Fresh cupcakes! Luvverly fresh cupcakes!
Posted: 16 July '10 by Kelly
Cupcakes and Fairycakes at St. George's Market
Niall and I are regulars at St. George’s Market and love going to find some tasty ingredients for a dinner party or some tasty snacks – it’s always a great day out, what with the live music and the many, many food stalls. We’ve even entertained thoughts of getting our own stall – so, when Bernadette and Martine from Cupcakes and Fairycakes suggested I join them on their busy Sunday market stall, I jumped at the chance to get involved and see how it all comes together. This is how my day went..
You can see more photos hereImage 1Image 2Image 3Image 4
An 8am start!! OK, it’s hardly the crack of dawn (Bernadette and Martine had been baking since 6am!!), but after a few glasses of wine the night before it certainly felt like it!
As soon as I arrived at St George’s Market I helped set up the stall: putting up the banner, arranging the stands and laying out the samples. The delicious, sugar-y aroma of all of those freshly baked cupcakes made my stomach rumble. A cupcake for breakfast?? Could I?!! Of course I could!! After a restorative cup of tea and a flour-less chocolate cupcake with white chocolate topping (yummy) I felt half-human again and began to learn the ropes.
The first thing to get to grips with was the menu – Strawberry Shake, Dime Bar, Oreo Choc Cream, Vanilla Pod, Kiddies’ Suprise and a flour-less dark chocolate with white chocolate topped with a glittery strawberry. All of the cupcakes were beautifully iced and decorated, like little works of art and almost too good to eat.. I ate my way through all the flavours (purely for research purposes) and I can confirm that each and every one of them are superbly moist and fluffy.
With this intimate knowledge of the Cupcakes and Fairycakes range I quickly got up to speed on the prices and how the cupcakes and fairycakes were made. As the doors opened and the music started I could feel my hangover slowly begin to fade away as the whole buzz of the market took over. I got off to a great start, chatting to a few people and selling box after box of those delicious buns. I think the best thing about working at the market are the colourful characters you meet and believe me, I met quite a few that day. I think my most memorable was the man who asked me could I sprinkle some arsenic on top for ‘the wife’… I don’t think he was serious though!!
There really was a great atmosphere about the market that day and I got chatting to the lovely girls that were working on the bakery stall beside us. They were so friendly and the day really flew by. I even brokered a food-swap with them during a tea-break – a cupcake for Katie’s amazing, melt-in-the-mouth carrot cake!!
As the day came to a close and we counted up the profits from the days’ trading, my feet ached and I longed for a cup of tea and a foot massage. Mind you, I wouldn’t have missed the chance to see what life on the other side of the stall is like – I met some great people, ate my way through far too many cupcakes, listened to some great stories, and generally had great fun.
If you are looking for something to do on a Sunday you could do a lot worse than to head down to St George’s market for some live music, good atmosphere and delicious food! Don’t forget to pop by the Cupcakes and Fairycakes stall to say ‘Hi’ to Bernadette and Martine and to sample their delicious cupcakes.. they’re honestly worth the journey alone.
Make sure you visit the site again for my interview with Bernadette and Martine where they show me how to bake the ‘perfect’ cupcake.
Other information
St. George’s Market is now open on Sundays, from 10am to 4pm. You can click here to find out more information about the market.
If you would like to try some of Bernadette and Martine’s delicious cupcakes you can get in touch by:
Cupcakes and Fairycakes
T: 07879400177 or 07968225732
E: info@cupcakesandfairycakes.com
W: www.cupcakesandfairycakes.com
Categories: Things to do
1 Comment
They’re tasty, tasty, berry berry tasty
Posted: 28 June '10 by Niall and Kelly
Boozeberries - Irish Liqueurs
Kelly and I are constantly amazed at the number of great local producers that are out there and that we rarely hear about. Getting the chance to talk to them and tell you about their products is one of the main reasons why we started Chilli and Chocolate. When we noticed that Boozeberries were following us on Twitter we thought we’d do a little research and get in touch..
“Boozeberries” is owned by husband and wife team Stuart and Barbara Hughes and is based in Dromore, County Down. Served as an after dinner drink or as a delicious addition to your favourite cocktails, the Boozeberry range includes three flavours: Wild Blueberries, Wild Cranberries, and Zesty Blackcurrant. These sophisticated tipples have already picked up several awards including the prestigious overall winner at the Mitchelstown Food Fair.
You can see more photos hereImage 1Image 2
After sending a short email we got chatting to Barbara and got to know a little more about another of our local producers..
- N: Hi Barbara. So, what’s Boozeberries all about?
- B: Well, our liqueurs are unique in the fact that every single bottle is hand-crafted. They’re extremely versatile, allowing you to customise your drinks and add a little bit of summer to every glass. We have three flavours: Zesty Blackcurrant, Wild Blueberry, and Wild Cranberry. They’re delicious when chilled and served as an aperitif, and make the most wonderful champagne cocktails when entertaining or celebrating with friends. They also make the perfect Summers’ drink for a day in the garden – just poured into a large pitcher of ice and garnished with a twist of lime.
- N: I really like all of the berries in the bottle! How is the liqueur made?
- B: The whole process is done by hand. Basically, the berries are fed into the base of the bottle, a very smooth Irish grain spirit is added, and the cork goes on. All the magic happens in the bottle over a 4 month period as the wild berries and the spirit infuse.
- N: And Boozeberries is an Irish product?
- B: Yip – Everything is sourced within Ireland. After all we have the best ingredients on our door-step!
- N: What’s your favourite way of enjoying them?
- B: My personal fav is the ‘Boozeberries Wild Blueberry Fizz’ – 1 or 2 shots of Boozeberries Wild Blueberries in a champagne flute topped-up with chilled Prosecco. It’s such a treat to watch the berries dance in the glass with the bubbles.. Stuart’s favourite is Zesty Blackcurrant Boozeberries over ice.
- N: Where can our readers buy their own Boozeberry liqueurs?
- B: There is a list of stockist on the web site. At the moment, Boozeberries are available throughout Northern Ireland in all of the Sainsbury’s stores and in the Republic of Ireland in O’Briens beers & wines. We’re encouraging the independent off-licenses and style-bars to stock Boozeberries. Maybe your readers can help by requesting it from their local, or by send us the request at info@boozeberries.com and we’ll try our best to facilitate.
- N: What’s on the cards for Boozeberries in the future?
- B: We do have a few new flavours up our sleeve but they won’t be available until early 2011. We’re confident that we’ll have some major mainland UK stockists on-board before Christmas. We’re also very excited about enquiries we have received from the USA, Canada and Cyprus.
Thanks Barbara!
Make sure you keep checking the site this week – we’ll have a review of the Boozeberry range (yes, it’s hard work being a food-blogger!) and you might even get to try them for yourself!
Other information
Boozeberries,
62, The Belfry,
Dromore,
Co Down
BT25 1TR
T: +44 (0) 7780117737
E: info@boozeberries.com
W: www.boozeberries.com
Categories: Local Food Heroes > Northern Ireland > United Kingdom
No Comments - Click to Add Yours
Make a date with St. George’s Market this Valentine’s Day
Posted: 11 February '10 by Niall
Congratulations and be prosperous
Congratulations and be prosperous in the Year of the Tiger!
Goodwill might be thin on the ground in St. George’s Market this weekend, however, with chefs from Chinese restaurants across Belfast competing in a special masterchef event organised by Belfast City Council. The challenge will take place this Sunday (February 14th 2010) as part of the annual Chinese New Year celebrations.
As well as providing some entertainment on Valentine’s Day, the event is another stage in a successful campaign by the council’s food safety team to encourage Chinese takeaways to include healthier options on their menus.
High Sherriff of Belfast Councillor Christopher Stalford, who will be on the judges’ tasting panel, said: “More than 50 chefs from Chinese restaurants across Belfast took part in our healthy cooking workshops last year, with celebrity chef Nancy Lam; and to build on that success, we thought this would be another way of getting the ‘healthy’ message out there.
“Research shows that Chinese food is the takeaway of choice across the UK but very often the nutritional value is reduced because the recipes have been adapted to suit our ‘westernised’ palette.
“The aim of this project is to encourage takeaways to include healthier options on their menus and for chefs to go back to their traditional, healthy roots.”
This Sunday’s competition will see chefs prepare one meal which will be judged on its taste, nutritional value, and how hygienically it has been prepared.
Joining the High Sherriff on the judging panel is Jeremy Chan, owner and chef of Sinley restaurant in Cookstown, and William Lam from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
The winning chef will be announced at the event and they’ll enjoy a two night stay at Galgorm Manor in Ballymena, sponsored by Firmus Energy. The winner will also be invited to the annual Chinese New Year gala dinner at Belfast’s Europa Hotel.
Details
- The masterchef event runs from 12pm to 2:30pm.
- There’ll be a spectacular Lion Dance from 1pm to 3pm.
- Entertainment includes acrobats, jugglers, martial arts demonstrations and Chinese arts and craft workshops.
- If you’re hungry there will also be lots of food stalls selling local and global cuisine.
More information
For more information visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events.
Categories: News > Things to do
No Comments - Click to Add Yours
Super Market sweeps up the plaudits
Posted: 19 January '10 by Niall
St. George's Market, Belfast
The City Food and Garden Market in St. George’s Market is one of the highlights of our week – it’s a great start to the weekend – and is seems that The Guardian think so too, having named St. George’s as one of the top 10 markets in the UK. You can read the original post in The Guardian here.
The Saturday market is a real treat for all the senses: the air is full of exotic spices and the aroma of exotic delicacies for you to try; the happy murmur of shoppers talking to stall-holders about their produce; the sense of expectation that turning the next corner will reveal another stall of new and never-tried-before cuisine; and the strains of the live musical entertainment weaving through the crowds. Perhaps the best thing about the market, however, is the atmosphere – people genuinely care about the produce on display, from the proprietors to the customers. Freshness and flavour is the order of the day.
Many of the stalls actively encourage you to “try before you buy” too, with plates of free-to-sample food allowing customers to mull over their choice before handing over their hard-earned money. The choice is really bewildering, and everything looks so good. A word to the wise though – you will want to buy everything – like a recovering compulsive gambler in Las Vegas, you will have to take yourself aside and have a quiet word with yourself (or with your partner when your monthly statement comes in)!
Our favourite stalls include: the olive oil from Biostore; artisan chocolate from Co Couture; cold meats, olives, and cheese from Love Olive; bread from The Yellow Door; and free-range, organic rare-breed meat from Pheasants Hill Farm.
All of this walking about and tasting is hard work mind you. Fortunately, there are also a wide variety of hot food stalls (and seated areas) for you to take a break. You’ll often find us enjoying those tasty crepes from the French crepe stall, or trying something a little more fiery from the Jamaican food stall (the heat from those little pasties really sneak up on you!). There are also stalls selling filled sodas, tea, and coffee.
Having criticised the poor organisation of and motives behind the Belfast Christmas Continental Market and the Belfast Taste and Music Fest 2009 I think it’s only fair to say that Belfast City Council have really gotten this one right – St. George’s Market is something for Belfast to be proud of. Well done BCC!
You can see more photos hereImage 1Image 2Image 3Image 4Image 5Image 6Image 7Image 8Image 9Image 10
Other information
Variety Market
Day: Friday
Opening hours: 6am – 1pm
Details: Stalls sell a variety of products including fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, antiques, books and clothes.
City Food and Garden market
Day: Saturday
Opening hours: 9am – 3pm
Details: The market offers a huge range of local, continental and specialty foods including meat and fish, cheese, coffee beans, tapas and organic products. There’s also entertainment and music on most Saturdays.
St. George’s Market
12-20 East Bridge Street,
Belfast
BT1 3NQ
T: 028 9032 0202
W: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/stgeorgesmarket
You can also see St. George’s Market on Google Maps.
Categories: Local Food Heroes > News > Northern Ireland > United Kingdom
No Comments - Click to Add Yours
Hot Hot Hot
Posted: 05 August '09 by Kelly
It was Niall’s birthday at the weekend so we decided to cook up a hot and spicy Asian Feast. On the menu was -
- Singapore Chilli crab
- Salt and Chilli Squid
- Pad Thai Noodles
- Red-cooked Tofu
- Chicken and Thai Basil (Pad Ga Prao Kai)
- Chocolate and saffron fondant with Hazelnut Tullie and Milk Ice-cream (not an asian dish but I love chocolate)
We started the morning with a trip to St George’s Market in Belfast to buy the seafood for the dishes. The market is a great way to start the day with a crepe from the french stall (superb!!), a hot beverage and listen to the different bands that play every saturday morning. All the main ingredients were selected and purchased and now it was time to try and find the more unusual ingredients.
Off we went to ‘Lee foods’ asian supermarket on the Donegall Pass, Belfast. I have never been there before but I will certainly return. It sold an amazing array of asian products however some of the foods were slightly out of my comfort zone (dried cuttlefish snacks, Whole pigs heads and Century Eggs with black yolks!!). After stacking up the trolly with a new wok and some nibbles (Wasabi Peas and Asian dried fruits) we managed to find all the things we needed including the Thai Holy Basil (which for Belfast I thought was a treat). I suppose its just knowing where to look…
We also picked up some authentic chinese tsingtao beer to celebrate Niall turning 21, again….!!!
The dishes were relatively simple to prepare (apart from the squid which is a messy job, I left that to Niall) so we decided to take it easy and take our time cooking. I had pre-prepared the desserts so all they needed was 9 minuted in the oven after the main course.
The starters of Singapore Chilli Crab and Salt & Chilli Squid were served and they went down a treat with everyone. The chilli sauce on the crab was delicious, really hot and spicy, and the squid was so soft (it had been left in lemon for a while) and cooked to perfection thanks to Niall.
On to the main course and the Red-cooked Tofu was a first for me, weird consistency, almost egg-y but really tasty. The Pad Thai noodles were superb, really delicious – I think it could give the Bo Tree a run for its money – although I have to say the chicken was the winner for me. It was really tasty, packed with aniseed flavour from thr Thai Basil, and had a real kick to it.
We were fit to burst after all that delicious food, but not to be beaten – we had the dessert of Chocolate and saffron fondant with Hazelnut Tullie and Milk Ice-cream a few hours later. Now if your anything like me and love your desserts gooey and oozing of chocolate then this is for you. Shame on me though as I could only finish half of it, but luckily Niall’s brother was on hand (as usual) to finish it off for me.
The recipes will follow soon so enjoy making them and let us know what you think.
Categories: Recipes
