“Grand bit of spring in the air” the lady said to me as we stood waiting for the pedestrian lights to go green. “It’s lovely” I said and smiled back at her. And it was lovely to be walking along the quays in brilliant sunshine carrying my jacket under my arm. The combination of brighter mornings, longer evenings and mild weather had put a spring in my step and I was feeling chipper. I suspect I’m not alone. more...
Most people sow their early potatoes outside in the vegetable patch in March, but if you have a polytunnel or greenhouse you can get started right now for a super early crop (May). Some years ago I went on a course with Jim Cronin over at his smallholding in Co Clare, and he outlined this method, which creates very deep beds and gives you an abundant crop. more...
Euro-Toques chef Martin Dwyer and his wife Sile sold their eponymous restaurant in Waterford some years ago and moved to France. They now live in the Languedoc, where they take guests - and feed them very well.
This month: Martin visits his local market at Pezenas - and is reminded that French markets are still the bees knees
more...
Now that most foods are available at any time of year, it’s hard to recall the excitement that the beginning of a new season used to generate.
But there is still one exception to the rule that you can have whatever you like whenever you like: the season for Seville oranges... more...
Traditional baking is always of special interest at this time of year, and there’s no better time to focus on specialities from the Nordic countries.
For the definitive reference, seek out the latest book by the acclaimed chef and photographer Magnus Nilsson of Fäviken Magasinet restaurant in Sweden, The Nordic Baking Book. more...
We harvested our Jersusalem artichokes in GROW HQ in the last month and they’ve started to appear on the menu in the café. When I started growing first I was confused about the difference between Jerusalem and Globe artichokes and wondered if it was just different names for the same vegetable. They are in fact entirely different vegetables that bear little resemblance to each other. more...
Well known in Ireland from their excellent restaurant in Waterford, Euro-Toques chef Martin Dwyer and his wife Sile now live in the Languedoc, where they take guests - and feed them very well.
This month: Martin takes inspiration from an Irish vegetable mainstay and creates a dish that is still simple but comes with a certain continental ‘je ne sais quoi’.
more...
A selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection, the ‘glovebox bible’ includes a uniquely diverse range of Ireland's greatest places to ...