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Wednesday 17 September, 2014
by peter
Comments Off on Kinsale Arts Festival, September 19-28: Food tops the bill

Kinsale Arts Festival, September 19-28: Food tops the bill

Kinsale, Co. Cork: Ireland’s foodie paradise. Fishy Fishy, Crackpots, The Bulman’s… There’s no shortage of renowned restaurants in this small fishing village, just 25 minutes from Cork City.

Starting Friday, there’s another great reason to visit Kinsale, with the 10th annual Kinsale Arts Festival kicking off. There’s a packed programme, including theatre, visual arts, music, comedy, various workshops, family events and food. Lots and lots of food. Some highlights:

  • TV Dinners: A night of food inspired by classic TV shows, and promising interactive entertainment, short films and tasty treats (think Fresh Prince of Blini Air, Generation Game Sushi Conveyor Belt) – September 25-27, Long House Quay, 6.30pm, 90 mins, €42 including two glasses of wine
  • The Breakfast Review: British writer Seb Emina – author of The Breakfast Bible, will be joined by food writer and journalist Joe McNamee for a morning of banter and brunch with a contemporary take on the Irish breakfast thrown in for good measure – September 20, The Black Pig Wine Bar & Cafe, 11.30am, 60 mins, €18
  • The Domestic Godless Canaliculus Purgamentorum: This one is a bit nuts, but sounds wonderful. A series of dishes, afloat on rafts and boats, will drift along the canal for visitors to sample. The dishes offer “a nostalgic reminiscence of both the best and the worst of seaside holidays replete with humour and a sense of the absurd.” So, expect caviar toothpaste, jellyfish jellies, hot dogs transformed into baked beans. The Domestic Godless have performed throughout Ireland, with an anarchic disregard for current culinary trends. This show involves eating and tasting but is not a full meal. Unfortunately, special dietary requirements cannot be accommodated – O’Herlihy’s Townhouse, September 20-24, 7pm, 60 mins, €20

For the closing weekend, journalist Jim Carroll of The Irish Times returns with Banter, a weekend of chats and conversation about film, music and food. Kieran Murphy of Murphy’s Ice Cream, Sully of Cully & Sully fame, and an in-depth interview with chef Rory O’Connell about his work and views on Irish food and culture are among the highlights. I’ve never attended a dull Banter event, and these sessions look promising. Continue Reading →

Tuesday 29 July, 2014
by peter
Comments Off on A foodie’s guide to Kerry

A foodie’s guide to Kerry

kerry foodHeading to the Kingdom this summer? Eva Schmid of Kerry’s Ard na Sidhe hotel has put together this really delightful and useful infographic on Kerry’s food festivals, cafes and tea rooms, cooking courses, farmers markets and food stores.

The Kenmare Food Carnival has been and gone, but there’s plenty more places left to visit, including the family-friendly Taste of Killorglin in early September.

 

 

Thursday 19 June, 2014
by peter
2 Comments

Summer of Flavour at M&S

M&S spiced lamb firebread

M&S spiced lamb firebread

I wandered into the void of deliciousness that is M&S last week to pick up a Father’s day voucher. It’s not the cheapest: it’s just never ever going to compete with Aldi on price, and it’s possibly not where most readers of CheapEats are doing the full weekly shop. I’m certainly not. But right now there’s some very good summer deals and lovely treats in there which are forming part of my regular shop.

I’m a bit of a fiend for the three for €8.50 ready meal deals and have a slight addiction to their spinach and ricotta cannelloni (it’s low calorie!), but I think less than €2.85 for a portion of very tasty dinner is not too shabby.

I also picked up two big punnets of strawberries for a fiver, and there’s lots of other good deals as part of their “Summer of Flavour”. Cherries were half-price and were so juicy and sweet. And I got a free bottle of wine with four picnic items, including a “Mediterranean Tart”, a spiced lamb firebread (pictured), a big tub of olives, and a whackload of delicious antipasti, for just under €17.

The “Summer of Flavour” also includes regular deals on BBQ meats and such unexpected delights as chocolate coated wasabi peas and jelly sweets with a hint of chilli.

Monday 16 June, 2014
by peter
Comments Off on 10% off for #BloomsdayatBison

10% off for #BloomsdayatBison

Sides at Bison

Sides at Bison

It’s Bloomsday. Back on June 16, 2014, Leopold Bloom stepped into the office of Mr Roger Greene on number 11 Wellington Quay. It’s now better known as Bison Bar, and it’s one of my favourite spots for cheap eats around Dublin.

Anyone who goes to the bar and requests an appointment with Mr. Greene will get a 10 per cent discount on their food today. They’ve also created a new cocktail, the Roger Greene, crammed with Wild Turkey 81, Malibu Rum, elderflower, cranberry,  and a squeeze of lime. And there are prizes up for grabs for anyone tweeting a picture of their #BloomsdayatBison.

Hat-tip: JH Esq.

Wednesday 7 May, 2014
by jean
5 Comments

New Dublin Lunch Service: The Lunch Relief Project

Fans of lunch pickup services like Killer Sandwich and Lovin Box may be interested to hear about this new lunch service from Leaves Catering, which is extremely keenly priced and also benefits good causes.

leaves-catering-lunch

Leaves Catering are already doing lunches out of Block T in Smithfield, and are now offering a weekly pick up lunch – artisan sandwiches and salads – at different charity shops in Dublin. 10% of the turn-over is donated to the charities; the lunches have a healthy focus and cost only €4.90 per item. Like other lunch pickup projects, it’s all very simple:

Continue Reading →