Showing posts with label Market Lane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Market Lane. Show all posts

Monday, March 11, 2024

Superb Lunch Dishes And Service At Market Lane

Superb Lunch Dishes At Market Lane
Saturday 9th March 2024

Catalan Suquet fish stew of mussels, squid, hake and smoked haddock with saffron
 and paprika braised potatoes and crusty sourdough

Dal Vada lentil cakes, forbidden rice, cashew yogurt, broccoli,
sweet-pickled cucumber, chutney and dukkah.

 It was a busy Saturday in Market Lane yet the food and the service were superb. With the restaurant packed, the people out front did a magnificent job. Courteous and helpful throughout yet no pressure on the customers to hurry up at all. Indeed, it was more or less the opposite. You are given ample time to decide on your choices and no shortage of helpful info either. No rush but very efficient, so there was no delay and the service overall was as smooth as could be.

The menu is extensive with no less than ten main dishes available. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are marked and there is also a Gluten Free menu (just ask!)
This pic via Market Lane.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Excellent Elbow Lane Continues Leading Smoking and Brewing Role as 10th Anniversary Approaches

Excellent Elbow Lane Continues Leading Smoking and Brewing Role as 10th Anniversary Approaches

Duck breast


The Sharpe brothers, Ronan (manager) and Harrison (chef), have recently been appointed to the two top roles at Elbow Lane, Cork’s iconic Smokehouse and Brewery as it moves to celebrate its upcoming 10th anniversary. 


But it was an old favourite that I first turned to on last week’s visit.


I’ve often said here, and elsewhere, that their Angel Stout is one of the very best, a superb combination of hops and malt, made with the restaurant's food in mind. My very first sip confirmed previous impressions as the roasted malt showed well in the flavour. The hops  - Hercules Germany, Pilgrim UK and Williamette USA - go in early in the process and their bittering qualities make for a lovely balance, a delicious pint and even better with the dishes that follow.

Duck in blankets


The menu is written daily and is divided into Snacks, Small Plates and Mains. Of course, there are sides too and you could well have an enjoyable meal from that list which includes the likes of Blue Cheese Creamed Greens with almonds; King Oyster Mushrooms in panko crumb with Chorizo and aioli; and Baby Potatoes, crème fraiche, malt syrup and fine herbs.


To get up and running, we picked one from the Snacks: the Duck in Blankets, Berbere, herb yoghurt and one from the Starters, the Confit Octopus, roasted salsa, pickled red onion and ancho mayo. Berbere, a spicy mix, is a key ingredient in the cuisines of Ethiopia and Eritrea. And it is their use of spices, seasonings and sauces from around the world that really set Elbow Lane apart. Both the duck and octopus benefitted from their judicious application the other night.


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On Friday, 19th August, as part of Cork on a Fork Fest, Elbow Lane Brewery will showcase its limited-edition range of award-winning beers. Join head brewer Russell Garet for an informal, informative and FUN tasting in the restaurant. More details here.

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Outstanding Deep fried pork belly

Pork Belly
I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a taste of the deep-fried pork belly with fish sauce caramel, chilli and peanut. This starter is a testament to the skill of Chef Sharpe (at work less than 2 metres away) who is able to create such a delicious and flavourful dish with just a few simple ingredients. 

The pork belly is perfectly cooked, with crispy skin and tender meat. The fish sauce caramel adds a sweet and salty flavour, while the chilli and peanut provide a bit of heat and crunch. If it is on whenever you call, it is well worth considering. I’ll certainly be ordering it next time as it is probably the best expression of pork belly that I've ever come across.

For our main courses, we chose the lavender honey duck breast and the wood-grilled ribeye steak. Both dishes were outstanding. The duck breast was tender and juicy, and the lavender honey sauce gave it a unique and delicious flavour. The ribeye steak was cooked to perfection, and the smoked cascade butter added a touch of richness. A serving of the excellent Elbow Chips (another of the sides) also embellished the meats as did a sip or two of that excellent stout.

Dessert

Aside from Skeaghanore Duck, Elbow Lane also supports local producers such as the Allshire Family, Tom Durcan, K. O’Connell, Rossmore Oysters, Churchfield Community Gardens, Singing Frog Gardens, The Olive Stall and On the Pig's Back (both for cheese), Irish Gourmet Butter, Glen Farm (for goat), Mr Bells (spices and seasonings), Minch Malt, Killahora Orchards, Stonewell Cider, local gins, and also 9 White Deer (gluten-free Kolsch).
Ice wine by Killahora




Speaking of drinks, another that we enjoyed over the evening was their own Elbow Lager. They don’t over-process, and use old German brewing methods. The lager has a slight haze, is unfiltered and takes 6 weeks overall. This continental-style lager is particularly refreshing and owes its flavour to Pilsner and Munich malts and "Noble" hop varieties imported from Germany and Czechia. It weighs in at 4.4% ABV (same as the stout) and the hops used are Saaz, Hersbrucker (for its subtle aromas) and Hercules (for its bittering qualities) and is recommended for lighter dishes.



Dessert? Yes, please. Our choice was the Elderflower and mascarpone sorbet, pistachio crumble, white chocolate rice pudding, strawberries, and long pepper syrup. Lovely sweet amalgam, easily eaten at a relaxed pace. Of course, that pleasant sensation was infinitely enhanced by a glass of the Killahora Rare Apple Ice Wine. Just the job after an excellent meal.


By the way, it is not all meat here. There are vegetarian options and also a fish option (it was John Dory on the bone the night we were in). Add in the excellent friendly and helpful staff (they know the menu), always the case here, and you are on a winner. 



Check the menu here

Elbow Lane is part of the Market Lane group that also includes Market Lane, Goldie, ORSO and the Castle Café.


On Friday, 19th August, as part of Cork on a Fork Fest, Elbow Lane Brewery will showcase its limited-edition range of award-winning beers. Join head brewer Russell Garet for an informal, informative and FUN tasting in the restaurant. More details here.















Saturday, August 5, 2023

Local Shellfish Takes Center Stage at Goldie for Cork on a Fork Festival (16-20 Aug 2023)

Local Shellfish Takes Center Stage at Goldie for Cork on a Fork Festival (16-20 Aug 2023)

Oysters. Pics by Ruth Calder- Potts


For the highly anticipated Cork on a Fork Festival (16 – 20 August), award-winning seafood restaurant, Goldie (Oliver Plunkett St), will showcase the county’s rich bounty of sustainable shellfish with a mouthwatering menu on Thursday evening 17th August 2023.  Guests can tuck into a feast of locally landed mussels, oysters, crabs, prawns and lobster cooked with Goldie’s signature flair to bring out their unique tastes and textures.

 All profits on the night will go to Ballycotton RNLI.

Head Chef Aisling Moore


“As well as being delicious, we want to highlight how shellfish can help create a healthier marine environment,” says Aishling Moore, Head Chef of Goldie. "It is also a good opportunity to show our support of Ballycotton RNLI. We are acutely aware of the invaluable service they provide to the small fishing community of Ballycotton where we source the majority of our produce for the restaurant. We look forward to a long, fruitful relationship with them” she added.

Sustainability is at the heart of operations at Goldie which has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2021. The restaurant is famous for using every part of every fish to create its menu. It also operates a ‘whole catch’ approach by creating new dishes daily based on what arrives on the day boats from nearby Ballycotton harbour, so there is no wastage.

The menu on the 17th August illustrates what an important role shellfish plays in fostering the health of our coastal waters. Both farmed and wild shellfish, particularly oysters and mussels, improve water quality by removing nitrogen, sequestering carbon and increasing biodiversity. Other varieties such as lobsters and crabs are most often caught in traps and pots, which is a low-intervention method of fishing. These pots are designed to allow undersized fish to escape and have little impact on the seabed.

There will be two sittings on the night at 5.30pm and 8pm.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Where's the Beef? Ten of the best in Cork City

Where's the Beef?

Ten of the best in Cork City

(beef round-up for 2022/23)

Brown's Brasserie at BT Jan 2023 €15.50
French Dip: Rotisserie North Cork Sirloin, Emmental Cheese,
Caramelized Onion Emulsion, Red Wine Jus, ODB Sourdough


Impressive steak salad at Liberty Grill Aug 22


Cork City has had a long, and continuing, history in beef. Such was the scale of the trade here in the 18th century that it was known as the slaughterhouse of Ireland. 


And it wasn’t just Ireland. In 1756, France and Britain were at each other’s throats in the Seven Years War and “the Great Ox-slaying city of Cork” emerged as the Royal Navy’s preferred supplier for beef, pork and butter.


So where’s the beef now? Let me take you on a lunch-time tour of the city and check out what is on offer. Some terrific beef-based dishes in Liberty Grill, Market Lane, Nua Asador, Oliver Plunkett, On The Pig's Back, Sketch at The Imperial and Woodside Farm, Bella Napoli and L'Atitude 51and all were enjoyed over the past few months.


We’re starting with a beauty at Liberty Grill on Washington Street: a seared beef salad (vodka and chilli marinated fillet strips, chargrilled on leaves with balsamic onions, rustic potatoes, red peppers and toasted pecans) was outstanding, a highlight being the palate pleasing combination of the meat and balsamic onions. A terrific dish for €15.50.

Market Lane: Korean bulgogi steak sandwich
Dec 2022

Now (a different day, of course!), it is the turn of Market Lane and their superb Korean bulgogi steak sandwich on sourdough baguette, chilli, sesame and soy marinade, carrots, spring onions, lime mayo and with a helping of excellent house chips (€16.90). The marinade is key here and the kitchen certainly did it well and the meat was top quality; the sourdough was moistened as well and they all worked so well together, enhanced by the crunch of carrot strips and the onions, the salad leaves and those very tasty fries. A terrific dish and well priced.


Picanha Steak by Nua Asador May 2022


We make a visit to the Marina Market and the Nua Asador stall where Chef Victor Franca, in partnership with Tom Durcan Meats, serves up, without gas or electricity, just fire, the best of Irish beef in a Brazilian style. You’ll really enjoy the Picanha Steak with sourdough bread, grilled baby potatoes, chargrilled onions, Farofa, and Chimichurri Sauce (13.00).


Oliver Plunkett's Seared Steak Sandwich July 2022


It was a visit to the Oliver Plunkett that started me on this beef trail. Here’s why: Seared Steak Sandwich was worth every cent of the €18.95. Four generous slices of beef wrapped in Garlic Ciabatta, with a red onion and Smoky Bacon Jam, Pepper Jack Chips, Brandy Pepper Sauce and a Little Salad.


I wasn’t letting go of this, clinging on until the last bite. It was sensual, an enthralling mix of textures and flavours. The steak was ace,  cooked to perfection and so easy to slice. And then the enhancement, that garlic ciabatta, the onion and the bacon jam. The Brandy Pepper Sauce was another major player on the palate, deeply enticingly enhancing everything else. The salad too was perfect and then those Pepper Jack Chips, cheesy, tasty, delicious.

On the pig's back with Bourguignon Beef Baguette Oct 2022


Next stop is Douglas to visit On the Pig’s Back and enjoy their Bourguignon Beef Baguette: Braised Beef Brisket, Mushrooms, Bacon and Pearl Onions on Toasted Arbutus Baguette with Red Wine Jus. Just five-star lunch-ing, spot-on for the cool day, quite a warming ensemble, robed deliciously in the red wine jus. Love the French touch!

Delicious steak at Sketch Oct 2022


Here we are in Sketch, the bright and airy dining room in the lovely Imperial Hotel, a room where new executive chef Ali Honour is making her mark. There was a group of us and the Steak Sandwich (6oz Sirloin, Onions, Garlic Butter, Focaccia, Lettuce, Tomato, Fries) for  €19.00 proved very popular, ordered by three of the seven adults. The meat and the Focaccia were absolute top notch and all three were well satisfied.

Beautiful! Beef Burger by Woodside Farm Oct 2022


Alphabetically, Woodside Farm is our final destination and they are found every Thursday in Mahon Point Farmers Market (and at other markets on other days). They are perhaps best known for their magnificent free range pork but they also do a highly rated Beef Burger and serve it with relish and salad in a lovely bun, for 8 euro  (if I remember rightly). Superb meat and great value.


All their offerings are cooked and filled in front of you, and there's a chat as well, as the salads and relishes are added. And, if necessary, they even provide a tailor-made insulated envelope to take your purchases back to the office or home.


Bella Napoli Dec 2022


Bella Napoli came up Rigatoni with Ragu Napoletano with six-hour braised beef in an onion and tomato sauce served with rigatoni pasta and bruschetta (17 euro). I hit the jackpot here. This was beautifully cooked, the quality of the beef was top class and plenty of it as was also the case with the ragu. Very happy with this one.

L'Atitude pic Dec 2022

Slow-Braised Beef Cheeks, Celeriac Mash, Spiced Pickled Cranberries (a cool inclusion) was one of the highlights of a recent visit to L'Atitude, a superb dish in an impressively expanded menu and well worthy of inclusion here. More details at https://www.corkbilly.com/2022/12/wine-and-dine-at-latitude-huge-choice.html


* All these dishes enjoyed relatively recently but remember that menus and chefs change.


Monday, August 15, 2022

When Market Lane cook for you, Resistance is zero

When Market Lane cook for you,

Resistance is zero

Rhubarb Crumble


The proof is in the pudding and so the best test of a restaurant is to eat their food. It is a test that Market Lane passes time and time again. As they did at lunch last Wednesday.


Rhubarb Lemonade
Just as well we had made a reservation. Their outside dining area on Oliver Plunkett Street was full and so was their even larger area on Beasley Street. It was packed and buzzing inside as well and we were fortunate to get a large table by a window.


It was one of those heatwave days so a drink was required. Not one with alcohol, even though I am a big fan of their own Elbow Lane beers! They have quite a choice of soft drinks including the usual suspects but also Wild Orchard Apple Juice and a couple of Fentiman’s (Trad. Ginger Beer and Curiosity Cola). Also a selection that they make themselves and from which I picked the delicious and refreshing Homemade Rhubarb Lemonade (€3.20).


The menu is a longish and varied one, even at lunchtime. Main dishes vary from a Vietnamese Chicken Salad to a Slow cooked Rosscarbery bacon collar, from Fish and Chips in an Elbow Lane batter to Pan Fried Hake with a smoked mussel and tomato sauce. And they also offer no less than eight side dishes.


My choice was the Korean bulgogi steak sandwich on sourdough baguette, chilli, sesame and soy marinade, carrots, spring onions, lime mayo and with a helping of excellent house chips (€16.90). A terrific dish and well priced. 



The marinade is key here and the kitchen certainly did it well and the meat was top quality; the sourdough was moistened as well and they all worked so well together, enhanced by the crunch of carrot strips and the onions, the salad leaves and those very tasty fries. Very Highly Recommended. I have tasted quite a few steak sandwiches this summer and oddly enough the two best are within metres of one another; my other favourite was a special at the Oliver Plunkett. Must have a head to head sometime!


We passed on the starters. They have six available ranging from Pea and Courgette fritters with Toonsbridge Fete, mint chutney and labneh to the more substantial Confit Lamb Croquettes with salad and more. You can choose from a range of sandwiches and there’s also a Soup and Sandwich Deal.


But I wasn’t going to pass on the desserts! The lists includes their well loved Orange and Vanilla Bread and Butter pudding, custard and whipped cream. Strawberry Glory, with Bushby’s Strawberries, also caught my eye as did most of the others to be honest.  How about the Ferrero dessert cocktail with Jameson Whiskey, Nutella and espresso garnished with more Nutella and hazelnuts? 

Market Lane photo (via the restaurant)

Having enjoyed the rhubarb drink earlier, I stuck with it for the sweet in the shape of a Roasted Rhubarb and walnut butter crumble with a little jug of warm custard €6.80). Outstanding, another toothsome recommendation for you.


After that it was out into the roasting afternoon, staying on the shady side of the streets as we headed across the north channel and the road to the hills.


Restaurant Info

Opening times:12-late 7 days.

Tel: 021 427 4710,

email: info@marketlane.ie,

Web: MarketLane.ie,

Insta & Facebook: /marketlanecork

Twitter: @market_lane

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

The Market Lane Group Celebrates Cork on a Fork Festival; 17-21 August 2022

The Market Lane Group Celebrates 
Cork on a Fork Festival; 17-21 August 2022



Cork’s newest festival, which celebrates all things food in Cork’s vibrant city centre, provides another good reason for food lovers to visit the rebel city this August. Instigated by Cork City Council, visitors will get to meet the producers, chefs, specialist grocers, brewers and mixologists who have given the city the enviable reputation it holds as the food capital of Ireland.



The Market Lane’s group of iconic city centre restaurants will be providing some of the action for this inaugural event:

Elbow Lane Smokehouse & Brewery on Oliver Plunkett Street will, for the first time, be throwing open the doors of the smallest brewery in Ireland to showcase its limited-edition range of 5 award-winning beers. Head Brewer, Russel Garrett,(above) will be hosting Tutored Beer Tastings from 12 noon on the 17, 18 and 19th August. Booking is online only www.elbowlane.ie and costs €30 per person including a top-quality sustainably made Elbow Lane T-Shirt.

The Market Lane Restaurant will provide freshly made, main meals via the Food Bank on Lower Oliver Plunkett Street to help ensure that everyone gets a chance to enjoy locally sourced, nutritious meals during the week of food festival. See www.feedcork.ie

The Group’s Orso Restaurant and The Castle Café, along with other coffee hotspots such as Filter, Greenwich and The Bookshelf will be offering coffee drinkers the opportunity to spread their custom during the festival with a (dis)loyalty card that gets you your fifth coffee free at any of the participating cafes. The idea is to sip and support local and get rewarded. To get your (dis)loyalty card, go to any of the participating cafes during the festival.



“We are delighted to be participating in this new Cork city centre festival” says Conrad Howard, head of the Market Lane Group. This event further shows Cork City Council’s commitment to putting the city’s exceptional food and drink offering at the heart of the visitor experience here.

“With pedestrianised streets and great outdoor dining facilities the Oliver Plunkett Quarter is looking forward to celebrating the festival with locals and visitors alike this August” he added.

The progressive Market Lane Group comprises Market Lane Restaurant, ORSO, Blackrock Castle Café, Goldie and Elbow Lane Smokehouse & Brewery.





Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Goldie Wins Best Casual Dining Restaurant in Munster at Restaurant of the Year Awards 2021

Goldie Wins Best Casual Dining Restaurant in Munster
 at Restaurant of the Year Awards 2021
Aishling in Ballycotton. Never know what you'll find in the rock pools.

Aishling Moore, head chef and co-owner of Goldie restaurant, Cork city centre, which won the Best Casual Dining Restaurant in Munster at the prestigious Restaurant of the Year Awards 2021, which were announced at an Awards ceremony in Dublin on the 7th November.


Moore is pictured at Ballycotton where much of the seafood for Goldie restaurant is landed. The restaurant is famous for its ‘whole catch’ approach, which guarantees an exciting, ever-changing menu, and the delicious inventiveness of its dishes for which Moore uses as much of the fish as possible.

Speaking about the win Moore says “I am so proud and delighted to share this award with the best team ever,  who are so committed to serving great food in relaxed and fun environment.”

Moore was also shortlisted for Best Young Chef of the Year at the Awards.

Goldie opened in September 2019, and had barely started trading before the pandemic caused the widespread lockdown of the restaurant industry.  Despite these hugely challenging trading conditions, in 2020 Goldie was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide and Moore was named Best Irish Chef by the McKenna's Guide.

Goldie is located on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork city and is part of the Market Lane group of iconic restaurants which also include Market Lane, ORSO, Elbow Lane Smokehouse & Brewery and Blackrock Castle Restaurant. 

press release

Monday, October 11, 2021

Time Now For Blasket Islands Lamb. At Market Lane, ORSO, Castle Cafe and Elbow Lane.

Time Now For Blasket Islands Lamb

At Market Lane, ORSO, Castle Cafe and Elbow Lane.

Chops and Feta

For the month of October, or as long as stocks last, you can taste one of the country’s most sought after products in the Market Lane Group of Restaurants, scattered across Cork City. Executive chef Stephen Kehoe has created a dozen or so dishes that highlight the amazing quality of Blasket Islands lamb, “arguably the most delicious lamb in the country”. 


Sausage Board, Lamb nearest you
Market Lane annually get a small share of the lamb which is raised on Beginish, one of the Blaskets. There the lambs, which are born in the summer, graze in a marshy meadow full of heather, grasslands and wild herbs, which gives the meat a unique depth of flavour. The meadow is salty from sea spray, and this gives the lamb its highly valued pré-salé flavour.


Delighted to get an invite to Elbow Lane last week to sample the lamb. Lots of other dishes, all very tempting, especially some of the fish ones, but I stuck to the brief, hardly a hardship with that lovely lamb coming in different guises. Actually if you wish to try out a variety of lamb dishes, Elbow Lane and ORSO are the places to go.


Soon, we were seated in the busy restaurant with its bright colour theme. They do of course have a wine list but for me the excellent beers from the on-site micro brewery are always an irresistible attraction. We settled, happy to do so, on the continental style Elbow Lane Lager and the Wisdom Lane (an amber ale that is very versatile at the table).


Lamb neck crostini
The menu here is divided into snacks, starters and mains, sides too of course. On the snacks we spotted the Pulled Blasket lamb neck crostini, grilled peach hot sauce. Just terrific, enhanced by the moderately spicy sauce.



Not mentioned on the night’s menu itself but we were told at the table that the lamb also featured in a starter called the Smokehouse sausage board, house pickles & chutneys. Quite a dish this one, both in terms of quality and quantity. It consisted of three plump sausages. Firstly, I tasted the Lamb (with fennel on the side); the smoothest of the three and packed with flavour. The Duck, with its accompaniments of two different chutneys, was another beauty. And the more rustic Pork sausage with sauerkraut - an excellent combination of taste and texture, perhaps my favourite - completed the hat trick.

Colours of Elbow Lane


Now, for the main event. The Slow-grilled Blasket Lamb chops, ember cooked courgette, pistachio mole, feta, tender and tasty, gave us perhaps the best flavour of the lamb. I’m told the lambs are smaller this year but I reckon the flavour is even better. Beside, the combination with the feta was just spot-on.


Very happy with the meal overall. And here is one reason why. The lamb is leaner, “creating a near-perfect fat to meat ratio” says award-winning Dingle Butcher, Jerry Kennedy, who looks after the lamb when it comes off the island.  “This is the perfect example of produce that is not only free-range, but contains no additives, colourants or preservatives and is vaccination free.” 

Dessert 



Blasket Islands Lamb on Market Lane Group menus (subject to change)


Lamb Shank: Braised Moroccan Blasket Island lamb shank on a bed of turmeric, feta and pomegranate giant couscous served with lamb reduction and pistachio.(ORSO)


Lamb Shoulder: Braised Lamb shoulder served glazed in pomegranate molasses lamb jus, with warm baba ganoush and ribbons of carrot and cucumber in caraway pickle.(ORSO)


Lamb Mince: Batersh - Aromatic ground lamb served on a bed of hot baba ganoush with a side of home-made flatbreads to dib.(ORSO)


Lamb Shank: Lamb Lavaş- Six hour braised lamb shank, pulled, served on in-house flatbreads, with a mango and coriander mambo.(ORSO)


Slow roasted lamb saddle, confit baby potato, lardon, in-house smoked parsnip puree, lamb treacle jus and tender stem broccoli (Market Lane)


Slow cooked lamb rump, fondant potatoes, sunflower seed romanesco, crookneck pumpkin. (Castle)

The busy grill at Elbow


Pulled Blasket lamb neck crostini, grilled peach hot sauce. (Elbow)


Monkfish, lamb pastrami, tomato and horseradish salsa,

mussel emulsion (Elbow)


Smokehouse sausage board, house pickles & chutneys (Elbow)


Slow grilled Blasket lamb chops, ember cooked courgette,

pistachio mole, feta (Elbow)