The menu: Bon Vivant Beano
But the awards, now running for 21 years and supported by Bord Bia, are also a serious accolade, an acknowledgement of impeccable quality and standards with special kudos to those producers who have embraced sustainable practices and techniques.
This year, The Guild presented seven awards with another good showing for Co Cork as On The Pig’s Back and Skeaghanore Farm Fresh Ducks from Ballydehob were amongst the number along with another Menu favourite, Wexford’s Wild About Foods.
A special Irish Drink Award was presented to Richmount Elderflower Cordial from Co Longford, while Foods of Athenry claimed the Guild’s Environmental Award.
Two very wonderful women in Irish food were also recognised with Birgitta Curtin of Burren Smokehouse honoured for her notable contribution to Irish food, and Veronica Molloy of Crossogue Preserves winning the Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to growing on the home farm and the consistent innovation of her range of artisan Irish preserves over 20 years ( www.foodguild.ie ).
And speaking of awards, a most hearty congratulations to young Irish Chef Mark Moriarty who was named as the best emerging chef talent from Ireland and the UK at a live cook-off for the San Pellegrino Young Chef 2015.
Dear Old Sainted Mother Menu has of course long instilled in her beloved progeny that every day is Mother’s Day but in the lead-up to the Hallmark holiday is not above angling for additional shows of maternal reverence.
Mother’s Day Lunch at The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, is a lovely four-courser for just €29.95, while Kilkenny’s very lovely Ristorante Rinuccini, currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, has a special Mother’s Day menu ( www.Rinuccini.com ) heavy on fine Irish produce.
Galway’s Glenlo Abbey Hotel have a ‘Mother’s Day Package’ for two for €189 ( www.glenloabbeyhotel.com ) while The Menu would be very happy to squire DOSM Menu to the wonderful Gregan’s Castle, freshly opened for the 2015 season. (www.gregans.ie)
The Menu always begins the festival season with the West Waterford Festival of Food in exquisite Dungarvan and its environs.
Generations in Irish Food is already throwing up a keeper in the form of a Dromana House event, where a Eunice Power menu celebrates the food stories of some of Waterford’s finest food clans, the McGraths, Flahavans, and Barrons. www.waterfordfestivaloffood.com
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Dear Old Sainted Mother Menu will also not deign to acknowledge anything less than the finest Irish chocolate on Mother’s Day.
Choices of same are multiplying at a fierce rate, particularly, the bean-to-bar route, but this year The Menu shall be filling up the forklift with Butler’s Chocolates Spring Floral Ballotin range, each box delightfully dickied-up in a most becoming livery and containing a fine array of pralines and truffles. www.butlerschocolates.com
The White Hag Bran & Sceolan Irish IPA; 7.2% ABV, 330ml — €2.99
Matsons, Bradleys, No.21, 1601, Next Door, Youghal & Raheen, Stack’s, Listowel, World Wide Wines, McHugh’s.
Based in Ballymote in Sligo, The White Hag launched just last summer and has already built up a cult following. Watch out also for their award-winning Imperial Stout, Imperial Red Sour, and their Oatmeal Chocolate Milk Stout.
Golden colour with a frothy white head, aromas of pine and citrus, a dry fresh palate with a complex dry hopped finish.
With less sweetness than you might expect given the ABV, this bottle-conditioned IPA is one of the most balanced on the Irish market.
