Food news: on the trail of a feast

Family-run Rolling Donut are expanding. Photo: Alan Rowlette.

Craigies Dalliance 2013

thumbnail: Family-run Rolling Donut are expanding. Photo: Alan Rowlette.
thumbnail: Craigies Dalliance 2013
Aoife Carrigy

The James Joyce Centre hosts a Bizarre Bloomsday Brunch & Street Party tomorrow, a few days ahead of Bloomsday itself but just in time to align with the Street Feast celebrations kicking off at noon across the country. Described as a not-for-profit, all-for-fun, do-it-yourself celebration, the Street Feast idea is simple: to give neighbours an excuse to get together for an al fresco feast and get to know one another a little better.

Visit streetfeast.ie to get your own DIY street party started, or to see where there's a street feast happening near you. Or head to Dublin's North Great George's Street for lots of food stalls as well as three sittings of a Ulysses-themed brunch (pre-book brunch at bloomsdayfestival.ie).

Al fresco brunching seems to be the order of the day this summer. Dela Restaurant (dela.ie) on Galway's Dominick Street is extending its brunch offer to run on weekdays until the end of August, confirming that Galway in the summertime is just one long weekend. Eat in or grab it to go in their Brunch in a Box. There are worse ways to picnic than chowing down on braised beef cheek melt with celeriac and dill remoulade, Bellingham Blue cheese and rosemary jus on sourdough with the roar of the Corrib River as company.

Down at Body & Soul festival this weekend, clever revellers will know to book ahead for the Absolut Midsummer Brunch Banquet being cooked up by chef Paul Catterson. If French toast with kaffir lime leaf and elderflower-poached strawberries sounds tempting, drop an email to aoife@conwaycommunications.ie to try and nab one of the limited tickets to this free banquet. And yes, there will be Bloody Marys.

Meanwhile, Bloomsday itself (June 16) coincides this year with World Tapas Day, and there are lots of celebratory offers available through thetaste.ie, such as five tapas and dessert for two people with a bottle of wine at Boqueria Restaurant for just €49.

Alternatively, you can get your tapas on with one of the upcoming Campo Viejo Tapas Trails taking place in Dublin (until July 3), Cork (July 12-27) and Galway (August 24 to September 7). Tickets for the guided trails cost €30 and take in tapas and vino in four different eateries, including gems like Cork's Fenns Quay and Galway's Bite Club. For details of the trails in each city, see campoviejotapastrail.ie.

Bites...

...the stalls of Limerick

They do things their own way at the Limerick Milk Market. This Thursday, June 16, from 6pm-10pm, the historic outdoor market will be transformed by Limerick Food Group into an Urban Food Fest celebrating international street food in local style, featuring locally produced food (#bialuimní).

...Dusted delights

In Dublin, the family-run Rolling Donut are expanding from its O'Connell Street kiosk to a Bachelors Walk shop dedicated to filled donuts: think 'Baileys Bliss' or 'Peanut Berry Delight'. Meanwhile in Kildare Village, the organic Stoneground Donuts offer Irish toppings like Irish Atlantic sea salt caramel.

...Have a dalliance

Cider can be very food-friendly, especially drier, nuanced versions. Craigies Dalliance 2013 is gorgeously aromatic too, with a savoury fennel edge to its refreshing citrus and apple notes. Subtle enough to serve with roast white fish. 5.8pc ABV, €6.99 for 75cl, €4.50 for 37.5cl.