Bold boy, long lunches and Brigid
All in a bite sized bank holiday newsletter...
It’s Friday of the first bank holiday of the year so I won’t keep you too long - just a few little updates and a reminder there are loads of events on in Dublin and beyond this weekend between Brigid celebrations and Lunar New Year. I’m also keeping the news a bit short because, and I can’t believe I’m writing this, I am recording an episode for one of my all-time favourite podcasts Radio Cherry Bombe this afternoon so I need to go swot up for that! The episode should be live on Monday 😅 also on Monday if you’re in Dublin please do pop by Meeting House Square for the Imbolc Fair. I’m hosting Brigit’s Table with the brilliant Santina Kennedy - our tasting talks are sold out but you can still come to have a nose and there is loads of other stuff on too.
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
New bakery alert and it’s going to be a good one - the lovely Two Pup’s team opened Bold Boy Bakery at 74 Francis Street today.
Is 2025 going to be the year of the long delicious Sunday lunch? Let’s hope so. There’s the sold-out ‘A Long Sunday Lunch’ at Leonards Corner this weekend and I spotted on Margadh RHA's Instagram this week that they are trialling Sunday lunch this weekend serving roast chicken for two and trimmings at €32 per person. I’ve been hearing great reports about the Seafood Cafe’s Sunday lunch offering and then I saw their roast halibut on the bone! Stunning (read more about that in Joanne Cronin’s Ocras Newsletter). Some other Sunday lunches worth considering are Hawksmoor roast, L.Mulligan Grocer., FX Buckley, The Old Spot and The Legal Eagle. Also, Ibile is back at the Fumbally Stables on Sunday 23rd February, book the 4 pm slot and I think you can call it late lunch…
Or maybe just the year of good-value lunches all around? Allta announced their ‘workers lunch’ deal this week two courses for €37 and three for €42 served Thursday and Friday although if I’m going to lunch at Allta, I’m not going back to work after…
Lunar New Year kicked off this week and if you’re in Dublin it’s always worth checking out Asia Market’s tasty lineup of events including a dumpling-making class with Janet of Eatyard Janets Dumpling fame, a Spectacular Banquet at Good World Restaurant, Chinese Whispers Afternoon Tea at Bewley’s Grafton Street and lots more.
Yesterday I was on the Moncrieff Show on Newstalk doing my best to tell a few tales about Brigid including her beer associations and my favourite yarn about turning bathwater into beer. He asked me if anyone was brewing Brigid beer and I mentioned Tom Crean had made a special brew this year and how I wished that Judith and Susan Boyle might reignite their wonderful Brigid’s Ale… little did I know they have done just that! It’s pouring at their pub Boyles in Kildare Town and will be popping up in a few more places soon. See more here.
If you want to learn more about Brigid’s Day traditions check out this from Dr. Marion McGarry who is my go-to always for info on old-school Irish customs and traditions.
I couldn’t resist including this… I love it when something really wholesome lands in my inbox and this week that was info on Derrybeg Farm in Celbridge. It’s a community-supported sustainable farm growing organic food locally run by a passionate group of farmers and volunteers. Find out more including how you can get hold of their delicious vegetables and kombucha here.
Anyone in Clare please check out Bia Culture’s Fundraising Workshop for Storm-Damaged Farms happening in the Cheese Press in Ennistimon.
Crawford & Co. in Cork City are starting a new community-focused idea called Pobail in the Pub, join them from Friday 31st for some free grub and the chance to make new friends and connections 🍻
Winter Table, the second issue of Euro-Toques Ireland eMag, has been published sharing producer stories, highlights of 2024 and plans for 2025 and you can read it here.
If you are a food writer or indeed a budding food writer I have a few fun opportunities to share…
Dublin restaurant guide All The Food is looking for new contributors. If you think you have what it takes send an email telling them about yourself, including a sample piece in their style and tone of voice, to info@allthefood.ie
Mirror Lamp Press, a quarterly art and literary magazine, have put out an open call for their Food Issue but be quick - pitches are due by Feb 3rd.
Or if social media is more your buzz Zingi Beer is looking for someone to look after their content.
Maybe you fancy yourself as a food and drink judge… Blas na hÉireann have put out a call for applications to judge with them - I’ve been doing this for a good few years now and it’s a fantastic experience, especially going to Dingle for the awards each year!
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
I would hope everyone knows that crab sticks don’t have crab in them but just in case, watch this…
Lilly Higgins making cottage cheese delicious.
Remember 90s comedian actor Tom Green (Freddy Got Fingered, married to Drew Barrymore for a bit)? Well, he’s moved to the Canadian wilderness, bought a farm and now has a new series starting on Prime called “Tom Green Country”. Watch out, Clarkson.
Mayo is coming back for 2025 and Julia Fox has the perfect bag for it!
Thanks for reading have a great bank holiday weekend! Next week I’m in London so there will be no newsletter (I will actually be in the Yellow Bittern for Friday lunch…IYKYK) but I’ll be back with a very exciting edition the week after as it’s The Kitchen Press’s 1st Birthday on Feb 16th!!!!
The crab sticks video, amazing to watch and hugely depressing representation of ‘food!’