1 Fig rolls back the years – all 2,000 of them!
Does this look like a fig to you? Well... it is. And it's 2000 years old.
I wouldn’t have thought international trade systems were in place 2,000 years ago, but then again, there’s a reason I specialised in hospitality as opposed to archaeology. Ancient Irish people were more worldly than I thought – sure we were even trading with the Romans.
An excavation site in Drumanagh, Fingal has recently proven we were also trading in exotic fruit. They unearthed something completely unexpected: a 2,000-year-old fig. This is a very big deal (a fig deal?).
Fruit is hardly ever recovered during excavations for one fairly obvious reason: it tends to rot and disintegrate. In this case, the fig was found in a fire pit. It fell into the fire at just the right spot – not so hot it pulverised, but hot enough to make it char and preserve. According to UCD archaeobotanist Meriel McClatchie, this is a bit like winning the lottery.
“Fig seeds dating to as far back as the 13th century have been recovered from excavations of medieval Dublin, Cork and other towns,” she says. “An actual fruit has never been found until now, but what is most important about the Drumanagh fig is its antiquity. Figs were traded across the Roman Empire, but we did not know until now that they made it all the way to Ireland.
“Finds of fig elsewhere in northern Europe are thought to reflect imports from southern Europe, and it is likely that this new Irish discovery travelled a similar distance. It’s thrilling to imagine someone enjoying such an exotic food here in Ireland so long ago.”
So, as we enter into figgy pudding season, you now have the perfect fun fact to bring to the Christmas dinner table. You’re welcome.
2 Kerrygold tops US list of best butters
Those Americans really love a bit of Kerrygold, don't they?
The New York Times knows which side their bread is buttered on. No, really – they tested over 17 types of butter and guess who came out on top? Kerrygold.
I’m not one bit surprised. The Americans are obsessed. Every time you see a “re-stock my massive American fridge with these ridiculous snacks” video on TikTok or Instagram, nine times out of 10 you will see a block of Kerrygold already on the shelf.
This product test was based on a few different preparations including shortcrust, shortbread biscuits and buttered noodles. The reviewers said, “Kerrygold was one of the few butters in our tests that spread well when cold… It’s addictively salty, especially at room temperature, but it’s a well-balanced saltiness.
“The flavour of the pasture really comes forward in this butter, with fresh, grassy notes, alongside a slightly cheesy, animal flavour. It’s a true reflection of the verdant fields it hails from.”
3 Get ready for Blasta off!
The new Blasta Books for 2025 have been announced, and they are looking pretty epic
I admit, I collect cookbooks the same way some kids collect rocks, but sometimes a cookbook is more style than substance.
The Blasta Books series is the most colourful bunch of cookbooks you can find, but they highlight diverse Irish flavours in an equally colourful way. And they’ve just announced their line up for 2025 and it’s pretty stellar, in my professional opinion.
Larder, by chef Orla McAndrew, comes out in January and aims to help you avoid food waste in your household.
Killarney’s Tango Street Food will produce their first cookbook Tango; focusing on the flavours of their roots. Cork’s Palestinian eatery, Izz Café, will launch their Blasta Book, Jibrin, in July, while Aoife McElwain writes about going from chaos to craic in the kitchen with Messy in November.
See blastabooks.com
4 Mountain View makes a move
Kilkenny folk take note: I hear restaurant Petronella, a Marble City institution, is under new ownership. Petronella has possibly the coolest location in the city, on the infamous Butterslip in a building dating back to the 1600s.
Now, it is also going to be known as the first sister-restaurant to Mountain View – the wedding, glamping and private events venue in nearby Ballyhale. Mountain View is also known for its farmers market and on-site restaurant, The Greenhouse, and was recently awarded Food Innovator of the Year at the 2024 Good Food Ireland Awards.
The expansion also coincides with the announcement of a new culinary lead at the Ballyhale estate, Kilkenny native Gerard Dunne.
5 Rural restaurants offer the best of Asia
Duan Somton owns and operates Thai Pots, one of the winning businesses celebrated at the Asian Restaurant Awards.
Ok, ok the second annual Asian Restaurant Awards took place in October, so this isn’t exactly breaking news, but this is a great time of year to consider where you might want to eat out over the festive season, so your Maitre D’ feels the need to mention some of these award-winning rural eateries.
Developed by Paul O’Connor and Suzanne Campbell, the Asian Restaurant Awards celebrates the best of Asian food – from Indian takeaways to high-end Thai and everything in between – on the island of Ireland. The 2024 awards saw 50 different awards among a range of categories including their new Innovation Award and Best Vegetarian Restaurant.
Korean and Vietnamese restaurants now have their own categories. Notable winners outside of urban areas included Thai Pots in Sligo, Nori in Wexford and Zaiqa in Roscommon. Well worth a visit.
Read more
Spilling the tea with Maitre D'
Spilling the tea with Maitre D'
1 Fig rolls back the years – all 2,000 of them!
Does this look like a fig to you? Well... it is. And it's 2000 years old.
I wouldn’t have thought international trade systems were in place 2,000 years ago, but then again, there’s a reason I specialised in hospitality as opposed to archaeology. Ancient Irish people were more worldly than I thought – sure we were even trading with the Romans.
An excavation site in Drumanagh, Fingal has recently proven we were also trading in exotic fruit. They unearthed something completely unexpected: a 2,000-year-old fig. This is a very big deal (a fig deal?).
Fruit is hardly ever recovered during excavations for one fairly obvious reason: it tends to rot and disintegrate. In this case, the fig was found in a fire pit. It fell into the fire at just the right spot – not so hot it pulverised, but hot enough to make it char and preserve. According to UCD archaeobotanist Meriel McClatchie, this is a bit like winning the lottery.
“Fig seeds dating to as far back as the 13th century have been recovered from excavations of medieval Dublin, Cork and other towns,” she says. “An actual fruit has never been found until now, but what is most important about the Drumanagh fig is its antiquity. Figs were traded across the Roman Empire, but we did not know until now that they made it all the way to Ireland.
“Finds of fig elsewhere in northern Europe are thought to reflect imports from southern Europe, and it is likely that this new Irish discovery travelled a similar distance. It’s thrilling to imagine someone enjoying such an exotic food here in Ireland so long ago.”
So, as we enter into figgy pudding season, you now have the perfect fun fact to bring to the Christmas dinner table. You’re welcome.
2 Kerrygold tops US list of best butters
Those Americans really love a bit of Kerrygold, don't they?
The New York Times knows which side their bread is buttered on. No, really – they tested over 17 types of butter and guess who came out on top? Kerrygold.
I’m not one bit surprised. The Americans are obsessed. Every time you see a “re-stock my massive American fridge with these ridiculous snacks” video on TikTok or Instagram, nine times out of 10 you will see a block of Kerrygold already on the shelf.
This product test was based on a few different preparations including shortcrust, shortbread biscuits and buttered noodles. The reviewers said, “Kerrygold was one of the few butters in our tests that spread well when cold… It’s addictively salty, especially at room temperature, but it’s a well-balanced saltiness.
“The flavour of the pasture really comes forward in this butter, with fresh, grassy notes, alongside a slightly cheesy, animal flavour. It’s a true reflection of the verdant fields it hails from.”
3 Get ready for Blasta off!
The new Blasta Books for 2025 have been announced, and they are looking pretty epic
I admit, I collect cookbooks the same way some kids collect rocks, but sometimes a cookbook is more style than substance.
The Blasta Books series is the most colourful bunch of cookbooks you can find, but they highlight diverse Irish flavours in an equally colourful way. And they’ve just announced their line up for 2025 and it’s pretty stellar, in my professional opinion.
Larder, by chef Orla McAndrew, comes out in January and aims to help you avoid food waste in your household.
Killarney’s Tango Street Food will produce their first cookbook Tango; focusing on the flavours of their roots. Cork’s Palestinian eatery, Izz Café, will launch their Blasta Book, Jibrin, in July, while Aoife McElwain writes about going from chaos to craic in the kitchen with Messy in November.
See blastabooks.com
4 Mountain View makes a move
Kilkenny folk take note: I hear restaurant Petronella, a Marble City institution, is under new ownership. Petronella has possibly the coolest location in the city, on the infamous Butterslip in a building dating back to the 1600s.
Now, it is also going to be known as the first sister-restaurant to Mountain View – the wedding, glamping and private events venue in nearby Ballyhale. Mountain View is also known for its farmers market and on-site restaurant, The Greenhouse, and was recently awarded Food Innovator of the Year at the 2024 Good Food Ireland Awards.
The expansion also coincides with the announcement of a new culinary lead at the Ballyhale estate, Kilkenny native Gerard Dunne.
5 Rural restaurants offer the best of Asia
Duan Somton owns and operates Thai Pots, one of the winning businesses celebrated at the Asian Restaurant Awards.
Ok, ok the second annual Asian Restaurant Awards took place in October, so this isn’t exactly breaking news, but this is a great time of year to consider where you might want to eat out over the festive season, so your Maitre D’ feels the need to mention some of these award-winning rural eateries.
Developed by Paul O’Connor and Suzanne Campbell, the Asian Restaurant Awards celebrates the best of Asian food – from Indian takeaways to high-end Thai and everything in between – on the island of Ireland. The 2024 awards saw 50 different awards among a range of categories including their new Innovation Award and Best Vegetarian Restaurant.
Korean and Vietnamese restaurants now have their own categories. Notable winners outside of urban areas included Thai Pots in Sligo, Nori in Wexford and Zaiqa in Roscommon. Well worth a visit.
Read more
Spilling the tea with Maitre D'
Spilling the tea with Maitre D'
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