The General Chat Thread

Loire · 05-12-2013 03:13PM

Picked up the MacNean Restaurant Cookbook (the blue one from last year) for 11e through the book people who deliver at work. Getting in on Mon and can't wait

I've eaten in MacNeans and if I could replicate the recipes to 50% quality I'd die happy

Merkin · 05-12-2013 03:19PM

I love Nevan Maguire's way of cooking. Love that he uses fresh produce and he just seems like an all round good egg! My parents stayed in the Black Lion last year and ate in the restaurant and they told him I was a big fan and that me and Mr. Merkin were soon to be married. So he goes off and fetches his new cookery book, signs a lovely message to the Merkins telling us to keep up the great cooking and wished us well - what a nice man!

I've cooked a lot of the recipes from it and they always work out really well.

dee_mc · 06-12-2013 01:01AM

Just made Italian Meringue for the first time - anyone who's daunted by the idea of it, if you have a sugar thermometer, give it a go! Very easy and an absolutely stunning result.
I made 2 lemon meringue pies using ready made bases and the filling and topping from this recipe http://www.preparedpantry.com/lemon-pie-recipe.htm Can't post pics but very similar to the one in the recipe (only even more beautiful, obv!)

GrahamThomas · 06-12-2013 10:08AM

Planning a bit of a French themed dinner for tonight: Steak au poivre, sautéed potatoes, lemony spinach and a tarte tatin for dessert. Have a lovely bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon too! Never made the tarte Tatin before and it looks a bit tricky, so fingers crossed.

Merkin · 06-12-2013 02:24PM

I just wanted to share the love guys.

The people in Ballymaloe have a lovely little competition at the moment with thirty prizes to give away - all of which are cookery courses....yay!! \o/

http://cookingisfun.ie/30Years

I've entered but not sure if I've chosen the right sequence so if anyone knows for sure please continue to spread the love to the rest of us so we can all be in with a chance!!

Best of luck! x

homemadecider · 06-12-2013 03:26PM

GrahamThomas wrote: »

Planning a bit of a French themed dinner for tonight: Steak au poivre, sautéed potatoes, lemony spinach and a tarte tatin for dessert. Have a lovely bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon too! Never made the tarte Tatin before and it looks a bit tricky, so fingers crossed.

Eh what's your address again? I can be on my way in 5 mins

GrahamThomas · 06-12-2013 05:40PM

homemadecider wrote: »

Eh what's your address again? I can be on my way in 5 mins

Hah hah, Ok boardsies are invited as long as ye a) bring some fancy booze and b) do all the washing up afterwards :pac:

GalwayGuy2 · 07-12-2013 09:36PM

You know, I'm gonna bake a chicken canciatore tommorrow.

I was thinking about browning chicken legs, frying the past ingredients in teh chicken fat, reducing the suace, and then putting it into a lasaghna dish for 1 hr-20 mins.

Anybody think that's enough time?

Minder · 07-12-2013 11:25PM

I think it's too long. Chicken legs will be cooked on 40 minutes; less if you are browning them first.

homemadecider · 08-12-2013 02:03AM

We went out for dinner with friends tonight, in Il Baccaro in Temple Bar. We arrived slightly late and our table wasn't ready. Once we were seated it was 30 mins before we were given water and 45 mins until anyone took our order. They missed out on loads of money by not taking our wine order immediately!

Food was bad, service was bad, wine was awful.

I hate that feeling of "jaysus I could have cooked this better myself!"

Mrs Fox · 08-12-2013 11:58AM

That's a pity. I've never been into Il Baccaro for some reason, although I used to live around the corner years ago.
When it comes to one if those everything-just-went-wrong restaurants, I can only think of one in my experience, La Banca in Lucan. I hope it has improved but I've been hearing from others it seems that the place hadn't learn their lesson.

hussey · 08-12-2013 11:20PM

Merkin wrote: »

Did you watch it last night? I thought that the Michelin-starred chef was quite the task master - hardly surprising that he insists on perfection if he's got two stars at stake I suppose!

I caught up on all 3 semi finals over the weekend.
I'm really happy about it, really glad that

Adam and Steve got through, I thought both of them were fantastic

and yes the 2nd one with Michael Wignall was really tough, both of them really got a grilling. It reminded me of watching Gordon 15years ago when he was at his nothing but perfection stage.

Really liked Sat Bans - thought he was excellent, great mentor and made sure he was with them all the way.

Merkin · 11-12-2013 07:14PM

Did anyone see Masterchef last night? I think it's going to be a really close final, most probably between Steven and Adam, I loved the scraps task on Monday and loved the Italian chef last night!

Hermione* · 11-12-2013 08:30PM

Loved Masterchef last night, Merkin! I was practically drooling at the telly. I'm a huge Italia lover but haven't been now in a while, and last night's show really reminded me of why I love Italy so much.

I was Nigel Slater's Christmas show earlier. When I grow up, I want to live in Nigel Slater's kitchen, playing with his adorable kitteh, listening to him enthuse about all the yummy things he's going to cook for me

The Sweeper · 11-12-2013 08:59PM

Faith wrote: »

I noticed that actually. The prices went down when I said it was Australia!

Hussey, I don't know if Amazon are ever actually going to open in Australia. Last year they swore they'd be open by this Christmas!

They have opened here - an ebookstore, geolocked, overpriced, bit crap.

Merkin · 11-12-2013 09:38PM

Hermione* wrote: »

Loved Masterchef last night, Merkin! I was practically drooling at the telly. I'm a huge Italia lover but haven't been now in a while, and last night's show really reminded me of why I love Italy so much.

Ditto! Am obsessed with Italy also and I thought that lovely chef just typified everything that's so wonderful about the food and people. He was warm and sunny, great fun, mad as a box of frogs and took such sheer unadulterated JOY in the food, what a treat to allow the viewers inside his kitchen!

Merkin · 13-12-2013 01:43PM

Anyone watch the Masterchef final last night?

The Hill Billy · 13-12-2013 01:50PM

It was cracking! Great performances all round. I have't seen too man of the episodes, but I thought that the first guy who was judged should have won. There wasn't a single negative comment (iirc) about any of his dishes.

Merkin · 13-12-2013 02:01PM

It was great wasn't it HB? I think Stephen won rather than Scott (the first guy) because they wanted a very clear improvement trajectory from start to finish. Scott came in on a high level and while he improved, remained very steady and reliable throughout whereas I think Stephen may have wowed them a little bit more. I think Michel Roux Jnr was disappointed with the end result as he really championed Adam (the third guy) from the start and he simply didn't live up to expectations in his final dishes. In saying that, I think the three chefs were phenomenal and I think it could have been anyone's prize really! It's such compulsive viewing, have really enjoyed this series!

nompere · 13-12-2013 02:18PM

The Hill Billy wrote: »

It was cracking! Great performances all round. I have't seen too man of the episodes, but I thought that the first guy who was judged should have won. There wasn't a single negative comment (iirc) about any of his dishes.

The OH and I watched it all through. We both wanted Adam to win, but agreed with the judges.

It seemed to us that while Scott and Steve were both faultless, the judges saw a bit more of a "wow" with Steve last night.

There is the other view that it was a nasty English conspiracy to deprive the Celtic nations of their dues!! (I gather that there is some dispute as to whether Scott is properly Scottish or Welsh.)

Loire · 13-12-2013 03:14PM

My book arrived yesterday - The MacNean Restaurant Cookbook. An absolute delight! Really nicely laid out with the typical starters-main-dessert sections, but with a detailed "basics" section at the back for sauces etc. The intro is really good, the photography is perfect and overall it is a top class look&feel (which I'd be inclined to leave out on a coffee table than store away with the rest of my books).

I've eaten at the restaurant once before (about 6 years ago and can still taste the piece of lamb I had for mains). We met Neven Maguire that particular night and he's IMO a really nice person and this comes through in this book.

Xmas came early for me!

Loire.

iwantmydinner · 13-12-2013 06:08PM

'Tis an evening for comfort food, and plenty of it. Any suggestions?? I'm thinking sweet rather than savoury...

Merkin · 13-12-2013 06:39PM

Apple pie and custard

MissFlitworth · 13-12-2013 07:12PM

A massive ice cream sundae with lots of salted butter chocolate sauce

Oh, or, if I wasn't exploding out of my jeans right now I was thinking of making the fleur de sel cookies from the cooking club and using them warm from the oven in an ice cream sandwich

iwantmydinner · 13-12-2013 07:24PM

Ice cream sundae is HAPPENING. Nice one!!

Faith · 13-12-2013 07:25PM

MissFlitworth wrote: »

A massive ice cream sundae with lots of salted butter chocolate sauce

Oh, or, if I wasn't exploding out of my jeans right now I was thinking of making the fleur de sel cookies from the cooking club and using them warm from the oven in an ice cream sandwich

I've just had a giant helping of risotto but oh my god I want this so badly now!! Either of them, to be clear.

I have a box of roses but all the good ones are gone and now they're just not going to cut the mustard.

dipdip · 13-12-2013 07:36PM

A cheat's recipe for a salted chocolate sauce is one I have been using for years when I need a speedy dessert - Warm a tin of condensed milk in a bowl over a pot of barely simmering water. Break in a few squares of dark chocolate and a decent pinch of sea salt. Whisk until warm, dark and delicious. Drizzle over ice cream and sprinkle on some nuts. Simples.

Mrs Fox · 14-12-2013 09:31AM

Loire wrote: »

I've eaten at the restaurant once before (about 6 years ago and can still taste the piece of lamb I had for mains).

It's gas you mentioned that, it was only last week I was telling Mr Fox how I can still remember the taste of the ravioli in bisque, and trio of duck we had there, and that was back in 2009.

Hermione* · 14-12-2013 12:44PM

The Hill Billy wrote: »

It was cracking! Great performances all round. I have't seen too man of the episodes, but I thought that the first guy who was judged should have won. There wasn't a single negative comment (iirc) about any of his dishes.

I thought so, too. Great final week - I loved how close it was in the end.

Merkin wrote: »

Ditto! Am obsessed with Italy also and I thought that lovely chef just typified everything that's so wonderful about the food and people. He was warm and sunny, great fun, mad as a box of frogs and took such sheer unadulterated JOY in the food, what a treat to allow the viewers inside his kitchen!

Exactly how I felt about it, Merkin!

I'm going to investigate his restaurant for my next trip over.

Just saw Rick Stein make his own piccalilli on Saturday Kitchen. I love the stuff, but never thought to make my own. I must try it!

kowloon · 14-12-2013 02:56PM

Can someone recommend a good Tom Yam paste that I can actually get delivered? It's my comfort food so anything beyond adding in a few prawns and some lime juice is too much effort.

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