Quarter One: The Restaurant File. Cafes too.

Good start to 2013

Meat Pie at Treyvaud's

It has been a fairly busy start to the New Year (not so new, I suppose!) and I've been able to visit quite a few restaurants and cafes, including some new to me.  Not all made the list below. You may check the reports by clicking on the names and you'll see that fish is a strong thread all the way through. Met Paolo Tullio late last year in Ballymaloe and he commented on the great availability of fish in Cork (as compared to Dublin) and these visits underline his experience. It is also very encouraging to see the trend of using local produce increasing all the time.
The lists, by the way, are in no particular order!

Chowder at Oysters

Restaurants
Fleming's Tivoli
The Barn Mayfield
Rico's Mardyke
The Rising Tide Glounthaune
Raymond's Midleton
Bunnyconnellan's Myrtleville
The Chapel Steps Bandon
Finn's Table Kinsale
Oysters at the Clarion
Mabel Crawford's at Vienna Woods Hotel
Bramley Lodge at Cobh Cross

Cafes
Idaho Caroline Street
Manning's Ballylickey
The Duchess Tea Rooms (Bandon)
The Lemon Leaf Kinsale
Diva Boutique Ballinspittle
Vikki's at Sunday's Well

Gastro-Pubs
Charlie Mac's Fermoy

Dublin
Toscana Dame Street
Brown Thomas The Restaurant Grafton Street

Kerry
La Cascade at Sheen Falls Kenmare
Mulcahy's Kenmare
Treyvaud's Killarney
The Strawberry Field (cafe on Sneem - Moll's Gap Road))

The Four Liars

The Four Liars

Spent an enjoyable ninety minutes or so in the Four Liars Bistro, in the shadow of Shandon, on Friday night. First impressions were good. The place was neat and tidy with solid but very comfortable tables and chairs. The standard table for two was more spacious than most.

We got a lovely warm welcome and the service was friendly throughout. Great too to read on the menu folder about their focus on local produce. The menu had been “put together with the best of local ingredients while adding a continental touch. All our food is sourced locally... our beef is from O’Flynn’s, Sunday’s Well, Chicken from the English Market, Fish from Good Fish, Carrigaline..”

I started off with a beauty: Lobster Bisque with Cognac and Cream. This, from the A La Carte, cost €9.50. A handful of prawns were in the very tasty bisque. The other starter, Duck Spring Rolls with Mango Chutney (7.25), was another excellent combination of taste and flavour.

Had been given one of those discount vouchers as a Christmas present and we used that to pick our mains from the Value Menu (which looks good value with three courses for 24.95). They also do an Early Bird with three courses for 19.95. The voucher also allowed us a drink, a glass of wine or a bottle of beer (no craft beer here, so had a Miller).

My mains was Chicken Creole sautéed in a sweet chilli and red wine sauce with Chorizo and sweet red peppers. A lovely piece of chicken, well cooked, spicy but not overly so and there was a really well made Potato Croquet also in the mix. And that wasn't all as we got a superb side plate of vegetables that included turnip, carrot and pea. Quite a pleasing dish, also quite filling and, if you didn’t have a voucher, reasonably priced at €15.00.

Between the various menus, there is a great choice. You may spend as much or as little as you like here, with mains on the A La Carte priced between €13.95 and €32.00. And, going by last Friday’s performance, I’d have no worries about quality. We enjoyed our visit and great to see another restaurant supporting local produce.

Four Liars Bistro,
The Butter Exchange,
Shandon,
Cork,
Ireland .

Contact:  021 4394040  and thefourliarsbistro@gmail.com

Last night's Food Oscar winners

Garreth Byrne & Brid Hannon

Ross & Jessica Lewis

Last night's Food Oscars

Chapter One has scooped the Best Restaurant Award and Garrett Byrne, Head Chef at Campagne Restaurant in Kilkenny, has been crowned Best Chef in Ireland at the Santa Rita Irish Restaurant Awards 2012 which took place last night in the Burlington Hotel (Monday 14^th May 2012).

Almost 700 industry peers attended Ireland’s leading Restaurant Awards where regional and

All-Ireland winners were announced in the following categories:

• Chapter One (Dublin) Best Restaurant 2012 Sponsored by Santa Rita
• Garrett Byrne for Campagne (Kilkenny) Best Chef 2012 Sponsored by Tipperary Water
• The Long Room @ Doonbeg (Clare) Best Hotel Restaurant 2012 Sponsored By Pallas Foods
• The Chop House (Dublin) Best Gastro Pub 2012 Sponsored by Faustino
• O’Connells (Dublin) Best Casual Dining 2012 Sponsored By Joseph Drouhin
• Harveys Point Hotel (Donegal) Best Customer Service 2012 Sponsored by Miele
• West @ The Twelve Hotel (Galway) Best Wine Experience 2012 Sponsored by Thomas Barton
• Ely Gastro Pub (Dublin) Best Kids Size Me Menu 2012 Sponsored by Heinz
• Comeragh Mountain Lamb (Waterford) Local Food Hero 2012 Sponsored by Life Magazine

 Read the full report and honours list

Les Gourmandises the big winners at Munster Restaurants Awards

Top Restaurants in Munster Announced at Santa Rita Irish Restaurants Awards

www.irishrestaurantawards.com

The Munster Regional Final for the Restaurant Awards 2012 sponsored by Santa Rita / Sunday Independent Life Magazine took place in The Imperial Hotel, Tuesday 3^rd April 2012.

Speaking at the awards last night, Adrian Cummins of the Restaurants Association of Ireland said

‘Since their inception, the Irish Restaurant Awards have cast a spotlight on Ireland’s hottest restaurants and chefs. They have become a byword for quality, class and achievement… The awards everyone wants to win. As a testament to their success, the entries have doubled since last year, with 5,000 nominations made for Ireland’sfavourite Restaurants, Chefs, Gastro Pubs, Hotel Restaurants and Local Food Heroes throughout the Country.

We celebrate the award winning cuisines and the great restaurateurs and chefs who have brought international recognition and accolades to the Irish restaurant scene.  We are the economic engine rooms in every town in Ireland, creating and maintaining much needed local employment.  Our industry has annual sales in excess of €2 billion and we employ 64,000 people.  In fact, we are the largest employer within the Irish Tourism Sector. And tonight, everyone is a winner’.

It was great to see  over 240 restaurateurs attend  the awards in the Ulster region this year., we look forward to seeing all of the Ulster County Winners in Dublin on the 14thMay 2012 where Regional and All Ireland winners will be announced’.

Nominations for the awards were made by readers of the Sunday Independent Life Magazine and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland. All nominees are then assessed by Regional Judging panels, made up of Industry experts across the region.  Votes from the Consumer, Members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Regional Judges are independently assessed by KPMG who give us our County Winner in each category.

All County winners will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the Burlington Hotel Dublin on Wednesday 14^th May 2012.www.irishrestaurantawards.com . 
There are 3 components to phase two of the process. Each element is independently assessed by KPMG.

1. Mystery Guest Visit (35%) This component of the awards is conducted by Prism Consulting headed by Hugo Arnold, independent food writer and consultant. (http://www.hugoarnold.com). All County Winners receive a mystery guest visit throughout the month of April.

2. National Awards Academy (55%) Our National Awards Academy is made up representatives from each of the regional judging panels and will meet in May to Judge the County Winners.

3. Menu Judging (10%) All County winners and the Dublin Shortlist in each category are asked to submit a copy of their food menu and wine list for judging.

COUNTY	CUSTOMER   SERVICE
CLARE	TOWN HALL   BISTRO
WATERFORD	ATHENAEUM   HOUSE
TIPPERARY	THE FAIRWAYS   BAR
LIMERICK	THE MUSTARD   SEED
KERRY	JACKS   COASTGUARD STATION
CORK	ISAACS   RESTAURANT
COUNTY	GASTROPUB -   SPONSORED BY FAUSTINO
CLARE	THE ROADSIDE   TAVERN
WATERFORD	JACK MEADES
TIPPERARY	LARKINS
LIMERICK	THE LOCK BAR
KERRY	SPILLANES BAR
CORK	THE WOODFORD
COUNTY	CASUAL DINING   - SPONSORED JOSEPH DROUHIN
CLARE	L'ARCO
WATERFORD	MCLEARY'S
TIPPERARY	CAFE HANS
LIMERICK	LA CUCINA
KERRY	SOL Y SOMBRA
CORK	NASH 19
COUNTY	HOTEL   RESTAURANT
CLARE	THE LONG ROOM   @ THE LODGE DOONBEG
CORK	LONGUEVILLE   HOUSE
KERRY	CELLAR ONE   RESTAURANT @ THE ROSS HOTEL
LIMERICK	THE OAKROOM   RESTAURANT @ ADARE MANOR
TIPPERARY	THE OLD   CONVENT
WATERFORD	THE MUNSTER   ROOM@ WATERFORD CASTLE
COUNTY	BEST CHEF -   SPONSORED BY TIPPERARY WATER
CLARE	WADE MURPHY	THE LODGE AT   DOONBEG
CORK	PAT KIELY	LES   GOURMANDISES
KERRY	NOEL ENRIGHT	THE CHART   HOUSE
LIMERICK	MARK DONOHUE	ADARE MANOR
TIPPERARY	DERMOT GANNON	THE OLD   CONVENT
WATERFORD	MICHAEL QUINN	WATERFORD   CASTLE
COUNTY	RESTAURANT-   SPONSORED BY SANTA RITA
CLARE	THE WILD   HONEY INN
CORK	LES   GOURMANDISES
KERRY	CHAPTER 40   RESTAURANT
LIMERICK	CORNSTORE   RESTAURANT
TIPPERARY	BROCKA ON THE   WATER
WATERFORD	O'BRIEN CHOP   HOUSE
MUNSTER WINE   EXPERIENCE	HAYFILED   MANOR, CO. CORK
MUNSTER KIDS   SIZE ME	THE STONE   CUTTERS KITCHEN, CO. CLARE

Impressive Lunch at Fresco Bistro

Click on image to enlarge

FRESCO BISTRO

Fresco Bistro is a bright spot, almost hidden away in the tress of lower UCC and by the impressive bulk of the Glucksman Gallery directly above. But a spot worth visiting, as I found out when I called there yesterday. You walk into the Glucksman as normal and then go downstairs. This takes you to the Bistro and its floor to ceiling views of the college lawns and more importantly to some classy food.

Brian Casey, one of the principals, had invited me out to sample the meals and boy was I glad I took him up on it. Brian made another good move when serving us with soup while we waited. It was a Lamb Harira Moroccan style hearty lamb soup with chick pea, coriander, lemon, mint and tender lamb pieces (€5.00).

Eating and drinking in it as they say around this city but still light, slightly spicy, moderately aromatic and those little chucks of lamb were certainly tender. A brilliant combination even if the temperatures outside were around the 20c mark.

Quite a choice of main courses as you can see from the site but there are also a number of daily specials, marked on the blackboard.

CL choose the Nicoise Salad Grilled marinated fresh ahi tuna, on organic mixed leaf salad, tossed in a homemade tomato dressing (€8.95). Just superb, everything done to perfection. The salad, so nicely dressed, had a nice crunchy bite, but always a pleasure never a chore. Fantastic dish, fantastic price.

And I could say the same about mine: Seafood Risotto Risotto Cooked in a melange of seafood, fresh asparagus and wild mushroom €9.95. The colourful rice was packed with little pieces of fish, prawns, salmon and white fish and that fresh asparagus was a tasty contributor to the overall pleasure. Great stuff.

The good things continued with the desserts, both under a fiver. I thoroughly enjoyed my Flourless Chocolate Cake, lighter than normal. And CL was very happy with her Apple and Blackberry Tart. No mistaking the apple: real chunks by comparison with that ghastly goo that you see used in some other restaurants.

While I had heard good things about Fresco Bistro over the past few months, I must say I was surprised by the excellence of the dishes and the very competitive pricing. The location too is lovely, especially if the sun shines (there is an outdoor section). But, believe me, the food is so good, it is a place you can visit in any weather!

Top Restaurants in Ulster

Top Restaurants in Ulster Announced at Santa Rita Irish Restaurants Awards www.irishrestaurantawards.com The Ulster Regional Final for the Restaurant Awards 2012 sponsored by Santa Rita / Sunday Independent Life Magazine took place in The Merchant Hotel, Belfast Tuesday 27th March 2012. CUSTOMER SERVICE
	ANTRIM	BERTS JAZZ BAR@ THE   MERCHANT HOTEL
	ARMAGH	POT BELLY RESTAURANT
	CAVAN	MAC NEAN HOUSE &   RESTAURANT
	DERRY	CITY HOTEL
	DONEGAL	HARVEYS POINT HOTEL
	DOWN	CULLODON HOTEL
	FERMANAGH	DOLLAKIS
	MONAGHAN	SNAFFLES   BRASSERIE@ CASTLE LESLIE
	TYRONE	OYSTERS
GASTRO PUB
SPONSORED BY FAUSTINO	ANTRIM	THE MORNING   STAR
	ARMAGH	DIGBYS
	CAVAN	THE   BLACKHORSE INN
	DERRY	BADGERS BAR
	DONEGAL	HARRYS BAR
	DOWN	CURRANS BAR
	FERMANAGH	CUSTOMS  HOUSE
	MONAGHAN	ANDY'S BAR
	TYRONE	THE BREWERS   HOUSE
CASUAL DINING SPONSORED   BY JOSEPH DROUHIN
	ANTRIM	IL PIRATA
	ARMAGH	ZIO RESTAURANT
	CAVAN	POL O D'S
	DERRY	FLAMING JACKS
	DONEGAL	THE HARBOUR
	DOWN	STRUDLE BISTRO
	FERMANAGH	DOLLAKIS
	MONAGHAN	CONORS BAR@   CASTLE LESLIE
	TYRONE	DELI ON THE GREEN
WINE EXPERIENCE  ULSTER SPONSORED BY THOMAS BARTON		HARVEYS POINT CO. DONEGAL
KIDS SIZE ME  ULSTER SPONSORED BY HEINZ		THE OLD CASTLE BAR& REDHUGH RESTAURANT
HOTEL RESTAURANT
	ANTRIM	RIVER ROOM RESTAURANT @   GALGORM RESORT & SPA
	ARMAGH	NEWFORGE COUNTRY HOUSE
	CAVAN	SETANTA RESTAURANT@ THE   SLIEVE RUSSELL
	DERRY	ARDMORE RESTAURANT@ BEECH   HILL COUNTRY HOUSE
	DONEGAL	THE WEEPING ELM   RESTAURANT @RATHMULLAN HOUSE
	DOWN	PORTAFERRY   HOTEL
	FERMANAGH	THE CATALINA RESTAURANT@   LOUGH ERNE RESORT
	MONAGHAN	THE   RESTAURANT@ NUREMORE HOTEL
	TYRONE	THE KITCHEN   RESTAURANT@ TULLYLAGAN COUNTRY HOUSE
CHEF SPONSORED BY   TIPPERARY WATER
	ANTRIM	DAMIAN TUMILTY, CAFE   VAUDEVILLE
	ARMAGH	DEAN COPPARD , ULURU
	CAVAN	GEAROID LYNCH, THE OLDE   POST INN
	DERRY	IAN OAR, BROWNS   RESTAURANT & CHAMPAGNE LOUNGE
	DONEGAL	KELAN MC MICHAEL,THE   WEEPING ELM@ RATHMULLAN HOUSE
	DOWN	JOERY CASTEL, THE BOAT   HOUSE
	FERMANAGH	NOEL MCMEEL , LOUGH ERNE   RESORT
	MONAGHAN	ANDREW BRADLEY, SNAFFLES   RESTAURANT@CASTLE LESLIE
	TYRONE	HAYDEN   GAMBLE, VANILLA
RESTAURANT SPONSORED BY   SANTA RITA
	ANTRIM	JAMES ST   SOUTH
	ARMAGH	ULURU
	CAVAN	MC NEAN HOUSE   & RESTAURANT
	DERRY	BROWNS   RESTAURANT & CHAMPAGNE LOUNGE
	DONEGAL	THE MILL   RESTAURANT
	DOWN	THE BOATHOUSE
	FERMANAGH	WATERMILL   RESTAURANT
	MONAGHAN	SNAFFLES   RESTAURANT@ CASTLE LESLIE
	TYRONE	VANILLA

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT ADRIAN CUMMINS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, RAI,             086 8263311      .