Author Archives: jozeemac

Idá’s Restaurant, Dingle

The Swashbuachaill was abroad once more, down in Dingle for the annual food festival and what is also becoming an annual event, a return to one of my very favourite restaurants, Idá’s, owned and operated by the sublimely talented Chef/Proprietor Kevin Murphy. On this particular night, I got to hang out in the kitchen for the first serviceContinue reading “Idá’s Restaurant, Dingle”

Pilgrim’s Progress

This is a review I wrote for the Irish Mail on Sunday, last August, 2015. Pilgrim’s is a very fine little restaurant based in Rosscarbery, in West Cork, owned and operated by chef Mark Jennings and his partner, Sarah-Jane Pearce, who runs front of house. It took just a single meal for it to be instantly installedContinue reading “Pilgrim’s Progress”

Dishing Up the Nosebag at A Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2015

It has taken The Swashbuachaill some weeks to recover from his recent foray back into the professional culinary world when he presented a nine-course menu in the magnificent surroundings of Uillinn, home of the West Cork Arts Centre, in Skibbereen, as part of the Taste of West Cork food festival. He was delighted and honoured toContinue reading “Dishing Up the Nosebag at A Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2015”

And, Lo, he Did Emerge from the Jungle!

It is some time since The Swashbuachaill has graced this fair forum, buried, as he has been, under an unforgiving pile of children, academia and actual paid work and he is still desperately scrambling to catch up with himself. So, instead of posting new material, he shall take the slacker’s option and simply upload someContinue reading “And, Lo, he Did Emerge from the Jungle!”

Food fraud Ain’t Just Flogging Horse-burgers

I find it truly disheartening when certain restaurants or retailers choose to exploit the integrity of fine growers and producers and, ultimately, the consumer by perpetrating food fraud—here’s a piece I wrote on the subject, now up on the Irish Food Writers’ Guild website, after yet another ‘episode’, this time involving Ballyhoura Mushrooms. And inContinue reading “Food fraud Ain’t Just Flogging Horse-burgers”

Asturias and Cantabria, Northern Spain

The Swashbuachaill has been off on yet another skite to his beloved Spain. He has more than a few dear Spanish friends and has long held the view that they are closer in temperament to the Irish than most other peoples of Europe. For years, his Spanish meanderings were concentrated in the South, most particularly, Andalucia,Continue reading “Asturias and Cantabria, Northern Spain”

Ballymaloe Litfest of Food & Wine 2014

For the weekend that’s in it, here’s four of my most recent articles, all previewing the 2nd Ballymaloe Litfest. Last year’s inaugural event defied all expectations, even those of the organisers, and I’m gearing up for yet another splendid weekend even if my own schedule (including a 9.30am interview on Sunday morning with one of Ireland’s Queens of Cheese, the magnificentContinue reading “Ballymaloe Litfest of Food & Wine 2014”

My Culinary Hero – Myrtle Allen at 90, Ballymaloe at 50

Contrary to popular opinion, The Swashbuachaill is not a callous sort though it may well appear so, such is the lack of attention or care devoted to this poor old site. But in fact, The Swashbuachaill is writing all the time, churning out the paid-for stuff that foots the bills, so will endeavour to regularlyContinue reading “My Culinary Hero – Myrtle Allen at 90, Ballymaloe at 50”