Articles

Outdoor dining is the big theme this summer - and you can be sure that Darina does things differently…
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Excitement is building all over Ireland as hospitality prepares to re-open – and nowhere more so than at GROW HQ, the beautiful GIY headquarters and café just across the road from the University Hospital on the Dumore Road in Waterford, which re-opens on 7th June and is perfectly set up for atmospheric outdoor dining...
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While President Biden’s Earth Day summit on 22nd April was the highlight event on the international stage, the day also inspired myriad public contributions from businesses, organisations and individuals all over the world, including Ireland. We especially enjoyed this one from Richard Corrigan’s Co Cavan property, Virginia Park Lodge, because it sums up the optimism, energy, generosity and practicality of the man himself - the world needs more like that - and, importantly, the Top Ten Tips remind us of the simple things that we can all do to make a difference.
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With beef, butter and potatoes among the winners of the 2021 Irish Food Writers’ Guild (IFWG) Food Awards, food staples certainly took centre stage...
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Again this spring, fine weather has allowed great use of our outdoor spaces - Darina’s delighted to have the barbecue out again and to share her expertise: it’s all about temperature control …
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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 is likely to remain closed for the 2021 season. But they're enjoying the summer coming in - and, with elderflower cordial in the making, Martin reflects on how the French and the Irish tend to respond to the foreswearing of alcohol ...
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The famous foodie who’s flying the tricolour for us in Texas is planning for 2022 - when travel will be back with a vengeance
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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 is likely to remain closed for the 2021 season. But they are finding lockdown less difficult as the spring comes in - and, as ever in the Dwyer household, tasty food is their main highlight (along with the daily walk)...
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The EU does a lot of good deeds by stealth but its citizens need to know about them...I happened on an impressive EU cookbook, Sensational! Cooking with Great European Products, by chance the other day. It seems to have become available rather than be launched with the fanfare it deserves, which is a pity. It outlines the history, purpose and value of the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) labels, and illustrates the point with some lovely recipes by talented chefs from all of the member countries.
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Like many of us, Darina is missing travelling - and her solution is to 'travel' in her own kitchen…
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