Kieran

Charity Cycle, Killarney

Anyone going to Killarney on Saturday the 7th, might run into the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle. The event started on Friday evening, with a local celebrity cycle around town, followed with a race with some of the cyclists. Since winning isn't everything, we offered the prize of a free ice cream and coffee to the cyclist who came in last. It's all good, healthy fun, and they have raised 2.5 million to date for various charities...

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Summer, what summer?

Inch Beach in the Rain Driving home from our Killarney shop, I heard on the radio that Cork had 10 times the amount of rainfall in June this year compared to last year. Ireland as a whole has had double the average rainfall. I’m not surprised. It’s getting pretty soggy here in the world of Irish ice cream.

It’s July 4th, and one might think of barbeques in the sun, but instead, the rain has been incessant, and it’s been cold and windy as well. I saw a single family walking on the beach at Inch and took the photo above. Normally at this time of year, the beach would be chock full of sun-worshipers and surfers, but it was deserted. I took the shot at mid-afternoon, so you can see how murky things have been!

In Killarney, it was judging day for the Entente Florale, with street entertainment and a parade planned to impress the judges. Instead, there was a lot of rain. The town did make a huge effort, though. There are beautiful flower arrangements everywhere, and I do hope the judges look past the weather!

Deirdre Dancing

My sister, Deirdre, is over from Germany, and she did her bit to cheer up our customers by painting a huge sun on the shop window and then going even further by dancing with the drummers who took refuge under our awning during the worst downpours (and then were reluctant to move on from their safe haven).

I think my sister has the right idea. We’ll put up lots of painted suns in both shops. Maybe there will be dancing. We will have a summer one way or the other!

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Munster Semi-Final

Cork Kerry Fans I managed to sneak off to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney for the Munster Final yesterday, where Kerry just about managed to beat Cork 1-15 to 1-13. The weather held, and the play was open and enjoyable. It’s one of the best rivalries – the competition is intense, but there is no ill will, as seen by the above picture as two friends from opposite sides came in to us after the game to enjoy an ice cream…

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Bridgestone Irish Food Guide

Bridgestone Food Guide When Lorraine tipped me off that the new Bridgestone Irish Food Guide was out, I was very excited. My brother Sean bought me a copy when he was in Dublin, and now I have it in my hands. I am delighted, and not only because we were given a great mention in it. This book is very useful.

My old copy is quite worn at this stage – creased, stained and dog-eared from many trips around the country, and it is a little out of date. For me it has been a invaluable tool when travelling in Ireland, in finding good food in odd places and in discovering culinary treasures, and I strongly suggest that any Irish foodie or visitor exploring this country purchase the new one immediately. John and Sally McKenna are great at what they do, show a remarkable amount of love for it, and they are spot on in their suggestions. I can’t say I have ever been led astray by their guides, and I use them all the time.

What makes me very happy as well is how the guide has swelled. It is now around 500 pages, and I don’t think it reflects any drop in standards by the McKennas, but rather the proliferation of Irish artisan foods and the increasing wealth of choice for food-lovers in terms of eateries. Happy days indeed.

By the way, I’m also pleased to see that some other Irish food bloggers were included – besides La Cucina, you will find Bubble Brothers and Ummera.

You can ask for the Irish Food Guide at your local bookshop or order it on-line here.

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Pink Champagne Sorbet in Shops

Pink Champagne Sorbet I’ve written here before about the Pink Champagne Sorbet, and it proved popular enough in our own shops that we have decided to launch into into a few select shops in Dublin and West Cork in 500ml tubs.

Pink Champagne Sorbet LabelIf you want to try it, it is available in:

  • Mortons, Renelagh
  • Fresh, Southdocks
  • Thomas’, Foxrock
  • Ennis Butchers, Rialto
  • Urru, Bandon (as of the next week or so)

We have always wanted to make some of our super, super-premium flavours available in tubs, and this will be a limited run. A word of warning – it won’t be cheap! The RRP is 20 euro for a tub. Then again, it’s simply packed with champagne!

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Strawberry and Sage Ice Cream

Strawberry and Sage Ice Cream I promised a little while ago to post the strawberry and sage ice cream, which is pretty much sold out in the shops by this point, but anyway, here it is!

Murphys Strawberry and Sage Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 cup Sugar

5 Egg Yolks

1 3/8 Cups Cream

1 1/8 Cups Milk

1 Strawberry Sage Coulis Recipe

What to do:

  1. Make the strawberry and sage coulis (recipe here)
  2. Beat the sugar and egg yolks together until thick and pale yellow.
  3. Bring the milk to a simmer. Remove from the heat.
  4. Beat the milk into the eggs and sugar in a slow stream.
  5. Pour the mixture back into pan and place over low heat.
  6. Strawberry and Sage Ice Cream closeStir until the custard thickens (around 60C).
  7. Allow the custard to cool.
  8. Whip the cream until you have soft peaks. Do not over-whip!
  9. Fold in the custard and coulis.
  10. Freeze using a domestic ice cream machine, or cover and place in the freezer.

12 Servings

Note: To pasteurise the eggs, heat the custard to 73C and keep at that temperature for three minutes. Use a cooking thermometer, though, and keep stirring! If the custard goes any higher than 76C, the eggs will scramble. Immediately cover and place in the freezer until cool.

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New Toy – Slushie Machine

Slushie Machine It might have been a rash purchase, but I ordered in a slushie machine. I know it’s a strange purchase for a company dedicated to the highest quality, but I got to thinking about what would happen if you used the best ingredients to make a high-class slushie.

Good idea? It remains to be seen. I’m busy playing away trying to make a frozen moccha with espresso and lots of dark Belgian chocolate…

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Ice Cream Ireland Book

Ice Cream Ireland Book Mercier Press has approved our book proposal, so it looks like there will indeed be an Ice Cream Ireland book, which should be out next April. I’m quite excited! It will be a wonderful opportunity to get back in the kitchen again after a summer of scooping ice cream and get the creative juices flowing!

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