Fish Box's a winner as we sample the superb fish offerings of Kay’s Kitchen, a new hot food stall in the English Market.

Fish Box's a winner as we sample the superb fish offerings of Kay’s Kitchen, a new hot food stall in the English Market.

Large array of fishy delights

The place may be small, but there's a large array of fishy delights at the new Kay's Kitchen in Cork's English Market. With Kay, fish, and English Market in one sentence, you'll likely guess that the legendary K. O'Connell's Fish Stall (established 1962) has something

Cobh on a sunny morning

Cobh on a sunny morning

October 2024

The Bandstand

Sonia O'Sullivan, always a winner.

Looking west: Annie Moore and siblings

Sailing

Looking down on Pearse Square, with Titanic Experience in the background, from the cathedral.

Des Res. The Crescent.

Gorgeous. Jack Doyle remembered

St Colman's Cathedral. Commenced 1868, completed 1919.
Designed by E. W. Pugin and G. C. Ashlin in 1868

Coffees, cakes, curiosities (including vintage Carrigaline pottery)
at Belvelly Vintage, 5 Harbour Row, Cobh, Ireland P24N407

Resting boat. Busy bird.

Casement Square, with a tour group at Lusitania Monument

St Brendan, The Navigator.
By marygregoriysculptor.blogspot.ie  

The Commodore Hotel, always looking well.

Colourful mural at Cobh Railway Station.

Jazz Dining Experiences feature as Metropole Hotel confirms line-up for this year's Jazz Festival Club.

Jazz Dining Experiences feature as Metropole Hotel 

confirms the line-up for this year's Jazz Festival Club. 

Excitement is building at the Metropole Hotel ahead of this year’s Cork Jazz Festival. The full line-up has been confirmed with a host of diverse artists on several stages around the hotel throughout

Beer of the Week. Lineman Electromode APA. Limited edition hits the spot

Beer of the Week

Lineman Electromode APA, 5.0% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

limited edition hits the spot

The recently canned Electromode American Pale Ale is a limited edition (their 5th of the year) from the Dublin brewery Lineman.

It is a hazy orange, yet you can see the microbubbles at play, shimmying their way towards the soft white head. The recipe includes delicious Maris Otter malt, flaked oats, and the West Coast hops Simcoe, Azacca, and Columbus. There is no hard bitterness here and no hard fruit flavours. It is just a super balance with softer fruits such as pineapple and peach.

This supple American Pale Ale is a beer to be enjoyed at leisure. It is Very Highly Recommended and is our Beer of the Week.

It has a medium body and classically firm bitterness, complemented by notes of bright lime, pineapple, and “just a smidgen of peach”.

It has proven very popular since its release. Lineman: "This American Pale Ale has been flying out the brewery door. Brewed with a little more mouthfeel and bitterness from one of our old favourite hops, Columbus, some Azacca, and Citra."

10th Anniversary ‘Skiddy Sour’ Beer from Elbow Lane Brewhouse & Rebel Distillery

press release

 10^th Anniversary ‘Skiddy Sour’ Beer from Elbow Lane Brewhouse & Rebel Distillery

Russel Garret, Master Brewer at Elbow Lane

Two of Cork city’s smallest and most innovative drinks producers have joined forces to create a limited-edition beer to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the iconic Elbow Lane Smokehouse and Brewery. Called 'Skiddy's Sour,' it is the result of a collaboration between the brewery and Rebel Distillery. Elbow Lane's award-winning beer has been aged in the distillery’s oak barrels for three months. These barrels have previously been used to mature the distillery’s popular Maharani gin.

The result is a slightly puckish brew with soft and sour notes, and it packs a fair punch at 6% abv.

These barrels will now be used to create a new gin expression at Rebel Distillery.

Beer lovers can check out 'Skiddy Sour' at Market Lane restaurants, including Elbow Lane and Market Lane, while it lasts.

The beer will also form part of the Elbow Lane Tutored Tastings, which run every Saturday at the brewery in Oliver Plunkett Street from 12 noon. Tickets are €55 and include a selection of pinchos and a limited-edition Elbow Lane illustrated t-shirt. 

Pig Rouge 2021 Faugeres - pair with cremated sausages at a rainy BBQ!

Pig Rouge 2021 Faugeres (AOP) 2021, 14% ABV

€15.00 Matson’s (Bandon, Grange and Youghal)

pair with cremated sausages at a rainy, miserable SUMMER BBQ!

Why would you call your wine Pig? Quite simple, really. The producers are Paul and Isla Gordon (PIG)!  This is one of their wines that come from thinking outside the box. “No rules, no regs, just tasty, well-made booze!” And their food pairing suggestion is also outside the small parallelogram: cremated sausages* at a rainy, miserable Summer BBQ!

So there, you get the hang of it. This wine is for enjoyment - don't get too serious about it. It is a blend of Grenache Noir 50%, Mourverde 20% and Syrah 30%. Nico, at Matson’s, says that it is part of a small-scale production, and he is very happy with it: “Great wine, fresh with a little spice, loads and loads of fruit.”

The colour is a mid-to-dark ruby. There are strong aromas of dark fruit and spice. The fruit is forward and deep, with power and finesse in equal measure. That spice, too, has excellent acidity. The finish is pure, long, and balanced. Very Highly Recommended.

I see that they also have an orange version—that should be interesting. I must keep an eye out for it.

Our winemakers are an Irish-Australian combination. Paul is Australian, and he and his Irish wife Isla work (and I mean work) at Domaine la Sarabande, a vineyard in the Languedoc about twenty minutes' drive from Beziers.

The dynamic wine couple is based in the Faugéres appellation in the South of France. Paul honed his winemaking skills in New Zealand’s vineyards. Isla, from Carlow, brings her knowledge and commitment to quality grape growing, which she learned during several years of working with some of the best viticulturists in New Zealand, where they met.

* If the rain quenches the flame, you might like Cold meats/pâtés, Duck, hard mature cheese, Roast lamb/beef, or slow-cooked shoulder of lamb instead.

Vigneti Zabu “Il Passo Verde” Nero D’Avola 2022 perfectly displays the Sicilian terroir as never before!

Vigneti Zabu “Il Passo Verde” Nero D’Avola Sicily (DOC) 2022, 13% ABV

RRP €18.95. Stockists: Bradleys, Matson’s, J J O’Driscoll, Baggot Street Wines

Martins Off Licence, The Wine Centre, McHughs Off Licences, Power & Co Fine Wines      

Jus de Vine, The Vintry, Wineonline

the 2022 vintage perfectly displays the Sicilian terroir as never before

This 2022 Vigneti Zabu "Il Passo Verde" Nero D'Avola is a compelling Sicilian red, bursting with bold flavours and a complex structure. The deep ruby colour hints at the intensity within, while the aromas of cherry, plum, and a touch of spice tantalise the senses.

On the palate, the wine explodes with vibrant fruit flavours balanced by firm tannins and a lingering finish. The spice notes add a layer of complexity, making Il Passo Verde a true delight for red wine enthusiasts.

The Vigneti Zabu "Il Passo Verde" Nero D'Avola is a stunning exemplar of Sicilian winemaking. With its bold flavours, complex structure, and excellent ageing potential, it will impress. 

A Taste of Sicily

Grapes are sourced from vineyards on the lakeside of Lake Arancio in Sambuca di Sicilia. The lake's crystal-clear waters create a unique microclimate that contributes to the wine's exceptional quality.

The 2022 vintage is a standout, showcasing the best of Sicilian terroir. The addition of Nero d'Avola grapes from vineyards near the sea brings a hint of saltiness to the final blend, adding even more character.

Winemaking Excellence

Vigneti Zabu is committed to producing organic wines of the highest quality. The grapes for this Nero D'Avola are carefully selected and fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. A portion of the wine is then aged in French and American oak barrels, adding complexity and structure. The powerful tannins indicate their excellent ageing potential. Cellar this bottle for a few years and watch it develop even more complexity and depth.

Zabu suggests pairing it with Medium-Aged Cheese, Meatballs, Roast Chicken, and Vegetables , while Wine Folly says, “Classic pairings include oxtail soup and beef stew.”

• This post is part of a series on Italian wines made from native grapes and produced by usually small or medium-sized organic wineries. Taking some “guidance” here from the recently published VINO. Mightn’t always net the hat trick but hope to score two from the three each time. I have quite a few lined up but I’m happy to consider any suggestions or help. #OrganicItaly
• See the expanding list of #OrganicItaly wines here

Steak may be the speciality at Thompsons' Restaurant, but the MacCurtain Street venue offers much more.

Steak may be the speciality at Thompsons' Restaurant these days, but the MacCurtain Street venue offers much more on its menu.

Cod

Thompsons Restaurant in Cork City is fast emerging as a classy steakhouse that celebrates the best of local produce. With a continuing commitment to quality and exceptional service, the large and comfortable MacCurtain Street venue is quickly making a name for itself as a must-visit destination for food lovers.

And they have much more to offer than steak! We ate there last week to see what else the kitchen was up to. The current menu includes Chicken, Fish and Chips, Goan Curry, Poached Cod, and Seafood Linguine. Starters include Frank Hederman’s Smoked Mackerel and a Ballycotton Chowder. There is no shortage of choices in this MacCurtain Street venue.

Tartare

Having attended the Steak launch recently and sampled the range, we deliberately didn't pick steak for the main dish, but we couldn’t resist the Steak Tartare: 28-day dry-aged fillet steak, charcoal emulsion, cress, and Parmesan on toasted ABC sourdough. It is a delicious starter and another excellent example of the skills of young Head Chef Cormac Lynch and his team.

Lynch has been at Thompson’s Restaurant since November 2023. His culinary journey began with volunteering at Cork Penny Dinners. Trained at CIT, Cormac has honed his skills in various establishments, including the two-Michelin-starred Terre in the Castlemartyr Resort Hotel.

Wagyu burger

One fish dish worth watching out for—my colleague was well pleased with it—is the Poached Ballycotton Cod, served with Valentia Island Vermouth beurre blanc, cucumber, trout roe, rose petal, lemon, and parsley baby potatoes.

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Check our ever expanding list of this year's Irish restaurants here. 

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McCarthy’s Wagyu is not among the steak offerings but has a starring role in the Burger, along with shredded lettuce, homemade pickles, Coolea Cheddar, and roasted garlic aioli. Not to mention chunky house fries. The flavour from the Wagyu certainly lived up to its reputation.

Pear in Mead

A wee drop of Sexton!

When Thompsons' bakery was here in the good old days, its Swiss Roll cake was a city-wide favourite among many generations of local customers. The restaurant’s current delicious version is rolled in a Victoria Sponge with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate crumbs. Add a glass of Valentia Island Vermouth for an even better finalé.

The Swiss Roll dessert has been a favourite here since day one (in 2020) but do also look out for the Caramelised Poached Pear (Shortbread crumb, homemade honeycomb, strawberry and pineapple sorbet, Kinsale Wild Mead, shaved chocolate). It is well worth trying this Kinsale Mead-soaked delight, which I enjoyed immensely.

Steak galore!

As you can see from the two drinks mentioned in the previous paragraphs, Thompsons are very much supporters of local produce. Their whiskey list is dominated by Irish drams (check out the Sexton Single Malt), and they have many Irish gins in their offering. If you want a refreshing beer, from stout to lager, then it will be among the freshest ever as it comes from their Cotton Ball micro-brewery that you can see in action at the back of the restaurant!

The spacious restaurant is well-designed, with cosy nooks and booths catering to different group sizes. Whether dining as a couple or a larger party, Thompson’s Restaurant provides an inviting and enjoyable experience for all.

* The steak comes from McCarthy’s butchers of Kanturk, who hand-select the top-quality beef. Farmer David O'Brien raises the Angus/Hereford cattle on the lush grass of the Golden Vale, resulting in tender and flavourful meat. The whole cuts of beef are dry-aged here with Himalayan salt. You can see it in the cabinets as you enter. We enjoyed the steak launch a few weeks ago but returned on a recent evening to check out what else they had on the menu. And as you can see above, there is no shortage of variety.

** Three things to look for.

1 - The ageing cabinets, on your left as you enter.

2 - The microbrewery at the back.

3 - The sheer variety of the light fittings, everything from chandeliers to tiny tulip

Tartare group!

Taste of the Week. The Farmgate's Seeded White Soda Bread.

Taste of the Week

The Farmgate's Seeded White Soda Bread.

Our Taste of the Week has been a favourite here for quite a while, a favourite also in the Farmgate Café in the English Market. They sell it at their stall downstairs but you need to get in reasonably early in the morning as the white sells out quickly!

Blarney Castle and Gardens. Autumn Colour Arriving

Blarney Castle and Gardens. Autumn Colour Arriving

October 8th, 2024

Fly Agaric Fungus (ID via Google Picture Search)

Magnolia fruit (ID via  Google Picture Search)

Rhus changing colour

Green tree becoming red!

CORK'S MET BAR & RESTAURANT NAMED AMONG THE TOP TEN PERCENT WORLDWIDE BY TRIPADVISOR

press release

CORK’S MET BAR & RESTAURANT NAMED AMONG 

THE TOP TEN PERCENT WORLDWIDE BY TRIPADVISOR 

The Met Bar and Restaurant at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City has received a top honour by the globally recognised travel website Tripadvisor.

The Travellers’ Choice Awards are based on reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period. The Met Bar and Restaurant scored a spot at the top thanks

Beer of the Week. White Hag Heidrun Bock. Perfect for Oktoberfest!

White Hag Heidrun Bock Beer, 6.5% ABV, 440 ml can, Lidl 

Beer of the Week

Perfect for Oktoberfest

White Hag Heidrun Bock Beer is a rich and satisfying brew that perfectly captures the essence of a traditional bock. This 6.5% ABV malty beer pours a traditional

The best of Irish craft and design at Ballymaloe Craft Fair 2024. And, there'll be food of course!

The best of Irish craft and design at Ballymaloe Craft Fair 2024

200 exhibitors bring their best. And food stalls, of course!

The Ballymaloe Craft Fair 2024 will run from November 15th to 17th and 22nd to 24th. In addition to fantastic gifting options, the Fair will offer a wide range of produce from local artisan food producers, featuring everything from cheese makers to