The Menu has long been meaning to make mention of the wonderful little Garden Café, sited in a Victorian glasshouse perched just above the heart of Blackpool, and a wonderful combination of pop-up supper and photo exhibition has given him ample reason to do so. 

The Leeside ladies Ali Honour of Ali’s Kitchen and Kate Lawlor of Fenn’s Quay head for the Big Smoke for the third in a series of dinners to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the formation of Euro-Toques Ireland, all cooked by the chef-members themselves. 

The Restaurants Association has changed the name of their former Foodie Town destination initiative, now calling it Foodie Destination 2016.

Whenever mention is made of Valentia Island, a guilty Menu reverts yet again to that much-scored spot on his mental checklist.

The Menu enjoyed a splendid repast, cooked by some of Ireland’s finest chefs, including Eurotoque Ireland General Commissioner, Graham Neville, of Dublin’s Restaurant 41, at Ballymaloe House this week. 

PRANDIAL PATRIARCHS

Perfect picnic

Several years ago, while raising six offspring and also working with husband Denis in their shared business, Sheila Kiely found the time to write (and photograph!) her first cookbook, Gimme the Recipe, and the follow-up, Enjoy! Food You’ll Love (Mercier Press) has hit the shelves.

For a spell, the gastronomic reputation of the lovely seaside town of Kinsale appeared to be succumbing to a certain flabbiness of practice but recent years has seen the arrival of some sharp new operators raising standards across the board. 

The Menu wrestled with his conscience as he was dearly tempted not to advertise at all a Slow food West Cork dinner (April 27) in Pilgrim’s Restaurant, in Rosscarbery, and instead snaffle up the tickets himself, for it is an asparagus feast, a tasting menu based around the sublime green spear, which is just now coming into season.

It takes a special kind of cookbook to earn a mention in The Menu and The Farmette Cookbook: Recipes & Adventures from My Life on an Irish Farm (Roost Books), by Imen McDonnell, is certainly such a tome. 

As well as being a wonderful restaurateur, running two fine Dublin-based establishments, Cake Café and Slice, The Menu’s weekly colleague Michelle Darmody has always operated above and beyond the base requirements of the industry.

Slow Food West Cork host a delightful ‘Pick and Plant’ event (March 20) at Nick’s permaculture smallholding in Rossbrin, near Ballydehob.

The Irish Food Writers’ Guild announced the annual selection of the best of Irish producers and food heroes.

O’Haras Notorious Red IPA; 5% ABV, 500ml — €3.39

 

The bould Neidín is hardly a very wet week back from his winter sojourn in St Tropez and The Menu is saddling him up once more, this time for a gallop of the west coast to Knockranny House Hotel, for the Wine Producers’ Weekend (February 26-27). 

Whenever The Menu finds himself down in his cups, gloomily pondering the future of the planet, it is invariably an encounter with youth that restores his moral equilibrium and faith in humanity.

FEED THE LOVE

Attention, Class! 

The Menu couldn’t be happier than to hymn the praises of the Cork Coffee Weekend.

Time once more for Mystic Menu to ponder a culinary year ahead and, appropriately, for his first glimpse into the future, he is not taking stock but talking stock. 

Part II of The Munchies 2015, The Menu’s annual accolades saluting the people and achievements that stood out in Ireland’s culinary calendar over the past 12 months.

Nobody knows Irish food better than Joe McNamee. From chutney to cheese, craft beer to chocolate, he’s put together The Menu’s Annual Christmas Hamper – full of the local products that really stood out this year. Plus, he’s got the top gifts for foodies.

The Menu can highly recommend a bracing walk on the beach followed by a visit to the East Cork Christmas Market (Dec 13, 11.30am-4.30pm) for some delightful festive treats, handmade crafts and a chance to order your Christmas poultry, baking and local veg with all voluntary admission donations going to ARC Cancer Care Support.

Food news with Joe McNamee.

THE REAL DEAL

Of all the fine foodstuffs produced on this green isle, The Menu finds it hard to look past our splendid farmhouse cheeses and so was delighted to see the Irish Cheese Awards finally afforded an occasion worthy of acknowledging that particular sector’s contribution to Irish food at a most splendid night at Ballymaloe. 

Film Festival signals return of Lasse Hallstrom’s Chocolat