Articles

A growing body of research confirms that our food should be our medicine. So making time to shop well and cook for ones family becomes an even greater priority at a time when so many people are stressed and stretched to the limit trying to keep more balls in the air than is even remotely possible. Something has to give but it mustn’t be nourishing wholesome food – too much depends on dinner…
more...

This month Failte Ireland Food Champion Anthony O'Toole welcomes the recently released Fáilte Ireland Food and Drink Strategy for 2018-2023.
more...

BuJo (‘Burger Joint’) is a cool modern fast casual restaurant with a slow food ethos beating at its sustainable and eco-friendly heart. There's no phone and no email - you just rock up and make yourself comfortable - and the menu is not available online, unfortunately, but Micheal Sheary’s neighbourhood burger joint is an exceptional casual dining destination.
more...

There’s always a rush to the bookshops coming up to Christmas, but this is a calmer time to add to our collections - especially if we’re lucky enough to have book vouchers to use. You can never have too many good books about food, and - like the ones that this month’s recipes come from - the best ones can inspire us to travel and get the full experience too.
more...

The notion of gap years in a career was not totally invented by the present generation. After about two and a half years in our first jobs in Dublin, mine in Snaffles as a chef, Sile as a teacher in Basin Lane in the Liberties, we decided to throw all up and head for the world outside while we still had the liberty to do so.
more...

So what’s hot and what’s not on the 2018 food scene. Much energy and investment goes into predicting up-coming trends in the many areas of food production. From multinational companies to artisan producers and supermarket chains, all have a vested interest in having their finger on the pulse. Chefs too are keen to keep on top of emerging trends. So let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line.
more...

As we move towards sowing time, my inner critic is active again, goading me to get started on work in the veg patch. Every time I look out the window at the veg patch, or visit it to grab a leek or some parsnips for the dinner, it starts up its never-ending critical commentary.
more...

This month Darina talks about the myth that low fat is good for you - and why we need fat in our diet. So why not resolve to begin the new year with a better diet, enriched by food with plenty of good fats - including whole milk, cream and butter - on the menu.
more...

I am a massive fan of apples and the “apple a day keeps the doctor away” lessons of youth have stayed with me all my life. I’ve often thought it strange however, that such a traditional saying must surely have originated at a time when it would have been difficult to follow the advice and eat an apple each day all year round.
more...

We always went to Lotaville for lunch on Christmas day. Lotaville was my father’s family home, a stately Victorian Villa in Glanmire, overlooking the river Lee about 3 miles outside Cork city. It was what they call a “Gentleman’s Residence”, in about two or three acres of gardens, including a disused tennis court and large greenhouses where we were allowed to pick the delicious black grapes in September.
more...