http://www.rockcookbook.com Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:14:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en We are all well aware of the great expression of carnivores, "If In Doubt, Wrap It In Bacon. " Well if I may, I would like to evolve that slightly with, "If In Doubt, Smoke It."  This does not involve, the actual physical act of smoking something as you would ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/barrys-tea-smoked-chicken-with-noodles/ Our nation is somewhat economically banjaxed at the moment and any body with half a brain knows that we cannot rely on members of the Dáil to help repair things. One particular group of individuals who go under the name of Hireland, are actively trying to find employers who can afford ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/feel-good-drinking-with-irish-made-cocktails/ If it's got anything at all to do with Burlesque or Cabaret, there is a strong possibility that The Lord KXB is going to want to check it out. His mates and family call him Karl, but to everybody else in Ireland, he is the Grand Puba, the Mac Daddy and Maharishi ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/desmond-oconnors-mushroom-artichoke-strudel/ Taking in a Reggie Watts show, is a live experience, like no other. To begin with, there’s his beatboxing, of which he is an undeniable master of. Then there are the singing skills, where his diverse musical backgrounds allow him to flip from one style to the next with a ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/the-reggie-watts-cheese-toastie/ I have never been ashamed to say, that I've a massive soft spot for sociopathic, tyrannical dictators.  If you're feeling down in the dumps with a wee spot of post bender weekend depression, there is nothing quite so uplifting as chilling out to some smooth crooners while watching one of ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/frank-sanazis-extreme-white-christmas/ Just watched a repeated episode of that twat Nigella Lawson doing her whole "Express Christmas." What a load of deplorable shite that was. There's actually nothing about her that I like, not even her mammary glands that always seem to take pride of place in every show she's made. Her food ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/gee-eyed-for-chrimbo-the-how-to-guide/ There are two major problems with Christmas Pudding. The first being, that 99% of us, think that it's total fucking muck. No matter how much Jameson you lob in there and incinerate it, for me it still tastes like someone found a dead magpie in a ditch and threw it ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/chrimbo-drizzle-cake/ Considering the amount of prison time these lads have chalked up, it’s remarkable that The Trailer Park Boys were granted visas to come back to Ireland. But not only are Ricky, Julian & Bubbles booked in for a triple night stand at The Olympia very soon, they’re bringing along some ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/trailer-park-cuisine-with-ricky-julian-bubbles/ "Drinks are like shoes; you need different ones for different occasions, and when they’re too large you tend to wobble."  Words from the amazing David Wondrich. There is very little this man doesn't know about the auld gargoyle.  He makes a valid point here, different drinks are always required for ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/crab-apple-lavender-jameson-jelly-shots/ Usually when I go to a bed at a festival, my last few moments spent before slumber, involve looking for any one of the following: my whiskey, my mates or my penis. A few hours later I will awake in the back of a van, whereupon, I will instantly go ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/wild-slow-very-fucking-tasty/ INCOMING REALITY ALERT! THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T BE ARSED DEALING WITH MORE DEPRESSING FACTS RIGHT ABOUT NOW, PLEASE GO BACK TO WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING THREE SECONDS AGO: There are certain things that I have been reading about lately, which for me, have gone beyond being plain theories and have ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/stuffed-poblanos-with-cherry-tomato-ancho-salsa/ A midweek quickie folks. Just a wee note to let yez all know that  I will be down at The Wild & Slow Festival at Brook Lodge and Macreddin village this weekend. Incorporating everything from independent traders selling their wild cuisine  to classes on how to harvest and preserve mushrooms, ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/debriefing-and-cocktails-at-brook-lodge/ Should you find yourself alarmed at the sudden amount of mustachioed gentlemen parading the streets of Ireland, be not afraid. It is not an invasion of hipster clones or a mass release of career criminals. We are now in Movember season, whereupon thousands of geezers around the country are growing ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/roysevens-creamy-fusilli-with-chorizo/ I have always held a deep dislike of those who refuse to make a total a tit out of themselves.  And I don't just mean alcohol/drug induced buffoonery.  That doesn't count. I'm talking about the guy who's so uptight that he won't wear a leprechaun hat on Paddy's Day. Or ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/movember-meatballs-in-my-big-fuck-off-peanut-sauce/ Most of my rants are usually tied back to an episode of The Sopranos, such is the limted capacity of my intellect. Halloween always reminds me of a great scene in the first series - the one where Paulie is in the Starbuck's and gives put yards how about Italian ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/happy-hardcore-halloween/ I have just recently returned from NY where I had the great fortune to attend the BarSmarts 5 Day Programme. It is best described as a master's, extreme bootcamp for degenerate lovers of cocktails and spirits. So obviously, I fucking LOVED every minute of it. It ran for 5 days in ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/backstage-cocktails/ Been watching that new BBC telly chef bird a fair bit of late. It took me a few episodes before I really copped on to her whole vibe. And when I did, it was like a million eureka moments at once. "Oh I get it now - she's like really, ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/apple-wild-berry-shortcrust-pie/ It is not always easy to take any positives from the global financial meltdown that we are now in. But if I may, I would definitely say that the decimation of property shows on the telly has got to be a good thing. At one stage not so long ago, ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/crazy-ps-chicken-asparagus-risotto/ This is just a wee mid week update to let yez know all about a wild berry expedition I went on the other day.  Late afternoon Monday to be precise, a couple of miles from Bray - Ed Hick led the way. You know when you go to a Chinese or ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/get-yer-berry-buzz-on-now/ When it comes to cooking,  there are two universal nuggets of advice that you can give to anyone, for pretty much any situation. 1. WHENEVER YOU CAN, SHOVE A LEMON UP IT'S GICKHOLE. 2. IF IN DOUBT, WRAP IT IN BACON. This week's recipe doesn't involve the auld citrus and sheriff's badge ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/bambi-on-a-stick/ Holy fuckballs. The Picnic this year was outSTANDing!  There is a dirty, deep black hole in Stradbally right now - that would be the massive arse that I tore out of it.  Great craic/crack altogether. Musical highlights for me were: The Chemical Bros - proper festival gargantuan tunes. Too many acts are ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/lorraine-dowlings-damson-gin/ It is not very often that a wizened auld urban degenerate such as meself gets told off like a bold little schoolboy. But when I do get a bollicking, I like it to be done as epicly as possible. The last earful I got was over in The Botanic Gardens in ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/stolen-wild-berry-souffle/ Since the dancehall days of the showband era, the Irish have made the humble burger one of their essential gig going eats. Whether falling out of Dickie Rocks concerts, or falling around Feile – burgers and live music go together here like salt and vinegar. And what better place to ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/booking-the-cooks-electric-picnic-theatre-of-food-saturday-6pm/ THE BLACK PIG BLOODY MARY Should you ever find yourself taking the almighty plunge of doing an Irish stay-cation, keep one thing in mind: it will rain like fuck, constantly. There may be lingering shreds of optimism that could lead you to make unnecessary purchases like sun block and beach towels. ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/the-black-pig-bloody-mary/ The journalist Liam Fay recently wrote: "Conrad Gallagher is the Twink of the restaurant world. "  To be fair to both individuals, that's probably the best compliment either of them have ever received. And it's hardly what you could call glaringly positive. Fay was reviewing the TV3 show Celebrity Head Chef ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/vote-for-me-or-twink-gets-it/ There is no point in talking about food with Rockstars unless you can bring up the topic of hangover cuisine. MayKay of Fight Like Apes has an extremely enlightened view on the subject, “Healthy people don't drink, because healthy people won't lower themselves to a true hangover meal.” For the ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/maykays-2-course-dinner/ Throughout the ages, there have been many ways to measure the full extent of one's manliness. For some reason or other, they have usually involved mass murder.  Like how many enemy scalps  could an Apache Warrior muster up on the battlefield. Nepalese fighters used to collect the severed ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/nialler9s-winning-burger-my-classic-daiquiri/ Picture the scene. A very formal annual gala in The Burlington Hotel a couple of months ago for  The Irish Restaurant Association Awards.  There was a particularly nice, 5 course meal laid out. Each of the 5 courses was created and cooked by 5 different chefs who in turn had ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/paul-flynns-bacon-collar/ Mechanics might look at a car part and ask themselves, “How can this new device here make an automobile run better?” Porn stars probably look at sex toys and ponder, “Would this vibrating pink leather whip make my next scene look more kinky?” I often see ingredients on a shelf and think ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/five-wild-irish-cocktails/ There is one question that I like to ask the featured acts for this site which is always guaranteed an amusing response, “What’s the worst thing you can eat before going on stage?” Bressie, the lead singer of The Blizzards who is now on a solo project at present, gave ... http://www.rockcookbook.com/bressies-carne-asada/