Willow and Wild is a new cafe that has just opened in the heart of the university town of Maynooth, overlooking the Courthouse square. I have eagerly anticipated its opening, having watched their refurbishment both online and in real life. Watching a place unfold, seeing snippets of what it plans to be and then being…
Norwegian cinnamon buns (Skillingsboller)
On my first visit to Norway I fell in love with their waffles. The thinner, cuter, lovelier version of a waffle, with lovely warmth from the addition of cardamon. The love affair continued on my second visit, so much so that I had to buy a waffle maker so that I could make them whenever…
Food Tourism: Oslo, Norway
I had previously visited Oslo a few years ago and was struck by how different Oslo is to other cities in Norway. It’s big and bustling, with notable architecture and an impressive arts scene. Despite it being on the water and there being a forest within the city limits, Oslo can at times feel very…
Madras beef curry
When I was 18 I worked in an Indian restaurant. It was a brief love affair, lasting a whole week! Like all love affairs, I was absolutely besotted at the beginning. I couldn’t wait till our next rendezvous. The sights and sounds in the kitchen were fascinating to me, and the smells of all the…
Tomahawk steak
I received an email the other day announcing that Aldi in Ireland are now selling Tomahawk steaks. For those that don’t know, Tomahawks are ribeye steaks that are attached to the bone. Having the bone in adds extra flavour to the cut, although ribeye is already pretty damn tasty. These steaks have become very popular…
Pea and walnut pesto with gnocchi
Firstly, I have to thank Nigella Lawson for introducing me to the joy that is pan fried gnocchi. What’s not to like about the soft potato dumplings having a crunchy exterior?! If you have the time or inclination, making them from scratch is worth the effort, but this recipe is about rustling up something quick…
Apple cinnamon muffins with maple glaze
Many moons ago I bought a house and as a house warming gift, my mother gave me a book dedicated to muffins. It was the sort of gift that just kept on giving, because whenever I had a hankering for something sweet I could rustle up something quick and tasty with whatever was in the…
Crispy tofu skewers
The high school that I attended had Japanese as part of it curriculum. For me it was a love hate relationship. I loved the language, I loved the culture, I most certainly loved the food; I just wasn’t very good at speaking Japanese, let alone trying to grasp the written aspect of the language. But…
Review- Baan Thai
Since joining Instagram last year, I regularly get restaurants following my account. Some look really enticing and interesting, and I return the follow. Earlier this year I received a follow from Baan Thai in Leopardstown, on the south side of Dublin, and their food looked simply delicious. The first dish that I laid eyes on…
San choy bow salad bowls
Ahhh… San choy bow. The delicious Asian lettuce cups with more names than you can poke a stick at. San choi bao. San or sang. Tom-may-to tom-mah-to!!! It really depends on where you are, where you order it from and perhaps the mood of the menu author at the time. It’s all a westernised version…
Mushroom soup in a bread bowl
Many, many moons ago I briefly lived in Boston, courtesy of a J1 visa. Not long after arriving in Boston I learned that clam chowder or lobster bisque in a bread bowl at Faneuil Hall Marketplace is life! Dipping the lid of the bread bowl into the creamy soup, and cautiously ripping the sides of…
Smoked cheese and pink peppercorn croquetas
My father is Spanish, so growing up we’d always have Spanish food in our house. Chorizo was a staple, tortilla and croquetas would be made regularly and paella would be made over an open fire on special occasions. For me Spanish food is linked to many happy memories. One of those happy memories is visiting…
Nik Nak Food. 