Calling All Little Explorers To "SPLISH SPLASH IT’S SUMMER AT THE OSPREY"

 press release

Calling All Little Explorers – It’s time to Play at The Osprey Hotel

-SPLISH SPLASH IT’S SUMMER AT THE OSPREY-

Escape to the four-star, Osprey Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare this summer season for some family fun with the little ones. This stylish contemporary hotel has a multitude to offer to make sure parents and kids are well looked after on their summer break. No need to stress at an airport or worry about how you will manage with little ones. Everything has been thought of! There’s even a baby concierge service where you can avail of those all-important emergency wipes, and nappies. The hotel can also provide bottle warmers and microwave so you can put your mind at ease in case you forget anything.

The brand-new family package called, ‘Osprey Explorers’ offers guaranteed fun for all the family and includes both one- and two-night bed and breakfast options. Unwind in one of the spacious, airy family guestrooms which are suitable for two adults and two children under 12 sharing with their parents. Some of the family rooms even include a tepee! What more could any little explorer wish for?

Choose from a variety of Osprey Explorers packages to suit you and opt between a ticket to Dublin Zoo or Emerald Park (from €260.00 per family).

The children will love the 20-metre deck pool and will enjoy checking themselves into the hotel at the dedicated kids check in area. Everything has been thought of to create a magical family experience for the little ones including children’s goodie bags, colouring books and even treasure hunt maps.

‘Osprey Explorers’ will really enjoy the kids pancake station at breakfast time, and the tasty kids’ menu with a variety of options to choose from in the Osprey Bar or the bistro style Herald & Devoy Restaurant which has tasty meals for even the fussiest of eaters.

Evening entertainment with movie nights for the kids is provided every weekend in June and every night in July. Sit back and let them tuck into popcorn while they watch one of the family movies provided by the Osprey Hotel.

As well as a swimming pool, there is also a steam room and saunas, and a hydro pool with a cascading water jet, ideal to relieve those parental tension knots! Make sure to escape for a little while without the little ones and enjoy some serious pampering at the magnificent 10,000 sq. ft Osprey Spa which was designed by celebrity architect Hugh Wallace.

With plenty to do around the Kildare area you can be sure the kids won’t get bored. Great things to see and do include visiting the Japanese Gardens and The Irish National Stud or see if you can navigate the Kildare maze.

Fashionistas will really enjoy browsing the quirky boutiques which Naas is so famous for. Also nearby is Kildare Village and Newbridge Silverware and the famous Museum of Style Icons where garments once worn and owned by stars of the worlds of film and music are on permanent display.

Located just 35 minutes from Dublin City Centre, the Osprey Hotel is a must visit destination for all little explorers this summer.

Escape to the Osprey Hotel this summer. For more see www.ospreyhotel.ie or call them on  +353 45 881 111.

-Ends-

ENJOY THE HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER AT POWERSCOURT HOTEL RESORT SPA

 ENJOY THE HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER AT

POWERSCOURT HOTEL RESORT SPA

Packages overview:

·       Powerscourt Passport: Overnight stay for two from €298.00 per room to include breakfast, complimentary room up-grade and entrance tickets to either Powerscourt Waterfall or Powerscourt House & Gardens.

·       Summer Time Out: 2 adults and 2 children (under 12 yrs) sharing family accommodation with breakfast for all, a family picnic for 4 and admission to Powerscourt Waterfall and dinner for the adults on one evening in The Sally Gap Restaurant from €892 for a two-night stay or €446.00 for an overnight experience for the family.

 ________________

Whether it is family bonding time or a couple’s summer retreat you are longing for, the 5* Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa is the perfect choice and has just launched some fabulous online offers available throughout the summer 2023.

There’s nothing as decadent as a mid-week summer escape. Powerscourt has curated a delightful overnight experience for two, namely the Powerscourt Passport, offering guests midweek stays from €298.00 per room with breakfast and complimentary upgrade upon check-in.  Also, included are courtesy entrance tickets to either Powerscourt House & Gardens or Powerscourt Waterfall and guests can advise which attraction/activity preference they have upon check in. Each location sets the perfect backdrop for a romantic alfresco picnic.  

\

Upon arrival, the welcoming doorman will escort you to the impressive lobby which leads into the Sugar Loaf Lounge, where you can catch a glimpse of the magical setting.  Settle into your impressive bedroom, take a stroll or a bike ride about the glorious grounds, slip into your swimwear for a dip in the 20m Swarovski crystal-lit swimming pool before donning your best attire for some sophisticated cocktails on the glorious outdoor terrace before dinner in the stunning Sika Restaurant, where the space is as appetising as the menu. 

Sika Restaurant

There is no better place to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the Sugar Loaf Mountain vistas as the weather gets warmer, as Sika Terrace & Restaurant is open for all day dining during the summer months and offers the best of Irish contemporary cooking inspired by the rich bounty of our seas and fields, with popular classics deliciously presented with a distinctively modern twist. Overnight stay for two from €298.00 per room per night to include breakfast, complimentary room up-grade and entrance tickets to either Powerscourt Waterfall or Powerscourt House & Gardens.

For families, Powerscourt offers a tantalising balance of fun and formality with outdoor playground, giant chess game and nature walks to decadent Afternoon Tea experiences so regardless of age, there’s plenty of options to satisfy all requests. Treat the kids and let them explore the magnificent 1,000-acre resort and enjoy some relaxed family time together over breakfast in the wonderful Sika Restaurant overlooking the glorious grounds and Sugar Loaf Mountain. 

Cycle to the gorgeous village of Enniskerry (complimentary estate bicycles available) or pedal along the river walk trail and pay a visit to Powerscourt Waterfall and enjoy a family picnic together, taking time to inhale the breath-taking vistas.  Whilst the kids enjoy complimentary movies and popcorn in the comfort of your room, the adults can steal away on one evening for a delicious dinner for two in the beautiful Sally Gap Restaurant. Summer Time Out  package for 2 adults and 2 children (under 12 yrs) sharing family accommodation with breakfast for all, a family picnic for 4 and admission to Powerscourt Waterfall and dinner for the adults on one evening in The Sally Gap Restaurant from €892 for a two-night stay or €446.00 for an overnight experience for the family. 

Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa offers a truly magical escape, with all the vital ingredients to create the perfect backdrop for an amazing summer break.  Relax on arrival in the comfort of your impressive bedroom complete with signature linens, featherbeds, marble bathrooms, ESPA bath essentials and Rainforest showers to name some of the luxurious amenities. Take a dip in the indoor 20m Swarovski crystal-lit swimming pool or treat yourself to a treatment at ESPA. 

Renowned as one of the best spa hotels in Ireland, therapists are trained to the highest standards ensuring you can enjoy an exceptional spa experience in secluded luxury. All treatments are exclusively by ESPA, and surrounded by gorgeous scenery amongst the Wicklow Mountains, the Spa is the ultimate luxury retreat. All Spa guests enjoy full use of the thermal areas including Swarovski-Crystal lit heated pool, Hamman Suite, Sauna and Steam rooms.  The Spa Café offers a tranquil oasis to sit, eat, sip and surrender to relaxation.

Don your walking attire and take advantage of the wonderful Wicklow countryside including a private Riverside Walk within the walls of Powerscourt Estate offering over 3 km of winding unspoiled walkways, breathtaking views and an opportunity to spend some precious time with the love of your life.  

This private and hidden gem lies deep within the walls of Powerscourt Estate and the Viscount of Powerscourt laid the River Walk’s main pathway in 1868 so that his family could enjoy the serenity of the river Dargle.   If it is an adventure break you are looking for, the hotel can organise mountain climbs, escorted walks or more strenuous activities including abseiling and mountain biking.  Golf can also be arranged at Powerscourt Golf Club and Enniskerry is packed with interesting things to do and see. The town itself is brimming with great restaurants, fabulous shops, and old-town atmosphere.

For more information, please visit www.powerscourthotel.com

Bookings can be made through the Reservations Team on +35312748888 or reservations@powerscourthotel.com

press release

Varietal Verdejo has its challengers but this Casa Maria is a good one!

Varietal Verdejo has its challengers but this Casa Maria is a good one!

Cuatro Rayas Casa Maria Verdejo Vino De La Tierra De Castilla Y Leon 2019, 13% ABV

RRP €12.85. Le Caveau, 64 Wine, Greenman Wines, Bradleys Cork

The label tells us that this Verdejo wine is from a careful selection of the indigenous grape variety, and harvested when perfectly ripe.

The colour is an attractive pale yellow. Aromas are also pleasant, of apple and lime. And that combination, with herbal hints (the slightest whiff of fennel), also appears in the smooth and fresh palate, followed by a dry lingering finish. 

With its high acidity and a suggestion of bitterness, Verdejo makes an excellent food wine but is noted mostly for its compatibility with fish so pair this light-bodied wine with shellfish and fresh fish (importers Le Caveau suggest a simply grilled piece of fresh mackerel).  Should be excellent as well with the Fish Tacos that I've enjoyed from time to time in Cork’s Good Day Deli. The label also recommends it as an aperitif with olives.

Highly Recommended

***************

Check out the Good Value Wine List here

***************

Bodega Cuatro Rayas is the largest and arguably the most important producer of wines in the Rueda DO. Established in 1935, the cooperative has evolved to become a state-of-the-art winery, where the focus is to make quality wine, in an environmentally-friendly manner. 

Most of the world’s Verdejo is grown in Spain and most of that in Rueda. Nevertheless, its prominence in Rueda is being challenged by the international Sauvignon Blanc. Furthermore, Chardonnay and Viognier were added to the DO regulations in 2020. Wine-Searcher.com continues: Before this a generic Rueda DO still white wine had to feature at least 50 percent Verdejo. Now it must include the same minimum of Verdejo OR Sauvignon Blanc. 

*************

Click here for our growing list of top wines for 2023

*************

THE SINGLE MALT SHOP ANNOUNCES THE SALE OF A COMPLETE MIDLETON VERY RARE VINTAGE COLLECTION

press release

THE SINGLE MALT SHOP ANNOUNCES THE SALE OF A COMPLETE MIDLETON VERY RARE VINTAGE COLLECTION

The Midleton Very Rare brand was launched by Irish Distillers in 1984 with master distiller Barry Crockett. It is internationally celebrated as, "the pinnacle of Irish whiskey" and every year a new vintage is brought out. As soon as the annually released bottles hit the shelves, they get eagerly snapped up by devout fans and premium whiskey collectors.

Being global online retailers that specialize in high end Irish whiskey, securing an entire set of the Midleton Very Rare vintage releases was always a goal for The Single Malt Shop. On July 3rd at 9am, that highly coveted collection will be available to purchase from the site for €110,000. This includes all Irish VAT and duties.

Each vintage from 1984 to 2023 is in pristine condition and every bottle comes with a certificate of authenticity. The opportunity to acquire an entire suite from Ireland's most prestigious whiskey brand, comes along once in a lifetime.
A Midleton Very Rare 1988 for instance, would typically sell at around €30,000 per bottle so committed whiskey collectors can see why a whole set of 40 bottles can command such a price. 

Spanning decades of supreme craftsmanship, the collection also showcases three different master distillers as The Single Malt Shop's Managing Director Ed Forrest (left) details, "Up until 2012, Midleton Very Rare's co-founder and their first master distiller Barry Crockett took charge of all the bottlings. By showcasing the best casks that he had in the Midleton distillery, not only did he give us some stellar whiskeys but he left a remarkable legacy. Upon his retirement, Brian Nation took on the custodian role before he passed it on to the current master distiller, Kevin O'Gorman. For The Single Malt Shop to be able to feature an entire collection that highlights their combined artistry, is a humbling honour for us."


He adds, "We have watched how the modern Irish whiskey trade has developed such a strong ultra premium sector. Midleton Very Rare has been at the forefront of that growth and we're thrilled to be one of the first to sell a complete representation of their portfolio."

ABOUT THE SINGLE MALT SHOP

www.thesinglemaltshop.com is a specialist e-commerce retailer of premium whiskeys and whiskies from across the globe that offers unparalleled service levels to over 30 countries. With a particular focus on promoting Irish whiskeys, The Single Malt Shop is delighted to bring this iconic Midleton Very Rare collection to market.

Terms & conditions of sale:

1. The price of €110,000 is inclusive of Irish VAT and excise duty. For customers outside of Ireland, local taxes and duties, where applicable, will apply.
2. Interested parties should fill out our online enquiry form with enquiries or intention to buy.
3. The first person to confirm intention to buy will be given priority.
4. Once the intention to buy is confirmed, we will send an invoice to the interested party. The customer will have 7 working days to make payment. Once payment is made, the collection will be deemed to be sold and taken off the site. Should payment not be made within the 7 working days period, we will move on to the next interested party on our email list and start the process over again.
5. Delivery is not included in the price, although we will offer free delivery to anywhere on the island of Ireland.

BBQ Wines With A Sicot Surprise Or Two. Matson’s June Tasting Event

BBQ Wines With A Sicot 

Surprise Or Two

Matson’s Grange June Tasting Event

“Expand your wine knowledge, uncover hidden gems, and connect with fellow wine enthusiasts in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.” That was the promise from Matson’s Nicolas Sicot ahead of last week’s June Tasting in their Grange store. 

He certainly came up with six rather special wines to complement your sizzling barbeque and summer dining. And that six included no less than three from highly rated importer Mary Pawle and all three went down very well indeed.

Ready to go at Grange!

Nic started with a surprise, a Sauvignon Blanc from Germany! It was by Hans Bear. Nic had been impressed with the company's Riesling and so asked to try the Sauvignon Blanc and now it's on the Matson shelves. It has aromas of tropical fruit paired with a slight hint of green pepper, fresh and fruity on the palate. “I’m a big fan," said Nic, “…close to a Marlborough or one from the Touraine.” All for eleven euro! One to enjoy as you ease into the BBQ evening.

Next up was Mary Pawle’s Timorasso from Italy’s Colli Tortonesi. This is delicately aromatic, mainly floral. Full-bodied and dry, with melon flavours, it is immediately refreshing on the palate with fresh and herby acidity. “Interesting, super super clean,” enthused Nic. “Quite full-bodied. Good with BBQ scallops or with fresh mackerel also from the BBQ.”

It wouldn't be summer without rosé and Nic had one, not from Provence but from nearby French Catalonia and produced by Domaine Laflage. Very little colour but with aromas of strawberry, raspberry, white grapefruit and orange blossom. It is light-bodied, fresh and clean. Quite a few rosés now on offer here in Matson’s.

The Garciano, via Mary Pawle, was next. The fruit comes from an amazing area, the Bardenas Reales, a semi-desert or badlands in Navarra. The very poor and arid clay-calcareous soil, the dry weather and the big contrast of temperature between the day and the night provide grapes with high concentration and a perfect balance and also offers distinctive character and great expression. Producers Azul y Garanza are organic but go further, planting fruit trees and native aromatic plants around the vineyards.

The fruity and spicy Garnacha (60%) with the “subtle acidity” of the Graciano make a great match as you can sense on the palate where it is quite intense, berry and plum, spicy but smooth and balanced. “Great acidity and soft tannins,” says Nic. “I can see it with lamb chops!”.

On then to the Lignum by Penedes producers Albet Y Noya (who have a long relationship with Mary Pawle). Nic loved its balance and super clean fruit. “It is smooth on the palate.. with just a little hint of the oak.”

The blend is of Xarel-lo, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay and they come together very well indeed. The winery itself says: There are two sides to this wine. The Sauvignon gives it a perfumed, floral nose. Xarel·lo and Chardonnay together with a hint of oak (where the Chardonnay spends 2 months) give it a little body and complexity in the mouth with a long finish.

GD Vajra, producers of our final wine, the Dolcetto D’Alba, have been farming organically since 1971 but they didn’t get off to the best of starts. Giuseppe, during an April 2002 online masterclass via importers Liberty Wine, said he was dragged away from his soccer games (he was playing too much of it - well he was just 15) to plant his first vineyard. 

He and his current team are still youthful and he is proud of their work. “We hope we get wiser as we go on. We started organically and our first vintage in 1972 was not a good one, not worth ageing!” The whole extended family are at work here in this “multicultural team” near the village of Barolo. Perhaps, that first vintage was a disappointment but there have been many good ones since.

Nicolas Sicot, centre of attention at an earlier tasting in Matson's Bandon store.

“Dolcetto means Little Sweet One,” said Nic. “It is food friendly, including with the BBQ.”

It is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to the grape’s sugar levels which are not notably high. In any case, the wines produced are nearly always dry. Even the hugely experienced Oz Clark admits, in Grapes and Wines, that he hasn’t found a Dolcetto wine that deserves the “little sweet one” tag.

Don't worry too much about it. It, and the other five, certainly fit the bill for the rest of the summer and, hopefully, many more barbeques. Nic certainly kept his promise!

* Nicolas is responsible for the development of wine for the Matson's group, including purchasing, sales, promotion planning, training and marketing.

On the Ballycotton Cliff Walk

 On the Ballycotton Cliff Walk

Pics taken 26.05.2023

Steps down to a stony beach.

White flowers (and below)

Yellow flowers

Sea Thrift, ocean

Sea Thrift, ocean

Sea Thrift, old fence post

Sea Thrift, old fence post

Sea Thrift

Sea Thrift, cliffs, mini-waterfall

Sea Thrift

Sea Thrift, ocean

Sea Thrift, cliffs, ocean

Sea Thrift, cliffs, ocean

Cattle grazing above the ocean

Peacock butterfly

Path, island, lighthouse

Coast, ocean

Island, ocean, lighthouse

Sea Thrift (pink), contrail

Two people chanting to the cattle (also below)

Sea Thrift, ocean

Stony beach, cliffs, rocks, ocean

"Soldier"

FORBES STREET BY GARETH MULLINS OPENS AT ANANTARA DUBLIN

press release

FORBES STREET BY GARETH MULLINS OPENS

Gareth Mullins

-New Destination Restaurant at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel-

If you want to experience the hottest dining destination in Ireland this summer, you need to check out Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins located at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel on Grand Canal Dock, Docklands, Dublin 2. This new destination restaurant features the best of the sea and the land and champions locally sourced products.

Executive Head Chef Gareth Mullins has hand selected an elite group of food producers to supply his kitchen with premium ingredients to offer diners an extraordinary culinary experience. Signature dishes include treats such as Flaggy Shore Oysters, John Stone T-Bone steaks infused with Pearse Lyons Whiskey and Irish artisan cheese selections with figs and Irish lavender.

The new restaurant features an open kitchen where diners can experience all of the theatre and atmosphere of the kitchen while the intimate booths, low-level lighting and extensive wine cave with a fabulous focus on the new and old Irish, ‘Wine Geese’ all add to the dining experience. Menus include A La Carte dinner menus and pre-theatre menus which are in keeping with the location of the restaurant, just steps from the famous Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Grand Canal Square.

Guests to the restaurant can enjoy a glass of bubbles before dinner on the sun-drenched terrace at the front of the hotel or on the famous rooftop terrace which enjoys 360-degree views across the Dublin skyline and to the sea.

The new restaurant is open 7 days a week for dinner and from Monday to Friday for lunch from 12.30pm until 2.00pm.

To book call +353 (0) 1 687 5104 email, bookyourtable.themarker@anantara-hotels.com or for more information see www.anantara.com

Anantara The Marker, Dublin

Let’s talk about Gareth

The name of the restaurant is Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins. Let’s talk about him.

For over 20 years Gareth has delighted patrons of five-star hotels in Ireland and Australia with some extraordinary culinary achievements. It all began when he qualified from DIT Cathal Brugha Street in 1999 and then he was off, spending five years in Sydney, Australia, where he worked as head chef at the W Hotel and as senior chef de partie in the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

Next came seven years in the Merrion Hotel as head chef in The Cellar Restaurant & Bar where he helped The Cellar achieve two AA rosettes and the bar was recommended in the Michelin Guide.

Gareth was appointed executive chef at The Marker Hotel when it opened in 2013 and for the last decade has been responsible for some genuinely brilliant creations coming out of The Marker Hotel’s four kitchens: The Brasserie, the Rooftop Bar and Terrace, the Marker Bar and in-room dining.