Food file

Compiled by MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBY

Say it with cake

Lidl may not be the first place you’d think of going to in search of supplies for a romantic night in, but the supermarket has some good offers next week. The brand’s Angus steaks are on offer for €9.99 for two, with a bottle of Prosecco for a budget-friendly €4.99 – although with Comte de Brismand Champagne on offer today for €12.99 (reduced from €17.99), an upgrade might be in order. Silicone muffin and cake baking moulds in rose and heart shapes are also available (€4.99).

[ food52.com/the_piglet ]

Food52 is an innovative and stylish food news and recipe website, headed by New York Times writer Amanda Hesser. It’s never predictable, but who would have predicted the incoming missile when “green queen”Alice Waters of Chez Panisse restaurant and Edible Schoolyard fame, judging the site’s annual cookbook of the year contest (The Piglet) this week, said she really didn’t really like either Momofuku Milk Bar by Christina Tosi or The Art of Living According to Joe Beef, by Frédéric Morin, David McMillan and Meredith Erickson. Both were too dependent on sugar and fats, she said, before somewhat grudgingly naming Joe Beef the winner. The online debate that followed makes great reading.

Ottolenghi chef Richard Gleeson will be demonstrating dishes from the London restaurant’s vibrant, Middle Eastern-influenced menus on February 21st and 22nd, at Foodgame on South Lotts Road, Dublin 4 (7pm-9pm). The ticket price (€50) includes a glass of wine, and tastings of the dishes cooked. You can book on 01-2815002

The buzz

Green Saffron Spices @greensaffron: Think we’re getting there with our new cook-in sauce range. Taken a bit of time, but taste yum; jaggery, fresh spices, cider vinegar

David Tiernan @glebebrethan: Oldest cow on the farm, a Montbeliarde cross, born today 15 years ago. After 12 calves still hale hearty and put 22 kg milk in jar this am

Suzanne Campbell @campbellsuz: Speed dating for an 18 billion euro food sector: 520 food buyers, 177 producers and 4,500 meetings today at Dublins #Mktplace12 @Bordbia

Loved-up suppers

There are some good deals out there next Tuesday night, if you care to brave the sea of tables for two. The Exchequer Gastropub is offering a six-course tasting menu, with a kir royal aperitif and a digestif of your choice, for €49.95 per person (theexchequer.ie). The same spend will get you a five-course tasting menu with a glass of Champagne at the Conrad Dublin (conraddublin.com). Dinner at Francesca’s at Brooks Hotel in D2 can be followed by a movie in the hotel’s 25-seat screening room (€39.95, brookshotel.ie). Valentine’s Tea at the Shelbourne hotel is a ramped up version of the classic afternoon tea, with chocolate, passionfruit mousse, strawberries, clotted cream and a glass of Champagne (€34.95, TheShelbourne.ie). The Milano pizza chain has a sharing menu for two for €40, including these cute heart shaped dough ball hearts with pesto, garlic butter and soft goats’ cheese dips (milano.ie).