Supervalu Christmas Wine Sale Features Bordeaux and Burgundy. And So Much More.

Supervalu Christmas Wine Sale Features Bordeaux and Burgundy. And So Much More.

Château Haut Breton Larigaudiere, near Margaux

A huge selection in the annual Christmas Wine Offering at Supervalu. Their wine expert Kevin O’Callaghan: “There is something for every wine lover and curious customer alike. Whether pairing with fish, meats, or a delicious cheese, the selection of excellent offers this season ticks every box.”

And, speaking of boxes, they have two case deals on offer. The first (on now until December 30th) features Barão de Vilar Reserva (2018), velvety and fruity with an elegant finish and will cost you €50 euro, down from the RRP of €89.00. Believe it or not, you can save another tenner by buying between November 26th and December 9th and taking advantage of the “buy any six bottles and save an additional €10.00” offer.

Later in the month, watch out for the second case offer. Here the temptation is the Italian Vivaldi Ripasso (2018), aromatic, full bodied, soft and warm, the temptation enhanced by the asking price of €40.00 instead of €94. You just gotta love Signore O’Callaghan. You’ll have to be on your toes for this one - it is short lived: from December 17th to 20th.

Faced with a sample of what’s on offer, I went for a couple of classic areas for the reds, two from Bordeaux and one from Beaujolais. Very happy indeed with the trio below. See the post on the best of their white wines here.

Lady De Mour Margaux (AOC) 2018, 13.5%, €25.00 (34.42).

Deep ruby colour. Red Berries on the nose, touch of vanilla too. Super-smooth blackcurrant,  elegant palate, terrific body and texture, harmony reigns between fruit and smooth tannin, persisting all the way to the impressive finalé. Impressive all round actually.

Margaux is, of course, one of the prime areas of Bordeaux and it is nearby in Soussans that you’ll find Chateau Haut Breton Larigaudiére, the producers of this blend where the lead player Cabernet Sauvignon is supported by Merlot with a little Cabernet Franc. It has been aged in oak for 10-15 months. This one may be kept for 5 to 10 years according to the advice on the label.

Lacombe-Cadiot Bordeaux Supérieur (AOC) 2018, 14%, €13.00 (15.73)

Dark ruby colour. Ripe black fruits lead the aromatics. The fruit more than holds its own on the palate, a touch of spice too, fresh, clean and elegant, smooth tannins and a persistent finish.  Pretty much the perfect Supérieur, underlined by the fact that this very vintage was recently awarded 97 points by Decanter.

A Bordeaux Supérieur of exceptional quality according to Supervalu, echoing the “remarkable Bordeaux Supérieur” from the producers who come under the De Mour wing, the same group responsible for our very fine Margaux above.

The grapes, again Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, come from Macau, also in the Medoc and just a few minutes drive from Larigaudiére where the Lady de Mour fruit is grown. From Supervalu’s Signature Range, their food pairing suggestions are red meats and rich white meats, also great with cheese

Andre Goichot Fleurie (AOC) 2018, 13%, €12.00 (14.66) 

Fleurie is perhaps the best loved and also one of the very best of the Beaujolais area’s ten crus.  I’m quite a Fleurie fan and always look forward to opening a bottle and this was no exception.

It is mid to dark ruby in colour. Cherry scents are prominent when you nose it and on the palate it is deliciously fruity with a hint of spice and, importantly, a refreshing acidity that helps create harmony, right through to the finish. 

Medium bodied, it is soft and easy drinking, not a blockbuster or anywhere close to blockbusting, but it has character enough to pair well with a wide range of lighter dishes. The label recommends hard and soft cheeses and classic roasts, be it red or white meat. Worth a try also with spicy food.

In Cork in 2018, Jamie Goode said there is lots of excitement worldwide about Gamay. He maintained the trend towards lighter wines is also helping as Beaujolais can come up with lighter styles that are still complex and he would use the masterclass to demonstrate that and also the diversity within the region.

Fleurie, like all ten crus, is in the north east of the Beaujolais region. Here, the Gamay grape thrives on the granite soil. The crus that produce the flagship wines are: Chiroubles, Saint Amour, Fleurie, Régnié, Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly, Juliénas, Chénas, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent. Not everyday, you can try out a cru for 12 euro!

More Reds For You

We wrote about the whites here last week. Aside from the case offers above, there are some other noteworthy reds too by the way, from Spain, France and Portugal.

There are a couple of serious contenders from Rioja and both have been favourites in Supervalu for a few years. You’ll enjoy the warm cherry flavours of the superb Pago De Labarca AEX, a 100% Tempranillo, made from “exceptional” grapes. 

Kevin describes the Finca Labarca Gran Reserva as “one of the most serious wines in our collection”. Rich and smooth on the palate, it is indeed something of a blockbuster. The AEX is €20.00 (22.62) while the Reserva is €15.00 (19.66).

More superb fruits feature in the Vacqueyras Remy Ferbras €14.00 (20.65). From the Rhone, “this little brother to Chateauneuf du Pape” has “all that great taste”, lovely and lush in the mouth.

Some terrific wines, and very well priced, are coming out of Portugal these years. The Fado Friendship 2018, down from €13.76 to €10.00, is one very good example. If you like your reds a bit lighter the Rioja, then this, with its soft texture and its smooth fruitiness, is well worth a try.

Have you enough to be going on with? And by the way, don’t forget those case offers, especially that time limited Italian one. And do check out the post on the best of their white wines here. Actually, I;ve just made it easier for you by adding it below....

Part 1:

Supervalu's Wine Santa has been busy, blending quality and value in the run-up to Christmas.

Kevin O’Callaghan, Supervalu’s wine expert, has wines galore “from across the globe” reduced in their Christmas offering. “A harmonious blend of classic and modern wines with some household names and unmissable prices”. Offers are available from November 26th to December 30th or until stocks last.

It was wines from the classic areas that caught my eye, Sancerre and Chablis in the whites, Bordeaux and Beaujolais in the reds. Let us start with the whites (reds next week!). The Sancerre got the biggest thumbs up around here!

Guy Saget Sancerre (AOC) 2018, 13.5%, €15.00 (19.66)

From the Ambassadeur de Loire, this Sancerre has a very light straw colour, clean and bright. Aromas are the regular suspects of grass and herbs, and nettles which seem to led the charge here. This is of course 100% Sauvignon Blanc and this Loire version is precise and refreshing, less pungent than its New Zealand counterpart (none the worse for that), a very satisfactory drink right to the dry finish.

Food pairings suggested are: grilled fish, Crottins de Chavignol (goats cheese), tandoori chicken skewers, sushi and sashimi. More than likely you won’t get the Chavignol around here but Ardsallagh or St Tola will do just as well.

Supervalu say: The mission of the Guy Saget brand is to demonstrate to the highest level Saget Le Perrière’s intention to unravel the extreme complexity associated with the Loire Valley vineyards. A complete collection of the finest Loire will seduce you, thanks to their authenticity and accessibility.

It’s a mission that they take seriously.  The Guy Saget portfolio embraces around thirty appellations, all of them showing hallmark Loire features. These include Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Chinon, Vouvray and Muscadet : 

- Dry whites : Muscadet, Muscadet-sur-lie,... 

- Medium sweet whites : Vouvray… 

- Sweet whites : Coteaux du Layon, Quarts-de-Chaume... 

- Dry rosés : Rosé de Loire, Touraine Rosé... 

- Medium sweet rosés : Cabernet d'Anjou, Rosé d'Anjou... 

- Reds : Chinon, Anjou, Saumur Champigny... 

- Sparkling wines : Crémant de Loire, Touraine sparkling wines...

No wonder he claims the title of Ambassadeur de Loire on the label of this excellent Sauvignon.

I made a superb Kir with this and the Wexford Cassis from the Blackwater Distillery in West Waterford, the ratio about six to one.

Andre Goichot Chablis (AOC) 2018, 12.5%, €15.00 (19.66)

Always a frisson of excitement when a glass of Chablis is offered.

This 2018 doesn’t let the side down. Far from it. A light gold colour, pristine. Apple and pear feature in the pleasant aromas. It is, of course, made from nothing but Chardonnay grapes and it is strikingly crisp from first taste, carrying some lovely white fruit flavours, maybe a touch of lime as well, as it spreads across the palate, clean, precise and harmonious, like a Bach partita, right through to the finalé.

No wonder Supervalu declare that it is “the classic partner to seafood and white meat dishes”. It is indeed but this characterful wine, rich and elegant, can effortlessly stand on its own.

Founded in 1947, Andre Goichot, headquartered near Beaune, are both negociant and producer, meaning that they buy wines from different areas and producers and also make wine from their own vineyards.

Abellio Albariño Rias Baixas (DO) 2019, 12.5%, €10.00 (13.76).

Made entirely from hand-harvested Albarino grapes, this Spanish wine, from the Rias Baixas area, has a mid-gold colour. Quite rich aromas of white fruit, apple and pear, and also peach. There is a striking refreshing minerality on the palate where the same fruit flavours shine through fresh and crisp.

The Albarino grape is a distinctive Northern Spanish variety. Its refreshing characteristics make it very versatile with fish and particularly with seafood. Often recommended for Asian also.

Albarino, more modern than classic in terms of its history in Ireland, is most readily associated with the Rias Baixas region which is named after the long-ish Atlantic coastal inlets (or rías) that characterise the landscape here in Galicia in north-western Spain. The grape is also prominent in nearby northern Portugal where it is known as Alvarinho. This Abellio is a favourite of mine. And also a favourite of Supervalu’s wine-buyer Kevin O’Callaghan who was involved in the attractive label design.

Don’t forget your case offers!

We will feature the reds in the next post on this sale but do note that they have two case deals (both red) on offer. The first (on now until December 30th) features Barão de Vilar Reserva (2018), velvety and fruity with an elegant finish and will cost you €50 euro, down from the RRP of €89.00. Believe it or not, you can save another tenner by buying between November 26th and December 9th and taking advantage of the “buy any six bottles and save an additional €10.00 offer”.

Later in the month, watch out for the second case offer. Here the temptation is the Italian Vivaldi Ripasso (2018), aromatic, full bodied, soft and warm, the temptation enhanced by the asking price of €40.00 instead of €94. You just gotta love Signore O’Callaghan. You’ll have to be on your toes for this one - it is short lived: from December 17th to 20th. 

A Cork Walk December 2020

A Cork Walk December 2020

Walk from Mayfield, via St Luke's, to Patrick's Bridge, and return 3rd December 2020

Refurbished Harley Street (at eastern side of Metropole) hosted its first Friday market (04.12.2020)

The Trinity Presbyterian Church (1861), in a prominent location at junction of
Summerhill North and MacCurtain Street

The Hut, just off Summerhill North and the headquarters of the local boy scouts, looks a bit flimsy
compared to two of the new high-rise buildings in the area by the rail station.

One of the older buildings between Summerhill North and Wellington Road.

The brand new Dean Hotel (doe to open next week) alongside the railway station.

Kent Station (1893), Lower Glanmire Road, Cork

The former church of St Luke's (1878) is now a concert venue.
Lots of overhead wires at this junction.

 

Amuse Bouche

 

via Pixabay

I’ve started taking refuge from the heat in an air-conditioned café… It’s icy cold inside… There’s a table I like by the window, where I sit drinking iced coffee. Sometimes I read, or sketch or make notes. Mostly I let my mind drift. The.. girl behind the counter stands there looking bored, .. checking her watch, and sighing periodically. Yesterday.., her sighs seemed especially long - - she was waiting for me to go, so she could close up. I left reluctantly.

From The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (2019). Highly Recommended.

HAVE YOURSELF A FURRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. CONRAD DUBLIN NOW OFFERING ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUR BELOVED POOCH

 HAVE YOURSELF A FURRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

CONRAD DUBLIN NOW OFFERING ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUR BELOVED POOCH

Looking for a dog-friendly hotel this Christmas. Check out Conrad Dublin who have just introduced a dog friendly package, specially created for those who prefer to keep their best friend by their side at all times.  In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, €5 will be donated to Dogs Trust by Conrad Dublin from every dog package booked.

From now on Conrad Dublin will offer unabated luxury for both human and canine!  Upon arrival, your pooch will be presented with a dog registration card so they can officially check-in and if they are very well behaved, perhaps join the Hilton Honors rewards club! Staying in a Pet Friendly room, your doggie will receive a welcome gift on arrival which includes a dog friendly walking map of Dublin and some toys!   

The perfectly appointed and pooch friendly rooms, complete with a dog bed, blanket and feeding bowls for your pet, provide an ideal base for owner and pooch to relax, unwind and spend some quality time together.  The dog package can be added to any room reservation for €30 or alternatively you can book the Pamper your Pooch Package from €254 per room to include pet package, breakfast and complimentary car parking.

Conrad Dublin is in an ideal neighborhood to explore with your dog, with nearby Iveagh Gardens and St. Stephen’s Green on the doorstep. Walking in Dublin is a great way to get your bearings and you are most likely to find some hidden gems together.

Contact Conrad Dublin now to book your Pamper your Pooch Package stay by calling +353 1 6028900 or email reservations: conraddublin.reservations@conradhotels.com. To learn more about or connect with Conrad Dublin, please visit www.conraddublin.com. Follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Cheers 200412. The Drinks Digest. Red Nose Wine. Hopfully. Wines of the World. O'Briens Wine. Rascals.

Cheers 200412

Red Nose Wine Partners With Enrico Fantasia!

The new wines keep on coming and we have partnered with Enrico Fantasia to bring in more hand made wines, many of which are organic and biodynamic. Enrico is from Venice and is almost as famous a fisherman as he is a wine expert. He works with all of the top restaurants around the country and is a co-owner in Piglet, a traditional trattoria style wine bar in Temple Bar. This is where the wine importers bring their winemakers when they want to show off - a phenomenal wine list and a great night out ( whenever we get out again ). See more details here.

Who else loves the Hopfully Beers?

It's starting to feel like our favorite time of the year, it's almost Christmas time! We've got a brand new webpage with some exclusive items, including this beautiful Gift Box, the perfect gift for someone special. Click on the link below to place your order, make sure to use this promo-code HOP100 to get a 10% discount on your purchase. The promo-code will expire on the 4th of December. More details here

The gift box includes: 1 Graciosa Tropical IPA 5.3% 1 Insideout New England Pale Ale 5% 1 Legswap Raspberry & Lime Sour 4% 1 Shinebright New England IPA 6% 1 Insideout Glass 40cl

MULLED WINE

Wines Of The World 

have tips on mulled wine, the traditional winter warmer...

A Traditional Winter favourite, Winter Warmer Mulled Wine blends the finest ingredients to give a character of subtle cinnamon, clove spices and zesty citrus fruits. Making your life easy – simply garnish with cinnamon sticks and an orange slice. More here

Paul Barry advises to check

O'Briens Whiskey Offer, including Teelings.

Irish whiskey is experiencing a renaissance with many new distilleries setting up, showcasing the diverse range of whiskey now produced on the island. Teeling Whiskey, winners of over 60 international awards over the last few years, are placing themselves at the forefront of this movement. Their goal is to produce a collection of whiskeys that illustrate the breadth of choice and the different styles and flavours that Irish whiskey has to offer. With this in mind I have picked out three whiskeys that show case the versatility of their range.

Whichever you choose we have plenty on offer in our Irish Whiskey Sale, with 10% off a selection of great Teeling whiskeys.

The Rascal's Question: Fancy a case of Happy Days?

We’ve more news than you can shake a stick at. First up, our new off-licence is open for business. Now you can bring home your favourite Rascals beers, and a few fancy guest beers, from Rascals HQ Inchicore. We’re exclusively selling mini kegs of our Pilot Kit Series as well. Don't forget your shopping bag! Opening times for the off-licence are the same as our restaurant: from 4pm Wed – Sun, from 1pm Sat and Sun. More here

Amazing Amphora Raised Wine by Azul y Garanza from the badlands of Bardenas Reales in Navarra

Amazing Amphora Raised Wine by Azul y Garanza from the badlands of Bardenas Reales in Navarra

Azul y Garanza Naturaleza Salvaje Blanca 2019, 11.5%, €21.90 Mary Pawle

The label info is brief and to the point: Single Vineyard. Made in Amphora. Low Intervention. Unfiltered. Limited Edition. 

Colour is a very light amber, a light cloudiness running through it. There’s an acidic streak in the aromas, reminiscent of cider apples. And those orchard notes come through too on the mild palate where is bright, fresh (strikingly so) and pleasant, a harmonious matching of fruit and acidity, and then a good dry finish. Off the beaten track, just like the place it comes from. Very Highly Recommended.

I regard it as something of a discovery and one that I’ll journey further with. It is produced from Garnacha Blanca in the badlands of Bardenas Reales in Navarra. 

They say: High temperature and no rain during the vegetative process advanced the harvest resulting in grapes healthy and very aromatic skin. The lack of water during summer has concentrated the fruit resulting in a great balance between the degree and acidity. The very poor and arid clay-calcareous soil, the dry weather and and the big contrast of temperature between the day and the night provide grapes with high concentration and a perfect balance. Fermentation: With natural yeast. 10 days of fermentation with skin contact for 5 days.

I’ve enjoyed some delicious red wines from this producers and now I’m off to a brilliant start with their whites.

Amastuola Bianco Salento (IGP) 2019, 13%, €13.69 Mary Pawle

This organic wine is made with a not very well known duo of grapes, Malvasia (75%) and Fiano. Colour here is  light straw. Floral and white fruit notes combine pleasantly in the captivating aromas. And your pleasure increases on the palate, the fruit still prominent, in concert with a lively acidity, all heading towards a citrus-y and persistent finish. Highly Recommended and good value too by the way.

The vineyard is in Puglia in the Southern tip of Italy. Production is organic with “a strong propensity for innovation, sensitive to the environment, culture and knowledge” The wine has been vinified and aged in stainless steel.

They say: Amastuola organic wines are the result of the skilful work of those committed, day after day, to putting into practice and disseminating the values that the Amastuola team strongly believes in, namely: respect for nature and for the neighbour. Whether for a dinner or an aperitif, Amastuola Bianco Salento is the right wine to amaze your guests. Its fresh and smooth-flowing taste makes it suitable to accompany aperitifs, raw seafood, risottos, white meats and fresh cheeses. Serve 10-12 degrees. 

A Quart of Ale± #24 Moving on over to craft. Red Ale Part 2

A Quart of Ale± #24

Moving on over to craft.  

World Champ. You'll never beat the Irish. 

Red Ale (Part 2)

Is Red Ale an Irish style? In the 1970s, beer writer Michael Jackson is credited with giving the tag to Smithwicks. According to World Atlas of Beer, American beer competitions started awarding prizes for the category and smaller Irish breweries started to “launch highly-hopped higher strength or even barrel aged versions”. As you can see below, Eight Degrees gave as good as they got in recent competition with their dry Sunburnt. Indeed, the four below are each very enjoyable.

The recent Brew Dog books mention only the American Red, in fact they barely mention the Irish scene at all. Sláinte (2014) acknowledges that there is some “dissent” about Red being an Irish style but say some local breweries have “evolved the style”. More recent examples include Porterhouse who have “banished the sweet”.

Looks like the style is still evolving. We had some very good reds in Part 1. Check it out here.

Eight Degrees “Sunburnt” Irish Red Ale 5.0%, 440ml can via No 21 Cork

In September 2020, Brewing's Sunburnt Irish Red was named World's Best Pale Amber at this year’s World Beer Awards. The verdict on the beer from a panel of international respected judges was: "Dry, a distinctly deep coppery red in colour, and full-bodied with a good head. There are some bitter, burnt raisin aromas, and it’s distinctly hoppy but with malts still present. Very assertive on the palate, with light carbonation and multi-layered flavours”.

Eight Degrees founders Cam Wallace and Scott Baigent were delighted. “Sunburnt Irish Red is the second beer that we ever brewed - back in 2011 - and it’s been a core part of our range ever since.”  

Coppery red for sure but that head vanished quickly. That palate though is something else with its edgy melange of hop and malt, bitter and toasted, making it both assertive (as they say) and distinctive. A new kind of Irish red perhaps! The winning kind, I surmise, as the gently bitter finish fades away.

They say: Like an Irishman on holidays in the Canaries, this beer has a red glow with a chilled out mellow feel. A traditional Irish style with a twist,  – orange marmalade on toast – with a gentle bitterness, 

the distinctive caramel notes balanced with a bitter orange hoppy aroma. 

It wouldn’t be Eight Degrees without a food tip: Goes really well with roast pork, lamb burgers or a venison stew and don’t miss a chance to try it with an Irish washed-rind cheese. But beware: keep out of direct sunlight.

Web: Short description: traditional, with a twist – orange marmalade on toast – gentle bitterness

Style: Irish Red Ale
Malt: Irish pale malt, Cara, Munich
Hops: Nugget, Pacifica, Cascade
Strength: 5% ABV
Bitterness: 69 IBUs

Tasting notes
Colour/appearance: pours a rich red colour with a light tan head.
Aroma: burnt caramel notes and a hint of hoppy citrus.
Flavour: toasty caramel flavours are balanced with a soft hop bitterness. Think orange marmalade on toast.
Aftertaste: gentle bitter finish.

Cotton Ball Velvet Red Ale, 5%, 500ml bottle via Cotton Ball off licence

A very dark red indeed with a coffee coloured head (which departs pretty quickly leaving just a lacy hint or two remaining on the top). Aromas are moderately intense, floral and fruity (citrus). No shortage of character even if pretty much in the classic mode (though it is gluten free) but there’s a refreshing tangy, even exotic, fruitiness and a touch of clean pine in there as well. 

A well-made beer, nicely balanced between the various hops, the bitter and flavour, nothing extreme and the malt sweetness. With its caramel and toffee notes, it makes a pleasant smooth drink on its own and I expect it makes a good companion at the table. Might go down well with one of those tasty Wild Boar burgers from Ballinwillin Farm or perhaps a pizza in the Cotton Ball when it reopens.

Hops used are Herkules and First Gold with a dry hopping of the versatile Mosaic. They have (or at least did have) a nitro draught version in the bar. They brew quite a range of beers and the core ones are all on draught in the bar and indeed in lots of other bars. And there’s a handy growler service as well.

They say: “We are brewing our beers in the true spirit of our Great Grandfather Humphrey J Lynch, an American civil war veteran and cotton mill foreman. Three wives later, Humphrey returned to his native Cork in 1874, to set up his very own public called the Cotton Ball. The pub and the family are still here today and three generations later we are finally brewing our very own selection of craft beers in his honour.”  The brewery was founded in 2013.

The White Hag “The Fleadh” 6.8%, 330ml can via Bradley’s of Cork

Some years ago, I was in a brewery. Well, I’m in at least one brewery every year! But this was different, a big sporting occasion in The Kiln at Murphy’s Brewery in Cork. Lots of gossip going on, lots of beer being poured. The guest of honour came in and you knew it, the minute he walked in the room, even if you had never heard of Charlie Hurley, the Cork born Irish international who has had a stand named after him in Sunderland. He just had this presence and the room unanimously acknowledged it.

It’s a bit like this with The Fleadh. You go through the preliminaries. The deep dark red colour, the last stop before black. The aromas. And then comes the big intro. On the palate. The hubbub stops, tastes buds turn and you concentrate as the personality of this strong beer takes over. Not in an overbearing way, mind you.  But there’s a firm handshake from the earthy malts and the fresh hops, caramel and fruit and a youthful freshness. A superb red ale. One you cannot ignore. Quite possibly your beer of the year.

They say about An Fleadh: A celebration of legendary festivals in Irish Mythological society, an ancient cultural event of music, dance, story and song. Our Red IPA is a symphony of complex earthy malts and fresh forward hops that play the lead in this ensemble. The resulting performance is a seamless combination of fruits and caramel, complimented by the distinctly fresh pine tones.

Just like the legendary Charlie Hurley, this is a strong one at 6.8% ABV and the IBU is 55. The minute he walked in the room…. into that same room, just like Noel Cantwell and Frank O’Farrell.

Deliciousness Delivered to Your Door. Liberty Grill’s Superb "Home Dining" Dinner.

🌃Deliciousness Delivered to Your Door.

🌃Liberty Grill’s Superb Thanksgiving Dinner.

Hake

Quite appropriate that Liberty Grill, Cork’s long-established and well-loved New England influenced diner, chose Thanksgiving to launch their Home Dining offering. "At Home" or "Click & Collect" or "Takeaway" or whatever the term has been a shining light as this isolating year turns over into grim winter (maybe not so grim after Friday's lifting of Level 5) and Liberty's offering is as bright as any. Weekend evenings have been made happier. And more good news as Liberty intend to continue with their Home Dining offering!

I could had enjoyed the pumpkin soup, the Maple Glazed Turkey and the Key Lime Pie but, when ordering from a multi-choice menu, picked a different three courses. I’m quite sure the American style dishes would have been very good but our picks, which did include some American touches (the dessert for one), were all excellent. 

And, no matter what you choose, delivery is included in the price (€30.00 pp for three courses). Amazing food, comforting and exciting, super value and so dexterously organised with very detailed instructions and, with the timings given, so easy to coordinate the courses.

We each picked the same dishes but no reason to stick to that formula as you’ll find it facile to start eating each course, even if different, together. A lot of thought has gone into this whole package and you could well see the Washington Street restaurant stick with this (not necessarily this exact menu) into the uncertain future. 

So thanks to Denis and all the team at Liberty and now let us make a start on the food. Three starters on offer. And ours was the Baked Cooleeney Brie (crumb covered). The County Tipperary cheese came with a small salad and a cranberry coulis. The warm cheese is delicious but that cranberry gave it all a crucial lift and we were on our way!

Four different mains to choose from and our pick was Hake en Papillote:  baked Ballycotton hake in a paper parcel with orange, fennel, samphire and a caper butter. The description was brief enough but this was a mega mains. The fish parcel was bursting with flavour, enhanced by a tempting jus.

Quality was incredible and the quantity too. No less than with three sides, again all brilliant.

Gratin Potatoes - roosters, garlic, Parmesan.

Green Bean casserole - fresh green beans, panko crumbs, herbs, onions, mushroom, sherry, nutmeg, Parmesan, more…

Brown Buttered Carrots - Carrots, Butter brown sugar.

There was quite a delay, induced by the generous portions of the earlier courses, before dessert was “tackled”. The Apple and Maple Upside Down Cake kept the standard high, a delightful finalé, sweet as can be flavours and the moisture soaked texture enhanced by the little tub of whipped cream! 

I hope all my American friends had a great Thanksgiving. And here’s to more superb offerings from the Liberty Grill even if the weekends immediately ahead are not festivals. Check out their social media for updates.

Details:

3 Courses - €30 per person -  FREE delivery in the great Cork city area

Order online LibertyGrill.ie - Vouchers accepted – Enquiries:  HomeDining@LibertyGrill.ie or  Phone 021-4271049

Liberty Grill