Wednesday, November 20, 2024

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA AT ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL

 FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA AT 

ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL


 

Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel invites guests to embrace the magic of the holiday season with its exquisite Festive Afternoon Tea, a luxurious experience designed to enchant both the palate and the soul. Located in the heart of Dublin’s vibrant Docklands, this festive offering will be available from the 26th of November to the 31st of December, providing the perfect indulgence to pair with Christmas shopping in the city.




 

Priced from €65 per person, this exceptional afternoon tea combines a celebration of Irish culinary artistry with the joyful spirit of Christmas. Guests are invited to start a new festive tradition with loved ones, enjoying an elegant selection of sweet and savoury delights inspired by Ireland’s rich literary heritage and iconic destinations.

This creative and truly unique culinary journey transports the guest through a literary journey via the lines of some of Ireland’s most famous poems while also paying homage to the most dramatic landscapes in the country. Flavours have been inspired by poets including W.B Yeats and Seamus Heaney and iconic places such as The Ring of Kerry, Achill Island, Valentia Island, The Wild Atlantic Way, Kilkenny Castle and Newgrange.


 

Crafted by Executive Chef Gareth Mullins, the festive menu features whimsical treats such as The Snowball, a Black Forest delight, The Christmas Wreath with indulgent chocolate-filled choux buns, and a contemporary twist on the Yule Log, adorned with candy cane macaroon and white chocolate ganache. Seasonal tea breads include raisin and cinnamon scones, Christmas pudding, and a festive Battenberg cake inspired by the hotel’s geometric façade, reimagined in festive red and green tones.

The savoury selection showcases exceptional Irish ingredients and features refined sandwiches, including Burren Organic Irish Oak Smoked Salmon with dill crème fraîche on soda bread, a robust roast beef with horseradish and Achill Island Sea Salt, a refreshing cucumber and chive cream cheese combination, and a smooth corn-fed chicken with tarragon mayonnaise served on a brioche bun.

 

Guests can also choose from 16 varieties of Ronnefeldt Tea, served in traditional Wedgewood China. The selection includes unique flavours such as Cherry Cheesecake, Irish Chocolate Cream, and Irish Whiskey Cream, offering something to suit every taste. For an added touch of luxury, a selection of Bollinger Champagnes is available to complement the experience.


 

Gareth Mullins, Executive Head Chef at Anantara the Marker said, “Afternoon tea at Christmas is one of the most special ways to spend time with family and friends. We searched the length and breadth of the country for the very best artisans whose products now sing from our plates.  Our homemade Festive Afternoon tea is evocative of times past and will bring you back to your childhood with our contemporary take on Christmas classics.”

 

He continued, “The famous Battenberg Cake is renowned at afternoon teas around the world, and we’ve put a unique twist on this iconic bake. It’s inspired by our own hotel’s geometric façade which we have replicated in the cake. The traditional pink and yellow sponge has been reimagined for Christmas in red and green and is enveloped in vanilla caramel.”

 

Ludo De Jong, General Manager of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, added, “The festive season is a time for family and friends to enjoy time together, and our afternoon tea is the perfect setting to celebrate unforgettable moments. We look forward to welcoming both old friends and new to experience the warmth and magic of the holidays at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel.”

 

For those seeking a thoughtful gift, Christmas gift vouchers and afternoon tea vouchers are available for purchase, offering a memorable treat for someone special.

To reserve your Festive Afternoon Tea or learn more about festive offerings at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, visit www.anantara.com/en/ireland or call (01) 6875 100.

For more information or to book your festive escape, visit www.anantara.com/en/ireland or call (01) 6875 100.

 

press release

Casina Bric 460 Mesdi Rosso, from a place that “respects nature in every aspect.”

 Casina Bric 460 Mesdi Rosso Serralunga D’Alba 2023, 14.0% ABV

RRP €21.15. Stockists: Le Caveau, 64 Wine, Greenman Wines, Bradleys Cork



from a place that “respects nature in every aspect.”

From a hilltop farm in the hamlet of Vergne, close to the more famous Barolo commune, comes this superb wine produced from 100% Nebbiolo fruit. Quite a medley of aromatics includes red berries, roses, and herbs. Can be described as earthy! And so it continues on the palate, all those flavours plus a touch of liquorice, maybe chocolate,  right through a lingering finish. 

This Nebbiolo is a power-packed wine that is fresh and fruity with moderate tannins and a balanced acidity. Piemonte makes some super wines, and the Mezdi is an ideal and well-priced introduction to the area.


Importers Le Caveau say it is excellent with roasted butternut squash, wild mushroom risotto or Gorgonzola cheese. “Just the job too for grilled rib eye”, according to Brigid O’Hora’s new no-nonsense book “The Home Sommelier”. “The wine we drink every day at lunch paired with piatto di pasta or with a selection of salami and cheese,” say the producers.

In a nod to Piedmont's history and to portray the wines at their best, Casina Bric uses the Poirinotta bottle, which dates back to the 1700s. This bottle used to be produced near the village of Poirino, just a few kilometres from Turin, but it was later abandoned in favour of other containers from nearby France.

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Check out our Top 2023 Wines here.


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Check out the Good Value Wine List here



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  • 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. They mightn’t always net the hat trick, but I 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 our expanding list (with short reviews, prices and stockists) of #OrganicItaly wines here

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Sika brings new life to old venue in the heart of Blarney

Sika brings new life to old venue

 in the heart of Blarney.

Chicken Burger (17.50)

Sika, the relatively new café in Blarney, is superbly located in the heart of the old village, within walking distance of

Monday, November 18, 2024

Wicklow Wolf Mammoth IPA. The big, bad wolf is Beer of the Week

Wicklow Wolf Mammoth IPA 6.2% ABV, 440 ml can 


Beer of the Week!



the big, bad wolf of West Coast IPAs.


The Mammoth, big and bad, is one of the Alpha pack, the core range of Wicklow Wolf beers.


The colour is close to amber and clear, and it has a nice fluffy head that sinks quite slowly. It gets its name because "a mammoth amount" of Strata, Simcoe, Chinook, Cascade, and

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Blarney Castle Gardens. November Sunshine

Blarney Castle Gardens

November Sunshine

(Pics taken 12th Nov 2023)





Blarney House

Fern Tree Garden



Friday, November 15, 2024

The Irish Executive Committee of Les Clef d'Or hosts the Executive Committee of Great Britain over a two day event at Fota Island Resort

 The Irish Executive Committee of Les Clef d'Or hosts the Executive Committee of Great Britain

over a two day event at  Fota Island Resort



 

Fota Island Resort was honoured to host the Irish Executive Committee of Les Clef d'Or who welcomed members of the Executive Committee of Great Britain to Cork on Monday, 11th November. The two-day event highlighted the five-star Fota Island Resort and the spectacular

Plaimont “La Table Du Malin” Madiran. From under the gaze of the Pyrenees. And, they say, "heart friendly"

Plaimont “La Table Du Malin” Madiran (AC) 2017, 13.5% ABV

Gift from France

 From under the gaze of the Pyrenees.

A Basque vineyard, near Saint Etienne de Baïgorry

Our 2017 Madiran, made from the Tannat grape, has one of the darkest

Adrift at Dunmore House takes top prize at prestigious Food&Wine Hotel Restaurant of the Year Awards

Adrift at Dunmore House takes top prize at prestigious  

Food&Wine Hotel Restaurant of the Year Awards



There were big celebrations for the family owned and run Dunmore House in Clonakilty on Sunday as Adrift, the fine dining restaurant at the 30 bedroom hotel, was announced as

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Taste of the Week. Bó Rua Farm Cheddar with Fenugreek Seeds

Taste of the Week. 

Bó Rua Farm Cheddar with Fenugreek Seeds



Bó Rua Farm farmhouse cheese is made from cow’s milk, on Tom and Norma Dineen’s family farm in Ballynoe, Fermoy, Co. Cork.  The cheesemaking is seasonal, while the cows enjoy a grass diet outdoors. The cheddar is carefully produced, using traditional methods, and gently aged to develop a firm yet delicately creamy texture and a full, approachable flavour. Creamy, full, and approachable is an apt summation of this multi-award-winning cheese.

They have found a lot of truth in the old farmers' saying, “Look after the cows, and the cows will look after you. "This goes to the heart of everything we do at Bó Rua Farm, from raising and grazing our herd of Montbeliarde and Friesian cows to handcrafting our artisan, farmhouse cheese." See more at https://boruafarm.ie/.

And, now, just in time for Christmas, you can enjoy their Bó Rua Farm Cheddar with Fenugreek Seeds. While their superb regular Cheddar is widely available, this particular version, our Taste of the Week, is presently exclusively available at Simply Better at Dunnes Stores

 

Blond or Blonde? Lough Gill Irish Abbey Belgian Blond

Lough Gill Irish Abbey Belgian Blond: A Taste of Abbey Life

Blond or Blonde? 



Looking to get away from IPAs for a spell? Why not try a

Barnahown B&B, Star Of RTÉ’s At Your Service, Seeks Support For Crowdfunding Campaign To Help Part-Finance Its Phase Two Regenerative Tourism Project

 press release

Barnahown B&B, Star Of RTÉ’s At Your Service, Seeks Support For Crowdfunding Campaign To Help Part-Finance Its Phase Two Regenerative Tourism Project

Ciara gazes at the nearby mountains.




The luxurious low-Impact guesthouse in Mitchelstown, Co Cork aims to generate €50,000 via cash donations, gift voucher sales, and bookings for its bespoke ‘Run Your Own B&B’ and ‘Interiors Immersion’ experiences that will finance its Spring 2025 site preparations.


Acting on the expert advice given to her by the

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware Wins Prestigious “Café of the Year” at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2024

 The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware Wins Prestigious “Café of the Year” at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2024

Darina Allen (Ballymaloe) with Newbridge Silverware's
Natasha Pivovarjonokam Restaurant Supervisor and Ronan Mackey, Restaurant Manager


 

The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware in Co Kildare has been crowned Café of the Year at the renowned Good Food Ireland Awards 2024. Sponsored by Ballymaloe Foods, this prestigious award celebrates The Silver Restaurant's commitment to quality, innovation, and the authentic Irish food experience that has captured the hearts of both locals and international visitors alike.

 

The award ceremony took place in the opulent

Gallina de Piel Ikigall Penedes. Enjoy it wherever, however, and with whomever you want.

Gallina de Piel Ikigall Vino Blanco Penedes (DOC) 2022, 13.0% ABV

RRP €21.95. Stockists:  Barnhill Stores, Martins Off Licence, The Granary Foodstore, McHughs Off Licences

enjoy it wherever, however, and with whomever you want.



With its eye-catching label art, the producers of this Spanish white wine exhort us to “enjoy it wherever, however, and with whomever you want.” And indeed, that kind of “permissiveness” applies to its making. Gallina de Piel does not have a vineyard but works “with local growers, selecting the best vineyards planted with indigenous grape varieties to create wines that emphasize elegance and freshness.”


Gallina de Piel is an exciting winemaking project by David Seijas, the former Head Sommelier at the three Michelin-starred restaurant El Bulli. David aims to