Top restaurant posts 2013

Top restaurant posts 2013

Aubergine & Roast Pepper Parcels at Chapel Steps

For the second year running, Bandon's Chapel Steps tops the restaurant charts. This year's post didn't score quite as high as the 2012 review but still, thanks to the many fans of this lovely restaurant, came out ahead. Good performances too from newcomers like Brendan Cashman's Gallo & Galettii in Wilton, Finn's Table in Kinsale, and the Greenroom at Sage in Midleton. Electric is tops in city centre, Cafe Gusto is leading cafe while the Sultan is best ethnic.

Top Drinks Posts
Kinsale's Black Pig Wine Bar is the place to go for a glass of wine (and a meal), the newcomer quickly establishing itself at the head of affairs. This was the Year of the WineGeese and great to see the visit of Cullen Wines to Cafe Paradiso featuring as does the series' opening night at L'Atitude 51. The rise of craft beer is underlined by the popularity of the post on the Cotton Ball, Cork's newest micro-brewery; this post, just up a week or two, is gathering in the hits even as I write.

Most popular restaurant posts
1
Speciality Nights at Bandon's Chapel Steps
2
Brendan is back
3
Electric. Easy to Book. Hard to Leave.
4
Magic at Myrtleville
5
Al Fresco dining at the Titanic Bar and Grill in Cobh
6
Old Friend's at Finn's Table
7
The Sultan of Penrose Wharf
8
Tapas in the Greenroom
9
Grazie Cafe Gusto

Most popular drinks posts
1
The Black Pig Wine Bar in Kinsale
2
On the tapas trail with Campo Viejo
3
Cullen Wines at Cafe Paradiso
4
Wine Geese Heading Home
5
Happy New Beer at the Cotton Ball
6
My Curious Case

Top Posts 2013

Most Visited Posts in 2013

1

Sharkey Meets Ike. Ex US Pres in Cobh 2,587 hits

2

Speciality Nights at Chapel Steps

3

The Black Pig Wine Bar

4

Island Bakery celebrates 1^st birthday with opening of first mainland outpost

5

Campo Viejo Tapas Trail comes to the streets of Cork

6

Brendan is back with Gallo & Galetti

7

Magic at Myrtleville: Bunnyconnellan’s

8

Titanic Bar & Grill

9

Cullen Wines at Cafe Paradiso

10

Glounthaune Days

11

In Praise Of East Cork. Well Worth A Visit!

12

Old Friends at the new Finn’s Table

13

The Sultan of Penrose Quay

These are the most visited posts from all my sites for the year 2013. Quite a mixed bag and some surprises too!

Bunnyconnellan's Michael off to Amsterdam

Bunnyconnellan's Michael off to Amsterdam as Irish Star Serve champion

Blarney Castle Hotel, SoHo and Barry's also shine at Heineken event.

Michael O’Sullivan, winner of Heineken Star Serve Award 2013 pictured at the Heineken Star Serve Awards final in The Savoy Theatre, Cork. Michael will compete and represent Ireland in the Global Pint Pouring Championships next month alongside 22 other international markets in Amsterdam. Heineken Star Serve celebrates the perfectly poured pint of Heineken every time. 

Michael was elated with the news “I’m absolutely delighted. I take real pride in my job and put passion into giving good service so having that recognised by Heineken Star Serve is a true honour!” 

Representing his country on the global stage doesn’t faze the Cork man in the slightest - “I can’t wait! Being hosted in the home of Heineken and getting to pour the perfect pour in the place where it all began while representing my country is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m going to enjoy every minute.”

Michael wasn’t the only Cork hero however. Local Cork bars shone brightly on the night when The Blarney Castle Hotel and John O'Sullivan's Bar  picked up special awards for demonstrating Best Customer Service Experience in the industry while SoHo and Barry’s of Douglas Bar scooped the Best Star Serve Bar awards. Well done to all and best of luck to Michael!

Bunnyconnellan’s a must visit

Bunnyconnellan’s a must visit

If you don’t get to visit Bunnyconnellan’s during this fine spell, be sure and treat yourself at some stage during the summer. It is a terrific visit and you’ll have great views as you dine, over across the mouth of Cork Harbour to the lighthouse at Roche’s Point. But, even if the weather is not clear, you’ll still enjoy some serious food in this iconic Cork restaurant.

Shredded beef

I was there last Wednesday evening and, believe it or not, it was showing 22 degrees at 7.00pm as we sat down to eat. By the way, if you really want a window seat, be sure and book ahead. 

Brie

I got the “job” of picking the wine and reckon I’ll get to keep it (the job, that is!) as the Chateau Belingard Cote de Bergerac Blanc, a great blend, fresh on the palate, went down a treat. I think Karwig Wines carry it if you’d like to try a bottle a home.

Bass

Bunny’s was busy, had been busy all day, but service was fine and soon the starters appeared. The Golden Fried Brie, the Fish Cake and my Marinated Shredded Beef Roll all went down well. Quite a choice here and we ate mainly from the specials. 

Brill

Two of the party picked the Pan Fried Fillet of Brill on Red Lentil Ragu with asparagus and honey roast parsnips (22.90). For me, it was the Pan Fried Sea Bass on Lyonnais potato roasted with tuna and marjoram (21.90). After that round, it was another unanimous vote of confidence for the chef.

One fell out of contention before the final hurdle and the two of us remaining each went for the scrumptious Eton Mess (6.00).

Mentioned Bunny’s to two people during a trip to Beara and Kenmare last weekend and both had fond memories of the place. One, who had lived in Cork in the 70s, was thrilled to hear it was still going strong as he had been a regular there. A much younger lady told me it was their favourite destination when they were giving school a skip

Magic at Myrtleville: Bunnyconnellan’s

Magic at Myrtleville: Bunnyconnellan’s

Bream special

Great to walk in out of the February cold to a top class warming lunch in Myrtleville’s Bunnyconnellan’s. Bunny’s, long renowned for its stupendous ocean and coastal views, is now making waves because of its marvellous food, served up in a friendly and efficient way in the well appointed room.

For all that, I was really surprised to see the large numbers that turned up for lunch last Friday. Pleasantly surprised too at the large choice on the menu, something for everyone but especially for the fish lovers among you.

Reckon, I’m one at this stage. Studied the menu and the specials board, a mini one that they bring around to your table. As it turned out, we took the starters from the regular menu, the mains from the specials.

My opener was the Seafood Cake (Cod, salmon & potato cake with sweet chilli mayo). Very very tasty indeed, fully deserving of the title Fish Cake – many are just glorified Potato Cakes, but not here. The salad was fresh and crisp and the mayo spot-on.

Poached pear 

For all that, I was casting envious eyes across the table at CL’s starter: the Poached Pear Salad (dressed leaves with blue cheese, walnuts & poached pears). What a smashing combination, really well balanced, as I found when I was offered a smidgeon.

Ready now for the main event: Grilled Bream on Fennel with a Chorizo cream sauce. A really lovely piece of fish, well cooked and fresh for sure. And that sauce was terrific, sharp and sweet at the same time, and went so well with the bream. And the fennel, cooked two ways, was another top notch accompaniment.

Quality fish was also the main ingredient, well it would be, of CL’s main dish:  The Fish Pie, with salmon and white fish and a well made topping. Nice liquid too, so nice that a spoon was requested!

All the while, we were enjoying our wines. I had a White Rioja (El Coto), aromatic and fruity and a tarty finish, ideal with the fish, while CL sipped her Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (Torreon de Paredes) with typical New World characteristics, each at six euro per glass. The list here is short but good and there is a full bar service.

Orange and almond tart.

Orange and Almond Tart caught the eye on the Dessert Board and just one was ordered. Served with cream and a great tasting ice-cream, it was out of this world, the fruit beautifully incorporated into the well baked (rather large!) tart. Wow, what a finale.

Well not quite. For me, the last act of this gorgeous meal was a tall glass of Earl Grey and the last act of the visit was a stroll around the terrace to take in the fantastic views and then we left with a promise to ourselves to come back on a sunny day!