Category: connection to flavour
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Coffee in Kildare – Creating Community
Oak & Oolite has a new group: Coffee in Kildare. Coffee in Kildare is a space for connection, conversation, and having a laugh over a good cup of coffee. If you’ve been following the blog for a while you may have read that after returning to Ireland from living abroad…
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Coffee in Kildare – Café Spotlight: The Woodstack Café
There is no better café to highlight for the International Day of Forests, on the 21st of March, than The Woodstack Café in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. This year’s theme of the International Day of Forests is forests and economies which aims to celebrate the essential roles of forests in driving…
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Gluten-Free Delights at The Chocolate Garden of Ireland
On Saturday, it was the February meet-up for the Oak & Oolite Book Club and as the book chosen was Joanne Harris’ Chocolat, I decided it might be nice to get some chocolates to enjoy through our coffee and afternoon chat about the book. As a coeliac, I had to…
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Discover Nature’s Wild Foods: 15 Favourite Foraging Books
Let’s jump into spring with some foraging! 🌱🌸☀️ I only recently became interested in foraging, as you may have seen when I made acorn tea last autumn. I have a local course lined up for next month, so I’m excited about this new road and learning as I go. Below…
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Coffee in Kildare – Roastery Spotlight: Feighcullen Peated Coffee
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit a pretty unique coffee bean roastery in County Kildare, Feighcullen Peated Coffee. Set up in 2024 by landowner Richard and his uncle, it really stands out as one of Ireland’s most distinctive roasteries. Richard, who comes from a farming and hydraulics…
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Tea for Two… Or Just You: Flavours to Fall For on St. Valentine’s Day
Love comes in many forms, and one of the simplest is the love of a perfect cup of tea. What could be better than enhancing the experience with complementary flavours? Here is a list of teas and beautiful pairings to prepare for your loved one. Of course, any tea can…
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Coffee in Kildare – Café Spotlight: Square, Kildare Town
Today, on St. Brigid’s Eve, I walked the Curragh in Co. Kildare as part of the Kildare Leadership Partnership’s Walk the Mantle guided walk, led by the excellent Pat, Ronan, and Sharon. The rain eased just as we set off through the plains. For anyone unfamiliar with the Curragh, this…
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Kildare Food & Drink: Local Produce in Celbridge
The list below features local food and drink producers in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Some of the produce listed is not actually sourced in Celbridge, but is available locally, such as the coffee beans that are roasted here. Farms Derrybeg Farm CSA Derrybeg Farm CSA is a community-supported agriculture project, where…
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Let’s Brighten January: Seasonal Mood-Boosting Foods
January can feel long, dark, and chilly, but the right foods can help lift the spirits and restore energy. Even in mid-winter, Ireland provides a range of mood-lifting, nutrient-rich produce. Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and celeriac bring natural sweetness and comforting warmth to soups, roasts, and stews. Potatoes provide…
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Christmas Tree Tea
Have you ever walked past your Christmas tree, gotten that lovely pine needle scent, and thought, “Hmm these smell good enough to eat”? Or, is that just me? Christmas Tree Tea lets you actually enjoy that fresh, evergreen aroma in a cup – made from safe, fresh pine needles and…
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Home Spiced Coffee: A Small Winter Gift to Yourself
For most, ‘tis the season to be hectic. Whether it’s working, planning, wrapping, cooking, baking, shopping, partying, travelling, or just dealing with a busy mind, things at this time of year can weigh heavily on our wellbeing. In the middle of it all, we often forget that winter is also…
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Winter Orange & Cardamom Baked Rice Pudding (Gluten-Free)
With the cold winds blowing and the threat of snow in its breeze, it’s time for a warming traditional sweet treat to soothe and uplift – rice pudding has always been one of those recipes. At this time of year it benefits from a touch of citrus brightness and fragrant…
