Ready to go dinners and tips for dining out on a budget

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

Goya’s in Kirwan’s Lane has expanded its range of foods to include dinners to go. All the meals are cooked on site with the same attention to raw ingredients as if cooking at home. There is also an interesting range of salads that you can purchase by weight and when I asked Emer, the proprietor, why they are any different from their competitors, she said that it is the attention to small details like boiling the potatoes with their skins on before chopping into potato salad, or shredding all the cabbage by hand. Some of the dishes are: chicken in coconut, chilli, and lime, buttered squash and chorizo risotto, pork in cider sauce with roast vegetables, and Moroccan spiced lamb. The dinners are €8.50 each and if you are fairly local they will also deliver. As the selection varies it is a good idea to phone first on (091) 567010. They have a special offer of two free desserts if you purchase two dinners, which means you have dinner for two for €17 — not bad. The dinners are also available in Alan and Susan’s pantry in Oranmore and McCambridge’s in Shop Street.

A spoonful of Manuka honey is the best medicine

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

Most of us have heard of the new miracle remedy called Manuka honey. Manuka honey is made by bees that collect nectar from the manuka bush which grows wild in New Zealand. Manuka honey has traditionally been used for its health benefits and is renowned for warding off infections, and promoting natural healing and general wellbeing. The honey has been researched for decades, but only recently has a team of researchers from Germany identified its active ingredient, called methylglyoxal.

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a naturally occurring antibacterial agent. It can be measured by laboratory test and is expressed as “MGO” with a number indicating its strength. This strength usually varies between MGO100 and MGO400. To ensure antibacterial activity, only MGO Manuka honey available in health stores should be purchased.

How to redecorate your home without breaking the bank

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

Ever flip through home design magazines and catalogues and dog-eared pages with the looks you like? Do you wish you could achieve that look in your own home without breaking the bank? If you are looking to redecorate your home without spending a fortune, here are some smart tips on how to get the look you want for less.

Great discounts at The Door Depot this weekend

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

The Door Depot will celebrate its first birthday in Galway tomorrow (Friday). As part of the Carroll group which has been in business for over 40 years, the company now employs in excess of 200 people nationwide, with locations in Dublin, Cork, Kells, Co Meath, Galway, Kilkenny, and Enniskillen.

Time on your hands

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

You’ve heard of wearing your heart on your sleeve, now you can wear it on your hand!

Swiss watchmaker Frédérique Constant has just launched a new version of the “Double Heartbeat” range of ladies’ watches.

Smell the roses

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

If you are still wondering what gift to give your lady love this St Valentine’s Day, look no further than REN skincare’s rose trio gift set.

Beat cellulite while you sleep

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

A new cellulite treatment which works while you sleep promises results in just 10 nights.

Holy Communion style

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

The influence of Strictly Come Dancing is very evident in the Holy Communion range at Klassy Kids in Cross Street this season.

Eat smart to shed excess pounds

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

How can you boost your immunity, increase your energy levels, fight disease and delay the onset of ageing? By improving your nutrition is the simple answer.

Charlotte Balbiër comes to Belladonna

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

If you are getting married and have yet to pick out that perfect wedding gown, fret not, because top bridal designer Charlotte Balbiër will be ready, willing, and more than able to part with some expert advice during Belladonna’s Designer Day which takes place this Saturday, January 31.

Charlotte Balbiër is a young designer who since the launch of her collection in 2003 has certainly made her mark in the bridal wear industry by producing young, feminine, and fashion forward designs.

Style Counsel

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Q: I am going on a ski holiday shortly and I’m looking for something to wear off the slopes. Any ideas?

Achieve that hair-free look with Laserderm

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Hair today, zapped tomorrow. We’ve all wished for a body free from embarrassing unsightly hair and now is your chance to realise that dream before the summer months roll in.

Laserderm Clinic offers the most advanced method of permanent hair removal which is practically painless and removes unwanted hair quickly and effectively.

Enjoy a little luxury at ESPA

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

The g is a monument to Galway's boom. It's incredibly luscious, boasts a fantastic restaurant, and superb service. But behind the sheer wonderful lunacy of the front lobbies lies the sometimes forgotten ESPA.

Changing times

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

It is a frequent comment among restaurant customers that they would like a particular menu changed more frequently, however sometimes customers do not want a restaurant to change its menu, especially when it has been in place and very popular for 10 to 15 years. This fact was brought home to me recently when I was talking to Charlie Chan, the owner of the original Royal Villa in Shop Street. Two years ago he moved to a new location in Oranmore and called the restaurant Asian Fusion. While it has been very successful and has some dishes that I particularly like, many of his old customers from Shop Street asked him to consider bringing back the original menu.

So from this week he has revamped his menu to include all the old favourites from the Royal Villa, Shop Street. Chicken and mushroom soup, crabmeat and sweetcorn soup, Cantonese duck, plus all the set price dinners for four, six, or eight people and much more. He is also continuing with his mid-week specials and the ‘bring your own bottle of wine’ offer for only €5. Don’t be shy about bringing your own bottle, it’s a great way to have an inexpensive meal and especially if you have an unusual bottle that might go well with Chinese food. For the month of February Charlie will be offering his Chinese soups for the amazing price of €1, yes just one euro gets you a bowl of your favourite soup.

A dessert with a difference at Glasson Golf Hotel

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Romance and a little bit of mystery are in the air this Valentine’s weekend at Glasson Hotel and Golf Club, Athlone, Co Westmeath. Head chef Mike Stugel has put together a very special menu full of delicious treats for Valentine’s weekend — but the highlight for one lucky woman will certainly be her dessert.

A guide to weight /fat loss supplements

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Calcium/vitamin D: Calcium is clearly great for bone loss, and there is evidence that it can help reduce body fat — increasing dietary calcium can lead to significantly increased weight and fat loss and increase the percentage of fat loss around the trunk region. Vitamin intake affects weight and fat loss, too. The major function of vitamin D is to help maintain normal levels of calcium. This dynamic duo is important for achieving a lean body.

Use trees to wrap your house in beauty, interest, and warmth

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Trees bring a beauty and interest that changes through the seasons. They have a particular beauty at the moment when silhouetted against a bright winter sky, or when they glisten with frost on a cold winter morning. Watch them through spring as their buds develop, their new leaves emerge, and many break into flower. See their fruits grow through late summer and enjoy watching the birds feed on them. Many show a vibrant riot of colour in autumn, then one day the branches will be bare again as they sleep through winter.

Cotton Box completes fit-out of apartment development

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Clarinbridge based interior design company, Cotton Box Design Group, has just completed the interior fit-out of the Cearnóg Nua development, Moycullen, which has been built and developed by Rhatigan Developments Ltd.

Outlook for furniture retail is positive

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Ikea is the most recent company to announce the opening of a new store in 2009. The Ikea store is set to open on Monday July 27 in Ballymun in Dublin. In late December EZ Living at Terryland Retail Park opened up in a new location on the Tipperary road in Limerick.

Fuel problems during ‘the Emergency’

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Because merchant ships were regarded as targets during World War II, the island of Ireland was, to an extent, cut off from the rest of the world, and many products that would normally have been freely available became scarce. Rationing was introduced and each household was given a ration book. Basic foodstuffs such as bread, butter, flour, wheatmeal, sugar, and tea were sold in small amounts... tea was reduced to a half ounce per person per week, which represented hardship for many. There was a black market for this and many other ‘luxuries’, while others tried making their own substitutes like dandelion tea or carrot tea. Some would recycle the tea leaves by taking them from the teapot, drying them, and reusing them. Necessity became the mother of invention.

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