The General Chat Thread

So I've just returned after a couple of months in Malaysia. Had too much going on that I haven't been able to post up in the dinner thread.
A poster here set up a challenge for myself and the beer revolu to sample the most bizarre food while we were in that part of the world. No fresh monkey brains to be found, but I did try out 'sup torpedo' - bulls penis broth. Yup. Delicious but that would be my last.

Anyway, as usual I'd fill up my suitcase with food goodies and spices upon returning here. I have a good amount of the reputable Sarawak Black Pepper (Ross Lewis of Chapter One uses them) so if anyone fancies a small sample of the stuff PM me and I can post them out.

So I got the mini chopper thing and was delighted with life. Less delighted now, but I can attest that the blade is definitely up to chopping, because I dropped it, picked it up awkwardly, and have a nice line cut into the top of my finger for my trouble.

Your excellent advice continues, oscarBravo.:p

beertons wrote: »

Pepper arrived today Mrs Fox. Thanks very much. Smells fab. Now to find something special to cook with it.

You're welcome Enjoy!

Base pizza in Ballsbridge is pretty good. Cafe Maia at the top of Shelbourne road is nice. As mentioned above, Kites is a great option, it's my favourite restaurant in the area. There's also a Japanese place above the Embassy Grill (not a bad chipper!), The Lobster Pot beside Roly's and a place called Roast above one of the pubs across the road.

On the other side of the park is Donnybrook, you'll find a good few places there too. Donnybrook Fare has a restaurant but also a lot of take-out salad foods, there are also a few restaurants further in towards the village as well.

Anyone got some suggestions for cooked kohlrabi recipes?

Got some in our veg box this week and, having never tried it before, went the raw route - mandolined with beetroot and apple. Turns out we're not that keen on such a strong cabbagey/turnipy raw thing going on in our salads

If it turns up again though I don't want to waste it! Need some inspiration to help tone it down a bit (a lot?!), if anyone's got some going...

Faith wrote: »

Thinking of all the restaurants I'd like to try in Dublin* has got me thinking. If I lived in Dublin, I'd use this forum to arrange a Critics Club or something along those lines, where a group of us would go to a different restaurant every week/fortnight/month, try a variety of dishes and discuss them as foodies and report back to the forum. Now, obviously I'm not in a position to do that because A) I don't live in Dublin and from next month, I won't even live in Ireland, but it might be something that others reading this would be interested in organising at some stage in the future .

*This would equally work in any of the cities or big towns, I'm sure.

"Come Dine-Out With Me"

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Its too hot to cook or even eat

We're eating alot of fish these days, rainbow trout this evening with an apricot salsa type thing, the thought of red meat or anything involving stirring a sauce makes me a bit ill

Loire wrote: »

Haddock for us. Boring ole roast potatoes and green beans...I need to try something like your salsa to jazz it up!

My 'salsa' is a bit of a strange one to be honest, borne of a glut of odd ingredients - chopped fresh apricots and red peppers, sometimes some chopped cherry tomatoes, and some homemade sweet chilli sauce. Sometimes some chopped fresh mint and lemon or lime juice too. Mango salsa with fresh chilli and a tiny bit of finely chopped red onion would be yummy too
I'm baking a few potatoes every few days and reheating them as needed instead of preparing spuds every evening... I hate even the simplest cooking and prep when it's hot out!