Reader's Letters

Dear John and Sally

I have just bought some wonderful sausages from Terryglass Organics in Marlay Park market - oh my god !! what choice - Irish breakfast sausage, German herb sausage, Mediterranean sausage with lemon and middle eastern beef sausage with mustard seed. I know I tasted the whole range - they do tastings which is a great idea. I also bought some angus beef steaks which were superb - I knew they would be as I bought some of their angus beef burgers with wild garlic a few months ago and they were so different from anything I had ever tasted before. I am a huge fan. I love the fact that everything that Jens and his wife sell is from their own farm and they love to talk about the farm and the week's happenings - a delight to deal with, real old-fashioned farming and selling of produce that is hard to find these days.
*Thank you, and do check out new Farmer's Marklets in Carlow and Killaloe, and don't miss Jens Krumpe's pork when you visit the Terryglass stall, amongst the very best we have enjoyed in 2004.

Dear John and Sally

Could you please tell me where I can find citrus mayonnaise as I had it in Australia and loved it as an alternative to tartare sauce but I haven't been able to find it here yet. Even a recipe would be good.
Thanks, Olivera
*Derry Clarke's new book Not Just A Cookbook (see review) has a good recipe for a lemon mayonnaise, which he serves with Deep-fried Dublin Bay prawns in ketaifi pastry, chilli jam and cucumber relish. Sydney Food by Bill Granger gives recipes for both Lemon Mayonnaise, and the delicious-sounding avocado mayonnaise.

Dear John and Sally

Is there any possibility that you might know the name & whereabouts of the head chef who worked in McLaughlins Restaurant in the Castletroy Park Hotel in April 1998. We had quite an amazing meal and are finding it very hard to track him down. Very Many Thanks. Denis
*If the Head Chef reads this, please let us know where you are and we'll pass on the info.

Dear John and Sally

I often use your excellent guides for advice.Today I was checking out a farm guesthouse you recommended some time ago which is very suitable for children. I was taken aback at the obvious [nameremoved].com site as it has been pirated by a porn site.It certainly will not do their business any good as one would be wary now of their reputation which I am sure is good. I intend to let them know this asap.
Regards, Kieran
*We are currently updating the community web pages of bridgestoneguides.com, and we are grateful to hear from users when problems with links occur.

Dear John and Sally

I would like to bring to your attention, The Monkstown Inn in Monkstown Co. Cork . My Local pub, which is run by brothers Sean and Dan Walsh. Fantastic food is served, lunch and dinner. It is Cork harbour's hidden Gem! You should check it out. Keep up the good work.
Regards Anne
*OK. We'll check it out.

Dear John and Sally

We have a wedding next year to plan & cost. The starter asked for is Irish smoked salmon. It's asking a lot, we know, but can you possibly help with any suppliers for us, thanks so much....Dawn & Andrew, West Yorkshire
*Okay Dawn and Andrew, here is your starter for Irish smoked salmon: for wild fish, check out Frank Hederman at 021 481 1089, also Ummera on www.ummera.com; Dunns on www.dunns.ie and Woodcock Smokery on 028 36232 for Irish Smoked Wild Atlantic Salmon. Others who have both farmed, organic and wild fish include: www.aransalmon.com; www.burrensmokehouse.ie; fine fish from Connemara from www.smokehouse.ie (and do try the smoked tuna); Galway organic fish from www.kinvarasmokedsalmon.com; Mayo fish comes from www.clarkes.ie, and we hope you live happily ever after

Dear John and Sally

My husband and I would like to spend Christmas in a recommended hotel in Southern Ireland. I have been cooking Christmas dinners for over 44 years and would like to be looked after this year. Unfortunately, despite asking Tourist offices they are not prepared to recommend a hotel. Can you help?
June
*Well June, the choice is not enormous, but some places to consider include: Castle Leslie, Glaslough, Co Monaghan; Cashel House, Cashel, Connemara, Co Galway; The Park Hotel, Kenmare, Co Kerry; Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry; Rathsallagh House, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow; The Brook Lodge Inn, Macreddin, Co Wicklow. If readers know of any other destinations that offer Xmas packages, we would be delighted to know about them.

Dear John and Sally

Just a question, is there any reason why Blairs Cove, Durrus, Co Cork & Mary Anne's in Castletownsend, Co Cork are not in the guide and both have exceptional food and accommodation: Blairs Cove is top class.
*Mary Ann's is reviewed on page 93 of the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide and praised for its fine, straight-ahead gastropub cooking. Blair's Cove is on the market, and when a premises is for sale we have to exclude them from consideration as it is impossible to predict in what direction new owners might take the business.

Dear John and Sally

I am writing on behalf of KILLALOE FARMERS MARKET. We are a group of 25 local producers and traders offering a range of artisan foods, home grown veg., herbs, baking etc. as well as a small selection of handcrafts. Examples of our produce are: Clare cheeses, organic beef, artisan breads, free range eggs, speciality sausages, seafood, salsas, preserves, handmade chocolates. We would like to apply to be included in your guide.
Yours sincerely,
Secretary KFM
*Killaloe, and Carlow, and Athy is gearing up, so keep those markets coming.

Dear John and Sally

comments: little do u know [restaurateur's name removed] is a snake and thief. from [name removed]
*We do get all manner of correspondence here in Megabytes, don't we! A snake and a thief, by heaven. Don't reckon [restaurateur's name removed] will be sending [name removed] a Christmas card, then.

Dear John and Sally

Just to say we're both delighted that Megabytes is back - you've been very badly missed! We really enjoy Megabytes and hope that there won't be as big a gap until we receive the next one. Keep up the good work!
From Ann & Gerry, Dublin
*Thanks Ann and Gerry, it's nice to be back.