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7:59 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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The universal king of black pudding is made in the town of Clonakilty in the west of County Cork, southern Ireland. That is just 16 miles from my home place. It is known locally as just Clon.
Clonakilty Black pudding (CB) has only been properly marketed in the past dozen years or so and is not easily available in the UK (yes, if you shop at Fortnum & Mason!). But if you have friends who are travelling to Ireland, do ask them to bring you back a ring. It is sold in the airports and is generally available throughout the whole country. Get the white version too. It is nicely spicy and a great partner for the black.
We have served both as a canapé crushed on toast at St. Patrick's Day parties here at CSH, to rave reviews.
The CB website has gone AWOL, sadly. No idea why because it did have many recipes and good ways to use the product.
When I first visited the UK many years ago, I was surprised at how tasteless and unattractive were the black pudding rings served with breakfast. The sausages were nicer than the ones at home but the baked beans and ugly black pudding left the UK side down in the fried breakfast stakes, in my mind at least.
Read more on Wikipedia and this blog, the Messy Chef. I love the first comment on that blog post:
œMy favourite Black Pudding recipe is in a rocket salad with melted goat™s cheese and honey.
Tried CBP with scallops and truffle mash last night and it was gorgeous.
That puts BP in a whole new light, doesn™t it? !!
I would love to be able to sell it here in the UK, just to convert people to an eye-opening and fantastically tasty alternative to the bog standard offering.
There are a few UK online shops that sell it, including this rather embarrassing (if you are Irish) but efficient store in Coventry.
Never knowingly underfed
8:12 pm
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Sun 17-Jan-10
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Danny " that's the black pudding I get from my butchers in the market, and a central part of our Christmas morning breakfasts 🙂
It really is the king among black puddings. I've had boudin noir (spelling?) a few times and it's gorgeous too. Harder to track down than CBP mind you, and a much smoother texture so it wouldn't be my first choice. Those tasteless dry rings you talk about are far too common in hotels and cafes. Although I suppose I should be glad they're there at all " too many places offer fry ups with no black pudding option at all . A disgrace.
Last year we barbecued scallops and topped them with a blob of CBP. Put them on a little circle of toasted soda bread and wait for the compliments.
Leftovers (if there are any!) are excellent crumbled into casseroles or the meat sauce of a lasagne " they give it a really rich flavour.
Oh " and the one and only time G and I ate in Michelin-starred Michael Dean's restaurant in Belfast (wedding present vouchers) they served CBP.
8:16 pm
2nd Grader
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Thu 24-Jun-10
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I couldn't agree with you more Danny. English BP is horrid compared to Clon. My butcher sells Clon and he's the best butcher in the area, IMHO. He butchers everything from his own farm and he has his brothers vegetables on sale too. It's sooo much cheaper to shop there too. I buy his £20 meat pack which consists of;
2.5lb Pot Roast
1lb mince
1lb Liver
1lb Pork Steak
1lb Stewing Steak
1lb Steak Pieces
1lb Veg Roll (sliced uncooked mince, spices, onions and leek)
4 x Quarter Pound Beef Burgers - Home Made
1lb Lamb Chops
All brought down from the farm.
I feel so lucky to have him on my doorstep.
Like slinky's, some people are best when pushed down the stairs
8:44 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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Lucky you, Alli - we once had a butcher like that too.
It is so worthwhile to develop a relationship with your local butcher. They are so much better than national chain supermarkets.
All it needs is a little bit of chat, like something really simple like "So, how has you day been?". that just starts a rolling snowball. Some people find it difficult to do but it really works.
Never knowingly underfed
8:48 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Ah now, I have never tasted Clonakilty black pudding and up until a few years ago I would have told you I did not like this dry cardboardy black pudding on sale in the shops. Then I went to the Outer Hebrides and tasted Stornoway black pudding. It is so delicious, very moist and very tasty. I adore it served with scallops on top, with a slice of crispy bacon. 
What a pity we cannot taste each of the contenders in this Northern Ireland V Scotland match.
They do a spicy white pudding too, very peppery. I love it, but would only have it as a treat.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
8:51 pm
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Sun 17-Jan-10
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Allison - which butcher do you use? Years ago I used the one in North Street, until it was sold and re-opened under new management. Just wasn't the same.
These days I get most my meat at Greenmount Meats in St. George's Market - they're the proper butchers down near the Albertbridge Road end, back of the chemist's shop if you know the market. The butchers at the May Street end scare me a little because of all the pre-packed stuff they have out, and because I've seen them set up stall on Thursday evenings.
9:08 pm
Councillor
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Danny said:
There are a few UK online shops that sell it, including this rather embarrassing (if you are Irish) but efficient store in Coventry.
I know where that shop is - it's about a mile from our house. Next time I'm passing I'll have to pop in and get myself some 
Visit my blog for food, drink, photography and hamsters.
9:18 pm
2nd Grader
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Thu 24-Jun-10
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Shereen, my butcher is McMaster's in Whitehead. Take the first turn into W'head after the Cable Garage (travelling from Belfast). Take the second turning on the left (Kings Road) and he's on the left hand corner about 300 yds down the road next door to the Post Office with the bakers on the opposite corner.
I know what you mean about St. George's Market butchers, although I was down last Friday and got some great fish. I like the stuff from the Deli stall in the middle, mind you, I think it's terribly expensive! The wee Indian stall with all its veggie samosa's and spring roll type things is pretty good though. We had some for starters last Friday night and with some homemade Raita and popadums was just scrummy!! 
Like slinky's, some people are best when pushed down the stairs
9:47 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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The Belfast Food Tourism Agency is well represented on this forum 
Never knowingly underfed
9:52 pm
2nd Grader
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Thu 24-Jun-10
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Ooh, is it? Fabulous, as a newbie, I haven't seen that yet. I shall go and have a dander!
Thanks Danny! 
Like slinky's, some people are best when pushed down the stairs
3:10 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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The first meal I ever ate in Ireland was a full Irish breakfast which included black and white pudding and fried soda bread. I was in heaven, it all tasted so darn good.
I'll try that again!
5:52 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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( waving Scottish flag ) Now, back to Stornoway back pudding. Has anybody tasted it?
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
8:11 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I might have, when I stayed in Oban but I wasn't made aware of it. 
I'll try that again!
9:23 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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I stayed overnight in Oban once too, TA. Neither can I remember the breakfast. It was almost 12 years ago. But a most beautiful part of the world. Took the train from Edinburgh across to Oban. It was the most scenic train journey I have ever taken.
Danuta, you have given me a great idea if we do manage to have a CSH day next July. A blind tasting of 4 or 5 BPs, including your Stornoway and the best that England and Wales have to offer. That would be fun and interesting. 
Never knowingly underfed
9:45 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Looking forward to it already. 
Let's think of other tastings too.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
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