Cooking@The Hilt ~ Lamb all the way ~ Part I

Do you feel intimidated by those shoulders, legs and racks at the meat section? I am. So when the September class by Chef Michael Elfwing, Get Cooking @ The Hilt: Fresh ways with Lamb was announced, it was a given that I attend. 

The menu was massive - lamb shoulder, cutlets, 'lollipops' of ribs and burgers. 

  

With his usual charm and ease at imparting information, Chef Michael Elfwing took 13 participants through the anatomy, slicing and preparation of the various cuts of lamb from shoulder with and without bone to ribs with and without fat.

Preparation of the spices and seasoning from toasting to the finer choices of grinding or mashing with a mortar and pestle for different textures were shared.  

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Dukkha mix of hazelnuts, sesame seeds, pine nuts, coriander seeds, cumin, chilli powder, baharat (white & black pepper, cinnamon, cloves).

Hummus - chickpeas, garlic, tahini, paprika, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice & zest

Lamb seasoned with olive oil and thyme; barbecued on a ridged griddle pan. 

Lamb rubbed in Dukkha mix; hummus and salad plated.

Barbecued lamb 'lollipops' hummus and nuts  

Killarney lifestyle

Delving into real estate in Ireland may be tempting but iffy in current economic climes. Property prices have plummeted but cost of living remains high. It is at least 30% higher than Scotland for example.

Reflections of squeaky clean Killarney . . .

If you don't have a window or a cat, just paint it on!

If you don't have a house, just grow one on your truck! Be creative  . . .

Cool recruitment poster for those with a calling.

Beware! Lobsters crawling up the wall . . .

Wall of hydrangea bushes - gorgeous.

Killkarney... no it's Killarney

Making our way from Cork to Killkarney, I mean Killarney, took us along the rugged coastline and country roads. 

The relaxed pace was ideal for photo stops and of course a cuppa at rustic inns.

Following the good roads signs and our trusty 'Mak Cik' GPS with the authoritative voice repeating "Recalculating" at an annoying rate of frequency, we turned the final bend into Killarney. 

Our hotel was well appointed, in a golf resort. This time-share facility with hotel rooms as well as villas was chockablock with young local families on summer hols.  

True to form, the guys were out swinging their clubs in perfect golfing weather. 

The girls went into town to roam and shop. First stop, St Mary's Cathedral, one of Ireland's finest, underwent disastrous interior remodelling, universally condemned by architects and historians. Local authorities are attempting to re-acquire Pugin-designed original interior fixtures and continue restoration.   

Killarney has been voted the tidiest Irish city twice, once in 2007 and again this year. You can see why... streets are spotless and the buildings are in pristine condition.

Curios, antiques and all things nice are on display.

And of course more sweet shops.

A Corky lifestyle

Next to Guinness, the Irish love rugby

Since the formation of the EU, there has been an influx of. . . 



. . . Turkish barber shops. 

Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe - always a comforting sight,
good enough to eat!

Irish Gaelic - A speaker of the language may be called a Gaeilgeoir


Enjoy this Gaelic saying: 
Go n-ithe an cat thu is go n-ithe an diabhal an ca ~ 
May the cat eat you and the devil eat the cat. 

Street art . . .

. . . & bad graffiti

A quaint wine & spirit store ~ Sliante (cheers) 

Pheasantries, (first time I've heard of such a thing) big business in Ireland,
supply game birds including pheasants to Shoot & Game clubs.

Drive to Cork

Cork from a distance

The very pretty city of Cork or Corcaigh, meaning swamp in Irish, is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. A major seaport built on the River Lee, Corkonians staunchly lay claim to it being the 'real capital of Ireland'.

River Lee, the green end

The River Lee divides into two channels forming an island on which the city is built. This glistening body of water meanders along spanned by many bridges...

Bridges over the River Lee

Reflections

. . . and casting interesting reflections from its banks.

The English Market

The English Market, made even more famous by the state visit of HH Queen Elizabeth II in May 2011, proudly displays photographs of Her Majesty visiting individual stalls and mingling with the crowds. 

Brown Thomas on Patrick Street

In summer the shopping streets are bustling with tourists, seemingly Spanish-speaking in the main, making one wonder about the credibility of the acronym, PIGS, related to the recent financial upheavals in the EU.

A leprachaun prowling the narrow streets of Cork
looking for the pot of gold?

Colourful shop frontages

Steeples vs geometric lines

The mix of old and new is striking and pleasing to the eye. Take the River Lee Hotel. It sits on the river bank and is basically a layered glass box exploiting every inch of the vistas it is surrounded by.

A transparent hotel by the River Lee

By night, the Prussian blue sky cloaks the city, glowing ambers seen in the horizon.

Cork by night