Dublin Bay Prawn Festival

Dublin Bay Prawn Festival

Howth, Co. Dublin

Yesterday Ali and myself took off for the big smoke to attend the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival, which takes place annually in Howth. A burst pipe on the M7 scuppered our chances of getting there early but after a few diversions and crazy traffic around the town, we eventually arrived at around 3 pm.

 

After abandoning the car and with stomach's rumbling, we headed for Beshoff Bros Fish and Chip shop. I've never seen a chippers (albeit a very good chippers) so crowded! I opted for the scampi and Ali went for the cod. I have to admit I was skeptical of Ali's ravings about a chipper but this is no ordinary chipper! The scampi was outstanding, fresh and juicy while the chips were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy within. Ali's cod was the same; juicy and delicious. What sets this place apart is the freshness of the fish, cooked for just the right amount of time and the taste of the batter; delicious!

After our feed we went to the Marquee for a hectic cookery demonstration that proved rather uninteresting and unorganised. The food court was anything but however; rows of food stands cooking a wide range of prawn and seafood dishes. I chose chilli and lime Dublin Bay prawns, while Ali went for a fragrant Asian-style prawn curry. I've never experienced seafood so fresh; the prawns were juicy and sweet with a nice kick from the chilli but what really caught me was the taste of the sea. Beautiful.

All that was left to do was to get a '99' and an espresso and go for a walk along the beautiful Howth pier. We rounded off the evening with a visit to the Beshoff's Fish Monger and Market but alas, the wallet was empty! We had a great time and will definitely go back next year; the food was fresh and delicious and the experience was certainly helped by the beautiful weather.

Roma 2014

Roma 2014

An Easter holiday in beautiful Roma was the perfect break from my crazy work schedule of the the last few months. My parents, little (bigger) brother Shane, Ali and I headed off to the Eternal City for a five day trip. For my dad it was all about the Vatican but for me: it was all about...THE FOOD!

Finding a good restaurant in Rome isn't too difficult; stay off the main streets and avoid places that charge more than €8 for a Pizza Margherita and you'll be fine. Our first meal was one of the best; a little spaghetti place, five minutes from our hotel. They served house wine by the litre (€7 per litre!) and at least fifty different spaghetti dishes. My starter blew me away; Bruschette con Guanciale. Who would have thought that cured pig's cheek on toast could taste so good! The main was great too, Spaghetti alla Puttanesca (whore's spaghetti) followed by a delicious Tirimasu. A great start to the holiday, great food and cheap wine....win win!

Thursday's lunch was an old favourite of mine, Pizza Marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano and extra-virgin olive oil), washed down with a pint of Nastro Azzuro. Unfortunately the dinner that evening was nothing to write home about. The bland, overpriced food was slightly countered by an entertaining waiter but the €15 bread charge was unforgivable.

Friday was food day! It started with a metro trip to Testaccio to visit the enchanting Volpetti. First we went to the cafe, which served everything you could wish for except (unusually for Italy) coffee! Even at 11 am, I couldn't resist sampling a few dishes: Arancini (white and red), Baccala (salt cod) with tomato, potato and herb and an amazing octopus salad. Everything was outstanding. We followed brunch with a trip next door to the Volpetti shop. Everything you could ever need in charcuterie, cheese, oil, vinegar and preserves sit on the shelves, shine in the fridges and even hang from the ceiling. The smell is instantly captivating, but it's the service that excels - everything can be tasted. I tried up to ten different cheeses and several types of prosciutto. I bought some Caciocavallo and lightly smoked San Daniele Prosciutto; everything vacuum packed to survive our flight home. I can easily say that this is my favourite shop in the world!

Friday evening led to more great food: my Fritto Misto really stood out. Courgette flower stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies, dipped in batter and deep fried is hard to beat ,but the stuffed olive came close! The main was a delicious Carbonara and the red wine flowed again; even on Good Friday....oops! On Saturday evening Ali and myself visited Pani e Pesche, a Sardinian restaurant specializing in (you guessed it!) bread and fish. Everything was delicious, from the basket of freshly baked breads to the fish platter starter, to the simple shrimp main. The scallops with a touch of lemon really stood out, while the flavour of the shrimp in the main dish shone beautifully with little distraction. Ali's risotto with prawn and courgette flower was excellent and dessert didn't disappoint either. Seadas is ricotta cheese in a casing of dough, deep fried and then drenched in honey; the perfect end to the evening.

Sunday was Vatican day for the Pope's Easter Mass, but we snuck off after Communion for seafood pizza and some more red! We had a great last supper together in the evening. The highlight for me was the Trippa Romana, tripe in tomato with plenty of herbs. It was much tastier than I had imagined and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again. After this we went for dessert, in as far as I'm concerned, the greatest Gelateria on the planet. Gelateria Romana on Via Venti Settembre is a must visit - the greatest ice-cream you will ever have and at €2.50 for a three scoop cone, incredible value.

Shane, Ali, Myself and my Mam

Our trip came to an end on Monday but not before I snuck in a bresaola, tomato and mozarella panino in the airport; even the airport food is good!

Simple Supper(s) 2

The Quick Supper

I really started to enjoy cooking when my work was a little quieter. I had time to put on four hour slow roasts, make beautiful Ragu Bolognese and try my hand at some more complicated dishes. In the last few months, my work has really picked up and in an effort not to fall back into my old habits of take aways and convenience food, I have been making and experimenting with some great dishes that come together in minutes. All of these recipes serve 2.

1. Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil

Pasta is my best friend normally but especially when I need to whip up something really quick. The 7-10 minutes it takes to cook is the perfect amount of time to bring a wonderful sauce together.

Cook 200g of Spaghetti according to packet instructions but drain 1 minute early, reserving some of the cooking water (I usually drain over a cup to catch some of the water). Meanwhile, heat 2tbsp of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil over a medium heat and add 1 finely chopped clove of Garlic. Cook for 2 minutes and add 8-10 halved Cherry Tomatoes and season with Salt and Pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes and add 10 torn Basil Leaves. Cook for 1 minute and add the cooked Spaghetti to the pan. Mix well and add a few tablespoons of the Pasta Cooking Water to create a beautiful sauce. Serve with a little Parmesan sprinkled on top.

2. Stir Fry

Is there anything quicker? Comes together in minutes and, if you put in a little effort, can be absolutely delicious! I like my veggies kept practically raw so if you want them softer, cook for a bit longer before adding the lime juice, fish sauce and honey.

Heat 1-2tbsp Groundnut Oil in a Wok/Frying Pan until really hot. Rub some Sea Salt and Pepper into a good sized Sirloin Steak and cut it into 1cm strips. Add to the hot pan and brown all over. Add some thin strips of Carrot, Red/Yellow Pepper, Chilli, whole Green Beans/Sugar Snaps and some chopped Spring Onion to the Pan and toss well, Season and add some Bean Sprouts, the juice of 1 lime, 1tbsp Fish Sauce and 1tbsp Honey. Mix well and add some cooked Noodles, cook for 1-2 more minutes and serve with extra Bean Sprouts and chopped Spring Onion on top. 

3. Spicy Crashed Eggs

I really like this dish, its fiery and colourful and tastes great!

Heat 1tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and add 1 finely chopped Chilli (seeds in if you like it hot), some finely chopped Red/Yellow Peppers and 1 finely chopped clove of Garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes and season well. Add 2 torn slices of Prosciutto (or whatever ham you like) and continue to cook for a couple of minutes. Break in 6 Eggs from high above the pan, allowing them to splash a bit (mind your arms!). Season and cook until the whites have set but the yolks are still runny. Finish with a good sprinkling of Pepper and some chopped Spring Onions. Serve with a Salad and plenty of Crusty Bread for Dipping!

I'm off to Rome on Wednesday so expect a rant about the beautiful Eternal City next week!!