We usually bring you a Song on Friday to help start that weekend feeling, but having found this little gem we thought we would try some Coffee Inspiration this morning. Here is a Video – Life is Like a Cup of Coffee with soothing music, beautiful images and a poignant story…
We hope you enjoy…
Win an Egg-Stra Special Fixx Easter Hamper packed with Fixx Coffee, coffee accessories and a delicious Irish handmade milk chocolate Easter Egg.
I selected a luxury Easter Egg from The Chocolate Garden last week and I can promise you, it looks very tempting ……
Worth €160 this hamper is a little piece of gourmet heaven and includes:
Fixx Coffee x 2 (Roasted and Ground or Roasted Beans)
Milk Chocolate Easter Egg
Recipe Book
Santos Cafietere 8 Cup
Matching Santos 2 Cup Set
Coffee Scented Candle
CD- Music from the Coffee Lands
Coffee Themed Tie
Coffee Storage Clip
How to Enter
We would like to christen the chick – just give her a name and let us know why! That simple…..
Draw Date
One lucky winner will be selected and notified on Thursday 1st April 2010.
If you would like to indulge in heavenly chocolate then I would recommend you pay a visit to The Chocolate Garden of Ireland in Tullow, Co. Carlow.
Buzz and myself were delighted to have an excuse to visit under the guise of coffee training with Mary and her team. It was great to meet a group of ladies who are so enthusiastic and passionate about serving good coffee.
This was also the perfect opportunity for me to select an Easter Egg for our Easter Competition which I will be letting you know about shortly.
So whether you are interested in handmade chocolates, fudge, spreads, novelties, or even organic homemade ice-cream, I can safely say you will be spoiled for choice at The Chocolate Garden.
Last Tuesday, I, along with Buzz and Monica from the Bald Barista Cafes’ spent an action packed day with our FIXX Roasters.
In addition to checking the quality and quantity of supplies for our FIXX Blend we also got to sample some new and very pleasant coffees.
We are excited about the prospect of introducing you to some of these during the year ahead, and plan to add them to on our on line offerings – so we will keep you posted.
Thanks to all the team for looking after us so well during our visit…
A coffee song for Friday that will take you back to 1982…. we hope you enjoy!
Squeeze – Black Coffee In Bed
I just spent a great day on Saturday doing a Coffee Tasting at The Country Basket in Limerick. There was a fantastic turn out and plenty of questions/answers and opinions on how to get the best from your coffee.
The Country Basket is a wonderful store that opened its doors in June 2009. Limerick has indeed been crying out for a good speciality store for some time. Owned and managed by Simon Wilkinson he prides himself on stocking unique quality products that are difficult to source.
I was particularly impressed watching Simon in action and witnessing his outstanding customer service. There is a friendly word of advice for everyone in terms of getting the best from your purchases- such as how to cook it, alternative uses and suggested recipes.
As an avid food and wine lover, it was also a great opportunity for me to stock up on new items in the market. My favourite was the French style macarons made by Iseult Janssens, a Paris trained pastry chef who has previously worked in Michelin Star restaurants and now runs her own company The Cake Stand. The macarons come in eye catching colours and as well as being beautifully presented, are truly delicious! I also have a few new wines from Portugal and Argentina to sample and look forward to doing that next weekend!
Anne
People around the world from Ireland to US and Australia will be rolling out the green carpet on 17th March to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Shamrocks, green beer, irish stew, potato bread, corned beef and cabbage, festivals and parades will all be a huge part of the day. But dont forget the festivities will not be complete until you indulge in an Irish Coffee.
In keeping with all good things Irish we are also giving away Free Luxurious Handmade Irish Chocolates with every coffee order online up to 18th March. Handmade in The Chocolate Garden of Ireland by Wicklow Fine Foods, these exquiste Whiskey Cream and Irish Cream Chocolates are a perfect treat with your Irish Coffee.
You will also receive a 15% discount up to 18th March 2010.
How to make an Irish Coffee
1 cup of coffee
1 shot of Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
Whipped cream
Grated Chocolate or cinnamon to taste, optional
Preheat the glass by rinsing with hot water, drain and dry.
Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and pour in the whiskey.
Add hot coffee, leaving room at the top for the cream.
Spoon the whipped cream over the hot coffee but don’t mix in.
Sprinkle with grated chocolate if desired.
1. Dr Cox and Coffee – Scrubs
2. Denis Leary Talks Coffee
3. Scrubs – Coffee Addiction
4. Stephen Fry – Tea or Coffee
5. Join the Coffee Achievers!!! You are the New Coffee Generation! 1984 ad includes David Bowie, rock stars, sport, stage, Cicely Tyson, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Heart, Kurt Vonnegut
6. Tom Waits and Iggy Pop – Coffee and Cigarettes
7. Twin Peaks – Coffee
8. Yes Minister – Coffee at the University
9. “Practice Makes Perfect” (Car Coffee comedy sketch) TIM’S WORLD
10. Live at the Apollo – MICHAEL McINTYRE – Coffee Late at Night
A Coffee Song to help that Friday feeling …… 
Do let us know if you have any favourite coffee songs or know of any ……
A thought for today…….
“Coffee is balm to the heart and the spirit.”
Giuseppe Verdi (1820-1869)
“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”
T.S. Eliot
“ The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock” (1917)
“Coffee is a beverage that puts one to sleep when not drank.”
Alphonse Allais
French writer and humorist (1854-1905)
