Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Coastal, Casual, Cool At The Lodge In Myrtleville. Appetising Dishes With International Flavours.


Coastal, Casual, Cool At 
The Lodge In Myrtleville. 

Appetising Dishes With International Flavours.

Butter Chicken Curry 



The Lodge at Myrtleville is coastal and casual. And cool. Have you seen this sentence in big letters on the side of the building as you drive down towards the nearby beach? It reads: "I don't need an inspirational quote. I need beer.” A place that's not afraid to have a bit of fun!


And if you need that beer, here’s another sign that needs reading: “If you want our booze, wear shirt and shoes”. And on the same notice board, you’ll see that your dog is welcome but must be kept on a lead. So cool, casual, coastal and canine-friendly as well.


And the food? How about a drink first? No bother, there is a full bar here. I'm always a fan of places that support local businesses, and it's clear that The Lodge at Myrtleville does that.  Blacks of Kinsale are among the suppliers to benefit. Their popular beers (I began with a glass of their excellent ale) and whiskey and gin are available here. And some delicious wines too including the smashing Grande Escolha Vinho Verde from Portugal (by the glass and by the bottle).

Kreatopita

No shortage of familiar items on the menu, including burgers and pizzas, chicken wings, and curries. But before grumpily declaring “the same old suspects”, look closer. Those chicken wings come with a Korean sauce, the starters offer a Greek dish (with an amazing relish), and the burgers include one with Mexican Spiced Shredded Pork. Not just standard fare here as there are some unique flavours on the menu and these are just a few examples.

Gochujang BBQ Wings


We got a few tips from the servers - they are all friendly and keen to help here - and made our choices. I’m keen on that Greek one from the Small Plates list, described as Kreatopita, a Greek Style Dish, (Filo Pastry Stuffed with Pulled Beef & Feta) and served with that outstanding Tomato & Basil Relish, plus a small tasty salad.

Looking at our venue from the beach road. The Lodge has terrific views across the Cork
harbour mouth and out to the sea.


A big thumbs up for that and also for our other small plate (not that small by the way!), the Gochujang BBQ Wings (chicken wings glazed with Korean BBQ Sauce, Sesame and Scallions). That Gochujang sauce may well be familiar to customers of the Marina Market. 

Goan Prawn Curry

The focus then switched to the Indian sub-continent as our mains arrived. Mine was the Goan Prawn Curry (a delicately spiced Prawn curry with a blend of coconut milk, curry leaves and a hint of tamarind). The coastal southwest Indian state is famous for its curries and this was superb, delicious and filling.


CL did well here too. Her pick was the Butter Chicken Curry (Chicken Tikka simmered in a rich creamy, buttery and aromatic tomato curry), originally from Northern India. Skinny Fries (top-notch) along with steamed rice and Paratha Indian Bread completed the mains.

Butter Chicken Curry and Rice


We were pretty full at that stage and gave the desserts a skip on this occasion. The Lodge can take 70 patrons inside and as many (if not more outside). Consider reserving a table if you have decided to dine indoors. 

Didn't get to try their Burrata dish.
Next time! Pic by the Lodge.


Any of you checking out the Inst page of The Lodge will have noted tempting pics of Argentinian Braised Lamb Shoulder and Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks and so on. None of these are on the menu at the moment but watch this space. Plans are also afoot to expand the kitchen and enlarge the menu. And also watch out for a Wine Evening or two in the autumn/winter period.


Still lots of long summer days ahead, so do go for a walk on the beach before or after an informal and lovely meal at The Lodge.


Monday, July 17, 2023

2023 Bar of the Year Awards Finalists Announced! Is Your Favourite In The Running?


Paladar's Tropical Itch
Paladar is one of many
Cork bars in the shortlists.

2023 Bar of the Year Awards Finalists Announced!



With almost 600 submissions this year's Bar Awards have seen more entries than ever before, which made the judges decision even harder as the competition was even stronger. After intense deliberation only the best bars have been shortlisted as finalists.

W
VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Franciscan Well Brewpub - Cork
Jackie's - Dublin
Lock 13 Brewpub - Kildare
Nevins Newfield Inn - Mayo
Roe & Co Distillery - Dublin
The Black Forge Inn - Dublin
Sponsored by Excel Recruitment 
HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR
Americana Bar - Dublin
Bartley's Bar and Restaurant at The Grafton Hotel - Dublin
Café du Parc - Kerry
Clayton Hotel Limerick - Limerick
Conor's Bar & Lounge - Monaghan
Dunes Bar & Bistro - Cork
HYDE Bar - Galway
Knights Bar - Clontarf Castle Hotel - Dublin
Schull Harbour Hotel - The Gracie Blue Bar - Cork
The Aylward Lounge at Faithlegg - Waterford
The Blue Haven Kinsale - Cork
The Club At Goffs - Kildare
The Connacht Hotel - Galway
The Curious Mister - Dublin
The Montenotte Hotel - Cork
Wineport Lodge - Westmeath
Sponsored by Tia Maria 
FIVE STAR HOTEL BAR OF THE YEAR 
Bar No 23. at The Merrion Hotel - Dublin
Mount Juliet Estate - Majors Bar - Kilkenny
The Clubhouse at Fota Island Resort - Cork
The Cocktail Bar at Dromoland - Clare
The Courtyard Bar, Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel - Kildare
The Savoy Bar at the Savoy Hotel - Limerick
The Sidecar at The Westbury - Dublin
The Tack Room at Adare Manor - Limerick
Sponsored by London Essence 
RESTAURANT BAR OF THE YEAR
Annie May's, Newcastle - Dublin
Doolally - Dublin
FIRE Steakhouse & Bar - Dublin
Hogs & Heifers - Dublin
House Limerick - Limerick
Isabelle's - Dublin
Lemon & Duke - Dublin
Mama Yo - Dublin
Ryleigh's - Dublin
Saba - Dublin
Sandyford House - Dublin
Silken Thomas - Kildare
Sophie's Rooftop Galway - Dublin
The Club At Goffs - Kildare
The Grayson - Dublin
The Wine Cellar at Fallon & Byrne - Dublin
Sponsored by Coole Swan 
TOURIST BAR OF THE YEAR
1520 - Galway
Brass Fox Wicklow - Wicklow
Bruxelles, Dublin - Dublin
Buskers Bar - Dublin
Fishermans Thatched Inn - Laois
Gerties Brownes Bar and Bistro - Westmeath
Lundy Foots - Dublin
Murray's Bar - Dublin
O'Connells Galway - Galway
Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar - Waterford
The Auld Dubliner - Dublin
The Brazen Head - Dublin
The Locke - Limerick
The Porter House - Mayo
The Shelbourne Bar Cork - Cork
The Stag's Head - Dublin
CITY BAR OF THE YEAR
An Púcán - Galway
Cask - Cork
Costigan's Pub - Cork
Grand Central Dublin - Dublin
House Limerick - Limerick
Impala - Cork
Jerry Flannerys & 1314 - Limerick
Kodiak - Dublin
Left Bank - Kilkenny
Lemon & Duke - Dublin
NoLIta - Dublin
r.i.o.t. Dublin - Dublin
Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar - Waterford
The Curious Mister - Dublin
The Front Door Pub - Galway
The Landmark - Dublin
Sponsored by Schweppes
INNOVATIVE BAR OF THE YEAR
An Púcán - Galway
Andy's Bar Monaghan - Monaghan
BAR 1661 - Dublin
Cask - Cork
Hamlets Bar + Kitchen - Cork
Jackie's - Dublin
Knights Bar - Clontarf Castle Hotel - Dublin
Lock 13 Brewpub - Kildare
Mother Macs Public House - Limerick
Nevins Newfield Inn - Mayo
Peruke & Periwig - Dublin
Saba - Dublin
The Camden - Dublin
The Curious Mister - Dublin
The Shelbourne Bar Cork - Cork
Sponsored by Istil 38
TRADITIONAL BAR OF THE YEAR
An Poitin Stil - Dublin
Cobbler's Bar - Mayo
Gracie's Bar - Sligo
J.J Houghs Singing Pub - Offaly
K67 Bar & Grill - Dublin
Kehoes Pub - Dublin
Lundy Foots - Dublin
Murphy's Galway - Galway
Murray's Bar - Dublin
O'Donoghue Public House - Kerry
O’Briens Bar - Wexford
Paddy Macs - Mayo
Peadars Bar Moate - Westmeath
The Brazen Head - Dublin
The Stag's Head - Dublin
Thomas Francis Meagher Bar at the Granville Hotel - Waterford
LOCAL BAR OF THE YEAR 
An Poitin Stil - Dublin
Annie May's, Newcastle - Dublin
Dignam’s Bar - Monaghan
Gertie Brownes Bar and Bistro - Westmeath
Glynn's Bar - Galway
Jimmy Rabbittes - Dublin
K67 Bar & Grill - Dublin
Off The Bone Gastropub - Limerick
Old Mill, Tallaght - Dublin
Palmerstown House - Dublin
Peadars Bar Moate - Westmeath
The Black Forge Inn - Dublin
The Forty Four - Dublin
The Laurels Clondakin - Dublin
The Railway Tavern, Fahan, Donegal - Donegal
Veldons Seafarer - Galway
GASTRO BAR OF THE YEAR
Carroll's of Lucan - Dublin
Conor's Bar & Lounge - Monaghan
Gertie Brownes Bar and Bistro - Westmeath
Harrigan's Bar & Grill - Kildare
John Keoghs Gastropub - Galway
JW's Brasserie - Mayo
Left Bank - Kilkenny
Monks - Clare
O'Donoghue Public House - Kerry
Russells Seafood Bar, Doolin - Clare
The Cellar Bar - Dublin
The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse - Kildare
The Kings Head Galway - Galway
THE OARSMAN - Leitrim
The Purty Kitchen - Dublin
The Station at Molloys - Dublin
Sponsored by Classic Drinks 
BAR FOOD OF THE YEAR
An Poitin Stil - Dublin
Arcadia - Dublin
Bartley's Bar and Restaurant at The Grafton Hotel - Dublin
Blake's Bar Galway - Galway
Caribou - Galway
Dunes Bar & Bistro - Cork
Gerties Brownes Bar and Bistro - Westmeath
Paladar - Cork
Palmerstown House - Dublin
The Black Forge Inn - Dublin
The Blue Haven Kinsale - Cork
The Hideout - Kildare
The Kenmare Rooms - Kerry
The Paddocks - Dublin
Thomas Francis Meagher Bar at the Granville Hotel - Waterford
TOWN - Kildare
BEST BAR TO WATCH THE MATCH
An Púcán - Galway
Brass Bar & Grill - Dublin
Buskers On The Ball - Dublin
Dignams Bar - Monaghan
Glynn's Bar - Galway
Jerry Flannerys & 1314 - Limerick
Molloys Bar and Grill - Dublin
O Sheas Corner - Wicklow
Slattery's D4 - Dublin
The Blackrock - Dublin
The Bridge 1859 - Dublin
The Kenmare Rooms - Kerry
The Living Room - Dublin
The Old Lodge Gastro Pub - Clare
The Paddocks - Dublin
Woolshed Baa & Grill Cork - Cork
Sponsored by Sky Business 
LATE BAR / NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
37 Dawson Street - Dublin
Amber Nightclub - Limerick
Bar Square & Time Square Night Club - Mayo
Café en Seine - Dublin
Cosy Joe's Bar - Mayo
Jerry Flannerys & 1314 - Limerick
Left Bank - Kilkenny
r.i.o.t. Dublin - Dublin
The Barracks - Carlow
The Camden - Dublin
The Living Room - Dublin
The Quays Bar Galway - Galway
The Roost Maynooth - Kildare
The Workman's Club - Dublin
Wrights Cafe Bar - Dublin
BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BAR
Buskers Bar - Dublin
Durty Nelly's Bar and Restaurant - Clare
Foley's Bar - Dublin
Judge Roy Beans - Kildare
Mc Hughs Bar - Leitrim
NoLIta - Dublin
O'Donoghue Public House - Kerry
The Blue Haven Kinsale - Cork
The Giddy Dolphin - Dublin
The Kings Head Galway - Galway
The Laurels Clondakin - Dublin
The Locke - Limerick
The Old Quarter Pub, Café & Townhouse - Limerick
The Porter House - Mayo
The Quays Bar Galway - Galway
The Roost Maynooth - Kildare
BEST DESIGNED BAR / BEST INSIDE SPACE
Brickyard - Dublin
Conor's Bar & Lounge - Monaghan
Dunes Bar & Bistro - Cork
Gracie's Bar - Sligo
Jackal - Westmeath
K67 Bar & Grill - Dublin
Moody Cafe Vin - Cork
Paladar - Cork
Roe & Co Distillery - Dublin
Russells Seafood Bar, Doolin - Clare
Stella Cocktail Club - Dublin
The Curious Mister - Dublin
The Gables - Dublin
The Monks Society - Clare
The Montenotte Hotel - Cork
TOWN - Kildare
COCKTAIL BAR OF THE YEAR 
9 Below - Dublin
BAR 1661 - Dublin
Cask - Cork
Conor's Bar & Lounge - Monaghan
HYDE Bar - Galway
Jerry Flannerys & 1314 - Limerick
Kodiak - Dublin
Lemon & Duke - Dublin
Paladar - Cork
Stella Cocktail Club - Dublin
The Curious Mister - Dublin
The Liquor Lounge - Galway
The Lucky Duck - Dublin
The Monks' Society - Clare
The Sidecar at The Westbury - Dublin
The Tack Room at Adare Manor - Limerick
Sponsored by Maker's Mark
OUTSIDE SPACE OF THE YEAR
An Púcán - Galway
Castleknock Hotel - 22 Bar & Restaurant - Dublin
Dunes Bar & Bistro - Cork
Fishermans Thatched Inn - Laois
Glynn's Bar - Galway
House Dublin - Dublin
Kenny's of Lucan - Dublin
Nevins Newfield Inn - Mayo
Peadars Bar Moate - Westmeath
Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium - Louth
Russells Seafood Bar, Doolin - Clare
The Connacht Hotel - Galway
The Living Room - Dublin
The Locke - Limerick
The Merrion Garden Terrace - Dublin
The River Club Cork - Cork
GIN BAR OF THE YEAR
Andy's Bar Monaghan - Monaghan
Costigan's Pub - Cork
Gin Palace - Dublin
HYDE Bar & Gin Parlour - Galway
Lock 13 Brewpub - Kildare
Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium - Louth
The Savoy Bar at the Savoy Hotel - Limerick
Tigh Nora - Galway
Sponsored by Xin Gin
BEST NEWCOMER
Brickyard - Dublin
DISnDAT - Dublin
Foley's Bar - Dublin
Gracie's Bar - Sligo
Hynes' Bar - Dublin
Kodiak - Dublin
Mc Hughs Bar - Leitrim
Moody Cafe Vin - Cork
Murphy's Galway - Galway
O Sheas Corner - Wicklow
Paladar - Cork
The Black Barrel - Cork
The Blackrock - Dublin
The Gables - Dublin
The Liberty Bar - Cork
The Monks Society - Clare
WHISKEY BAR OF THE YEAR
BAR 1661 - Dublin
Costigan's Pub - Cork
McSwiggans Steak + Seafood Restaurant - Galway
Mother Macs Public House - Limerick
Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar - Waterford
Sonny Molloy's Irish Whiskey Bar - Galway
The Black Barrel - Cork
The Shelbourne Bar Cork - Cork
The Tack Room at Adare Manor - Limerick
The Whiskey Library - Kildare
Sponsored by Roe & Co
CRAFT BAR OF THE YEAR 
Bonobo - Dublin
Brickyard - Dublin
Caribou - Galway
Franciscan Well Brewpub - Cork
Impala - Cork
Lock 13 Brewpub - Kildare
Mother Macs Public House - Limerick
Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar - Waterford
The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse - Kildare
BEST VALUE PUB
Kehoes pub & parlour - Wexford
Oasis bar - Donegal
Peadars Bar Moate - Westmeath
The Black Forge Inn - Dublin
Thomas Francis Meagher Bar at the Granville Hotel - Waterford
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
BAR 1661 - Dublin
Bartley's Bar and Restaurant at The Grafton Hotel - Dublin
Brady's of Shankill - Dublin
Caribou - Galway
Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel - Kildare
Cask - Cork
Costigan's Pub - Cork
Harrigan's Bar & Grill - Kildare
Kodiak - Dublin
Paladar - Cork
Roe & Co Distillery - Dublin
Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium - Louth
The Blue Haven Kinsale - Cork
The Hideout - Kildare
The Igo Inn - Dublin
The Landmark - Dublin
Sponsored by Cointreau

Goldie Sure Has That Swing. O🐟ial!

Goldie Sure Has That Swing. 

O🐟ial! 

Pannacotta

You can have the best produce. The best equipment in the kitchen. The most comfortable seating. A stellar wine list. All those won't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. 

And Goldie’s Aishling Moore sure has that swing. She gives it everything she’s got and her food sings. Cool or hot, the rhythm is on the spot, taking customers to a different level every single visit and each and every dish.


Just a few years on the scene in the heart of Cork City and Goldie has built a unique reputation for the quality of its fish dishes. But it is not all fish here. There are some very tempting vegetarian dishes and those desserts strike, well let us caress, those sweet spots. Even Michelin agrees. Goldie has a Bib Gourmand and is also on its latest list of the best places to go for seafood in Ireland.



Aishling is quite a conductor, often composing as she goes. The menu changes daily. “Whatever the small boats bring us, we take. We forage on the local coast for sea vegetables and seaweed.”


And there’s some singing in the background too. West Cork’s Singing Frog Gardens are prominent on the menu. Lots of herbs, even wasabi on the cured plaice. That wasabi is of course local and other local suppliers include Rossmore Oysters, Churchfield Community Gardens, Cuinneog (Mayo), East Ferry poultry, Bushby Strawberries, St Tola cheese, Achill island salt and more..


Our server has a warm welcome for us and gives us an enthusiastic run through the menu, highlighting the Red Mullet Anchovies in the Snacks, the Cured Plaice in the 5 Small Plates and the three fish in the 5 Mains.

Schnitzel 


We take our time as we make our choices. The Rossmore Oysters for me and the Cod Tail Schnitzel for CL along with a glass of the Angel Stout and Elbow Lager (both made across the road by the Elbow Lane microbrewery, part of the Market Lane group as is Goldie). 


Aishling tells us the beers chosen are just perfect for the small plates. Small? In quantity, I suppose the word fits. But the quality is stratospheric! Those oysters, with the Singing Frog lemongrass and ginger granita, are the best I have ever tasted. Quite a beginning, zing and swing.

Monkfish


Stout
And CL’s Cod Tail Schnitzel is also out of the usual orbit, that soy-cured egg yolk, along with a celeriac and gherkin remoulade, enhancing the flattened cod. I got a taste,  delicious flavours, stole another and had to stop at that for fear of retaliation!


Now for the mains, not too easy to relegate the Pan Roast Turbot with Churchfield herb panisse but we choose the Pan Fried Plaice and the Panfired Monkfish.


CL’s Plaice came with Singing Frog Courgette and a chicken and miso butter sauce. Again, everything was just perfect, the courgette a surprising enhancement along with the sauce. Not forgetting some of the shared side of Sea Salt Shoestring Chips (say that quickly!).

Plaice



Panaeng is a lovely mild curry named after tropical Penang and that was what my Monkfish came in, along with a tasty sunflower seed relish. The Panaeng can be spiced up with chillis but this was perfect as it was and the whole dish was another hit from the Goldie repertoire. Just to mention that those fries were also top-class.


Desserts are often an afterthought if they are thought of at all, in many restaurants, and you often have the usual suspects to choose from and nothing innovative in sight. Not here. Even though the list is short, just three, they are rather special.


A duo of sweet beauties highlighted the finalé, with Rosscarbery fruit growers, Bushbys, featuring deliciously in both. Mine was the Singing Frog basil pannacotta with Bushby’s strawberry sorbet and meringue. What an ensemble! And CL’s was another hit from the Goldie playlist, a beautiful combination of the St Tola cheese ice cream, with Bushby raspberries and beetroot molasses. 


We relaxed, serene in foodie Nirvana. Very Highly Recommended. Very well priced also, by the way. Put it on your list and put this song on your playlist!


St Tola

“Yes, it don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing

Well, it don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing

It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot

Just give that rhythm everything you got”

(It Don't Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills)