Chestnut Meets Rare for One Night Only

press release 

For One Night Only

Chestnut Meets Rare

A West Cork Collaboration as Rob Krawczyk of Restaurant Chestnut joins Meeran Manzoor at Rare at Blue Haven in Kinsale

Rob (left) and Meeran

For one night only, on April 13th, two of West Cork’s finest chefs will collaborate to create a special tasting menu.

The evening promises a unique dining experience that celebrates the best of local, seasonal ingredients with the combined creativity of both chefs. Meeran and Rob are committed to local, seasonal food, using the rich abundance of West Cork’s larder to bring their menus to life.  

Owner and Chef at Restaurant Chestnut in Ballydehob, Rob Krawczyk, says, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside Meeran and his team in Rare Kinsale. I have heard a lot about Rare, and I am looking forward to getting into their kitchen and experiencing Meeran's style of food and seeing his approach”.

Diners can expect Meeran to use his signature blend of his South Indian heritage with European culinary technique, creating hyper-local dishes crafted from the finest peak-season ingredients. Rob’s cooking is deeply rooted in nature and the surrounding landscape, showcasing the best seasonal produce from West Cork and across Ireland. 

“I’m really looking forward to an amazing collaboration with Chef Rob. I have always admired his work, and I’m excited to see what he will bring to our kitchen,” said Meeran Manzoor, The Executive Head Chef at Rare at Blue Haven,   

Tickets for the evening are €125 per person, and seating is available from 5:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Booking can be made via www.rare1784.ie or by calling 021 4772 209.

For guests who want to extend the experience, accommodation packages are available in the Blue Haven and Old Bank Townhouse. Packages start from €216 per person sharing, which includes a tasting menu, overnight stay, and breakfast the following morning. 

Book the Blue Haven package at www.bluehavenkinsale.com, and the Old Bank Townhouse package at www.oldbankhousekinsale.com.

Rare at The Blue Haven is located in The Blue Haven Collection, Pearse Street, Kinsale, Co Cork,

P17 NA72. Keep up to date with the latest news by following Rare on social at @rarekinsale

Maneki Japanese Cuisine & Karaoke Box Where Dublin Comes to Sing, Dine, and Celebrate. Sushi will never be the same!

  Sushi will never be the same!

Thanks to Pixabay!

Maneki Japanese Cuisine & Karaoke Box
Where Dublin Comes to Sing, Dine, and Celebrate

 

Bringing the flavours and electric energy of Tokyo’s nightlife to the heart of Dublin city centre, Maneki Japanese Cuisine & Karaoke Box is the ultimate destination for those who love great food, fun and music. Located at 43 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, Maneki offers a unique blend of modern Japanese cuisine, high-tech karaoke, and a lively social atmosphere, making it the go-to spot for groups, celebrations, and unforgettable nights out.

 

What sets Maneki apart is its commitment to quality ingredients and local sourcing. The menu features the freshest Irish meat, locally sourced fish, and an extensive range of vegan and vegetarian options, ensuring a top-tier dining experience before guests hit the mic.

“In Japan, karaoke and eating out go hand in hand. It’s a fun, light-hearted way to enjoy great food, sing your heart out, and just let loose,” says Maneki co-owner, Polly Yang.  “Nobody takes themselves too seriously—it’s a great way for a group of friends or colleagues to enjoy an evening together with music, delicious food, cocktails, and our famous, authentic Japanese cuisine.”

Party Box

 

Maneki’s kitchen is headed up by expert chefs who craft contemporary Japanese dishes made using the finest ingredients. Highlights from the menu include Yasai Yaki Soba/Udon, a stir-fried organic vegan noodle dish packed with fresh seasonal vegetables (€23.00). The Sweet Potato Tempura Sushi Roll features deep-fried sweet potato in crisp tempura batter, served with spicy Sriracha sauce (€14.50). One of the most popular meat dishes is the Teppan Beef Teriyaki, an 8oz prime Irish striploin steak grilled to perfection and served on a sizzling hot plate (€30.00). The Holy Crab Special, is a seafood lover’s dream, featuring crab, prawns, squid, clams, and mussels and is served with hearty sides (€89.00 for two). For dessert, the Japanese Mochi Ice Cream in flavours, such as green tea, vanilla, mango and coconut offer a refreshing ending to a delicious meal.

Large sushi

 

Beyond the food, Maneki’s state-of-the-art karaoke studios set it apart as Dublin’s premier karaoke destination. Each room features cutting-edge sound systems for a crystal-clear singing experience and a colossal song library with over 500,000 tracks spanning every genre. The custom-designed interiors range from traditional cherry blossom aesthetics to nightclub-inspired party rooms, offering the perfect setting for friends to gather, sing, and celebrate. The extensive cocktail menu is also a huge hit, featuring classics like Pornstar Martinis and Japanese-inspired cocktails such as the Sake Blue Hawaiian, made with sake, pineapple juice, blue curacao, and Malibu.

Beef Yaki Soba

 

Maneki offers a range of karaoke and dining packages, making it ideal for everything from birthday parties and hen nights to team-building events and casual catch-ups with friends. Guests can choose from a dining experience without karaoke or karaoke and dining experiences with finger food or a full dining menu and experience.  Prices start from €37 per person for karaoke and finger food, or a full three-course dining experience followed by two hours of karaoke is priced from €65 per person.

Please visit https://manekidublin.maneki.city/ to check out the karaoke price list and group set menu. You can also check out the regular menus at www.maneki/menus. There is currently a special offer for weekdays (Sunday-Wednesday) called ‘Sing With Your Food’ for lunch or dinner with karaoke for the months of March and April (€29 per person).  Mid-week offers include the ‘Maneki Taste Menu’ €48 for four courses (Sunday-Wednesday).

Located in the heart of Dublin, at 43 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, Maneki is open daily from 12:00 noon to 11:30 pm.  Reservations are recommended and can be made through the website www.maneki.ie by email hello@maneki.ie or by calling +353 1 561 0889. For more information and to view the full menu, visit www.maneki.ie

On the craft trail with Dungarvan Brewery and Elbow Lane

On the craft trail with Dungarvan Brewery

Russel Garet
Elbow Lane brewer

and Elbow Lane

Elbow Lane Angel Stout 4.4% ABV, on draught in Goldie

Available in Market Lane restaurants in bottles (all), in draught (some)

A stout made for the restaurants' food!

Great to renew my acquaintance with Angel Stout at a recent dinner in Goldie Restaurant (Cork). 

Elbow Lane’s Angel Stout is one of the best, a superb combination of hops and malt, made with the Market Lane restaurant's food in mind. Both Goldie and Elbow, along with ORSO, Castle Café and Market Lane itself make up the five in the group.

My very first sip the other evening confirmed previous impressions as the roasted malt showed well in the flavour. The hops - Hercules Germany, Pilgrim UK and Willamette 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.

It has a distinct malt character and pronounced hop bitterness, typical of the style. Dark roasted malts contribute to the bittersweet chocolate notes, while a generous hop addition lends to a dry but smooth finish. This stout will suit robust dishes like steak, stews and curries. And I found it went very well with their Oyster Paté, a relatively new dish from renowned Head Chef Aiushling Moore.

Elbow Lane is one of the few Irish breweries that strictly adheres to the principles of the ancient German Purity Law, “Reinheitsgebot”, which means that only four ingredients are used: malted barley, hops, yeast and water. There are no additives and the fermentation of the beer is not artificially accelerated, nor is it filtered – so it is all totally natural. 

Dungarvan Mine Head American PA, 5.5% ABV

 one for your short list

The brewery had a plan as they developed Mine Head. It would be dry-hopped, a process of adding whole leaf hops into the fermenter. This gives more of a hop aroma to the beer and a fresh initial hit of the hop flavours. 

And, with the Cascade hop the only one used, that is exactly what happened.

Cascade, of course, goes hand in hand with the American Pale Ale. Here, you notice it straightaway with that initial hoppy hit in the aromas, rising from an amber body topped by a soft white head. That hoppy hit is easily confirmed by the old finger-in-the-head test - stick it in and suck it!

Then, it is citrus all the balanced way, with a teeny touch of marmalade sweetness later on and that bitter at the end but nothing over the top. A pleasant and harmonious beer indeed. Another one for your shortlist.

Food pairings suggested by Dungarvan are spicy Thai or Vietnamese food, or “keep it American with a burger! Works great with lighter fish or with earthy meats such as lamb or beef. Great with a creamy camembert-style cheese or a tart sheeps cheese. Best served lightly chilled, from 8-12°C”.

The name: Mine Head is a high headland west of Dungarvan; it and its lighthouse form a dramatic landmark on the Atlantic Coast.

Geek Bits - 

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.5%

Hops: Cascade

IBUs: 38

Féile Tom Crean in Kenmare 11th-13th April 2025

 

Vin vivant, a living wine, "full of taste". Château Moulin De Peyronin Bordeaux.

Château Moulin De Peyronin Bordeaux (AC) 2021, 12.5% ABV

Sourced from Matsons (Bandon, Grange and Youghal).

Widely available at €18.00 to €21.00

 

Vin vivant, living wine, "full of taste"

A smooth and supple wine from Bordeaux’s Chateau de Peyronin. The vineyard may be found in the Entre-Deux-Mers area, perhaps the most scenic of the entire Bordeaux vineyard. The aromatic wine is, as you’d expect, a blend (60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon), and it is organic.

It is highly aromatic, packed with sensations of cherry, raspberry and blueberry. The same fruit and spicy elements also enliven the palate. A nice touch of acidity helps to balance it, and the finish is dry and lengthy. It is well-structured and a terrific match for red meats and many cheeses (including Gubbeen!). Serve at 17 degrees. Silky and fruit-driven, it is a wine that is heartily recommended.

The Château itself is a historic property, a lovely example of traditional French architecture often associated with wine estates and vineyards. It is also a popular location for wine tourism, where the “happy owners” offer guided tours, tastings, and the opportunity to explore the beautiful surroundings.

Owners Véronique and Franck, who had met while students at the local Lycée Agricole de Libourne-Montagne, began their adventure at Château Moulin de Peyronin in 2006. The two 25-year-olds now had over 14 ha of vines on their hands.  It had been managed organically since 1975. They continued on that road and went on to convert the vineyard to Biodynamics during the year 2017.

Château Fuissé Tête De Cuvée. A gem from the benchmark estate of Pouilly Fuissé

Château Fuissé Tête De Cuvée Pouilly Fuissé (AC) 2022, 13.5% ABV.

€41.95 O’Briens Wine

"From the benchmark estate of Pouilly Fuissé"

The colour is a limpid yellow with green tints. Lime and tropical fruits head up the aromatics. White fruit (lime again), faint almond notes, and a subtle minerality feature on the smooth and silky palate. Its time in oak (two-thirds of the wine is aged in oak, with 20% of that new oak) helps give it a rich and complex flavour profile. The great length confirms that you have one of the best Chardonnays in your glass.

An unmissable exceptional wine, say importers O’Briens: “Easily one of the most keenly priced fine Burgundies you can get your hands on today.”  O’Briens are not on their own here as the wine is widely and highly regarded: “This is a brilliant blend of the appellation” and “Classic, fresh and precise with pleasant density” are other plaudits.

The Pouilly-Fuissé appellation is known for producing some of the best white wines in the world. It is the home of the finest white wines of southern Burgundy's Maconnais district. They are produced exclusively from Chardonnay grapes grown locally. According to Wine-Searcher.com, the typical Pouilly-Fuissé wine is full-bodied, ripe and relatively elegant, with the best examples rivalling the finer wines of the Côte de Beaune. 

Ernest Hemingway was quite a fan of Burgundy, especially the Macon (where Château Fuissé is located). In  A Moveable Feast (1964), Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway went on the tear: "We had a marvellous lunch from the hotel at Lyon, an excellent truffled roast chicken, delicious bread and white Mâcon wine and Scott was very happy when we drank the white Maconnais at each of our stops. At Mâcon I had bought four more bottles of excellent wine which I uncorked as we needed them.”

There are quite a few suggestions for food pairings on the Vin De Bourgogne website, including patés and terrines, Brie, sushi, chicken in cream sauce, grilled chicken breast, and veal in the sauce. The website is well worth visiting.

Bird's Eye View of Cork Harbour from Fota Wild Wildlife Park's New Attraction

Bird's Eye View of Cork Harbour from Fota Wild Wildlife Park's New Attraction

Photos taken 9th March 2025

From 13th March to 8th June, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the Panoramic Wheel, offering a never-before-seen aerial view of the park and its stunning surroundings. Based inside Fota Wildlife Park, this will be an optional, paid-for experience, with tickets for the Panoramic Wheel available at a separate ticketing booth from €5 per individual.

The Giraffe is no longer the tallest attraction at Fota.

Heron

Gibbon having a swing

Guinea Fowl

Ostrich

Pride

Rhino Munch

Splendid JN Wine Portfolio Tasting at the Hayfield Manor

 Splendid JN Wine Portfolio Tasting at the Hayfield Manor

Stéphan Heinrich

JN Wines, a family business now celebrating 47 years, presented a sterling selection of wines from around the world at Monday’s Portfolio Tasting at Hayfield Manor. The glassed venue in the garden was perfect for the occasion. The sun obliged and the glass “roof” was opened for a spell. In addition, aside from the self-pour tastings, JN was joined by Adrián Bujanda from Familia Martínez Bujanda (Rioja) and  Stéphan Heinrich (Languedoc).

Though Bujanda is Riojan-based, they did have a Verdejo, Finca Montepedrosso from Rueda. Having spent five months on fine lees, it was a little more complex than usual but had the usual fruit and acidity. 

Adrián Bujanda

Perhaps the highlight was tasting their Joven, Crianza and Reserva, all three 100% Tempranillo. The 2023 Joven has been raised in stainless, and it didn't see any oak, and, as always, I found it fresh and fruity and very engaging. The 2020 Crianza had spent 12 months in oak and was another excellent wine and "a customer favourite". The star here was the Reserva (2018), with its sweet species, mature fruit and long expressive finish; it was indeed one of the wines of the show.

Stéphan Heinrich told me that Maison Ventenac is just 8 kilometres from Carcassone, familiar to many Cork travellers. Their labels are unusually simple but quite eye-catching. I started with the Steph (short for Stephanie!), a cracking 2023 Merlot 

But there was better to come as both the Réserve de Jeanne (2021) and the Dissidents’ L’Idiot were top-class. The Jeanne blends 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah. It is not typical of the region, but the freshness of the Cabernet and the flavour and pepper notes of the Syrah make for an excellent result and push it to the top of the tasting ranks at the Hayfield. L’Idiot, 100% Merlot, is a beautiful juice, fruity and boasting a great minerality. Another for the shortlist!

One of the best!

All the other tables were classed under variety, and there were no country sections. Quite a few to go through, but one country that caught my eye, or should I say, taste buds, was South Africa. There was a very good Rustenberg Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, a high-scoring Cabernet Sauvignon (2022), while the red blend from Rustenberg (John X Merriman) and Newton Johnson’s Full Stop Rock was also top-class. Do we underrate South African wines in Ireland?

Just before Christmas, I exchanged season greetings online with Ramsi Ghosin of Massaya, who is based in the Bekaa Valley. “I'm hoping, with fingers crossed as they say, ‘that the dynamic of peace will finally prevail in Lebanon’”. 

A top red!

In his newsletter, he wrote: “..wine in Lebanon has experienced a tremendous renaissance. When we started Massaya in 1998, there were only four wine producers. Today, our number exceeds 60. So how can we explain the contradiction between the growth of Lebanese wine and the turmoil we have simultaneously faced?”

And I was hoping for peace also as I sipped their marvellous Le Columbier 2021 at the Hayfield, even though part of my reason was a little on the selfish side. We need more wines like this blend, which has equal amounts of Cinsault, Grenache and Tempranillo. It has good fruit and spice and a finish that lingers.

Enjoyed this Merlot from
Maison Ventenac

.

My Shopping List

Top whites

Au Bon Climat White Blend 2021

Neudorf Rosie’s Black Chardonnay 2019

Coustarret AOC Jurancon Sec Contrastes

Beauregard Saint Véran Classic 2022

Dom. Gueguen Chablis 2023

Dom. Bott-Geyl Les Elements Riseling 2022

Wine & Soul Manoella 2023

Top reds

Ventenac Réserve de Jeanne 2021

Sophenia Malbec 2021

Newton Johnson Full Stop Rock 2020

Ventenac ‘Les Dissidents’ L’Idiot 2023

Bujanda Rioja Reserva 2018

Massaya Le Columbier 2021

Rustenberg John X Merriman 2022