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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.
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!
