Dreaming of sunshine and food festivals
When it’s cold and dark outside, all I want to do is spend the evenings next to the fire. That said, it’s good to have something to look forward to, even while still in hibernation, and I’m already planning for the 2026 Ballymaloe Festival of Food. Running from 15 to 17 May, it’s three days where you can immerse yourself in food-related fun, ranging from talks, tours and cooking demos to hands-on workshops.
Last year, Hawaiian-shirt-clad UK restauranteur Jay Rayner was fabulously indiscreet on stage while Paul Flynn of Dungarvan’s The Tannery hosted a packed Sunday lunch pop-up. I learned how to make superb martinis from Justin Greene using Bertha’s Gin (sadly being produced no more) and Eric Matthews of Kickys in Dublin delivered an excellent demo on the Cook the Books stage.
With legendary wine writer Jancis Robinson, Bigger Bolder Baker Gemma Stafford and and Catherine Fulvio already confirmed for 2026, it’s worth getting your hands on tickets (from €35) well in advance so you can dream about Big Shed dining when the sun shines again.
See ballymaloegrainstore.com
Homegrown heroes at petrol stations
Who would have thought that a petrol station forecourt could be an ideal place to discover a new Irish food or drink producer? For the last two years, the Homegrown at Maxol programme has done exactly that, enabling us to stock up on road trip snacks from brands like Tipperary’s Blanco Niño, The Foods of Athenry and Kerry’s All Real Nutrition snack bars, which are made with Irish grass-fed milk protein. Maxol is looking for new Homegrown champions, as it will select up to five winners for 2026. While it’s only a six-month contract, it can also be a stepping stone for small producers. Entries are open till 31 December.
See maxol.ie/homegrown
Homegrown at Maxol. Back row L-R: Paul Friel; Bob Coggins (The White Hag), Paul Lawless (Food of Athenry), Daniel Gleeson; Harrison Altman (Parachute), Ross McDowell (All Real), Anna O’Connor (Blanco Niño), Front row L-R: Giselle Makinde (Fiid), Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group, Denise Foley (All Real), Emma Keating (Blanco Niño). \ Robbie Reynolds photography
Fabulous Chinese feasts at home
What’s your go-to order in a Chinese restaurant? Kung Po Chicken has my heart but, living as we do miles away from any Chinese takeaway, it’s a rare treat. Flicking through a copy of Simply Chinese Feasts by Northern Irish food writer Suzie Lee, I discovered a recipe for Kung Po Chicken from her own family’s Chinese takeaway, Man Lee in Lisburn, and it’s been in regular rotation on our home menu ever since.
You might have spotted Suzie on your television – she was the winner of BBC’s Best Home Cook in 2020 and the presenter of TV series including Suzie Lee Home Cook Hero and Suzie Lee’s Great Food, Made Simple. She’s just announced that her third book Simply Speedy Chinese will be published by Quadrille in January. Perfect timing – I know where I’ll be able to find Chinese New Year menu ideas for 2026.
See @suziecookingthebooks on Instagram.
Suzie Lee. \Uyen Luu
Meet the pinnacle of mixology
For anyone who grew up in Ireland during the 90s, Piña Coladas, Black Russians and Harvey Wallbangers were the cocktails of choice, full of sugar, cheap alcohol and guaranteed to give you a very interesting morning after. There was also Sex on the Beach – I could never bring myself to order that! Now, we’re into a new era of fewer but far better cocktails as marked by Ireland’s inclusion in the latest edition of The Pinnacle Guide, an international rating system for the world’s best cocktail bars. BAR 1661 in Dublin, The Sidecar at Dublin’s The Westbury and Pig’s Lane in Killarney are the three bars on the list. Now these are all places where you practically have to read an essay before you can pick your drink, but the end result is worth it. Choose with care and sit at the bar for a good view of the action. No Harvey Wallbangers need apply.
Pig's Lane in Killarney.
Italy hits Dublin
The FOMO was real when it came to the Gloria Osteria launch in Dublin with long queues, lots of cocktails, DJs, live music, an on-site tattoo artist and tasters of the Milanese-style dishes on offer – think lasagne, Guinness ossobuco and Talweggio fondue – in a sumptuous room. Located across from Trinity College, this is the first incursion into Ireland from French restaurant group, Big Mamma, and it was done in high style. Good to see that there is Irish beef on the menu from Buckley Family Butchers, west Cork’s Glenmar is supplying the Irish-landed seafood and, along with the black stuff, its house lager is brewed in Dublin by Whiplash.
See gloria-osteria.com
Antipasti at Gloria Osteria, Dublin. \@JoannPai
Dreaming of sunshine and food festivals
When it’s cold and dark outside, all I want to do is spend the evenings next to the fire. That said, it’s good to have something to look forward to, even while still in hibernation, and I’m already planning for the 2026 Ballymaloe Festival of Food. Running from 15 to 17 May, it’s three days where you can immerse yourself in food-related fun, ranging from talks, tours and cooking demos to hands-on workshops.
Last year, Hawaiian-shirt-clad UK restauranteur Jay Rayner was fabulously indiscreet on stage while Paul Flynn of Dungarvan’s The Tannery hosted a packed Sunday lunch pop-up. I learned how to make superb martinis from Justin Greene using Bertha’s Gin (sadly being produced no more) and Eric Matthews of Kickys in Dublin delivered an excellent demo on the Cook the Books stage.
With legendary wine writer Jancis Robinson, Bigger Bolder Baker Gemma Stafford and and Catherine Fulvio already confirmed for 2026, it’s worth getting your hands on tickets (from €35) well in advance so you can dream about Big Shed dining when the sun shines again.
See ballymaloegrainstore.com
Homegrown heroes at petrol stations
Who would have thought that a petrol station forecourt could be an ideal place to discover a new Irish food or drink producer? For the last two years, the Homegrown at Maxol programme has done exactly that, enabling us to stock up on road trip snacks from brands like Tipperary’s Blanco Niño, The Foods of Athenry and Kerry’s All Real Nutrition snack bars, which are made with Irish grass-fed milk protein. Maxol is looking for new Homegrown champions, as it will select up to five winners for 2026. While it’s only a six-month contract, it can also be a stepping stone for small producers. Entries are open till 31 December.
See maxol.ie/homegrown
Homegrown at Maxol. Back row L-R: Paul Friel; Bob Coggins (The White Hag), Paul Lawless (Food of Athenry), Daniel Gleeson; Harrison Altman (Parachute), Ross McDowell (All Real), Anna O’Connor (Blanco Niño), Front row L-R: Giselle Makinde (Fiid), Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group, Denise Foley (All Real), Emma Keating (Blanco Niño). \ Robbie Reynolds photography
Fabulous Chinese feasts at home
What’s your go-to order in a Chinese restaurant? Kung Po Chicken has my heart but, living as we do miles away from any Chinese takeaway, it’s a rare treat. Flicking through a copy of Simply Chinese Feasts by Northern Irish food writer Suzie Lee, I discovered a recipe for Kung Po Chicken from her own family’s Chinese takeaway, Man Lee in Lisburn, and it’s been in regular rotation on our home menu ever since.
You might have spotted Suzie on your television – she was the winner of BBC’s Best Home Cook in 2020 and the presenter of TV series including Suzie Lee Home Cook Hero and Suzie Lee’s Great Food, Made Simple. She’s just announced that her third book Simply Speedy Chinese will be published by Quadrille in January. Perfect timing – I know where I’ll be able to find Chinese New Year menu ideas for 2026.
See @suziecookingthebooks on Instagram.
Suzie Lee. \Uyen Luu
Meet the pinnacle of mixology
For anyone who grew up in Ireland during the 90s, Piña Coladas, Black Russians and Harvey Wallbangers were the cocktails of choice, full of sugar, cheap alcohol and guaranteed to give you a very interesting morning after. There was also Sex on the Beach – I could never bring myself to order that! Now, we’re into a new era of fewer but far better cocktails as marked by Ireland’s inclusion in the latest edition of The Pinnacle Guide, an international rating system for the world’s best cocktail bars. BAR 1661 in Dublin, The Sidecar at Dublin’s The Westbury and Pig’s Lane in Killarney are the three bars on the list. Now these are all places where you practically have to read an essay before you can pick your drink, but the end result is worth it. Choose with care and sit at the bar for a good view of the action. No Harvey Wallbangers need apply.
Pig's Lane in Killarney.
Italy hits Dublin
The FOMO was real when it came to the Gloria Osteria launch in Dublin with long queues, lots of cocktails, DJs, live music, an on-site tattoo artist and tasters of the Milanese-style dishes on offer – think lasagne, Guinness ossobuco and Talweggio fondue – in a sumptuous room. Located across from Trinity College, this is the first incursion into Ireland from French restaurant group, Big Mamma, and it was done in high style. Good to see that there is Irish beef on the menu from Buckley Family Butchers, west Cork’s Glenmar is supplying the Irish-landed seafood and, along with the black stuff, its house lager is brewed in Dublin by Whiplash.
See gloria-osteria.com
Antipasti at Gloria Osteria, Dublin. \@JoannPai
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