Sunday, April 24, 2005

Bang

Such a good meal last night at Bang Café on Merrion Row. Seven of us, and not a false note with anyone's meal plus the best service we've had at a Dublin Restaurant in quite a while. Delicious asparagus to start, perfectly cooked loin of lamb to follow and woke up today dreaming of the Scandanavian Iced Berries with hot White Chocolate Sauce......mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

oh lordy....yaaaawwwn

I'm suffering from terrible insomnia lately. It's a killer. No massive mystery- stress related- but I'm really thinking that hormones have no small part to play for me. I can't remember if this was always the case, or if I'm just more aware of the effect of hormonal blasts these days.

Of course, the ironic thing about stress related insomnia is the fact that not sleeping seriously increases stress levels......not to mention all the extra wrinkles....sigh...

So, while trying to minimise stressors(!) and practicing good sleep hygiene, I'm going to try some different 'detoxy' diet things that I wouldn't previously have considered. And I'm going to try a few other dietary changes that don't necessarily have scientific support. And we'll see.....

Monday, April 11, 2005

Confession

I've recently decided to put my money where my mouth (so to speak) and started an exercise program.

Alright, alright ...when I say 'program', I mean that I'm walking with a friend at a reasonable clip for over an hour a few times a week. My bum is aching today, which I'm taking as a clear indication that using muscles in my backside for sitting on for the last 3 years simply hasn't been the workout required to keep it up above my knees.

But I am so satisfied with how good I'm feeling with just this simple change that I'm at risk of turning into an exercise enthusiast in practice as well as in theory.

Sunday, April 10, 2005

School Dinners

Anyone who watched Jamie Oliver's efforts to change English school meals for the better (Jamie's School Dinners) will have noticed that was like a mini sociology experiment.
Quite aside from the awfulness of the food the children ate, so many things struck me: the total lack of knowledge of the parents featured about food and nutrition basics; the innovation and almost psychological warfare needed to expand children's horizons in food choices; the success of peer to peer education for both children and cooks; the dramatic difference dietary change made to behavior........and the Irish dinner lady was a central casting representative of a generation of emigrants whose values and work ethic reflect a different era.....and oh my goodness, the Clinton 'South Beach Diet' snub.....

Compelling viewing. And if it makes no difference to government policy, public attitudes and nutrition knowledge, then the Rosemary and Garlic Roast Leg of Lamb recipe from his first book will have to be enough.