Green, gold and great openings
This week it's all about flying the flag for Irish food and some Paddy's day craic of course..
Happy St. Patrick’s Day weekend, a celebration I usually think the rest of the world goes wilder for than we do (read my thoughts on that here). I normally like a local parade and a lazy day, but this year I have visitors, so I’m braving the city centre... Luckily there is plenty of fun stuff on and always good food and drink to be had, a few ideas on that below. Lá Fhéile Pádraig ☘️
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
Tomorrow I’m looking forward to being part of Grubstack, Substack’s video food festival ‘showcasing the new frontier of food media’. I’ll be joining John and Sally McKenna from the Irish Stew to chat about food writing and lots more at 5 pm Saturday 16th, details on how to watch etc here.
And on Sunday I’ll be making sure to tune into Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch where Graham Herterich will be flying the flag for Irish food and sharing three dishes from his brilliant book Cook 🇮🇪
As the rest of the world rightly celebrates all things Irish this week, one of my favourite things is the yearly Muprhia List, which highlights the most influential Irish people in the food scene in London. The list itself is run by second-generation Irish brother and sister duo Catherine and Gavin Hanly, the brains behind Hot Dinners, one of London’s top restaurant websites. It’s wonderful to see so much talent on the list, check it out here.
Two pizza legends have created a very special slice for Paddy’s week - Grá Pizza x Mani cheese & onion special, available from Mani on Drury Street until March 18th.
Roe & Co are celebrating St Patrick’s Day this year with a mini festival taking place at the Distillery from Friday to Monday with food by The Salt Project and fun Roe & Co cocktails like Sham-Roe Shake. There’s also live music, watercolour artists and screen printing happening. It’s free to enter all weekend, no tickets required.
Roe & Co Cocktails Head to Allta on Paddy’s Day for Tacos & Trad - tickets €20.
El Milgaro will be popping up at Rascals this weekend and next weekend, after their usual home Love Tempo recovers from a fire.
Great to hear more good food news from the redeveloped historic Bolands Mills buildings in Dublin’s Grand Canal. Chef Karl Whelan will open Restaurant Iéna later this year, a modern Irish restaurant with a distinct French accent. He says it will be a love letter to his time spent living and working in Paris. Whelan has a great track record cooking in Dublin too, he was at the helm in the original Luna kitchen (RIP) and at Hang Dai for a long time before the too short venture Saltwater Grocery in Terenure.
He will join a tasty lineup that includes Boland Mills Bakery, from Tartine’s Thibault Peigne and the Russell Street Bakery team, a bar from The Animal Collective, the team behind Bonobo, Kodiak, and Caribou and a cafe by Grindstone Speciality Coffee.
Speaking of openings, it looks like Square Dish Pizza on Stephen’s Green is getting close to being ready - although I know nothing about this place other than I assume they will be serving square pizza!
Reilly’s Bar on Merrion Row has become O’Reilly’s and has the kind of facelift I love to see.
The Old Town Wine Bar is a new-ish restaurant opening in Le Pole Square, Dublin 8 that I’ve been hearing good things about. Read more about it on Joanne Cronin’s Ocras.
Outside Bruxelles has had a facelift just in time for the long weekend and we hope some sunshine.
Last week I shared my concern that the Guinness Bar in Dublin Airport Terminal 1 was boarded up but not to worry - it reopened this week as Arthur Guinness Bar and looks very promising. I’m back there next week so will check it out…
And more good news for booze at the airport, Valentia Island Vermouth is now available in the Aer Lingus Lounge along with a strong lineup of Irish craft drink producers.
Me Auld Flower is back but reimagined as an outdoor food market and events space… more news coming soon but for now if you’re interested in being a vendor, apply here.
Street Feast, Ireland’s biggest day of street parties and community gatherings returns May 24th and 25th, 2025. Find out more and how to take part here.
Max Jones, a brilliant Traditional Food Conservationist & Educator based in West Cork, announced some of his plans for 2025 that include an immersive trip to Northern Italy and a Traditions of the Sea course in Cork. Find out more and book here.
Heartbreaking news for Irish hospitality this week as Fiona McHugh, founder of Fallon & Byrne, died at the age of 57 after a long illness and Tao (Taweesak Trakoolwattana), the chef behind Saba restaurants, died this week, surrounded by his family in Thailand, after a brave battle against cancer. Saba owner and long time friend of Tao Paul Cadden wrote on his Instagram, ‘Tao was a beautiful soul, a very special friend, a gentleman, brilliant chef, mentor and leader. He personified grace, kindness and hospitality. We all truly loved him. He was like a brother to me’. RIP x
Orwell Road announced their next Industry Night ‘A Celebration of Irish Produce’ on March 31st, showcasing Calvey’s Mountain Lamb from Achill Island. Tickets and details here.
Ely D2 are back open for lunch from March 19th and to celebrate are giving away lunch for 2 over on Insta.
Volpe Nero in Blackrock launched a new neighbourhood menu this week.
Food and drink producers looking to up their game should check out BrandBite, a 15-week programme designed to help food and drink producers build a strong, resonant brand that connects emotionally with customers. It’s run by the brilliant Sharon Noonan and Annie Dunne from The Art of Grate Food. More details and apply here.
The latest book from the Irish publisher Nine Bean Row was announced this week - The Kai Cookbook by chef Jess Murphy, which she says is her ‘love letter to the west of Ireland’.
If you like a wine bargain, check out the O’Briens Wine Sale happening now in 34 stores nationwide and online.
Karen O'Donoghue from the Happy Tummy Co. is coming to the Fumbally in April for a workshop sharing her insights and recipes on how to use food to make us feel better. Details and book here.
Mother's Day is coming up on March 30th, Craft Cocktails has teamed up with their Dublin neighbours Cookie Spot, along with Regal Rogue, to release a limited edition cocktail and cookies gift set.
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
Listen to Dr. Christina Wade, author of Filthy Queens talking about Pints and Pubs, the history of beer in Ireland on the Irish History Podcast.
Also really enjoyed this Food Chain episode on noodles.
Interesting to see a new food writing platform emerge from some well known food writers, Scribehound Food…
Danny Dyer nails the airport pint description.
Knead for speed
It’s been 15 years since Nadine said ‘flour’
Old Jokes Home (stolen from Popbitch):
I've relabeled all the jars in our spice rack.
I'm not in trouble yet but the thyme is cumin.
Thanks for reading. If you want to read more of my writing, check out my book, A Compendium of Irish Pints. I’d also be so grateful if you subscribed or shared by Substack. GRMA x