It’s been in business since 1788 and as it’s practically on my doorstep I decided it was time to pay a proper visit to view The English Market through a camera lens. My usual visits would be a quick rush through to pick up a few bits or meet a friend for lunch or a coffee in the second floor galleried FarmGate Restaurant.
Last Saturday however my friend Joanne had bravely offered to babysit and stay over for the night. We could have chosen to go anywhere but why would I go anywhere else when Cork City has so much to offer.
We wandered through the stalls and lingered longingly at numerous vendor’s stalls. Him at the meat counter, me at the cheese and chocolate.
One stall was more inticing than the next and we meandered hungrily through the various passageways. (for more info see www.corkenglishmarket.ie ) With my market fix sated we eventually emerged onto Oliver Plunkett Street and made our way down to Scott’s for ‘just one’ at a table outside – well it was only 5.30pm after all.
We shared a starter platter (chicken wings, prawn and chicken yakatori skewers, vegetable spring rolls, onion bhaji and prawn crackers with soy and ginger dip) at Kudos in the Clarion, washed down with some Cava and eventually ended up in The Club Brasserie where my confit of duck was sublime and the Austrian Riesling a very enjoyable first for me. Dessert there was a shared brownie and ice-cream and was followed by cocktails at The Boardwalk and at The Clarion. Yes, I know the cocktails should have come before the dinner but I hadn’t been let loose in a while!
I’ve been baking and photographing as much as I can lately and have been trying out a brownie recipe from ‘the hummingbird bakery’ cookbook. See below:
Till next time, Sheila
Hey, we’ve got that cookbook too! Present from someone…