The Menu: The Big Grill Festival, Dublin
With a schedule featuring some of the world’s top BBQ stars and pitmasters, and Ireland’s very first US-style ‘low’n’slow’ BBQ competition along with the Weber’s Interactive Grill Academy, there should be plenty of carnivorous capering afoot and an even greater range of wines, beers and ciders along with a small-batch liquor and cocktail bar to wash it all down.
The festival is equally renowned for the quality of on-site entertainment for all ages, including live music and international artists of impeccable pedigree and a games zone and large play area for children.
But surely one of the draws of the weekend has to be DJ BBQ who will be ratcheting up the hip quotient to 11 by DJ-ing AND serving up his famous 21-hour low’n’slow pulled pork and his Piggy Backs, prime beef burgers topped with pulled pork. www.biggrillfestival.com
The Menu makes no apology whatsoever for returning with yet more news of an old favourite, GIY Ireland, the grow-it-yourself movement that began six years ago in Waterford and now includes over 65,000 registered members.
The latest initiative, in tandem with Renault Ireland, is entitled #GrowItYourSelfie, in which growers throughout the nation post a selfie of themselves and their homegrown produce, anything from a pot on the patio to an entire field, and post it online with the #GrowItYourSelfie hashtag with the most popular image as voted by the public in with a chance to win a Renault Fluence Z.E Electric Car.
The campaign is a fundraiser for the GROW HQ with participants texting ‘GIY’ to 57802 to donate €2 towards the building of a permanent home for GIY Ireland, housing a grow school, cookery school, café, farm shop and food gardens.
A shortlist of the best entries will be published with the public voting on the overall winner in August. www.giyinternational.org
The Menu has had a number of opportunities of late to sample chef Bryan McCarthy’s excellent cooking in the very delightful Greene’s ( www.greenesrestaurant.com), on MacCurtain St, and can highly recommend the new Tasting Menus (with wine pairings also available for a small and competitive surcharge) and while yet to dine in The Pantry, in Kinsale, he is told by some very reliable birdies that the current Sunday Brunch offering is worth travelling for ( www.thepantrykinsale.com ).
Finally, congratulations to Blackwater Distillers, whose Blackwater No 5 (an essential component in The Menu’s G&T repertoire!) and Blackwater Poteen beat off all manner of internationally-renowned competition to scoop two silvers at this year’s impossibly prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition in London. ( www.blackwaterdistillery.ie )
As Taste of Cavan ( www.thisiscavan.ie ) takes place over this weekend, offering ample opportunity to meet some excellent Lake County producers and sample their wares, The Menu is compelled to make special mention of Claire and Kieron Moran and their fine jams and preserves, made from local fruit whenever possible.
The Menu especially enjoyed their Blackcurrant & Guinness Jam, particularly served with another Lake County favourite, one of cheesemaker Silke Cropp’s very splendid Corleggy Cheeses. ( www.moranshomestore.com & www.corleggycheeses.com )
Email details of Irish food products/events/news to themenu@examiner.ie
Falling Apple Medium Gravity Cider 500ml, 5% ABV
Galvins Carry Out, Abbot Ale House, Matsons, O’Briens, Molloys, Dublin
Falling Apple is a sister company of the Carlow Brewing Company (O’Haras) who have been busy these past few months with a number of new brews and collaborations.
This is a pressed fresh apple craft cider made mainly from Bramleys (Armagh) plus some eaters including Katy and Elstar. The addition of some Michelin and Dabinett cider apples firms up the flavour.
Pale straw in colour with ripe sweet apple and pear aromas — dry on first taste with some tannic structure and some richness on the middle and finish. A well-made refreshing summer cider worth trying with food.
