Sally's blog

Videos from the Irish food community – this one featuring Kevin Aherne of Sage Restaurant in Midleton. The video was made by Roger Overall, and features producers Olive and John Hanlahan, from Castlemary Goat Farm and Ray and Maura Grady from Orchard Cottage Farm. More information on Kevin's 12 mile menu on http://www.sagerestaurant.ie.

The subtle savouriness that characterises Wade Murphy’s cooking in 1826, his light, bright new dining room in Adare, County Limerick, sends your mind racing for points of reference, and they all seem to point north from Adare. Ian Orr, from Brown’s in Derry? The late Robbie Millar?

No, the chef whose subtle savouriness is echoed by Mr Murphy’s style is none other than the great Paul Rankin.

Frankie Mallon's An Port Mor is one of the reasons why Westport has been voted the best place to live in Ireland.

It's the kind of place that every resident of every town in Ireland would want in the middle of their own town. We would like one in Bantry, please, and they would love one in Tralee and Dundalk and Bunclody and... well, everywhere.

Toddy’s Bar belongs in a league of vintage Irish pubs that do it right.

Whilst retaining a dated charm, they are effortlessly chic. In the winter months, the place would be a cozy escape but, ever since the country has been given the recent gift of 'California Weather'; enjoying a lazy Saturday lunch was the height of bliss. In my mind I would say to myself '...long and leisurely, that's how it should be.'

As for the food, it's down to earth cooking with touches of traditional Irish cooking as well as being expansively Mediterranean.

In Ballinrobe in County Mayo, a town that uncertainly straddles the mores and architecture of this century and the last, there is a strawberry eclair that has your name on it.

The pastry is whisper light, the cream and strawberries combine to offer a suspicion of sweetness, and as a piece of patisserie it is as fine a thing as you will find in Ireland.

I would have been proud to have made any one of them. As it was, I only had to eat them.

When, for impossible-to-avoid personal reasons both judges Joe McNamee and Imen McDonnell were, at the last minute unable at judge the first ever Pie Bakeoff at Diva Boutique Bakery in Ballinspittle, me, my mother and my daughter selflessly volunteered to taste and consider the delicious efforts of the contestants with their pies and tarts.

LUDO LEFEBVRE OF LES TROIS MEC IN L.A. SAID THAT HAVING HIS OWN PLACE AFTER 6 YEARS OF POP-UPS MEANT THAT 'IT'S MY HOUSE. I DON'T LIVE IN A HOTEL ANY MORE'. DO YOU FEEL THE SAME NOW YOU HAVE SETTLED INTO nede?

We noticed this lovely video on the newly updated site for Zwartbes Ireland. Not specifically a food video, nevertheless we felt it was a brilliant choice for our Community Video section in Megabites. Sit back and enjoy the story about the traditional craft of spinning wool in Ireland.

http://zwartblesireland.com/2013/welcome-to-the-updated-zwartbles-irelan...

If you've got it, you never lose it.
Danette Milne has got it, and she's never lost it.

Where William has been and what he's been eating.....

PAULIES PIZZA: Had an excellent date night here recently, two top class pizzas, I'll be back.

......Hearing a lot of buzz about: BISON BBQ..... INDIE DHABIA cocktails ...

HONEST TO GOODNESS MARKET: I don't venture Northside very much but the H2G market is up there with the best and worth a visit, I've been going up there to support my friend Elaine Lavery in her new business IMPROPER BUTTER - tasty flavoured butters.