Posted on Sep 25, 2006 in Do, Living in New Zealand | 5 comments

Christchurch Hot Chocolate

My email has been acting up recently so it’s taken me a while to realise that I actually have a couple of real messages amongst all the ridiculous spam that crams up my inbox. One of the more interesting mails was from the recently opened and wonderfully named Ya-Ya House of Excellent Teas (see below)...
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Posted on Sep 21, 2006 in Do, Living in New Zealand, Return to Ireland | 2 comments

Slow Food Events in Dublin, Ireland and Christchurch, NZ

Slow Food Events in Dublin, Ireland and Christchurch, NZ
Whether you’re in Dublin or Christchurch, New Zealand this weekend, there are plenty of Slow Food-organised events taking place. The Christchurch branch have their second “how to survive when ship-wrecked” morning by the sea taking place on Saturday 23 September. Led by Slow Food member,...
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Posted on Sep 15, 2006 in Food Events | 0 comments

A Taste of West Cork

A Taste of West Cork
If you’re down in West Cork this weekend, or can make your way there, the Taste of West Cork Food Festival started in Skibbereen last night with a dinner which featured local products like Gubeen Bacon, Union Hall Smoked Salmon, Gallan Cream Cheese, Beara Preserves and Ó Conaill Chocolates. Other...
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Posted on Sep 13, 2006 in Cook, Grow | 2 comments

Field mushroom hunting: Mushrooms in Milk

Last weekend saw the Boyfriend and myself travel down to my parents’ place in North Cork. As a result of the warm, damp weather over the past few weeks, I have received constant reports from my mother about the abundance of mushrooms so, with a Beef and Guinness casserole bubbling away in the oven, we...
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Posted on Sep 9, 2006 in Do, Return to Ireland | 2 comments

The Late Late food debate

The Late Late food debate
I’m not a fan of RTÉ’s Late Late Show but there was a debate about Irish food on last week’s programme which you can watch from this page. An aggressive and rambling Richard Corrigan doesn’t come off very well but Derek Davis manages to defuse the situation, while still managing to...
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Posted on Sep 7, 2006 in Do, Return to Ireland | 0 comments

Rachel’s return

Rachel’s return
For all those Rachel Allen fans out there – and I know that there are lots of you! – she returns to RTÉ One next week with a new television series called Rachel’s Favourite Food at Home. A hardback cookbook to accompany the series is published by HarperCollins and it’s difficult to...
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Posted on Sep 4, 2006 in Do, Return to Ireland | 4 comments

Ireland – the Food Island?

Ireland – the Food Island?
I was in the heart of County Wicklow yesterday, listening as the Irish branch of Euro-toques, a European-wide community of cooks and chefs, debated the idea of Ireland as a culinary destination. Held at the lovely Brooklodge Hotel in Macreddin Village, this was Euro-toques Ireland’s fifth National...
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