Pig Feast in Tower

Slow Food Event

Slow Food Cork City has a great event coming up. They are visiting Caroline Robinson's organic farm on February 20th at 2pm. You will learn all there is about grow your own vegetables in all type of spaces. If you think you don't have the space - think again.

Caroline Robinson is well known in Cork having established the Farmer's Market in Cork City (currently opposite the Opera House) on Saturdays. It has 'grown' over the years and is now a gathering spot for shoppers on a Saturday morning in Cork City.

Caroline will talk about seeding, planting, composting, polytunnels etc. Cakes, tea and coffee will make this more a social gathering than an educational afternoon. Costs for members are €15, non-members are €20 - all is included.

Directions to Caroline's farm are given at time of booking. Places are limited, so don't wait too long. Email Caz & Deirdre on corkcity@slowfoodireland.com to secure your place.

Slow Food and Mystery Dining

Slow Food is offering a mystery dining tour on Tuesday, 13th with some of Corks best restaurants. The evening will kick off with a glass of bubbly in Interior Living in McCurtain Street. From there you will be walking to your first location for starter....then to the mains......and then to desserts .... read more here

Slow Food in the Butter Museum

Ever fancied to learn how to make your own butter???? Then join Slow Food on Tuesday 30th March at the Butter Museum. Enjoy a tour through the museum, watch a live butter making procedure and tuck into some yummy homemade scones and jam while learning about the history of the butter in Cork.

The event will start at 6.30pm

Please book your place by replying to corkcity@slowfoodireland.com

Looking forward to seeing you all. Places are limited so book early!

Cost is €10 members and €15 non members.

Hope to see you all there. It will be an afternoon of fun

Terra Madre Day in Hosford

Terra Madre Day was celebrated last night by West Cork Slow Food Convivium in Hosford. Headchef of Geranium Cafe, Olive Brennan and Frank Krawcyzk cooked a lovely meal for about 30 attending foodies. Sue was my 'date' for the night and we met some lovely people. Anthony Creswell from Ummera Smokehouse was not only in attendance but sponsored his famous smoked salmon. Sally Barnes, a power woman on my eyes, also came along. It is always a pleasure to meet the producers who still - after so many years, have such a passion for their craft.

We were treated to some canapes of smoked salmon on homebaked bread, spiced beef from Frank Krawcyzk with beetroot and lovely pate with gherkins.....the empty plates were proof enough of the quality and taste.

The main course was a cassoulet with sausages,pork, beans and lots of other goodies. Olive took pity on us poor veggies and made a lovely dish of spiced puy lentils with roasted pumpkin and feta cheese, served with pesto and homebaked bread. The bread of the night was supplied by Alan Tennison....saying that his lovely wife had to do the baking this time as Alan was down with 'man-flu' (hope you are feeling better soon).

Dessert was a massive mince pie and wow what a treat.....juicy yummy mincemeat covered with a crisp pastry....I was able to finish mine ... but Sascha made sure that the plate was emptied anyway :-)

All in all, a great night. Dianne welcomed everyone with her usual warm hugs and everyone felt part of a big family.

John Hosford told us all about the winter duties of a gardener and how to start growing your own...make sure you get down there to get the new seeds that just came in.

Slow Food West Cork are launching together with Rose Holland (town counsellor in Bandon) a box scheme for deserving families in the Deerpark area to make sure they are having a great Christmas. Ruth Healy of Urru Bandon sponsored a Hamper which was won by Jeremy. Check West Cork's website to see how much money was raised for this great cause.

Slow Food Event at Gort Na Nain

There are only a few spaces left for the tour through Ultan Walsh's vegetable farm. This is an event not to be missed (that's why I will be there).

Ultan will show us around his farm and tell us all about his beginnings. He is well known for unusual varieties (so you can expect more than just onions and cauliflower) and his knowledge is second to none. He uses only purely organic growing methods and will be happy to explain it all to us. We will also be treated to a lovely picnic which will be prepared by him and his lovely partner Lucy. He is such a good cook that Denis Cotter even used his recipes in his latest cookbook.

The event starts at 11:30 0n Saturday, 20th June. I know this is a bit early but it is the best time to snoop around the farm.

If you are interested in attending this event, contact Caz on ccslowfood@gmail.com to secure your place. Hope to see you all there :-)

Food Festival in Lisdoonvarna

Lisdoonvarna was the place to be last weekend. Slow Food Clare had organised a Food Festival. It started on Friday afternoon with speeches from John McKenna and several Clare based business people on different subjects. As I went to the Cork City Slow Food event instead - I missed all the speeches. Local restaurants had special rates for visitors.

Saturday and Sunday was dedicated to cooking demonstrations and farmer's market. Darina Allen opened the market on Saturday with a speech that we all should support our local markets but she also hit out on institutions like prisons, hospitals etc to buy more Irish produce (I totally agree here by the way).

We met Thomas from the Ponaire Coffee Roastery in Limerick. A nice guy. His wife is doing all the roasting of the beans herself and Steve was a happy man leaving the stall with 2 big packages of strong coffee. Cheese - my favourite subject next to wine was also on offer. We got some amazing matured cheddar (not Hegarty's but very close) and I grabbed also some Irish feta. All types of cakes, bread, jams etc were on display and all stalls had tastings to offer. I loved the atmosphere as it was buzzing and the stall holders were happy to talk about their produce. I had 2 great days in Clare.

Sunday morning we went for a spin as the BBQ wouldn't start before 1pm and ended up in The Burren Perfumery - okay okay, it's not foodie but I enjoyed myself nevertheless.

Back to Lisdoonvarna....wow it was even more buzzing than on Saturday - with live music wanting you to linger around longer. Cooking demonstrations were given by Darina Allen (in lieu for Clodagh McKenna who cancelled), Dianne Curtin (an amazing chef and food writer), Natasha from Living Foods and so many more. We were also treated to some great Burren Smoked fish.......hmmmmmm...still dreaming. There was also some Italian wine available which I didn't buy for some reason - okay one reason, they didn't have tastings and I still have loads of wine at home....

Hope your weekend was as good as mine - but I doubt it :-)

Chocolate Day at Eve's

Eve St Leger is opening the door to her amazing chocolate workshop on Friday 15th May at 6:30. She will give us an overview on how she started her business before she shows us around her workshop - and I am sure she will let us try some of her amazing creations.

Hope to see you there

Slow Food Grandmother Day

Slow Food Ireland is having a Grandmother Day in April. East Cork are having kids cook in their schools with their nannies, West Cork are inviting Grannies to Hosford Garden Centre.

Cork City is eager to match all these events with their own Granny Day. We are looking for grandmothers who are willing to share their recipes, remedies etc. We would like to archive these on a DVD for future generation to enjoy and use.

Are you a grandmother or do you know one who would like to take part in the project? We will be meeting for a coffee morning on Saturday 25th April in Cork City (I am hoping to get the meeting room in St Peter & Paul Church - but need to confirm this). Our camera man Nick will do the filming. All participants will receive a DVD and depending on the success we might even publish it (also depending on the permission of the grandmothers).

Please get in touch either through this website (leave a comment) or the Slowfood blog (link on the left hand side) or send an email to ccslowfood@gmail.com .

I believe that this is a great idea and hope deeply that we will find a lot of grannies who would like to keep the knowledge they have alive for their grand and great-grandchildren.

More details for Pork Event

More information to the Pork Event:

It will start at 12pm with a demo and talks of very very good producers, followed by a 3-course at 1pm. Costs for the event is €35 and Slow Food will open the famous Heron Court Cafe off Main Street in Bandon for this not to miss event.

Please register with Simone at Interior Living in McCurtain Street, Cork.

See you all on Sunday

Slow Food Event - Support your local pig farmers

Next Sunday, 18th January West Cork and Cork City Convivium come together to bring you 'The Pig Extravangza'.

To celebrate National Pork Weekend our first event of 2009 will centre around one of the longest traditions in Cork. An evening of exciting eating and great chat is planned down west next Sunday, the 18th of January.

Speakers include award winning butcher Martin Carey, Willie and Avril Allshire of Caherbeg. Free Range Pork Farm and Rosscarbery Recipes, Frank Krawcykz, salami maker and artisan, Anthony Creswell of Ummera smoked bacon plus guest chefs. A 3-course meal is included. Costs for Slow Food member €35 (have to check for non-members).

More Info To Follow ... this is not to be missed. Make sure you join us for this outstanding event

SlowFood in January - Not to be missed

Darina is holding A Celebration of Irish Pork at the Ballymaloe Cookery School on Saturday 17th January starting at 2pm. You can come and meet the organic pigs and see how they range freely and forage for food. Local pig-farmer Noreen Conroy will come along and demonstrate how to make sausages, and you’ll have the opportunity to give it a go yourself! They will also roast Pork on a spit, with big sandwiches to try! Entry for Slow Food members €30.00, entry for non-members €40.00
Also in January, they are holding A Fun Cookery Course for Children. The kids will learn how to make pizza, cupcakes, lemonade and much more!! This event is on Saturday 24th January, starting at 2.00pm at the Ballymaloe Cookery School. Children of Slow Food members €20.00 and children of non-members €25.00. This would be an ideal Christmas gift – it promises to be a really fun afternoon!
Finally, local spice guru and chef Arun Kapil of Green Saffron will be coming to Ballymaloe Cookery School to show us some traditional cooking techniques from India as well as demonstrating how to blend spices to make fantastic curries. As always, there will be the opportunity to taste everything at the end of the evening. This event will be held at the Ballymaloe Cookery School on Friday 20th February starting at 7.00pm. Slow Food members €30.00, non-members €40.00.

To book a place on any of these events, please either email slowfood@cookingisfun.ie or call 021 4646785. We look forward to seeing you! Don't forget to visit the Slow Food website to see what else is on across the country - www.slowfoodireland.com. A gift of Slow Food membership makes an ideal present for a foodie friend.

Bread Making Course

Declan Ryans Bread is offering a breadmaking course beginning this Wednesday November 12th and there are some places left.

The course runs for four weeks every Wednesday evening from 7pm.

Cost €250, and €220 for slow food members.

Please call Simone 086 8100386 for booking or further info.

Skibbereen Food Festival Part 3

Having had a great Friday, I had of course great expectations for Saturday. Mona has asked me what time I wanted breakfast and we agreed on 8:30. When I came down, there was no sign of her (and I even waited a bit)...so I went upstairs again to relaxed a bit more. By 9:45 she came out in a fury as her alarm clock was still showing 7:15.....but that didn't stop her to prepare a lovely breakfast consisting of a fruit plate with melon, mixed berries and yogurt and fruit coulis in a very attractive way presented. The 'main course' was slices of very good bacon (saw it, but didn't eat it - forgot to mention that I am a veggie), Welsh Rarebit, fried egg on toast, grilled tomato and pan fried mushrooms. Brown bread and very good butter completed the morning feast.

I was ready to see the country market which was held at the car park. A great mixture of food producer and car boot. I decided to go onto the boat trip offered (Ten island Tour) so I headed to Baltimore. It was my first time in Baltimore...and as nice as the day was, you can't do anything but sailing....anyway, I had a stroll around the village and waited for the boat to arrive. Met Monica Murphy from Le Febvre with her two 'golden' grandsons and we stayed together on the boat and had a lovely chat - not wine related this time ;-). food offered on the boat were sandwiches and cakes with some lovely red and white wine (didn't get to see the label but the red wine was lovely although cooled).

After the boat trip which lasted 2.5 hours, I headed home to open a lovely bottle of 1998 Produttori del Barbaresco...which went so well with the cheese I still had from the night before. Another day which was spent the way it was intended to be.

Sunday morning saw me heading back to Skibbereen (guess the car finds its way by itself by now) for the open air food and craft market. And I am glad I did as it was the type of market we should have more than just once a year. There were food producer, crafters and gardeners offering their products...and it was hard not to go overboard. You should have seen the cakes, chocolates, chutneys, lemonade, oils, meats etc....Simone from Slowfood Cork City was there to offer some really great olive oil from a small Italian producer. It tasted fresh and summerly...as soon as I have finished the bottle I have still at home, I will head to Interior Living in McCurtain Street in Cork City to get some of this fantastic oil.

The weekend ended with a visit at Lindas who was minding her nephew and niece....learned a new game as well called Hide & Seek...and of course I lost....

Hope you all had a weekend that can match mine ;-)

Slow Food Event

Slow Food Cork City is offering an amazing event to visit the Dexter Farm of Paul Johnson from the Traditional Meat Company. To book please contact Simone Kelly, Interior Living, 11 Mac Curtain Street, Cork. 021 4505819 or e mail Info@interiorliving.ie with your contact details

Terra Madre in Waterford

The Terra Madre took off last Thursday in Waterford. Unfortunately I wasn't able to be in Waterford for the entire time - now I wish I could have been there. I decided to take the bus rather than coming by car but that meant that I was in Waterford just before lunchtime - too late to attend the only 2 cooking demonstration on that day. Never mind, I thought, since it being lunchtime, simply go to the Slice of Waterford. Found Jenkins Lane quite quickly especially as posters directed me gently towards it.

It was a long tent where Waterfords best restaurants took up residence for the day. I had a snoop around and was mildly disappointed, firstly because the vegetarian option was pasta with a salmon sauce (something I simply don't like), baked potatoes or strawberries...not great options if you ask me. The tent was busy tho and I think most people went for the lamb burger but I took a rain check and went for a stroll through Waterford - it being my first time here.



Found the Terra Madre office and learned that the picnic for Sunday was cancelled due to flooding of the park. What a pity as that leaves just the farmer's market to visit...but it was well worth it. I helped out at the SlowFood van and sold lovely aprons and bags to the crowd. There was a buzz around especially as the weather was simply fantastic. Clodagh McKenna and Darina Allen opened the market and it very hard not to be infected by their love for the 'cause'. and guess what....we were located in front of McDonalds.....hope people got the hint ;-)

Waterford is a lovely town with small alleys and the people are almost as nice as in Cork ;-)

Slow Food Event

Good news....SlowFood Cork is organising a tour through the farm of Paul Johnson from the Alternative Meat Company combined with a lovely picnic......and wine is sponsored by Le Febvre which is always a treat. Tickets are €10 for adults and €8 for kids...the event is on Sunday, 28th September. I will post more details closer to the time.

Don't forget Terra Madre is on this weekend in Waterford. .....

Slow Food event

As most of you know I am a firm supporter of Slow Food and I am excited that Slow Food Ireland is hosting this years Terra Madre in Waterford. This is a 4-day event starting Thursday 4th September with the Organic Food Conference. The main event is on Friday with the Food Conference opened by Minister Martin Cullen and addressed by President Mary McAleese.

Darina Allen, chairperson of Slow Food Ireland, will be attending as well as Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini. Over 30 workshops will be taking place on Friday where you can learn from food producers, government representatives and food buyers.

You can register online at www.terramadreireland.com. Slow Food members can get a discount when registering before the end of August. To become a member, simply register on www.slowfoodireland.com.

I will be attending at least Saturday and Sunday..hopefully also Friday as this seems to be the main feature if you are interested in food politcs.

The program is:

Thursday, Organic Food Conference
Friday, Main Food Conference, also a Gala Banquet prepared by Chef Michael Quinn of Waterford Castle
Saturday, Guided Tours to Artisan Food Producers and a Slow Food Gala Dinner
Sunday, Huge Farmers Market and Eurotoque Event

Hope to see you all there

What's on

Summer at Country Choice will take place tonight in Nenagh and will feature a Languedoc Wine BBQ Supper with Catherine Wallace, a wine maker from France. The evening starts at 8pm with a rose wine tasting followed by the BBQ and a talk from Catherine. For more information and booking call Peter on 087-7931113 or Anne Marie on 067-32596

Farmer's Market at Castlehyde Courtyard, Fermoy will take place on Sunday from 12 to 4pm. The Brothers of Charity are hosting an Open Day with workshops for children, entertainment, music and an art exhibition

Slow Food Ireland in association with the Irish Natural Forestry Foundation presents The Slow Food Forrest Feast 'The Munch at the Manch' to celebrate Bio Diversity Week. Guest chefs like Diane Curtin and Fingal Ferguson will cook up a storm. Guided woodland walks, traditional craft workshops and lots of music are only things on offer in the setting of the Manch Estate, Ballineen, Co. Cork. Tickets costs €25, children €12. Contact Lynn on 023-22823 or email lynn@inff.ie, info@slowfoodireland.com

Slow Food

From tomorrow until Sunday, The Burren Slow Food Festival is taking place in Lisdonvarna, Co.Clare. For more information call Birgitta on 087 /8224173 or email her at slowfoodclare@hotmail.com