Chef du Jour returns to Fenns Quay

Fenns Quay will be hosting the second ever Chef du Jour challenge on February 28 and on March 7 to continue their head chef and owner Kate Lawlor’s support of and enthusiasm for creative culinary endeavors and local ingredients. According to Fenns Quay, “[Chef du Jour] night is a must for all you foodies out there. We will be documenting the nights through photographs, Twitter & Facebook and expect all you Tweeters to be tweeting.” Bookings: 021 4279527. Hash tag: #ChefduJour

Even not on Chef Du Jour nights, I enjoy dining at Fenns Quay because everything is fresh and prepared with care. In the mornings, Monday through Saturday, they offer fresh-baked scones and breads, coffee, tea, hot chocolate (they melt cocoa buttons in the cup), eggs, and omelets to order. Lunch includes an impressive daily menu of specials, from Castletownbere Scallops to a hot savory pie. Sandwiches, salads, and main courses from the main menu are also possible, but my policy is to always choose from the daily specials if given the choice. Dinners are just as delightful with a cozy warmth to boot. The restaurant is sparsely decorated, with local art taking second-seat to the more important cuisine. Oh, and have you heard about Kate’s beetroot fudge? No, well read all about it here!

The Cork City Centre restaurant hosted the first Chef Du Jour event in November with former plasterer-turned-food-enthusiast Paul Callaghan making the trip from Clare and Jeni Pim traveling from Tramore to take part, each running the Fenns Quay kitchen for a night to host a multi-course meal. A panel of three judges each night rated the chef’s performance. I was a judge on the first night, along with Elk O’Mahony and Billy Lyons, when Paul Callaghan’s menu was on the table (Margaret UmNumNum Smith took over for me as judge on the second night). This is the run-down of the delicious evening.

Cherry Tomato with Ardsallagh Goats Cheese, Basil Pesto & Sea Salt Cracker

Mussels from the English Market cooked with bacon and Ireland’s own Stonewell Cider

Roscarbery Pork Belly with Potato and Horseradish Puree, Braised Red Cabbage with a Mulled Red Wine Jus

Trio of Desserts: White chocolate cheesecake; Mixed berry crumble; Meringue tower of strawberries & vanilla cream

If these dishes make your mouth water, you should follow Paul Callaghan on Twitter and read his blog, Calso Cooks from the Sustainable Larder!

Fenns Quay
Sheares Street, Cork City (one street north from Washington Street)
Tel: 021.427.9527
@FennsQuay on Twitter and on Facebook

There are several street spots directly in front of the restaurant and nearby parking garages (North Main Street may be closest), plus it is on the #8 bus line.

  

Related Press for November’s Chef Du Jour

FENN’S QUAY: CHEF DU JOUR by CorkBilly

Fenn’s Quay: Chef du Jour from Dine & Wine Club Cork

Chef du Jour from Calso Cooks

Chef du Jour at Fenn’s Quay Cork from Pims.ie

Fenns Quay to host chef du jour compétition from Cork Independent

An Evening of Food & Beer at Cornstore

Tonight, Cornstore in association with Heineken will present Food & Beer Night starting at 7:30 p.m.. Attendees will enjoy a carefully selected three-course menu (you get to choose your starter and main) with beers matched to each of course options.

If that’s not enough to get you salivating, Master Beer Sommelier Marc Stroobandt will also be there. I know! Have you been dying to ask a Master Beer Sommelier something while enjoying a gourmet meal? Well, tonight that dream can come true. I personally would ask how temperature fluctuations at the consumer point impact the beer’s flavor. What would YOU ask Marc?

Tickets are €24.95 per person for this three-course evening for your taste buds. Spaces are limited (did I mention its TONIGHT?), it’s best to contact reservations now at 021-4274777 to secure your place.

I went to the last Food & Beer Night back in October and have to say it is a great way to spend an evening. Here’s an image promoting the event and detailing tonight’s menu:

Cornstore January 2012 Food & Beer Night

Buy Your Round…In County Cork

Lonely Planet seems to have taken the real capital‘s side in the age-old Dublin/Cork rivalry. According to today’s Irish Times article:

The [latest edition of Lonely Planet Ireland] has two pieces of advice for travellers. Don’t use expressions like “top o’ the morning to you” or “begorrah”, which belong in 1950s Hollywood movies, and do buy your round. The book says “everything good about Ireland can be found in County Cork”.

Sure, County Cork has coastline, countryside, culinary destinations (like English Market, Kinsale or Ballymaloe) and friendly people (and West Cork which has ALL of these elements) BUT even I think Lonely Planet is selling the rest of the country short. Ireland is covered in small charming villages and medium-sized towns that are adorable freckles of character. Each no doubt has something worth visiting. Take Glendalough in County Wicklow for example. It has scenic walks, historic structures, lovely local foods, and amazing views. Galway has nightlife, waterside strolls, and some top-notch jewelry artisans. Dingle in County Kerry offers visitors a classic Irish experience in a colorful seaside town with memorable cuisine and hospitable accommodations. Let’s not overlook County Mayo with its enchanting town of Westport (home of one of my favorite shops, Market 57) or the phenomenal Kylemore Abbey. County Clare and its coastal town of Lahinch draw surfers and golfers from far and wide. This country has so much to offer so as in love with Cork as I am, I do think Lonely Planet was shortsighted to state “everything good about Ireland can be found in County Cork” because there is so much good in Ireland – too much to be contained in just one county.

The one thing I am thrilled to see included in this book is that it encourages tourists to buy their round and not use outdated cliche Hollywood-Irish phrases (not the way people actually speak). The later is a pet peeve of mine and the former is just polite. In the States, however, it is not out of the ordinary to have someone just buy you a drink so the concept of rotating or alternating rounds in the pub is a nuance that may be lost on someone accustomed to drinks just being bought for or by them on a whim instead of a traditional politeness.

What are some of your favorite good things, places, and moments to experience in Ireland?

Lonely Planet Ireland is available from…
Amazon.com: Lonely Planet Ireland (Country Travel Guide)
Amazon.co.uk: Ireland (Lonely Planet Country Guides)

Here is an assortment of photos from my travels around the Emerald Isle to show you there is beauty beyond the County Cork boundaries. Of course, Cork is a great place to live, don’t get me wrong, but it is in a wonderful country too.

January Sales

When I first moved from the States, I was confused my the concept of January sales. Didn’t the stores have big sales all year? You know, President’s Day Sale, March Madness Sale, Memorial Day Sale, Back To School Sale, Columbus Day Sale, Black Friday Sale, Post-Christmas Sale,… Evidently, big sales are not commonplace here so January is the time to shop. The rest of the year, you may see special deals, promotions, or sale racks, but the big store-wide sales and massive deals are from December 26 (see photo below of the 7am queue at NEXT Opera Lane this year) through the end of January. As I learned, by late January it’s pretty “well picked over”. And for some things, it’s even picked over by Noon on December 26th (like Brown Thomas’s handbag department). But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good time to plan ahead. This year, I picked up a warm puffy coat for baby for around a tenner for next winter as well as some gifts for a group holiday gift exchange (this group does its exchange at Women’s Little Christmas).

It is especially great to shop the sales when doing a price-limit gift exchange because the same amount of money goes further. My recipient this year received a silver pendant on a leather necklace from Monsoon, basting sauce from M&S, cable knit slipper socks from NEXT, two glass ramekins from a gourmet store, snowflake tissues from NEXT, and a sequin belt/scarf/handband from Monsoon (plus jelly beans from the States).

But why are the sales just in January? I have no idea but I have embraced it.

A Tale of Two Queues: St. Stephen’s Day Shopping

My memories of St. Stephen’s Day (or Boxing Day as we called it growing up in the States) are of my Mom and my early morning starts to shop the sales. We always started at Lord & Taylor (often after a strategy session at Dunkin Donuts with friends). The big draw was their Christmas decorations and high-end clothing (Ralph Lauren, for one). As years went by, our companions changed until one day it was no longer a friend and her mother, but my mother-in-law then, after moving to Ireland, my husband.

Our first Christmas as expats, we celebrated in London with a Dickens-focused walk on Christmas Day followed by an amazing Italian dinner. The year after that, we spent in Cork City. Last year, Morocco. Almost every St. Stephen’s Day, however, included shopping unique to the city we were in and a reminder that sometimes we buy just to buy since when luggage space is limited, I bought less.

2007: Just before moving to Ireland, we celebrated Christmas with both our families in Washington, D.C. The day after Christmas ritual was enjoyed with my Mom and mother-in-law. We chose to focus our energy on the shops in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of D.C. and visited Lord & Taylor, of course, plus J.Crew, LOFT, and the other classic favorites of ours. My favorite items of the day were a pair of flannel-lined chinos from J.Crew and a camel-hued coat from LOFT. The coat is a regular favorite when it’s not raining and in that middle temperature. It says “dry clean only” but I washed it and the world didn’t end.

2008: In London, I met up with a friend from California, Katie, and along with a friend of hers we hit Kensington High Street while my beloved husband watched a match in a pub with a few good British beers. We later hit Regent or Oxford Street (I get them confused) for a little more shopping. It was mayhem, but a novelty and a convenient excuse to duck in from the below-freezing cold. Of all the things I bought, two items actually get used the most, a cardigan from Next and a turtleneck from H&M. Both are green.

2009: Our St. Stephen’s Day in Cork City was just as chilly, but with more familiar shopping options. We started at Next on Opera Lane then to Debenham’s and finally Brown Thomas. That year, Next opened at 7am and I found a couple useless pieces of clothing I “had to have” plus a fairly practical clutch purse. My favorite item of the day was definitely a dress my husband bought me at Brown Thomas. I actually wore it to this year’s Chef Factor party at The Grain Store at Ballymaloe (two weeks after giving birth to my wonderful son). Gotta love a dress that is designed to be forgiving without looking like it’s forgiving any flaws.

2010: Last year brought a very different shopping trip since Morocco isn’t know for their outlet malls or high street. Ah, but they are known for their souk markets! We spent the day exploring the souk in Marrakech. Amazing! We didn’t buy too many things, but did manage to come away with some saffron, Moroccan tea leaves, and tagine spices.

Now, having given you a rather personal (and probably dull to you) run-down of my last four St. Stephen’s Day, you can guess this year will be a departure from previous years since I have a new baby to share my schedule. That and I peeked at the queue at Next just as they opened and it was crazy! Here, you can compare the queue at opening in 2009 to this morning’s and see for yourself. Then I’d love to hear what your favorite places are for St. Stephen’s Day shopping or if you have a different ritual to mark the day.

7:00 a.m. on December 26, 2009

6:00 a.m. on December 26, 2011

For those of you looking for St. Stephen’s Day 2011 store opening hours for shops on Opera Lane, here’s what I know…

Next: 6am – FACT
River Island: 8am ?
Gap: 8am - FACT (all sale sweaters are €15)
TopShop: 10:45-11am
H&M: 9am ?
New Look: 8am ?

Brilliant Idea for Holiday Shopping Day in the City

I love Cork. Having said that, I also love The Brooks Hotel in Dublin. It is my oasis of calm in the Fair City. A short walk to shopping and dining, but peaceful and decadent within the walls of the hotel itself. There is even a library which makes my heart skip a beat.

Something about The Brooks and December just goes together for me. Maybe it’s because the first time I ever stayed there was for my birthday a few years ago. To commemorate my special day, they put freshly baked cookies in my room at bedtime. Yes, cookies. The way to my heart is most certainly through my stomach. I’m on their mailing list so when I read that they are offering some special December deals, I looked at their website. Sure, I have a newborn so traveling is a new and interesting challenge. Heck, sleeping in my own bed is a challenge these days!

Their website is where brilliance was seen in the form of their Shop, Drop & Stop at Brooks deal. For €25 per person, you get a morning scone and coffee at their Café Lounge to start your shopping day then go around find your gifts then return to their Jasmine Bar for a soup and sandwich lunch when the concierge will check your shopping parcels so after you refuel you can go back out with your arms unladen to shop some more. When your day winds down, return for your parcels and enjoy mince pie and coffee. Sounds like such a lovely day!!

Yes, a hotel is offering a deal that has nothing to do with their beds or guest rooms. Considering their location on Drury Street (near Grafton and Powerscourt Shopping Centre) and the recession, this somehow makes such complete sense. It immediately made me curious if there is a hotel or restaurant in Cork offering such a deal. Especially because I know of at least one friend who drove from Killarney just for a day of Christmas shopping here in Cork City. So, Leesiders, is there a deal locally? It would be especially smart to offer with the information that Paul Street has some free parking hours in November.

Here’s a screen shot of the deal from The Brooks’ website (click to visit their deals page online):

Choosing Wines for Christmas – Tonight at Crawford Café

If you are looking for something to do in Cork City this evening, you’re in luck! Cork Free Choice is holding a lecture on Choosing Wines for Christmas at the Crawford Art Gallery Cafe. The evening starts at 7:30 and entrance is just €6, which includes tea or coffee. And you know they have lovely tea and coffee there!

For those outside Cork City reading this and interested but thinking it would be a hassle to park in town, you should know that tonight parking is FREE in the garage at Paul Street, which is a short walk from the Crawford Gallery. No excuses now!

Chef du Jour at Fenns Quay

Next week, Fenns Quay, @fennsquay on Twitter, plays host to Chef du Jour, a two-night challenge.

Tuesday and Wednesday of next week are the nights to either be a diner at Fenns Quay or following the Tweets in-restaurant (hash tag #ChefduJour). On the 22nd of November, food enthusiast Paul Callaghan is making the journey from Clare to run Fenns Quay Kitchen in Cork City for the evening. And on the 23rd of November Jeni Pim travels from Tramore to showcase her wonderful talents with a well-designed menu.

With a wonderful menu planned each night and a great evening out assured, come along to see what Paul and Jeni are made of. All food and wine is included in the €50 price (includes aperitif, four-course menu and wine). According to Fenns Quay, “This night is a must for all you foodies out there. We will be documenting the nights through photographs, Twitter & Facebook and expect all you Tweeters to be tweeting.” Bookings 021 4279527

I’ll be there too! Which says a lot because I just gave birth last week.