Articles

As the New Year brings thoughts of restraint and good resolutions to eat more healthily, it is a happy coincidence that – although now available all year round – vitamin-packed citrus fruits are in their peak season in January and February, allowing us the opportunity to indulge with a clear conscience.
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Christmas is only around the corner and we have tips, recipes and a timing guide from Georgina Campbell that will ensure that you enjoy the most succulent Turkey, Quick Spiced Beef, Loin of Bacon with an Irish Mist glaze, various salads and the tastiest seasonal vegetables served together with "good gravy", cranberry sauce and bread sauce. And if this isn't enough then we follow it up with...
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Food lovers have many good reasons to head for beautiful and unspoilt West Waterford, and one of the best is the mouthwatering prospect of a meal at O’Brien Chop House, in the Heritage Town of Lismore. The O’Brien name stands out proudly in relief above the shopfront of this old grocery-bar, which is now home to an atmospheric restaurant, run by Justin and Jenny Green of nearby Ballyvolane House in East Cork.
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The festive season is in full swing and Christmas offers an escape from the everyday state of doom and gloom, so many establishments and companies have suggested ideas to help us make the most of it and enjoy every minute. Some hotels have come up with ingenious offerings...
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Eunice Power is a professional chef with over twenty years experience in the hospitality business. She runs Powersfield House in Dungarvan County Waterford, which is our B&B of the Year for 2012 and also the winner of the Best B&B Breakfast. Her philosophy is to use fresh, seasonal, locally produced food, sourced organically where possible.
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Few people can recall going into the festive season at a time of such doom and gloom. But many of us remember when little treats were much looked forward to – a tangerine, some plasticine, maybe a few balloons, colouring pencils, and doll dress up sets in our stockings.
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Set up by Arun Kapil in 2007, Green Saffron Spices (www.greensaffron.com) is a Cork based company specialising in supplying premium, farm-fresh whole spices and blends. While the spices are not Irish, of course, in just a few years they have become an integral part of the Irish food scene...
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Smoking is a popular preserving process for oily fish, with salmon being a particular delicacy made from sides of salmon (fillets) that are dry-cured or brined and then hot or cold smoked, typically over oak chips. Cold smoking is more usual and does not cook the fish, so it has a fine texture.
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There’s nothing to beat seeing a handsomely produced book on the shelf and books still make the greatest Christmas presents. This - the second month of our Christmas books selection - includes three great recipes for alternative desserts for your festive meals.
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Castlefarm is starting to get very festive looking. We decorated the farm shop last week and nearly all our organic turkeys have been sold. These come from the Colchesters’ organic farm in Kilkenny. I have also ordered Irish hams from O’Neill Foods, cranberry sauce from Gees Jams, candles from Derrynine candles, potatoes from John O’Brien, confectionery from Wicklow Fine Foods and lots more yummy festive Irish food.
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