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Thu, Jun 10, 2010

The Nutrition and Health Foundation has teamed up with top chef Rozanne Stephens who has come up with quick and nutritious, budget friendly, recipes.

Kirby’s of Cross Street

Thu, May 20, 2010

While walking up Quay Street last Thursday at about 7.30pm I noticed that every restaurant has a cordoned off area outside with tables and some brave diners/smokers. It is such a pity that we cannot have warm balmy evenings to enjoy food outside as it really is a great way to eat and watch the world go by. Maybe our city fathers would consider putting a roof over the street and blowing in warm air? It is more or less wall to wall restaurants now in Quay Street with great value deals posted everywhere.

Celebrity chef Ken Hom to cook up an Oriental storm at Anthony Ryans Homestore

Thu, May 20, 2010

The original celebrity chef Ken Hom will visit Galway for the first time on Saturday when he visits Anthony Ryans Homestore to launch the new range of Tao Plus cookware. As part of the launch Ken Hom will be carrying out live oriental cookery demonstrations at 12 noon and 2pm, and will also be signing autographs. As part of the launch there will be great offers and promotions with up to 50 per cent off Ken Hom Cookware. In addition there will be an in-store competition to win free cookware.

Lots to enjoy at Lottie’s Cakes & Slices

Thu, May 20, 2010

Cakes are an ideal opportunity to make celebrations even more special. Lottie's Cakes & Slices believes special occasions deserve special cakes.

Great lunch bargains at the g Hotel

Thu, May 13, 2010

As some readers may have noticed, I am a fan of the g Hotel; I am not saying staff do everything better than everyone else, however they do a lot of things excellently. It still has the reputation for being expensive and indeed some items like the champagne afternoon tea are, but then again it is a special occasional treat and you pay for the ambience and service.

Great lunch bargains at the g Hotel

Thu, May 13, 2010

As some readers may have noticed, I am a fan of the g Hotel; I am not saying staff do everything better than everyone else, however they do a lot of things excellently. It still has the reputation for being expensive and indeed some items like the champagne afternoon tea are, but then again it is a special occasional treat and you pay for the ambience and service.

COPE Galway Community Catering

Thu, May 06, 2010

I recently visited the kitchen of a wonderful service called Community Catering from COPE Galway. This is the new name of what used to be the service known as ‘Meals on Wheels’. COPE Galway Community Catering provides daily nutritional support for Galway city's older people. While the service is primarily for older people it is not exclusively so. They also provide meals to anyone who, through disability or injury, is unable to prepare a hot meal for themselves.

Oscar’s bistro is ten years old

Thu, May 06, 2010

Oscars bistro is 10 years old this month, and to celebrate it has launched a free online cookbook which contains recipes and photographs of not only dishes from Oscar’s but also recipes and photographs using a wide range of the great foods of Galway. The book can be viewed at www.oscarsbistro.ie

Oscar’s will never compromise on the quality of ingredients. The bistro offers some of the best value in Galway including an excellent choice of seafood — see the menu at www.oscarsbistro.ie which is regularly updated depending on what is seasonally best.

KC Blake’s Pantry celebrates five years in Knocknacarra

Thu, May 06, 2010

KC Blake’s Pantry is celebrating five years in business in its Knocknacarra store this weekend. To mark the occasion, the company will be giving customers a weekend of champagne and wine tasting, free samples of some of its delicious products, and some great competitions, including €50 vouchers for five customers who can name the five most popular dishes from KC Blakes’ large range of luxury meals.

New York berry pancakes

Thu, May 06, 2010

This welcome change to cereals or toasts comes from Canderel. Canderel granules are a great way for you to dramatically cut your calorie intake while maintaining the delicious sweet taste you love. A teaspoon of Canderel granules contains only two calories compared to 20 calories in a teaspoon of sugar.

Chinese catering in your home and traditional dining in Oranmore

Thu, Apr 29, 2010

Last week, I was at the launch of a great idea by The Three Gorges Oriental Restaurant in Abbey Trinity, Tuam. Their idea is to bring authentic Chinese restaurant food to your home if you are having an event such as a 21st party or indeed any birthday, anniversary, confirmation, Communion, a wedding with a difference, or perhaps the afters of a wedding party. Traditionally there have been other options available such as cold meat platters, cold fish platters, beef stroganoff, chicken curry, and I am sure most readers have had these types of dishes at many functions. The possibility of having your favourite Chinese food at an event will, I believe, appeal to many.

To make people aware of what level of quality they would bring to your home the owners of the Three Gorges, Kee and Cindy, invited about 250 people to the biggest Chinese banquet I have seen since I was at the Chinese New Year’s celebration in Kings Inns many years ago. In fact, comparing this event to the one in Dublin, there was a much bigger variety of food in Tuam. I counted at least 25 main courses, all served in big warming dishes, and which the team of chefs in the kitchen replenished as needed. My favourite dishes were the salt and chilli king prawns, the udon noodles, and the incredible Peking duck which was the meatiest I have ever eaten. The people around me were mopping up plates of General Tso’s chicken, spare ribs, spring rolls, sliced beef in Cantonese sauce, and for those who prefer the more traditional fare, they had a beautifully decorated and presented poached whole salmon with all the usual salads.

Rolling on the river with Corrib Princess and Cava Outside Catering

Thu, Apr 29, 2010

The Corrib Princess is sailing in a new direction, opening each Wednesday evening to pleasure-seekers with a penchant for fine food and wine.

Congratulations to McGrath’s butchers, Mervue

Thu, Apr 22, 2010

Late last year McGrath butchers in Plunkett Avenue, Mervue was destroyed by fire and as it was near Christmas they knuckled down to get it refurbished and ready for the big Christmas trade, a good plan you might say. However all the good work was destroyed when another fire broke out and gutted the shop once more.

Bella Roma — a welcome addition to Galway’s dining options

Thu, Apr 22, 2010

Co-owned by Rome native Sandro Perna and the familiar Richy Gorman, Bella Roma presents Italian cuisine in grand style with a great atmosphere and warm presence.

The menu boasts a wide selection of regional Italian cuisine with rustic accents under the direction of chef Giulio Delfino.

Fine food in the city centre

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

For a place that I had not heard many reports about I was surprised to see Sam Baileys full of customers at about 11.30 one morning, happily munching away on some very tasty looking morsels.

Bella Roma — a welcome addition to Galway’s dining options

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

Co-owned by Rome native Sandro Perna and the familiar Richy Gorman, Bella Roma in Forster Court, presents Italian cuisine in grand style with a great atmosphere and warm presence.

The menu boasts a wide selection of regional Italian cuisine with rustic accents under the direction of chef Giulio Delfino.

Kinvara Farmers’ Market returns

Thu, Apr 08, 2010

Kinvara Farmers’ Market will reopen tomorrow (Friday) from 10am to 2pm in Johnston’s Garden, Main Street.

The market offers great value on fresh produce, with 24 stalls selling a variety of produce including fresh fish, free range eggs, chicken and bacon, Irish cheeses, organic vegetables, fresh fruit in season, organic yeast bread, home-baked products, bottled goodies like jams, honey, preserves, pickles and flavoured oils, coffee beans and assorted teas, garden plants, flowers, soups, coffee and snacks, local crafts like knitwear, soap, and body products, paintings, jewellery, and books.

Restaurants Association of Ireland awards for Galway

Thu, Apr 08, 2010

The Restaurants Association of Ireland held its Connacht awards ceremony in The Ardilaun on March 23. The awards were open to all establishments and not just associated members, thus the result is very important for all the finalists and winners. The winners were decided by a combined result of a panel of judges and direct voting by customers. The winners below will go forward for the national awards in June.

Nutrition for children

Thu, Apr 08, 2010

An introductory three hour seminar on nutrition for children will be held at Atlantic College, Fairgreen, Galway, from 10am to 1pm on Sunday April 11. The seminar is open to anyone and may be of particular interest to parents and those in the childcare industry.

Fine meat in Galway and fine wine in Tuam

Thu, Apr 01, 2010

I called in to see Brendan Loughnane in his relatively new butcher’s shop beside the Tesco Express located at Tornóg, Ballinfoyle, on the Headford Road. Brendan is part of the Loughnane dynasty of butchers who were originally from the Loughrea area and is a brother of Sean Loughnane who created Galway’s first super butchers/delicatessen at Forster Court some years ago. Brendan is a master butcher and spent about 30 years running his extremely busy butcher’s shops in Limerick city. He has collected many awards over the years for his products and all that knowledge and experience is there for the customer when you call in. The shop is open six days a week until 6.30pm.

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