dominating the fish. The salmon has an excellent texture, meaty and full of flavour. The salt is perfectly balanced, adding depth to a product that provides everything you could ask for in smoked farmed salmon.”
Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging. Whether it is cake, coffee, kippers or kombucha being judged, all products are removed from their wrapper, jar, box or bottle before being tasted. The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star award.
There were 12,777 entries into Great Taste this year and of those products, 205 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,294 received a 2-star and 3,818 were awarded a 1-star accolade. The panel of judges this year included; cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley, cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking, Anna Jones, celebrated Spanish chef, José Pizarro, Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay, and baker and author, Martha Collison, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose. These esteemed palates have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winners to finally agree on the Golden Fork Trophy recipients and the Great Taste 2020 Supreme Champion.
Great Taste 2020 will reach its exciting finale on October 22nd, when the Golden Fork trophy winners and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2020 are announced at the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork awards event. And, you've guessed it, Ummera are in the final three for Ireland!
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Date: 7th October 2020
For more information:
Anthony Creswell
info@ummera.com +353 23 8846644
“No Trick, Just Treat”…at the Metropole Hotel this October
press release
“No Trick, Just Treat”…at the Metropole Hotel this October
Spectacular Brunch Boxes and Afternoon Tea available to enjoy at home
It’s all treats and no tricks at the The Metropole Hotel in Cork this October. The popular hotel has launched its takeaway menu which is bursting with local cuisine and fancy treats for people to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes.
The Brunch Box is one of the most popular items on the take away menu. For €25 you can be treated to a selection of breads and dips, smoked salmon, chive cream cheese, smashed avocado, parma ham, homemade pickles and tomato relish. Also included are buttermilk pancakes with chantilly cream, maple syrup and berry compote.
On the take away menu is the Met’s relaxing Classic Afternoon tea, which really is something to be savoured. The top class offering comprises of freshly made scones with homemade clotted cream and succulent jam; perfectly cut sandwiches and a selection of mouth-watering treats.
Included in the menu are mini chocolate fondants, mini macaroons, lemon curd tarts and mini Victoria sponge. The sandwich menu includes a classic ham and Swiss cheese on white bloomer, Cork’s spiced beef rocket horseradish on brown bloomer, Cucumber Philly cheese and cress on white bloomer and smoked salmon, avocado mayonnaise and cress on soda.
As a special treat all guests who order takeaway food during October will be entered into a draw to win the Metropole’s “Brunch and Bubbles” overnight package. This includes bottomless brunch, overnight stay and breakfast.
General Manager of the Metropole Hotel, Roger Russell said: “It is sad for us not to be able to welcome our guests for afternoon tea and dinner at the moment but the priority is making sure everyone stays safe. We do love that we can still connect and see our guests by having this service available and that people can enjoy these wonderful treats at home.”
Sandra Murphy of the Metropole Hotel said: “We are so excited by our wonderful take-away menus at the Metropole Hotel. They are jam packed with so many delicious treats and they are flying out the door. This October is one like no other so if we can bring some joy to people’s homes with our Brunch Boxes and Afternoon Tea at Home treats then we are delighted to be able to do that.”
Special dietary requirements can also be catered for on request. The price of the takeaway packages start at €25 per person and can be booked online on www.themetropolehotel.ie or by calling 021 4643700.
The Metropole Hotel is part of the Trigon Hotel Group, which has 334 guest rooms across three hotels in Cork. The group comprises of the Cork International Hotel, The Metropole Hotel and the Cork Airport Hotel.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Taste of the Week. O'Mahony's Pork Burger with Sobrasada.
Sobrasada
Taste of the Week.
O'Mahony's Pork Burger with Sobrasada.
Thanks to O'Mahony Butchers in the English Market (Grand Parade end) and to Neighbourfood, we've got another delicious Taste of the Week. The secret here is surely the Sobrasada. What is Sobrasada? You might well ask.
Didn't know much about until I was completing my order for Neighbourfood and saw it in the description for this product and found out it is a mildly cured chorizo which works really well with sweet pork. I've often taken Eoin O'Mahony's word for strange terms before and he's never let me down!
So I continued with the order and more or less forgot about it until the Wednesday delivery. And we were amazed with the class and quality of the burgers which also contain fresh parsley, apple and Kalamata olives.
Superb pork too of course. With fries added, also a salad (mostly from the garden) and lashings of the superb Smoked Ketchup from Tipperary's Three Men in a Trailer, we were on a winner. Thank you Mr O'Mahony!
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| Pic from Neighbourfood listing |
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