Jump to content

Catriona

participating member
  • Posts

    274
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Catriona

  1. There's a good indian place in Fiesole...
  2. That's such a shame about fayruz. And Mackerel - I actually liked it.
  3. The version on this side of the Puddle (in both Dublin and London) might be the seared tuna nicoise. It's everywhere. Including my office's staff canteen. I shouldn't complain, it's one of my favourite "fast food" suppers to make after a long day at work.
  4. Mini flapjacks? small muffins/cupcakes? olive and tunafish finger sandwiches cucumber sandwiches little mini quiches What's the climate like? That will dictate to some extent what can be left out...
  5. That monkfish looks delicious! I can't get over how cheap it is... It used to be that cheap here - the story goes that it used to be substituted for scampi (breaded and deep-fried, served in a pub, who's going to know the difference?), but now, of course, is much more expensive than the scampi it used to impersonate. I've never eaten dulse, and never even heard of champ made with it... I love the idea of dried, chewy sea-tasting snacks, though. (although Kerry's description of the aftereffects is somewhat offputting).
  6. I say it's somewhere atlantic, too. It looks like the far west of Ireland, except that it doesn't get that cold, and the buildings are wrong. I was just in the West this weekend, and that first picture relaxes me.
  7. Happy birthday, Simon! PLEASE tell me you're having a wedding cake made out of wheels of Cashel Blue... I love CB. It's one of my "desert island" foods. (with crunchy apples). This thread is porn to me. Pure and simple. I hope that doesn't make you feel awkward in any way...
  8. There are posters for this all over paris at the moment!
  9. Klary, if it's any consolation, I think it's the change in the weather that caused your cold, I have it too, as does half my office (london has lost its spring/summer, too). I want your comfort pasta formula, it looks so good! I've never used endives (chicory?) in a pasta before, though, so need a pointer.
  10. I'm boring with scallops too, I'm afraid - seared and with a squeeze of lemon or sometimes a champagne reduction. I'm loving your beautiful photography, chufi!
  11. Si, we went just to Diep Noodle in Ranelagh, for my sister's hen! Ok, so it was a large group (12) and a couple of people arrived late (as always happens with groups of people). It took them a while to get started with feeding us - we were left without drinks and the pre-ordered platters didn't arrive for about 40 minutes (of a 2 hour slot), and then we all fell on the vegetarian platters, as the non-vegetarian ones didn't arrive until the veggie ones were finished. Which was a bit of a raw deal for the vegetarians at the table (there were a couple). The mains were delicious, and the cocktails were good. No time for dessert, although I don't think any of us would have taken one. All in all, they managed very well (and with good humour) with a large group, although we would have preferred a little more "action" earlier on in the meal.
  12. I agree that it's the restaurant's responsibility to get you in & out (and properly fed in between) if they impose a "slot" like that. I'm not a fan of this, but I think that, sadly, we will just have to get used to it. And treasure the places who don't do it. I'm going out in Dublin tomorrow night (the traveller returns) with a group of about 15 people, we have a 7-9pm booking. The next slot, though, isn't until 9:30, so it looks as though they have built in some flexibility.
  13. There's an apartment devevelopment in London (in Wapping) called Cinnabar Wharf, I used to laugh at it every time I passed it... Wasn't planning on buying one of those!
  14. Oh, an al fresco area, with your lovely summery menu sounds perfect! I'm still meaning to write up the delicious meal I had back in March! It'll have to wait until I get broadband set up at home...
  15. The one at the turnoff to Clarinbridge at the Galway end of the road is still there. Thanks for the advice. I had wondered whether, in fact, these were like french truckers' stops and were havens of culinary delight. (imagine!) Love that new motorway, though. Roll on the dublin-galway motorway in 2010, we'll be at the cottage in Carna in less than 3 and a half hours!
  16. The Connemara correspondent returns from a foray: eje, if you're going to Galway, be careful, as there's been a nasty outbreak of cryptosporidium in the water in the Galway area... HOWEVER. The Connemara area's water supply is dofferent to Galways, and is clean! So anyone who's reading this (I expect it's too late for eje) should go to connemara while the going's good. I hear the hotel industry's been hard hit by people who are scared and possibly uneducated about the different water supplies, and there have been reports of lots of cancellations. Go to connemara. It's safe. Re connemara, the crab we had at Vaughan's wasn't the best (I suspect they were running out as I was warned there wouldn't be enough for the next day), however we had two great meals at our two other favourites, Mitchells in Clifden (mussels and crab), and the bar at Ballynahinch Castle (smoked salmon and ... you guessed it.. crab). The drive between Dublin and Connemara is severly lacking in good places to eat, since the Moran's option has been wiped off my culinary map. (although one of these days I will try Mother Hubbard's truck stop). We had filled baguettes from the N6 Service Station at Athlone as we drove. Ah, the culinary delight. And chocolate biscuits. Nothing can beat a good hit of cadbury's finest as you drive...
  17. I have to (sadly) disagree about Moran's, Corinna, I've had some actively unpleasant experiences there over the past couple of years. Of course, I remember it as a small cottage-type place, nothing like the warehouse it is these days. (and I find it smalls rather pervasively of loo cleaner...)
  18. Easter sunday I think you should be ok. Beware Good Friday though - it's the one day in Ireland when the sale of alcohol is not permitted. You might find that the night before is somewhat hectic in the pubs. This cycle has always amused/bemused/shocked my in-laws, and catches many visitors off guyard. Spent a delightful Good Friday lunchtime 3 years ago talking to some frenchies outside vaughan's in Roundstone (good crab sandwiches if you want to venture out that far from Galway... we'll be there over the weekend!) and explaining the whole thing to them. "But why can't we have a beer?" "because it's good friday". "But I'm not catholic" and so forth. Ard Bia in Galway is apparently The Place To Go. I've never spent much time in Galway, seeing it more as a reluctant stop on the way out to connemara...
  19. Interesting, Magnus. My husband and I had the Avventura menu and drinks pairing on Saturday night, I'll be back to post about it soon. Work getting in the way of thinking about food, which is disturbing... In short: Amazing experience, great place (husband adored the laid-back feel), perfect service, so much to think about in terms of the food. We did, however, roll out of there, and the couple of comments that we would have would be just in relation to that. I'm still smiling at the thought of it. That should say something!
  20. Megan, I spent some time in Florence a few years ago, and absolutely adored it... Didn't do any classes when I was there (I was too poor). The one thing I wished for was for someone to give me an intro to the mercato. Stumled upon ome fun things and great producers, but I'm sure I would have done better with some help. I think that trip on its own would sell divina's course to me. The other is her blog for a couple of months ago which brought back such memories... seemed like she would be the right kind of person to spend a few food-filled days with.
  21. I NEARLY made it to fayruz this weekend... If we don't go to connemara over Easter, I'll be back in Dublin then and will make a point of it. Perhaps something with lamb, for the easter vibe.
  22. Kind of odd set of questions to bring me to the result: how can they know from the fact that I like to smell my food before I eat it that I have a higher number of tastebuds? Seems rather strange to me.
  23. Sounds fabulous! I'm thoroughly jealous. Must plan a canape fest next time I'm in town. Oooh, that's a possibility over easter weekend...
×
×
  • Create New...