I had first heard of Eala Bhán a few months ago after an Australian man left a rather unusual review on TripAdvisor. His review focused on his forgotten windbreaker jacket rather than the meal he received. Invariably it made the rounds on the web due to the response of the restaurateur and like most I…
Spiced pumpkin scones
When most people think of typical Australian food they think of pavlovas, meat pies, lamingtons and damper. Back when I was growing up all of these foods were staples, but pumpkins scones were also extremely popular. Strangely, they seem to have dropped off the radar. Perhaps this is because when I was growing up Joh…
Spanish-style lentils (lentejas).
One of the dishes that transports me back to my childhood is lentils. They were a regular feature growing up because they were cheap and a small amount made a mountain of food. We used to have two versions of this dish, a Swiss-style version with smoked pork belly and bratwurst sausage or occasionally a…
One Lovely Blog Award
Back in May I attended Sheridan’s Irish Food Festival, mainly because it looked like a great day out, but also so that I could review it for this wee blog (See post here). Little did I know that by going to the festival that I would cross paths with Vicky from The Flourishing Pantry. Vicky…
Roasted miso aubergines with udon noodles
I’ve previously gushed about my fascination about Japan and Japanese food in my Crispy tofu skewers post. Back when I was 20 years old, I was invited to a friend’s birthday dinner in a Japanese restaurant where I was introduced to Japanese style aubergine/ eggplant. Prior to this, I had only eaten aubergine mainly in…
Review- Willow and Wild
Willow and Wild is a new cafe that has just opened in the heart of the university town of Maynooth, overlooking the Courthouse square. I have eagerly anticipated its opening, having watched their refurbishment both online and in real life. Watching a place unfold, seeing snippets of what it plans to be and then being…
Norwegian cinnamon buns (Skillingsboller)
On my first visit to Norway I fell in love with their waffles. The thinner, cuter, lovelier version of a waffle, with lovely warmth from the addition of cardamon. The love affair continued on my second visit, so much so that I had to buy a waffle maker so that I could make them whenever…
Food Tourism: Oslo, Norway
I had previously visited Oslo a few years ago and was struck by how different Oslo is to other cities in Norway. It’s big and bustling, with notable architecture and an impressive arts scene. Despite it being on the water and there being a forest within the city limits, Oslo can at times feel very…
Madras beef curry
When I was 18 I worked in an Indian restaurant. It was a brief love affair, lasting a whole week! Like all love affairs, I was absolutely besotted at the beginning. I couldn’t wait till our next rendezvous. The sights and sounds in the kitchen were fascinating to me, and the smells of all the…
Tomahawk steak
I received an email the other day announcing that Aldi in Ireland are now selling Tomahawk steaks. For those that don’t know, Tomahawks are ribeye steaks that are attached to the bone. Having the bone in adds extra flavour to the cut, although ribeye is already pretty damn tasty. These steaks have become very popular…
Pea and walnut pesto with gnocchi
Firstly, I have to thank Nigella Lawson for introducing me to the joy that is pan fried gnocchi. What’s not to like about the soft potato dumplings having a crunchy exterior?! If you have the time or inclination, making them from scratch is worth the effort, but this recipe is about rustling up something quick…
Apple cinnamon muffins with maple glaze
Many moons ago I bought a house and as a house warming gift, my mother gave me a book dedicated to muffins. It was the sort of gift that just kept on giving, because whenever I had a hankering for something sweet I could rustle up something quick and tasty with whatever was in the…
