Cookbook of the Year The International Association of Culinary Professionals has announced the Cookbook of the Year – and the prize goes to Christine Manfield for her cookbook ‘Tasting India‘. I haven’t heard from Christine Manfield before – but since there are thousands of authors, chefs etc out there who I haven’t heard of (and…
It is 2012 and the taste of diners has changed. Paying guests do expect more options these days than just the typical Roast Beef (nothing wrong with it) and the Chicken Breast with some overcooked veggies and gravy with no flavour. Some people are meat eaters but want to eat less for health reason. But…
Mr T and myself were planning to watch the Cork match on Sunday and I wanted to pay Dunsland Garden Centre a visit as they started to have a farmer’s market on Sundays. To combine both – we decided to go to the Island Gate Restaurant and Bar. I dropped Mr T off at the…
Trio of Desserts Desserts are the final part of the meal – unless you count coffee & tea (which I normally serve with homemade chocolates or biscuits) and the last chance to make an impression. Desserts can be easily prepared ahead (I wouldn’t even attempt to serve a chocolate souffle or fondant) and you as…
The Main – Stuffed Lamb The main course of every dinner party is the crowning glory – the one that wills tick in most peoples mind the most (hopefully for the right reasons). I always choose the main course first and create the rest of the menu around it. In this particular case, I had…
For some reason, I always have 2 starters, with soup being the second starter. Soups can be warming, refreshing, comforting and energizing. Making soups is so easy, I really don’t understand the need for tinned soup or even the powered stuff. Anyway, this time I chose to cook a leek soup (I know I know,…
The Dressed Table After having served the amouse bouche or canapes and the guests have relaxed a bit, I am asking to the table. I love the reaction I normally get when people are coming for the first time and see the dressed table (all others take it as given that the table looks good).…
Stuffed Peppadews Dinner Parties are great (not the ‘Come Dine with me’ style). You sit with friends around the table and time just flies by. Last Saturday Frederic and his lovely wife Edyta came over for dinner and that gave me the perfect excuse to get my pots and pans out and do some serious…
Twitter Pic Steve Bennett is a chef from Wales who likes to travel and visit restaurants around the globe. His latest trip took him to Denmark where he visited NOMA (not jealous at all of course). He has beautiful photos up and you get hungry just by looking at them. He doesn’t post very often,…
Yummy Gnocchis I love pumpkin and butternut squash. This vegetable is so versatile, takes on flavours and can be used in savoury as well as in sweet dishes. Dennis Cotter has many lovely recipes in all his books (in Seasons he has a pumpkin gratin which is just to die for). Pumpkin Gnocchis are one…