Food News today

Food safety

Top tips

Specialty of the café

www.thechefcentreofireland.com

NEWS

Well never out of the news Gordon Ramsey is in the headlines apparently with Gerry Ryan and it is suggested that Mr Ryan was using bad language at Gordan's home where his children were and he took great offence to this and asked him to leave Gerry obliged and promptly set up an interview with Gordan's past mentor and rival now Mr Marco Pierre white so we look foward to hearing more about that.

I was recently judging at the international ifex exhibition in Belfast and what a turn out, my good friend Sean Owens has really done a fantastic job of organising this event and I am already looking forward to the next one in 2010

I was also recently in Birmingham were I was the first assessor from Ireland to asses trainee chefs who have enrolled in the triple a accreditation applied ability awards this is a totally new and exciting idea and is now taking place in Ireland, England Scotland, and Wales I look forward to keeping you up to date on all the events and if you would like any information contact me at info@thechefcentreofireland.com 

FOOD SAFTEY  

If you find that your are struggling to keep a good sharp edge on your knifes then don’t take any chances by trying to sharpen it by yourself take your favorite knife to your fishmonger or butcher make sure you have it wrapped up well and ask them to put a good sharp edge on it for you they will be delighted to give you that service I am sure and this will help you in your cooking endeavors    

TODAYS TOP TIPS 

If like me you are not a big fan of lids in the kitchen then what I do is use cling film instead it more hygienic and easily discarded and creates a real vacuum and you will find that what ever you were trying to boil

That it will a lot quicker and be careful when removing the cling film pierce it before you remove it

 SPECIALITY OF THE CAFÉ 

Warm salad of slow roast duck with crisp summer leaves lime and honey dressing

Ingredients

All you will need is one breast of duck for two portions half  iceberg lettuce small amount of radicchio and one lime tablespoon of honey one oz of butter one orange half cup of olive oil

Simply season your duck breast salt and cracked pepper rub a little olive oil on and cook in thick bottomed pan until evenly colored cook for 4 minutes skin side down turn for further two and leave to rest for ten minuets if you like your duck well done then cook accordingly while your duck is resting prepare your salad and dressing simply by roughly chopping your lettuce and wash lightly pat dry and arrange on a large salad plate peel your orange removing all the pith and segment place segments in jar add some of the lime juice honey seasoning and some vinegar give a good shake with tight fitting lid and taste leave to chill now with the duck mix  the remainder of butter and honey coat the duck and place in hot oven for four to six minuet’s remove then rest for two min's  thinly slice over your prepared salad give your dressing another good shake and spoon on serve with croutons if you prefer I like a few raspberries with mine.

The finished article