Compiled by MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBY
Meet the makers
Conde de Valdemar wines, smoked salmon, lobster, organic chicken and pork, and Irish charcuterie will all feature at a Feast of Irish Food at O’Connell’s in Donnybrook, Dublin 4 next Tuesday night at 7pm. Several of the restaurant’s specialist food suppliers will be there, as well as Carlos Martínez Bujanda of Conde de Valdemar. A two-course dinner will cost €20.95, with a four flight wine selection for a further €12. You can book on 01-2696116.
the BUZZ What they’re saying about . . . MasterChef
Contestant Richard Speedie, @Richard_Speedie on Twitter: “So any of u pros suggest a venue where I could do a set menu supper club for about 40 covers on an off peak night, maybe in November?” Filming finished weeks ago, and contestants are sworn to secrecy, so does he know something we don’t?
@henrymcdonald on Twitter:“Would the participants in the Irish version of MasterChef please stop crying all the time. It’s only a TV show”.
@paulflynnchef on Twitter: “V impressed with MasterChef, v good show”.
Garlic oil wins best organic product award
Garlic-infused rapeseed oil, made in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny by Kitty Colchester, has been voted the best product at the Bord Bia National Organic Awards 2011. Colchester, who first brought an Irish organic rapeseed oil to the market in 2009, grows the crop on her family’s 190-acre organic farm, where the cold-pressing and bottling is done on site. “We do everything, from seed to shelf,” she says. In 2009 she won the best organic sustainable product award from Bord Bia.
The winning oil is a recent addition to her Happy Heart oils, and Colchester says she was surprised to win: “We entered the garlic oil for the feedback, more than anything.” There is also a chilli-infused oil in the range, and the RRP is €7 for 250ml. For stockists see secondnatureoils.com. A full list of the award winners is at bordbia.ie.
Deal or no deal?
The new autumn menu at Carluccio’s restaurant on Dawson Street, Dublin is introducing a tasting trio for two people – any three of the 13 pasta dishes on the evening menu for €26.05. For hearty appetites, perhaps
Honey bunnies will love these
When I first came across the range of honeys with fruit and nuts created by Sarah Gough (right), who runs Mileeven Fine Foods in Piltown, Co Kilkenny with her mother Eilis, I thought they looked wonderful, but I didn’t think I’d have much use for them in my kitchen. How wrong I was. Although I haven’t yet taken to enjoying Pooh Bear’s favourite breakfast of toast and honey, I’ve been adding a spoonful of the ginger honey (with 10 per cent ginger, so it’s quite strong) to Asian-style marinades, and drizzling the mango version over roast vegetables. The lemon honey is terrific in salad dressings, and the sour cherry and raspberry ones are wonderful with yoghurt. You can clearly smell the fruit when you pop open these jars, and they’re really useful in cooking when you want a touch of fruity, natural sweetness. The range of honey with lemon, orange, ginger, cinnamon, sour cherries, walnuts, blueberries and raspberries, is on sale in Superquinn, as well as independent retailers (€2.99-€4.50). It is also doing well on the export market, selling in Selfridges in London, as well as in the US, UAE, Japan, France and Germany.
