In Belfast, Mary Maw and Rhada Patterson's wonderful Cargoes cafe and deli, up near the top of the Lisburn Road, has just introduced a new range of Spanish foods - wood-roasted peppers, organic olive oil, smoked paprika, saffron, Ortiz tuna and a new red wine vinegar called Forum are just some of the lines. They have also expanded their range of organic foods, in response to increasing demand.
Cookery classes are planned, perhaps on Monday and Tuesday evenings, centred around new ideas for pastas and risottos, "two Italian staples which fit beautifully into modern eating patterns," they say. "Pasta appeals to all ages and is especially child-friendly. With a few basic sauces and some guidelines on pasta shapes and how to cook them, anyone can rustle up a delicious supper in no time at all. Risotto is also an ideal store cupboard standby and once the basic technique has been mastered the variations on risotto dishes are endless."
It all sounds like a jolly good idea. Class numbers will be kept small. Anyone interested should contact Mary or Rhada, Cargoes, 613 Lisburn Road, Belfast tel: (01232) 665451.