The menu: Lifeboats on the menu
On a stormy night, from deep underneath his quilt, The Menu will always spare a thought for any poor souls caught out on the high seas with an especially heartfelt addendum added for those impossibly brave crew-members of the lifeboats.
The annual Ballycotton Lifeboat Fundraising Gala Casino Dinner Dance (February 6), has taken place at Ballymaloe House for more than 30 years. The bulk of all monies raised goes directly to support the work of the local voluntary crew.
The evening begins with cocktails followed by a Black Tie dinner with live music, table magic, a late casino and raffle. (Tickets €100: call Fiona on 086-8824515. Ballymaloe House offer special accommodation rates for the night, tel.021-4652531.)
Bia Sasta host a Blind Tasting Dinner (Feb 5) at the River Lee Hotel in aid of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Diners are blindfolded for the arrival of each course and there is sure to be much sport. (Bookings: CommunityTeam.Cork@software.dell.com ).
The Menu certainly enjoys the occasional sinful treat but for the most part accords nutrition the same importance as he does to taste when it comes to putting on the nosebag. So he has more than a passing interest in the upcoming Wise Traditions Ireland Conference (Feb 7& 8) focusing on Food, Farming and the Healing Arts.
Very timely, believes The Menu, in an age when industrial processes have stripped so much nutritional benefit from our diets and given rise to an increasing number of food-related ailments.
The conference examines the importance of nutrient-dense foods to the human diet and with more than a passing reference to instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-fed livestock, community-supported farms, proper labelling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies, conference speakers include Darina Allen, Sally Fallon Morell, baker Joe Fitzmaurice ( www.riotrye.ie ) and Elizabeth Ryan, founder of Raw Milk Ireland Campaign. www.wapfmunster.com
The Annam Supper Club, whose regular nights offer a fine and friendly way to sample homemade Indian cuisine, kick off the New Year with an evening of film and food (Jan 30) in conjunction with the Beggarman pub, on Cork’s Gilabbey St, which has its own bijou cinema upstairs.
Dark gangster comedy Jigathanda will be on the screen while curry and rice will be on the plate. Booking is essential. The regular supper club nights (now switched to Friday) resume on February 6. ( www.annam.ie ).
And finally, an early birthday greeting to the indefatigable Sandra Murphy—well, not to Sandra herself but to her lovely waterside Rising Tide Bar & Restaurant, just east of Cork city, 10 years old this week. www.therisingtide.ie
The Menu has been asked to further elucidate the equation behind his latest theory, RV2 = AMFCA. It is perfectly simple, with ‘R’ being equivalent to ‘raspberry’ and ‘V’ being equivalent to ‘vanilla’. Combined, they equal ‘AMFCA’, in other words, ‘A Most Fiercesome Combination Altogether’.
A fine example of The Menu’s theory put into practice can be found in Coolea-based company Folláin’s latest offering, Raspberry & Vanilla Jam. Impishly citric raspberry sporting newfound deep and dulcet depths.
It has hot buttered and exceedingly fluffy scones tasting like the class of creation one might find on the more exclusive shelves in the finest patisseries of Paris. www.follain.ie
