Allta’s ending, Dede 3.0
A new wine bar and gossipy PR!
I hate that TikTok has discovered the term “boots on the ground journalism”. I don’t know why it riles me up when people are using it for all sorts of videos, finding a coffee or just going outside your house and doing something. It’s a bit ironic then that I am claiming to do some boots on the ground journalism this week - or at least, by TikTok’s standards. I’m in Cork, to eat at the exceptional two Michelin starred Dede, where I learned that the same team has a brand-new opening next week in Baltimore (details below). As you read this, I’m probably out coastal foraging with Sally Barnes, so if you follow me on Insta, brace yourselves for an influx of seaweed and shoreline insights from here on in. Anyway, it’s news you’re here for, so let’s get into it - as they also say on TikTok. Ali x
PS - I edited this in the back of a car, so excuse typos and can’t get rid of watermarks on photos. Please help!
Let’s start with my “boots on the ground journalism” - Ahmet Dede and Maria Archer, the duo behind Dede and Baba’de, in Baltimore, Cork, are gearing up to open their third spot, Dede Cellar and Pantry, on July 8. Mornings will centre on coffee and house pastries, while shelves will be stocked with provisions including their own Turkish olive oil and other Turkish staples. Wine is a major focus too, available to take home or drink in with corkage, alongside a casual food offering of small and sharing plates in their signature style, blending West Cork produce with Turkish influence: think lobster rolls, charcuterie, olives and house breads. There is also more news in the pipeline from the Dede team, but they’re keeping tight-lipped on that until everything is official. Watch this space…Is Ahmet Ireland’s Rick Stein? Will Baltimore become the Irish Padstow?
Sad news to hear that Allta is set to close at the end of the year. Niall Davidson’s restaurant has been one of the most innovative in Ireland - perhaps too innovative. It always felt like the Docklands location never quite took off as it should have. The question now is: what’s next? Davidson has a strong reputation for pop-ups, brand collaborations and the like, but could we see a move back to a more central location? They are open for booking until the end of December, and if you haven’t been yet or in a while, I would recommend booking.
A new opening is on the way to Aungier Street, next to Egan’s, with Trattoria Lulu, or Lulu’s, taking over the former Val’s pizzeria space. It will start as an Italian-leaning wine bar serving small plates and snacks, before expanding into a full dining room in September with a grill-led menu of sharing steaks, fish and pasta.
Pancake brunch favourite Póg is opening in Terenure! In about 6 weeks, they hope.
This looks like a very promising new opening for Killarney - Loinnir Brewery, Smokehouse & Pizzeria, where the former Killarney Brewing Company taproom was.
There’s a new rotisserie chicken restaurant in Dundalk called Chicken Shack, serving Josper-grilled rotisserie chicken. Can’t tell much about the chicken or the location from their Insta, but their branding is great!
Loved getting the press release from Rob Kenny PR on the Dingle Gin launch they hosted last week at the Marker Hotel. Landing in my inbox via DJ and publicist Billy Bunzari, it read more like a gossipy noughties Sindo Diary entry than standard PR. There were cameos from Maia Dunphy, who arrived early with a wedding gift for Rob Kenny, and Adam Kelly (aka 2BigLugs) on date night, alongside a roll call of other “notable names”, while Kelly-Anne Byrne was on the decks. All, of course, sipping Dingle Gin cocktails, and the new bottles look very well.
Huge kudos to chef and content creator Tom Murray (A Bit Of Banging), who embarked this week on a pop-up world tour. Looking forward to following along.
Lidl Ireland announced chef Eric Matthews as a new official chef ambassador - I interviewed him for the Sunday Times ahead of the announcement. Also in print on Sunday.
Excellent cheffing behind this new supper club in Clare - A Kind of Supper Club - a series of seasonal suppers created by Niamh Fox, Ashley Gribben & Tabitha Halliday. The first in the series will be on Friday, 24th July, hosted in the Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon.
Whitestown House has teamed up with McNally Family Farm and James Gabriel Martin for Of the Land - A Celebration of Summer in North County Dublin. Taking place on July 25 (5–9 pm) and July 26 (1–5 pm), the experience begins with a farm walk before finishing with a three-course feast inspired by what’s growing and in season. Tickets are available via WhitestownHouse.ie or in person at the McNally Family Farm shop.
There’s a food-focused wellbeing event taking place at RCSI on July 1 as part of the European Conference of Positive Psychology. The workshop led by graduate chefs from TU Dublin’s MSc in Applied Culinary Nutrition, alongside a group of practitioners in the space, will explore the link between flavour, food and wellbeing, led by. Book here .
No more pink restaurants - expect to see lots more blue.
A new podcast from Ina Garten!
The Fat Fox made a stunning cake for Oliva Dean 😍
Have you ever thought about how and why milk is colour coded?
Can’t believe I forgot the joke last week! So here is a seasonal food one, found on the beach yesterday! 🤣 sandals-on-the-beach journalism…
thank you, most specifically for the YouTube on milk colours. Have now been rabbit holed for a while on it! And thats my fave
We need more sandals on the beach journalism! Ten tickles. Classic 👌