The wine and food of ely through the seasons by Erik and Michelle Robson
The wine and food of ely through the seasons by Erik and Michelle Robson
The team behind the hugely successful ely restaurants have come together to create two books in one: a great cookbook and an indispensable wine reference
Husband-and-wife team, Erik and Michelle Robson, had their ‘Eureka!' moment on holiday in Seville. They were so taken with the experience of being able to enjoy a huge selection of great wines by the glass that they brought the formula home, to a Georgian townhouse on Ely Place. It proved to be a winning one. Ely winebar, which opened in 1999, now offers over 100 wines by the glass, as well as superb, homecooked food, with all of the organic beef, pork and lamb, sourced through the family farm in the Burren, Co. Clare.
The fishcakes and the ely organic burger are already the stuff of legend.
In no time, ely winebar set the standard across Ireland and beyond for its innovative approach to serving wine. The combination of an exciting and extensive wine list and great food has earned ely a wide and loyal customer base, and the respect of wine writers and connoisseurs across Ireland. The Robsons have since added two fully licensed venues - ely chq at the IFSC with its stunning vaulted wine cellars and heated waterside terrace, and ely hq on Hanover Quay, which offers a sophisticated bar and cosmopolitan menu, in yet another stunning waterside venue.
Now, the team at ely have brought together their expertise - in food and in wine - in a fabulous new cookbook that's as stylish as the restaurants themselves. The wine and food of ely through the seasons offers over 70 delicious recipes, each one matched with two sensational wines, carefully chosen by Erik and Michelle.
They touch on subjects such as choosing, storing and serving wine, how to know if a wine is corked, advice on the best glasses to use and a comprehensive reference of grape varieties. Notes throughout the recipes give handy hints for getting the best out of each one, while illustrated step-by-steps take a closer look at some trickier techniques, such as shucking an oyster, or boning a chicken. There's also the low-down on creating a cheeseboard, serving great coffee and mixing cocktails - things that the people at ely know a thing or two about.
Recipes are grouped according to the season - a philosophy key to the ely experience - and range from winter comfort food such as chargrilled venison with red cabbage, prunes and roasted fig, to a summery cucumber and crab salad, or a dish of tender organic spring lamb. Desserts such as ely mess, espresso crème brûlée and Jamaican coffee pecan brownies will tempt even the most cautious cook.
Glorious colour photographs by Trevor Hart and a foreword by Mary Dowey make this more than a wine reference and great cookbook. You'll be tempted to bring it out of the kitchen and browse through it, curled up with - yes, a glass of wine - on the sofa.
-The wine and food of ely through the seasons will launch on November 20th 2008; price €35.00
- The book is 240 pages, printed in hard back and in full colour throughout
-Over 70 recipes, including signature ely dishes, matched with more than 120 wine recommendations
-Tips on choosing, serving and storing wine
-400 stylish colour photographs
-Printed and bound in Ireland on materials from sustainable, well-managed forests, fully FSC compliant
-Available exclusively from ely and a select choice of retail wine merchants
The perfect Christmas present for a foodie friends or wine lovers alike, as the wine and food of ely through the seasons is the perfect fusion of fine wines and smooth food.
On October 14th 2008 the Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan T.D, announced an increase on the excise on a standard bottle of wine by 50 cent (including VAT) with pro rata increases on other wine products.
Rather than passing this increased cost on to its customers all three ely venues, (ely winebar, 22 Ely Place, ely chq, Custom House Quay and ely hq, Hanover Quay) are pleased to announce that as an early Christmas present it will be absorbing these costs on behalf of its customers, (until December 31st 2008).
ely continues to offer quality wines at great value.
For more information please contact Erik & Michelle Robson or Anna Karellas on
[01] 676 8986, email michelle@elywinebar.com / anna@elywinebar.com
