Michael Pollan’s Favourite Food Rules
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:02:42 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
Michael Pollen (http://pollan.blogs.nytimes.com) is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine and has published what look like some interesting books on food and the science behind what we eat today. In a recent NY Times poll he asked 2500 readers to submit some simple food and diet related rules which he reduced down to twenty and published below.
Hardly life altering revelations but some are cleverly put and may make you think.
New York Times Magazine 20 Food Rules
Bord Bia Autumn Lamb Promotion
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:02:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Bord Bia, who seem to be very engaged in the social media space with @anbordbia on Twitter and a Facebook fan page, are doing an autumn lamb promotion at the moment.
Check out their website for recipes and look for tastings in supermarkets at the weekend (3rd Oct), Tesco, Super Valu, Superquinn and Dunnes are all included.
Molecular Gastronomy in Galway
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:03:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Adrian Mont, part of meetforeal.com is organising what may be an interesting ‘Taste and Smell’ event in Galway City Museum with food scientist David Jackson*.
“The event will consist of short-format presentations, interwoven with breaks for hands on demonstrations and interactive exploration on taste, smell, physiology, psychology and Molecular Gastronomy.”
So all you budding Heston’s around the Galway area on Sept 26th can think of heading along. As it happens a Stag Party takes me to Galway that weekend so keep an eye out, I’ll be the one smelling of Guinness.
Details of the event are here
David Jackson is a Chemist (BSc, MSc, HDipBrew, WSET Cert Wines & Spirits) and has worked for the Diageo (Guinness) Research Department for over ten years specialising in Flavour Chemistry and Flavour Analysis. Specific areas of expertise include the Flavour of Roasted & Fermented Products, Flavour Freshness & Ageing and Deconstructing Flavour using Sensory and Instrumental Analysis Techniques. He has successfully developed major new products for Diageo and currently leads a team of scientists where his responsibilities also include Food Safety and Nutrition.
Visit Cork: One of Ireland’s liveliest cities.
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:03:20 GMT. 3 comments. Top.
Here is a nice article from The Guardian on eating in Cafe Paridiso and having a pint the Hi-B if anybody is planning a visit to Cork and looking for something to do. There are links to the Cork Jazz Festival and the Cork Film Festival.
SuperValu Promise More Price Cuts
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:03:42 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
Ever since Tesco have turned their back on Irish producers I like to let people know what our home-grown supermarkets are up to. SuperValu sent me this last week promising even more price cuts. It’s not mentioned below but when I was shopping last week I noticed €0.65 for 2L Sparkling Water is a pretty keen price.
SuperValu announces even more price cuts without compromising support for Irish suppliers
Average trolley of goods now dropped by almost €70 since January
16th August – SuperValu has announced it is making a further €30 million investment to deliver even more long term price cuts to consumers. Starting today, an additional 1,000 everyday products and brands across all ranges are reduced significantly in all 194 independently owned SuperValu stores. This is being delivered without sacrificing SuperValu’s commitment to Irish suppliers and Irish jobs and will see the value of SuperValu’s price reductions and offers top €230 million in 2009, with over 3,000 permanent price cuts in-store so far this year. For consumers this means a real saving of almost €70 on their average shop at SuperValu since the beginning of the year.
Commenting, Donal Horgan, Managing Director, SuperValu, said; “Just over six weeks ago we announced a significant number of price cuts and offers and we are now extending this even further across another 1,000 everyday products and brands. SuperValu is a business that listens to what the Irish consumer wants and given our market share performance, which is growing ahead of our competitors, we know we are getting it right. Consumers are voting with their feet and that tells us that our mix of everyday low prices and market leading promotions is exactly what they want.”
“As always, these deep price cuts are being delivered without compromising our support for Irish suppliers, brands and jobs, as has been our commitment all along. No one can match SuperValu’s credentials when it comes to supporting Irish and we will be continuing with this policy going forward.”
Currently 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland. These purchases are worth in excess of €2.85 billion every year to the Irish economy and indirectly support 14,000 Irish jobs. For example all SuperValu branded beef, lamb, chicken, pork and bacon is 100% Irish, while 65% of all our fruit and veg is also Irish adding up to €1.2 billion worth of fresh produce every year.
SuperValu’s price reductions apply across a variety of ranges in all 194 stores. The following are just a few examples:
| Description | Was | Now | Savings |
| Persil Non Bio 50 Scoop |
19.96 |
15.59 |
4.37 |
| MILUPA APTAMIL FORWARD 900g |
12.49 |
9.65 |
2.84 |
| ANDREX T/TISS PUPPIES ON A ROLL 9 ROLL |
8.29 |
5.79 |
2.50 |
| NESCAFE GOLD BLEND 200 |
€8.34 |
€6.41 |
1.94 |
| SQEEZ ORANGE JUICE 3PK |
€4.89 |
€3.00 |
1.89 |
| BOLD TABLETS SPA MINERALS 30S |
6.29 |
4.59 |
€1.70 |
| JOHNSONS BABY LOTION| 300ml |
3.57 |
2.19 |
1.38 |
| PAMPERS WIPES REFILL 72 piece |
3.60 |
2.39 |
1.21 |
| SV BROCOLLI LOOSE 1kg |
3.99 |
2.99 |
1.00 |
| SURE FOR MEN AEROSOL DEOD ORIGINAL 150mls |
3.09 |
2.20 |
0.89 |
Best In Season
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:03:33 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
The folks over at Bord Bia (the Irish food board) have been in touch to let me know their horticultural department have just launched www.bestinseason.ie a site to explain what fruit and vegetables are available in Ireland and what’s ‘Best In Season’. The site aims to explain the benefits of eating fresh produce grown within the natural Irish season, a great idea and one to educate your children with. Now, not only is this a great way to be aware of what’s freshest at what time there are also the added environmental and economical benifits of sourcing local produce. Multiple reasons why this a great resource!
Also, check out the recipe competition for new Irish potatoes…I think I may have just the thing….let me see…
Concha y Toro – Casillero Del Diablo
Last modified on 2009-07-22 17:16:40 GMT. 2 comments. Top.
All this week Dunnes Stores are doing the Casillero Del Diablo (‘Cellar of the Devil’ to you and I) Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc reduced from €10.49 to €6.49. Not a bad deal for a decent enough wine, hard to get better value at this price point.
http://www.conchaytorousa.com/wines/diablo.html
Perfect Pancakes
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:04:31 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
OK, so it’s the wrong time of year and Ireland isn’t a real pancake oriented culture but, hey, the internet is global right? I spotted this clever idea over on Lifehacker. Decant your pancake mix into an old squeezy ketchup or mayo bottle and hey presto, easy squeezy pancakes.
This article will remain fresh until Feb 2010.
http://lifehacker.com/5256023/repurpose-a-squeeze-bottle-for-perfect-pancakes
Last modified on GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Demy – The Digital Recipe Reader
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:04:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
If you are like me and keep recipes on bits of paper torn from newspapers then you probably won’t be interested in kitchen gadgets. However, between messy-chef.com, my laptop, my USB key and binder full of paper I suddenly have multiple locations to keep recipes which is a constant source of annoyance to Mrs Messy-Chef (what isn’t?). Maybe I should think about getting a Demy?
The Demy looks like some form of iPhone/Kindle hybrid that will store your recipies, will link to new ones via a single website (keyingredient.com) and suggest replacement ingredients if you find yourself short. It also has other useless features like timers and converters. I’m thinking if you think a Demy would be useful for you then you already have an array of timers and a digital scales that will do the converting for you. I’m not convinced.
Does exactly what it says on the tin
Last modified on 2009-11-11 11:05:08 GMT. 4 comments. Top.
The Society for the Appreciation of the Lowly Sardine (S.A.L.T) contacted me yesterday to tell me I may be interested in their blog. Really? Heck, if I get something in an email it must be true, just look at all the friends I have in Nigeria. A blog dedicated to nothing but sardines must be a tough job but to be fair they have plenty of content up since January. Worth a look? You decide.
http://www.sardinesociety.com/
I also got a mail telling me where I can purchase naked pictures of Jennifer Aniston. Isn’t the internet wonderful.
