The Week In Food #18: Unclaimed deposits, Cinco de Mayo recipes, fast-food sales hits
It's the May Bank Holiday weekend, so is it officially the start of the summer?
With the sun shining brightly, a very large coffee in hand (thanks to it being the Kilkenny Roots Festival weekend among other things) and with the bank holiday well and truly underway, this is The Week In Food #18.
As an insight into proceedings here, I would usually pen the newsletter on a Saturday night, timed nicely to land in your inbox at 7am on Sunday. So with this landing a few hours later, I’ll blame the likes of the Brown Horse (from Delia Smith territory), Amy May Ellis, Willy Mason and more for the lie-in and my late start to the day. The festival continues until tomorrow, 6 May.
Also today (Sunday) you’ve got the inaugural FoodieFest running at Mountain View so if you’re within driving distance of Kilkenny, you’ve certainly got the weather for a great day of food and talks ahead.
Before I lose the run of myself altogether, and with two festivals to hit this afternoon, let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the past week…
1. ‘My Garden, My Fork’ launched in Carlow
First up this week is news of a new pilot initiative aiming to bring the community of Bagenalstown together through the joy of gardening and sustainable living. Funded by Healthy Carlow, the ‘My Garden, My Fork’ project offers families the opportunity to get their hands dirty and grow their own fruits and vegetables.
Each family receives a pack containing everything they will need, along with guidance from horticulturalist Dee Sewell who has been blogging for years at greensideup.ie.
Find out more via Healthy Carlow or by contacting Carlow County Council.
2. €65m unclaimed from Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme?
Since its launch on 1 February this year, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme has seen over 76m cans and bottles returned with €13m worth of deposits returns to shoppers - but millions more are sitting unclaimed according to RTÉ this week.
If you haven't noticed it already, drinks cans and bottles now come with an additional deposit charge added at the checkout - 15c or 25c per item depending on the size of the bottle or can - and it all adds up. In my case this week, a six-pack of water bottles in Aldi added €1.80 to the €2.49 shelf price upon checkout.
I’ve finished two of them, possibly binned one and held onto another. Will I get to reclaim the deposit? Time will tell, but I’m not the only one waiting.
According to the report, the aforementioned 76m cans and bottles returned represent just 16% of what has been sold, meaning there’s a potential €65m in deposits sitting unclaimed.
It’s an interesting read - check out the link below for details.
3. No street furniture fees for the remainder of 2024
In a boost for cafés and restaurants this week that offer kerbside dining around the country, fees for street furniture are being waived for the rest of 2024.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD announced the news at the start of the week, seeking to extend the regulations around street furniture as support for hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafés, resulting in a potential saving of €125 per table.
4. As more people are eating at home, US fast-food chains may need to dial up the charm
From the US, with disposable income in the country in decline, pressure is mounting on global fast-food giants to roll out price cuts and promotions to get inflation-hit customers back through their doors, according to Reuters.
This comes off the back of weak sales being reported by McDonald's, Starbucks and other big chains. I wouldn't be surprised if it comes to pass in Ireland as well with one recent trip to a fast food chain setting me back €50 for two adult and one child's meals.
The U.S. consumer confidence index fell for the third consecutive month in April, according to a survey conducted by research group The Conference Board, which found that the first place Americans are looking to save money is on meals away from home.
5. New report looks at ‘unethical’ packaging of sweet treats aimed at children
And from the UK, Bite Back, a Jamie Oliver campaign group, has found the 10 biggest producers that reel in young shoppers with attention-grabbing colours and cartoons - suggesting that 'unethical' junk food packaging manipulates children into craving sweets.
According to the report in the Guardian, the research analysed 262 sweet food products sold in the UK with packaging likely to appeal to children.
Of those 262 products it suggests
78% were deemed unhealthy because of their fat, salt or sugar content.
67% of those featuring a character were unhealthy.
80% used bright colours as well as fun patterns and lettering to attract children’s attention
Extra reading this week
Adam Maguire (no relation) has been looking at the rising cost of a cup of coffee in Ireland
If you’re a fan of cocktails, these might just be the best places in Ireland to grab one today
Whatever about stealing from a business, one Irish company essentially had their business stolen with their food truck robbed in Galway in recent days, later recovered in Ennis
TikTok is being credited with a 40% boost in sales for one cottage cheese producer thanks to ‘influencer’ trends
Recipes to try this week
While today is a big day in Mexican history (though maybe not as high on the list as Independence Day or the celebrations around Dia de los Muertos), you don’t have to wait until Cinco de Mayo to test your Mexican cooking skills. So in the spirit of the day, here are five Mexican-inspired recipes you could try this week to add a little crunch, heat and spice to the days ahead.
Oh, and here’s some of the history for you.
Bring the heat with some vegetarian stuffed poblanos (or sub them out for peppers in your next supermarket shop)
A favourite of mine any time of the year, chicken enchiladas. Easily adaptable for a gluten-free recipe and seriously filling.
Ahead of Thyme also have a dinky recipe for loaded sheet-pan nachos. Great when you’ve got a few people around or you’re looking for a tear-and-share meal.
Ready in jig-time, this Mexican black bean salad could go down a treat over summer weekends
You had me at taco. In particular, these slow cooker pulled pork tacos. Get in.
Podcast pick
I’ve been going down the rabbit hole of The Rest Is History of late, including a great listen with actor Tom Hanks on the moon landings (Hanks narrates The Moonwalkers, running until October 2024). In this episode from 2021, hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook tuck into the history of British food with author Pen Vogler where they debate the origins of curry and the UK obsession with beef alsng with a look at a curious historical obsession with cooking pigs and chickens, stitched together.
Listen here on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
And that’s a wrap…
And that’s it for today! If you’re reading this on Sunday, go get some of that sun on your face, and enjoy the day! I should also mention that I finally got to pay the Blasta pizza boys a visit in Kilkenny as part of a ‘Roots pitstop. Someone needs to give those lads a medal; their Sweet Heat pizza is the absolute business, the best I’ve had in an age.
Keep an eye on the blog this week for a content dump and catchup and as always, if you’d like to get in touch about anything on air or online, drop me an email - ken@kenonfood.com - and let’s talk.
You can also find me on X (nee Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Until next Sunday, when Bruce Springsteen rolls into town, mind how you go!
K