The menu: Food news with Joe McNamee
If the novelty of the New Year’s hairshirt is wearing thin or if you simply took some time to recover from the recent festive excesses, then there a pair of events perfectly timed to ease a body back into the swing of things once more.
The former Cork Burger Fest returns, but this time with a national reach, trading as Burger Fest 2018 (Jan 22-28), taking place in participating bars, restaurants, cafes, hotels, takeaways and even butchers throughout the land, all in search of Ireland’s ‘best burger’, with main sponsorship courtesy of Ballymaloe Relish. Events include pop-ups, tastings, manVfood challenges and daily specials, with a special festival pack available to participating establishments (further details online at www.festivalcrew.ie).
That sanctuary for sippers, suppers and skullers of craft beer, The Franciscan Well, returns with its sixth Cask Ales and Extraordinary Brew Festival (Jan 25-27) with a range of outré offerings as some of Ireland’s top independent brewers showcase some of their more experimental brews with Yellow Belly, Rising Suns, Metalman and West Cork Brewing just some of those participating and competing in the Beoir Cask Competition in the following categories: Best Lager; Best Pale; Best Stout; and Best Speciality. Naturally, in-house Pompeii will be on hand to soak up any excess. Open at 1pm each day and admission is free. www.franciscanwellbrewery.com
If a trip to a Buddhist monastery in the Tibetan Himalayas in search of inner peace is beyond your budget, perhaps a Calm Kitchen workshop (next one, Feb 25th) with Joanna Burke might suffice. A different take on a cookery class, it teaches the art of de-stressing through cooking as well as the tools of Intuitive Eating, in other words, an anti-diet approach that aims to connect bodily requirements with your true appetite by learning and trusting your hunger signals, all the while concocting a winter-warming vegetarian lunch. (www.thechoppingboard.ie)
The Menu would like to offer his congratulations to the recently recognised Sustainable Food Champions at the annual Cork Food Policy Council Awards, acknowledging projects, schools and businesses that excel in implementing healthy, sustainable food practices in Cork, city and county. Winners were: ‘Our Garden’ St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital (Non Profit Category); St Patricks National School, Skibbereen (Primary & Secondary Category); Kinsale College (Other Educational Category); and, a personal favourite of The Menu’s appearing weekly at his Farmer’s Market of the Year 2017, Caroline Robinson’s Chemical Free Vegetables (Business Category). www.corkfoodpolicycouncil.com
There have been times of late when The Menu wonders if he actually dwells in a transplanted South American coffee plantation for there is no doubt that Cork is becoming a veritable heartland for the Way of the Bean, as the ongoing accumulation of fine local roasters on Leeside continues apace. The latest arrival is Rob Horgan, proprietor of Cork’s cracking Café Velo, which he has recently expanded to include a new roastery and coffee dock. Keeping in mind the broad sweep of his very varied customer base, Rob’s roasts are perhaps not quite as exotic as some of the more experimental offerings available, tending to favour the middle ground but that is no criticism at all.
In fact, it ensures high quality roasts with broad appeal. A Colombian (Volcan del Quindio) proved a great post-prandial hit at The Menu’s Christmas table, particularly as part of an impromptu affogato (espresso and ice cream) made with Yum Gelato Christmas Pudding Vanilla Ice Cream. Sublimely balanced with a middling acidity, it is freighted with notes of toasted hazelnut, milky chocolate, lemony citrus and a hint of cherry and is equally good as a filter coffee.
www.cafevelo.ie
Bradleys, Martins, Vintry, Redmonds, World Wide Wines, Independents
Augustiner-Braü is the oldest independent brewery in the great brewing city of Munich. It dates to 1328. The outlets mentioned above usually stock this beer, but it is perennially in short supply, due to its popularity everywhere from Berlin to Boston and, of course, throughout Bavaria.
German lager doesn’t feature here often, as there is usually little to say, but the Augustiner Helles is archetypal and well worth its reputation — a long (lagered) cold fermentation and purity of flavour set it apart. This pours beautifully clear, with a light, frothy head, biscuity, malt aromas and flavours, and an almost delicately pure, crisp finish.
Send food news/events/products to themenu@examiner.ie
