West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen

WEST CORK HOTEL

The West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen has a lot going for it: it is central (with its own car park), it is comfortable, gives good deals, has riverside views (where an otter, see photo, performed this weekend), an unusual extension to its very comfortable cosy bar out onto a disused railway bridge (photo), and a friendly staff.

Good deals on food also. On certain nights, you can get a pint or a glass of wine plus fish and chips for a tenner. Not bad. We have a dinner included in our deal, three courses. Starters and mains are fine but desserts, though strong on quantity, are low on quality.

We got a good bottle of wine, a Milton Park Riesling. Great refreshing lemon and line taste for just €21.50. Called to the bar earlier for a pint and a glass of beer. Cost €6.65. Cost in my local in the city is €6.30.

Breakfast was excellent, good choice and no shortage of quality, service friendly and prompt. We enjoyed our Eggs Benedict and Bacon Butty and also the Traditional Irish (especially the Rosscarbery sausages).

Reception was efficient and friendly all through. The room, pictured, was very well heated, had all you needed and was clean and comfortable with a view out over the river, see photo. The bathroom was spotless and had everything you’d expect, except for drinking glasses.

All in all, a fine base for visiting this part of West Cork.

For more pics from this trip see http://www.flickr.com/photos/corkbilly/sets/72157623726829032/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/corkbilly/sets/72157623726758010/

Check out my review of West Cork Hotel - I am cork - on Qype

Farmers Market in Skibbereen

THE SKIBBEREEN FARMERS MARKET

The Saturday Farmers Market in Skibbereen town is one of the biggest, one of the best. It resembles a good French market and that comparison was underlined when it was blessed with fine weather this Saturday morning.

There is a great variety of stalls here: fish, herbs, cheese (including Gubbeen), crepes, chocolate, plants, books, stained glass, cakes, jams and preserves and, like France, pullets! And much more!

It is well organised, always space for everyone who wishes to set up a stall, thanks to the hard working Veronica and her fellow committee members.

Frustratingly, couldn’t buy too much this morning as we wouldn’t be home for a few days yet but did take the opportunity to pick up some spelt bread (Tomato Mozzarella) from the Dunmanway Baking Emporium.

But there was no room in the boot for the fresh fish being sold by a pair of lively sisters and certainly none for any of the pullets.

The market goes on my list and I wouldn’t mind making the trip down from the city some Saturday morning. It starts at 9.30am and close around 1.30pm.

Check out my review of Farmers Market - I am cork - on Qype

La Jolie Brise Restaurant in Baltimore

LA JOLIE BRISE

La Jolie Brise is one of a small string of pizza, restaurant and room rental properties run by the Waterfront in Baltimore (West Cork).

They include Chez Youen, a French Restaurant, but it was to the pizzeria plus fish tables of La Jolie Brise that we headed yesterday at lunch time.

A few years back, we spent two glorious days staying and eating in the Waterfront and one evening they ran out of mussels.

We made up for that today with some Moules Frites: two large bowls of delicious Roaringbay mussels along with a basket each of tasty chips. It made for an excellent lunch and cost €12.00 each.

La Jolie Brise is situated in the picturesque village of Baltimore in West Cork, Ireland. Looking out over the harbour mouth, it is an ideal setting for visitors to enjoy the beautiful views and activities of Baltimore Harbour while relaxing and enjoying the food and wine.

La Jolie Brise is on the right in my photo, taken yesterday.

Check out my review of La Jolie Brise Restaurant - I am cork - on Qype

Over The Moon in Skibbereen

OVER THE MOON

Just had the most enjoyable meal in Skibbereen restaurant Over The Moon. Imagination, excellent cooking, fresh ingredients plus a friendly and efficient service all added up to a very pleasant occasion and one of our best meals in quite a while.

Starter: salad of beetroot, feta, olives, tomato, and toasted seeds. That got us off to the best of starts. Light and sharp, just the job.

Mains: cod, butternut puree, with green beans, beetroot, potato with a walnut dressing. What a combination! Just loved it.

Dessert: Apple and berry crumble. Not quite what you’d expect. The apple and berry came in a hot glass with a muesli like topping and, for contrast, we had a blob of ice cream on the side. Unexpected but gorgeous.

We also struck it lucky with the wine, a Spanish Blanco Nieva Verdejo (2008): close to dry with little bubbles. Got your attention immediately and held it all the way. Cost €25.00. Two course early birds cost €25.00, three courses €30.00. Worth a drive down from the city and certainly worth a call if you’re staying in the area.

Check out my review of Over The Moon - I am cork - on Qype

EASTER RUSHING IN

THE CHOC OF IT   

Easter is coming fast and if you’ve been fasting – even if you haven’t -  then you have some good things coming, thanks to our chocolate makers.

My sweet hit of the year so far has been the real shell eggs that the imaginative Nicola of Pandora Bell has come up with. Yeah. Real  hens shells (see pic) filled with top class chocolate. Available in Cork at Bramley Lodge, O’Keeffe’s (St Luke's) and Nash 19.

Nash 19 is also the place to go for Benoit Lorge's handmade Easter Eggs. Mairéad O’Brien: “He makes them in Kenmare and is a member of Good Food Ireland too. Pop into the shop to see the full range. Prices to suit all pockets.”

Easter came up during a French class during the week and Francis says her favourites come from Eve's Chocolates and her gorgeous stuff is available from the factory/shop on the Magazine Road, close to Dennehy’s Cross.

Worth a detour as they say in the best guides and, by the way, all three appear in the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide (2010). And so do O’Connaill’s of Carrigaline. You can study their range and have a hot choc at the same time in their shop in city centre French Church Street.

And the English Market’s Chocolate Shop is yet another Bridgestone entry. Most of those in the queue won't be bothered about guides – they know there’s good stuff here and they won't be waiting until Easter Saturday to stock up. Neither should you!

No time for the shops? Then try this competition, courtesy of Tweeter @dailyspud. It is for a hamper full of wines and chocolate, a win wine situation, and details are available at Daily Spud

Prefer to make your own? Looking for ideas. Well, the Daily Spud (above) has a few and so too do the folks at All Recipes
Editor Diana Moutsopoulo tells me they have quite a few recipes including one for Easter Bunny Cakes   - pictured above

Alternative Bread Co in Cork

THE ALTERNATIVE BREAD COMPANY

There is amazing choice on offer at the Alternative Bread Company counters in the English Market (Cork), baskets of fresh bread made and supplied by quite a few bakers, including regular products such as traditional sodas, to gluten free, foccacias and sourdough and rye bread.

I picked up a rye loaf there today, intending to compare it with the one I bought at a reduced price at the Coal Quay market stall of Tom’s Bakery of Kinsale last Saturday.

When I bought my load this morning, I didn't know at the time that the supplier of rye to the ABC is German baker Thomas Heuneburg of Kinsale.

The cost today was €3.00 as against €1.90 on Saturday. The difference? Today’s was fresher, no doubt about that.



+353 (0) 21 4251347
Email: fitzsheilam@hotmail.com

Check out my review of Alternative Bread Co Ltd - I am cork - on Qype

Mark's Cheese at farmers markets

MARK’S CHEESE

You will see stalls selling, and with a sign up saying Mark’s Cheese, at most of the Farmers Markets.

Mark Hosford is a seller rather than a producer and collects, minds and sells the cheeses of many local producers. They have a huge selection and helpful staff.

Recently, in Mahon, I bought some of that excellent and well known Hegarty’s Mature Cheddar while, even more recently, at the Coal Quay Market, I purchased a terrific, though less well known, Kilmichael Soft Goats Cheese.

Keep an eye out for these stalls and don't hesitate to ask a question as you’re sure to get an informative answer.

Check out my review of Mark's Cheese - I am cork - on Qype

Sunview Goats Cheese

SUNVIEW GOATS CHEESE

In Terleton (West Cork), Anne and Brian Bond make a terrific Kilmichael Soft Goats Cheese from the milk of their Sunview herd. This is beautiful and mild, easily spreadable.

If you’ve never eaten goats cheese before, then this is the one to start on. But that doesn’t mean that those of you experienced in goats cheese should give it a miss. Far from it. There is something in this great product for everyone!

The cheese is available from the Mark’s Cheese stalls in local markets. I bought mine in the coal quay on Saturday.

When I got home, combined it with some leaves, rye bread (by Tom’s Bakery), an organic tomato salsa (Just Food), and had a great open sandwich.

Check out my review of Sunview Goats - I am cork - on Qype

Tom's Bakery in Kinsale

TOM’S BAKERY

Hadn’t come across Tom’s Bakery before until I saw their stall at the Coal Quay Market (in Emmett Place) on Saturday morning.

Quite a choice of breads available (see photo) and I picked up a loaf of their Rye bread, a choice endorsed by the man on duty who said it was his favourite. It was substantially reduced on Saturday and cost €1.90.

It is a smashing bread and went down well in this house. Tom’s Bakery is based in Kinsale and also has a stall at Tuesday’s Farmer’s Market in the seaside town.

Check out my review of Tom's Bakery - I am cork - on Qype

Greenes Restaurant McCurtain Street Cork

GREENES

Had coffee and scones in Greenes by the waterfall this Saturday morning. Great coffee, great scone (not to mention jam and cream) – all well presented by a friendly waitress. Sat back in the comfortable chairs and enjoyed it very much indeed. Cost for two: €10.40.

It was one of the three best coffee and scone combinations that I've enjoyed recently around town. Nash 19 and the Hawthorn Bar on the Lough were the others.

Check out my review of Greenes Restaurant Hotle Isaacs - I am cork - on Qype

Gilbert's in Cobh

GILBERT’S

Gilbert’s is the newest restaurant in Cobh and we made a snap decision to drop down there last night and it worked out well. The bistro style Pearse Square establishment, which claims to be different, has a couple of attractive early bird offers though we went for the a la carte option.

Lamb Kidney and Smoked Pancetta Salad €6.50
in a creamy brandy sauce

Salmon and Tiger Prawn Mousse €6.95
infused with fresh herbs, chilli and chive vinaigrette

These were our starters. The mousse was excellent but the Kidney and Pancetta was certainly different and very very good – I really loved that sauce.

Pan-fried Fillet of Halibut €23.95
with savoury risotto, creamy shellfish sauce

This was the main course. Each plate had two big chunks of fresh halibut, a sparingly used sauce, and was served with vegetables and potatoes, giving quite a substantial course. The Risotto wasn't bad though a bit too strongly flavoured, taking away somewhat from the fish. I’d have preferred something like Ratatouille or some other tomato based accompaniment.
No room for dessert but we enjoyed our coffees. Service was very friendly, discreet and excellent all through.

Check out my review of Gilbert's - I am cork - on Qype

FRENCH FOOD

EAT YOUR WAY TO FRANCE

Last June we headed to France for a four week stay. The eating started immediately...

Storm forecasts notwithstanding, we booked a window table at Le Flora restaurant. That, by the way, is the top restaurant on the Brittany Ferries ship Pont Aven.

The gales never came on the Ringaskiddy – Roscof trip (14 hours) but the promise of a top notch meal was delivered on the high seas. Starter was Shredded Crab, wrapped in Avocado puree and accompanied by a green bean mix and salad. Terrific!

That was the start of of a great meal, the start of a terrific holiday where we spent more time in restaurants and markets then we did on the beaches of the Charente Maritime.

If you are planning a trip to that area, then get all my 2009 tips (places to visit, markets, cafes, day trips, restaurants) here  Just click on the France label

RIPP'Ss BRATWURST in Cork

FOOD PARADE

Barry’s Tea, the market sponsors, were serving up mugs of tea as we reached the Grand Parade Outdoor Market after the Cork St Patrick’s Day Parade had passed.

It wasn't the only food stall with a queue. Indeed, every food stand, and there were dozens, was busy. In the end, settled for Ripp’s German Bratwurst. It was a welcome bite for four euro.

The sausage and spices along with the onions were excellent though the bread bit wasn't the greatest. Still, it went down well, despite the fact that I couldn't face another queue for the tea!

For all my parade pics see http://corkandabout.blogspot.com

Don’t forget, this weekend, 18th -20th of March, Cafe Gusto are launching BYO to all their Facebook fans and Twitter followers. This is the promise: “If you visit with your favourite bottle of wine to accompany our delicious mezze, antipasti and tapas dishes, we will NOT charge our usual €4 corkage if you mention facebook or twitter on ordering.” Now you know!

Check out my review of RIPP's BRATWURST - I am cork - on Qype