Hot Flavours: Our Tastes and Tipples of the Fortnight

Things are hotting up – and, in other ways cooling down – in the low and zero alcohol market with the launch here of CEDER.

Made in Sweden using rare mountain botanicals that can only be found in South Africa, the continent-hopping alternative to gin is best served with a premium tonic, sliced cucumber and fresh mint.

You’ll find it in Tesco and SuperValu at the RRP of €25 for a 500ml bottle.

There’s more South African deliciousness to be had courtesy of The Meat Crafter, AKA Cashel resident Mcalvin Makalichi whose small batch Original, Sweet Chilli and BBQ biltong follow a recipe handed down to him by his grandma. Be warned; it is seriously addictive!

Making its Dublin bow is Ramona, a super-hip organic wine spritz in a can, which includes DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Kanye among its A-List hip hop quaffers. Made from Sicilian grapes and infused with either ruby grapefruit or lemon, it’s a sessianable 7% and looks really good in your paw.

It was love at first bite last week when Team Hot Flavours had the KimCheese Sambo with Spring Onion Kimchi, Gochujang Mayo & Ssamjang & Cheddar Cheese Sauce in Chimac (pictured above), the country’s first Korean fried chicken joint residing at 76 Aungier Street, Dublin 2, which is down the road from Whelan’s if you’re in need of a pre/post-gig pigout. Or should that be chickenout? Either way, it’s impossibly good…

We’ve also developed a serious crush on Frank’s, a new opening up the road from Chimac (and Whelan’s) on Camden Street.

Presided over by Darren Free who owns nearby Delahunt as well, all the cooking in the former butcher’s shop is done at a communal 20-seater table.

When we popped in, the constantly changing two snacks/four mains/two desserts menu included Barley Crackers with Beef & Black Garlic, Lamb Breast with Padron Pepper, Navet & Gnocchi and a cracking Coffee Panna Cotta.

TIPPLE OF THE FORTNIGHT

Steam Brew 7.5%

It’s rare that our Tipples of the Fortnight are non-Irish nationals. It’s even rarer that they come off supermarket shelves, but Lidl are outdoing themselves this fortnight with some of their crafty foreign imports.

The very fine work of Eichbaum, a renowned Germany brewery that was founded in 1679 and draws its ‘corpse water’ from a spring under a graveyard, this fermented Imperial Stout is a muscular fella with big smoky caramel flavours bursting out of the 500ml can.

Accompanying it over from Manheim are the equally fine 7.8% Steam Brew German Red and 7.8% Imperial IPA.

The cans are themselves a work of art and available as part of a VFM mix and match 4 for €6 deal.

Prost!