Tweet Meet Tues

Nearly every Tuesday, a small varying group of Leesiders meets at Electric on South Mall to talk, drink coffee and Tweet.

At Electric Bar on South Mall, Cork City Ireland

All this grew from an exchange on Twitter among locals a few years ago and now is one of the most established casual meet ups in town. It started at Cafe Gusto on Lapps Quay but as numbers increased and winter got colder, we moved to Electric’s downstairs area.

Electric, 41 South Mall, Cork City. Http://wp.me/pl7el-kj

No attendance is kept. The night before, Twitter lights up with the hash tag #TweetMeetTues as discussions occur on who may be there. Regulars tag other regulars to ask specifically and often it coincides with in-town appointments.

Tea and pistachio biscotti at Electric Cork

Some weeks, it is very quiet. Other weeks, it is lively. No matter how many people show up, the coffee is always hot and the conversation is beyond 140 characters.

Morning Mocha and Scone at Electric in Cork City

Italian Food and Wine Night with da Vinci Wines of Tuscany at Fenn’s Quay

This Autumn, Fenn’s Quay’s head chefess and co-owner Kate Lawlor traveled to Tuscany to visit vineyards and learn about wine and olive oil. The resulting Instagram photos, stories and culinary inspiration were lovely to say the least. But for those of us who wished we could be there too, Chefess Kate is holding an Italian Food and Wine Night on November 29th with Cantine Leonardo da Vinci Wines of Tuscany, an innovative growers’ cooperative comprised of over 200 winegrowers whose grapes soak up the sun on the Tuscan hillsides of Italy.

The Italian Food and Wine Night takes place this Thursday, the 29th of November. Four courses, four different wines from Jacomo to match each course. Amazing food paired with a wine accompaniment to tantalise your taste buds! Only 35 spots are available for this special culinary evening, so move quickly to reserve your place. Perfect opportunity for foodies (and aspiring foodies) to develop knowledge of wine and food. The price is €45 per person. Reservations: 021.427.9527

Tuscany 1

No. 5 Fenn’s Quay Restaurant offers cosy dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. The menu offers fresh, simple, and creative dishes from the regions of Ireland with global inspiration. The casual dining room ambiance combines contemporary elegance with rustic traditional. Fenns Quay is located on Shears Street (between Courthouse Street and Anne Street) in Cork City Centre. Street parking available in front or in nearby North Main Street public lot. Reservations: 021.427.9527

Chefess and Owner of Fenn's Quay, Kate Lawlor

Special Jazz Weekend Sunday Brunch at Fenn’s Quay

Brunch may have been around for decades but Fenn’s Quay Restaurant, located on Sheares Street in Cork City Centre, is jazzing it up this Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Executive Chefess Kate Lawlor created a delectable brunch menu featuring local ingredients in classics, like Eggs Benedict with Rosscarbery Rashers, Eggs Florentine (available with Ardsallagh goats cheese) or Boiled Eggs and Soldiers with Marmite, and indulgent favorites, like Feirm Úr Buttermilk Pancakes with your choice of crème fraîche, homemade jam or maple syrup.

Eggs Florentine at Fenns Quay

Soldiers and eggs and Marmite and potato straws. Brunch at Fenns quay

Buttermilk pancakes at Fenns Quay

For light eaters, there are Croissants, Porridge or Fruit Scones served with Irish butter and Kate’s own house-made jam. With a variety of brunch dishes on the special menu, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Fresh batch of fruit scones at Fenns Quay

Morning at Fenns Quay means fresh baked Irish scones. I think they are the best in Ireland. Served with Irish butter and Chef Kate's own house-made berry jam

Known for its family-friendly menu and staff, even the littlest brunchers will enjoy themselves. I know my little man, LB, will be having a blast. He’s in love with Kate’s Irish soda bread!

Sunday brunch on a bank holiday weekend is the perfect time to treat yourself to a relaxing meal. Make your outing a family affair or gather with friends. Fenn’s Quay will have its own playlist of Jazz favorites playing in the background so your conversation can be center stage.

Fenn’s Quay is proudly now an Eircom WiFiHub, a service that allows Eircom broadband, eMobile and Meteor customers to connect to the Internet when they are out and about. Each Twitter user receives one free mimosa when you Tweet about your brunch, mentioning @FennsQuay.

No. 5 Fenn’s Quay Restaurant offers cosy dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. The menu offers fresh, simple, and creative dishes from the regions of Ireland with global inspiration. The casual dining room ambiance combines contemporary elegance with rustic traditional. Street parking available in front or in nearby North Main Street public lot. Reservations can be made by calling 021.427.9527.

Chefess and Owner of Fenn's Quay, Kate Lawlor

Carrigaline Photographic Society Insights Exhibit at Cork International Airport

Carrigaline Photographic Society are pleased to announce their latest photography exhibition, Insights, running in Cork Airport from September 17th to Ocotober 12th. This latest exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Cork Airport and the Cork County Council Arts Service. The official opening is at 6:30PM on September 21st as part of Culture Night celebrations.

The images in this photographic exhibition represent the individual insights of each photographer as they responded to their environment, events in time, or a concept that the photographer created for the purpose of creating a unique image. Each photographer has used the tools and techniques of photography to realise their vision and the results stand as a testament to their individuality. The equipment used ranged from traditional film cameras all the way to the latest digital cameras, using a variety of media.

The final images show the strength of photography as a method of expression and its ability to move and communicate with the viewer. The universality of photography to communicate emotion, ideas and to inspire the viewer, without the use of spoken language, stands as one of its main strengths. The viewer is invited to share this experience with the photographer and to take from the images what they wish. Happy viewing.

Carrigaline Photographic Society has the ongoing objective of developing, promoting and improving the knowledge, practice and appreciation of the art of photography. Meetings are on the last Wednesday of every month in St. Mary’s Hall, Carrigaline. See www.carrigalinephotographic.com, for further details.

This Saturday! Blarney Castles’ Summer Garden Fair ‘Blarney in Bloom’

Whatever you do, don’t miss Blarney Castles’ Summer Garden Fair ‘Blarney in Bloom’ which takes place on Saturday July 14th from 10am to 5pm.
The fair is being run in aid of wonderful Cork charity Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and there will be a range of specialist nurseries, in addition to arts and crafts, garden displays and birds of prey, not forgetting the guide dogs themselves of course.
Access to the gardens are also included with the very reasonable €5 entry fee 
and children under 12 go free. 
It’s going to be a great family day out, make sure you’re there.

Jamie Oliver launches Taste of Dublin 2012

Taste of Dublin has kicked off with much enthusiasm and success. A few friends are attending this year and I’ve seen their Tweets and am enjoying it vicariously through them. I was grateful when I received this full account from Clodagh Hogan! She’s a sweetheart to keep me in the loop, knowing it’s tough for me to get up to Dublin with seven-month-old LB demanding my attention (though I did get up there two weeks ago for a cooking class, but that’s another blog post).

Yesterday, Taste of Dublin sponsored by Electrolux, Ireland’s most prominent and prestigious food and drink event, kicked off in style at the stunning Iveagh Gardens with the arrival of world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver, who officially launched the four day festival.

Taking to the stage, Jamie wowed the audience as he showcased his culinary talents with a 45 minute live cooking demonstration which also happened to be his first on Irish soil.

Today, Jean Christophe Novelli will perform a cooking demonstration at the Electrolux Taste Theatre. Jean Christophe is a 5 out of 5 AA Rosette and Michelin award-winning chef, who is also dubbed “the nation’s favourite French Chef”.  Celebrity chef Valentine Warner will also perform a cooking demonstration today and both chefs will participate at the Chef’s Table, where visitors will have a chance to get up close and personal with the chefs, asking these culinary experts everything from how to ‘grow your own’, how to ‘host the perfect dinner party’, and also discuss new business ideas in the foodie world.

Food fanatics will be blown away from the moment they step into the food and drink haven over the weekend.  Visitors can look forward to delightful dining opportunities from some of Ireland’s leading restaurants, enjoy high calibre wine and beer tastings, learn from the best home grown and international talents at live chef demonstrations, take part in interactive masterclasses and meet with over 100 industry experts and Taste exhibitors. Each attraction will showcase the stars of the Irish food industry who will be championing the very best of locally sourced Irish produce and building on Ireland’s strong reputation amongst the international culinary scene.

It’s not too late to attend! Tickets are available through the box office at the front entrance throughout the weekend. You can also arrange tickets through advance booking online: WWW.TASTE OF DUBLIN.IE or via ticket line 0818 30 00 30 until 5pm the day prior.

Catherine Fulvio, Derry Clarke, Kevin Dundon and Jamie Oliver
Catherine Fulvio, Derry Clarke, Kevin Dundon and Jamie Oliver. Sponsored by Electrolux, Taste of Dublin is Irelands most prominent and prestigious food and drink event, and kicked off in style at the Iveagh Gardens with the arrival of world renowned chef Jamie Oliver who officially launched the four day festival.

Knitting Groups in Cork City, Ireland

With several yarn shops, Cork City is a wool lovers paradise. At least, it is for me. For those new to Cork or just visiting, yarn can be a fun souvenir and going to a knit night can be a non-touristy way to enjoy your time here. But what about the experience of knitting with others? Fun for a tourist or student here for a short time but essential for any newcomer looking to be part of a community. This is how I came to be a knitter because when I moved here four years ago, I knew no one and friends are important. I’m unathletic so I set out to join a crafty or knitting group. Thankfully, my group taught me to knit and welcomed be with open arms and now I am one of the leaders.

In addition to these regular weekly knitting groups (check in case of summer breaks or such), there are special events such as Worldwide Knit In Public Day and Worldwide Social Media Day Cork, both of which take place in June this year.

City Centre:
Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm.
Vibes & Scribes, Bridge Street.
The V&S group does not meet year-round, please ring the store directly to confirm it is taking place during on a specific day: 021-450-5370.

City Centre:
Wednesday mornings from 10:30am.
Vibes & Scribes, Bridge Street.
The V&S group does not meet year-round, please ring the store directly to confirm it is taking place during on a specific day: 021-450-5370.

City Centre:
Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm.
Cork Stitch N Bitch
Comment on this post or visit our Ravelry group for current location.

Douglas:
Thursday evenings from 7.30pm.
Costa Coffee in Douglas Court Shopping Centre

City Centre:
Most Saturday mornings from 10:30am to 1:00pm.
KnitUp in the KnitPit
Comment on this post for current location.

FOR MORE THINGS KNITTING AND CRAFT-RELATED, VISIT MY OTHER BLOG: Spring Stitches.

Voxless Knitting Close-up

Ireland’s MasterChef is Back and They Want YOU

THE SEARCH IS ON TO FIND IRELAND’S NEXT MASTERCHEF!

Are you passionate about food and love to cook? Do you constantly impress your friends and family with your culinary skills? Are you an amateur cook with amazing talent? If so, you might have what it takes to impress our judges, Nick Munier and Dylan McGrath and become Ireland’s MasterChef Champion!

Don’t miss out, APPLY NOWApplication deadline is 28th May 2012. For more information and to download your application form go to: www.rte.ie/masterchef