They describe themselves as follows:

Juniors is a New York style Deli, serving generous sandwiches, salads, soups and specials by day, and an Italian influenced Cafe by night.

I’ve not had the pleasure of eating there in the evening but if the popularity and taste of their soup and sandwiches are anything to go by then I bet I’d walk away well satisfied from a dinner.

I’ve only eaten there at lunch time. The first occasion I confined myself to the char-grilled chicken sandwich and the spicy tomato soup. The second ocasion I stayed with the chicken sandwich theme but this time I had it with salad.

You might think that at €6 the sandwiches are pricey, but this is definitely a case of you get what you pay for. I defy anybody to walk away from a Juniors sandwich feeling hungry.

They do a roaring take-away trade but if you want to sit inside then you should get there early as this place is very popular with the local office staff.

As I said the first time I was there I had a soup and a sandwich for a tenner. Yes it’s a big lunch but I had just walked there from Terenure!

I was visiting my Mam and normally I take the public transport combination of a DART to Tara, followed by a 15A to Terenure Road West. The return journey is usually the reverse unless I have to take care of something in town.

This time, inspired by a conversation I had with a fellow Jazz fan in JJ Smyth’s, I decided to walk along the Dodder to Lansdowne or Grand Canal stations and take the DART home. It seemed like a great idea. I had the time, the weather was overcast but dry and it was a chance for a bit of exercise along a really nice route.

Starting from near the KCR, I walked into Terenure Village and joined the Dodder as it crosses Rathfarnham Road. Following the Dodder away from Bushy Park you pass plenty of weirs, millraces, bridges and some more unusual structures like the Ely Gate (once an entrance to Rathfarnham Castle), the former grazing ground for the Bewley’s Cafe Jersey cows (near Mount Carmel Hospital), the Nine Arches Bridge (Milltown) and the tall chimney which was once part of the Milltown Laundry.

Before long you find yourself passing through, Rathfarnham, Churchtown, Dartry, Milltown, Clonskeagh, Donnybrook and on through Herbert Park to Ballsbridge.

It’s a great walk, probably best on dry days. You can understand why I was feeling peckish when I reached Juniors.

This walk, along with many other Dublin walks, is described in detail in the book Walking Dublin by Pat Liddy.

So how was it I was in Juniors a second time? Well the reason this time is a lot less energetic. I was at the National Crafts and Design Fair in the RDS and since I was only a short stroll away once again Juniors seemed the perfect place for lunch.

The annual Craft and Design Fair can be a good place to pick up some inspired Christmas gifts and once again it didn’t disappoint.

There were some fantastic skills on show in the RDS including clothing, jewellery, wood turning, photography, pottery, games, books and of course food.

The highlights for me were the photographs of Michael Gannon who just seemed to capture light and colour perfectly in all his images and the most unusual handcrafted jewellery and gifts on display from May Fly of 11 Fownes St Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Unfortunately the fair ends today but perhaps you still have time. Note there is a charge (€10 I think) to enter.

Post from: Blog Of Good Cheer

Great Food, a Wonderful Walk and Some Unusual Gift Ideas in Dublin

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It was a bit wet. No, I take that back, it rained for the entire weekend.

But we had great craic. It takes more than incessant rain to dampen our spirits.

There was no shortage of highlights.

Among them were:

• The meal in a local restaurant on our first night
• Seeing a pair of cormorants relaxing on a boat in the harbour
• Chasing chestnuts in the woods nearby
• Playing crazy-golf in the pouring rain!
• A couple of scrummy pints in French’s, Gorey

But by far the biggest highlight was on the second night when John cooked chilli con carne.

Those who can cook, and sometimes those who can’t, often have a go at chilli con carne. It’s rare that the result can’t be eaten and enjoyed. But this version from John was sensational.

He served it with cheddar cheese, sliced tomatoes, sour cream, and tortilla wraps – “you have to have the trimmings”, he insisted.

If there’s a secret ingredient it’s got to be the cocoa powder. Just a teaspoon as too much will overpower the dish.

I know it’s not haute cuisine but it was fantastic.

Imagine the scene – everybody sting around the table, chatting, getting stuck in to one the very best forms of comfort food, helping themselves to whatever extras they need to make the perfect wrap.

Throw in a buidéal or two of vino rosso and you’re sorted.

John has kindly shared the recipe below. If you give it a go let me know how you get on.

Enjoy!

Chilli Con Carne

Ingredients:

2 medium sized onions
2 tablespoons oil
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
450g (1lb) lean minced beef ( I use 1 Long Tray of Mince )
2-3 level teaspoons chilli powder
1 level teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons tomato puree
150 ml (1/4 pt) water
1 chicken stock cube
1 tablespoon chutney
50g (2 oz) raisins or sultanas
1 tin red kidney beans, drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Fry the onions in the oil until soft and add in the garlic. Next add in the minced beef (in two lots) and fry, breaking up the lumps, until well browned all over. Tilt the pot to one side to allow the excess fat (if any) to run down, spoon it off. Transfer the meat to a saucepan.

Add all the remaining ingredients to the pot. The cocoa gives a subtle colour and flavour to the dish.

Bring the pot to the boil, stirring frequently. Cover with a lid and simmer very gently for about 30-40 minutes. This dish is good to eat immediately but, it is far better if left overnight.

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Chilli in Courtown, County Wexford

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Dark, grey skies dominate and I think a blue sky makes a brief appearance over Camaderry in just one image.

The wind was so strong that the upper lake looked like a sea, with wave after wave being driven toward the lakeshore.

But there’s something very special about all these photos. They were taken at key interest points in Glendalough and there wasn’t a tourist to be seen. They were all taken before 10am last Sunday. The tourist buses started rolling into the car parks a little after that and I was pleased to see so many foreign travellers eager to explore Glendalough and its many walks.

I’d been a bit lazy.

Four of us had planned to go walking on Saturday, and possibly again on Sunday. But colds and heavy rain helped us change our minds, and instead of arriving early on Saturday we decided to turn our night away into a more easy-going weekend.

We were delighted with the accommodation we selected. Heather House B&B, a stone’s throw from the Wicklow Heather Restaurant was a wonderful find. We had a choice of staying in the house itself or the apartments and we went for the apartments, with their lovely garden and fantastic view.

Breakfasts, very tasty and very satisfying,  were served in the Wicklow Heather Restaurant and considering an apartment was €75 per night we all felt we got great value for money.

The rain never really stopped, and as I said before instead of our plan to walk for 3 to 4 hours we relaxed, had a few pints in Lynham’s, chatted and laughed at our laziness, and generally chilled.

We let the rain fall as much as it wanted and we ensured we still had a wonderful break.

I suppose having Glendalough to ourselves as we strolled around early on Sunday morning was certainly a joy. Not having to get up too early to be there before the crowds was a definite plus.

But I really think the Wicklow Heather Restaurant was the highlight. The restaurant is so well run that you almost think the waiters and waitresses can read your mind.

But service is one aspect of a good restaurant and if the quality of the food isn’t up there, they’re not going to shine.

The food was fantastic.

For my starter I went for their confit of duck with Clonakilty black pudding and a poached hen egg and mustard hollandaise. It was scrummy. The wild venison that followed  - pan-fried, cooked medium, with braised red cabbage served with a wild mushroom, juniper and redcurrant jus – was tender, full of flavour and not overly gamey; just perfect.

Other starters that went down well were the crayfish and prawns sautéed in olive oil with garlic, chilli and spring onion. And for mains the lamb (we were in Wicklow after all) and the steak were spot-on.

Believe it or not we found room to share some very tempting desserts.

With Glendalough itself, plenty of walking trails and off-trail walks, wonderful drives over the Wicklow Gap and Sally Gap, and plenty of family activities in the Wicklow Mountains National Park – this whole area is perfect for exploration.

The fact that you can overnight in accommodation as excellent and as good value as Heather House B&B, and eat a well earned and wonderful meal in Wicklow Heather  Restaurant, just adds to the attraction.

We took our time over our meal – started early and finished late. We probably pushed the boat out a little but it was a birthday celebration. Four starters, four main courses, two desserts, three bottles of wine and a brandy all came to less than €220.

We had no hesitation leaving a tip for wonderful food and excellent service.

We’ll be back soon.

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Rain Didn’t Stop Play in Wicklow

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I like my scones crusty (perhaps almost crunchy) on the outside, generous of fruit and crumbly on the inside. Not so crumbly that it’s impossible to spread butter and/or jam, but definitely crumbly. That’s not a lot to ask really. I’ve been reliably informed that you’ll get that if the scones are based on butter.

The crumbliest scones I know can be found in Kay’s Kitchen on the first floor of the Donaghmede Shopping Centre. If you like them with coffee then I recommend asking for an Americano with an extra shot to wash the scone down. These scones are super crumbly and big – have one for breakfast and you won’t want to eat again until its well past lunchtime.

Bay restaurant in Clontarf is another scone paradise. A cup of black coffee (no special instructions required here) and fruit scone sitting outside looking across Dublin Bay is an absolute treat. They serve them with butter, jam (their own I think) and cream so you can easily build a scone based tower to your own specifications.

For variety alone, scone heaven has to be Keogh’s on Trinity Street in the centre of Dublin. If I’m in town I often gone out of my way to drop into Keogh’s have a scone and a coffee there.  I’ve only had coffee from the filter jug which is OK (I’ll have to try an Americano with an extra shot sometime) but the scones are great. They are so good my Mam likes them, although she tends to prefer a plain version.

But that’s the great thing about Keogh’s; you can get scones of all different types on a daily basis. The last time I was there I could have had raisin, plum and almond, pear and vanilla, strawberry, cherry and almond, brown, brown raisin and cinnamon, plain and lemon and that doesn’t include the muffin options. I don’t think I’ve listed all of them, I’ve certainly not tried all of them, but the ones I have tasted have been great.

You can’t miss Keogh’s. It’s on Trinity St. opposite the Bankers Pub, on the left hand side as you approach from Dame Street. If you stop a moment before you enter the shop you’ll see a most unusual character tucking into an ice-cream cone. Considering all the flavours they have on offer I think you’re bound to find something you’ll like even if a fruit scone isn’t your cup of tea.

Enjoy!

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A Scone Again, Naturally!

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I used to visit there quite a bit, at least once every two months, now if I get down once every few years I think I’m lucky.

This year we made our pilgrimage in July. Theoretically it was the height of the Irish summer. I’m not sure if there is any month in Ireland where you shouldn’t need to be prepared for rain and mid-July this year was no different. On travelling down we saw hundreds of young foreign students milling around Kilkenny Castle but on the way back they were huddled under whatever shelter they could get.

But bad weather does not make a bad holiday, you just have to adapt. In fact using the term “bad weather” probably should be banned as unless we’re talking about tornados, hurricanes or floods, all weather is intrinsically good.

After the initial reminder of what sunshine is all about we had waves upon waves of misty, drizzly rain blown in from the sea. I was hoping to take a pile of photographs that I could use in this post but rain is the enemy of digital cameras and so it rarely came out of the bag.

There were lots of reasons why we headed down that weekend. But the main reason was we wanted to eat in The Tannery. We were celebrating a birthday and we could think of no other restaurant that better fitted the bill.

The Tannery is run by Paul and Máire Flynn. The restaurant, where Paul is head chef, was opened in 1997 and since then they’ve added The Tannery Townhouse and a Cookery School.

Every now and then I like to eat in a really good restaurant and if The Tannery was in Dublin I think when that feeling hits me I’d eat nowhere else. On this occasion, pretty much like every other occasion I’ve eaten there, the food was delicious, the service was wonderful (attentive but not overbearing) and the whole experience was delightful. I’ve written before that I’m not a food critic and I’m not going to attempt to be one now. All I’ll say is that I’ve been lucky enough to eat in The Tannery at least ten times since it opened and I’ve always left feeling that it was the right decision to go there. If you like your food and are willing to push the boat out a little then I recommend you take a trip to Dungarvan and sample Paul Flynn’s “rustic and earthy cooking with a few whimsical twists”.

I did take some photographs. You can see the town, the harbour, a few pubs (my favourites being Downey’s and The Lady Belle), some cloudy blue skies and that grey misty rain.

We stayed for two nights and decided to head for Lismore via Villierstown on the Sunday. Still thinking about food we intended having lunch in a restaurant we’d never tried before. We were aiming for the O’Brien Chop House, a relatively new restaurant that was open only a year. I guess this wasn’t a birthday celebration, more of a birthday weekend.

On the way we passed the Dromana Gate (the Hindu-Gothic Gate Lodge on the road to Villierstown was built around 1830 to mark the marriage of Henry Villiers-Stuart and Teresia Pauline Ott in 1826), a wonderful view of Lismore Castle (a bit grey on grey I admit) and some very contented geese.

The town of Lismore is well worth a visit. The castle and the Blackwater are the first things that greet you if you enter from the Cappoquin side. It’s always struck me as being a picture postcard town with plenty of places to eat or have a pint. There’s plenty of historical interest too with Lismore Castle, St Carthage’s Cathedral and a Walter Raleigh connection.

Lunch in O’Brien Chop House was top class and the next time I’m in the area I’ll make a point of eating there again. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant and outer bar area. In fact after we had a walk around the town we came back for a coffee.

After that we headed back to Dungarvan the long way, following the Blackwater River near to Yaughal and on to Ardmore. The rain was never far away.

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A Foodie Weekend in Dungarvan and Lismore, County Waterford

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We got there around 10am just a little before the breakfast rush ended. Within about 10 minutes we had the place practically to ourselves.

We were there for over an hour catching up and drinking really creamy cappuccinos.

Our Barista got creative and impressed us by indulging in some coffee art. I took some photos of the happiest cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

It seemed a shame to upset his good work by drinking the coffee, but after tasting it seemed a shame not to have another!

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The Art of Good Coffee

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Even in my most pretentious moments (and those that know me would probably say I’ve more than anybody’s fair share of those) I wouldn’t claim to have a palate than can discern the subtleties in every dish I taste.

That doesn’t stop me enjoying food and the opportunities to meet up with family or friends over a coffee or even lunch.

I suspect I’m no different to most people in that I’ve a few favourite haunts I like to go to. Some are better for coffee than others, some are perfect quick tasty lunches and some straddle that sea between long lunch and dinner.

Although the list of favourites changes over time they usually tick the following boxes:

• good food
• good service
• good value
• good atmosphere
• friendly staff

Chef’s change, menus change, staff changes, but that doesn’t mean that any of these qualities should change.

Dublin is a major city and there are no shortages of good places to eat or grab a coffee. It doesn’t take long to build up a list of favourite spots and it’s great if these places never fail to deliver. If they consistently manage to tick all the boxes (or perhaps occasionally miss just one of them) a restaurant can built up a regular and devoted army of customers in no time at all.

[Warning: Entering a pretentious zone...]

Before going further with this post I should let you know that I don’t really like to “grab a coffee”.

I prefer to sit down and enjoy a good cup of coffee when I’m not in a rush. I like to taste it and enjoy it.

I believe in the Italian three C’s of coffee: carico, caldo, comodo.

The translation is strong (think full of flavour), hot and convenient (when you really have the time).

[...leaving pretentious zone.]

My favourite places to relax with a good cup of coffee are The Bald Barista at 55 Aungier Street and Third Floor Espresso at 54 Middle Abbey Street.

I have been to the Third Floor Espresso more often than The Bald Barista. That isn’t because I have a strong preference for one over the other it’s just that I tend to pass Abbey Street more often than Aungier Street. But I’ve been known to drag people, not quite kicking and screaming, over to The Bald Barista for what I think is a damn fine cup of coffee.

I wouldn’t describe either coffee shop as being luxurious. But I like them and I’ve had many a long conversation in both drinking more coffee than is probably good for me.

My favourite eateries at the moment are (in no particular order):

• Queen of Tarts on Cows Lane, Dublin 2
• The Cake Café at The Daintree Building, Pleasants Place, Dublin 2
• Just Off Francis at 78 Thomas Street, Dublin 8
• Green Nineteen at 19 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
• McHugh’s at 59 St. Assam’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5
• Ten Fourteen at 324 Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3
• The House at 4 Main Street, Howth

My experience is they all do variations of a similar theme; good food and good service at reasonable prices.

I don’t eat out a lot; I couldn’t afford to do that. So when I do go out for that treat I like to be reasonably confident I’m going to get something tasty that won’t break the bank.

Having said that my favourite right now is The House in Howth. That’s where I’d go if I was pushing the boat out and it was a special occasion. It’s the one that would put the biggest hole in my wallet, but the food, the service the atmosphere has always been excellent any time I’ve been.

For a tasty lunch/brunch or early evening meal you could do a lot worse than Queen of Tarts, The Cake Café or Green Nineteen. They’re all near the city centre, very walk-able, cycle-able or bus-able. The Cake Café web site says it’s “leafy courtyard is an oasis of calm in this busy area of the city”. That’s exactly how it felt to me.

Ten Fourteen is owned by CASA, a voluntary organisation who says their goal is develop friendships and social outlets for people with disabilities through a variety of social activities. I’m not aware of any other restaurant in Dublin that is owned by a charity. I’m not sure if many of the people who eat there regularly know its charitable status. My guess is that most people who eat there do so because the food is very good. Sitting outside on a sunny day opposite the wooden bridge that links Clontarf to Bull Island with a coffee and scone (they do great scones) is blissful.

I’ve eaten the best ham panini ever in McHugh’s opposite The Cedars in Raheny. It’s run by the same family that have one of the best off-licences in Dublin, also called McHugh’s.  McHugh’s Off-Licence seems to win the “beer specialist” award practically every year so it’s no surprise that the restaurant has a really good beer selection.

Finally I want to mention Just Off Francis. I’ve only been in it once and the occasion was just before going to a concert in Vicar St. We didn’t want to go to a pub and P spotted a few free tables inside as we passed by.  They were getting ready for dinner but they kindly allowed us to stop for a cup of coffee as the rush had not started yet. We had a lovely half hour, chatting away, with some excellent fruit crumble and coffee (I do like tea too, honest), as So Far , the 1974 album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young played in the background. As we left for our concert there wasn’t a free table left.

I deliberately didn’t attempt to describe what I’ve eaten at the places I’ve mentioned. There are a few reasons for that. As I said earlier I’m not a food critic and I don’t want to go down the route of describing the food in detail. Secondly, I suppose I prefer eating a nice meal than talking about it. Finally, although food is an important part of the equation you need more than just good food to ensure a worthwhile and satisfying experience.

If you haven’t tried these places and you fancy somewhere different, give them a shot. You might discover a new favourite of your own.

And to finish off, since I’m taking about favourites, here is John Coltrane to play us out. I hope you like his version of My Favorite Things.

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Dinner, Lunch or Coffee in Dublin – These are a Few of my Favourites

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That doesn’t mean that I’ve anything against Murphy Blacks or The Strand. They both served up excellent food while I was in Kilkee and once again they are run very friendly people.

I suppose what swings it for Naughton’s is that it was lively. Sometimes if you’ve had a long day out and about exploring a bit of life in a restaurant can make the difference between falling asleep or getting a second wind.

Here’s a tip. If you want a lively bar atmosphere head to Naughton’s, if you want excellent food and a  good wine selection head to Murphy Blacks, and if you want to enjoy a great food and see the sun setting in the Atlantic head to The Strand Restaurant.

And here’s another tip. Stay in Kilkee for four nights and eat in all of these restaurants once, and on the last night eat a second time in the one that most suits your mood.

It’s worth checking their days of opening because I think they may only open weekends during the off-season.

There’s one last place in Kilkee that I’m going to recommend to eat and chill, The Diamond Rocks Cafe. We had scones fresh out of the oven on a bright Sunday morning. Add to that great coffee and the Sunday papers and we didn’t move from our spot looking over Kilkee Bay for hours. If you ever want to check out the weather in Kilkee and you don’t trust forecasts, try The Diamond Rock Cafe’s live webcam.

If you’re taking in the Loop Head Drive then you could do a lot worse stopping off at The Long Dock in Carrigaholt. I had seafood chowder their twice. Once while exploring Loop Head and the second time was when I came off the Carrigaholt Dolphinwatch boat after successfully finding a dolphin and more sea life than I knew what to do with. They do great seafood chowder in The Long Dock but their reputation is known and you may have to wait a bit for a seat.

If your follow the Loop Head drive you could very easily find yourself in Kilbaha. This is home to The Lighthouse Inn where we stopped to take in the view and to have coffee and rhubarb crumble. There was a great crowd of tourists there and they seemed to be enjoying getting stuck in to various main courses.

If you’ve kept with me and this post you’ve probably guessed that we pushed the boat out a little and ate well while we were staying in Kilkee. Sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself nicely.

We also made sure we explored Loop Head and much of what it had to offer. The drive around Loop Head is spectacular. There are plenty of places to stop the car and get out and explore on foot. Many of the locals believe that the scenery is as good as what you’d find further north at the Cliffs of Moher. The areas around Kilcredaun, Kilbaha, Loop Head Lighthouse and The Bridges of Ross, make this less frequented part of Ireland an absolute paradise for anyone who wants to experience nature in all its glory, without the tour buses.

If you have the inclination and a bit more time than we had you might take a trip to Scattery Island. The island lies in the mouth of the River Shannon near Kilrush and you can get a boat over and explore. I’ll have to save that trip for another day but I was able to take a photo of the round tower from Cappa Pier, Kilrush.

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Kilkee and Loop Head: Eating and Exploring

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That’s what happened recently when I was in the Third Floor Espresso at 54 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1. I got taking to Colin Harmon, who owns the shop and also writes a blog called Dublin Barista. Instead of getting off the Luas at Busaras I’d started getting off at Jervis so I could pop in and have an espresso. Walking on to Connolly to get a DART is pobably good for me.

After asking me what I thought of the coffee he’d just made me (which I loved) Colin said that in a couple of days he’d have a blend that he felt would be perfect for my coffee maker. It was Machacamarca and I think (working from memory here) it came from Bolivia. A few days later I bought some and I really like it.

I’m not going to try and describe it. I’ll leave that to people, like Colin, who not only are experts but are passionate about producing a consistently great cup of coffee every time. If you’re a coffee-phile, then the next time you find yourself in the O’Connell Street area or anywhere around the quays, take time to drop buy and get a great espresso or a damn fine cappuccino for €2. That’s great value considering it’s served by the Irish Barista Champion 2009 who has also won fourth place overall, World Barista Championship Atlanta 2009!

I think I’ve visited the Third Floor Espresso about a dozen times now and I’ve always liked the coffee I was served. Colin isn’t always there (I guess even coffee lovers have to sleep) but everyone who works with him seems to have the same devotion to delivering a excellent cup of coffee every time.

Enjoy!

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Excellent Coffee In Dublin City Centre From A Champion Barista

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First a confession: when I say it’s the best ragù I’ve ever cooked I’m not really saying a lot as I don’t cook that much. So it might be more accurate to say that it’s one of the best meat sauces for pasta I’ve ever tasted, and I managed to prepare it!

If you’re a natural cook I think you’ll find this recipe a doddle. If like me, you’ve difficulty finding the right utensils in your own kitchen then you’ll probably still find this recipe stress free, as nothing is done in a hurry. In fact, after the tomatoes are added the best thing to do is let it slowly simmer away until it reaches the consistency you prefer.

The recipe comes from The Classic Italian Cookbook by Marcella Hazan. I’m not sure if the edition I have is still available but I’m pretty sure the recipe is reproduced in her more recent The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.

According to the author, it is important to remember the following points:

• The meat must be sautéed just barely long enough to lose its raw colour.
• It must be cooked in milk before the tomatoes are added.
• It must cook at the merest simmer for 3.5 to 5 hours!

Here are the ingredients for 6 servings:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 40g butter
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped celery
• 2 tablespoons chopped carrot
• 350g minced lean beef preferably chuck or neck
• Salt
• 300ml dry white wine
• 8 (120ml) tablespoons full cream milk
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 400g tinned chopped tomatoes

The Steps:

1. Heat a heavy based pot and sauté the onion with all the oil and butter until translucent.
2. Add the celery and carrot and cook 2 minutes.
3. Add the minced beef, crumble with a fork, add salt, and cook briefly until the meat has just lost its raw colour.
4. Add the wine and increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring occasionally until the wine has evaporated.
5. Reduce the heat to medium and add the milk and nutmeg and once again cook until it has evaporated, stirring from time to time.
6. Once the milk has evaporated add the tomatoes, stir well and reduce the heat to the gentlest simmer.
7. Stir occasionally and allow it to cook uncovered for 3.5 to 4 hours. 5 is best.
8. Adjust the seasoning adding more salt and pepper to suit.

I didn’t follow the recipe exactly and purists will probably despair at my changes, but the end result was fantastic.

I started with 1kg of mince, so I multiplied everything except the wine and the milk by two and a half.

I increased the volume of wine and the milk by about 50%.

I used low fat milk.

I had no celery, so I left it out.

I used two small onions, one large carrot, lean round steak mince. And possibly the biggest faux pas, I used French wine!

I’m fairly certain I didn’t simmer for 5 hours.

Why I like this sauce:

• It tastes great, wonderful depth of flavour
• It’ll keep in the fridge for 3 days
• You can freeze it
• You can use it with pasta (tagliatelle is best) or in a lasagne
• All you have to be able to do is chop and stir – not that hard really.
• Did I mention it tastes great?

Buon appetito!

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The Best Pasta Sauce I Have Ever Cooked

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