RESTAURANTS AND FOOD: Tom Crean Dining Experience at Annie’s

Monday, September 24, 2012

Tom Crean Dining Experience at Annie’s

Tom Crean Dining Experience at Annie’s

Saturday night, at 18.35, we sat down to enjoy the Tom Crean Fresh Lager multi-course dinner in Annie’s Gastro-Pub. Why 18.35? Annascaul man Crean took part in 3 of the 4 Antarctic Expeditions and during the Terra Nova Expedition he undertook a superhuman 18hr 35 mile solo trek to save the life of his two companions.

The meal was also quite a voyage of discovery but a very pleasant one indeed as the kitchen team at Annie’s came up with a string of class dishes, all incorporating the excellent lager made by the Dingle Brewing Company. The crew out front also did a marvellous job with only a couple of minutes between efficiently and courteously delivering a course to first and last client in the packed venue. It was the second night of the event and Friday went very well also.

Crean’s can be described as a fresh, clean, refreshing golden lager with a slight sweet taste. The soft flavours, slightly sweet aftertaste and rich golden colour combine to give you a thoroughly enjoyable drinking experience. I’d be very happy to see it in my local. The brewers also boast that it goes well with food and that was well and truly confirmed in Annie’s.

Started off with a pint and then came the first dish: Pan fried fillet of Mackerel on Crean's Brown Bread. We were up and running with this brilliant tasty match. Then came the mussels and langoustines with smoked bacon and leeks in a Crean’s Broth. Creamy and delicious.

And the standard remained very high as the Risotto was served, Wild Mushroom and Roast Chestnut with a Cream Thyme Reduction. We were being spoilt now for sure.

For me, one of the best dishes of the evening followed: Crean’s Confit Roast Pork Belly, Parsnip Puree, Kale and Crean’s Jus. This was a brilliant combination of textures and flavours.

And the inventive chefs weren’t finished yet. Up came another star plateful: Crean’s Braised Beef Cheek, Celeriac and Potato Rosti, Roast Beetroot and Chive Emulsion. So tender, so tasty.

Then we had the sweet finish, their take on Ile Flotante with Chilled Blueberry Anglaise and Crean’s Hazelnut Caramel. Sweet and cool. A class finish to a class meal. And still time for some music and another pint of that fresh lager!