Eating, Listening, Reading & Watching | January 2024
Another jam-packed digest of deliciously satisfying suggestions for all our subscribers
Not ‘New Year, New Me’, more like ‘New Year, More Of The Same’.
Welcome to another edition of our free monthly digest shining a light on some of the best things we’ve eaten, cooked, listened to, watched/streamed or read recently that we hope will inspire you. Think of it as a massive monthly highlights reel, packed full of suggestions…
We’ve battled illness for basically the month of December so skipped the last month of last year, but it was a bit of a write-off anyway.
Reading: our books of 2023
Every year we compile our cookbooks and food writing books of the year and 2023 was no different. A bumper year for Irish publishing in particular, we have the whole 15-strong list here on GastroGays.com but we also delved a little deeper into the trends we saw emerging in food book publishing in the post below…
Bing-Watching: The Traitors, Julia, Berlin, A Nearly Normal Family, 30 Rock, Fool Me Once
Okay, we were late to the party with UK version of The Traitors, which blew up beyond belief last year. We’ve dutifully tuned into the first three episodes of season two and we are HOOKED (and spent this past weekend quickly binging much of season 1 on iPlayer). It’s so good, the perfect length with little dashes of drama. It’s like Big Brother and Survivor mixed into one, set in a big Scottish castle and sort-of like an ongoing game of Cluedo. Super into it, and we have our eye on the Australian version for when this one concludes…
Other stuff we’ve been streaming, all on Netflix, has included Fool Me Once, a new British crime drama that doesn’t come anywhere near to the Scandi ones, A Nearly Normal Family (En Helt Vanlig Familj), which is an excellent example of a slow burn Scandi thriller set in the Swedish town of Lund and Berlin, the spin-off of La Casa De Papal (Money Heist) focusing on the back story of the character of Berlin, which just landed on 29th December and we’ve yet to dive into.
Like many others, we’ve been revisiting 30 Rock which was a TV show we bonded over heavily when we first met over a decade ago (we watch on ITV X via VPN) and we’ve also been watching the second season of Julia on Max (watch on Now TV)
Eating: Everywhere
In our Sunday Times Ireland restaurant review column, here’s what you might have missed in the last two months: The Lifeboat Inn in Courtmacsherry, Brabazon at Tankardstown House in Co. Meath, Arán in Kilkenny, The Bookshelf in Tralee and, in Dublin, The Legal Eagle, Michelin-starred Bastible, Eric Matthews’ new opening Kicky’s on Georges Street and Yves - Brother Hubbard's new evenings - in Ranelagh,
For Russell’s bronze IMRO award-winning Dublin Delish escapades on 98FM (live on air every Tuesday at 10:30am) he’s featured Blossom Artisan Bakery, Fairmental, Arepas Grill, Juniors, Masa’s second site on Camden Street, Meltdown and Ciaran McGonagle’s long-awaited Mani Pizza. So much delicious dining inspiration –– Don’t forget, Paid subscribers have access to our exclusive map of restaurants we’ve written about around Ireland, with over 175 inclusions now 👀
Listening: Four Podcasts to Check Out
We’re loving season three of Emer & Esther’s Sunday Roast, and the pair of carvery detectives have cleverly pivoted to Patreon to produce exclusive episodes for a core group of listeners. Elsewhere, two brilliant Go Loud podcasts to recommend: first, Dr Marie Cassidy’s Life in Death is a fascinating insight into her role as a former State Pathologist and some of the cases she’s worked on. Second - disclaimer, Russell produces this one - is Dishing It Out with two top Irish chefs together at the microphone: Gary O’Hanlon and Gareth Mullins. A great listen for food lovers with lots of chef perspectives, interesting guests and insightful conversations in food.
Finally, we have to shout out a podcast we’ve appeared on twice now –– Real Hot Girl Pod. Hosted by Claire Beck and Conor Finn, it’s an inclusive, queer podcast space that’s bursting with sass every single ep. We joined them just before Christmas to talk festive entertaining and putting snowballs in your mouth. Always a hoot!
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