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Next meeting of GIY (Grow It Yourself) Thurles will be held on Thursday next, March 11th, at 7.00pm in the Thurles Library building, The Source, Cathedral Street, Thurles.
As we have now officially entered into Spring, it’s time to start thinking again about growing our own vegetables.
With St Patrick ’s Day approaching fast, don’t forget to set your early potatoes.
 Tipperary Organic Food The GIY networks team aim to take the ’self’ out of ’self-sufficiency’ by getting garden growers together on a regular basis to chat and learn the tips of the trade from one another.
Note: The meetings are free and open to people interested in food production at all levels, e.g. from growing a few herbs on the balcony to complete self-sufficiency for beginners as well as old hands.
For more information on the GIY Network visit www.giyireland.com
And talking about healthy food, congratulations to “Omega Beef Direct“ in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who won an environmental award for its sustainable farming and production methods.
Joe and Eileen Condon’s organic farm is close to the Knockmealdown mountains here in Co Tipperary and they scooped their top prize in this years annual food awards presented by the Irish Food Writers Guild, Dublin.
This is the 16th year of the awards, which seek to promote the highest quality of produce, and craftsmanship.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have announced that it is now providing a new free email and SMS text service which will directly inform food allergy sufferers of the presence of allergens in inappropriately labelled foods. Anyone with an interest in this area can now subscribe to this email service here (Click on the Food Allergen Alerts Box before submitting.) to receive these alerts via the FSAI’s website.
 Food allergen alerts will be issued by the FSAI upon receipt of information that a food product poses a risk to certain consumers’ health, due to missing or incorrect allergen labelling.
Food allergen alerts will also be issued to enforcement officers and food businesses. This service has been available since January 26th 2010.
Professor Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI, stated:
“The ultimate objective of this new notification system is to prevent people who have an established food allergy from purchasing or consuming a food product which may be detrimental to their health. We are also calling on all food manufacturers and processors to regularly review the composition of their final product and ensure that the presence of an allergen is clearly visible on the food label.”
By law, the food manufacturer must also clearly indicate on the label, the name of the ingredient from which the allergen originates.
Mitchel House Restaurant, Mitchel Street, Thurles, is the first Tipperary restaurant to introduce a Tapas Menu .
 Tapas Menu At Mitchel House. The word “Tapas” is derived from the Spanish verb tapar meaning “to cover”. Indeed the word “Tapa” in Spanish means “lid” or “cover”.
There are possibly several explanations for why it has come to denote a type of food:-
• A commonly cited explanation is that an item, be it bread or a flat card, etc., would often be placed on top of a drink to protect it from fruit flies; at some point it became a habit to top this “cover” with a snack.
• It is also commonly said that since one would be standing while eating a tapa in traditional Spanish bars, they would need to place their plates on top of their drinks in order to eat, making it a top.
• Another popular explanation says that the King Alfonso XII stopped by a famous venta (inn) in Cádiz (Andalusian city) where he ordered a cup of sherry. The waiter covered the glass with a slice of cured ham before offering it to the king, to protect the wine from the blowing beach sand, as Cádiz is a windy place. The king, after drinking the wine and eating the tapa, ordered another sherry “with the cover.”
How Best To Partake Of The Tapas Menu At Mitchel House
First piece of advice I will offer is to use a simple approach and order what you want when you want it.
If you are a party of four persons, the most popular way is to order four different dishes to have placed on your table for all to taste and share. Consumers of tapas food are usually people who enjoy good food and wine combined with good conversation in a relaxed unhurried atmosphere and like to try out new dishes. You may then follow with individual dishes for a 2nd or indeed 3rd course and also remember you can always order your dessert from their vast à la carte dessert menu.
Included on the Traditional Tapas Menu at Mitchel House are:-
Patatas Bravas. (Deep fried Potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and garlic mayonnaise.)
Mejillones a la Marinera. (Steamed Mussels with garlic white wine sauce topped with cream.)
Albondigas. (Spanish style meatballs (100% Irish Beef) in a tomato sauce. My personal favourite.)
Pollo al Ajillo. (Roasted Chicken wings in Caramelized garlic, olive oil and herbs.)
Chorizo Castellana. (Hot spicy Spanish sausages with crab apple jelly.)
Ensalada. (Mixed salad with toasted pine nuts, tomatoes, apricots and Cashel blue cheese.)
Mitchel House also offer their own style Tapas food which includes:-
Crab Meat, Sweetcorn and Rice Cakes served with tomato mayonnaise.
Grilled Marinated Beef served with rocket salad and Parmesan cheese.
Fresh Cod in a beer batter with tartare sauce.
Chicken and Wild Mushroom Terrine with marinated red onions.
Portobello Mushrooms with garlic, onion and smoked cheese.
All of the above dishes come keenly priced at just between €6.00 and €7.50 per portion.
Tapas food without wine is like an egg without salt and Mitchel House boasts the finest stocked wine cellar in Tipperary. Try their Moscato Passito (Denominazione Di Origine Controllata.) So its Italian and not Spanish, who cares, it’s just so perfect with mature cheese dishes or any dessert.
Give it a try and remember reservations for the Mitchel House Restaurant can be booked by:-
Phone: 0504-90776
E-Mail Here: mitchelhouse@eircom.net
 Bonsoy Soya Milk The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today advised that a product recall is being undertaken on a soya drink called ‘Bonsoy’, which has been found to contain high levels of iodine, which can affect the function of the thyroid gland and may cause some people to feel unwell.
The product is available from Health Food Shops and cafés, the latter which uses the product in the production of Latte (from the Italian caffelatte, meaning “coffee and milk”).
The authority was alerted after nine people, aged between 29 and 47, and an infant child, reported feeling unwell after using the brand. One of the victims, a newborn infant became ill due to its mother drank Bonsoy Soy Milk during her pregnancy.
Consumers are being warned not to consume the affected Bonsoy product, manufactured by Muso Co. Ltd , distributed by Spiral Foods Ltd, which is packaged in 1 litre tetra pack containers.
Testing found drinking just one-eighth of a cup of Bonsoy, which is imported from Japan, would exceed the daily safety limit of 1,100 micrograms. A healthy daily iodine intake is about 80-150 micrograms for adults.
Following a withdrawal of the product by the food safety authorities in Australia and New Zealand, the FSAI is currently in the process of contacting Irish distributors and suppliers of Bonsoy to ensure that all affected product is withdrawn from sale. The FSAI is continuing to monitor this withdrawal.
Bonsoy soya drink contains ‘Kombu’ which is a seaweed product that naturally contains iodine. Iodine is an essential element required to produce thyroid hormones. However, if consumption levels exceed tolerable daily intakes, the thyroid function may be affected.
Consumers who have the affected product are advised not to drink it and to dispose of it or return it to the store where it was purchased. Consumers who have already consumed this product over a prolonged period and who thinks they may be affected are urged to consult their doctor for medical advice.
The recalled product is described as follows:- Bonsoy Soy Milk, 1 litre: All dates up to and including Best Before 03.11.11; APN/EAN/TUN Number 9312336049037.
The product claimed to slow the aging process and help prevent arteriosclerosis, to lower cholesterol levels, prevent fatty liver, prevent breast cancer and prostate cancer and strengthens bones, while moderating the symptoms of menopausal disorder caused from a decrease of female hormones.
 Mitchel House Restaurant Mitchel House Restaurant have just announced their new outdoor catering menu “Food To Go” just in time for the Christmas party season.
This new service is ideal for entertaining at home whatever the occasion.
So if you are planning a Family Surprise, a Christening Party, a Barbecue for friends, a Wedding, a Confirmation or First Holy Communion celebration, or indeed any spur of the moment gathering, from the privacy and comfort of your own home, Mitchel House can now provide you with superb cuisine assistance, totally hassle-free.
This service will removes all the associated stress from your planning, thus allowing you time to enjoy your party and take all the credit normally accruing to every good Host and Hostess.
Note: For all orders please give minimum notice of at least 48 Hours to allow the restaurant ensure they can completely tailor fit your event or function to your own very special requirements.
Please feel free to contact Mitchel House to discuss more elaborate menus which can also be easily arranged to suit your every need.
Party To Go can be contacted at TEL: 0504 90776 or call into Mitchel House, Mitchel Street , Thurles or Café Mitchel, Slievenamon Road, Thurles and allow your catering problems to become theirs.
For full details and pricing range why not log on and download their menu here. www.mitchelhouse.ie/media/files/partytogo.pdf
Euro-toques Ireland is the Irish branch of the European Community of Chefs and Cooks and two of the five Euro-toques food awards went to farmers in the Tipperary area who had added value to their produce.
 The Apple Farm
The Apple Farm, Moorstown, Cahir, Co Tipperary, received an award for its range of apple and fruit varieties, juices and fruit produce.
The Traas family moved from the Netherlands to Ireland in the late 1960’s to grow fruit. The family had been growing fruit in Holland since the 1800’s, but because it was difficult to find new land suitable for fruit-growing, Willem and Ali Traas decided to make a move to Ireland.
The range of produce on sale at the farm is quite diverse with 60 varieties of apples of which about 15 types are available in the farm shop. Four varieties of strawberries, three of raspberry, four of cherry, three types of plums, and two of pears, compliment the range in the farm shop. Some of the farms strawberries are available as pick-your-own each summer.
Drumeen Organic Farm near Urlingford, on the Tipperary border was recognised for its Happy Heart organic rapeseed oil.
 Drumeen Farm Kitty Colchester began producing the oil on her parent’s, Ben and Charlotte’s organic farm earlier this year. The Colchesters have a 200 acre organic holding with Angus cattle, sheep, poultry, turkeys, honey and some forestry.
They also grow their own feed, which is where the idea for the Happy Heart Oil originated. Having done some research into the nutritional benefits of rapeseed oil, Kitty started pressing, labelling and bottling earlier this year.
The product retails at between €5.50 and €6.00 for a 500ml container.
Speaking at the awards, Euro-toques Commissioner General Feargal O’Donnell urged the Irish Government to provide a safety net for small food producers. He said regulatory requirements and compliance costs were making many businesses uncompetitive and were a deterrent to the setting up of new food enterprises.
Minister for Food Trevor Sargent told the awards ceremony that he would continue to promote the cause of the local producer, and also a fair distribution of rewards, placing the protection of our environment and our long term food supply at the heart of all policy decisions.
Colcannon, translated from the Irish words cál ceannann, meaning “white headed cabbage” is a traditional Thurles dish made from mashed potatoes and cabbage. It is interesting to note that in Holland a similar dish exists called ‘Stamppot Boerenkol’ made from potatoes and kale mashed together.
Irish people will eat this very traditional Irish dish over the Halloween three-day bank holiday weekend that coincides with the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain (pronounced “sowan”). So popular is colcannon that a song was written about it, sung here by popular Tipperary singer Nora Fogarty in true Irish Sean-Nós (old style) style and which can be found on her current album ” One Star Awake”
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Ingredients:
 2.5 lbs of floury potatoes
1 small head of green cabbage
Note: In Ireland Stinging Nettles were used in early Spring when cabbage was scarce. Stinging Nettle are both nutritious and delicious having a flavour similar to spinach when cooked and are rich in vitamins A, C, D, iron, potassium, manganese and calcium.
1 cup milk
1/2 stick butter
Salt and pepper to taste.
One finely chopped green onion can also be added for taste, but not essential.
Method:
1. Scrub potatoes and leave skins on. Place in cold water with a generous pinch of salt, cover and bring to a boil.
2. When the potatoes are about half cooked, which takes approximately 15 minutes, strain off two thirds of the water. Then replace the lid and allow the potatoes to steam until they are cooked using a gentler heat.
3. Discard the outer dark outer leaves of the cabbage. Wash the rest and cut into quarters; remove the centre core and slice finely across the grain.
Cook in a little boiling salted water until soft. Drain, then season with salt and pepper and add the butter.
4. When the potatoes are fully cooked, put the cup of milk into saucepan and bring to the boil. At this stage add your green onion if you so wish. Peel the skins off the potatoes, mash quickly and beat in enough of the hot milk and onion to make a fluffy purée.
5. Stir in the cooked cabbage and taste for seasoning.
6. Serve on a hot dish and make a well in the center to add butter additional butter.
Note: Colcannon at Halloween used to contain a plain gold ring, a sixpence, a thimble or button. Finding the ring meant marriage within the year for the person who found it, the sixpence meant wealth, the thimble spinsterhood and the button bachelorhood. Today, however many Irish mother’s simply wrap one or two large washed coins in heat-proof paper and hide them in the dish.
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