[Opinion] The importance of transparency in blogging

Over the course of the last few weeks, I’ve kept up with the Twitter storm that has followed tweets from chefs Gaz Smith (Michaels of Mount Merrion) and Garret Byrne (of Michelin-starred Campagne in Kilkenny). No matter which side of the fence you are on, this debate has revealed some ugly sides to the world of food and travel blogging. 

It is claimed that a blogger contacted Campagne seeking a free meal in return for blog and social media coverage. On the surface, it appears gauche and self-entitled on the part of the blogger. But on the other hand, it was a business offer that Garret could either accept or refuse, and refuse he did. 

As a blogger, I’ve always tried to feature restaurants and venues that I feel deserve to be shared. As a result, I could probably count on one hand the amount of times I’ve written a strongly critical review. I’ve obviously eaten in many restaurants where the best thing was the exit, but I’ve rarely chosen to feature those spots. 

[Opinion] A tale of two cocktails

The incredible growth and creativity that the Irish cocktail scene has exhibited in the past few years is a wonderful cause for celebration. The parallel explosion in the Irish spirits industry, including whiskey, gin and vodka, has given Irish bartenders expanded access to top quality ingredients for their creations. 

Many bars and hotels now have a cocktail programme of one form or another, which can range from the pedestrian but decent, to the original and highly creative. From a business sense, cocktails and premium drinks can offer an attractive profit margin which makes it worth while to invest in staff training and inventory. But in order for a cocktail programme to be successful and gain a solid reputation, bartenders need to exhibit consistency and adherence to quality standards. 

Let me illustrate with an example...

The original on the left, the second on the right

[Opinion] An ode to the Caesar salad and the humble anchovy

I've been a long term lover of the classic Casear salad. It's undeniably the king of salads, and eating a good Caesar salad is a pleasure like no other.  The combination of crisp Romaine lettuce, a creamy umami-packed dressing and crunchy croutons was a genius move on the part of whoever assembled the first Caesar salad. Its creation is generally attributed to Caesar Cardini, a Italian immigrant with restaurants in the US and Mexico. Legend has it that he was working in Tijuana (to avoid the restrictions of Prohibition) when he created the now eponymous salad. 

I would say that calling this dish a salad is an item of technicality. Yes it is lettuce-based but the creamy emulsion dressing is what makes the salad so delectable. Add in lashings of parmesan cheese and other optional additions, and the calorie count can increase dramatically. However, I'm choosing to still view it as a salad and all the benefits that come with eating salad.

So why am I writing about the Caesar salad? I recently ordered a version at an Amsterdam hotel which I found myself consuming with great enthusiasm.  I went so far as to run my finger around the inside of the bowl to catch all the remaining dressing. And it wasn't because I was starving. It was because it was packed with chunks of anchovies. Those lovely, salty, meaty little fish which pack more punch than a heavyweight boxer. Yes the lettuce was lovely and crisp, the croutons were crunchy, there was loads of parmesan and the addition of grilled chicken, bacon and hard-boiled egg was superb, but it was really all about the anchovies. 

Anchovies are delicious eaten straight from the tin or jar, and will add bucketloads of oomph (more technically known as unami) to any dish. They've been used for centuries as a source of potent flavour, and feature in many classic sauces such as Worcestershire sauce and Pater Peperium Gentleman's Relish. But for some reason, many people dislike the anchovy, probably because they've eaten the cheaper, fishier versions. Invest in some quality anchovies and you will see the difference. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that if you don't like anchovies, we may need to discuss the nature of our relationship. 

My homemade Chicken Caesar salad

Making a Caesar salad dressing can involve a fair amount of whisking as you need to emulsify the egg yolk and olive oil. If you've got biceps of iron, then work away, otherwise use a blender to help speed up the process. A personal tip is to use the leftover oil from the anchovies in the salad dressing for extra flavour. One of my favourite recipes is comes from Bon Appetit and is really easy to make quickly.

If you want to try anchovies in other recipes, try this recipe list from Huffington Post.

Mixed Value from Insomnia

I was passing Insomnia Coffee in Rathmines the other day when I noticed the above sign in their window. The food deals look like good value, especially with the 'any coffee', but what caught my eye was the small print underneath.

This promotion is excluded from the Insomnia Loyalty Card programme

Personally I don't like that. They should continue to show a bit of loyalty to the customers that support them.

Campaigning Politicians No 1

This leaflet appeared in my postbox today. It's from Cllr. Edie Wynne who currently represents Pembroke/Rathmines on Dublin City Council. It's bad enough to be continuously trekking from my postbox to my green bin to dump unwanted junk mail, but junk mail from a politician promoting recycling takes the biscuit. We've already received leaflets from Dublin City Council and from Greyhound Recycling about waste management. Why waste more paper doing this?

Tesco Pricing Error

I was in Tesco Maynooth today and I picked up a small bag of coriander. I then saw that there was a larger bag available was better value. Looking closely at the shelf labels, I realised that someone at Tesco clearly can't do maths.

30g bag costing E1.29 or E43.00/kg


80g bag costing E1.99 (so better value) but the shelf label records the price per kg as E9.99, when a quick calculation tells you that the real price per kg is E24.88/kg.


So although Tesco aren't making you pay more per kg for the bigger bag, it's clear that their pricing isn't accurate.

Another Irish Prizewinner (In a weird way)

It must be said that we don't do gangsters particularly well in this country. Our local bred boyos might have delusions of grandeur or ambitions to roll in the hood, but as always, we bring a uniquely Irish spin to gangster affairs.

Step up the recently deceased Philip Collopy. The 29 year old Limerick criminal was demonstrating how to use his Glock semi-automatic gun at a house party when he shot himself in the head, inflicting a fatal wound. In fairness to him, he had removed the magazine from the gun, but had failed to remember the chambered bullet.

Guests at the party were described as being 'unusally cooperative' with the Gardai following the incident and mobile phone footage immediately established the chain of events. The house guests at the party were hardly upstanding citizens and were eager to clear their names as quickly as possible.

It's awful to find humour in the death of a fellow human being but Collopy was a career criminal and the entire country is sick to the back teeth of the crime and deaths in Limerick. You'll be hard-pressed to find someone outside Collopy's family who will mourn his passing.

I reckon Collopy has to be a front-runner for one of the next Darwin Awards, which are awarded to deceased individuals who "improve the species, by actually removing themselves from it!". It looks like Ireland's recent winning streak is continuing.

Increasing Cinema Prices

I go to the cinema about once a week on average, if not more often. Ever since I was a student, and the Gate Cinema in Cork offered matinee showings for £2, I've been hooked. That's about 12 years ago though, and it's fair to say that it's a little more expensive now to go to the cinema.

Cinema prices for two adults at an evening showing are breaking the €20 barrier now. I've noticed that Cineworld in Dublin's Parnell Street have increased prices lately. Adult evening and matinee tickets have increased, by 70c to €10.40 and 60c to €8.30 respectively. When you factor in a booking fee of 45c per ticket, the price for a couple is now €21.70.

The other cinema I frequent is the superb Movies@ in Dundrum. Adult tickets here are €9.90 each with a booking fee of 80c per order, bringing a night out to a slightly lower total of €20.60.

I like to book my tickets online before going to the cinema. It's often quicker and saves queueing. One thing I've noticed lately in Dundrum is how many seats are already booked or even where showings are sold out. It appears that cinema is booming in Ireland right now as it does represent a cheaper night out than the pub. However the cinemas are continuing to raise prices, despite the fact that most of their patrons are facing decreased wages.

Gag Order on RTÉ... WFT?

When I wrote about the sudden appearance of naked portraits of the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, I had no idea of the stupidity that was to follow. Now it turns out that

1. A gag order has been placed on RTÉ concerning the incident and they have now issued an apology "for any personal offence caused to Mr. Cowen or his family and for any disrespect shown to the office of the Taoiseach by our broadcast".

2. The Gardai have questioned the artist, Conor Casby concerning possible charges such as incitement to hatred.

Now since it isn't April 1st yet, then I can assume that this isn't an April Fool's Day joke. Yet I'm sure that anyone sane who reads this story is considering Ireland to be fairly flipping hilarious right now. Instead of fixing our sinking economy or helping reassure the ever-increasing umemployed, we are persecuting an artist and gagging the national broadcaster.

Right now though, I'm more annoyed with RTÉ for bending over and taking it from the hiney from behind. Independent journalism me hole.

The Naked Taoiseach

Visitors at the Royal Hibernian Academy and the National Gallery recently. Not only had someone been brave enough to create two paintings of our Taoiseach in the nip (a scary thought by any standards) but they had then managed to hang the two paintings in the galleries.

One passer-by offered to purchase the painting in the National Gallery which features our beloved leader on the john. The Gardai are investigating, though I'm not exactly sure what crimes was committed here.

Growing Driving Test Waiting Lists AGAIN!

I read recently with dismay that SGS will no longer be conducting driving tests as of April 10th. What? The one competent and efficient contribution that this government has made to Irish life, and it's being stopped. Bravo. This truly shows our commitment to promoting safe driving.

The RSA is claiming that waiting times have fallen significantly, but I think it's safe to say that it's public knowledge enough that lists are lengthening again and approaching the extremes of just over a year ago.

Come on. It's tough on learner drivers. Let's not make it tougher.

Expensive Espresso in Cafe Bar Deli

Just back from a nice lunch in Cafe Bar Deli in Ranelagh. The only downside - being charged E2.30 for an espresso. Ouch...

I think that I'll start to compile a list of espresso prices. I've already been following prices of my favourite drink, Bulmer's Light, in the city, so I think that I'll put up a league table for both shortly.

The Shame of the IRA

When are we going to stand up in Ireland, and openly and fully denounce the IRA as the terrorists that they are?

When are we going to say that enough is enough?

When are we going to stop idealising these outdated and vicious murderers?

Two young lads, on duty and away from home order a pizza. Pepperoni or hawaiian? The Real IRA didn't care. They didn't care that bystanders were also gunned down.

The Continuity IRA didn't care when they shot dead a 48 year old, father of two, who also happened to be a PSNI officer.

I'm proud to be Irish. I'm ashamed that there are terrorists who also consider themselves to be Irish.

300 Free Cervical Cancer Vaccines

Isn't it amazing how the decent and unselfish actions of a few people can make you realise how messed up and misdirected this country is?

A consortium of four Dublin-based businessmen have donated enough money to purchase 300 doses of the cervical cancer vaccine and several G.P.s have agreed to administer the vaccine (and its subsequent doses) free of charge next Saturday.

It's hardly a replacement for the axed E10 million cervical cancer scheme, but hopefully the fact that people think that this is important will eventually register with the government. It may be a political stunt (one of the doctors is Dr. James Reilly, the Fine Gael spokesman for Health), but it's one that I can live with.

What is it with Kilkenny/Waterford drivers and foglights?

So I've just come back from a weeks driving in the States where I was highly impressed by the general standard of driving. Polite, steady driving is the norm. Back in Ireland, and we left Dublin on Monday evening heading for Waterford, but the minute we crossed into Kilkenny I noticed something bizarre.

A vastly higher proportion of drivers in Kilkenny and Waterford drive with their foglights on than anywhere else I had been. At least 1 in 7 or 1 in 10 have their foglights on. It's downright annoying to have an idiot behind you at night with their foglights on. Is there a lot of fog in Waterford and Kilkenny that I'm not aware of? Why is there such a cluster of ill-educated drivers in one part of the country?

Congratulations Barack Obama

Wow, doesn't it seem as if something really special and unique has taken place in the world. There has been a subtle shift that will ripple throughout the world. Every generation has a list of world-defining events. For my parents, it probably included the assasination of JFK. For me, until now, it was the senseless destruction of the Twin Towers.

Watching the election coverage on Tuesday night left me with a feeling of real change and purpose. The election of Barack Obama signifies a fundamental shift in the attitude of the American people, and by definition, any member of the free world. Weirdly, the race issue isn't the reason I feel this sense of change. It's more to do with the fact that we are now ready to move away from the doldrums and weirdness that has surrounded us for the last period of time and move forward.

In a choatic time, Obama's election message and demeanour was steady, calm yet fresh and exciting. He has promised so much, now he must deliver. I, for one, don't doubt him.

Congratulations Barack Obama.

Blog Action Day

I didn't find out until late last night that yesterday, October 15th, was Blog Action Day 2008. The aim is that bloggers everywhere will discuss poverty in some way. By all posting on the same day, it is hoped to highlight the topic through the sheer level of conversation and to increase awareness, and ultimately, hopefully, bring about some change.

Ireland has a long track record in contributing charity to 3rd world countries through agencies such as Trócaire and Goal. We also weighed in following the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster with charities such as Chernobyl Children's Project International.

I think that Irish people are fantastically generous and willing to open their hearts and purses to others. However, and this may sound controversial, I think that we are quick to ignore the poverty that exists in our own society. People possibly enjoy the rush and sense of self-satisfaction that they get from adopting a child in Africa but are quick to dismiss the drunk on the street as a "waster". We fail to realise that it is all too easy to end up in such a state. Read the stories of people who've ended up on the street. It's not uncommon for middle-class men to lose their families and homes and find themselves with nowhere to go.

Take the recent story of Tony Paget, a homeless man who saved the life of a Dublin Bus Eireann driver, whose bus went into the Liffey through the wall at Butt Bridge. Tony, who is 26, was later presented with an Irish Water Safety award. After helping to save the driver and also after the award, Tony returned to the streets.

Official government figures are based on the last Housing Needs Assessment, undertaken in 2005. This shows that 2,399 households were categorised as homeless in 2005, with 1,725 households living in unfit accommodation, 4,112 in overcrowded accommodation and 3,375 involuntarily sharing. Simon Communities estimate however, that this figure vastly underestimates the true levels of homelessness in Ireland.

Given these times of economic trouble, it is probably not unrealistic to expect the levels of homeless to rise in Ireland. While we should not turn our back our fellow men in foreign countries, we do need to focus on our fellow countrymen and tackle the problem of poverty that exists on our own doorsteps.

Support charities such as Simon Communities and Focus Ireland.

Aer Lingus and Trade Unions

I am currently in the middle of a love-hate relationship with Aer Lingus. It's a bit one-sided as they aren't really aware of the extent of my feelings. But as I'm stuck with them for a while to come, this relationship is only going to develop further. On one hand I like their relaxed style and pleasant crew. On the other hand I despise their tardiness and lack of apology for said tardiness.

For those who don't know, Aer Lingus is an Irish airline. Once upon a time, it was state-owned but is now only partially owned by the Irish Government and is quoted on the Dublin and London stock exchanges. Their aggressive Irish competitor, Ryanair, controversially own a stake in Aer Lingus which is slightly less than that of the Irish Goverment.

Aer Lingus is now operating mainly in the budget carrier arena and as such is trying to operate leanly. There is a current initiative to save €100 million through cost-cutting but Aer Lingus suffers from one main problem - the legacy of the trade unions. The trade unions involved at Aer Lingus have not woken up to the fact that the world has changed in the airline industry and Aer Lingus is no longer a cushy public-sector job. Today they announced that they would oppose management cost-cutting plans whereby jobs would be outsourced.

I have sympathy for people trying to protect their jobs and their livelihood. But the face of air travel has changed, and so must the mindset of people working in the industry. The recent collapse (and near collapse) of airlines such as Alitalia, XL and Silverjet show that there is very little room for sentimentality.

It's time for the trade unions at Aer Lingus to stop living in the past. Yes, be praoactive and keep what jobs you can in Ireland. But don't put the whole airline in jeopardy.

Proposed Link Between Female Birth Weight and Likelihood of Breast Cancer

I was watching the BBC News this morning, when I heard about a recent piece of research which claims to provide the strongest link yet between the birth weight and length of a female child and her likelihood of developing breast cancer later in life. It is estimated that 5% of all breast cancers could be explained by birth weight. Just a 0.5 kg (or 1 lb) increase in birth weight was deemed to correspond to a 7% increase in the risk of cancer.

The weird thing about this estimated increase in the risk is that it is of a similar magnitude to the estimate for other more well-known risk factors, such as alcohol consumption.

We can all do a lot while pregnant to give our child the best possible start in life (ie limited alcohol consumption, good diet, no smoking etc), but the dimensions of our child are possibly a little outside the realm of our control. Then combine this with the general upward trend in birth weights and sizes in the first world. Where are we going?

Swan Mutilated in Dublin

Today I read a story in the Irish Times about a young swan which had to be humanely put down due to irreparable damage caused to his beak by a firework. Apparently someone had fed him a piece of bread containing a firework, which then exploded causing the bottom portion to be blown away, the top bill to be separated and the tongue shredded.

This just makes me sick to my stomach. Imagine the horrific pain and confusion that the poor animal was in before he was put down. I actually feel nauseated at the thought.

One of the glorious things that make us human is our sense of compassion and empathy. So how can someone be so lacking in these abilities as to do this to a harmless bird? Apparently members of the public at the scene of the incident, the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin, were too fearful to reveal the responsible individual. It just goes to show what kind of society and amoral class we are creating.