Show Filter
1
-
Seasonal Fruits Of Halloween
The night of magical happenings is soon upon us! Tuesday 31st October is Halloween. All Hallows Eve (All Saints Eve) is the correct name, so-called because... -
The Irish are known for loving the humble spud. Solanum tuberosum, to give it the Latin name, has been buried deep in the psyche of the Irish for centuries. The potato was first introduced here in the 16th Century. It was enjoyed by all classes, and soon became the staple diet of poorer households in rural areas. In the early 1800s, the average man on a small country homestead, working long hours on the land, could consume up to 16lbs of potatoes a day, eaten with butter, buttermilk and a little salt. The men were strong and virile and fathered many children on this simple but healthy diet. So, it’s easy to see why such devastation was caused when the blight struck potato crops during the Great Famine of 1845-1850.Â
-
Eat
Vitamin Bee – The Health Benefits of Raw Honey
Raw honey is healing and delicious, tasting of the land and seasons. Noel Leahy shares the secrets of the beehive with Good Food Ireland®. -
Date Night In West Cork
Where better to spend a romantic night enjoying great food with your loved one, than West Cork? This incredible, region has driven the artisan food movement... -
What Foods Are In Season In September
We are transitioning from summer to autumn, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is starting. Much of the summer food is still available this month... -
Picking Wild Blackberries
Has anyone ever gone on the quest for the ultimate wild blackberry? Today, we are conducting a Blackberry review from around the country! How are this... -
School Lunch Ideas for Kids
It’s the end of the summer holidays for many students. Start getting organised and planning the lunch boxes. We have a few tips and hints that might... -
The History Of Afternoon Tea in Ireland
There’s something very gracious about taking afternoon tea. The tiered cake stand is loaded with elegant crustless triangular or finger sandwiches,... -
What To Do In The Garden In August
The beginning of the end of the summer is nigh. Sorry to sound all doom and gloom, but the fact is, once August is out, we’re into the season of mellow... -
What Foods Are In Season For July
We’re at the height of summer. Midsummer’s Day has already passed,  and from here on in, the growing season is at its peak. What can we expect to... -
10 Fabulous Food Tours In Ireland
We are nearing the end of summer, but it’s still time to plan a nice weekend trip around Ireland and enjoy a fabulous food tour fit for your... -
All hail Irish new potatoes! The first spuds of this season have recently arrived. And contrary to the adjective often used to describe potatoes, these little darlings are not so humble! In fact, they’re absolutely singing with flavour and take pride of place in a summer feast. Nature’s treasures of the soil, just waiting to be unearthed and enjoyed. Visit Our Shop The End Of The Hunger Gap The arrival of new potatoes breaks what is traditionally known as ‘the hunger gap’. This is the name for the weeks in late spring when winter’s crops are at an end and summer’s produce has not yet begun. There’s no doubt that the appearance of new potatoes reawakens the soul. Perhaps it’s psychological, or maybe it harks back to times past in Irish history, but the sight and taste of early summer’s papery skinned spuds, hot from the pan and served with lashings of creamy Irish butter melting on top, seems to restore a sense of wellbeing and relief that there is fresh food on the table once more, for which we can all be thankful. New spuds herald a time of plenty. Varieties The most common variety of new potatoes is Queens or British Queens. At the start of the season, these have almost see-through paper-thin flaky skins which scrub away to nothing when you wash them. The flesh is dense and buttery. As the season moves on, the skins become thicker and the flesh more floury. Other spuds to look out for this time of year are Homeguard and Premier. All these varieties are favoured by commercial growers. If you have a farmer’s market close by, with smallholder growers selling their wares, you may find some more unusual varieties which are more resistant to bugs and blight and lend themselves to chemical-free cultivation methods. These can include Cara, Colleen, Pink Fir Apple and Peru Purple – which hail originally from South America and are actually purple! It really depends on the adventurousness of the gardener as to which potatoes you find in your local market or farm shop. Whichever variety you choose, how will you enjoy your new potatoes this season? FIVE WAYS WITH NEW SPUDS 1. Steam and serve as they come, dressed simply with Irish butter, sea salt and lots of fresh summer herbs like chopped flat parsley and snipped chives sprinkled over. You will eat the lot and probably won’t need anything to go with them. 2. Steam till almost tender, then lightly crush with a fork and drizzle with Irish rapeseed oil before roasting in a hot oven till golden brown. A great go-with for meat or fish. 3. Serve cold, dressed with sour cream and spring onions, as part of a summer salad buffet. 4. Get spicy with it! Slice cooked new potatoes and fry in butter with a pinch of dried chill flakes and a clove of crushed garlic. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper, and sprinkle with chopped coriander. Great breakfast or brunch dish with a poached egg on top! 5. Mix cold cooked sliced new spuds with cooked green beans, peas, and broad beans and sliced spring onions. Stir in some chopped thickly sliced Irish ham. Drizzle over vinaigrette and season. Toss lightly then tuck in! All you need is crusty bread for a scrumptious summer salad lunch! Look out for Irish new potatoes, available from now till late summer in some of our Good Food Ireland food and farm shops. Buy Gift Voucher
-
What Foods Are In Season For June
June is the month when it all starts to happen, produce-wise! We’ve already seen the first strawberries hitting the shelves. So what other food beauty...