Enjoyable Lunch at Barnabrow Tea Rooms. Afternoon Tea also available

Lovely Lunch at Barnabrow Tea Rooms

Afternoon Tea also available

It wasn’t the weather for The Fairy Hide and Seek Walk in Barnabrow House but it was certainly a day to stay close to the fire and to enjoy a light lunch in the Tea Rooms.

Covid 19 hit the East Cork venue as hard as could be but owner Geraldine Kidd pivoted as well as any of her hospitality colleagues when she opened these lovely rooms (which also contain a Poppins Shop) on a sunny day last Autumn.

And she had further plans: “We have many exciting plans to use this unique venue – from poetry readings, hen-parties and outdoor picnics including those for teddy bears!”. The development of The Fairy Hide and Seek Walk is now almost finished at The Tea Rooms.  Come and see for yourself.  

The facility is open from Wednesday to Sunday 12-4pm with  Afternoon Tea served every Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Enjoy the elegance of a bygone age – either indoors by the open fire of the Georgian dining room or outdoors on the terrace savouring the views of East Cork’s gently rolling hills.  

 Afterwards stroll the grounds and explore the many nooks and crannies of this impressive house that is otherwise  normally preserved for private weddings. Greet their donkeys and Pygmy goats - they’ll certainly greet you!

My two companions each picked The Smoked Salmon Sandwich, the salmon on a bed of crushed Avocado and Egg Salad, topped with pickled Radish and Cucumber Ribbons (9.50) and both were very contented indeed.

My choice was the €10.50 Nduja Mozzarella Toasted Sandwich (spicy Nduja sausage, Mozzarella, Tomato salsa, Roasted red pepper strips, Balsamic reduction and Basil Pesto all on Toasted Focaccia). A bit different for sure and one of the better sandwiches eaten this year.

Also available on the occasion (04.06.2022) were Soup of the Day, Chicken Liver Paté, Chicken Caesar salad and Beef and Potato Rosti.

Now the focus was on the sweet side, a blackboard list of tempting cakes: Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, Vanilla Tart, Lemon Tart, Plum and Almond Tart, Lemon Drizzle, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Marquise, and Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Again I was outnumbered with the other two going for the Lemon Tart (5.50) while my pick was the Plum and Almond (5.50). But there were no regrets as each was excellent. The tea was spot on and a treat in those gorgeous china cups.

Soon we had to face the rain again. But no big deal and we waved to the sheltering donkeys as we drove away.

Stay up to date with the Tea Rooms at https://www.barnabrowhouse.ie/The-Tea-Rooms/

Date of visit: 05.06.2022

Food producers gather for the Mayo Food and Drink Showcase

 Food producers gather for the Mayo

 Food and Drink Showcase

Keynote Speaker Artie Clifford, founder and chair of Blás na hÉireann

 

The grand finale of the Mayo Food and Drink Programme takes the form of a Showcase and Meet the Buyer event which takes place on Thursday 23 June in Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar. It marks the end of a highly successful series of training and networking events. The Showcase is a valuable opportunity for Mayo food and drink producers to meet and do business with key buyers from the hospitality, retail foodservice and food distribution sectors. Attendance is free of charge but pre-booking on www.mayofood.ie is essential.

 

The keynote speaker is Artie Clifford, founder and chair of Blás na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards. He will be supported by a Chefs panel, a Distributors and Wholesalers panel, a Retail and Food Service panel and a Food Tourism panel. Food and drink businesses will have an opportunity to exhibit their products and give tastings as well as have personal meetings with buyers. It is also an important networking event for those working within the industry in Mayo. Participants include Aldi and SuperValu, Bord Bia, La Rousse Foods and Rua Deli. Chefs include Philippe Farineau from Ashford Castle and Seamus Commons from Knockranny House Hotel.

 

“Anyone involved in the food and drink industry in Mayo or food visitor experiences should make it their business to attend this Showcase and Meet the Buyer event”, explained Oonagh Monahan, Programme Manager, “As well as talks and workshops, it’s a rare chance for business owners to meet directly in a one-to-one situation with key buyers and decision makers who can make a positive impact on their business”.

 

This final event is the culmination of a 15 month programme providing relevant and focussed training to food and drink businesses within the network. The most recent event held last month was completely sold out indicating the enthusiasm for the network. It is expected that this one will be equally popular and advance booking is essential. It is a trade only event open only to businesses.

 

The Mayo Food and Drink Programme is a LEADER funded response to the challenges and opportunities identified in the Mayo Food & Drink Strategy 2025. It puts into action the specific priorities identified by producers and is totally food and drink focused. A training programme runs until July and consists of free training, mentoring, and networking events which are designed for and available exclusively to Mayo food and drink businesses. 

Booking for these free courses is through the website www.mayofood.ie or Eventbrite and links on social media (@mayofoodanddrink).

The Mayo Food and Drink Networking and Training Programme is supported by South West Mayo Development Company and Local Enterprise Office Mayo.

press release.

Fota Gardens and Victorian Working Garden on a sunny afternoon

 Fota Gardens and Victorian Working Garden

 on a sunny afternoon

In the glasshouse, video

Figs

Three flower "spires" in a row.

Fota House, with Bakestone Café at the left.

Fuchsia x2 , both in glasshouse

In the glasshouse, video 2

Glasshouse flowers, above and below

In the glasshouse

In the Orangery!

Poppy and rose in the borders

One of the wild flower areas in the walled gardens

pics from 06.06.2022

Taste of the Week. Jack McCarthy's Ham and Outregious Lettuce

Taste of the Week

Jack McCarthy's Ham and Outregious Lettuce 

We doubled up for this Taste of the Week. Well more than just two elements, but Jack McCarthy's cooked ham via On the Pig's Back in Neighbourfood and the well named Outregious Lettuce from Brown Envelope Seeds (via the Roof Top Farm Shop) were the stars on the plate.

Jack's ham is free range. The Kanturk butcher then delivers to On the Pig's Back in Douglas and there it is "cooked in our kitchen with onions, peppers, cloves and bay and finished off with a honey and whole-grain Dijon mustard". It is a lovely ham and can be enjoyed on its own.

Jack's Ham!

But we made up a salad with various leaves from the garden, tomatoes and hard-boiled eggs. One of the lettuces was the Outregious, described by Brown Envelope as "an upright salad variety which forms a loose head. An outrage of red in the salad bed". And very nice on the plate and palate as well. It certainly grew well for us.

Lots of variety in our Taste of the Week!

A Quart of Ale± #108. On the craft journey with Whitefield, Whiplash, Porterhouse, O Brother

 A Quart of Ale± #108

On the craft journey with Whitefield, Whiplash, Porterhouse, O Brother

******

Whiplash “Prisoner of Love” Cascade Pale 5.2%, 440ml can Bradleys

Colour is a hazy mid-orange colour with a soft slow-sinking wheat head. Nose is fruity (citrus), floral notes too and a background touch of pine. It is certainly very drinkable, more grapefruit on the fruity palate but little enough bitterness evident until the lip-smacking finalé. Indeed, there is a slight sweetness in the juicy mouth.

This beer goes down well with Whiplash, and their customers: “A relatively new beer in the history of Whiplash, but one that's earned its spot as a team favourite. Prisoner of Love is an all Cascade Pale Ale that we just have to slip into the schedule every year now. These hops are bright & lemony with complimentary floral and herbal notes and that translates beautifully in this beer.”

Geek Bits

Malts: Maris Otter, Wheat Malt, Oat Malt, Caramel

Hops: Cascade

Whitefield “Bradley’s Row” Dortmunder Style German Lager 5.3%, 500ml bottle Bradleys

Lots of crafty beer out there for the hop addicts but this one is for the malt heads.

The Dortmunder style is a pale lager but this has a bit more colour, closer to a dull amber. The bubbled head is soft and sticks around a bit. As well as a “malty finish” it also has a malty start which comes through on the aromas. And indeed it is malt led all through. 

The Whitefield label tells us their Dortmunder style German lager has a malty finish with a complex hoppiness. “Brewed with 100% German Brake Pilsner Malt, a variety of barley grown throughout the 80s in Germany and became synonymous with the German style lagers we all grew to love. Brewed with water from our own well, master barley, hops and yeast.”

The Beer Bible says the Dortmunder is “not a style  of enormous character” and that “the style’s future looks uncertain”. 

There are, for some reason, a few Welsh words on the label and Google translates as “there is a black sheep in every flock”. 

As you know the Templemore brewery was previously called White Gypsy. The rebranding also led to changes in their beer names, now being called after local landmarks. But their website doesn’t always keep up with their new beers so I can’t tell you what the ‘Bradley’s Row” refers to. I think though you can take it it refers to a local landmark rather than to the famous Bradley’s off licence, a beer landmark in Cork’s North Main Street.

Don’t think I’d be going out of my way to find a Dortmunder style. But I did appreciate this one and, so if you are a malt person rather than a hop person, then you will certainly like it.

******

Porterhouse Rambler Juicy Pale Ale 4.6%, 440ml can Ballymaloe May Fair

The Rambler has a light orange colour (and haze) in the glass, with a white head. “One for the juice heads,” say Porterhouse, based on the three hops used at whirlpool and hop. Well, it is juicy, moderately hoppy also, with a good dry finish.

The three hops added to the basic Magnum are: El Dorado (Apricot, tropical, citrus), Enigma (Grape, Berry, Melon), Eukanot (Mandarin, Melon, Mango). Their individual characteristics are in the brackets so you can see how they contribute to the result with a mild enough citrus and mango to the fore. Crisp and refreshing to the finish.

Dextrin, Ale, Wheat, Oats, and Crystal keep the malt end up, noticeable in the fuller body and a touch of caramel. Quite a delicious and easy drinking fruity ale to be fair, well made, and worth a try for sure.

They say: Rambler pours a light orange colour with a tight white head. We have used 3 hop additions of El Dorado, Enigma, Eukanot at whirlpool and dry hop. This combo contributes flavour & aromas of orange peel, watermelon, citrus and white grape for drinkability of smooth fresh juice with low carbonation.

Geek Bits

Malts: Ale, Wheat, Oats, Dextrin, Crystal

Hops: Magnum, El-Dorado, Eukanot, Enigma

ABV: 4.6% IBUs: 10

******

O Brother Singularity IPA 6.3%, 440ml can Bradleys

This IPA by the brothers has a hazy light orange colour with a big soft white head that sinks but slowly. There’s a kind of sweet tangerine peeping through in the mostly tropical aromas including a hint of coconut. 

Quite a complex melange on the palate (a smooth one - they have oats in the ingredients), tropical for sure including mango (strongest), pineapple and a touch of coconut, not forgetting the citrus. They’ve struck quite an impressive balance here and the beer is all the better for it, nothing off the scale at all. Sure to find quite a few admirers, I’d say, including myself!

Hard to find much on the web about this one other than that the hops are Mosaic and Sabro.

But, while searching, I found out on the O Brother site, that craft beer didn’t reach America until the 1970s when air travel became cheaper. “As Americans sampled the hoppy delights of countries like Belgium and Germany many were hooked by their superior quality and began brewing similar beers illegally back in the U.S. As the craze didn’t appear to be slowing down, home brewing in the United States was legalised in 1979. A great decision we think!”

Very interesting indeed, but I would like to see a little bit more, not necessarily every little detail, about their individual beers.

Clonakilty Distillery’s Port Cask whiskey and tuath glasses hamper. Father's Day gift sorted!

Clonakilty Distillery’s Port Cask whiskey

 and tuath glasses hamper.

Father's Day gift sorted!

If your dad is a whiskey fan – this hamper from Ireland’s maritime distillery – Clonakilty Distillery – is a great shout and comes in at a very reasonable €69.50 in addition to making dad’s day

 

The hamper features a bottle of their highly commended Port Cask Whiskey, which is a blend of a 10-year-old triple distilled malt and an 8 year old grain. It’s gently cut and finished in port casks imported from the Douro Valley in a process that adds a sweetness with spicy notes and creates a beautiful rich colour. In addition to the bottle, you’ll also get two of their branded Tuath glasses, perfect for the two of you to sit down and have a toast.

More on the offer here.

 

They’ve also got a great selection of accessories like hipflasks and coasters.

 

But if it’s something a little bit different you’re seeking – you can also invest in a cask for him through their Cask Keeper’s Club, a unique opportunity for the public to invest in their own cask of Clonakilty Distillery’s premium Single Pot Still new make spirit, which was legally declared Irish whiskey this year and will be released on sale to the public in three years after maturing in their ocean warehouse.

 

Other perks to the Cask Keeper’s Club include:

 

• Permanent recognition at the distillery
• First option to purchase exclusive selected releases
• Participation at our annual club day to include dinner and special whiskey tastings
• Buy back option after 10 years
• 10% discount on all products at our distillery shop

 

More info - Cask Keepers' Club - Clonakilty Distillery

media release

  

Asian Style Food Comes To Cork's Electric. And Fits Right In On The City's South Bank

Asian Style Food Comes To Cork's Electric

 And Fits Right In On The City's South Bank

Hake Soba

Don’t let strange words get in the way of an excellent meal! That’s more or less our message after our first tasting of Electric’s Asian style food in midweek.

First strange word up was in CL’s starter: Deep Fried Gyoza (9.00), a dipping sauce with a choice of Chicken, Duck, or Vegetable. The Gyoza are Japanese pan-fried dumplings. Her choice was chicken and they went down a treat with the sauce.

Gyoza

Cabáiste

No real verbal obstacles with my opening dish: Grilled Napa Cabbage wedge (10.00)  with Apple, chili and tamarind dressing and a scattering of walnuts. Cabbage its highly regarded in Eastern cuisines and certainly went up in my estimation with this treat. Napa is not from the famous wine valley, though you may well get it there, but originally from China. It has a longish cone type head rather than the familiar globe.

 I had been “prepared” for this thanks to a super Pork collar, miso, grilled winter cabbage and peanut rayu at Cork’s Glass Curtain a couple of years back. And, more recently at the same venue, a BBQ'd pointed Hispi cabbage, Pork belly, Whey caramel, Black garlic combination, also delicious.

Soon our very friendly Electric servers were bringing our main courses. CL had bravely picked the Okonomiyaki (16.00), Japanese pancake, sake, lime, mayo, spiced bbq sauce & deep fried noodles. Aside from the forbidding title word, the Insta friendly dish was very well received. Okonomiyaki, the pancake, is available all over Japan and can be served with a variety of toppings. CL’s came with mixed veg, all lovely and crisp, and was crowned with a pile of deep fried prawn flavoured noodles. Eye-catching and palate pleasing!

Okonomiyaki

Just one 4-letter word, a common enough one, in my mains and that was soba, a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat. The full description was Hake Soba (24.00) Thai basil, chilli, and lemongrass. The Hake, with its crispy skin, was top of the tidy pile and the noodles with little bits of crunchy veg and the sauce of course were a delight to dispatch. Rather addictive actually.

Something sweet from the East? Of course. We shared the two desserts (each at €7.50). Ginger and lemongrass is a well-used combination and so one pick was their Lemongrass and Ginger Pudding with orange and cashew crumb and pomegranate. You could compare it to a panna cotta but, with the nuts, the orange and pomegranate, this winner was more flavourful.

Blondie

The other was the Rich Chai Blondie with toffee, Kaffir lime Crème Anglaise. In India, chai is tea made with added spices and Chai Blondies are like brownies without the chocolate. Electric’s square, with the toffee and custard, was a superb dessert.

Electric’s move to Asian came about when they had time on their hands during the Covid closures and were thinking about the future. Asian experts from the UK were brought in to train the local kitchen staff. I, for one, was a bit wary when I heard about the transformation. I am now convinced. Very Highly Recommended.

Electric are now well known for their cocktails. Indeed, the former fish bar upstairs is now known as Ohm and had just been launched as their cocktail bar. Downstairs the bar is busy every evening and the food here also has that Asian touch. For updates on menus and opening times, please check their Facebook page and their Instagram at electriccork.

Marina Market food vouchers to be won at Dad Rocks event!

Dad Rocks Family Fun Day celebrating Dads and Father Figures Everywhere is heading to the Marina Market this Father’s Day June 19^th

 

The inaugural Dad Rocks Family Fun Day comes to the Marina Market this Father’s Day, Sunday 19^th June, presented by Eventi Management and funded by the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme Phase III and supported by Cork City Council’s Sports and Sustainability Section. The Dad Rocks Family Fun Day is a day celebrating all things  father figures on Father’s Day – rock and funk sounds, dad jokes, air guitars and more to beat the band! Here's to the Dads!

 

Director of Eventi Management, Sinéad Dunphy said, “Dad Rocks is a true celebration of dads and father figures everywhere and promises entertainment and fun for all the family.  We invite everyone to bring their dads, moms, grandads, grandmas, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and any other father figure in their life to come and enjoy their dedicated day with music, food and fun. We have a jam packed schedule for the day so there really is something for every kind of dad!”

 

The day of dad fun includes a raucous line-up of DJ Ian Richards, King K, One Horse Pony, Quangodelic, Harvey K and the Wrecking Crew, playing all your favourite classics on our outdoor music stage. The day will be filled with fun antics including Best Dad Jokes Competition hosted by the hilariously pompous dad of the year (!!) Reggie from the Blackrock Road, an Air Guitar Competition and a DIY Dad Obstacle Course that will put dad skills to the ultimate test in a race against the clock!

 

Reggie, from the Blackrock Road and a dad himself, noted, “I'm no stranger to Dad humour. My own father pretended that we were moving to Ballinlough once, he thought it was hilarious. The prize will go to whoever can give me a belly laugh and 200 quid in used fivers. See you in Marina Market!”

 

You can prep your best joke on air with REDFM’s Philip Burke in the run up to the big day on June 19^th. 

 

With many more surprises in store, grab all the dads in your life for fatherly frolics through the Marina Market this Father’s Day! Dad Rocks runs from 1pm – 8pm and entry is completely free!

1  Dad Rocks is an original event produced by Eventi Management and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media by way of the Local Live Performance Scheme Phase III. 

 

2  REDFM are official media partners with a dad joke competition on air with the Philip Burke show every day from the week of the 13^th, and prizes in the form of Marina Market food vouchers will be given.

 

3  Marina Market are the official venue partners of the event. 

media release

Taste of the Week. CorkBilly Cherry Brandy 2019

Taste of the Week. 

        CorkBilly Cherry Brandy 2019

This limited edition Cherry Brandy, of which I'm very fond, started life in August 2019 and three years later was named (with extreme bias) as Taste of the Week. 

The brandy was your basic Hennessy. The cherries were pretty basic too, from a supermarket as far as I can recall. They were nowhere near as good as those from the Apple Farm (I was too late for those) but they did the job well.

I was following the recipe in Booze by John Wright, No. 12 in the excellent River Cottage series of Handbooks. They advised not leaving the cherries there for too long  as "the almond flavour is extracted from the stone" and your cherry brandy "could taste inescapably like..disgusting, pink medicine.."

So forewarned, I separated the cherries and bottled the liquid just after the minimum two months on October 18th 2019. Then the Cherry Brandy was put away and patience reigned. I could have started drinking it after 12 months but it was just about two weeks back, (nearer to three years), that I started.

The result was excellent. Well worth a try. By the way that River Cottage Booze book has tons of recipes for similar infusions such as Blackberry Whiskey (mine is still unopened) and Raspberry Vodka (very easy to make and easier to drink!). Also some wine recipes including Strawberry and Elderberry. Some ales too!