With staycations looking like being the norm for this summer, this ingenious new launch from Weber barbecues could be a very useful bit of kit. The portable, fold-away barbecue is gas-fired and works off either a normal-sized propane canister or a portable, disposable one.
It can be transported in the boot of a car when folded down, and the cart has sturdy all-terrain wheels, so you can bring it just about anywhere. Handy, too, for fair-weather barbecue cooks, as it can be set up right outside your kitchen door, then stashed away in a shed or cupboard after use.
The Traveler will be available next month from Weber World Stores, weber.com, and some garden centres, with a price tag of €471.45.
Parnell Street brewery’s tasting club
The Dublin City Brewing Company, due to open on Parnell Street in Dublin 1 later this spring, is launching a tasting club. It will meet online on the last Thursday of the month, beginning on February 25th at 7.30pm. The first session will see head brewer Fergal Murray, previously master brewer and global brand ambassador for Guinness, joined by chef and food entrepreneur Kwanghi Chan.
The pair will taste beers, and Chan will talk about pairing them with Chinese food. Tickets cost €20 for the beers (Liberator lager, Renegade red ale and Patriot pale ale), a branded glass and a jar of Chanchan Black Garlic & Peanut Rayu, as well as access to the Zoom session. That includes delivery in Dublin, and nationwide delivery is available with courier fees. For tickets see dublincitybrewingco.com.
Afternoon tea for a lockdown treat
Afternoon tea, for takeaway or delivery, is a lockdown treat that is available from lots of hotels. However, the Shelbourne hotel on St Stephen’s Green is going one step further and delivering afternoon tea along with the hotel’s linen, crockery, silverware and glasses, so you can recreate its elegant presentation in your own home.
It might not be quite the same as enjoying the finger sandwiches, scones and desserts in the splendour of the Lord Mayor’s Lounge, but it is a fun thing to do, and the best bit is you don’t even need to wash up afterwards. Full instructions on how to set the table and present the afternoon tea to the hotel’s five-star standards are included, along with a souvenir menu.
The Shelbourne afternoon tea for two is available to order seven days a week and can be collected (€100), or delivered within a 10km radius of the hotel (€110). Delivery of the tea for two, plus everything you'll need to set the table, is €170, and you can add a bottle of Champagne, or a bouquet from the hotel's in-house florist, as as extra. To book, see theshelbourne.com.
