Today I've been pimping the Monster for the coming season. I live in a very exposed part of Strandhill and luckily the Monster survived the crazy weather over the last few months. Some nights I really thought the van would be blown away in the gales. Happily it seems to have aclimatised to the weather in the North West. This Sunday, I will be attending an FAI Junior Connacht Cup game at the Sligo Sports Complex. Kick off is at 2pm. Maybe I'll see some of you there. I will keep you up dated on future events in the coming weeks.
The Monster had a good season this year. It was a little bit quieter than the last few years, due to baby duties. Here's a few pictures over the last few months.
Sligo Rovers Homecoming 2011
New Surf Board.. Thanks to Conor from Wax On
Preserves I've made for the Christmas Hampers
Cooking Apples
Apple and Ginger Jam
Bramley Apple Lemon Curd
Luke in the Playground
So as you can see I like apples. I've been making a lot of different seasonal preserves, all of which are available in my Christmas Hampers. Please see the Christmas Hamper Section for more details.
This year started off a little differently to last year. Last January, I was starting the 3 month course in Ballymaloe cookery school. This January, I was starting the year as a new mum to a little boy called Luke. So the season this year will be a lot quieter than the last few. No 3 day festivals and that type of thing. A bit of a blessing anyway, as I've found out , 3 day festivals are only great if you're not working at them!
Here's Luke at the Summer Scope event the Monster attended at Sligo Library on Saturday 11th June 2011. http://www.sligolibrary.ie/sligolibrarynew/Events/
I am planning on going to local Triathlons this year again, and we're also regulars at all the Sligo Rovers home games.
Get in touch if you have a local event you would like me to attend.
Ever since the Sligo Rovers Season ended (Brilliant season for the Team and the Cafe!), I've pretty much hung up the Cafe's boots for the Winter. I'm currently on maternity leave and while I've been waiting for the baby to arrive, I've been making preserves and doing a lot of baking. The Three Fruit Marmalade above was my first batch of preserves.
I also made Spiced Apple Chutney and Cranberry and Apple Jam. which led me on to making Christmas Hampers. Above is the final product. The Hampers include Three Fruit Marmalade, Spiced Apple Chutney, Cranberry and Apple Jam, Mini Chocolate Brownies, Ballymaloe Fudge, Christmas Tree Ginger Bread Cookies, Monster Cafe Coffee Beans. Apart from the Coffee Beans, all the items are home made by me.
Above is the finished product, all Hampers have been sold, which is great. I plan on making Hampers for different occassions. I will up date my web site shortly with details.
The Monster Cafe Van will be back in Business from the start of April 2011. Made to order Hampers will be available from January 2011.
The Cafe was off the road from January to the end of March, while I was down doing the 3 month Ballymaloe Cookery Course in Shanagarry, Co. Cork. It was brilliant, I learned so much and now everything in the Cafe is baked by me, from the bread for the Sandwiches to the Cakes and Home Made Lemonade(on sunny days). Since returning, I've been back visiting places of work during the week and going to as many weekend events as possible. I just had a really busy weekend out at Rosses Point at the LSD KiteSurfing Festival. Lots of wind and lots of friendly Coffee drinkers. I'm hoping to attend as many local events as possible this summer. I will also be attending a New Farmers Market in the Rugby Club at Strandhill, Sligo, starting this Sunday 9th May at 11 am - 3pm. I am also at all the Sligo Rovers Home Games up at the ShowGrounds. Hope to see you at some of these events.
The Cafe has added an extra day to the week! The Monster will be adding Tuesday to the usual Monster Wednesday - Friday work week.
The Monster Stops are as follows in Sligo:
10am, Strandhill Business Park 10.30am HSE offices at Feehilys Funeral Home 11.00am Tiscali, IDA Business Park, Finisklin 11.30am Hamilton Young Architects Building, Finisklin 11.45pm Fort Dodge, Finisklin 12.20pm Power Right (opposite Sligo General Hospital) 12.45pm Sligo Grammar School, The Mall, Sligo 2pm Home
The Monster attends the Farmers Market on a Wednesday, outside Johnstons Court. The Cafe is there from 11.30 - 2.00pm.
October Bank Holiday 09, French Market, Sligo
Start of Oct 09, LSD Kite Surfing Event, Rosses Point, Sligo
Cold day at the Wednesday Farmers Market, Johnstons Court, Sligo
Since the Volvo Ocean Festival, the Monster Cafe has been busy dropping into work places during the week and heading off to festivals at the weekends. The cafe also has a spot out in Rosses Point beach and outside the front of Johnstons court in Sligo Town. The Monster will be taking a months holiday to get married to Bingo. But, we will be back in full swing in time for the Electric Picnic at the start of September...The Village Green, is where its at! come visit...
I'm just back from the Galway Volvo Ocean Race,the first major event for the Monster Cafe. It was a brilliant two weeks for Galway. The marina/docks looked beautiful and with live free concerts each night, different events during the day, the crowds flooded the ocean Village in each day creating a vibrant atmosphere.
The first weekend was hectic and I ran out of all my supplies, I think most of the other traders did too, as no one was expecting the crowds that came to welcome in the Green Dragon. The sun came out on the second week and turned us all into lobsters. I really did start to think I had the little van down in the south of France. I was set up next to the Guinness tent and Duane's Fish Shop, had reat craic with the lads from Clifden. Good food Ireland weren't far away either, so We all ate quite well, maybe a bit too well!
The 12 hour days were tough going, but I'd great help from friends and family.Thank you!
I'm taking a week off before I head back on the route around Sligo Town.
Me, Stew and Lisa
Kyra and Barry taking a break
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