WEEKEND BITES

THIS WEEK I’LL BE EATING...

... savoy cabbage, at its best now. I like it still quite crunchy, rapidly stir-fried, maybe with some ginger and chilli, or cooked rather longer with lardons of bacon and — controversial, I know — toasted caraway seeds. That’s a German way with cabbage and there’s another that I love, although it’s very rich: cooked in butter, puréed and finished with cream and lots of nutmeg and black pepper. First time I had that, I didn’t know what it was, apart from lovely!

FAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT

I love the abundant natural fat you get with the old breeds of pig, especially now that we know that such fat is actually good for us. But it can be too much for some modern consumers and the good people at Andarl Farm near Glenamaddy in Co Galway have tried to strike the right balance in their free range pork. I have to say it tastes great and can report that you can buy it, and other ethically farmed meat, online. Just visit andarlfarm.ie.

AN IDEA TO GUAC YOUR WORLD

Meat straight from the farm is great but how about avocados? Thanks to crowd farming.com, you can get a 4kg box of Hass avocados delivered to Ireland from Spain for €38.07. They are grown by José Antonio Fajardo, 20 years old and a fifth generation farmer at the Hacienda Altos do Cantarriján in a small valley near the Costa Tropical in Granada. This way you know for sure that your avocados are ethically grown without causing deforestation or pesticide use. About 20 fruit in each box.

PLANTING A SEED OF AN IDEA

Given the year that’s in it, more people than ever before will be trying their hands at growing their own veg. I’m a little concerned about the availability of seeds, as most traditionally come from Brexit Britain, so I’ve been doing some research into alternatives. Kokopelli, in southern France, has a huge range of vegetable seeds and sativa.bio.en, based in Germany, has a big range of organically grown flower and vegetable seeds. And don’t forget our own brownenvelopeseeds.com in West Cork.