Hot Flavours: That's the Spirit!

Whiskey Live Dublin returns to the Printworks in Dublin Castle on November 5 with its biggest line-up yet.

Blackwater Distillery, Bushmills, Gaelic Whiskey Co., Tullamore Dew, Teeling, Jack Daniels, Drumshambo Shed Distillery, Slane Distillery and Longueville House Apple Brandy are just a handful of the 60 exhibitors, some of whom will also be bringing whiskey, vodka, poitin and liqueurs with them. There will be two sessions (1.30pm-5pm and 6pm- 9.30pm); food pairings courtesy of KOH Bar, L. Mulligan Grocer and 57 The Headline, and Masterclasses taking place throughout the day.

A tenner from every standard €42 ticket will be donated to this year’s designated charity, Downs Syndrome Dublin. Individual masterclasses cost €5 each, with full details available from whiskeylivedublin.com.

Meanwhile, our old pals at Franciscan Well are staging their 16th annual October Beerfest in their North Mall, Cork HQ from October 27-29 with the tasty beverages accompanied by live music from One Horse Pony and Pinky Trolley, to name but two. New this year is a Beer Connoisseur section – count us in! – where a selection of the world’s top ranked brews can be sampled.

Michie has opened a new restaurant at Georges Dock in the IFSC serving the same great sushi, teppanyaki and noodles as they do in their other three Dublin outlets. The Fire Dragon Roll with seven-spice, eel, avocado and teriyaki sauce is one of the best things we’ve had all year.

Belfast is even tastier this week than usual with the BBC’s Good Food Show coming to the Waterfront from October 14-16. Along with an exhibitor list that includes the likes of Bushmills, Ballymaloe Foods, Shortcross Gin, Sukí Tea, Armagh Cider Company, Galloway Chillies, Glens Of Antrim, HECK! Sausages and Morelli’s Ices, there will be celebrity appearances by The Hairy Bikers, John Torode, Danny Millar, Jane Boyce, Danni Barry, the Pauls Rankin and Hollywood and lots more familiar faces off the telly. See bbcgoodfoodshownorthernireland for more.

Our local Indian’s profits have plummeted following our discovery of the Mama Nagi range of Chilli, Bengali Sweet Chilli and Hot Punjabi Chilli pastes made with much love in Dublin by Mindi Keane who’s named the brand in honour of her gran. Stock up online at mamanagis.ie.