It took Joyce a lengthy 8 years from starting to write his novel, in 1914, through to getting it published in 1922. Bloomsday is named after the main protagonist in the novel, Leopold Bloom, and focuses on the happenings of Bloom and a number of other characters in the short timeframe from 8am on 16th June 1904, to the early morning hours of the next day. The first ever Bloomsday, in 1954, mainly consisted of two writers, Patrick Kavanagh and Flann O’Brien, visiting the Martello Tower in Sandycove, Davy Byrne’s Pub in the city centre, and 7 Eccles Street, reading parts of Ulysses at each location and enjoying the experience with a few scoops!
Traditional Joyceans get all dressed up depicting their favorite characters from the book, engage in live reenactments and readings of Ulysses throughout the day, and embark on visiting several locations referenced in the novel, most importantly Martello Tower down the road from us here in Sandycove, which houses the James Joyce Tower & Museum.
Whatever you get up to on Thursday, there’ll be no shortage of things to do – from walking tours and Afternoon Teas to a ride on the Bloomsday Bus - dive into some literary heritage, throw on a straw hat, and see where the day takes you!
]]>Foraging can be a great activity for the whole family, getting everyone out and about in the fresh spring air amongst the abundant nature that Ireland has to offer. Despite the obvious health benefits of being active in the great outdoors, wild foods commonly have a number of other health benefits with wild garlic being a great natural source of folic acids and probiotics. It has also been proven that getting down and dirty with soil, be it through gardening or foraging, helps to clear your mind and reduce stress.
Foraging is also a much cheaper and more sustainable way of gathering ingredients when compared to a trip down to the local SuperValu. While gaining access to the freshest produce without the plastic packaging is great, it’s also important to be conscious of an area’s natural resources and to only take what you feel is needed to ensure the local ecosystem is not disrupted.
When it comes to identifying this wild treat, your nose is about as much use as your eyes! The plant is most commonly found in damp wooded areas and has a distinctive white flower (see image) and garlicky smell. The entire plant is edible with the flower often being used as a garnish. Its leaves can be chopped and used to give recipes a subtle garlic kick while its bulbs are used in a similar fashion to your regular garlic clove! Wild garlic is a very popular ingredient in many seasonal meals, sides and dips, including our very own Wild Garlic Pesto recipe.
Other wild foods in season include Wild Nettle, Carrageen Moss & Dillisk Seaweed.
Why not get up off the couch and get your hands dirty this uber-long bank holiday weekend! Great locations to embark on your foraging adventure include our very own Phoenix Park and the Glen of the Downs in Co. Wicklow.
]]>DRESS YOUR TABLE WITH STYLE: finishing touches can make all the difference. Think bright and colourful, from small vases or jam jars of freshly picked flowers down the centre of the table, to setting out the food feast-style so everyone can help themselves. If you're heading for the informal vibe, try putting cutlery and napkins in clean terracotta plant pots and putting fruit cordials in large tapped Kilner Jars decorated with berries and mint leaves. That way everyone can help themselves. Make pretty ice cubes by adding flower petals, foliage or berries to the cubes before freezing.
MOOD LIGHTING: Garland lighting can add a fun and festive feel to any garden and there's lots of choice out there from warm and cosy to bright and cheery. Tea lights in glass jars and large candles in holders all add something special to the scene. Think about using trees to string your lights on or to hang your candles from. Hanging colourful paper pom poms are also big on the list of deccies this year and make a good alternative from the unsustainable plastic of balloons.
FLORALS: seasonal flowers are abundant in summer but don't forget about foliage and herbs to add colour and fragrance.
BE PREPARED: yes we live in Ireland and as such we all know to be prepared! Have a gazebo or awning as back up to keep you sheltered from the drizzle, or the blazing sun, and if you have the budget invest in a fire bowl or fire pit to provide a bit of warmth once the sun goes down.
GUEST COMFORT: Lay out a pile of cushions for comfortable seating and lounging. Having some nice blankets to wrap around your guests when the evening air turns cooler will also be much appreciated.
DON'T FORGET THE TUNES: music is an instant mood lifter so think about getting yourself an outdoor speaker. Bear in mind that everyone's tastes may be different so variety is the spice of life here and the vibe may be different as day moves to night.
All you need to do now is set the date, send the invites, and welcome your guests in style.....And maybe string up a pinata!
]]>It adds a bit of 'umph' to any dish, whether it's served with eggs at brunch, steamed, or roasted to be enjoyed with dinner. The best part about asparagus (apart from the taste), is that it is so simple to prepare. Look for tight buds and a firm stalk.
]]>It adds a bit of 'umph' to any dish, whether it's served with eggs at brunch, steamed, or roasted to be enjoyed with dinner. The best part about asparagus (apart from the taste), is that it is so simple to prepare. Look for tight buds and a firm stalk. Snap the woody part of the stem off, pop it in a roasting dish with some fresh cloves of garlic and a drizzle of olive oil and roast for 15 minutes, and then garnish with shavings of Parmesan; sauté it in some olive oil with lemon zest, lemon juice, flakey sea salt and some cracked black pepper - beautiful with fish; or use it in your favourite vegetable tarts and risottos.
The season for local asparagus is short, so don't hang about if you want to make the most of these pretty little spears. Whatever way you decide to use yours, the manta is 'keep it simple'!
Why not try out our indulgent Asparagus and Pine Nut Risotto recipe? It's heaven on a plate..
Serves 2 | Skill level: Easy
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Bobby is local to our HQ in Glenageary and is a huge fan of our food. He recently gave us a brilliant review on some of the NKAH dishes he had tried, and for the new wing of our business like ours, feedback is everything. Our Boss Lady got the opportunity to explain to Bobby why we have selectively chosen to sell some other Irish suppliers products as well as our very own handmade meals and baked goods range. When we started Naomi's Kitchen At Home, we wanted to offer a boutique emporium for all things 'Deliciously Irish'. Luckily for us, the local producers & makers we contacted were delighted to jump on board to supply us with their array of amazing larder essentials and beautiful gifts. As a small business, we fully understand the importance of supporting local so we thought; why not do it as a team!
It was interesting to go back and think about how this all began. March 2020 seems like a lifetime ago and so much has happened in the last year. There have been so many ups and downs, but you have to take the good with the bad and power through. To look back on everything we've accomplished in the last twelve months during a pandemic is absolutely amazing, and at the end of the day it all comes down to our customers. When we jumped on board with the 'Feed the Heroes' initiative, we never dreamed it would have turned into a whole new business venture for us.
We really look forward to getting back into the event catering side of things and looking after all our long standing loyal regulars, corporates and bridal couples.
Naomi's Kitchen At Home is here to stay and we'll be running the two tasty businesses side by side (wish us luck!) - Full Audio below
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The season is short for this woodland wonder so enjoy it while you can. Easily identifiable by it's pretty spray of white flowers and enticing smell, it's fun to forage for and something the whole family can pitch in with. You can use the flowers to adorn your salads, pasta dishes, vegetable tarts, and the pesto can be drizzled over anything that takes your fancy, including meat and fish or over the top of your favourite pizza. Add a few flower stems to a vase, along with some of your favourite spring florals, and leave it somewhere to be admired!
WILD GARLIC PESTO
Method
Hey Pesto!!
]]>We’ve been working with some of our suppliers for so long, they feel like family. Our buddies at George’s Fish Shop pride themselves on stocking the freshest fish available, plus – as they’re local – we know they share our standards when it comes to quality and sustainability.
The Rogerson family have been selling seafood in Monkstown Farm for over 30 years. In 2010, Graham Rogerson – alongside his sister, Lisa – decided to branch out beyond their grandfather’s wholesaling business by opening George's Fish Shop. With access to a fantastic range of seafood through the wholesale arm of the business, their customers are treated to the freshest of fish daily from all three of their eclectic nautical shops, located in Monkstown Farm, Monkstown Village and Stepaside Village.
They love nothing more than chatting about recipes with their customers, so should you wander through their front door, they will ensure you are never stuck for ideas as to how best to cook your fish.
]]>The days can still be chilly, and we are slowly getting a bit of a stretch in the evenings. Usually, at this time of year, we’d be settled into our winter/spring routines. However – given the comings and goings of various restrictions and the constantly shifting COVID sands – you can rely on us to give you a helping hand. Whether you need some quick meal solutions to feed the hungry hoards, can’t bear the thought of queuing to pull a meal together, or just want a well deserved night off - let us jump in and take the pressure off when you need it most. With a wide variety of meal options available, we have something to suit everyone.
Food Boxes for One, Food Boxes for Two, Family Food Box, The Biscuit Tin, Gift Vouchers. How does it all work? Simply order online for Click & Collect or alternatively get delicious meals delivered to your door. We love meeting our customers, so it’ll give us the opportunity to say ‘hello’, put a face to a name, and have a bit of an auld chat while we help load your order into the car. It’s as easy as pie, so give it a try! (Apologies, we do love a bit of cheese…)
]]>It’s been a bumpy ride since March 2020 .... events have been cancelled and postponed, as everyone tries to figure out how best to host family celebrations with ever-changing restrictions. Office spaces that were once buzzing are now in a state of flux, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. However, surprising things can happen in times of crisis and new ideas can still flourish. Remember Feed The Heroes? We’ll never forget the positivity emanating from that campaign. Our amazing staff and volunteers enthusiastically threw themselves into preparing meals and delivering them daily to hungry, overworked, yet incredibly upbeat frontline workers.
This remarkable initiative was spearheaded by Cian O’Flaherty, and one we were exceptionally proud to be part of. We began envisaging how we at Naomi’s Kitchen could adapt our business in this challenging environment. The solution was born from our loyal customer base, both private and corporate. We learned many customers couldn’t commit to standing in long queues, while almost everyone harboured a deep seated desire to TREAT themselves. So, we took what we’re good at, rebranded it, repackaged it accordingly, and delivered it to people’s front doors. The aim? To provide premium food products – all homemade, slow-cooked, and lovingly prepared by our small team of uniquely talented chefs.
The positive feedback flooded in, and we took the brave step to expand. We’ve always been very passionate about supporting Irish producers, craft-makers and farmers. Now, we’ve invited some of the very best in their field to showcase alongside us on our site. We are thrilled they’ve agreed to be a part of this, and hope you will enjoy browsing through what’s on offer.
While ‘Naomi’s Kitchen At Home’ is a new facet to our expanding business, Naomi’s Kitchen Event Caterers is still beavering away, ready to cater for all those postponed parties, weddings, new office openings, and product launches down the line. In the meantime, we’re living our “new normal”, and will be for some time. With it, we’re looking forward to new beginnings – and bringing a little luxury to your door.
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