metro Arts & Entertainment BLK JKS In Town This Weekend Touring on the back of After Robots, their debut album released in September, this South African band combine wildly disparate music styles and influences from roots reggae to shoegaze to jazz Tonight, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 7.30pm, 11.80. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.myspace.com/blkjks Sive Fifty-years have passed since John B Keanes morality tale was first staged, but the story of Sive a young woman married off to an old man in rural Kerry during the 1950s has timeless themes of power, money and gender hypocrisy Tonight until Sat, Liberty Hall Theatre, Eden Quay D1, 8pm, 15 to 18. Tel: 0818 205 205. www.troppotheatre.com The Surface Of Events The ever-wonderful Anne Hendrick returns with a solo exhibition of paintings that appropriate classical landscape imagery via photographic source material and not-what- they-seem architectural spaces Until Nov 12, Talbot Gallery & Studios, 51 Talbot Street D1, Tue to Fri 10.30am to 5pm, Sat 10.30am to 2pm, free. Tel: (01) 855 6599. www.annehendrick.com life Table Talk The Exchange Going Out Food & Drink Exchange at top n 2001, at the height of the Celtic Tiger, Dublins five-star Westin hotel opened its doors and made headlines for serving a 500 cocktail in its Mint Bar. I wondered then how The Exchange Restaurant was faring in the downturn, and whether or not Id need to frisk my sofa for some loose change... No matter. We plumped for the recession-busting three-course pre-theatre menu (22) more because we were pushed for time than strapped for cash. Sacrilege! With its soft lighting and feather chair cushions that sigh pleasingly when you lean back on them, The Exchange is not the sort of place you want to leave in a hurry. The epitome of elegance, Exchange has an Art Deco feel though not an outright theme; music tended towards jazz standards and food was quirkily presented on thoroughly modern crockery (his soup bowl looked like a spaceship). Shame then that the tall room divider is not only an eyesore given the 1920s theme, better to have something mirrored than wood? but also obscures the gorgeous Liberty-pattern-cum- Japanese-print-cum-tattoo design wall mural. We were offered a choice of breads while waiting for our starters: me the gnocchi, he the soup. My home-made potato pods sans confit of duck, as requested were soft, plump, and slathered in a creamy thyme sauce peppered with braised shallots and generous Parmesan shavings. It was the perfect sized portion for such a wantonly rich dish, though not quite hot enough. His cream of asparagus and leek soup was poured at our table onto a generous orb of cottage cheese cream in the spaceship bowl. Supremely fresh tasting, the asparagus flavours dominated though never overpowered. For mains, my pan-fried sea trout fillet was butter soft, its tender pink flakes countered with crispy skin. It came I with a warm red onion and baby potato salad, carrot and fennel vegetable slaw and marinated anchovy and orange vinaigrette an abundance of flavours but all surprisingly complementary; the firm cubes of potato contrasting with the tart citrus segments, the juicy slaw with the salty anchovy. His dish was everything youd ask of a well-cooked steak, the mashed potato the right side of creamy and the crown of onion rings expertly battered. Desserts were equally delectable, the three slices of date and sticky toffee pudding embellished with a Turner Prize-worthy lattice of blow- torched sugar and vanilla pod ice- cream, while the milk chocolate, banana and nougat spring rolls were hot, crispy, nutty and gorgeous dunked in cold custard. A ttention to fine detail gives The Exchange a further edge, from rock salt sprinkled over the Mr Whippy fluff of soft butter (to accompany the bread) to our waitress keeping him company while I went to the little girls room. Five-star hotel restaurant staff are expected to know which With its soft lighting and feather chair cushions, this is not the sort of place you want to leave in a hurry TRY THIS Rachel Allens Waffles 12 metrolife Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Waffles are a perfect weekend breakfast, but they can make an excellent snack at any time of day. They go well with so many different toppings, sweet or savoury. Ingredients (makes 16-20 waffles) 400g (14oz) plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp salt 100g (3 1/2 oz) caster sugar 4 eggs 200g (7oz) butter, melted and cooled 600ml (1 pint) milk Icing sugar, for dusting (optional) Method 1. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the salt and sugar and mix well together. Whisk the eggs in another bowl, then stir in the melted butter and milk. Pour the wet ingredients into the centre of the dry ingredients, whisking until you have a smooth batter. 2. Heat the waffle machine. Using a ladle, pour some batter into the machine dont fill it too full. Close the lid and cook for four or five minutes, or until the waffles are cooked through. Remove the waffles, dredge with icing sugar (if using) and add your choice of topping. Toppings Bacon and maple syrup: Serve each waffle with one or two pieces of bacon, maple syrup and soured cream. Peanut butter and jam: Spread one tablespoon of peanut butter or homemade nut butter over the waffle and blob one tablespoon of raspberry or strawberry jam on top. Kiwi fruit and raspberries: Scatter over one chopped kiwi fruit and a small handful of raspberries. Drizzle with runny honey and add a dollop of Greek or natural yogurt. From Rachel Allens Home Cooking (Collins, 29), which is out now Book Now Ted Fest 4 The craggy islands of Inis Mr and Inis irr are gearing up for next years homage to all things priest- shaped Ted Fest 4. Yes, come February and March there are two sittings you too could be joining the ranks of nutters making their annual pilgrimage to the wilds of the North Atlantic, cassock and camping kit in tow, in a homage to the cult TV sitcom. Highlights include a 2am Hide A Nun And Seek competition, a bicycle ride to Chinatown, breakfast aerobics, PJs Hawaiian BBQ, Sister Mills And Sister Boon: A Tribute To The Andrews Sisters, and of course, the Lovely Girls contest. Weekend tickets cost 150 including camping and all private events at Wattys, Shebangos, The Palooka Arms and Halla Ronan, plus more besides Feb 25 to 28 (Inis Mor) & Mar 4 to 7 (Inis Oirr) 2010, Co Galway. www.tedfest.org The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have a pair of weekend camping tickets to TED FEST 4 Mar 4 to 7, 2010 on Inis irr For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. In Father Ted, who played Fr Cyril MacDuff? A Pat Shortt B Don Wycherley The winners of yesterdays tickets to see That Petrol Emotion are: Mary-Ellen Snook, Stephen Mahon & Winifred Ryan index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html