When Ireland turns the heat on there is no better place, Costa Brava, Monaco, even Sydney! Back home in Australia the Barbie comes out every Spring and really never goes away. The BBQ is part of our main kitchen. Dad cooks or burns the meat, mum makes the salad and sides. The BBQ in Australia is morphed into a unit that costs several thousand €. Made from Stainless steel with multi flat top burners, volcanic rock chargrills, wok burners to one side and rotisserie options. Now they even have sinks and cocktail bar modular attachments!!
So today Ciara asked me for my first blog to accompany and compliment Kilronan Castle’s fantastic new website, Ciara wanted a BBQ recipe ? I was literary snowed under, with the designing of our new ala carte menu for the Douglas Hyde Restaurant, but I caught breath and in my little office and I took a breath. Then I had it , 2 weeks ago on my day off, the weather not so great and my wife informed me that I had to cook dinner. Now I love to cook dinner for my family, days off are inconsistent but special. There was bacon joint in the fridge and lots of vegetables… challenge accepted!
I started up the flames and my wife was aghast, aren’t you just going to boil that joint of pork?
Well I’ve been privy to her and her mum boiling these joints for couple of hours and then pouring gravy on top…..
So my version is an absolute winner!!! These bacon joint costs somewhere around € 4 and with a summer salad and home cooked oven chips, it is very healthy.
In the Douglas Hyde Restaurant we are market leaders and use techniques such as, sous vide, dehydrators, espumars, airs and powders. I love these techniques for the prevail occasion and the WOW factor.
But at home……
Now I have a large BBQ , it takes 5 kg of lump wood charcoal to get it started, for the cost of this meal, what a waste! As you can see I propped up 3 logs and burnt down some sticks and made my own BBQ and wood charcoal. I have come a long way from costly modular unit BBQ’s which do anything, including timers of when foods are cooked and affordable best end cuts in Australia…. You know what I know that I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Stay tuned for more recipes, home tips and special tips.
Keep it simple, healthy and Tasty
Chef