The Menu: more Waterford wonders to sample in the Déise County
Mount Congreve Gardens, Waterford. Pic: Colin Shanahan
The Menu first encountered Sean Monahan of Two Hats Pizza over a decade ago when they were brought together to work on a book project, The Menu supplying wordage by the yard and photographer Monahan supplying the images.
The project never really got off the ground but The Menu’s abiding memory remains the calibre of Monahan’s photography.
In the years since, Monahan has morphed from food observer to practitioner with his deservedly popular East Cork food business, Two Hats Pizza, and he has now finally got around to the publication he was always destined to create, and this time, is looking after the words as well.
(Two Hats Pizza) is an extremely comprehensive guide for amateur domestic pizza makers — though pros will certainly take a keen interest in the Irish produce guides — even if it veers more towards those owners of domestic garden pizza ovens.
Technical info around recipes and cooking guides and times are solid and the guide to Irish pizza-friendly produce is especially good, particularly the focus on Irish farmhouse cheesemakers and Monahan’s encouragement to roam beyond the traditional cheeses employed as pizza toppings.
Best of all, of course, are Monahan’s near-edible photos.
- Instagram: @twohatspizzaco
The Menu can hardly believe that 14 years have passed since he first spoke to the inimitable Sam Bishop, the founder of Street Feast, about his then-fledgling project promoting community and inclusion by bringing streets and even neighbourhoods together to create their own Street Feast in order to form greater and more cohesive social connections.
Now, an estimated 140,000 residents are set to take part in this year’s Street Feast, for the first time running over two days (May 25/26) for a weekend of street parties and celebrations, involving anything from a small gathering in front garden or at a street corner right up to a complete neighbourhood takeover of an entire street or shared communal spaces, such as greens, public parks, car parks and community centres, with 98% of participants reporting an increased sense of belonging.
- To register and receive your free Street Feast party pack, complete with bunting, posters, invites and DIY guide, see streetfeast.ie
After a wonderful weekend at the Waterford Food Festival, and his regular visits to the city and county of Waterford throughout the year, The Menu believes that Waterford is on the cusp of something truly special when it comes to food and hospitality.
Not least because of the revival of Mount Congreve and its splendid gardens (pictured above), which host Art in the Gardens (May 4-6) with Artform, a three-day celebration of visual art at which artists of all levels of ability can join artist-led Paint-Outs or Draw-Alongs or even simply watch artists at work in the idyllic surroundings.
There is also the opportunity for the artists to show and sell works on the day in a pop-up ‘exhibition on easels’ with prizes.
And when it comes time to lay down brush and take up bread, an artist’s picnic is available for all participants from The Pantry at CLIFF at Mount Congreve Gardens.
Keen-eyed readers and Dear Old Sainted Mother Menu will recall recent mention of chef Keith Boyle and his new role as executive head chef at Mountain View, the delightful rural hospitality venue in Co Kilkenny.
This will be the venue for an upcoming Dinner With The MasterChefs (May 4), as part of the inaugural Foodie Fest (May 4/5) at the same venue.
And, while The Menu is profoundly allergic to the word, ‘foodie’, he can certainly find some merit in the prospect of contestants from BBC’s MasterChef, delivering a host of culinary masterclasses, including Italian-style cooking, food recycling and BBQ tips and tricks, while the dinner itself will feature the food of MasterChefs Nick Rapson, Forest Kwok and Matthew Samuels, delivering a four-course menu in the lovely Greenhouse Restaurant at Mountain View.
Though London may not be in The Menu’s immediate purview, he thought it very well worth mentioning that in the ever-splendid Big Grill’s 10th year on the festival circuit, his old comrade Andy Noonan and team at Big Grill BBQ & Food Festival will be introducing Big Grill London (June 8/9), a two-day barbecue and food festival at the award-winning Five Points Brewing Company in Hackney, East London, bringing together huge names in food, barbecue and beverages from both sides of the water, which would all make for a mighty fine weekend away while still flying the Irish flag.
