Monday, February 13, 2012

Source Sligo's Alan Fitzmaurice announced as Team Captain for Irish Culinary Team


The Panel of Chefs Ireland are pleased to announce  Alan Fitzmaurice, Head Chef at Source Sligo as the new Irish Culinary Team Captain for the 2012 campaign which will take in "la Parade de Chefs, London Excel" and the Culinary Olympics, Erfurt Germany. Alan takes over the captaincy from Kwanghi Chan head chef at The Cliff House Hotel.

"The National Culinary Team has the same ethos as Source Sligo, the Team uses local source, organic where possible and Irish produce" said Alan " and we hope to showcase Irish Food as being world class through the competitions we take part in". Also on the Team are Micheal Egan (Sedexo, VHI, Dublin), George Smith (DIT, Dublin), Maggs Roach (Merrion Hotel, Dublin), Paul Philips (AnneBrook Hotel, Mullingar),  Derrick Hall and Paul Duffy (ArrowMart, Dublin).
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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Pick up a ‘Pincho’ at Cava


To celebrate the annual Seville Tapas Fair, Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar in Galway has launched a special Pincho Menu which will be available each evening throughout February. Popular in northern Spain, particularly in the Basque region, ‘Pinchos’ are small Spanish canapés which can be eaten in one or two mouthfuls and are usually eaten in bars or taverns as a small snack while socialising with friends. As part of the celebrations, Cava will also host a FREE sherry tasting evening each week throughout February on Thursdays between 6 and 7pm.



Spain is the nation of the ‘Fiesta’ and one of the first festivals of the year is The Seville Tapas Fair which takes place in February each year. A four-day event, the festival involves almost 50 restaurants and bars creating mouthwatering tapas and inviting guests to sample them with the accompaniment of beer, sherry or wine. Regarded by many wine experts as ‘underappreciated’ and ‘a neglected wine treasure’, Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes which are grown near the town of Jerez de la Frontera in Spain.

Cava’s Pincho Menu includes Serrano ham, quince and manchego cheese; dry aged sirloin with caramelised onions; grilled free range pork and Spanish ‘Torta del Casar’ brie; Piquillo pepper stuffed with crab; Smoked octopus; Chicken and roasted garlic mayonnaise. Serranitos, which are small sandwiches of grilled pork ham popular in Seville, will also be available. They are served with Patatas Bravas and Mojo Picón sauce.

Pinchos or tapas offer groups of friends the perfect opportunity to taste and to share a wide selection of dishes from different regions throughout Spain.  Three pinchos cost €4.50 while a Serranito costs €6.50.

For more information see www.cavarestaurant.ie or phone 091 539 884.


Drop a Dress Size In 40 Days With New Irish Online Fitness Program



A new Irish online personal training and nutrition programme designed specifically for women, promises members that they will drop a dress size in 40 days. Offering calorie-controlled recipes, weekly shopping lists, daily workouts with videos, ‘The 40 Day Method’ designed by Personal Trainer Jessica Cooke and partner Joseph Mee gives subscribers no excuse but ‘to get with the program’.

The six week online personal training programme, ‘The 40 Day Method’, takes a holistic approach to weight loss, combining workouts and diet in a simple online system. The exercise part of ‘The 40 Day Method’ involves following video workouts for 30 minutes per day, five days per week, while the diet element involves following a low-GI, balanced and nutritious diet.

New Year’s resolutions are often abandoned before February has arrived, with major obstacles to dieting and working out often being that women don’t have the time to get to a gym or get confused and tempted when going to the supermarket.  Jessica explains, “With the help of our delicious low-GI recipe library, the diet simply couldn’t be any easier to follow, and the shopping list generator saves you a tonne of time. You simply select the meals you want to eat with our online meal planner, and ‘The 40 Day Method’ generates a list for you to take to the shops! Every single recipe is quick and easy to follow. It’s a no-frills, no-fuss guide to weight loss. Just follow the workouts, and the food plan and you will drop a dress size.

‘The 40 Day Method’ incorporates the very latest workout techniques – high intensity interval training (HIIT) and Tabata Interval Training which burn fat as much as nine times faster than conventional cardio exercise. The workouts have been carefully designed and tweaked over time, to ensure maximum calorie burn. All workouts utilise interval training, which involves periods of high intensity alternating with periods of lower intensity. Some research has shown that 20 minutes of interval training can be equivalent to 40 minutes of cardio. It also boosts metabolism and is the best way to burn fat.

Jessica, who runs a successful personal training practice, developed the programme after her own personal experience of being overweight, “During my 20’s I was three stone overweight and felt sluggish, self-conscious and very unhappy. It was only after I began to conquer my issues with a combination of frequent exercise and sensible diet that I became compelled to help others achieve the same success. I believe that for sustainable weight loss and good health, both nutrition and exercise need to be managed simultaneously - dieting alone will not bring sustained weight loss.”
Optional weekly time challenges and leader boards allow users to compare their progress both with themselves and others online. Followers of the Method can access online support, a community forum, regularly updated blog entries and regular exercise and diet tips.

Members can sign up for three months (€39), six months (€54), or one year (€81). After the initial 40 day period is over, the user will continue to have access to everything on the site, including a frequently updated video workout library, recipe library, meal planner and shopping list generator software.

For more information see www.40DayMethod.com

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Love Food? Love Choice? New Gift Voucher for Three Restaurants from @EatGalway

One Gift, Three Choices from ‘Eat Galway’
‘Eat Galway’, the unifying brand and philosophy behind some Galway’s favourite restaurants, Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar, Aniar Restaurant and Eat at Massimo has launched a new gift voucher just in time for Christmas. The gift voucher can be redeemed at any of the three ‘Eat Galway’ restaurants – three choices from one gift for someone special.

The restaurants of ‘Eat Galway’ are guided by one philosophy: good food, local suppliers and artisan produce. JP McMahon explains, “‘Eat Galway’ represents our philosophy of producing good, tasty, artisan food and working with local suppliers. That philosophy unifies our three diverse restaurants, Cava, Aniar and Eat. While people can choose between these three unique places to dine, they can be assured that at any of the ‘Eat Galway’ restaurants they will enjoy delicious seasonal food that has been locally sourced and produced in a sustainable way.”

Situated on Dominick Street in Galway city’s West End, Cava Spanish Restaurant & Tapas Bar recently won ‘Ethnic Restaurant of the Year 2012’ in the ‘Georgina Campbell Ireland Hospitality Awards’. Offering a truly Spanish experience Cava’s ‘50-dish tour of Spanish cuisine in miniature’ menu is in the Spanish language, with English sub-titles; while the wine list includes 80 well-chosen Spanish bottles. Cava prides itself on purchasing local and free-range produce and is committed to remaining ethical with regard to food sustainability and seasonality. It is recommended by both Georgina Campbell’s restaurant guide and the Bridgestone guide, and called “one of the most authentic Spanish restaurants in Ireland at present” by Sebastian Black, of ‘Spanish Flavour’. Tom Doorley has said that it serves the “best Tapas in Ireland.”

Critically acclaimed Aniar’s kitchen is run by Enda McEvoy of Cook Wild Project and former Head Chef of Sheridan’s on the Docks. Enda explains the inspiration of Aniar, “The food is based on our local ‘terroir’, that is the ensemble of natural influences that give a food a sense of place. Here in the west we are surrounded by lush ancient woodland, bountiful shorelines, thriving farmlands all heaving with some of the best ingredients in Europe but unique to us. We quite simply obey the seasons and let nature decide our menu.”

Staff at Aniar work closely with local producers while also gathering wild herbs, plants and seaweeds each day from the woodlands and seashore around the area to produce a cuisine based around light clean flavours.
The third eatery that comprises ‘Eat Galway’ is Eat at Massimo, a gastro pub experience on William Street in Galway. The menu features pub food with gourmet flair. Highlights include gastro pizzas featuring Irish cheeses such as roast potato, caramelized onion and Wicklow Blue cheese and Eat signature dishes of the 5oz Stout Burger while constantly in keeping with what’s seasonal. Current offerings include seasonal game, such as venison, duck and pheasant, all wild and direct from Dromoland Castle. Recent celeb-spotting include Bell X1 and a host of comedians and artists, the food at Eat is not your usual pub food. Not by a long shot. As per the Cava and Aniar philosophy locally sourced, sustainable and seasonal ingredients feature strongly. All the vegetable are organic, chicken is free range from Athenry and meats are sourced from the award winning Castlemine Farm in Roscommon.
To purchase an Eat Galway voucher and give someone you love three choices from one voucher telephone 091 539 884.  

Build a Gingerbread House for St. Vincent De Paul


Source Sligo is calling all entries for a Christmas Gingerbread House making competition for this Friday 16th December. The competition is open to children of all ages with recipes and templates available on the Source website.

Each entry costs €10 which will be donated to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. Top prizes include Kids Cookery Course from Source Sligo plus other goodies from Source Sligo.

Competition closes at 3pm on Friday afternoon with judging taking place on Saturday evening at 4pm. There will also be an auction hosted by Shane Flanagan from DNG Ford Auctioneers who will be auctioning off the houses at bargain basement prices for all Hansel and Gretel’s to get their hands on the tasty properties.


Try your hand at making an exciting tasty house or pop along to Source Sligo on Saturday where all the entries will be on display and enjoy complimentary mince pies and mulled wine. It’s all part of the Source Sligo 1st Birthday Celebrations. All proceeds going to St. Vincent De Paul.


For more information see: www.SourceSligo.ie

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Ya Can't Dance On An Empty Stomach!


If you plan on gigging anytime over the Christmas holidays or New Year get into Eat in Massimo for some soul food beforehand. All gig-goers can avail of a 10% discount on their food bill when planning a trip to Roisin Dubh afterwards.

Upcoming gigs at Roisin Dubh include Lisa Hannigan, The Kanyu Tree, Grandmaster Flash plus many more and with some soul-warming food from Eat like their gourmet burgers and pizzas or roast beef and free range chicken dishes.

Or get a group together and enjoy their very reasonable and very delicious Party Food Menu or Platters for Sharing and get your groove on.

Bring your tickets and ask your Eat server for more details. See EAT 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Leftover Pork Pizza Recipe from @ArtisanPizza_ie

From Artisan Pizza, some pizza inspiration.
"How about roast pork shoulder, leftover from Christmas dinner, to have on Stephen's Day...
1. Roast 170 C for 4 hours approx - 1kg pork rubbed with ground fennel seeds, olive oil, salt and pepper (this could be part of the Christmas dinner)
2. Keep the leftover meat and the juices and on Stephen's Day, moisten the pork meat with the cooking juices
3. Pre-heat the oven to 250C and top the base with 5tbsp of your own tomato sauce
4. Scatter about 120 grams Taleggio cheese along with about one and a half handfuls of shredded pork per pizza
5. Sprinkle some thyme leaves with a little olive oil and cook for 4-5 mins.
6. Once the pizza is crisp and golden, dress it with a little rocket tossed in some lemon juice - slice, serve and enjoy!
(and let us know how you get on- post a pic up if you can)".
 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

The Supreme Award At The Good Food Ireland 2011 Awarded To Source Sligo

Source Sligo is celebrating after being bestowed the Good Food Ireland Supreme Award at a ceremony attended by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin this week. Source Sligo won the most prestigious award of the night as Good Food Ireland believes that Source is “set to be the source of inspiration for anyone who loves buying, cooking and eating good local food.” 

Speaking at the Good Food Ireland awards ceremony Margaret Jeffares, Managing Director, Good Food Ireland applauded the award winners and the Good Food Ireland network of businesses for their continuous commitment to the purchasing of local food; “It is only through serving our customers and international visitors to Ireland the food of our country and by telling them the story behind it that we can become a unique food tourism destination,” said Ms Jeffares. Over 300 guests including hoteliers, restaurateurs, farmers, food producers and fishermen as well as key dignitaries attended the event.

Joe Grogan, General Manger of Source Sligo commented, “We are absolutely delighted with recent award win. The Good Food Ireland is an inspiring network like minded people and businesses who promote local, Irish produce, its philosophy being of particular relevance to our own. To win the Supreme Award is unprecedented and very much appreciated. The team at Source Sligo work very hard, it’s wonderful to get recognition of this”.

Other award winners at the event include Glenilen Farm, Cork for ‘Best Food Producer’, The Cliff House Hotel in Waterford for ‘Culinary Hotel’, The Chocolate Garden, Co Carlow for ‘Come and See Food Producer’, Sheelin Tea Shop in Enniskillen for ‘Best Café’, Chapter One in Dublin for ‘Best Restaurant’, The Oarsman in Carrick-on-Shannon for ‘Best Food Pub’, Rua in Castlebar for ‘Best Local Food Shop’ and Aldridge Lodge in Duncannon, Co Wexford for ‘Culinary Haven’.

Situated in the heart of Sligo town on John Street, Source Sligo includes a large open-plan restaurant on the ground floor, a wine bar on the first floor and a state-of-the-art Cookery School on the top Floor. Visit www.SourceSligo.ie or call 071 9147605 for more information.


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

ProPundit.com shortlisted for Spider Award @armourie


ProPundit.com, the sports prediction website for the time-poor and knowledge-rich sports fan, has been shortlisted for a prestigious Eircom Spider Award. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Convention Centre in Dublin on 10th November 2011. The Eircom Spider Awards honour Irish individuals and organisations for their outstanding achievements online and celebrate the successes of the Irish internet and digital media.

Established last July by Armour Interactive, ProPundit.com allows players to compete against friends and colleagues in sports prediction games. Unlike other fantasy sport and prediction games ProPundit takes up no more than 5 or 10 minutes of a players time each week.

Andrew Dewdney, Director, Armour Interactive said, “We’re absolutely delighted that ProPundit.com been shortlisted for recognition by Ireland’s premier technology awards. ProPundit.com has gone from strength to strength over the past number of months. It’s formula of entertaining and rewarding games that are much less time demanding than, say fantasy football type games has proved to be a winning one.”

ProPundit.com games can be sport specific or can span a number of sports from football and hurling to golf and NFL. The designers plan on expanding the number of sports in the future to include GAA, soccer, golf, tennis and rugby to cater for all possible tastes.  Having its roots in Ireland means there are local sporting questions relating to GAA and other national sporting highlights.

Other sites shortlisted within the Sports category of the Eircom Spider Awards are: oneescape.ie, gaa.ie, gaelforceevents.com, Horse Racing Ireland, Leinster Cricket Union and Teamer.net.
Visit www.armour.ie and www.propundit.com

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Don't Miss This - World Renowned Flamenco Dancer Magda Navarrete

Monday 7th November Magda Navarrete will present authentic Flamenco dancing and  music from the Spanish region of Andalucia originated by the Andalucian Gypsies in Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar.

"Magda Navarrete has mastered flamenco singing and dancing while studying in Madrid, working with internationally renowned flamenco teachers such as Montse Cortez. She has taken part in various flamenco festivals in Southern America and Europe while working on such projects as Indialucia, Arte Flamenco.

Magda will be accompanied by one of the finest guitarists Andrzej Lewocki who has recently took 2nd place during the Nino Ricardo Flamenco Guitar Festival in Murcia, Spain. Andrzej has worked on international flamenco projects and is often running flamenco workshops".

There is no cover charge for the event. Show starts at 8pm. See www.CavaRestaurant.ie for more information.