To Drink:
Beaujolais Nouveau 2015
Every year there’s great excitement as the first French wine of the season is released just weeks after the grape harvest on the third Thursday in November. To mark the Dublin arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Alliance Française and Restaurant Chez Max host a very special Gallic soirée on Thursday 19th November. Taste this year’s vintage and toast the newcomer while savouring an open buffet of cheese and charcuterie in the convivial atmosphere of Chez Max. Tickets are €13 (Alliance Française members) or €16 (non-members) include access to the buffet and a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau. The event takes place from 6.30pm at Chez Max, 133 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. RSVP@alliance-francaise.ie
To Eat: Peacock Café at the Abbey Theatre
The Peacock Café sees the welcome return of a café to the national theatre, with some great Irish produce gracing the menu. Breakfast features Llewellyn’s apple juice and porridge with Highbank Irish apple syrup, while artisan rolls accompanied by Ardsallagh goats cheese top the bill at lunchtime. Pre-theatre suppers include wholesome fresh salads and hearty beef and Guinness stews, all cheerfully accompanied by a strong supporting cast of wines and Irish craft beers. The café opens Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, on Saturdays from noon to 8pm, closing at 5pm on evenings when there’s no stage performance. The Peacock Café, 26 Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1
To Taste: Days And Nights at the Morrison
The stylish new Autumn Winter menu recently unveiled at the Morrison offers a gourmet take on perennial favourites such as afternoon tea and traditional bar classics. The ‘Grill by Day’ features a fine selection of enticing winter warmers including classic fish pie with luxurious parmesan mash and roasted lemon, while bar bites include roast chicken sandwiches and tasty pale ale battered cod. As the winter light fades, a variety of succulent meat and fish dishes emerge from the Josper grill at the heart of the kitchen, while dessert choices include a rather decadent looking Whoopie Pie. The Morrison Hotel, Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1. www.morrisonhotel.ie
To The Last Bite: FoodCloud Campaign
Ever done a big food shop only to find yourself throwing most of it out later? If so, recent research indicates that you’re not alone, with many households spending as much as €700 a year on food that never gets eaten. Keen to reverse this trend, FoodCloud recently launched ‘To the Last Bite’ a social media campaign highlighting the foods we bin most often. With lots of handy tips and recipes to help prevent food waste, those who get involved are encouraged to share pictures of their results via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The FoodCloud campaign can be followed using the hashtags #stopfoodwaste #tothelastbite #foodcloud www.foodcloud.net/tothelastbite
To Read: A Glass Apart by Fionnán O’Connor
Interest in Irish whiskey has been undergoing a revival for quite a while now, and for those interested in learning more, Fionnán O’Connor has just published a beautifully illustrated homage to Irish single pot still whiskey. Described as ‘a pure guide to the pure drop’ A Glass Apart is a lovingly researched, knowledgeably written tome covering such topics as pot still production, appreciation and history. There’s also an introduction to whiskey nosing and a collector’s catalogue of rare Irish pot stills. A Glass Apart Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey by Fionnán O’Connor is published by Images publishing. www.imagespublishing.com
