Showing posts with label Farmgate Cork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Farmgate Cork. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
A Special Mother's Day Supper from the Farmgate Café
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The Farmgate Cafe. Where hearty tradition thrives
The Farmgate Cafe. Where hearty tradition thrives
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| Beef Cheek Stew |
The teenager remembers the table setting, especially those flowers floating in a bowl. She is sitting with her mother in a room overlooking the Front Strand in Youghal in the mid 1960s. It is the house of her mother’s friend and soon dinner is served. The meat was boiled leg of mutton and the 16-year old was given a bit of the nap of mutton as a treat.
“I never forgot that meal,” Kay Harte told me some time back. “It was my first time at an adult meal and it was absolutely divine….That was my first realisation that plain simple Irish food can be so sophisticated.”
Kay couldn’t have known then that she would go on to found the Farm Gate Restaurant in Cork’s English Market in 1994 and that the restaurant would thrive on serving traditional Irish food and that particular tradition itself would thrive under her guidance. The Farmgate has now entered its 4th decade with Kay’s daughter Rebecca at the helm.
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| Cod |
The cuisine here is not so much traditional as timeless. As long as local producers and growers maintain their high standards and as long as the café survives then these treasures of the ages will be available to visitors and locals alike in an uniquely Irish tradition, enhanced with new influences in this dynamic multicultural food market and port city experience.
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| Christmas Pudding |
“A restaurant rooted in good things and fine tastes, all served with pleasure and good nature”. Read the review here by famous critic AA Gill
As it happens, we were in there last Friday week for lunch. We had of course booked in advance. Glad to report that that the good-natured service is still a key part of the experience here. Everyone we met from start to finish was calm, courteous and effortlessly efficient. And one or two were well able to introduce a little humour to break the ice and put the customer at ease.
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On our way up the stairs we read the short list of specials, the traditional stew, fish of the day, soup of the day (apple and celeriac) and also a quiche (which had sold out when we arrived at 2,30pm).
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| Apple Tart |
Once seated in the glass-walled restaurant section, overlooking the floor of the English Market below, the staff filled us in on the specials again with some extra detail. We nibbled at a little bowl of Toonsbridge Atlas green olives and some of the Farmgate's brown soda bread.
We had been hoping to get some of superb white loaf at the shop downstairs but we were too late. It is very popular towards the weekend and goes quickly! Quite a list of starters included Ardsallagh goats cheese ciabatta, balsamic roasted onions, kale and walnut pesto; Moroccan spiced chicken sandwich, ras el hanout mayonnaise & cucumber; and Toasted sandwich, loin of bacon, scamorza cheese, onion marmalade.
Sometimes you hear: Ireland’ has no food culture. - don't repeat that to Kay!!! Her more gentle response will be to ask you to read Humphrey O’Sullivan’s “The diary of an Irish countryman, 1827-1835 “. Humphrey was an “enjoyer of good food and drink” and the book records the good food that was around at the time. The hot ticket of a Sunday was to stroll up to the local Parish Priest’s house, once you had an invite of course.
The book is available in local libraries and, if my memory serves me well, they have a copy at the Farmgate. The main cultural exhibit in café though is “the poetry wall’, which is on permanent view in the dining room. This unique collection of handwritten poems, by Cork, Irish and international poets, was commissioned by the Farmgate n 2005 to celebrate Cork’s year as European Capital of Culture.
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| Elderflower Fizz |
Anyhow, time to return to our lunch. Our top class mains were the cod (Fish of the Day) and the Beef Cheek Stew and, as always, there’s a side of those balls of flour, potatoes from East Cork. Other mains on offer included: Irish lamb stew; Risotto - Ardsallagh Phantom Ash, pea, basil and hazelnut; Braised lentil pie with olive oil mash, roast root vegetables; Free-range supreme of chicken, fennel & lemon sauce; and of course, the old Cork favourite of Tripe and onions with Drisheen, also with Ladysbridge potatoes.
When it came to dessert, there was a surprising "extra" still on offer: Christmas Pudding and Custard. I gave that an immediate nod and it made for a superb conclusion to a lovely meal. By the way, their Bread and butter pudding is a regular and highly recommended.
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| Dining on the balcony |
Thursday, March 27, 2025
The ageless Farmgate Café, Cork City, a destination dining venue for decades
The ageless Farmgate Café, Cork City
THE FACT IS THAT FARMGATE FOOD IS AGELESS … GREAT STAFF, GREAT VALUE*
Cod & Peperonata
The Farmgate Café, located on the balcony of the bustling English Market, has become a favourite in Cork over the past 31 years due to several key elements: exceptional local produce on the plate and in the glass, consistently high standards in the kitchen, and friendly, efficient service.
The Farmgate name was established in 1984 by Maróg O’Brien when she opened her restaurant and country store in Midleton (now relocated to Lismore). A decade later, Maróg’s sister Kay joined her, and together they created the café in the English Market in the heart of Cork city.
Orange cake and juicy cherries
Farmgate, from day one, embraced much of what is unique and traditional to Cork and still does; anyone for Tripe & Onions, with Drisheen, with Ladysbridge potatoes. Those potatoes (balls of flour) still come from Ladysbridge in East Cork and feature across the menu, including in the superb Lamb Stew.
While Farmgate has its roots in the past, it embraces the new influences present in the dynamic multicultural food market of this port city. For instance, last week, I tried the Pan Roast Cod, which was served with broccoli, mashed potatoes, and peperonata. I doubt that Peperonata made many appearances on Cork menus back in 1994.
By the way, I had a general idea of what Peperonata was, but I looked it up to confirm. It is an Italian vegetable stew made from red bell peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. Peperonata can be used as a sauce for pasta or served as a side dish to meat and fish. It may also be included in a ragù. The key to preparing Peperonata is slow-cooking the ingredients, which allows the flavours to blend, creating a rich, savoury taste with a slightly sweet undertone from the peppers. It certainly complemented the beautifully cooked piece of cod.
The cod was one of the day’s specials; others were Eoin O’Mahony Sausages (from the market) and a Tomato and Basil Soup with goat’s feta. They start serving lunch at 12.15, though some of the more substantial dishes aren't available until 12.30 pm
Across the table, my colleague enjoyed their Free-range Supreme of Chicken, Fennel and Lemon Sauce, Boozy Fig. This is on the regular menu, while the cod was one of the day’s specials. Again, the chicken was very well cooked, full of flavour and ensured that two well-satisfied customers exited the market.
But not before sharing a dessert, the beautiful Orange Cake with poached cherries and Yogurt. A super combination - loved those juicy cherries - and Very Highly Recommended. I’ll have to go back again to try the more traditional Bread and Butter Pudding (with custard) and also the Apple Tart with Cream! Aside from the lunch offering, it’s also a great spot for grabbing a cuppa and a pastry if you want something less substantial.
Chicken
The Farmgate’s drink lists include local craft beer (Eight Degrees and 9 White Deer) and ciders (including specialities by Killahora and Nohoval and also the superb non-alcoholic Stonewell Cider). No Irish wines yet, but they still keep it close to home with carefully chosen European wines.
While dining, you might notice some frames on one wall displaying what looks like handwriting—perhaps poems? Indeed, this unique feature is the “Poetry Wall”. The initiative, created by Gerry Murphy, a poet, and Kay Harte, showcases a distinctive collection of poems from Cork, Irish, and international poets. The Café commissioned these works in 2005 to celebrate Cork's designation as the European Capital of Culture.
Info on menus, opening times and more here
* Sunday Times 100 Best Restaurants 2020
Friday, November 3, 2023
Cork's Farmgate Café. Where time doesn't stand still and tradition thrives.
Cork's Farmgate Café. Where time doesn't stand still and tradition thrives
As we queued for lunch behind a small group of French speakers and others on the stairs up to the Farmgate Café in Cork's English Market, we began to get a little worried. You have to reach the top to see how many are in and if there are vacant tables.
We could have had booked and would have had if it had been a Friday or a Saturday. But this was a Wednesday (after the Jazz Weekend) and we thought we’d be okay. As it turned out we did find a table, just for an hour we were told. There was no rush in the end but I’ll be more persistent on the phone the next time!
The delay was slight, to be honest, and we didn't really have time to study the menu (that had been handed to us as reached the top of the stairs) until we were seated and enjoying two of their breads, including the marvellous white soda that we occasionally buy at their stall downstairs - it is one of our favourite breads in the city.
The menu doesn't change all that much but we were here for the traditional plates - I had already pencilled in the Irish Lamb Stew. CL went for their Chicken Supreme and our dessert was Bread and Butter Pudding. All three are not so much traditional as timeless. As long as local producers maintain their high standards and as long as the Café, now with Rebecca Harte at the helm (having taken over from her mother Kate (the café’s founder), then these treasures of the ages will await you.
But don't worry, there is plenty of variety in the short menu. They are open to outside influences. How could they not be with so much of the market below also enhanced by flavours and spices from many countries and cultures and so you will see Atlas Green Olives, Pork Rillettes, Moroccan spices, and Scarmorza, sitting on the menu along with longstanding staples such as Loin of Bacon, Ladysbridge Potatoes, Tripe and Onions and Barry’s Tea.
While you are waiting for your food to arrive and or between courses, take a look over your shoulder and see which poet is looking down on you - Seán Ó Tuama's work was at my shoulder.
In the area, where you can book a table, there is, since 2005, the Poetry Wall.
An initiative of poet Gerry Murphy and Kay Harte, it is a unique collection of poems, by Cork, Irish and international poets, commissioned by the Farmgate Café to celebrate Cork’s year as European Capital of Culture. In 2018 President Michael D Higgins visited and added his own handwritten composition Stardust. Where else would you get that with your spuds?
And speaking of spuds, those Ladybridge potatoes are superb, the traditional balls of flour. Quite a few years back, Kay Harte and I were entertaining a couple of high-ranking US bloggers here and they too were bowled over by the potatoes and the phrase. Back in those days, the spuds from the same supplier were stored on the stairs. I don't think that’s the case now but they are as good as ever.
They came, large and floury, to be shared between us. The stew, with a selection of seasonal root vegetables, was superb, just what I expected. CL was more than happy with a beautifully cooked (large) piece of chicken, that too enhanced by the same veg and potatoes.
Both dishes are very highly recommended by the way. Other choices on the day included regulars such as Tripe and Onions with Drisheen (and those potatoes!);
Ardsallagh Goats Cheese Ciabatta, Balsamic Roasted Onions, Rocket & Walnut Pesto; Sourdough Sandwich with Moroccan spiced Chicken and Coriander Mayonaise; and a Toasted Sandwich (Loin of Bacon, Scarmorza Cheese, Onion Marmalade). 
A favourite bread!
There were a couple of tempting specials as well: a Chicken, Bacon and Mushroom Pie; and Pan-roasted Hake. Oh, I almost forgot that Bread and Butter pudding was very enjoyable. As simple as could be, just the basic bread and butter and sultanas in a generous pool of "creamy" custard. Another thumbs up from us for tradition!
Lunch is served from 12.30pm to 15.30pm (Tuesday to Friday) and the phone number is 00 353 21 427 8134. On Saturday, hours are as above but breakfast from 08:30 and lunch until 16:00. Be sure and check their socials for updates.
Instagram: farmgatecafe
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Lunch at The Farmgate Cafe. Seal beag gairid. Sásamh mór.
Lunch at The Farmgate Cafe. Seal beag gairid. Sásamh mór.
Hadn’t been to the Farmgate Café inCork’s English Market with a while. After a warm welcome, I was studying the Menu and was struck straightaway by the fact that their commitment to supporting local has never wavered.
Back in January 2010, Kay Harte helped me entertain two Americans (one a blogger, the other a photographer, each then working for foodspotting.com) and one of the highlights of the conversation was when Kay described her potatoes as balls of flour! These potatoes were from Ladysbridge in East Cork and so too are the potatoes they use today.
You’ll see lots of local names on the menu such as Toonsbridge, Ardsallagh, Longueville, Shine’s Fish, Garryhinch Mushrooms, Barry’s Tea, Cockagee Cider, Stonewell Cider, Stag Bán beer and more. You’ll also see the English Market downstairs mentioned quite often because that vibrant pantry is where they source many of their ingredients.
At first glance, you may well think that the menu doesn’t change. Tripe and Drisheen is always on and I was thinking of the Lamb Stew (with those Ladysbridge potatoes) before I changed my mind and went for something else entirely.
And, as it turned out, my Risotto with those fabulous Garryhinch Mushrooms (organic), Ardsallagh Goats Cheese, and Toasted Hazelnuts was a very satisfactory plate indeed, beautifully balanced and nowhere near as heavy as some risottos, just perfect for lunch. Great flavour from the stock, the mushrooms and the cheese, along with a nice crunch via the nuts.
They usually have a couple of specials on the board and CL picked the Chicken and Mushroom Pie with Mashed Potato and Roast Vegetable, one of those ageless dishes that, once well cooked (as it was here), is the ultimate comfort food for these dreary November days (although this particular one was better than most!).
Dessert? Coffee? Yes please. Quite a list of sweet stuff including Tiramisu, Apple Tart, and smaller items such as Coffee Cake and Caramel Squares. Our pick was the Orange Cake with Yoghurt and Fruit Compote. This too was one of the best of its type, the cake beautifully moist with the yogurt and compote a delicious enhancement!
We skipped the starters but again you’ll have a good selection, small such as Smoked Almonds, warming such as Market Fish Chowder and a fine selection of sandwich like the Toastie with Loin of Bacon, Scamorza Cheese, and Onion Marmalade
Service is excellent here, you’ll enjoy the quite chat and the info (on the specials, for example) and the food is well presented. And you can wave your thanks to the chefs as you exit! And indeed, if you feel like taking home something for supper, they’ve got a lovely well-stocked stall downstairs where we usually stop for for their fresh baked soda bread (the white one sells out quickly!).
It was quite enough there last week. A November Tuesday is not a very busy day in restaurants. Still, with Christmas coming, you are advised to book the restaurant towards the weekends. The gallery side is walk-ins only. More info at https://www.farmgatecork.ie/
Farmgate Opening Hours
Tuesday - Saturday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday and Monday - closed.
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| From the Farmgate Facebook page. |
Monday, March 29, 2021
Dining NOW Guide. This Week's Choices In Cork. Update #2
Dining NOW Guide. This Week's Choices In Cork
(Contact me before 1.00pm Wed with a sentence or two, a pic and a link to menu, plan to update regularly) w/e 4/4/2021 Update #2
Click and Collect. At Home. Takeout. Takeaway.
The Metropole Hotel, Cork
has launched an Easter Afternoon Tea at home menu.
The Afternoon Tea is available this Easter Weekend – from Friday 2nd April to Monday 5th April.
On the menu is:
Sweets: Mini chocolate mousse & berries, Easter cupcakes, Chocolate meringue nest with mini Cadburys cream eggs, Selection of macarons, Mini Chocolate brownie
Sandwich: Free range egg and cress, Chicken & cucumber with sun-dried tomato pesto, Pastrami and rocket in a floury wrap, Open smoked salmon on soda bread with chive cream cheese & pickled red onion
Sweet scones: Freshly baked scones with whipped cream and a selection of fruit jam
The Afternoon Tea for two people is €50 and the hotel will require 24 hours’ notice to book. Delivery within 15km is also available for an additional €10. To order you can call (021) 4643700
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That Homemade Cannelloni filled with slow cooked O'Mahonys lamb ragu, ricotta and pecorino cheese looks tempting!
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O'Mahony's Fly Stars & Stripes
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Vienna Woods Special
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Tom Durcan Will Bring It Home to You
Durcan’s Burger and wings artisan - Taste of #cork at home kit The finest local produce using Hasset’s bakery and Finders Inn dressing. Hand prepared on morning of collection by my son Harry. Order online and have it delivered to your door #nationwide #shoplocal @EnglishMarket More details at https://twitter.com/TomDurcanMeats
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Greenes Restaurant
Easter Menu's are now online, lots of seafood options, Macroom Lamb & our 6 course tasting menu. We have also added an Easter Picnic Box available Saturday & Sunday with everything you need included.
Visit www.greenesrestaurant.com/menus to order online.
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Metropole Hotel
DINE AT HOME 
Our Dine At Home menus are available to order every evening from 5pm-9pm.
Enjoy a range of delectable dishes, cooked to perfection by our Head Chef, available for collection from The Metropole Hotel Cork.
See menus online here: https://www.themetropolehotel.ie/dining/menus/
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L'Atitude. On the road again
We’re heading south this week to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It might come as a surprise to some that wine is produced in Morocco, but wine has been made in North Africa for at least 2,500 year...
..Our Volubia red is a perfect ally for food. To say we are excited about this week’s destination would be a slight understatement. There are so many colourful ingredients and flavours to choose from, we’ll find it hard to narrow it down. As usual we will choose a selection that we think will marry best with the wine.
Email info@latitude51.ie by noon Thurs if you’d like to join our adventure. €50 box for 2 people. Collection Friday 2 April from 5 -6.30
Celtic Ross Hotel
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LIBERTY GRILL 
We have posted our Home Dining menu for delivery over the Easter weekend
We are also delivering a new “Slow Roast for 4”
Details from our website LibertyGrill.ie @libertygrillcork
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On the Pig's Back
Order online or by phone @ 021-4617832
Saturday Night Takeaway - Now Online! 
3 Course Menu €30.00 pp
☆B.B.Q Prawns with Creamed Corn and Kale
☆Spiced Chicken Salad with Crisp Leaves, Cherry tomato, Red Onion, Ranch Dressing and Croutons
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☆Herb Crusted Pan-fried Hake, Corn Succotash, Baked Sweet Potato Wedges and Caper Brown Butter
☆Broiled Marinated Pork Chop, Buttered Savoy Cabbage, Fondant Potatoes with Mild Mustard Sauce
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☆Baked Raspberry Cheese Cake
☆Mississippi Mud Pie
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The Cork International Hotel Have An Afternoon Tea Off With A Twist!
The Cork International Hotel has launched a gourmet Seafood Afternoon Tea just in time for Easter.
The Afternoon Tea will be available for a limited period over the Easter Weekend – available from Thursday 1st April to to Monday 5th April.
On the menu is:
Sweets: Dark Chocolate mousse with raspberries, Carrot Cake topped in white chocolate, Coffee slice, Chocolate brownie.
Savoury: Crab and crayfish cocktail Chai Bao, Smoked Mackerel Pate on pressed puff pastry, Beetroot salmon gravlax and grape skewer.
Sandwich: Flaked salmon and pickled cucumber on white bread, open tiger prawn sandwich with garlic and lemon aioli, tuna, lettuce and chilli chutney pinwheels.
The Afternoon Tea for two people is €50 and the hotel will require 24 hours’ notice to book. To order you can call (021) 4549800
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Farmgate Ready to Feed the Family this Easter
We have spent the last few weeks thinking about the Easter break, so we can have it all organised for you with just one click of a button.
How about the perfect family roast? Delicious slow-cooked lamb (and more!) for a stress-free day and the opportunity to really enjoy quality time your loved ones. Let’s face it, who amongst us cannot claim to be sick of constantly cooking for hungry hounds?
Easter Sunday Feast - €70 for 2 / €120 for 4
Bottle or Red or White wine
Market Fish Plate, Farmgate Brown Soda Bread
Slow Braised Shoulder of Lamb, Ardrahan Cheese & Lamb Croquettes, Lyonnaise Potatoes, Buttered Spring Greens
Strawberry & Framboise Trifle
There's also an Easter Family Feast. See all the menus and details here
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~~Easter menu is now live here~~
Phone lines are now open 0214277387. Get your orders in now for collection this Friday & Saturday
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Market Lane
There’s still time to order our heat at home set menu for Easter Weekend. Stock is limited and we've sold out in the past, so our top tip for today is do it now to avoid any disappointment.. Order from marketlane.ie by Thursday . #keepgoingcork
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The Glass Curtain
With Easter upon us, we have more yummy treats planned for the weekend. The following menu is available from Friday to Sunday:
You may order from 12pm tomorrow (Monday) via the following link: The Glass Curtain At Home
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This weekend'smenu now live, get your orders in for Easter Sunday 
https://ferrit-lee.clickandcollection.com
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