I’m building up quite a wish list collection now! January, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December 2012 and February 2013!
Now time for April.
Category Archives:
Tweet Meet Tues
Nearly every Tuesday, a small varying group of Leesiders meets at Electric on South Mall to talk, drink coffee and Tweet.
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.
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.
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.
Why I’m a Regular at Fenn’s Quay and Electric
After reading Dianne Jacob’s post about food bloggers being pushovers (or not), I want to state clearly that even though I eat at Fenn’s Quay and Electric at least once a week, Tweet/blog about my visits there, am friends with Kate (something that happened after I wrote my TripAdvisor review) and know Ernest and Dennis, I do not receive any freebies or benefits that are not also given to other customers. Every so often, I get a free tea or hot chocolate as a random act of kindness to a group of people or customers, but this is not timed or in association with any action on my part. I have never ever been asked to write a post or review about either place. Below, I am listing what I like about each place.
FENN’S QUAY RESTAURANT
Sheares Street, Cork City (one street north from Washington Street, behind the Courthouse)
Tel: 021.427.9527
Facebook and Twitter
Open Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to late
Fenn’s Quay (owner: Kate Lawlor), Sheares Street, Cork City Centre
Why the love?
1) The specials change daily and feature seasonal ingredients so it doesn’t get boring. But popular standards are always on their main menu. All at reasonable prices.
2) It is walking distance from my home, so it’s convenient.
3) The staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgable.
4) The food is delicious, using quality local ingredients.
5) The restaurant is clean with aubergine velvet banquet seating and chairs that feel elegant even though it’s a casual spot.
6) Ever since day one, my baby boy has received a warm welcome there and they make it easy to dine out with a little one. I am a sucker for a kid-friendly restaurant that isn’t geared toward children (ie, no frozen chicken fingers on the menu or plastic cups for everyone to drink from).
7) Free coffee refills.
8) Open from 8:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. That’s three meals a day, six days a week!
9) Comfortable and warm. A very important attribute in rainy Cork.
ELECTRIC BAR
South Mall, Cork City (downstairs)
Tel: 021.422.2990
Facebook and Twitter
Open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to late. Open Sundays too!
Electric Bar (owner: Ernest Cantillon), South Mall, Cork City Centre
Why the love?
1) Simple but creative sandwiches and soups after Noon for reasonable prices.
2) It is walking distance from my home, so it’s convenient.
3) The staff are friendly and welcoming to my baby boy, LB.
4) There is a changing table in the handicapped restroom. Though it took me over six months of motherhood to discover that (I never asked).
5) It is clean with great natural light streaming in the windows.
6) They carry Australian non-alcoholic ginger beer and pitchers of water with different sliced citrus or fresh mint.
7) Welcoming to my knitting group. Knitters are the like the skateboarders of the craft world. We are too busy knitting to order lots of food and drink so not a real money-maker for wherever we meet.
8) Sometimes there is a little taster of biscotti with my hot chocolate and it’s such a treat. Not always there as it is not listed as part of the hot chocolate on the menu, so a nice surprise.
So, there you have the details on why I eat where I do. Now, there’s no need to doubt the sincerity of my posts and enthusiasm for Fenn’s Quay and Electric. I go to these places with regularity and love them without any compensation, freebies, bribery, brown envelopes or begging. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?
Smudge Yarns is as Irish as it Gets
Local crafter Sara Breitenfeldt behind IrishWools.com is creating “slow yarn” with Irish wool. Embracing the principles of the Slow Movement, this project allows discerning knitters, crocheters, and felters to reject mass produced products and instead enjoy unique handspun yarns. These yarns are made with locally-produced wool which is bought from Irish farmers at a fair price.
Sara, who is originally from Wisconsin, says, “Having travelled to Ireland several times as a tourist, it became apparent that there were very few Irish yarns on the market. This is a huge disappointment for tourists who expect a country with so many sheep would have many interesting local artisan yarns. After moving to Ireland I joined local knitting groups. These knitters also lamented the lack of Irish yarn, and the fact that farmers don’t seem to make much money from the sale of wool.”
In June 2012, Sara created an Irish Artisan Yarn project on the crowd funding website Kickstarter.com. She promised to buy wool from local small hold farmers and spin it into artisan yarn. Sara’s project was very successful and was backed by over 70 individuals in just 30 days. “This proves there is a significant demand for Irish yarns – particularly in America,” says Breitenfeldt. Due to the enthusiasm of Sara’s customers, she has been able to pay Cork sheep farmers up to five times the Market Price set by the British Wool Marketing Board. She has also purchased alpaca fleeces from the Waterfall Alpaca Farm in Drimoleague, Cork. The alpaca fibre can be blended with sheep wool to produce softer yarns.
Sara sells handspun yarns and blended fibre bats through her website Irishwools.com. She also sold yarn at the Cork Craft Month “Craft in the City” Craft Fair held on Cornmarket Street in Cork City last weekend, where I bought a baby cardigan she knit in shades of violet (it will be a very special baby gift for a dear friend back in the States). These are possibly the only yarns to carry the “Guaranteed Irish” mark. Other yarns are beautifully hand dyed in Ireland but the yarn is from non-Irish sheep. Sara’s goal is to raise the reputation of Irish wool abroad and to ensure Irish sheep farmers are able to profit on the sale of wool rather than just cover the cost of shearing.
Sara has been knitting for approximately 10 years, and spinning and dyeing fibres for three years. She is active in yarn spinning and knitting groups in Cork. She and Smudge Yarns are also connected to the Ravelry online knitting community which has nearly two million members worldwide. You can purchase Sara’s Irish handspun from IrishWools.com.
Here is a photo of the cardigan I purchased at the Cork Craft Month “Craft in the City” Craft Fair. It is going to a very special baby in the U.S.
Best scone in Ireland is actually a Scruffin in Carlow
Goodall’s of Ireland Reveals the National & Regional Winners of the Nation’s Favourite Scone
One of the great culinary debates was laid to rest last week when Goodall’s of Ireland announced the winner of their search for the country’s Best Scone! Carlow’s Café Formenti has been revealed as the winner of a €1,000 prize fund, but more importantly the coveted title of ‘Best Scone of Ireland’!
The competition caught the public imagination with #bestscone becoming one of the top trends talked about on Twitter last week. A shortlist was compiled from public nominations cast on Twitter and Facebook and was then voted for on the http://www.goodalls.ie blog, with almost 10,000 votes being cast from around the country.
Café Formenti’s unusual ‘Scruffin’ a cross between a muffin and a scone, encouraged loyal customers and fans to get behind the Carlow based café, and owner Richie Fenner commented on his delight at the victory for the café, “Cafe Formenti, along with being a working cafe where we cater for all tastes in Carlow town, is also a community, where all walks of life come to interact.”
Speaking on behalf of Goodall’s Gareth Watkins commented, “We wanted to celebrate the best of Irish baking – not the fancy stuff but tasty everyday stuff, that when it’s done well can be fantastic. We all know scones can vary from the mediocre to the truly great and Café Formenti represents the best of modern Irish food”.
But don’t despair, great scones are available in other cities, like Cork, too! Our own Fenn’s Quay and Electric were on the shortlist! You can read Fenn’s Quay’s head chefs Kate Lawlor’s blog post about it. And here is one I wrote. Electric’s (below) and FQ’s (above) scones are the ones pictured in this post.
Any bakers wishing to try their hand at making Ireland’s best scone can have a look at www.Goodalls.ie where Goodalls will publish the café’s top tips on scone making. Or my own family recipe.
You can join in the great scone debate on Facebook.com/GoodallsIreland or follow the conversation on Twitter.com/GoodallsIreland.
No Tomatillos but Plenty of Tea – American Food in Cork, Ireland
Remember when I admitted that when I moved here I packed a can of cranberry sauce to make sure Thanksgiving would be like always? Well, there’s plenty of cranberry sauce in Ireland and other surprises too. I mean, foods that are so typically American we almost think no other continent can sustain their existence. But it’s 2012 and technology, shipping and farming have made leaps and bounds. So, here are a few things I’ve been asked about most recently. If you are in Ireland and know where to buy there or other ‘American’ food favorites, please comment below.
- Molasses – I got a jar once at a health foods store. Dark treacle or golden syrup are used instead when I’m in a pinch and can’t find it.
- Pancake syrup – You can buy pure Canadian maple syrup (not Vermont) here for a hefty price. Sometimes TK Maxx here in town has Aunt Jamima on sale by the bottle for an outlandish expense. There is pancake mix available at the local grocery stores, especially before Mardi Gras (aka Pancake Tuesday).
- Brown sugar – Readily available in various forms.
- Canned pumpkin – An organic version in jars is available at two health food shops here in town but Libby’s brand is not.
- Salsa verde – Unfortunately, not everything is available in Cork City. We literally fill our suitcases with the stuff.
- Peanut butter – Readily available but not like JIF.
- Black beans – Available dried from several places or organic in a can available at two health food shops in town.
- Cheerios – The regular Cheerios here has added sugar so if you have a kid, bring American Cheerios with you because those don’t have added sugar.
- Reeses Peanut Butter Cups – Available at a few places in town
If you are interested in learning more about American food and where to find/buy it in Ireland, read THIS POST.
Other popular posts for those moving to Ireland from the U.S. are:
What American foods can you not live without? What have you not been able to find? Do you like the different versions are do you feel it’s Libby’s or nothing when it comes to pureed pumpkin?
Visiting Ireland: An Extended Q&A Session
An American friend whose family is planning a trip to Ireland asked my advice and here are all the questions and answers that resulted, so I thought I’d share it with you! There is probably someone else out there planning a trip over here to the Emerald Isle and maybe this can help a bit. If it does help you, I’d love to hear from you with a comment. If you think I overlooked something, also comment so future visitors can know what’s what.
Is it easy to visit Dublin or Cork (or both) without a car?
Flying into Dublin, there is are affordable, clean and safe shuttle buses into the city of Dublin. It’s so easy, I wouldn’t even consider a taxi. To explore beyond Dublin, the train may be the best method. The Luas is great for getting around Dublin.
Irish Rail costs about €40 each way for Cork/Dublin routes. Trains are frequent, clean, safe, and have free WiFi. Heuston Station in Dublin has the trains Cork. Tickets are discounted if purchased ahead of time online.
Cork’s train station is called Kent and is walking distance to city centre but there are taxis and the 205 bus too. That bus costs €1.70 per person and runs from the station to the other side of the city, passing most hotels, B&Bs, and such. Taxi drivers must use meters in both cities.
Getting to and around Cork is fairly easy. Here’s a whole blog post about it. If flying into Cork, it costs about €15 to taxi from the airport to city centre. There is also a bus. If you rent a car, be aware of parking options.
What about visiting with a car?
You won’t want to drive in Dublin too much. It is confusing and bustling and lots of weird one-way systems and pedestrian lanes in the city centre. And there are lanes in Ireland that are just for the bus to use and taxis so stay out of those unless you’re turning. Those lanes are marked ‘Lána Bus’ which is Irish for ‘bus lane’. (Special thanks to Maire O’Sullivan for sweetly correcting my Irish on this one)
Is West Cork a neighborhood of Cork City? I’ve heard it is beautiful.
West Cork is a region of County Cork west of Cork City. It is the most southwestern area of the Republic and noted for its coastline and cuisine. I recommend West Cork, especially if the weather is good. It is Ireland’s answer to California (without the heat). Beaches, food producers, fields, and very scenic. The pace is just a little slower (much slower than Dublin). We go there at least once a month even if just for lunch and it is very accessible from Cork City and Kenmare/Killarney for a day trip. Though buses do service towns in West Cork like Skibb, this is one area it is nice to have a rental car so you have flexibility to stop wherever you wish.
Do you recommend any particular hotel in Dublin that is central or well-located?
My favorite places to stay in Dublin are The Gibson (hip and located across from the O2) and The Brooks Hotel (classic and well-kept near St. Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street). But Dublin is a city and, as such, there are many many hotels I’ve never heard of so do some research and ask friends who’ve been there. Porterhouse is a nice spot to get a pint.
Any suggestions for restaurants in Dublin?
If you get the chance and advanced time to make reservations, Chapter One is a VERY nice restaurant (I have yet to get in since reservations are essential and I never plan ahead enough when going to Dublin). Eden is nice too. Dunne & Crecenzi is a sentimental favorite because we dined there on our honeymoon. Avoca on the top floor of their shop at the end of Grafton is delectable. There’s also one on the M7/N7 near Naas.
Where do you recommend we call home while we’re in County Cork?
There are a few places. Depends where you want to be and where you want to explore.
In Cork City Centre, my Dad likes the Imperial Hotel in Cork City Centre. It is central and there are NO hills between that hotel and the city. Clarion is also good but three blocks farther from everything and not in an interesting direction. There are many B&Bs along Western Road near UCC (University College Cork). The Gresham Metropole is supposed to be very nice as well and it’s on MacCurtain. Slight hill heading into town from there unless you exit out the hotel’s lower level which is on the Quay level. There is also River Lee Hotel and Jury’s on Western Road between UCC and city centre.
Outside of Cork City Centre there are options like Ballymaloe House near Cloyne or a selection of boutique hotels and B&Bs in Kinsale. Look for a B&B and odds are they will take good care of you and have a nice breakfast. Though most hotels have lovely breakfasts as well.
What is the name of the new highway connecting Dublin and Cork?
You want to get on the M7 then switch to the M8. If you drive on the M50, you need to pay a toll (€3) by phone or online by 8pm the day after you drive on it. The M50 is like Dublin’s beltway but the ocean gets in the way on the eastern side.
Assuming there are no major events, how long should it take roundtrip? Are there peak traffic times on specific days of the week to beware of?
Driving to or from Dublin from Cork takes 2.5 hours. I’d say maybe Sunday nights, Monday mornings, Friday evenings would be the busy times for anyone who works in Dublin but wants to spend a weekend in West Cork since it will be ‘summer’ here.
All-Ireland GAA senior men’s hurling or football. Getting a ticket to an All-Ireland GAA Final is like getting a Super Bowl ticket. I got two a few years back and felt like I’d won the lottery, which I think is how tickets are acquired for fairness in the regions competing. You DO NOT want to be on any road leading to/from Dublin on the day of an All-Ireland match.
Where do you recommend stopping along the way, if at all?
I made you a map of the three places I would most recommend stopping along the drive. Choose A or B, not both (I recommend A then C). A = Avoca (an Irish store with hand-crafted and inspiring items in delicious colors, there’s also a store in Dublin city but the one on the highway is MUCH bigger with a cafe AND a restaurant). B = Kildare Outlets (it won’t be cheap even with outlet prices but there is a Starbucks and a Dunne & Crecenzi). C = Cashel (Rock of Cashel is an old religious destination which may be tough for mobility challenged but the town is darling and the view is lovely from the pubs or cafes plus it has a little touristy vibe so it has a nice energy to it in the summer). All of those places have parking near a place to sit and have a cup of tea or bite to eat. Check for pay parking any time you park anywhere that isn’t a shopping mall. Here’s the map link: http://goo.gl/maps/Cx30
What is it like to travel between Kinsale and Cork by car?
The roads are small but do-able. I did it on our honeymoon and just took it slow in the afternoon on a weekday when it wasn’t too busy. There is a paid parking lot in the centre of town in Kinsale which is central. I recommend going to lunch at Fishy Fishy (I like their monkfish or their chicken green salad) then stroll around the shops.
Where do you recommend we eat (keeping in mind that I will likely be the only one in the group who likes to experiment with food – the rest are meat-eating Americans through and through)?
In Kinsale,… Jim Edwards, Fishy Fishy and Blue Haven are good. Almost anywhere will have a steak or chicken goujons (aka fingers) on the menu and you can ask for chips or salad on the side as filler. I’ve found that many places undercook their meat more than in the States (probably because in the States they have to reach a minimum before serving or have you sign a waiver, at least some of the spots I’ve gone to) so Medium is more like Medium-Rare. The hamburgers will be different and not as good because of the technique to grind the meat. It is more of a minced texture.
In Cork,…
My favorite place to eat real food in town is Fenns Quay. I love the fresh Irish ingredients and the fact that the specials change daily. They have one of two burgers in Ireland we’ll eat. The steak that is out of this world. They are open 8:30a-10p Monday through Saturday which is also why it’s a fave because I can get an early breakfast. I couldn’t stomach eggs or beef while pregnant last year but their chef/owner Kate managed to always make the perfect eggs Florentine that went down like butter. They are in the running for Best Scone in Ireland (Goodalls competition).
I highly recommend Electric for tea/coffee, soda/beer, or sandwich/soup lunch. They have WiFi and great natural light. It’s two blocks from the Imperial Hotel on the South Mall. I go there twice a week with my Twitter meetup group and my knitting friends because it has a nice relaxed feel with great light so even on rainy days I feel like I’ve gotten some sunlight. You can have a real restaurant meal upstairs (reservations through Facebook). Grab the tables in the far back on the ground level for a view of the River Lee. They are in the running for Best Scone in Ireland (Goodalls competition).
Nash 19 is on Princes Street and though there is little to no natural light in the place, they make delightful potato cakes (it’s like a scoop of mashed potato in a crispy crumb crust), creamy porridge, and yummy breakfast treats.
Definitely you MUST go to Long Valley Pub for lunch one day and have a ‘corned beef salad sandwich’ or ‘toasty’. SOOOOOO good. And very affordable. Long Valley is on Winthrop between Oliver Plunkett and Patrick’s Street. Across from there is the GPO (big city post office) and the Hi-B Bar (a notorious pub where people get thrown out for doing things like talking on mobile phone or wearing a necktie). They are great landmarks too.
Spiced Beef is a speciality in Cork so give it a try while you’re here. You can buy a package of it cooked and sliced from Durkins in the English Market (A MUST, even the Queen of England visited there last year). The package is small and costs €4 but get one or two there (by the Fountain that has no water, not the places with all the eggs) then some cheeses from On The Pig’s Back and a loaf of their bread and go across the Grand Parade to have a picnic on the benches in Bishop Lucey Park if the weather is nice. Honestly, I used to travel a lot and my Dad still does and he says that one of the best things after a few days of eating in restaurants is to have a light meal outdoors. I’m sure you’ve found that too in your travels. It kind of allows your brain and stomach to take stock of its adventures and rest up for the next round.
There are so many good places in County Cork, including Ballymaloe House, Longueville House, …
What are Cork’s “must-sees” and “tourist traps to avoid”? (e.g., I heard everyone pees on the Blarney Stone now, so it’s best not to kiss it.)
That rumor about peeing on the Blarney Stone has been going around for ages and is probably not true because anyone going into the Castle grounds must pay so why spend good money to pee at the top of Blarney Castle when they can pee at home, right? Let alone, if they were drunk and breaking in they’d have lots of stairs to climb to get up to it and by then they’d have probably peed themselves laughing. Also, it doesn’t smell like old pee which it would no matter how much you clean it. Having said that, it is touristy.
The saddest thing is that most people come to Ireland on tour buses and only see big things like Cashel, Blarney Castle, and Newgrange (near Dublin). They miss the real experience so it’s wonderful you’re driving yourselves! There was an article two summers ago about how businesses in Blarney are in trouble (were and still are) because tour buses come to Blarney and park in the Blarney Woollen Mills parking lot and go only there and to the Castle, missing out on the cute little town. That happens to other towns too. The most important recommendation is one you probably already know from your travels and that is to get off the main street when looking for a place to eat or shop because the pace is slower and more care is often taken with the experience not just the food.
Cork Must See List:
• St Anne of Shandon is an Anglican church with a stunning view of the city if you climb the bell tower. A ladder is involved so it may not be for everyone.
• English Market (on the day you drive back to Dublin, you could pop in there before you go and stock up on food for the car so you can stop someplace interesting instead of out of hunger)
• If you like whiskey, check out Jameson Distillery in Midleton (20 minutes from Cork City Centre, ample parking) for the tour (there’s a post on my blog about it and how to get chosen for the free whiskey tasting after) then repark closer to Farmgate Cafe and go there for lunch. Great spot. It is the sister restaurant to one in the English Market (upstairs) but easier to access since no stairs at this one and more spacious with wider selection.
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.
