Nenaghgal - Tipperary Fayre on the June Bank Holiday

A beautiful handmade Ark by Handmade Toys 4 U - www.handmadetoys4u.ie - the company sells a wide range of toys for both boys and girls from lorries to dollhouses and they are all made in Tipperary.

The June Bank Holiday weekend - which kicks off officially on Friday is going to be a very busy weekend here in Ireland. Realistically, you'd actually need to clone yourself several times over to get to all the amazing festivals and day events going on all around the country.

One big event that kicks off this Thursday is Bloom 2012 - last year Sophia and I headed up there for the first time and we were hooked! This year I am going up for a Food Bloggers Picnic which promises to be a great day out - it's been organized by Bord Bia and we'll be divided into teams and we have to meet food producers and using props on hand - we need to set up a picnic for two - I think I'm going to have to bring along a few bits from home - some Fuchsia plates from Nicholas Mosse, a tablecloth, little vase - what fun - I can't wait. It will also be a great time to mingle with lots of other great food bloggers who I've met at various other events over the last year or so.

Now, back on track, you see...so much going on. I wanted to tell you about The Tipperary Fayre which will be held in Thurles, Tipperary on Saturday, 2 June. It kicks off at 11am and will run until 6pm.

There will be loads of foodie stalls from local growers and producers. One of the local food produers that I am looking forward to meeting is Irish Pietmontese Beef - I became aware of their product almost a year ago and yet have not had a chance to taste it - the series of food images below highlight their beef in different dishes. They all look amazing to me and all the recipes are up on their website along with cooking instructions.

Visitors get to browse, taste and buy from stalls that wil line the Boardwalk and the Gallery at the Source Arts Centre.

Griddled Steak with Cajun Sweet Potato Chips and an Avocado Lime Sour Cream. 

There are going to be arts and crafts stalls as well making it a great family day out. Most of the demonstations; including a talk on identifying cuts of meat and tips for shopping for meat by Denis from Premier Meats

Warm Beef and Roast Vegetable Salad wih Feta, Hazelnuts and Mint.

I'm looking forward to the demonstration by renowned TV chef & food writer Catherine Fulvio who will be doing a demonstration at 4:30pm - tickets for her demonstration cost €10 and they can be purchased through The Source Box office at 0504-90204.

Steak Wrap with Augergine.

Another great local food producer based in Holy Cross, Tipperary is Tipperary Kitchen. Business owners and husband and wife Brian and Ann Marie, make amazing award winning biscuit cake, breads and meringues.  Their business has been growing in leaps and bounds in recent months and it's exciting to see such a great success story in North Tipperary.

Of course there are many other food vendors and crafts stall at Tipperary Fayre on Saturday. Head over to their Facebook page to get updated reports of what will be happening on the day. They'll be loads to do and we'll all be praying for a bit of good weather to continue.

I hope to get another post up later in the week but if I don't - here's wishing you all a fantastic weekend. Let me know what you get up to!

Nenaghgal Visits Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna

Last Friday, I headed off to Lisdoonvarna for two nights away at the Wild Honey Inn with my daughter Sophia. We knew we were in for a great weekend of wonderful food and new experiences all focused around Slow Food Clare.  This was the 6th Annual Slow Food Clare festival and Sophia and I were invited by Birgitta Curtin of Burren Smokehouse to come up on Friday night to kick things off in style with an amazing meal at the Wild Honey Inn.

Guests included Donal Skehan and his girlfriend Sofie Larsson. Dr. Stefan Bergleiter and his wife Janice who flew in from Germany that evening. Peter Thomas from Bellingham Blue cheese in Co. Louth, Chef Michael Hammond and his wife and mother, Catherine Cleary, food writer from The Irish Times along with her husband and her boys and Joe Doyle who works for Enterprise Ireland but helps Birgitta out with Slow Food Clare each year.

The Wild Honey Inn is situated just down the road from the Burren Smokehouse and the Roadside Tavern - where Birgitta's husband has recently started the Burren Brewery. Well worth a visit if you are in the area - I'll be posting more about them later. Wild Honey Inn is run by Chef Aidan McGrath and Kate Sweeney (see below). There is a relaxed style in the restaurant and they do not take bookings but I can assure the food is serious and delicious.

This was the room Sophia and I had on the top floor with lovely views of the surrounding area.

The menu for our meal on Friday night was put together especially for our group and included a starter of Burren Smokehouse Smoked Salmon which came as a terrine or as a salad. Sophia loved the terrine and it was gone in a flash but I got one bite!

The salad version was light and simple with capers and tiny little potatoes.

The second course was a gorgeous risotto with smoked haddock, a quails egg and a creamy mustard sauce - just wonderful.

The main course was a braised and crisp pork cheek. I'd never had pork cheek and I definitely will again. The wild mushrooms and asparagus made it a very hearty meal but again the perfect amount. Sophia was mildly keen on it but as always she tried it - which is all I ask for.

I'm not sure how we actually had room for dessert but of course you just do don't you? I had a summer pudding - it was colourful and the berries were just lovely.

Sophia had Tiramisu which was equally delicious.

What an amazing meal and we met so many lovely people who have become new friends - what was really nice is we met them on Friday night and then saw them all weekend long at various events.

Thanks again to Birgitta for the invitation and to Aidan and Kate for the amazing meal and service. And  of course, to all our new friends.

My next post on Slow Food Clare will be Seaweed Foraging up in a few days.

Have a lovely weekend everyone - the weather in Ireland right now is positively magnificent. Long may it last.

Nenaghgal - Island Living Inspiration

With the rash of good weather over the weekend - I was able to spend quite a bit of time sitting outside at both a communion and confirmation celebrations. And of course it got me thinking about how lovely it would be if we could actually rely on that kind of weather every summer in Ireland.  When in Paris back in January, another magazine I picked up while there was an interiors magazine and these images really capture the kind of lifestyle I wouldn't mind having even if just for a month.

So today a simple inspirational post - especially on this rainy Monday in Nenagh.

Blue and white has always inspired me. Love the blue beams - the natural fabrics.

Love the open shelves and trio of simple light fixtures.

One could spend hours sitting out here with friends and family. A BBQ, some drinks and you'd be set.

Love the rustic outdoor shower and I expect the view from that bedroom must be wonderful.

Have a great week everyone - do you like blue and white too? Does this kind of house inspire you?

Nenaghgal - Hunting the Elusive Wild Garlic

I was down in Cork last week visiting Ballymaloe Cooking School and on the drive to Shanagarry the wild garlic was growing in big swaths along the roadside. Let's just say I had a bit of wild garlic envy. It's impossible to buy in markets and I know it's in the Nenagh area but I had yet to find it myself. So on the bank holiday Sunday, my parents headed off to Shannon Airport to fly back to Boston and I decided that was it - I was jolly well going to find some wild garlic. I told Sophia we were on a mission and I put a small hand trowel in the car along with some gloves and a bag and we headed off to Puckane where I heard we might find some. 

 We actually did find some in Puckane quite quickly but it was a tiny cluster in a very awkward spot right where all the passing cars could see. Determined to find a more isolated spot we ventured along several small lane ways.

We found these guys down one such lane way and pulled over to say hello. Sadly we could not get closer to them as there was a gate in front of us - and they all came straight over to us - obviously wanting a good old pet. But they did look like they were in pretty good health - since my many visits to the Donkey Sanctuary in Cork -Sophia and I feel it is very important that we do our duty and make sure that the donkeys we come across are all well taken care of.

At another turn in the road, this was the view that greeted us. But most of the lane ways ended in dead ends into farms or lovely homes overlooking Lough Derg.

As you can see, in the end we did find what we were looking for and although I feel slightly guilty for digging out a cluster of these from their natural habitat,  I only too a tiny bunch. I know they grow and spread but I've planted some in a mini-border in my back garden and will add more in the front.

 I think a chive and wild garlic border would be particularly beautiful in my garden and certainly will be enjoyed in the dishes I conjure up.

Has anyone else had success transplanting Wild Garlic from the wild? Do let me know. And I'd also love to hear additional suggestions for cooking with them in addition to making wild garlic pesto.

Nenaghgal Goes to Inch House

This past Thursday night - my husband and I took my parents, who were visiting from America, along with our daughter Sophia to Inch House for a meal. We had both been to Inch for our 10th Wedding Anniversary almost two years ago and wanted to share our love of this unique spot for a fabulous meal. I'm Twitter buddies with Mairin from Inch anyhow but had not met her in person - to my delight, she greeted us at the door as if we were long lost friends.  Twitter creates these amazing relationships with people virtually so meeting them in person is a quick and easy transition.

The grounds and land around the house are just spectacular and in one of the trees along with the crows nesting there were also herons which we found a delightful surprise. They were making quite a racket so it was hard to miss.

When you arrive at Inch House you are ushered through the beautiful front hallway into this room. Here you order a drink and review the menu. On Thursday night it was quite chilly so there was a fire lit and we all sat in cosy chairs. The room has tables laden with fantastic collections of silver all accumulated by Mairin's mother, Nora Egan. 

And when you look up - this is what you see. The ceilings are quite stunning and you can sit quite contentedly in this room observing all the interesting elements throughout.

 The menu had a diverse selection - I chose the Boile Goats Cheese on Ciabatta as did the rest of the family - Sophia chose two starters so had the Chorizo and Irish Smoked chicken spring roll as her main course. Most of of us had the Supreme of Irish Chicken Stuffed with Inch House Black pudding - you can't go to Inch without having their black pudding. My father had the roast shank of lamb - all were served with potatoes grown on the property, garlic potato gratin, carrot and cabbage - all delicious.

Nora Egan and Mairin are both big collectors of  Nicholas Mosse and our table not only had a Dog Jug but also butter pats and and egg cup to hold tooth picks. The fresh Lilac added to the charm.

My daughter with my father.

This was my goat cheese starter (sorry cannot get the image to turn for some reason). It was light, simple and delicious.

My dessert, a scrumptious Rhubarb Cheesecake - the perfect ending.

Sophia and my husband James enjoyed the Chocolate Roulade. Went down a storm!

Looking out from our table - we watched the light change - it looked beautiful in among the trees along the long drive up to the house.

These are the beautiful windows.

Leaving Inch House the sun was just setting.

A visit to Inch House doesn't have to just be for a special occasion - take advantage, like we did of their Early Bird Special - a three course meal for €35 per person - with excellent food, service and great hospitality. To our delight we headed off with two packets of Inch House Black Pudding - it has been thoroughly enjoyed for breakfast every morning since then. 

For more information do check out their website, Inch House or follow them on Twitter @Inchhouse