BACK TO BASICS Delighted to have my foodie musings published in print again to 30,000 readers of Meath Local News joining the 1000s who already get a free monthly column in the Meath Coaster. #meathlocalnews #meathcoaster #supportlocal #traditional #localmedia #meath #gratitude

STARTERS ORDERS Nothing beats getting off to a good start at a meal and nicely made drinks nibbles will always whet the appetite and they do not have to cost much. facebook.com/share/fWJTuygB… #canapes #amusebouches #meathchronicle #impresstheguests

TOILET TROUBLE AHEAD Our modern diet is putting a spanner in our bodily plumbing works and we will forever be sitting it out unless we change our eating habits. meadesmenu.com/post/push-hour #diet #healthyeating #digestion #meathchronicle #HSE #lifestyle

START ME UP Salads for starters do not have to be difficult, just a few fresh and tasty ingredients will light up your first course. facebook.com/share/p/Q96c6G… #saladtime #meathchronicle #easyrecipe #summer #italianstyle #healthyfood

FRENCH FARM FEAST We do not forget foodie moments that impacted our lives and one memorable midnight meal many moons ago was the special one for me. meadesmenu.blogspot.com/2024/07/vast-s… #nostalgia #frenchfood #meathchronicle #bestmeal #influence #inspiration #homecooking #proustianmoment

SUNDAY MUNCH The sunday lunch at home is disappearing but it does not have to or be so stressful to pull off. Keeping it small and simple is the key. facebook.com/share/GjCkx1Po… #sundaylunch #tradition #meathchronicle #keepitsimple #homecooking #roastchicken

SAMMY SAMBOS Sometimes a simple sandwich does the trick and these beauties served at Sammy's cafe on Inch Beach measured up just fine. facebook.com/share/p/i1y87Y… #inchbeach #sammyscafekerry #goodfood #kerrytourism #dinglepeninsula #sceniccafe

WAITING TIME Food needs time to be enjoyed and not just in preparation and cooking but in waiting for ingredients to be actually ready to use. meadesmenu.blogspot.com/2024/07/fresh-… #notsofreshfood #meathchronicle #agingprocess #bestbeforeandafter #maturing

SUMMER STUNNER Summer season gives us so much juicy fruit that they need very little done to them to make a sweet sensation. facebook.com/share/p/QJHoEN… #clafoutis #summerdessert #freshfruit #meathchronicle #frenchfood #homebaking

MAKE IT VEAL Veal certainly has its critics and rightly so but its also one of the tastiest meats when produced ethically. It also needs very little doing to it when there is so much flavour. facebook.com/share/4UexPfDC… #veal #favouritemeat #meathchronicle #frenchcuisine

MANNERS MATTER It is only when you eat around a foreign table that you learn how dining customs differ so widely. I have had a lot of embarrassing lessons over the decades. facebook.com/share/p/TZXtNn… #diningetiquette #meathchronicle #wheninrome #tradition

FLYIN THE FOODIE FLAG If right next door to a prominent heritage tourism site like Kilmainham Gaol then good food and drink is a given and this place takes no prisoners. facebook.com/share/p/jqKq6T… #patriotsinn #kilmainhamgaol #goodfood #visitdublin #heritagepub #irishhistory

SIMPLY SEAFOOD Fish cookery gets coated in mystery and mastery but it can be as simple as you like when you get down to the bare bones of it so take the plunge and discover new depths of food. facebook.com/share/p/skRRaW… #seafood #meathchronicle #fishdish #homecooking #healthyeating

GOOD FOR THE GOOSE Its a two way street when it comes to food industry scams but servers must not pay the price for brazen diners doing a runner. facebook.com/share/p/8qXK4s… #meathchronicle #restaurantscams #CorrigansFood #payyourbill #cheekycustomers #itsacrime

LIFE'S A PEACH It has to be one of the most delicious summer fruits and so good to eat just on its own but it is also very versatile for many other recipes. facebook.com/share/p/8xbAsu… #peaches #summerseason #meathchronicle #homecooking #seasonality #peachmelba #dessert

PIE TYPE OF COOKING Some classic dishes never go out of fashion and this french style chicken, spinach and mushroom pie is easier than it looks to make. facebook.com/share/p/qcL9Jr… #pithivier #frenchcuisine #meathchronicle #irishchicken #chickenpie #homecooking

A CARVE UP These days you do not see many hosts cutting up the joint for guests at the dinner table but in the past it was very much the classy done thing with plenty of rules too. facebook.com/share/p/dtLDHr… #carving #tradition #dinnerpartychallenge #meathchronicle #knifeskills

MISTER CRUNCH You cannot beat a well dressed sandwich and the french croque monsieur is as stylish as they come, less is definitely more. facebook.com/share/Z5PdEBH5… #croquemonsieur #frenchtoastie #meathchronicle #poshnosh #sambo

BERRY NICE TREAT Some desserts really are simpler than they look and as a fitting finale to the berry season it does not get easier than the 3 ingredients summer pudding. facebook.com/share/p/YQ8LtJ… #summerpudding #somethingfortheweekend #meathchronicle #easydessert #softberries

WHO WOULD HAVE DUNK IT The irony is not lost that centuries of trial and error went into making biscuits hard and crunchy then we just go and dip them in our hot tea. facebook.com/share/p/eSXXWT… #biscuits #historyoffood #meathchronicle #tradition #teatime