Weekend bites

CHOCOLATE

This week I’ll be eating... chocolate, like most people. But I’ve learned to love what I think of now as the real thing: dark chocolate with a very high percentage of cocoa solids. My minimum requirement is 70% and I’m happy to go up to 85%. Beyond that — and you can get a whopping 100% — it just gets too bitter for me. As for what is the best accompaniment for real chocolate, my number one is coffee, followed by two sweet red wines, either port or Banyuls.

DETOXING

A press release landed during the week announcing an event in Co. Wicklow featuring a ‘herbalist and naturopath’ who is to give a talk on ‘detoxification and immunity’ using ‘diet and herbs’. So can I just remind people that the only things that detoxify you are your liver and your kidneys. No diets or herbs need apply. Giving your liver an occasional rest from alcohol is the best thing you can do to ‘detox’.

DINNER IN KILLARNEY

Chef Collab, the group that aims to inspire young chefs, is organising a remarkable dinner in Killarney on May 27 for a mere €35 a head. The idea is that a group of very distinguished chefs each prepare a course and mentor a commis chef as they do so. This dinner will feature Gavin McDonagh of Shelbourne Social, Theo Clench of The Clove Club, Kevin Burke of The Ninth, both Michelin-starred in London, Jonny Davison of James Street South in Belfast and Karan Mital of Ananda. Visit chefcollab.com

FOOD CHAMP

Jess Murphy of Galway restaurant Kai is the Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champion 2019, following in the footsteps of such luminaries as Neven Maguire and Simon Coveney. Fans of Kai will know that Jess, originally from New Zealand, seeks out the very best local, organic or wild produce and lets it speak for itself on her scintillating menus. I asked on Twitter recently where I should eat in Galway. 90% of the responses said Kai.