Bon appétit and half price bubbles for the bank holiday
Bon appétit and half price bubbles for the bank holiday
There's a new French bistro in town, half price bubbles in Bewley's plus lots more...
It feels like I’ve loads to update you on this week, probably because I had ignored my inbox for most of the week so getting on top of it today took a while 😅 I was in Galway for Food on the Edge a brilliant few days of inspiring, thought-provoking talks, fair play to JP McMahon and his team for pulling off such an epic event. I will have to share some insights from FOTE soon, but for now, here are your news updates, dates for the diary and some nice bits to read etc. I hope you have a super spooky long weekend!
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
Excited to see that Forêt, a classic French Bistro from the Forest Avenue team has opened above M.O’Brien’s on Lesson Street - what a brilliant location for a pint followed by a great dinner. Bon appétit!
Bewley’s on Grafton Street is celebrating winning a court case to reduce their rent by 50% by offering customers 50% off Prosecco by the glass & bottle from Saturday to Monday 🍾🍾🍾
Drury Street favourite Mani Pizza has rolled as far as Kildare - today they open a pop-up in Kildare Village ‘for a limited time only’. Shopping and pizza - a dreamy day out.
Mitchell & Son Wines have opened a new shop ‘The Vaults’ and an extended version of their already excellent CHQ offering.
Naked Bakes, previously called Oh Happy Treats, are now running a pop-up cafe at Hen’s Teeth serving coffee and vegan baked treats.
Another pub closure this week this time it’s Leonards Corner in Dublin 8 - the much-loved local announced the end of their tenure over on Facebook. It’s not the end for this boozer though, I have it on good authority that doors will be back open soon in v capable hands…Across the road, the pub that was once The Headline is also due to reopen as a pub in a few months, so it seems like this might be a corner to watch.
Down the road in Dublin 8, there’s news of another hotel, a ‘four-star 182-bedroom Vicar Street “Rock and Room” concept’.
The second annual Asian Restaurant Awards took place this week with finalists representing food from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Korea and Vietnam. The list of winners makes for a very tasty hitlist of places to visit including Andhra Bhavan who won ‘Most Authentic Restaurant Dublin’ and Janet’s who won ‘Best Dublin Food Truck’. Check out more on the winners here.
Ruchii in Blackrock will celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with a two-week celebratory menu starting October 28th.
‘Tis the season for Sunday roasts so I’m delighted to see Hawksmoor have their great value Sunday roast back on the menu, available until 5 pm on Sundays and The Croke Park has launched ‘The Roast Club’ available every Sunday from 1 pm to 7 pm with unlimited duck fat roasties.
Galway City and County are gearing up for Blas na Samhna (A Taste of Galway), a month-long food festival full of brilliant food and drink experiences. Kicking off from November 1st, there is loads to look forward to including Wine & Stories at Daróg with Aoife Carrigy and Cathal McBride and SUD Pop-Up at Aniar with Tony Carelli and Claudio Schiano di Cola.
Good news for West Cork, Kitchen Stories in Ballydehob is back open until December. I ate here during the summer and it was wonderful.
Donal Skehan has launched a new lifestyle brand Wind Shore Goods including collaboration with ceramicist Rosemarie Durr, Irish sea salt from West of Dingle, and organic apple cider vinegar from Highbank Orchards. Check it out here.
If you’ve read my book, A Compendium of Irish Pints, you may be aware of my appreciation for all things Irish funeral-related so it’s great to hear that
a) that there is an Irish Wake Museum in Waterford!
And b) that it’s been announced as a Finalist for the 2024 International Tourism Awards. Adding to my list of places I must visit.
The latest Blasta Book came out this week - Socafro by Alistair Jeje.
Are you a food producer that has something that would go well at a Christmas market? Christmas Spectacular is happening this festive season at Smithfield, Dublin and they are looking for talented food producers to take part. Find out more and register your interest here.
Dates for the Diary:
Tasty things to book ahead: [NEW additions up top]
Palates and Plates is an immersive culinary experience in the National Gallery of Ireland hosted by Blanca Valencia and Santina Kennedy. Their next one on October 31st is sold out but three more are coming and tickets will be available very soon.
This Day of the Dead Weekend with El Milagro at the Mexican Embassy in Dublin looks very fun, Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd November.
Whitestown House dinners are mostly sold out for this season but they’ve added new dates for early 2025.
Ladies of Liquor is an evening celebrating the incredible women in the alcohol industry happening Monday, November 4th at Mema’s on Parnell Street.
Wine Faults & Taints Masterclass with A Wine Idea on Monday, 18th November at Hyatt Centric Dublin.
Sherry: A Taste of Andalucía with Williams & Humbert Friday 8th November at Bewley’s on Grafton Street.
Savour Kilkenny is back this weekend.
Max Rocha is cooking at Note on Sunday 27th October and he’ll be at Hen’s Teeth on Tuesday October 29 for a Q&A hosted by Sian Conway. You can book tickets (that include a book) here. Then he’s headed to Ballymaloe Cookery School and Ballymaloe House for a dinner.
Púca Festival is happening from October 31st to November 3rd in Trim and Athboy, Co. Meath. There are lots of (mostly music) events happening but I did spot a harvest market that seems to have some food stuff happening.
Samhain Festival of Food and Culture is taking place from 7th - 10th November check out the full lineup here. I’ll be there on Saturday 9th delving into the history of pints and along with Guinness archivist Eibhlin Colgan. Tickets are only €10 and include a pint.
Chef Sunil Ghai from Pickle will join Ballynahinch chef Danni Barry to host a very special dinner on Friday 8th November. Places are limited and rates start from €620 for two people sharing a classic room including dinner with wine pairings.
If you fancy seeing what it’s like to work in a restaurant Open Kitchen Week is taking place on the 11th-17th of November, check out www.openkitchen.ie for details.
The Dublin Whiskey Club are hosting their first tasting with Dunvilles whiskey at the Fourth Corner Pub on Thursday 14th November. Tickets here.
An interesting event coming up from Lidl - Vino Sensoria is ‘an immersive wine pop-up’ led by Lidl's Master of Wine, Richard Bampfield - happening in Dublin and Belfast in November, tickets are €15.
Polish Wine Fest have a very fun event coming up on Saturday, Nov 23rd - Wine & Pierogis (af)Fair. Taste Polish wines, paired with traditional dumplings, taking place in the lovely Fumbally Stables.
Is it time to talk about Christmas shopping yet? It’s worth putting Gifted in the diary. The Contemporary Craft and Design Fair which includes a Christmas Food Emporium, is set to return to the RDS from December 4-8.
And for my Maynooth readers put this in your diary. The Irish Pop-Up Collective will be at the Glenroyal Hotel on 1st December with lots of great Irish brands and businesses including plenty of food and drink. They will also be at the Royal Marine in Dun Laoghaire on December 8th.
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
Video Killed the Restaurant Critic by Marina O’Loughlin for Noble Rot - don’t skip the comments on this post.
How wonderful to see Aoibheann McNamara’s latest project Summerage at The Burren featured in the Financial Times How To Spend It with stunning photos by Cliondhna Prendergast.
And Cork’s Montenotte Hotel’s new woodland suites in Wallpaper.
US election: Where Trump and Harris stand on food and agriculture
‘If you gonna work in fast food I do recommend maybe not wearing high heels’ always sage advice from Nicole Richie.
Pavit’s ten-dollar Chinatown finds is the best things that’s come out of RHONY this season tbh.
My hero
New tattoo?
‘I’ve been to Paris and the h is silent. It’s Car-donnay’ - Kylie.
Same
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