JohnCleary cooks for Ireland

JohnCleary

Hi folks,
As the title says really, need to cook for about 20 people on the weekend so just going to make a pot of curry.

Can anyone recommend the best butcher where I might get them? I'm not really looking for the cheapest but decent sized breasts where I might be able to do a bit of haggling with the butcher when buying 20 breasts

Cheers

brianthebard

Devillys in westside do 10 fillets for 10.99.

witnessmenow

Is that the corwd in westside shopping centre? Never liked them, there fillets are quite small too.

Try that butcher at the end of shop street (near euro2 and bank of Ireland),

I always found them fairly reasonable and had good sized portions. Get them to dice it for you too, save yourself the hassle. It seemed like the place you might be able to haggle the price

JohnCleary

brianthebard wrote: »

Devillys in westside do 10 fillets for 10.99.

Those chicken fillets are tiny - I find Divilley's in Westside too expensive but thanks for the suggestion.

JohnCleary

witnessmenow wrote: »

Is that the corwd in westside shopping centre? Never liked them, there fillets are quite small too.

Try that butcher at the end of shop street (near euro2 and bank of Ireland),

I always found them fairly reasonable and had good sized portions. Get them to dice it for you too, save yourself the hassle. It seemed like the place you might be able to haggle the price

Cheers

Bob_Harris

Not wanting to butt in on your recipe selection but I find beef curry far superior to chicken curry. Especially if it's cooked nice and slow, makes the beef very tender. The beef adds to the flavour of the curry.

Pick up a jar of chutney (a sweet variation like pineapple) and dollop it all in whatever meat you choose.

I love a mild curry me.

bobbytables

witnessmenow wrote: »

Is that the corwd in westside shopping centre? Never liked them, there fillets are quite small too.

Try that butcher at the end of shop street (near euro2 and bank of Ireland),

I always found them fairly reasonable and had good sized portions. Get them to dice it for you too, save yourself the hassle. It seemed like the place you might be able to haggle the price

+1 Collerans Butchers

JohnCleary

Bob_Harris wrote: »

Not wanting to butt in on your recipe selection but I find beef curry far superior to chicken curry. Especially if it's cooked nice and slow, makes the beef very tender. The beef adds to the flavour of the curry.

Pick up a jar of chutney (a sweet variation like pineapple) and dollop it all in whatever meat you choose.

I love a mild curry me.

I agree. I don't eat lamb normally but you can't beat a properly cooked lamb curry. But chicken was agreed on so it's what i'm cooking!

I'm going to keep it simple and use McDonnells Curry Powder, with a bit of milk to make it a little more creamy.

Yes, it's cheating and not a 'proper' curry at all but it's for a group of scuba divers after a long day diving - They won't be too bothered about fine food, once it's nice and filling.

Just going to go with some brown rice and spuds diced into the Curry - nice and carby!

ScumLord

witnessmenow wrote: »

Is that the corwd in westside shopping centre? Never liked them, there fillets are quite small too.

They're probably not mutated battery hens then.

brianthebard

They're no different from any other ones I've bought before but whatever...

ScumLord

I live near a battery chicken farm, those poor animals disgust me I'd kill them on site just to put them out of they're misery. I avoid chicken at every opportunity because of it and like any normal person I love chicken. My father kept normal chickens for a while and when you see the size of them and relate that to the size of cheap chicken there's just no way a cheap chicken breast could come from anything other than an abused animal.

The thought of eating one of those mangy beasts just turns my stomach at this stage.

Elevator

mediteranian store across the road from dunnes westside, in the business park place, we buy all our meats in there the past year, so fresh, so cheap. never ever buy in dunnes or tesco anymore, enjoy

LavaLamp

Again, not trying to rain on your recipe, but I find that chicken thighs make a much nicer cut for curry. I guess it's from the slightly higher fat content than breast, but they make for a totally melt in your mouth curry If you're going to the butcher they will be able to bone them for you, and they will work out a lot cheaper than breasts too.

damn, I want curry now!

forumfiend

ScumLord wrote: »

there's just no way a cheap chicken breast could come from anything other than an abused animal.

Is a chicken not a kind of bird

Robbo

ScumLord wrote: »

I live near a battery chicken farm, those poor animals disgust me I'd kill them on site just to put them out of they're misery. I avoid chicken at every opportunity because of it and like any normal person I love chicken. My father kept normal chickens for a while and when you see the size of them and relate that to the size of cheap chicken there's just no way a cheap chicken breast could come from anything other than an abused animal.

The thought of eating one of those mangy beasts just turns my stomach at this stage.

Chicken Lover?

I'm quite concerned about the direction this Doomsday Machine is taking...

ScumLord

forumfiend wrote: »

Is a chicken not a kind of bird

Indeed it is and a bird is a type of animal.

witnessmenow

ScumLord wrote: »

They're probably not mutated battery hens then.

Or they are baby mutated battery hens

JJRocket

Hi John,
Not the right side of town, but the butchers near tesco express on Headford Rd always seem to be doing specials on bulk buys. Iv never bought chicken in there so wouldnt know the quality. Good luck with the curry!

brianthebard

ScumLord wrote: »

I live near a battery chicken farm, those poor animals disgust me I'd kill them on site just to put them out of they're misery. I avoid chicken at every opportunity because of it and like any normal person I love chicken. My father kept normal chickens for a while and when you see the size of them and relate that to the size of cheap chicken there's just no way a cheap chicken breast could come from anything other than an abused animal.

The thought of eating one of those mangy beasts just turns my stomach at this stage.

Was referring to the size of the fillets in devillys rather than your post, just in case there was any confusion (I myself am somewhat confused at this stage, mainly through lack of caffeine).

ScumLord

brianthebard wrote: »

Was referring to the size of the fillets in devillys rather than your post, just in case there was any confusion (I myself am somewhat confused at this stage, mainly through lack of caffeine).

I was drinking JD last night I just wanted a rant.

Xiney

LavaLamp wrote: »

Again, not trying to rain on your recipe, but I find that chicken thighs make a much nicer cut for curry. I guess it's from the slightly higher fat content than breast, but they make for a totally melt in your mouth curry If you're going to the butcher they will be able to bone them for you, and they will work out a lot cheaper than breasts too.

damn, I want curry now!

Yeah, if I was making a large quantity of chicken curry like that I'd probably just buy 3-4 whole chickens and skin & 9 piece them: 2 legs, 2 thighs, 2 wings, 2 breasts and 1 crown.

Don't know if it would work out much cheaper but that's how I'd do it.

JohnCleary

Ended up going to Divilly's in Westside. It was 10.99 for between 1.2/1.5kg of chicken (each breast between 120g - 150g) which was the same price as anywhere else so for convenience I just picked them up there.

Cheers folks, they're in the pot now and we'll be eatin curry tomorrow

JohnCleary

Hi folks,
I need to get about 40 disposable plates/forks/knives and cups (or bigger glasses)

I know the likes of Dunnes/Tesco sell them but they're quite expensive and normally come in small packs of 10 (I need about 40 of each)

Any ideas where I would get around 40 for a reasonable price? I'm thinking the 2euro shops? Can anyone let me know if they spotted any anywhere for reasonable money? And if ye spotted them in the likes of 2euro shops, which ones?

PopeBuckfastXVI

Got 50 paper plates in Dunnes, Briarhill for about 2 or 3 euros, also got a few packs of 10 plastic pint glasses at about 3 quid each.

Kitting yourself out with 40 shouldn't break the bank.

JohnCleary

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Got 50 paper plates in Dunnes, Briarhill for about 2 or 3 euros, also got a few packs of 10 plastic pint glasses at about 3 quid each.

Kitting yourself out with 40 shouldn't break the bank.

Cheers, thought they were more expensive than that. Will take a look later

JohnCleary

Once again I call on the Galway City forum for help.

I need to get myself a big pot for cooking, around 15 litres.

I reckon i'll get one in Options (was closed by the time I thought of it earlier) but checked Tesco/Dunnes with no success.

Don't suppose any of the cooking members of the Galway forum know where i'd get one for certain? Not looking to spend big money if possible, doesn't need to be pretty just practical!

JohnCleary

Got sorted in Tesco, the 'value' range was cheap as chips

Xiney

that's one heck of a big pot... about 3 times bigger than my largest.

I reckon you're as best to check out the commercial catering shop out in Oranmore (across from the business park) as anything. I didn't see anything like that in Options last time I was there.

JohnCleary

Thanks Xiney. I have a 9 litre here but it won't be big enough. Need to cook curry for at least 20 people so need aroud 15 litres (I'd like to have seconds later too ya see )

Will try Tommy Varden and the place you suggested. Thanks

tootired

Try Ryans in town. They sometimes have large pots in stock. I have a huge pot but no idea of capacity .....must measure tomorrow. The asian supermarkets may have large pots, but not sure about this(Dublin Asian stores do!!) But they do large everything else.

Cook it in your bathtub and use very hot rocks to heat it.










I'm not drunk.....ish

GuessWho2009

are we all invited to dinner john?

thesandeman

JohnCleary wrote: »

Got sorted in Tesco, the 'value' range was cheap as chips

You should have bought 40 portions of chips so. You would have got 40 free forks with em and loads of napkins.

dec25532

JohnCleary wrote: »

Thanks Xiney. I have a 9 litre here but it won't be big enough. Need to cook curry for at least 20 people so need aroud 15 litres (I'd like to have seconds later too ya see )

Will try Tommy Varden and the place you suggested. Thanks

Could you not do the curry in two smaller pots and take your chances? Is it beef, lamb or chicken? Just wondering.

s_carnage

I got a huge one (not sure of the capacity) in Atlantic Homecare (think its now Woodies) in the estate with the eye cinema. Got it for making soup and it makes a massive amount so must be close to 15 litres I'd guess

Rylan

thesandeman wrote: »

You should have bought 40 portions of chips so. You would have got 40 free forks with em and loads of napkins.

Ha ha ha ...classic

JohnCleary

GuessWho2009 wrote: »

are we all invited to dinner john?

It's just to have some food for the launch of the Doomsday device :pac: Of course all boardsie's are invited

dec25532 wrote: »

Could you not do the curry in two smaller pots and take your chances? Is it beef, lamb or chicken? Just wondering.

Thing is at the 'location' i'll only have a 2 ring gas cooker. So one will be for curry, the other for rice. Good suggestion though

s_carnage wrote: »

I got a huge one (not sure of the capacity) in Atlantic Homecare (think its now Woodies) in the estate with the eye cinema. Got it for making soup and it makes a massive amount so must be close to 15 litres I'd guess

Fair play to ya, will pop out there now as i'll be passing

Fey!

Could you split between 2 9 litre pots, or is that too much hassle? Otherwise, if you know any chefs, try to borrow one, unless you plan making this a regular event!

Good luck with the cooking!

JohnCleary

Got sorted folks, asked a few people and i'm getting a big pot early next week Anyone up for some curry?

_Whimsical_

Oh...

I was positive this was going to be an April Fools joke about you getting your own cookery show John Cleary .

dec25532

Would love some curry but draw the line at chicken though! Anything else is pushing an open door as they'd say in celtic tiger land.

JohnCleary

chilly wrote: »

Oh...

I was positive this was going to be an April Fools joke about you getting your own cookery show John Cleary .

What's so funny about that, i'm a great 'normal food' cook. None of that fancy crap that wouldn't fill a rabbit though!

_Whimsical_

JohnCleary wrote: »

What's so funny about that, i'm a great 'normal food' cook. None of that fancy crap that wouldn't fill a rabbit though!

You being a good cook is not funny , it's great!

You being the next Jamie Oliver with a show called "John Cleary Cooks for Ireland" would be...unexpected more than funny I suppose

civis_liberalis

The Galway Boards Big Curry Meet-up!

Yay!

LadyMayBelle

civis_liberalis wrote: »

The Galway Boards Big Curry Meet-up!

Yay!

Deadly. I'm starving.

civis_liberalis

The campaign begins...

muppetkiller

Well I hope you're not eating meat today or you'll all burn in hell !!!
Remember today is Good Friday the day Jebus was rescued from the French at Waterloo or something.

As for your Curry I think a 15litre pot for 1.5 Kg of Chicken is way too big.
Unless you're planning on another 3-4 Kgs of Veg lol.

JohnCleary

muppetkiller wrote: »

Well I hope you're not eating meat today or you'll all burn in hell !!!
Remember today is Good Friday the day Jebus was rescued from the French at Waterloo or something.

As for your Curry I think a 15litre pot for 1.5 Kg of Chicken is way too big.
Unless you're planning on another 3-4 Kgs of Veg lol.

It's not being cooked until next week.

There's going to be 2.5kg of chicken (25 people). There'll also be a good few spuds in there, along with plenty of veg (Peas, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli)

Couple that with the fact that it's being transported on a boat which will be bouncing up and down, I don't want the curry to be full to the brim of the pot.

Make sense now? :pac: