It’s been a busy week for me and for food and hospitality news so I hope I got everything in!
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
Tounges were wagging and WhatsApps were hopping after The Irish Times published Corinna Hardgrave's latest review. She gave one star out of five to the new Donnybrook opening Foxy Lounge stating that “No amount of gold can redeem this one-star Donnybrook debacle”. So what was on the menu? ‘Elegance in Shell’, ‘Carpaccio di Rossa Elegance’, ‘Venus Desire Pearls’, ‘Quattro Formaggi Elegance’, and a sprinkling of ‘Tuscan Essence’ and ‘Verdant Elixirs’.” And the decor? “The purple walls are flecked with gold like a unicorn sneezed glitter everywhere”. Take a look at the ‘modern Italian’ menu here. Foxy Lounge hit back at the review and the comments section on their socials.
It’s heartbreaking to see that Ukiyo is already being replaced by a UK chain restaurant - a commenter said it best ‘Madam Pho, can Pho-k off’.
Coffee for Palestine is a new initiative raising funds for the children of Palestine. It’s running from 23rd to 29th of September and they are appealing to cafés around Ireland to pledge ten coffees a day to raise money for the children of Palestine. Read more about it here.
Shoe Lane Coffee opened a third spot this week - you can now find them in Dalkey.
Studio Ramsay – Gordon Ramsay's TV production company let their entire development team go recently and according to Popbitch, they were sent on their way with some classic Ramsay wisdom. The decision was described to newly redundant staff like so: "If mushroom stroganoff isn't working on the menu, we replace it with something else."
Random fact of the week Kate Midelton’s viral video was shot by Will Warr who shoots Top Jaw!
Eat the Streets Festival returns this weekend at Richmond Barracks, in Inchicore Dublin 8 this Saturday from 1 pm to 6 pm. Check out the lineup of events here.
Euro-Toques community of chefs, cooks & producers, is hosting their annual food awards on September 23rd at Airfield in Dundrum. The event is open to all and includes a buffet lunch in Overends Restaurant at Airfield showcasing local artisan produce as well as the awards-nominated producers. Book tickets here.
Chef Mickael Viljanen of Chapter One is heading to Laois on Sunday 29th September to cook dinner with Ballyfin’s Executive Head Chef, Richard Picard-Edwards. Perfect timing for Picard-Edwards to soak up some of Viljanen's 2-star Michelin wisdom as Ballyfin hopes to be awarded their own Michelin star next year after they were added to the guide earlier in the summer. If you fancy this exclusive dining event, dinner and an overnight stay are bookable from €1,430 per room.
Want to learn about how delicious Greek wine is? The Wine Pair on Clanbrassil Street is hosting a Greek Wine Tasting on Tuesday Sept 17th.
This week Redbreast announced the release of its latest expression, Redbreast 18 Year Old, the first permanent addition to the Redbreast family in four years. It’s been aged in a cask combination of ex-bourbon, oloroso sherry, cream sherry and a portion aged in ruby port casks with the cream sherry being a new addition. Available from September 12th for €225.
There’s a new curry sauce on shop shelves to look out for, Fused Chinese Curry Sauce by Fiona Uyema.
Chef Network is calling out for participants for Open Kitchen Week, an initiative running from 11th - 17th November with the idea of offering aspiring chefs a look at what it’s like to work in a professional kitchen.
It’s not food but there will surely be plates at a new ceramics market coming to Dublin on Saturday, October 5th at Throwing Shapes in Dublin 8 showcasing over 20 talented Irish potters and ceramists.
The River Lee Hotel in Cork is hosting a wine dinner with Giacomo Boscaini of Masi Wines on October 8th. The evening is all about celebrating fine Italian wines, with Giacomo, representing the seventh generation of the Boscaini family, imparting his knowledge and sharing stories from this family-run winery.
If you read this newsletter you’ve probably at least once dreamt of quitting everything and heading to Ballymaloe Cookery School for a stint. While that may be out of reach for most of us if you do fancy a taste of the cookery school did you know they do online classes? Next Wednesday you can join Rachel Allen for
Savour Kilkenny is back on October 24th, and they’ve already announced over twenty food and drink events including Bridgerton and Oscar-themed events and ‘Dine and Dance’ with Brian Redmond from Dancing with the Stars. But the event that looks like it will really steal the show is a pop-up with Rory O’Connell and friends.
Taste of Kildare kicks off September 20th to 22nd at Naas Racecourse celebrating the food and drink of County Kildare. The three-day event will host local breweries, food vendors and chefs, dining experiences and demo and talk stages. I’ll be hosting the stages along with my fellow food writer and good pal Dee Laffan. Tickets and more details are available here.
I’m very much looking forward to getting back to Dingle next month for Blas na hÉireann and then the Dingle Food Festival. and delighted to be hosting an event as part of the festival - Why Pints Matter: Crafting a Love Letter to an Irish Tradition happening Friday, October 4th.
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
The brilliantly entertaining chef and food writer Paula McIntyre’s TV show Hamley Kitchen is back and this time she’s been travelling around the USA. It kicks off Friday 20th on BBC One NI.
Harry Hamlin’s sauce! IYKYK
My food & fun roundup of a Washington DC trip earlier this year.
Is this the most beautiful piece of kitchen equipment ever???
Dates for the diary:
Tasty things to book ahead
Dublin Beer Festival - Friday 13th & Saturday 14th September
The Dublin Beer Festival is back in the RDS 13th & 14th of September with a busy lineup of local Irish brewers, visiting brewers, low and no options, a few cocktails and DJs.
Dublin Climate Action Week - Monday 9th to Sunday 15th
There are lots of food-adjacent events like composting workshops happening as part of Dublin Climate Action Week. See the lineup here with more TBA.
Airfield Urban Harvest Festival - Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th
Airfield Estate in Dundrum is also celebrating harvest time with its Urban Harvest Festival happening on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of September. There will be lots of family-friendly activities including sheep-shearing, butter-making and farm-to-table food.
Kumar Klub Charity Fundraiser - Thursday 19th
DJ Tara Kumar is hosting a charity fundraiser on September 19th for a great cause (Dublin Rape Crisis Centre) at Wigwam on Middle Abbey Street with incredible prizes. Get tickets here.
Curragmore Whiskey Tasting at Mount Juliet - Thursday 19th
Taste of Kildare - Friday 20th to Sunday 2nd
Taste of Kildare kicks off September 20th to 22nd at Naas Racecourse celebrating the food and drink of County Kildare. The three-day event will host local breweries, food vendors and chefs, dining experiences and demo and talk stages. I’ll be hosting the stages along with my fellow food writer and good pal Dee Laffan. Tickets and more details are available here.
Culture Night - Friday 20th
Culture Night is on September 20th and will see a host of brilliant events happening all over the country including plenty of food-focused fun. Check out the Moore Street party featuring Afro-Irish music and dance plus a late-night food and craft market, pasta making in Sligo and lots more.
Earth Rising at the Irish Museum of Modern Art - Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd
Art meets activism at IMMA’s flagship festival Earth Rising dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through art, creativity, and community including a food forum curated by Jennie Moran on the theme of food and care.
Comet Supper Club at Host - Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd
Chef Kevin O’Donnell and team are taking over Host in Ranelagh for two nights.
Socafro Kitchen x Roe & Co - until September 21st
September is your last chance to book into the Roe & Co Summer Garden and what a tasty send-off it is. Chef Alistair Jeje of Socafro Kitchen is serving up a delicious Afro-Caribbean menu paired with excellent Roe & Co cocktails - take a look and book in here.
Galway Oyster Festival - Friday 27th to Sunday 29th
A weekend of fun and seafood in Galway celebrating oysters including the World Oyster Shucking Championship. Tickets and details here.
OCTOBER
Blas na hÉireann Awards - Friday 4th to Saturday 6th
Blas na hÉireann Awards are announced in Dingle on Thursday 4th and there is also a food showcase, networking and Eat Ireland happening. Which runs alongside…
The Dingle Food Festival - Friday 4th to Sun 6th
A gorgeous weekend in Dingle full of food stalls and fun. Details on bookable events coming soon.
Workship Connemara Photography Workshop - Friday 4th to Monday 7th
This photography workshop taking place in a stunning location has a big food slant to it. It’s run by food writer and photographer Cliodhna Prendergast, there’s a session with food conservationist and photographer Max Jones and the food all weekend is provided by Katie Sanderson. If you have the time (and money) grab your ticket here.
A Wine Idea Spanish Wine Tasting - Friday 11th
Happening at Bewley’s on Grafton Street, Sevgi Tüzel-Conghaile will guide you through four fantastic wines, all paired with a cheese and charcuterie board.
Savour Kilkenny - Friday 25th to Monday 28th October
The 16th annual Savour Kilkenny food festival takes place during the October bank holiday weekend, 25th - 28th October and there is plenty on including food markets, demos, feasting, and family fun. Find out more here.
NOVEMBER
Food Matters Live - Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th
Food Matters Live, a food ingredient and innovation event which has been running in the UK for the last number of years, is coming to Dubin’s Croke Park promising ‘an exciting and varied programme focussed on ingredient and food innovation, sustainable sourcing, positive nutrition, emerging technology and how mega-trends are impacting the future of food’.
The Dining Club at Whitestown House - Friday 9th & Saturday 10th
Long table dinners in a historic Irish home cooked by chefs Kelly Keogh (Whitestown House) and James Gabriel Martin (Leviathan) curating dining events
Samhain Festival of Food & Culture 2024 - Thurs 7th to Sunday 10th
Details coming soon