The Menu: Coffee Mojo
It is often assumed the phrase ‘to hell or to Connacht’ is some class of Hobson’s Choice, no real choice at all betwixt twin evils, but The Menu has long held the West to be a class of paradise on Earth and, of late, a paradise where the fruit is in glorious abundance and, furthermore, not remotely forbidden. Indeed, the West is currently the epicentre of Ireland’s ongoing culinary revolution, with Aniar’s recent Michelin star just the latest indication of something very special afoot. Another indicator, the second annual Foodie Forum at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (Feb 5) could well become one of Ireland’s premier food events. While it has excellent demos (Enda McEvoy/Conor Cockram, Aniar; Bryan McCarthy, Springfort Hall; and Martijn Kajuiter, Cliff House Hotel, amongst them) and plenty to keep the belly sated (Street Food Fair, Craft Beer Bar, multiple wine/food events), its midweek timeslot puts the focus quite firmly on the business, networking and all-round inspirational possibilities as opposed to more traditional festival capers, including some serious-sounding debates on GM foods and local food stories. www.thefoodieforum.net
