Ancient figs, postal mince pies and pub pop-ups
A frosty week with lots of fresh news...
I’ve got to preface this week’s news by saying sorry for any errors - I am publishing in a bit of a hurry as from a train headed to Cork and it’s hard to concentrate because I just want to stare out the window at the snowy fields speeding by. Speaking of Cork - did you see that National Geographic recently published ‘The 25 best places in the world to travel to in 2025’? Cork is included in it!
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
News of the new opening Kaldero broke just as I pressed published on my newsletter last week. Yes, it’s Press Up, and they don’t have the best track record when it comes to food, but this concept sounds promising. Opening in the space that was Wagamama they say it will ‘bring the bold culinary traditions of India, China, and the Philippines to life’. The chefs charged with this are Richie Castillo from Bahay, Daren Liew who’s previously worked with high-end London-based Hakkasan and Alfred Prasad, the youngest Indian chef to earn a Michelin star.
Scéal Bakery is back in Dublin 8!!! For a few weeks - find them at The Wine Pair on Clanbrassil Street on Saturday 23rd Nov, Sat 30th, Sat 7th December and Sat 14th.
More good baking news - there is another new online Dublin bakery this time specialising in bagels.
A new ‘speakeasy’ bar in Stillorgan is opening today called The Beag Bar.
Per Se is a new Italian cafe and restaurant opening in Knocklyon very soon.
Dosa Dosa is popping up at Clontarf local Harry’s Byrnes for the Rugby Season - find them in the pub car park every Friday and Saturday.
US fast food chain Wendy’s is coming to Ireland as part of a partnership with service station operator Corrib Oil - apparently there will be 10 open by 2027 most likely in Circle K or Texaco. The only reason I’m the slightest bit interested in this news is because I am manifesting that Wendy’s super fan Lisa Barlow from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City will come to Ireland to open them. And maybe does a Vida Tequila party while she’s at it. A girl can dream.
Fat Tomato, a wonderful farm shop in Wexford set up by Anthony O’Toole to sell his divine homegrown and homemade goodies, is now online. You can now order delicious jams, syrups, seeds and lots more for nationwide delivery - just in time for Christmas shopping…
The brilliant Lily Rameriz Foran of Picado is very close to opening a second location in Dublin which will include a teaching kitchen, a take out coffee bar specialising in Mexican drinks only, retail space, a commercial test kitchen and a traditional Mexican molino to make fresh masa from scratch! If you want to help her get there consider purchasing from their presale products and events.
‘Tis finally the season for mince pies! I will be happily reporting on my favourites here over the next few weeks including the very fine ‘Mince Pie Project’ offering from Ballymaloe House baker Hilary Quinn. She’s taking orders on Monday 25th November for postal deliveries - be quick they sell out fast!
Great news for food writing this week as The Financial Times announced they are expanding the weekend food and drink coverage poaching Jay Rayner from The Observer, hiring the brilliant Marina O’Loughlin for a monthly FT Magazine column and moving their current restaurant critic, Tim Hayward, to a new role as a food writer, “contributing deep-dives on home cooking projects and other culinary fixations”. Rayner’s Observer departure is the main story making headlines and for good reason - have a read about that here.
I discovered this next bit of very cool news thanks to my pal and colleague Janine Kennedy who is currently the journalist in residence at the UCD Earth Institute; Archaeologists in Dublin recently excavated a 2,000-year-old fig which is a very rare find and super exciting for historians. Janine tells me, “Fresh fruits are almost never recovered during excavations as they (obviously) rot and disintegrate, so this 2000-year-old fig was a really cool discovery for a few different reasons – first of all, it shows that ancient Irish people were trading with the Romans, who had made it to Britain but never tried to conquer Ireland and secondly it is the earliest proof of Irish people enjoying “exotic” foods like figs. A find like this is basically like winning the lottery as just the right conditions need to occur for fresh fruit to be preserved”. Read more about it here.
Very intrigued by this important investigative journalism in a UK paper - branded vs supermarket crisps. Thinking I should do an Irish version…. Who wants to commission it?
Dates for the Diary:
Delicious things to book ahead, with added Christmas content…
Polish Wine Fest have a very fun event tomorrow, Saturday, Nov 23rd - Wine & Pierogis (af)Fair. Taste Polish wines, paired with traditional dumplings, taking place in the lovely Fumbally Stables.
The Ballymaloe Craft Fair continues this weekend with a host of brilliant food producers in their Big Shed Sunday 24th including some of my baking favourites Graham Herterich bracks and Hilary Quinn’s mince pies.
Some Young Punks, the official launch of WineStation, sounds like a very fun night. Happening at Bootleg Thursday 28th November it’s a sort of wine bingo with dinner and tunes. What’s not to love? Tickets here.
In Dublin, there are plenty of good foodie gifts to be found over the next few weeks…Richmond Barracks Christmas Fair is happening Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st.
Gifted, The Contemporary Craft and Design Fair which includes a Christmas Food Emporium returns to the RDS from December 4-8.
The Fumbally Christmas Market is happening Friday 6th to Sunday 8th December.
The Stillgarden Christmas Market is back for the third year on December 8th.
Christmas is kicking off at Kilruddery on 29th November with weekend Christmas Markets and seasonal supper clubs. Find out more and book here.
Sommelier Sinéad Smyth is hosting a Champagne and Cheese tasting at The Wine Buff in Rathmines, Dublin on 29th November. Explore two grower Champagne’s, Herve Mathelin & Guy Charlemagne alongside a delicious selection of cheese from Iciar Cheese Bar.
The Old Spot chef Mark Ahessy is cooking at Tinode Farmyard & Garden in Wicklow on Friday 6th December.
Did you know Waterford is Europe’s City of Christmas? There is loads of fun happening in the city and surrounds including the Winterval Festival Christmas Market featuring over 100 producers and creators.
Jameson Distillery Bow St. are getting in the Christmas spirit with a seasonal drinks menu featuring Jameson hot chocolates, warm berry punches and hot toddies and their Bow Street Sessions every Friday from Nov 15 to Dec 13 at JJ's Bar, 6-9 PM with live DJ sets.
The Kings Head in Galway has lots of festive plans including turkey & ham dinners and winter warmer drinks.
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
Gary Barlow on Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware - such wholesome listening 🫶🏻
I’ve been a big fan of Kate McCabe and Max Sussman who run Bog & Thunder amongst other things so I was delighted when they asked me to be a guest on their Dyed Green Podcast. We chatted about pints of course but lots of other stuff about my work and food and Ireland. It’s here if you fancy a listen plus they have a back catalogue of great guests to listen back to if you haven't already.
If you like travel deals, skiing and planning trips around eating then have a listen to Destination Anywhere on Dublin South FM. I chatted with travel expert Joan Scales for her show this week about some of my favourite places to eat around Europe.
Literally, all I want for Christmas is a JW Anderson Guinness Jumper
But I’d also take this Le Creuset bag…
Thanks for reading! If you don’t subscribe yet I’d love it if you could, link below. It means you will never miss an update. And if you fancy becoming a paid subscriber I would be most grateful. Till next time, Slán.
I wonder if those figs were already preserved, eg, dried, who knows?