Kilkenny restaurant branches out
Ristorante Rinuccini in Kilkenny celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion the Cavaliere family are launching their own Italian olive oil.
Sourced by chef proprietor Antonio Cavaliere from a family-run estate in Lazio, the single-estate extra virgin oil is made from Itrana olives and is described as having a golden colour, with aromas of apple and spice, with a slightly peppery finish. Last year was a tough one for most Italian producers of olive oil, with crops decimated by bad weather in some areas. So to source this oil and be able to sell it at €9 for a litre and €5 for a half litre in dark green glass bottles is quite a coup.
Cavaliere explains that it was ordered before the difficult time and the Mancini family, who he has worked with for many years, agreed to honour the price. The oil can be bought only at the restaurant.
Indian summer movie
The enticing aromas of Indian food, prepared and eaten in the open air, will add to the atmosphere when The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are screened at Tattersalls Country House in Ratoath, Co Meath, next Friday and Saturday at 9pm.
Kerala Kitchen, the curry stall that brings Indian street food to a variety of Dublin lunchtime markets, will be serving coconut chicken curry, chicken tikka masala and chickpea and spinach curry, made with their own spice blends and fresh herbs.
The Indian summer movie ticket price is €10 (students and children €8.50) and the curries are €8 or €7 for the vegetarian option. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will be screened in front of Tattersalls House on Friday, and Indiana Jones on Saturday.
Book online at tattersallscountryhouse.ie, but check before you set off as the screenings are weather dependent.
Basket case for tomatoes
It hasn't been a great year for tomatoes, at least not for those trying to coax them to turn from green to ruby red on their sunless windows, balconies and gardens. So rather than turning to this beautifully-shot book called The Tomato Basket for inspiration on how to deal with a glut, like our friends in sunnier climes, we can use it to find out how to make the very best of our precious crop.
Learn how the fruit travelled from its origins in South America to become emblematic of Mediterranean cooking and Italian cuisine in particular. Discover the characteristics of different varieties and get some tips on growing your own – importing sunshine notwithstanding.
Then cook one of the more than 75 recipes that make the most of this versatile ingredient. The Tomato Basket by Jenny Linford, with photographs by Peter Cassidy, is published by Ryland Peters & Small, £14.99.
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Popcorn gets pimped
Propercorn is a range of popcorn that comes in five interesting flavours including best-selling sweet and salty, and Worcester sauce, chilli and sundried tomato. The UK company pops its corn with rapeseed oil and uses natural flavourings. There are 130 calories in each vegetarian friendly, gluten-free bag. It's on sale in Tesco, Dunnes, Spar, Centra and Fresh, as well as independents, with a RRP of €1.20.
