Wake up and smell the coffee?

Thu, Jul 05, 2012

Last Thursday I was invited to attend a tasting of the renowned Kopi Luwak coffee at Mr Waffle, located on Scholars Walk, Newcastle. For those unfamiliar with Kopi Luwak, it is one of the world's most rare and expensive coffees, at almost €50 per cup. Not to put too fine a point on it, it is made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian palm civet. Yes indeed folks, this unique coffee has the dubious distinction of being consumed before the customer has even taken a sip. I will take mine with milk, sugar, and a good dose of scepticism.

Designer fabrics clearance at La Maison Chic

Thu, Jul 05, 2012

La Maison Chic is offering its customers a one-off opportunity with all fabrics on rolls priced to clear. Fabrics are down from €55 per metre to €9.99 per metre. The selection includes some Designers Guild, Casamance, and Au Maison fabrics.

Colourfence — the perfect replacement for frost damaged hedges or broken fencing

Thu, Jul 05, 2012

Colourfence has a permanent no maintenance solution to all your fencing problems.

Colourfence is the fastest growing fence company in Ireland in both the private and commercial sectors.

The Great Gourmet Challenge set to promote the wonders of the west

Thu, May 24, 2012

Recently referred to as “one of the country’s most exciting chefs” by Taste of Ireland, Jonathan Keane, head chef at Co Mayo’s boutique hotel, Lisloughrey Lodge, has overhauled the entire menu and is setting himself up for a challenge to showcase the wonders of the west.

Delicious authentic Indian cuisine in Kashmir

Thu, May 24, 2012

Galway has always been known for its diversity — a town of exotic sailors and Connemara tribes, this medieval city has been a melting pot for as long as it has existed. We have well established Chinese and Thai restaurants, and more recently some terrific Japanese ones. For fans of Indian food, however, Kashmir has been offering consistently delicious examples of this varied cuisine to Galway diners for some time now. Indian food is the 'Marmite' of global cuisines — it evokes a love or hate attitude that other ethnic traditions just do not get. There is often an excess of heat over flavour that has alienated many a diner. Not so at Kashmir.

Artisan Restaurant welcomes two new appointments and launches new summer menu

Thu, May 24, 2012

Winner of the Best Restaurant in Galway at The Restaurant Association Best in Ireland Awards, Artisan has welcomed two new additions to its award-winning team and launched a delicious new summer menu. Newly-appointed head chef Mark Campbell has put together a superb offering of culinary options guaranteed to suit all palettes.

Irish brown soda bread

Thu, May 24, 2012

This brown bread is light and fluffy. Since it has a moist consistency, it does not require kneading…just mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

On the wine shelf

Thu, May 24, 2012

Les Auzines Fleurs Blanches 2009 (Independents, €9.99)

On the cookery book shelf

Thu, May 24, 2012

Made at Home – Preserves
Dick and James Strawbridge

Dick and James Strawbridge

Discover delicious family dining at Flannery’s Hotel

Thu, May 17, 2012

A lot of the hotels in Galway can be divided into two types. The first kind was built in recent years, a result of the economic boom, largely run by professional management companies whose brief was to merely keep the business afloat and get 'heads in beds'. Flannery's is the other sort of Galway hotel. It is part of the landscape and the fabric of life in the city east area, providing employment and welcoming guests from Ireland and many parts of the world since it first opened in 1969.

On the cookery book shelf

Thu, May 17, 2012

What’s for Dinner?
Easy and Delicious Recipes for Everyday Cooking

Artisan now serving lunch, and sushi in the Sky at the Radisson

Thu, May 03, 2012

Over the last few years Artisan in Quay Street has gradually been building a name for great food, and now with the recent news that it is the regional winner of the Sunday Independent Life magazine Best Restaurant in Galway award the restaurant can be proud of its efforts. It was one of the first restaurants to do some serious pairing of wines with all the courses and I simply cannot understand why every restaurant does not do so. It must surely increase wine sales and it certainly makes it easier for the customers to decide.

Food & Wine

Thu, May 03, 2012

On the cookery book shelf
1001 Whiskies You Must Try Before You Die, edited by Dominic Roskrow;

1001 Whiskies You Must Try Before You Die, edited by Dominic Roskrow;

Salad and smoothies

Thu, May 03, 2012

Spinach and avocado salad

Beer glorious beer at the Galway Bay Beer Festival

Thu, May 03, 2012

This Bank Holiday weekend sees the Oslo Bar and Microbrewery hosting the Brewers on the Bay Beer Festival from 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. It promises to be a celebration of craft brews and all things beer related.

Street Feast launches in Galway this Sunday

Thu, May 03, 2012

This Sunday Street Feast launches it national campaign to bring communities together in the spirit of fun and good food.

On the wine shelf

Thu, Apr 19, 2012

Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc 2010
(Tesco, €5.49)

Blazers Bar and Bistro at The Ardilaun – the perfect stop with lunch for less

Thu, Apr 19, 2012

Blazers Bar and Bistro offers good value in a casual dining setting with personalised service by the team at The Ardilaun, with free parking. Lunches and dinners are now in full swing for the busy tourist season ahead with popular hot dishes of the day available for lunch from just €9.75 seven days a week, along with two and three course value menus from €24 in the evenings. The Ardilaun Bistro is also very child friendly with children’s menus attracting many families.

Value all day at Cafe Zealous

Thu, Apr 19, 2012

Cafe Zealous offers homecooked meals at affordable prices, with breakfast starting at €3.95 and ranging to €7.50 for an all day full Irish breakfast including free tea or coffee. Other breakfast choices include scrambled, poached, or boiled eggs, French toast, and omelettes with your choice of fillings.

The menu also provides daily lunch specials such as the homemade burger, lasagne, chicken curry, and many more, all served with side salad and a choice of baked potato, chips, or homemade wedges for an incredible €7.50. Also on offer is an extensive salad menu at just €7.95 including Caesar, Moroccan chicken, and warm goat’s cheese salads. The homemade soups, which are dairy and gluten free, come served with a selection of bread at €4.50.

Peppino’s Italian restaurant, Spiddal

Thu, Apr 19, 2012

I mentioned in a previous article that it I am amazed that during such recessionary times we see so many new restaurants opening, and fair play to all who do so. Peppino’s is one such venture, and it has risen from the ashes of the very well known Bol Uisce in Spiddal’s main street. The new owners are experienced in the business of providing Italian food at Il Foletta in Quay Street. Now they have two restaurants to run and while both are Italian the new Peppino’s offers a more varied menu. Maybe it is because better rents can be negotiated, but whatever the reason you have to admire and congratulate all who open a new restaurant. It brings money to an area in all manner of ways, jobs for chefs, kitchen porters, waiting staff, someone will get paid to do a website, painters, electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, waste companies, oil, etc, etc. So when you see a new venture in your area be sure to support it.

E-paper

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