The menu: a Father’s Day gift
While The Menu rather despairs of the artifice of contrived Hallmark days of celebration, as a recovering parent and erstwhile father, he grudgingly consents to being showered by Father’s Day gifts from his progeny; less grudgingly, if those gifts are designed to appeal to his innate gluttony.
The Father and Son/Daughter Chocolate Making Workshop at Clonakilty Chocolate Factory is one such gift, a hands-on introduction to the art of chocolate making suitable for fathers and children, aged 8-14 ( www.clonakiltychocolate.com ).
The Menu has become increasingly enthused at the blossoming of independent boutique Irish distilleries and very highly recommends a well-chosen bottle from same as another splendid Father’s Day gift.
Teeling’s, whose distillery/visitor centre has just opened in Dublin, do a wonderful Single Malt, available in a variety of cask finishes and to be highly recommended with cheese, a mature Coolea being an especially fine choice.
Of late, however, several exceptional new Irish gins have been tickling a lot more than The Menu’s fancy.
Shortcross, from Co Down, features intriguing botanical elements with a smooth long citric finish and lasting orange tang while just down the road in Lismore, Co Waterford, Blackwater Distillery’s Blackwater No 5 ( www.blackwaterdistillery.ie ) is a classic London Dry Gin, a tart juniper astringency and an impossibly silky, supple finish.
Highbank Orchards, in Kilkenny, do a very splendid Highbank Crystal Gin made from apples and featuring organic botanicals, St Patrick’s Distillery use potatoes as the basis for their offering, a clean high spirit that works very nicely in a Gin Martini and do keep an eye out for the upcoming Bertha’s Revenge Gin, from Ballyvolane House, in north Cork, with a sweet tangerine aftermath. A couple of bottles of Fevertree Tonic, a few slices of juicy orange, plenty of ice and Bob’s your aunt’s live-in lover!
An essential part of The Menu’s annual summer itinerary is a visit to the Cork Summer Show (June 20/21), a most excellent celebration of local and Irish agriculture with all manner of entertainment for all ages and plenty to nibble on at the myriad food stalls, with the craft beer tent always worth a visit ( www.corksummershow.com ).
The 21st Annual Listowel Food Fair (June 18-21) is another family-friendly food extravaganza including an All-Ireland Craft Beer Championship and myriad workshops and demos.
The Listowel Food Fair Celebration Tasting Dinner sees the announcement of the fair’s choice of best new emerging Irish food product ( www.listowelfoodfair.ie ).
Kilavullen Farmer’s Market (June 20) will be an evening market 6.30pm-8pm to celebrate the summer solstice ( www.kilavullenfarmersmarket.com ) while the Bia Beag Meet The Producer roadshow fetches up once more in the Cook’s Academy for Meet The Brewer (June 15) with guests including Caroline Hennessy, co-author of Sláinte, the complete guide to Irish Craft Beer and Cider ( www.cooksacademy.com ).
The Menu is a flighty sort, not one to repeatedly re-plough the same furrow when it comes to the nosebag and can hardly boil water to the same recipe twice running.
But each year, all changes for a few weeks as he consumes steamed new Irish potatoes night after night, served with large pats of melting golden butter, freshly-chopped parsley and ground black pepper.
This year, first sampling came courtesy of Farmer and Veg grower Dave Barry, of Ballintubber Farm, who brought some of his new Homeguards to market and very nice they were too, sweet, almost waxy and brimming with the vigour of youth. www.facebook.com/Ballintubber-Farm
Email details of Irish food news/events/produce to themenu@examiner.ie
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, 355ml; 7.2 % ABV — €3.79
Stockists: Bradleys, Matsons, Hollands Bray, Carry-Out Waterford, Redmonds, McHughs, Martins Fairview.
Brooklyn Brewery’s Garret Oliver presented this during his main beer tasting at this year’s Kerrygold LitFest in Ballymaloe and it’s a good example of his original thinking. Lemon and herb-scented Sorachi Ace hops were developed in Japan but were rarely used. Oliver is one of those that rediscovered them and gave them their place in the sun. Sunshine is an apt word — this is a bright sunny Belgian-style Saison Ale with lemongrass and dill aromas achieved through dry-hopping with the Sorachi and some fine crispness from the pilsner malts. Also in large bottles.
— Leslie Williams
