I just came back from an amazing weekend in Inishowen, County Donegal: relaxed, energized and above all inspired. The Irish Food Bloggers Association organised a weekend there for all us mad foodies in Ireland. What started as a small get together to talk food, ended up as foodies' heaven. We learned to make butter, cure meat, grind and brew proper coffee; we butchered a pig and a Dexter cow, we made black pudding (the traditional way),  we shared home baked food, technology knowledge (thank you Sarah from the cookalongs for all those tips on twitter and food photography), but above all, we witnessed the positive impact that responsible sourcing of produce in the food trade can have on the sustainability of local food producers and the local economy. 

It was wonderful to see the incredible force that Donal Doherty is and how his vision for Harry's Bar & Restaurant in the Inishowen Peninsula is shaping the lives of the local producers. I have always been passionate about buying Irish as much as possible. I believe in supporting local producers and in encouraging a food culture that prides in its heritage. As a Mexican, I have become a bit of a purist when it comes to my Mexican Cooking. I don't believe in shortcuts and I think preserving food traditions is as important as preserving my own national identity.  After ten years in Ireland, I have learned to love and appreciate food traditions in this country. I feel proud of the food culture and the food heritage this beautiful island has and I believe it is up to us, every single one of us, to promote and maintain this heritage.

I was in awe of the amount of work Kristin and Caroline from IFBA carried out. They worked tirelessly not only in organising the Inishfood Fest, but also the raffles in aid of two very worthy charities. Inishfood Fest was a wonderful experience (one I hope becomes a yearly event). I made new friends, learned a ton and had the yummiest food I had in a long time: fresh, local and good.

Ok, confession time: as a foodie and self confessed food shopaholic, it may surprise you to learn that I hate regular grocery shopping. I do it every two weeks, three if I can stretch it. I leave work and go directly to my local supermarket and do the round. I promise myself it's only going to be an hour max: in and out with my list, groceries in the boot of the car in less than an hour. It is never that way as I always end up spending two hours or more, going through the crowded shop, getting tired and hungry and buying stuff I don't really need at the time, but might save me another dreaded trip.

The so-called "convenience" of the supermarket is outstripped by the long ques, the total lack of interest and knowledge of most of the supermarket staff, the misleading offers, and most annoyingly, the flipping changes on the layout of the floor every month to get you to drive your trolley through the whole of the shop floor trying to find where the bread aisle has gone to! I lose precious time trying to find the stuff I want to buy and in the process loading the trolley with things I don't need or want but can't resist. A minefield for a shopaholic like me with an average of 250 euro every time I drop by! What a nightmare!

Last week, I visited the Honest2Goodness Market in Glasnevin, which is run by Brid Carter, a lady I met a few months back through my involvement with Slow Food Dublin. I've been meaning to drop and see it for a while but with one thing or another, hadn't gotten to it. The first thing that hit me was how much of a social outing it is! We stopped and chatted to all the stall holders, talked about their produce and sampled some yummy stuff. I noticed that a lot of the customers knew each other and the producer by name and a few "I'll get the usual Fionnula" or "Same as last week Paddy" were overheard. There was no pushing and shoving, no long cues to pay, just really relaxed and happy customers. We spent the most enjoyable two hours there and it reminded me of how much fun shopping for groceries can be and how much I'm missing out by going to the big guys in the supermarket.

I went back this week and I had similar experience and in the process I got a crazy idea for this post! I'm going to go cold turkey on the supermarket and do my grocery shopping, ALL OF IT, in the markets around Dublin. I'm going to try and see if one can truly go back to the "inconvenient ways" of yesteryears and shop every week for one's food needs in what is available in local food markets and specialised, local food stores (not convenience chain shops). I am going to track the whole experience for three months to see if it changes the way I cook, if it modifies my purchasing habits and if it changes the way I view grocery shopping. I'm also going to track my spending to see if there is an impact on my budget and my spending habits. So wish me luck and keep an eye on the blog to learn how I get on!