Hot Flavours: Big Grill, Tango, Blarney Brewing Co. and more

There’s a pronounced Texan flavour to this year’s Big Grill BBQ & Food Festival which returns to Dublin’s Herbert Park from August 14-17.

Along with the stellar Irish and UK lineup, there will be fire cooking from Ali Clem, the chef-owner of Austin’s Michelin-starred Le Barbecue which has been frequented by the likes of Dua Lipa, Seth Rogan and Halle Berry. She’ll be joined by John Bates, the head chef at their crosstown rivals InterStellar BBQ who also won their first Michelin star in November for dishes like his Peach Tea Glazed Pork Belly and Tipsy Turkey, some of which will be crossing the Atlantic with him.

Also confirmed are Hera, Achara, Hang Dai, Bah33, Pitt Bros., Reyna, Chia and sustainable London smokehouse From The Ashes

Tickets starting at €25 are available from biggrillfestival.com.

Ali Clem

If you like eating to the beat, let us point you in the direction of Tango, the new Blasta Books tome by Buenos Aires natives, Facundo Rodolfo and Pamela Neumann, who run Killarney’s Tango Street Food.

Their passion for food and life in general shines through in such iconic Argentine dishes as Fuggazzeta (stuffed pizza), Pasta Frola (quince pie) and Pastel de Papa (a seriously yummy Latino take on shepherd’s pie).

It’s also helped us to seriously up our empanada crimping game but, sadly, not to dance.

Meanwhile, it’s a big Hot Flavours “howaya!” to the Blarney Brewing Co. whose Hydro Lager, Hydro Lite and Muskerry IPA beers will initially be available from eight bars in their hometown and Cork City.

They’re promising that their pints will be up to 50 cent cheaper than their mainstream rivals.

 

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From Georgia – the American state, not the Eastern European country – with beery love comes NoFo Brew Co. who, following a similar link up with Walsall FC in England, have bagged the pouring rights at Drogheda United’s Sullivan & Lambe Park stadium.

United fans are being treated to an exclusive taste of their Drogs Lager, Cowboy’s Payday and Boyne Stout ahead of their national roll out in the near-ish future.

If NoFo would like to introduce themselves to the wider tippling public, the brilliant Dublin Beer Festival has confirmed its September 12 and 13 return to the RDS.

Last year’s bash was a cracker with loads of North American and European guests joining our Irish faves.

Dublin Beer Festival at the RDS. Photo: Maya Solanki

Loganair has commenced direct Dublin-Aberdeen flights with one-way fares from €49.

While probably not everyone’s idea of a cool weekend break, it’s a vibey port town with great seafood – make sure to try their ‘Silver Darling’ herrings’ – the newly launched City of Aberdeen Distillery and Gin School and Fierce Beer, a craft brewery whose 6.5% Kindred Kunindra Thai Coconut Porter is as delicious as it sounds.

Tipple Of The Month:

Kinnegar 4% Jackrabbit Ginger Beer

Regular Hot Flavours readers will know that we’re massive fans of Kinnegar’s 4% Jackrabbit Ginger Beer, which has a wheat beer base, a fiery root ginger kick and a thirst-quenching lemon zing.

With summer in mind, they’ve come up with a killer Jackrabbit Slims cocktail comprising 30ml Teeling Small Batch, 50ml fresh apple juice, 10ml honey syrup (equal parts honey/water) and a generous pour of Jackrabbit. For mixologist quality results, shake the whiskey, apple juice and honey syrup. Fine strain in to a tall glass with ice and top up with Jackrabbit. Garnish with green apple slices et voilà!