Money may be too tight to mention, but there are deals to be had if you know where to look for them. SIMON TIERNEYfinds ways to live well with less cash
COOKING
When I was a kid, mealtimes were about the struggle to find new ways of hiding my food so that my mother would believe I had eaten it. One evening, my older sister was entrusted with the challenge of feeding me fish fingers. Little parcels of despair. Foul fingers of fortitude. I sat before them, tight-lipped, arms crossed, as my sister presented her case in their defence. She threatened to remove my ice-cream privileges. I was steadfast in my resolve. You can take my ice-cream but you will never take my freedom. Eventually she backed down and gave me my ice-cream anyway. It was covered in delicious chocolate sauce. I took a bite and discovered to my horror that it was in fact a fish finger, not ice-cream at all. Betrayal most foul. To my mother’s relief, I now love food and this week I have enjoyed finding some fantastic cookery classes and innovative ways to make the most of our food without throwing the leftovers out.
Cooking classes
Lynda Booth’s Dublin Cookery School (2 Brookfield Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Tel: 01-2100555), is offering three places on their Taste of the Mediterranean evening course, Tuesday May 8th (normally €70 each). To avail of this offer, simply email info@dublincookeryschool.ie with your name and number, and quote “Taste of the Mediterranean Offer”. The school has a fantastic premises and great guest chefs.
Kitchen in the Castle Cookery School (Howth Castle, Howth, Dublin 13, Tel: 01-8396182), is set in a beautiful Georgian kitchen, remodelled by Edwin Lutyens. They are offering 3 free pairs of tickets to their Quick and Simple Dinner Party course on May 1st, 7-9.45pm. The first people to email info@thekitcheninthecastle.com and quote “Kitchen in the Castle Offer” will receive a pair of tickets each.
Flavour of Italy is giving away three free pairs of tickets to a class of your choice at the Italian School of Cooking (Unit C4, City Link Business Park, Old Naas Road, Dublin 12, Tel: 01-4608800). To decide which class suits you, visit flavourofitaly.net. The first three people to email info@flavourofitaly.net and quote "Flavour of Italy Offer" will get the tickets, which are normally worth €130 per couple.
If you want to learn how to bake milk bread, Waterford blaas and wheaten soda bread, there are three pairs of tickets going for gratis on the Real Bread for Beginners course in the Baking Academy of Ireland (Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown Village, Dublin 20). The first people to email bakingacademyireland@gmail.com and quote “Baking Academy Offer” will get their places on the course next Tuesday, April 17th, 6-10pm.
Don’t bin it!
stopfoodwaste.ieand earth911.comhave great ideas on reducing your food waste and thus saving money. Keep your meat and veg leftovers in a container in your freezer and make stock for a soup. Edwina St Lawrence, owner of the Kitchen in the Castle Cookery School, suggests a handy way of storing your herbs: chop up your basil or parsley, pop it in an ice tray with a little water, freeze it and then you can use a cube at a time when cooking.
Last but not least . . .
CrackBird (60 Dame Street, Dublin 2), has an eat-for-free Twitter offer. Tweet @CrackBIRDdublin with the date and time you want to eat (12pm, 2pm ,4pm, 6pm and 8pm), the number of people (up to four) and the hash tag #tweetseats. Give 24 hours notice. If there are slots still available you can eat for free.
If you have details of free services/activities/ products, email emptywallet@irishtimes.com. Upcoming topics include unusual days out on an empty wallet
