Lunch At Uncle Pete's, Paul Street

This is one of the best salads in Cork. I challenge you to find a better one. Uncle Pete's is kind of a hidden gem of Cork, they do some incredible pizzas and pasta, but they also do amazing salads. When I worked in the city centre, I was in there at least a couple of times a week.

This Warm Chicken Salad With Bacon is just delightful. Generous pieces of chicken fillet in their own coating, tasty pieces of bacon, tomato, red onion, fresh lettuce leaves and a huge amount of paremesan shavings covered with a delicous fresh, caesar dressing.

I'll be honest, when I'm feeling naughty or taking a break from being a carb-conscious individual- Uncle Pete's Pizzas* are one of my top choices, but you know what? Ordering their salads for delivery is pretty awesome, if you can't be arsed to cook. Low carb food for delivery is a pretty rare thing here.

The food is tasty, the staff are friendly and helpful. Follow them on Facebook or order from Just Eat.

*My jam is a margherita pizza with pepperoni, onions and Italian sausage.

Ginger Infused Vodka

Spirits are pretty much the kings of low sugar drinks- they're so versatile and with 0g carbs per 100g, it's really all about what you drink it with. 

I previously posted my recipe for a low-carb whiskey sour and now S and I decided to try something different- ginger vodka! 

It couldn't be easier- just peel and slice some fresh ginger root and add some vodka to an air-tight container. The best ratio seems to be about 100g of ginger to 400ml of vodka. 

Place in a dark cupboard for 7 days, then it's ready!

So far we've enjoyed it with soda/ tonic water and a load of ice- perfectly refreshing for these unusually warm days. However,  I can't wait to explore the cocktail-making opportunities... If you have any recommendations, let me know!

Note: Alcohol isn't recommended while you're initially getting into ketosis as it can mess with your blood sugar.  Keep in mind too that you're likely to be less hungry while eating low carb- beware drinking on an empty stomach!

Sunday Lunch Feat. Steak & Kohlrabi

Sunday lunch yesterday was a delicious fillet steak from Tom Durcan's in The English Market. I served this delicious piece of beef with baked kohlrabi chips (fries) and three types of purée; carrot & cumin, pea & mint and kohlrabi.

Accidental purée tri-colour

For the perfect tasty morsel of meat, read my blog on how to cook the perfect steak.

Kohlrabi is a fantastic new find of mine, which can be picked up at the Quay CoOp. It's like a turnip, but not as strong tasting. It's a starchy vegetable which is ideal for roasting, but at only 6g of carbohydrates per 100g (compared to potato's 17g!) it's a fantastic alternative.

For The Kohlrabi Chips:

1. Cube the kohlrabi and par-boil in salted water until knife-soft. This should take about 15 minutes.

2. Cover with rapeseed oil and sprinkle over a little salt and pepper.

4. Roast in a pre-heated oven at 180C/355F for 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy on the outside.

For The Kohlrabi Purée:

1. Cube the kohlrabi and par-boil in salted water until knife-soft. This should take about 15 minutes.

2. Blend in a food processor with salt, pepper and a generous knob of butter.

Pro-Tip: Par boil all your kohlrabi and separate into chips and mash to make your Sunday dinner appear extra-posh!

For The Carrot Purée:

1. Slice fresh carrots and par-boil in salted water until knife-soft. This should take about 10 minutes.

2. Blend in a food processor with salt, pepper and a teaspoon of cumin.

For The Pea Purée:

1. Boil fresh peas in salted water until soft. This should take about 15 minutes. (Tinned ones will do in a pinch, but make sure to choose the low-sugar version.)

2. Blend in a food processor with salt, pepper and a handful of chopped fresh mint.

Serve it all up and bask in the admiring glances of your Sunday Dinner Guests!

Man, I don't think I've ever typed the word purée so often.

Lunch At O'Briens, Wilton

I found myself on the go for most of today, so had to grab a quick lunch in Wilton Shopping Centre. Honestly, it's not a great place for low-carb options; the restaurants offer lots of sandwiches/ bagels/ chips/ lasagnes etc. I decided to try my luck at O'Briens, near the Tesco entrance.

I opted for the turkey club salad and I was pretty happy when it arrived. There was a good amount of bacon and cheese on the plate (vital fats for keeping hunger at bay!), though the turkey was processed and a little rubbery. While it wasn't the most amazing salad I have ever had, it did the job and kept me going for the rest of the day. Worth trying the next time you find yourself starving in Wilton!