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      .

Les Gourmandises. 1er classe!

Risotto

Les Gourmandises - 1er classe

It wasn’t a full house but the chef played a blinder at Les Gourmandises on Friday night. In terms of execution, presentation, taste, creativity and innovation, this was a masterclass, a feast for the eye as much as for the mouth. Exquisite.




CL is not really a Risotto person but her starter (Tomato and Basil Risotto, goat cheese beignet, olive oil and parmesan) captured and captivated her: “one of the best starters ever”. Tomato and Basil are a terrific combination and that came through here. Looked well and tasted really well.




I picked one of the specials: Prawns (shelled) in Filo Pastry with Mango Crème Fraiche and Mango jus. I’ve often had prawns in pastry before but this was in a class of its own. Five or six juicy prawns, all perfectly cooked, stood in the “pond” of gorgeous mango, one of my favourite exotic fruits. Used my hands all through the delicious demolition.

Monkfish Beignets with aubergine puree, tomato chutney and parsnip crisp was the main course that we both ordered. Served on a slate, it looked great. And rather substantial too as you can see from the picture, with three small bowls of beignets and puree and a dish of sautéed potatoes (each not much bigger than a marble) on the side.

Substantial or not, the slate was cleaned. Again, the fish was cooked to perfection and matched so well by the aubergine. By the way, those parsnip crisps weren't just for decoration! A lovely dish.

Now on to the dessert, where we took the sharing plate (sharing slate, really): Coconut panna cotta, Mango posset, chocolate gateau and chocolate crème brûlée. Perhaps a little too much chocolate for us at the end of a gorgeous meal but all perfectly done and very enjoyable indeed.

We picked from the €45.00 menu: three courses and also tea or coffee. We could have had two courses (without tea or coffee) for €38.50. There is an excellent wine list here, dominated by French producers. Just had one glass (7.00) of an un-oaked Beaujolais Chardonnay, Domaine des Nugues. Don’t think I’ve come across it before and it went very well indeed with my monkish.

Though I wouldn’t particularly like to be seated in the middle row, Les Gourmandises is generally quite a comfortable restaurant, with decent seating and well set tables. Service is pleasant, with a smile, and also with information freely volunteered to help you make a decision with your order.

Local suppliers include: Meat - John O'Flynn's & Sons, Marlboro Street
Fish - O’Connell’s, English Market
Shellfish de la Mer - Castletownbere, West Cork
Love Fish - Ballycotton, Co Cork
Springfield Organic Vegetables - Tipperary
Cheesemongers - Iago, English Market

RAI: Connaught award winners announced

The county winners of the Connaught area were announced at the Restaurants Association of Ireland function in the House Hotel last night. The winners qualify for another big date on May 14^th in Dublin when the regional and national awards will be announced. 


Details here

MY TOP LOCAL RESTAURANTS

MY THIRTY ONE

Sticking to a list of 31 favourite restaurants again this year. Early on, thought I might well reach the next prime number up but there were a couple of disappointments and then a few favourites, including Nautilus and the Silk Purse, who shut their doors.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom: the 2010 baby Electric has gone from strength to strength and La Dolce Vita has taken up the vacancy in Proby’s Quay. And in addition, L’Atitude has just given us our first wine café.

I have been to all 31 (and others) over the past 12 months and have been happy enough with the results. Huge differences, of course, in styles and comfort over the range but I'd have no problem in going back to any of them. The list below, while roughly alphabetical, is in no particular order. Just be aware also that there are some really good ones that I haven't been to in 2011. You may see reviews for all of the 31 in this blog.

Made a bit of a resolution to get out into the county more often for 2011 and included Kinsale, Midleton and Clonakilty as targets. Got to Midleton a bit (enjoyed Sage) and Clonakilty too, not forgetting Timoleague (and Dillon’s). Still haven’t explored Kinsale to any great degree and, for 2012, now must include it and must also look north, to Mallow and Fermoy for example.

MY 31

(In no particular order)

1 Augustine’s

2 Annie’s

3 Blair’s Inn

4 Ballymaloe

5 Bramley Lodge

6 Cornstore

7 Costello’s Malthouse

8 Dillon’s

9 Electric

10 Fenn’s Quay

11 Fota Island Resort

12 Greene’s

13 Hayfield Manor

14 Isaac’s

15 Jacque’s

16 Jacobs on the Mall

17 La Dolce Vita

18 Les Gourmandises

19 Liberty Grill

20 Market Lane

21 Mabel Crawford’s

22 Nash 19

23 Richy’s Bistro

24 Rising Tide

25 Sage

26 Star Anise

27 The Farmgate

28 The Spinning Wheel

29 The Bosun

30 The Castle

31 The Pantry

CORK RESTAURANT GROUP GO GOURMET

CORK RESTAURANT GROUP GO GOURMET

The Cork Restaurant Marketing Group has announced a Gourmet Weekend for next weekend, something of an upgrade on the previous promotion Dine in Cork Week.

But the hard–working group are not stopping at that and last Thursday, in the Rising Tide, they announced the launch of Dine Out In Cork, an annual magazine to highlight the more than twenty restaurants that have banded together in the project..

It is designed to promote Cork as not only the Food Capital of Ireland but also as a food destination from abroad and will have a wide circulation, including hotels and tourist offices.

Spokesperson Sylvia Meulmeester told me there are plans for a Cork International Gourmet Week next year, following the success of the Cork Gourmet Trail. The proposed week-long event would incorporate the promotion of Cork city as a dining experience.

The magazine is being finalised at present and is due to be published on December 1^st. Before that Sylvia will be working on the imminent Gourmet Weekend. Details and recipes (and competitions for tickets) will be published here. 

The Rising Tide’s Sandra Murphy (right) proved a gracious host. The apprentice star was in tip top form and so too was the kitchen that supplied us with tray after tray of really classy canapés.

Sandra will be hosting a Hired or Fired Dinner Party (7.00pm) this coming Monday (7th) and that should be fun, and good value too: three courses, a glass of wine and the Apprentice on the telly ( from 9.00pm), and a hostess with the inside track, all for €20.00.

CORNSTORE CRACKER

THE CORNSTORE

The Cornstore is one well tuned outfit, slick and efficient. The excellent service comes with a chat and smile. And the food isn’t half bad either.

What a choice. Early Bird, July/August Fish Specials and an A La Carte selection about as big as a page of the Evening Echo with main dishes ranging from €14.35 to €32.95.

This is what I picked this weekend:
Cornstore Chicken Wings with Crozier blue cheese (€8.50);
Charred and carved duck breast with beetroot confit, sautéed spinach, mash potatoes and red wine jus (€21.65);
Wine: Bodegas Muriel Tempranillo Rioja Spain (5.95 gl, 16.95 50cl and 23.95 75cl).

Those chicken wings are hot babies (there is a whole flock of them in the dish) and you need and appreciate the dip to cool things down. A glass of water also helps. If there are two of you and you both like wings, then you can get a dish to share for €13.50.

With the wings out of the way and the hands cleaned, there was just a short wait for the main course, again a substantial dish. Really liked it, especially the combination of the medium cooked duck (they tell you in advance that that’s the way they do it!) and the spinach. The beetroot was a little on the sweet side (I found it fine) and provided another interesting taste combination with the meat.

There are huge choices of wine, up to 18 available by the glass, quite a few by carafe (50cl). The Tempranillo was spicy and fruity.

It was an excellent meal, Very enjoyable. And the Cornstore seem to be getting it right as the place was very very busy.