Wine vs. Beer

Just back from the city, another wonderful night with great people. I know it’s redundant by now, but I really can’t believe how many people I’ve met on this course that I hope to stay in touch with when it’s over. Next week at this time, we will all be done our practical exams, and all tucked in for the night after studying for the written exams on Friday – how nuts is that?

This morning was another odd morning in the kitchen, my partner had consommé and a chocolate cake that both required a pile of work, and I had poached grey sea mullet with beurre blanc, melted leeks, spuds, more vol au vents, and naan. Most of what I had to do, couldn’t really be prepped, and required lots of last minute attention. Overall it was a good morning though, and I signed off a few things on my technique sheet. Headed into a very quick demo with Rory this afternoon, we were done before 5! He flew through the recipes, which was great since eight of us had Michael booked to take us into Cork.

Caroline Hennessey (who did a talk on beer in week four (I think!)) and Colm were hosting an event tonight…. A wine vs. beer smack down, it was basically comparing wine with beer, and how it matched with foods. We arrived into Cork early and headed to Elbow Lane, a restaurant and small brewery… We walked in and ran into Caroline, busted! Colm’s wine students from Ballymaloe all sitting down for a pint after a long day at school! It was all in great fun, and to support the idea of wine / beer matching with food.

I cannot believe the support for local farmers and producers in Ireland. Everywhere you go you recognize names from all over the country on menus. There is support in most restaurants from local brewers, artists and food producers. People that still think Ireland has a bad name when it comes to food need to think again, it’s incredible what they are doing with food, and I think there is a lot to be learned. It helps that they have land that can do such great things!

Tomorrow is the end of Week Eleven… I will head to The Blackbird to listen to some music, and tuck into bed early. Not sure what my plans are for the rest of the weekend, but Saturday night I’ll stay in, revision, going through my files, and bed early so that I can continue to do the same on Sunday. Can’t believe this is my last weakened in Shanagarry. I think back to the first Sunday here and it seems like a lifetime ago, but at the same time it seems like just yesterday. Again, The Ballymaloe Experience is like nothing else, so hard to explain… I just can’t believe that after nearly eleven weeks here, I still feel the same way about it as I did on the first week – that says something I suppose.

Off to bed, looking forward to a good morning in the kitchen… Only two more mornings pulling on my chef’s whites for a normal morning in the kitchen then it’s exam time.

“You know you’ve done something right in your career when you’ve got a raspberry half-er… Something you all must work towards….” – Rory as Sorcha cut his raspberries in half for his Ice-Cream Bombe