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I think I along with many others suffer from Cookbook fatigue. I have read/own so many that most of the time I just skim through them, rarely picking up anything very new. Every so often something catches my eye, an unusual method or ingredient or a term and it is this that I want to make a note of here. It's probably been in use for ages but it was a new term for me. The dish was garnished with a cheek of lemon. How cute is that. In fact I think it must be a fairly new term because using the "cheek" is a fairly new phenomon. I noticed the old lemon/lime wedge was out of fashion and that the edge was being used about a year ago. This superceded another fashion which was to half the citrus and then wrap in muslin to facilitate their squeezing without the pip getting through. Which although it looks great has to hurt for the person who does the prep. Imagine wrapping tons of lemons just before service! Anyway some bright spark solved that problem by thinking outside the wedge and used the edge, it looks cool, eliminates pip problem and aside from wasting the middle bit of lemon is pretty easy to do. Rock on the cheeks.
As the title says.. back to work 0-200 mph in the space of 5 days. I'm not moaning it was back working on a cookery TV show which although it was very stressful was also great fun. This time around it was on Neven Maguire's new series, Home Chef 3. We were fiming out in Avoca's Rathcoole branch. We were made feel very welcome and the staff were more than helpful they literally spoiled us.
Much to the amusement of everyone and just to make life a little bit more complicated, both myself and the Home Ec Sharon had to Express behind the scenes as we are both new-ish Mums and are still breast feeding... The show will be airing early in the New Year, I look forward to checking it out. There are some lovely dishes, look out for the Chicken and Bulmers recipe..
Just a quick post. Made some Anzac cookies and was pretty taken with them. They're kind of like homemade Hob Nobs with a hint of chewy-ness and coconuttey-ness. Very good with a cup of tea, in fact too nice it's very hard to have just one or two... Or maybe I'm just a pig at the moment....! Don t mind saying that as I'm still breast feeding and one must indulge...
Manys the time when I've found myself in the Henry street area needing a food stop. While of course there are loads of places to eat, I'm always wanting a nice bowl of soup or a cup of tea and cake in nice surroundings ie not a shopping centre or sticky tabled pub... While on a wander last weekend we stumbled on this place - Foam. Now I don't know for sure but it is possibly also a late night venue but on a Sunday morning it was lovely and bright with decidedly quirky decor. We were served great homemade tea and scones, though I was tempted by their omelettes they looked good.
It had a very NY feel, and in my book that's always a good thing.
I thought I'd share my new favourite coffee place with you. It's The Humble bean on, is it Aungier street or South great Georges st? As it's one and the same road depending on where you are on it, if your out and about in that area you'll find it. As a complete aside but nerdy point, the same road goes on to be both Wexford street and Camden St. One of those dublinease quirks, must be a nightmare to be a tourist in this town. Getting back to the coffee, it's perfect, I always go for a latte and I think it knocks Lemon of my top spot. The coffee is really mellow and the milk just so. Mmm, it's my new treat in town and as it's on my route home I'm finding it's become a regular fixture of trips with the buggy, now I need to master the art of one hand pram wheeling and I'll be hooked proper.
In my fantasy tea shoppe/cafe I dream of serving lots of things, among them mini versions of loaf cakes. I got these dinky tins in the US last year and eventually christened them last week. I've made this Banana bread plenty of times it's a recipe from Bill's first book and is really very delicious. My buddy disagrees with me that chocolate is an acceptable addition to banana bread, he has notions... Anyway I managed to swing him around with these, they look cute in mini version and are lovely served with a strong coffee. Next stop Nigella's dense chocolate loaf....
After much discussion and gentle persuasion I was talked out of attempting an overseas holiday with the little fella. Much as I love getting away I was pleased enough to be heading to Ardmore in Waterford on a mini break. We stayed in the Cliff House Hotel, it was pretty fabulous. The rooms all look out over the water, the building itself hugs the cliff which makes for an unusual layout. But although it was beautifully appointed throughout, what caught my eye most was the green roof. Not as in the colour green but living, it was planted with some moss like plant which was a gorgeous pinky colour. On arrival we were starving, our appetites were well sated by the bar menu. I had the Hake with pearl barley risotto and I have to say it delivered lots of taste, flavour and contrasting textures, I was very happy indeed. The following day we were booked in to the Michelin starred restaurant. Maybe it's because I'm breastfeeding and have an appetite like I've never had before but I found the food a bit fiddley and overly clever. It all looked beautiful my starter of peas and tomatoes 2011 was plated like a painting but I can't say it was lovely to eat and so it went on, I would have happily had my Hake from the night before over the John Dory I chose. How and ever I thoroughly enjoyed myself, the staff were excellent and as we had organised a baby sitter It was great to have an evening out together. Before we knew it it was time to go home but not before we had a quick roadway stop to pick up some Wexford strawberries and spuds. I was asked which spuds would I like, I enquired of different varieties and the reply was no would you like small or large?! And in fairness these were definately spuds you would boil whole with the jackets on something I haven't done in a long time.
So we'll see where we end up for next holiday. I think I'll be in need of some sun but the little fella is averse so more discussions methinks.
