So that was May...

Is May really over already? I don't know about you but my year seems to be gaining speed as it whizzes past and an entire month appears to have gone by in a flash.

Perhaps it's because I'm getting busier. Like most people in Dingle (and others who live in seasonal tourist towns), summer is one of my busiest times of year and each week is noticeably more hectic than the last.

So, what were the best things about the month that just passed? 

One of the very best was the wonderful Ballymaloe Literary Food Festival. The speakers, chefs and food enthusiasts at this festival delved into the many different aspects that make food such an endlessly interesting topic of conversation. There was the political implications of large corporations controlling much of the world's food supply, the sense of national identity bound up with food traditions, the growing understanding of nutrition and the simple appreciation of food cooked by people who care - it was all there and it was all inspiring.

Another good thing was my return to Dingle Farmers' Market. This takes place every Friday from 9am until 2pm and it features a selection of stalls selling everything from locally-grown vegetables and salads to artisan breads; local honey; fantastic eggs fresh from the farm; handmade chocolates and fudge; olives; patés; cheeses; pickled locally-foraged seaweeds; crumbly pies filled with the likes of beef and Guinness or vegetables and lentils; freshly squeezed juices; jams and preserves; and my cakes. 
Because of my diet, I have expanded my selection of cakes to include gluten-, dairy- and sugar-free varieties and so far, they are proving to be a big hit.
Do call by to see me if ever you're in Dingle on a Friday.


Now that I no longer have the café, I have much more time to cook and experiment with new recipes. Three that I'll definitely be sharing with you in the weeks to come are a brunch-time treat of baked eggs, a Thai-scented broth with cod and prawns and a Japanese-inspired ginger broth served with soba noodles and salmon. The very idea of that ginger broth has just got me so excited that I think it has to be my next blog post.

Finally, I've been eating a lot of this brand of tuna, pictured here in my fridge.

It's (much) more expensive than the canned variety but tastes infinitely better. Its only ingredients are tuna and olive oil and it always smacks of freshness and health. It's super convenient too and I had it for lunch with a baked potato and an Asian red cabbage coleslaw several times in May. To be honest, I'll probably have it several times in June too but it's so good that I'm not complaining.

What about you?  What were the good things that happened to you in May?
As always, I'd love to hear from you.

 


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The Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine: food for thought, food for the soul and lots and lots of food to eat

I'm so sorry to have been missing in action for the past while. I had the enormous pleasure (and privilege) of attending Ballymaloe Literary Festival last weekend and have been playing catch up (and recovering!) ever since.

The festival was a wonderful celebration of all that is good about food. It featured illustrious chefs such as René Redzepi, Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamini, Simon Hopkinson and the awe-inspiring Diana Kennedy. Food writers including Tom Parker Bowles, Joanna Blythman and John McKenna featured too as did food activist and fermentation expert Sandor Katz and food producers from all over Ireland such as the Diva Bakery, Silver Darling herrings and the Ferguson family with their Gubbeen cheeses, meats and more.

Food journalist Joanna Blythman

The doyenne of Mexican food and an inspiration to us all: Diana Kennedy

And that's just to list very few of the many inspiring people and personalities that played a part in what proved to be a very special weekend...

The highlights for me were:
1: Attending the Sunday morning talk with Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamini and Ariana Bundy. Sometimes people complicate food too much, focussing overly on the nutritional aspect and what's good for you and what isn't or on creating a fine dining experience that is far removed from the simple pleasure of eating food.
Not these three. For an hour and a half on Sunday morning, they spoke warmly about what food means to them, how it connects them to their families and where they come from, how much they love eating and the joy they take in cooking for others. 
They reminded me of why I decided to open my own café and inspired me to continue my journey in food - wherever it takes me next.

2: A Sunday lunch in Ballymaloe House cooked by Rowley Leigh. The ajo blanco (almond and garlic) soup served with melon balls is the best thing I've tasted this year and I can't imagine anything beating its fresh and exciting flavours.

3: Bringing a smile to Simon Hopkinson's face when I told him that his were the recipes I trusted above all others. (I've never cooked a recipe of his that didn't exceed expectations and was pleased to get the chance to tell him so.)

4: Meeting so many wonderful people and creating new connections in the ever growing and always exciting world of food in Ireland.

See you next year, Ballymaloe, I'll definitely be back!

 


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