Articles

Like many of us, Darina is missing travelling - and her solution is to 'travel' in her own kitchen…
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Pivoting has been one of the most-used words throughout the pandemic - and with good reason, as those able to see opportunities and move quickly to change direction are staying the course. But it’s not a new concept, as lifelong hospitality professional Joe Hughes explains. Here he shares his experience of pivoting from high-end hotel management to an entirely different tourism sector - and makes some predictions about future opportunities.
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As GIY founder, Michael Kelly, said at the launch of their latest campaign Grow it Forward, “The pandemic has seen a record number of people turn to growing their own food and discovering the joy and pride that brings. The process of seeing a seed turn into a seedling and eventually food you can eat is full of magic and no shortage of optimism.
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Our national chocoholism is no secret– and, although it revs up to full gear at Easter, when it’s not just about eggs and symbols of spring, there are plenty of theme-free top quality chocolates all year. While Ireland’s growing reputation for quality chocolate is largely thanks to excellent mainstream producers such as Butlers, Lily O’Briens, and Lir, smaller-scale chocolate specialists are making a big impact as well. We’ve selected just ten of Ireland’s growing band of top chocolatiers, who produce everything from exquisite creations for the most discerning recipient to fun family gifts - and all of those below offer an online shopping and delivery service for your gifting needs.
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GIY founder Mick Kelly has plenty of advice for everyone who’s starting out to grow some food crops this year - and the great news is that you don’t even need a garden!
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Darina shares the joy of new season rhubarb: “ I've just had my first rhubarb of the year, a sublime bowl of roast rhubarb drizzled with Jersey pouring cream…”
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A year after Covid-19 first darkened our lives, things are beginning to look up at last - but we’re all getting really weary. So, now that we’re on the home straight and the prize is in sight, it’s more important than ever to focus on keeping well...
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Martin and Sile Dwyer’s Chambre d’Hôte in the Languedoc has been closed by Covid for months on end and, as for everyone in lockdown, the daily walk has become their main highlight. As spring arrives, the foraging year begins, adding interest to their outings - and some of the wild food that’s there for the taking in France is surprisngly exotic…
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Flowers are synonymous with gifting - but not all flowers are equal. Fresh, lively, seasonal flowers from a local grower will out-class the superficial perfection of imported ones any day - and many of our home grown blooms have beautiful natural fragrance too, which is rarely the case with those flown in from afar. And, as well as the pleasure given to the recipient, there’s the satisfaction of supporting Irish businesses too - just like our food producers, flower farmers urgently need our help.
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While St Valentine's Day will be very different this year, there are plenty of ways to make sure it's a memorable occasion - and an excellent start would be to order one of the many excellent celebration menus available for collection or delivery. Here's just a few of the best, selected by Jillian Bolger for you to choose from...
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