CheapEats.ie

Special offers in supermarkets, May 15

peter — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:32:01 +0000

Special offers at Aldi

Special offers at Centra

Special offers at Dunnes

Special offers at Lidl

Special offers at Londis

Special offers at Mace

Special offers at Spar

Special offers at Superquinn

Special offers at SuperValu

Special offers at Tesco

Skinflint’s firebee honey

peter — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:17:24 +0000

Try Skinflint's honey with grilled bacon and tomato, and buttered toast

See? It still looks like I’m here in Ireland, but I actually wrote this in the past and sent it for publication to the future. Right now, I should be somewhere in Japan.

Anyway… last month, Kat from The Purple Page blog brought a long-overdue review of Skinflint, Joe Macken’s pizza joint, to these pages.

I’m a big fan of Skinflint’s pizza, which is markedly different from the usual fare you get in most “cheap and cheerful” Italian spots, and it’s definitely one of my go-to places in Dublin for a reliable, filling cheap eat, with most of the pizzas priced in and around the €10 mark (making it – rather unsurprisingly – a good spot for dinner under €10).

But I’m not here to talk about the pizza. No, like a badger raiding a bee’s nest, I’m lured to Skinflint by the honey. It lay at the edge of the table and, as an afterthought, I reluctantly squeezed a dollop onto my plate and dipped the last bites of my pizza into it. Regrets, I’ve had a few, but I was instantly pained that I had allowed so much pizza pass my lips without smearing honey all over it.

This is no ordinary honey. No, this honey is infused with bay leaf, chilli, and vinegar, and discovering it felt just like the time I met anchovies, and they changed my relationship with food forever. I poured a large squeeze directly down my throat, and left.

At €5 a bottle, it’s not exactly as cheap as the jar you’ll find in your local Lidl, but it’s worth it. Later, I received a very welcome gift of Skinflint’s honey from a friend. But I wasn’t sure what to do with it, so I asked Skinflint via Twitter. Cheese, eggs, ham, bread, they advised: all made sense. All work incredibly well. I smeared it all over bacon and cried hot tears of pure ecstasy. But they also told me to have it in coffee. Coffee? Really? Vinegar chilli honey in coffee?

Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. A decent espresso or Americano goes incredibly well with a kick of chilli. Especially chilli honey. I’ve been pouring this in my coffee ever since. I was encouraged to go further: believe it or not, the Firebee honey gets on really well mixed with natural yoghurt and fresh fruit. And I’m keen to try it with anything else edible.

I’ve run out of this simple, surprising, and delicious creation, but plan to pick up a crateful when I’m next in Skinflint. Also, I want a big block of honeycomb, stolen by humans from bees with the help of a honeyguide bird. Just like this honeyguide bird in this extraordinary clip from BBC’s Human Planet. I might try and find something similar in Borneo. Anyway, check it out and be amazed:

Cheapeats holidays! Returning May 14

peter — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:17:25 +0000

Right. I’m off to Japan to sample all the delicious cuisine.

Actually, I’m going on a bit of a world trip, taking in three weeks in Japan, a month in Borneo, a few days in Singapore, a month in Australia, six or so weeks in New Zealand, and ten days in Fiji to cap it all off. I’m looking forward to some solo travelling and visiting friends in these scattered places. Any cheap food recommendations are very welcome.

Meanwhile, Jean and Rebecca, as well a mysterious new writer, will keep posting away here, so you won’t even miss me, you bastards.

However, we’re all going to take a couple of weeks off to recharge our batteries, but we’ll be back here posting away for the summer, from the week beginning May 14.

Thanks to the wonder of WordPress and the mystery of the internet, I’ve already written a number of posts to appear over the next few months, which Jean will post if still relevant. Because of this, it will almost appear as if I’m living happily in Ireland.

But I’m not. I’m far, far away, possibly in a jungle, so I might not respond to comments on my own posts, especially the controversial ones – hey! I leave for my holidays from Tuesday May 1, so I’ll be on holidays.

Still, I’ll post about some of my wilder or more interesting culinary adventures right here. I promise only to write about exciting stuff.

On a personal note, thanks to all our readers and commenters for the support and encouragement you give us. We particularly love when people comment on posts. Thanks to everyone who’s helped me get ready for my big adventure and has/will come to all my copious boozing and long goodbye events of late. I will miss my family and my friends but I think the adventure is worth it. I should be back on the old sod in September. Also, I’ll miss potatoes. That’s it, bye!

Nifty Map of Irish Food Festivals

jean — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:50:17 +0000

Tourism site GoIreland.com have put together a handy map and guide to Irish food festivals, including this weekend’s Dublin Bay Prawn Festival. Click the image to get the large version with all the details.

The obligatory service charge

peter — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:55:34 +0000

The mandatory tip: your views, please. (Photo: sxc.hu)

Last year, my sister and I decided not to endure the bad service at Harvey Nichol’s cafe, Dundrum, and walked out before ordering.

But we were back again recently, partly because Cafe Mimo is closed for renovations, partly because we liked the look of its menu, and partly because we wanted to give it another go.

Barbara’s baby Jamie was with us, and the manager was very accommodating, ensuring we got a decent seat with space for the buggy, and providing hot water to heat Jamie’s bottle.

I wasn’t madly impressed with the food, some of which was served cold, but the manager replaced it without quibble and was apologetic. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t be wildly keen to give Harvey Nichol’s Cafe a fourth try.

The bill arrived with a ten per cent service charge. I don’t object to paying a tip as such – but in a cafe? At lunchtime? Shouldn’t the amount be up to the customer?

That said, to leave anything less than ten per cent is miserable, and there should be a incredibly hot damn good reason to leave no tip at all. I do occasionally see an added service charge, but it’s usually for larger parties, or in higher end restaurants.

But forget about Harvey Nichols: I sometimes feel that the obligatory service charge is a disincentive to provide a more generous tip (“ah sure, the tip is covered…”). And I wonder if it always goes to the staff.

On the plus side, maybe it balances out for the waiting staff by ensuring that stingy diners don’t leave them short. Oh, I don’t know… Clearly, my feelings on this issue are mixed, so it’s over to you.

What do you think? Should service charges be added as standard? I do like a good old fashioned argument, so please tear each other limb from limb below. Comments from waiting staff are particularly welcome.

Bloggers Recommend: Kat from The Purple Page on Ireland’s best pizza

jean — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:00:57 +0000

Our Bloggers Recommend series continues with some great tips from Kat, of new food blog The Purple Page, on where to get the best pizzas .

About the Purple Page

Kat says: I started The Purple Page because I love hearing about all the creativity and positivity that is happening in Ireland with so many wonderful foods and food related events on offer and I wanted to share it with others. I also love to cook and bake so there are a few recipes in there which celebrate Irish food. It’s a blog filled with a little cooking, mostly baking and lots of eating!

Blog: thepurplepageireland.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/The-Purple-Page
Twitter: @ThePurplePage1

Kat’s Favourite Cheap Eats

Photo: bistrobianconi.ie

Anyone who knows me well will know that I have a slight obsession with pizza! I fell in love with proper pizza the day I moved to Italy. The thin bases covered with the most amazing toppings were a revelation to a 19 year old who up until then was used to eating the ones that came out of boxes. So on moving back to Dublin I was constantly on the lookout for great pizza places. Recently there has been bad press about pizzas and their calorie, salt and saturated fat content. Yet there is nothing as tasty as a proper thin base pizza cooked in a wood – fired oven and topped with the freshest ingredients a chef can find. I don’t know the calorie content but I’m sure these thin based pizzas are as good for you as anything else you might eat out in a restaurant.

These days I have a number of favourite places to go in Ireland that fulfill my pizza cravings. They aren’t all wood–fired pizzerias but they all do delicious pizza!

Dublin

Skinflint is all about the pizza, that’s all it serves and it does it oh so well. Skinflint has not gone for the standard pizza combinations, so no ham and pineapple if that’s what you’re into. When I was there I ordered myself an Eithne, which was covered in butternut squash, capers and ricotta while he got a Grainne; an amazing combination of bacon and celeriac. The pizzas are grilled so they are thin and crispy and perfect for sharing. They also have a chill honey which they are fermenting themselves that you can dip your pizza into. While this may sound odd it was surprisingly delicious and we were wishing we could have brought some home. If you would like to see the other delicious pizza combinations on offer at Skinflint have a look at their website. It also tells you how you can eat for free – they are offering a free meal for 2 people on the half hour of every hour so get following Skinflint on Twitter. It’s the ultimate cheap eat!

Dave’s Wood-Fired Pizza Company

Dave’s Wood – Fired Pizza Company now has a home at the Speak Easy Bar and Cafe. On my last visit there the place was packed and it was obvious why – for only a tenner you can get a delicious pizza and a pint/glass of wine and sit down and eat in a great venue. The menu isn’t huge but there is something for everyone on it including a weekly special, which when we ordered it included toppings of mozzarella, roasted red peppers and goats cheese. The venue has live djs, a really casual laid back atmosphere and you can go there for just drinks or just pizza – the staff don’t seem to mind. Though I would happily bet that no one leaves that place without having tried at least one pizza!

Manifesto

Photo: manifestorestaurant.ie

Based in Rathmines, this Italian restaurant offers more than just pizza with pasta and meat dishes completing the menu. Here though, pizza is the star. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by the big wood–fired oven and given small pieces of salted and herby pizza bread which leave you wanting more. There is an extensive pizza menu with two of their pizzas having won medals as the best pizza in Ireland and the world. Grand claims but as one of my favourite places I can see why. According to my Italian colleague it is due to the way they throw the dough that makes them taste so good!

Sligo

Bistro Bianconi has without doubt the largest pizza menu I have ever seen. It is at the higher end of the pizza price scale with prices for one being round the 18 euro mark but you won’t need to order any starters or dessert after eating one of these! You can have it Italian style which includes all the old favourites such as the Margarita, Quattro Formaggi and the Hawaiian along with a few new ones such as the Aussie and BBQ Chicken. Then come the Gourmet Pizzas – Brie & Pepperoni, Greek Feta and Salami, Carmelised Onion and Pesto; the list goes on. Basically whatever you have ever wanted on a pizza you will find here… bar banana pizza which only seems to exist on the continent!

If you don’t feel like going out but want to get a great wood-fired takeaway pizza

Base in Terenure and Ballsbridge, Dublin and the Oak Fire Pizzeria in Skibbereen, West Cork both do delicious takeaway pizzas and have good couples and family deals.

On my to eat list

I have heard wonderful things about these places but have never been before. I have it on good authority though that the pizza is wonderful and the prices won’t break the bank – Paulie’s Pizza in Dublin, Stolen Pizza in Kinsale and La Cucina in Limerick.

On my wish list

There is many an Italian restaurant and pizzeria around Ireland who offer doughy, stodgy inadequate pizzas. You don’t need a wood-fired oven to create great pizza (just take a look at Skinflint) but it does depend on the quality of toppings. Please don’t give me processed ham and cheese on top – if I wanted that I would buy a boxed, plastic wrapped pizza from a supermarket!

Yelp’s Backyard Bazaar – Dublin, 6 May 2012

jean — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:00:39 +0000

We love food events here at CheapEats but have to admit that there isn’t often a whole lot at the cheap end of the spectrum. The likes of Taste of Dublin can be enjoyable but come with a fairly hefty price tag. So we were pleasantly surprised and impressed to hear about the Yelp Backyard Bazaar – a completely free food event.

Organised by the review site Yelp.ie, the event takes place in the beer garden of the George Bernard Shaw pub in Portobello from 1pm – 3pm on Sunday 6th May. There’ll be stands from a number of Dublin restaurants giving free samples of food and drink. The restaurants include Burritos and Blues, the Brioche Cafe, the Corner Bakery and Brother Hubbard’s, a new spot on Capel St that I’m hearing a lot of great things about. There will also be a full bar – with some sponsored items for free.

All you have to do to go along is to RSVP on the event page on Yelp.ie. If you’re interested, make sure you do so soon, as that outdoor space in the George Bernard Shaw fills up with hipsters pretty damn fast.

M&S Dine in for Two for €12.50, April 19-24

peter — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:43:05 +0000

As far as I know, the M&S Dine In for Two makes everybody happy. Most people love the offer, nobody hates it, some might be indifferent.

As usual, the offer consists of a main, a side, a dessert, and a bottle of wine, all for two people, for €12.50. The latest dine in offer runs from Thursday April 19 – Tuesday April 24.

Full details on the M&S website.

What’s your work canteen like?

peter — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:56:37 +0000

Google canteen, Dublin

Over Paddy’s weekend, I was lucky enough to take part in an excellent masterclass in investigative journalism* offered by The Guardian newspaper in London. For a news wonk like me, it was a real thrill to be in the building – and, wow, what a beautiful, modern, state-of-the-art building.

I was equally excited to be in the home of the Observer Food Magazine, which I buy religiously. My lefty leanings perhaps naturally attract me to The Guardian and The Observer, but strip aside the political orientation and you’re left with a publication that excels creatively and leaves its dull rivals in the shade.

The offices are based in King’s Cross, the biggest transport hub in London, so there was plenty of choices for lunch. But, perhaps because I mostly work from home and largely avoid the creepy concept of colleagues, I’m always fascinated by the idea of the work canteen (I also have daydreams about people leaning against water coolers discussing whatever it is people talk about around office water coolers – presumably soaps, sport, and the deliciousness of water).

The Guardian and Observer

Standards vary wildly across work canteens. The Guardian’s is in an impressive space, but the food wasn’t exactly the divinely inspired joy nuggets I expected from the home of the OFM, with most staff appearing to leave the building for lunch. One thing it certainly was: cheap. My lunch was just over £2 (about €2.40-ish).

Not as cheap, of course, as lunch at Google, which costs zero euro and zero cent.

Google

Limitless food, coffee, tea, drinks, sweets, fruit: lunch in Google’s Dublin office is a special experience. Years ago, a good friend of mine who used to work there was saving money for a round-the-world trip, so she had breakfast, elevenses, a big lunch, afternoon coffee and, sometimes, dinner in Google. I suspect she may have taken home the odd bit of fruit as well. Is that okay? It meant she only had to have a tiny bit of food in the house for over the weekends, and saved a small fortune.

Because of my weird fetish for work canteens, I recently had lunch there with a good Google friend of mine – they’re allowed sign in friends for lunch occasionally so we can all feel terrible about how crap our workplace benefits are. The Google office has around four or five excellent canteens, including a soup/ sandwiches/ salads place, pizzas, sushi, and a hot food counter. Our lunch was in the salads and sandwich place, but really enjoyable. Fresh focaccia bread, hearty soups, freshly made salads, beautiful cold meats, and a big slab of chocolate cheesecake were better than what you’d get in many very good cafes. I had to refrain from over-doing it.

The Irish Times

Another work canteen I’ve been in a few times is that of The Irish Times (I’m freelance but in the building a handful of times a year). The canteen was rubbish, so all the staff were leaving and heading across the road to McCabe’s, an excellent deli on Tara Street. Eventually, it made sense for McCabe’s to take over the catering for the paper, and the staff canteen has proven popular. As for McCabe’s itself, I think it may have closed down, but I’m open to correction.

Do you have a work canteen? Is it as good as Google’s, or is it grim? Should companies subsidise canteens, and is a nice work canteen be an attractive perk for a job? Can you invite me for a free lunch, following which I’ll slag off your canteen right here? Share your thoughts.

* I don’t normally veer too far from the subject of food on this site, but had to mention the masterclass. The course was given by Paul Lewis (award-winning coverage of the UK riots, exposes on undercover policing, special projects editor of The Guardian) and Heather Brooke (MP’s expenses, Wikileaks cables). It was inspiring, exciting, informative, and hugely innovative. They’re not afraid to pioneer and develop new methods, and the course is well worth a look for anybody working in journalism, PR, NGO’s, campaigning or advocacy, national or local government, research, or law. It’s not currently scheduled again, but details should appear on the Guardian masterclass website when it is.

Review: Cafe Azteca, Lord Edward St, Dublin

jean — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:00:44 +0000

Azteca's Tacos Al Pastor (from the Azteca Facebook page)

We’ve been on a minor Mexican buzz here on CheapEats recently, with Peter’s rave review of 777 and my Mexican scrambled eggs. All this chilli and coriander and whatnot reminded me of Cafe Azteca, a lovely little place I’ve been meaning to tell you all about for ages.

Burrito places are becoming very popular in Dublin now, but Cafe Azteca is one of the few Mexican joints in town that is run by a genuine Mexican, the very friendly and welcoming Hugo. It’s a small cafe that serves a comprehensive menu of burritos (from around €7), sandwiches (from €5) and Mexican favourites such as sopes, enfrijoladas, taquitos and many more (from €9); as well as my beloved Mexican breakfasts.

The food is really good, with combinations that are tricky to find in the more bog-standard burrito places – such as the Tacos al Pastor, which contain marinated roast pork, lime and pineapple. I’ve been by a number of times and have tried a couple of the burritos and their very good huevos rancheros. There are only two things I’d change with this place: speed up the lunch service a bit (it can be quite slow) and maybe put on a few main course plus coffee for a tenner deals – both changes would make it a great destination for an everyday lunch. And if you don’t mind lingering a bit over your lunch, I recommend it. It’s also open for dinner, and they serve beer and wine in the evenings.

Two other nifty things about Cafe Azteca – owner Hugo (the aforementioned real Mexican) holds regular cookery classes there, where you can learn to make Mexican dishes in the cafe kitchen, with dinner included. The last time I was in, he told me they were doing a special deal on the classes at €26 per head, which if you’ve ever priced cookery classes in Dublin you’ll know is insanely cheap. Classes can be booked through the Cafe Azteca website. The second bit of niftiness is that you can buy Mexican food products there, such as chipotle chillies, tomatillos and salsa verde. I picked up a giant bottle of salsa verde there for only €5.50 and am currently putting it on just about everything, it’s so good.

Cafe Azteca is on Lord Edward St, on the hill leading up to Christchurch from Dublin Castle. Have you tried it? What do you think is Dublin’s best Mexican cheap eat?