Foodie Articles

We hope you enjoyed reading this post by Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers. Pat is a 5th generation butcher, cook book author and the director of  James Whelan Butchers with shops in Clonmel, the Avoca Food Market Monkstown and Avoca Rathcoole. Sign up to our newsletter for more updates from James Whelan Butchers

  With the annual pancake fest just behind us and a general feeling of spring in the air it is the perfect time for a little shift in gear and preparation for the lighter days that are now, at least, on the horizon.  The idea behind having pancakes on Shrove Tuesday came from the need […]

  Having a mildly rebellious spirit the idea of Valentines Day leaves me a little cold.  I don’t like being told that on any given day I should be particularly loving or affectionate.  It always seems staged, lacking in spontaneity, and the mere fact that I am expected to do something makes me not want […]

  I have a funny feeling this is going to be my kind of year! I love 2012 already even though it is still but a pup.  My excitement is twofold; first of all Tipperary is starting the year with an award, and a food award at that!  Oh yes, in case you haven’t heard […]

  There is nothing boring about the English language, particularly if you consider how words evolve and grow.  Created to mean one thing specifically, words can quickly catch on and take on whole new explanations with different generations.  These days technology also informs how we use words and I’m very aware that there is a […]

  Had enough of the turkey? Is there anything else you can do with ham? Too much sauce (of every kind!)? A sweet or box too many? Not to worry I think the perfect antidote is a simple but perfectly cooked steak. If there is a quicker or simpler dish then I’m not sure what […]

  In the wake of the most recent slash and burn budget, Wednesday night last at the Clonmel Park Hotel emerged like a glorious abundant mirage in a parched gloom and doom dessert. All thoughts of frugality and austerity were forgotten for a few hours as the stands of the Tipperary Food Producers Network overflowed […]

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” A quote attributed to Albert Einstein. I’m all for knowledge but I understand that it can sometimes be quite limiting. Having a prior knowledge that something won’t work for example can prevent you from even trying it. Whatever it is might not work, but you may stumble across something […]

  If I can convince you to do one thing this year then it would be to make sure you book your tickets for the upcoming Tipperary Food Producers Christmas Cookery Extravaganza being held in the Clonmel Park Hotel on the evening of the 7th of December. Not only will it herald Christmas it will […]

  Winter has arrived and all eyes are now firmly focussed on the festive season. Now before you throw the paper down in horror at my nerve of mentioning the ‘C’ word in the third week of November, hear me out. Normally I’m with all the people who say “the long lead in is ruining […]

  I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of the actress Betty Driver who, for forty years, portrayed one of the best known barmaids on TV. As Betty Turpin from the Rovers Return on Coronation Street, she made a simple North of England lamb stew into an iconic dish that we all associated […]

  I received a glorious gift of fresh carrots from a friend’s garden last weekend and decided to make carrot and coriander soup. Once October hits I love making fresh soups for these cooler days and I always feel very smug indulging in something so irresistibly tasty, safe in the knowledge that it is so […]