Rooftop drinks, drama down under & coffee debates
As a child free cafe stirs things up...
I had said bank holiday weekends would be little breaks from the news, but I had it half done before I remembered it’s a banker - the joys of being a freelancer! Monday is just Monday 😆 so here you go. Have a great long weekend, whatever you’re doing x
Fresh ingredients:
News & stuff I’m excited about
Fíon Eile, the new wine shop from sommelier couple Sinéad McCarthy and Paul Gartland, has opened its doors in Phibsborough at 354-356 North Circular Road. Expect a well-curated selection of interesting wines, they are open every day from 12.30 pm to 9 pm.
A Francis Street favourite, Rumi Cafe, are opening a second spot, and from the comments, it looks like it’s in Temple Bar.
The Rooftop Bar at The Marker Hotel in Grand Canal reopened this week with a brand new look. I was there for the sunniest evening this week, and it’s a great set-up. Get booking.
The Rooftop at The Marker The Terrace at The Shelbourne also reopened on May 1st for summer with a new sustainable green and pink floral installation, a summery menu featuring more wines by the glass, plus oysters, caviar, seafood, meat, and cheese platters. They are running a giveaway over on Instagram to celebrate.
May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, a day celebrating Mexican identity, resilience, and cultural heritage, that usually gets terribly appropriated by anyone who has a bottle of tequila. If you want to celebrate properly with some authentic Mexican businesses then head to the Cinco de Mayo party at Spade Enterprise Centre, Dublin 7 on Saturday, May 3rd, from 11 AM to 4 PM, featuring Mexican culture, food, and community with Tacos by El Milagro, Salsas by Garnacha, Workshops by Fondita Mestiza (pre-book online), Tortillas, chiles & more by Balam, Mexican sweets & snacks by Musho Picoso, and Handcrafts by Elsocasa.
The ‘Rockin Food & Fruit Festival’ takes place this weekend in Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford, with food, fun, celebrity chefs, rock ‘n roll dance classes, and a big wheel. See more here.
The Dublin Street Photography Festival (DSPF) returns this weekend with a fantastic programme of events, including a talk and exhibition from Martin Parr, one of my favourite photographers and creator of this brilliant book, Real Food.
Alan Andrews, owner of The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Birdhill, was doing his best to promote his business's 10th anniversary this week, but instead, he stirred up debate once again about his coffee shop's child-free policy and his €15 cup of coffee. It caused a divide on Ireland AM, and Andrews was on Newstalk defending himself and telling tales of adults who just ignore the no children policy.
Speaking of drama, I can’t look away from the drama Down Under around Recipe Tin Eat’s recipes and Brooke Bellamy’s book. If you haven’t been following, read all about it here.
Never ever have I ever… wanted to try a celebrity burger more - Melanie Blatt, who you may remember from 90s girl band All Saints, has launched a gourmet burger business called FullFillings in a pub in North London. Their speciality is taking “the world’s most beloved stews and curries” and transforming them into burgers.
Meanwhile, another London celebrity burger chain that has closed its doors is Neat Burger, the vegan burger chain backed by Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. This hasn’t put off Hamilton’s rival, Fernando Alonso, from getting into the food business, though. He’s reportedly secured a stake in Danish-owned sushi and kushiyaki chain Sticks 'n' Sushi.
Drinkwell launched in Ireland this week, an online retailer specialising in lower-calorie, zero-sugar wines and beers.
Brittany Ferries has partnered with Rioja DOC to offer a four-day Rioja Wine Experience package from Rosslare to Bilbao, including ferry travel, a three-night stay at a boutique winery hotel, guided tours, and the chance to explore Rioja. Find out more here.
Keith McNally, the New York restaurateur (who hates being called a restaurateur), releases his memoir, “I Regret Almost Everything”, next week. Looks like it will be worth the read for stories like the one about why he banned James Corden from his restaurant.
The acclaimed Netflix series Chef’s Table has its 10th anniversary this year - hard to believe we ever lived in a world without its now, sort of ubiquitous, signature cinematography and storytelling. Sticking with the theme of ubiquity, the new series, Chef’s Table: Legends, features José Andrés, Thomas Keller, Alice Waters and Jamie Oliver.
Dates for the Diary:
Tasty things to book ahead...
On Wednesday, May 7th, I’ll be chatting live with John McKenna all about food writing - make sure you subscribe to The Irish Stew and here to get a reminder!
Get your gazebos ready for Street Feast, now in its 15th year, a countrywide weekend of community-led street parties, lunches, feasts and get-togethers. Everyone is encouraged to take part and get to know their neighbours by looking out for local events, or perhaps you still have time to plan your own.
There’s a new Fashion & Farming Festival taking place in Kinsale next week, looking at soil, sustainability and the impact of fashion and food on the environment, featuring Darina Allen, Adam Clayton and MEP Mairead McGuinness. See more here.
This sounds amazing - an open-air dining event on Ballybranagan Beach, Co. Cork, hosted by Mowgli Roaming Kitchen and supported by Five Farms Irish Cream on Saturday, 25th May. Details and booking here.
On Thursday, 29th May, Ballymaloe House Hotel hosts Côte Du Rhône dinner with Irish wine maker Simon Tyrrell. For more info, see www.ballymaloe.ie
Castlemartyr Resort & Gormleys Art Gallery have joined forces again for a third year of Art + Soul, a stunning art and sculpture exhibition in and around the hotel and grounds. They are hosting a preview evening on Friday, 30th May 2025, that includes a dinner curated by Terre, details and booking here.
The Croke Park Hotel has launched "A Chapter in Dublin", literary-focused stays that include Penguin Books’ curated library, storytelling-inspired cocktails, and tickets plus transfer to the Museum of Literature Ireland. Find out more.
Petit Fours:
Sweet bits to watch, listen, read or obsess over etc.
Love this initiative from O’Sho’s in Cork to keep the price of a pint of Creamy Beamy as low as possible
Bealtaine & Butter Supersitions for May Day
Things you love to see - The New York Times featuring Waterford
If you love craft beer and crisp, please check out a little pairing I did over on Instagram
Episode 2 of Leviathan’s video series is out, and it’s about Irish Seed Savers - an important watch
Daniel Lambert’s new cooking series landed on RTÉ Player this week and it’s lots of fun
A proper dal recipe from Shilpa Razniewska
RHONY’s Pavit reviews Borough Market
How good is this Coach activation at Selfridges 😍
Speaking of bags, here’s one I need a piece of…
And this watch, please
Thanks for reading The Kitchen Press, my weekly round-up of Irish food, drink and hospitality news. If you liked my writing, I’ve got a very fun book out, A Compendium of Irish Pints. You can also follow my eating and drinking, and other writing work over on Instagram and sporadically on TikTok.
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