Society Focus: du food and drink The Dublin University Food and Drink Society was established in 2001, with the aim of promoting interaction between all members of the college community around the shared passion for good food and fine beverages. Since the establishment of the society just six years ago, it has grown to become one of the largest societies in college with just over one thousand members. The society is committed to fostering friendships within the college between people of all backgrounds and we can boast one the broadest and most varied memberships in college. Last year, the society was honoured to receive the CSC award for ‘Best Large Society 2006 – 2007’. We believe that success of the society is due to the diversity of our events. Being a society that is concerned with all activities pertaining to food and drink gives us considerable scope to create a programme of events each term which will appeal to a wide-ranging number of people. We try to maintain an interesting and appealing mix of popular traditional events with new culinary experiences. One of the society’s traditional events is the Term Dinner. Each term of the academic year, the society organises a dinner in a notable city centre restaurant, and subsidises up to two thirds the cost of the meal. In essence, we offer members an excellent three course meal for around €15. Now that’s an offer that not many can refuse. This event has been customary since the inauguration of the society six years ago, and over this time we have been lucky to be able to offer the members fantastic evenings out in such gastronomically delightful restaurants as Fallon and Byrne, Darwin’s and Saba on Clarendon Street. These events are always a treat, and provide an opportunity for people to meet fellow students in a relaxed and highly sociable setting. Another type of event that the society is very active in is tastings. Each year, we organise a number of tastings from whiskey to wine and chocolate to cheese. The number of members and venues for these tastings varies, but the atmosphere is always relaxed with the emphasis on being enjoyable and informative. This year, we have taken our members whiskey tasting at the Old Jameson Distillery, wine tasting at the delectable wine merchant’s Berry Bros. and Rudd, and have hosted a fantastic evening of cheese tasting conducted by the college’s own Kevin Brazil. We were delighted that Kevin, an experienced Cheesemonger in Fallon and Byrne and student of the college, was able to host this event which was both entertaining and enlightening. Whenever possible we like to highlight the knowledge and talent within the college community and encourage our members to share with us any food and/or drink related knowledge that they have. But there is more to the Food and Drink society than sitting around quaffing champagne and other fermented beverages in plush surroundings…just about. Sometimes we hire out a club and invite people to come and enjoy their beverages standing up and listening to music. One of our most successful annual events is the ‘Romeo and Juliet Hallowe’en Ball’. This year, we were delighted to secure the exclusive ‘Lillie’s Bordello’ for the night, which contrary to what the name suggests does not in fact involve dressing as fifteenth century Italians, though it does of course involve dressing up. The premise, for those of you who may not know, is that each person attending picks a character of a pre-created list, and on the night each person must attempt to find their character’s other half! This year we offered prizes for those who were ‘best dressed’ with the main prize going to the ‘Best Couple’, as in the couple in which both individuals had made a great effort with their costumes and managed to find each other before the end of the night. I assure you not as easy as it sounds. Refer to accompanying photographs. The society also strives to provide information and advice to the members. We have an active library that we will be expanding next year consisting of a multitude of cookery books and DVD’s, all of which are available for loan to members. The library will from next year be available to view and book through the website, see below for details. This term the fun doesn’t stop, and we have a full programme of events to bring our members up to Easter well fatted and satisfied. In an attempt to repent for the deluge of gourmet foods and alcoholic beverages that we have presented you with thus far, Food and Drink is going to be stepping up the on-going healthy eating campaign, starting with a free fruit and juice give-away in the Arts Block. After that you have such delights to look forward to as the celebrated Term Dinner, a Valentine’s raffle and free goodie give-away and the much anticipated charcuterie evening ( that’s cold meats and anti-pasti to you and me). So don’t miss out, if you haven’t already joined we can be found floating around the arts block in tell tale red hoodies soiled with some remnant of last night’s over-indulgent dinner, or even on the odd occasion in the Hamilton, peddling some food and drink related items. Alternatively you could just drop us an e-mail at info-at-dufoodanddrink.com. To keep up to date with all of the fantastic events this term, as well as details of all of our deals and discounts for members check out the website – dufoodanddrink.com. |
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