winter warmer winner at la palma on the mall

This week I was blessed to win a Facebook competition for a winter warmer meal for two and a glass of wine. The meal  itself was a special, running for two weeks, the menu was nice and varied and I was more than excited to win a competition for a free meal.

It was decided I would bring my friend with me as a girlie night was definitely ideal for this sort of lucky win. I always believe sharing the luck s the only way to truly enjoy it :D

She and I chose different dishes in order for us both to get the best of our evening and have a sneaky try of each others plates as is our style. The menus where waiting for us at the table. We looked over them and both agreed fairly quickly what we wanted. We ordered and bread was brought to the table and my goodness, home made  bread.. you just cant beat that stuff can you??? Guinness brown and Italian white, perfectly fresh n delicious perfect accompaniment to butter. I'ts no surprise people are constantly asking for the recipe to the Guinness bread, its so moist and more-ish.I would have been happy just with the bread it was so yummy.

My friend chose the prawn starter with spice sausage and cannellini beans . This was presented beautifully tooI had a sneaky try and  have to say it was very flavorsome . I chose the mushroom risotto, personally I found it to be a little bland, the rice didn't have the bite of a risotto and it could have used  some more seasoning,while the mushrooms used where very tasty, and the Parmesan shavings on top worked perfectly with the risotto just not i guess in my honest opinion, the best risotto I've tasted.

For the main ,my friend had the fish soup, and wow the amount of fish used for this dish was just unbelievable, beautiful salmon, hake, sole and mussels. stunningly fresh fish incredible flavor and great presentation. A really fabulous dish,I adored it.

 I myself took the pork belly and  have to say the portion was humongous and it was cooked to perfection. By now my weakness for pork crackling should be known by the majority of you. LOVE THE STUFF!!! and this was no exception, perfect and the mushroom barley was very flavorsome ,
I devoured this course.

Then the deserts came... salted caramel pana cotta and ice cream selection, again both incredible the melon ice-cream and the choclate orange ripple, to die for!not to mention the perfectly rich chocolate one. and the pana cotta was perfect in texture. A wonderful meal had by both of us. and I must say its wonderful to see a local business try and have such a far priced meal for two 39e for all of that food is definitely worth it.

I will need to come again and try more from the menu, think you all should give t a try too.

thank you for nominating me as your competition winner,I loved tonight and will be back. my date was the best choice too.
Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Palma-on-the-Mall/143419449043315?fref=ts

Momo reasonable prices for an out of this world taste experiences

Tonight Mr foodie and I treated ourselves to a meal in Waterford newest eatery located at 47 Patrick street. It opened yesterday and I was very excited to try it out. The menu was very different and full of choice. We especially love the idea of the sharing platters.(2 people or more you may pic 2 of the meaty,fishy or veggie options and they will make you a tasting platter out of that)

I often want a bite of everything so this would be the ideal solution for someone like me.

I also liked that you can pick starter sized options just in case you do in fact want a few plates of different food too.

The menu is incredibly smart. It insures variety while not being too ambitious, it also is incredibly how local everything seems to be sources from Aurelias cordials delicate cordials to Ballybeg greens. As much as possible is as local as possible that to me is what it is all about.

I tried the Monkfish carpacio. Which strictly speaking is a starter but I got two side orders to bulk it up. Patatas bravas and sarah bread plate with hummus apple spices butter and chili. The spiced butter stole the show for me on the bread plate followed closley by the hummus which was stunning too. The chili was'nt to my taste, but i am sure others would adore it. As for the carpacio of monk fish. WOW  It was just incredible. Presented on a bed of thinly sliced beetroot, the monk fish was sitttng so fresh topped off by a candied lemon slice. All together worked perfectly, but I have to say I ate one of the candied lemons by it self, and i am glad i did. The taste sensation  was worth having one carpacio without it. Incredible dish. The patatas bravas were tasty and topped with salsa and with the chili from the dip, they where a quality side.

I forgot to mention I ordered and elder-flower drink. Very very tasty and a welcome option for those of us who do not drink, but enjoy tasty beverages with our meals.

The hubby ordered  the pine grove  free range pork sausages. These where served on a bed of colcannon  and kale with a tastefully thyme flavored jus to tie it all together. The kale was simply perfect. I can only assume pan friend in butter and sea salt cooked to perfection still a crunch but softness to it also. the sausages where his favorite part of the evening he described them as the tastiest part of the meal. and to be honest they where in my opinion second only to the lemon candy. and thats only because that lemon really did have pep in its flavor pop. The colcannon was creamy and perfectly flavored. We both commented how more often than not scallions are used to take over the creamy spud experience but this was not the case with these.

I treated myself to desert as the mystery filling in the doughnuts really had me curious. but i think the poppyseed mascarpony on the plate with them was actually my favorite part. Much to my surprise. the doughnuts were very tasty and I think filled with salted caramel sauce or fruit coulie both flavoursome and yummy, but the mascapone poppyseed mix tasted incredible. I commented that it reminded me of Christmas so i think there may have been cinnamon in it to brig it all together.

We both really enjoyed this meal and look forward to our return.

It is wonderful to see local produce being showcased so originally in a very fairly priced venue. This is most certainly a restaurant I would recommend you try if you are looking for tasty different and affordable. This is the first week so as usual there were teething problems but everything was dealt with professionally and perfectly. I wish all at Momo the very best success 

here is a link to their Facebook page :

https://www.facebook.com/momowaterford?fref=ts

Wont you take me to ...Butlerstown farmers market

Butlerstown farmers market the shop local experience that will keep you smiling and bring you closer to the producers

So by now my love of local is more than clear to everyone. I would like to share yet another shop local gem with all of you. The best part of this one is you can go out there and meet all the fab producers and talk to them face to face about their produce, learn as much as possible about what you are going to buy but also they get the full benefit of your purchase by not needing to share with shops. They have everything out there, from macarons to Irish bakes ,from coffee to humus, from pulled pork to spinach pesto, from candles to beeswax produce.

The market is open from 10 to 5 Saturdays  and 12 to 5 Sundays. I went out at 10 on a particularly miserable Saturday morning and most of the stalls where not quite yet ready but that just gave me more time to look around have yummy ''good coffee'' and learn about the products and personalities that run the market. There is a little known secret I was told not to share, but feel I need to in the interest of anyone with a sweet tooth ,an  incredibly sweet sugary creamy bites; Hot cream Doughnuts!get there early ,trust me you will want to, they are unbelievable! but if you leave it to late they will be cold or mostly gone and it is just not quiet the same.

Then I rediscovered the Good Coffee stall, and it is just that good!I got myself coffee and a wonderful value ground bag to take home too, 5e is an absolute bargain. You will of course need a coffee in hand the brave the elements out here so make that your first stop. my partner in crime got a cappuccino and I had an americano both delicious. Of course don't forget your hot doughnut. Then you want to go to the premiere butcher and buy some of his incredible ham or meat loaf. The meatloaf had a boiled egg in the middle so when you cut it open to devour (which is exactly what you will do) you will see a mosaic of meat and its a little work of art.A wonderful addition to any Sunday family dinner .
Then make your way to the Salon du Macaron, here your senses will be teased by unusual flavours, all wrapped up in almondy,meringue -gy, hevenly clouds. You should buy a few for later and keep them with you, then make a game out of trying to resist eating them all before you leave the market! the winner gets to eat what is left.(it's a game you simply cannot loose)

Then right next to this, we have mini foodies'( our 9 year old food critic,therefore,harder to impress!)favorite new stall Smokey D's. I have rarely known our junior foodie to get quiet as excited about food but this pulled pork stand is simply incredible. 4.50 will get you one pulled pork box and one sauce 8 will get you two. Personally my favorite is the spicy sauce but there is nothing wrong with the sweet. The only thing I could see as a problem is I could literally have kept eating the sauce! But smartly enough, they give you just the right amount to leave you wanting more and be forced to make another trip out. The pulled pork is handy it for sandwiches or wraps, heck even salads, ideal for a lunch time snack. We even used if for school lunch so definitely a very handy one to buy.

Then we have the wonderful humus from Anna's Authentically middle eastern Hummus, unfortunately for me, that stall was not there the week I went, but trust me guys now that it is back you should buy some. The rice and the fusion humus are my favorites, but try them for yourself.
The Pure Food Co. also sat that one out, but you guys need their spinach pesto in your life, its healthy unbelievably tasty and great value. Use it on bread, crackers, mix it with  passata to make pasta  sauces, top fish with it add cheese n bread crumbs. simply divine.

Then there are jewelry stalls and candle stalls so think shop local for Christmas and help out by getting at leas one of your Christmas presents here this year.

Trish's Honey Products would be the perfect spot to indulge in some spending for your loved ones. Fabulous hampers filled to the brim with incredible handmade home made gifts. Trish had dreamed of owning her own bees for a very long time just like her mother before her and now not only does she have bees but she helps people by making products that are natural and help many with a multitude of allergies. Cannot recommend these enough.

There are so many stalls at Butlerstown, I most likely forgot some, but do yourself a favor and pop out and see it for yourself.  the only downside for me is the location. unfortunately we have no car so getting out there usually involves roping in a friend. but that has its plus sides too

here are a few links :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trishs-Honey-Products/1392128307696310?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/hummusireland?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/lesalondumacaron?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smokey-DS/336477709833498?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/purefoodcompany?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/lesalondumacaron?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/ButlerstownMarket?fref=ts