Spectacular Dripsey venue is the latest in Perry Street Cafe collection

Spectacular Dripsey venue is the latest in Perry Street collection

Fish Crumble

You'll find the latest addition to the Perry Street Cafe collection in McD's garden centre in Dripsey, perched beautifully on the left bank of the Dripsey River (a tributary of the Lee).

This, the fourth venue and venture from Brian Drinan and Paul Coffey, boasts a spacious, light-filled "marquee" with glass walls giving views into the colourful garden centre and a third side offering stunning riverside views that may, from time to time, include water-ski activity. A terrace stands by for sunny days, but even on dull ones, the natural light is a welcome mood booster.

Vegetarian quiche

Perry Street Café Dripsey offers familiar comfort food in a stunning riverside setting. While the menu may not break new ground, it delivers reliable quality and caters to a variety of tastes.

Indeed the menu follows the familiar Perry Street Cafe formula, featuring well-loved breakfast and lunch options. At breakfast, choose from the "Super Perry," "Full Perry," or "Half Perry" or pick from the enticing Moroccan breakfast, various egg dishes, granola, porridge, and pancakes and more.

Mango and Passion Fruit

Lunchtime brings a wider selection, with soups, chowders, and various sandwiches. The "Perry Street Toasted Special" with its combination of ham, red onion marmalade, tomato, Hegarty's cheese, and mustard mayo is a popular choice, as is the "Perry Street Falafel" served with hummus, salsa, lettuce, and sweet potato fries.

Pies range from the classic fish crumble to hearty cottage pie. Salads cater to varied preferences, with options like the "Roast Squash and Beetroot" salad featuring orange segments, avocado, feta, walnuts, and a zingy lemon dressing.

Apple Crumble

For something more substantial, the "Mains" section offers enticing choices like the "Chargrilled Chicken and Avocado Tortilla Bowl" or the "Chicken Parm" with rocket, parmesan, slow-cooked tomato sauce, and buttery pasta. Sides like fries and house salad complete these dishes.

While the menu may not detour towards uncharted territory, the execution is consistent. The "Fish and Chips" with its perfectly cooked haddock and light batter is a crowd-pleaser.

Perry Street (in its days as The Spinning Wheel)

Other standouts include the vegetarian quiche and the "Warm Chicken & Black Pudding Salad" with its crunchy and tasty combination of mixed greens, house dressing, sundried tomatoes, potatoes, nuts, cheese, and a balsamic reduction.

Chicken & Black Pudding Salad

Desserts, with daily variations (check the tempting assortment of treats displayed at the counter), include crowd-pleasers like "Mango and Passionfruit" and "Apple Crumble." Friendly and knowledgeable servers are ready to offer recommendations, not just on desserts but throughout your dining experience.

View of the river - skier not guaranteed!

A comprehensive drinks selection, featuring wines, teas and coffees, rounds out the offerings at this very attractive Dripsey venue (formerly well-known and well-loved as Griffins). The other Perry Street locations are Ringaskiddy, Grange and Cork city centre.

Taste of the Week. Miena's Almond & Passion Fruit Nougat

Taste of the Week

Miena's Almond & Passion Fruit Nougat

When it comes to sweet things, Miena's Soft Honey Nougat is always on the shortlist. This Almond & Passion Fruit version is our Taste of the Week.

Up and running for more than 10 years, Miena’s Irish Handmade Nougat is now located in a small production facility right beside her original kitchen. She says: "My small team and I still make our tasty Irish product right here in the Garden of Ireland next to my home. It is a dream come true!"

Miena is always willing to try new flavour combinations  and this was a hit. "This is a combination of flavours that really works. Not sure why . . . but it does. Passion fruit reminds me of my awesome Mum, so this one is for her." Next up for me is the Almond & Pistachio! Looking forward to that.

I got mine in Bradley's (Cork); Miena's nougat is widely available.

A balanced, complex and elegant Douro red: Antonio Lopes Ribeiro Douro

Antonio Lopes Ribeiro Douro (DOC) 2020, 13.5% ABV,

RRP €25.00; stockists: Sonas, Newcastle West. Mary Pawle

 

A balanced, complex and elegant Douro red

The spectacular Douro region in Portugal (a World Heritage Site),  is well-known for its port and the area’s red still wines are produced from much the same grapes. This excellent Antonio Lopes Ribeiro includes Touriga-Franca (60%), Touriga-Nacional (10%), Tinta-Roriz (10%), Tinta-Barroca (10%) and Sousão (10%).

The name Antonio Lopes Ribeiro may be familiar to some readers as he co-owns Casa De Mouraz, a small natural wine estate based in the Dao region of Portugal, and “Antonio Lopes Ribeiro” is reserved for their wines from the Duoro and Vinho Verde. Some of their excellent Mouraz wines are also imported by Mary Pawle and are unmistakeable on the shelf as the labels feature the estate’s well-loved pets: Bolinha (Maltese dog), Chibu (goat) and Nina (cat).

Via Pixabay (by Andrew McLeod

Back to our Douro which is quite a dark ruby. Aromas are a heady mix of dark fruits (blackberry and cherry) along with some herbal notes. With more fruit and herbs on the palate, it is balanced, complex and elegant. Perfect all the way to the finish.

Very Highly Recommended. 

Check out  our Top Wines 2024 list (with stockists and short reviews) here 

Looking for better value? All under 20 euro. Click here

The grapes are grown on three vineyards in the Upper Duoro where the soil is mostly schist with some clay outcrops. On these slopes you see plenty of rock roses, thyme and rosemary flowers amongst the stones.

This unoaked beauty is well worth looking out for. The vineyard’s suggested pairings are kid or lamb as well as stewed veal (or cooked in the oven). Also goes well with white meat and game dishes or vegetarian dishes such as mushrooms. Over to you!

Kildare's the place. Mum's the word!

Mother's Day Press release 

Kildare's the place. Mum's the word

Lawlor's Hotel

 

If you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day present, then don’t forget it’s your presence that makes the difference! So why not spend a precious afternoon with your Mum this year and get her a wonderful gift of afternoon tea. Into Kildare, Kildare Tourism Board has identified some great Afternoon Tea venues in Co. Kildare that offers a really sweet treat for your Mum.

 

Lawlor’s of Naas

Sit back and enjoy a splendid Afternoon Tea served in the lobby of Lawlor’s of Naas Hotel, exclusively on Saturday and Sundays.  If you fancy swapping tea for their “Tipsy Tea” why not upgrade to their refreshing pink prosecco and make it an afternoon to remember.

From €30 per person www.lawlors.ie/afternoon-tea.html

 

The Court Yard Hotel

Indulge in a unique Afternoon Tea experience at the Court Yard Hotel, in Leixlip, County Kildare.  The cosy surrounds of the Court Yard Hotel's riverside lounge area of Steakhouse 1756 offers the perfect spot to relax and enjoy their afternoon tea which includes a wide selection of gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked scones, delicate pastries and desserts. 

From €30 per person www.courtyard.ie/afternoon-tea.html

Pippin Tree at Killashee Hotel

 

Killashee Hotel

Chat over a delicious spread of dainty sandwiches and delightful pastries at the Pippin Tree in the Killashee Hotel located in Naas.  Served from 1-2.30pm daily in serene surroundings it’s the perfect treat for the mum in your life.

From €35 per person www.killasheehotel.com/afternoon-tea.html

Moyvalley

 

Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort

A quintessential English custom Afternoon Tea has never gone out of fashion.  Nibbling on delicate sandwiches and homemade scones and pastries while relaxing with family and friends in luxury surroundings.  Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort in North County Kildare serves Afternoon Tea Monday to Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.

From €25 per person www.moyvalley.com/afternoon-tea.html

 

Club Hotel @ Goffs

Treat yourself and the mum in your life to the age-old tradition of Afternoon Tea at The Club Hotel at Goffs. Enjoy fresh finger sandwiches alongside deliciously savoury tarts, quintessential homemade scones, and delicately delightful treats including Valrhona coffee mousse choux; Citrus yoghurt tea bread; and Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

From €35 per person www.clubhotel.ie/afternoon-tea/

A NoteworthyTrio from Western Herd Brewery: Porter, Pilsner and Witbier

NoteworthyTrio from Western Herd

Porter, Pilsner and Witbier

Western Herd Turlough Porter, 4% ABV, 440 ml can.

Our Western Herd Turlough looks like a porter. Black as a December night in the Burren. The soft head has a slight coffee colour. Aromas are modestly floral. The hops though come through and take over on the palate with a chocolate twist, nothing too much though as there’s a good balance here, making the dry porter, with its smooth mouthfee l, easy to drink, before a crisp and satisfying finish.

Pretty much the perfect porter and Very Highly Recommended

Geek Bits

Style
Porter

Colour/Appearance
Dark ruby/black with a creamy head

Aroma
Slight coffee and chocolate

Flavour
Vanilla, coffee, chocolate, creamy and smooth mouthfeel

Hops
Willamette, Cascade

Malts
Pale, White Wheat, Caramunich III, CaraPils, Carafa I, Carafa III

Yeast

Nottingham

Turlough

The porter is named after the disappearing lakes of the limestone region of the Burren, “a uniquely Irish experience”.

Western Herd Back Beat Witbier, 5.0% ABV, 440 ml can

Our fruity herbal “witbier” from County Clare has a pale gold body and a soft white top. Perle and Saaz are the hops used, malts are Pale, Unmalted Wheat, and Torrified Wheat. A larger proportion of wheat as against barley gives the beer its character and name. The water is from their farm and the yeast is WB-06. I've tried a wide selection of beers by Western Herd over the past couple of weeks and this may be my favourite.

Witbier is almost always brewed with added spice or flavouring; here the brewers have chosen fresh orange peel and coriander and that comes through, in a balanced way, in both the aromas and flavours. And the finish is clean and crisp with a lingering aftertaste, again with citrus and coriander featuring. Clove is another regular in this type of beer and it too is here.

This Belgian-style Witbier is nicely balanced, well-produced and  Highly Recommended.

Loop Head on a foggy day.

Western Herd Loop Head Pilsner, 4.5% ABV, 440 ml can

My Loop Head Pilsner by Western Herd is a bit on the “foggy” side, not unlike the head itself on a bad day. Later, I declare myself happy with this pretty serious Pilsner. So if you’re toasting County Clare, put a Western Herd Pilsner in your glass and enjoy.

Plenty of bubbles rising through the murky light gold to a quickly thinning head. Yeast and malt on the slightly sour nose for sure. After that, the anticipated crisp clean Pilsner style comes through and we’ve got a central European lager to enjoy from the west coast of Ireland. 

And that was their plan all along, based on “a single malt and simple hop bill”. Hops were Saaz and Perle, the malt Pilsner, with a Lager yeast of course. Highly Recommended.

Pilsner is one of the main styles of European lager. But what exactly is it? Pilsner is a pale lager named after the Czech city of Pilsen from where it originated. This bright golden beer is typically crystal clear with a large amount of foam. Saaz hops are a must for this style offering a spiciness to the beer resulting in some earthy, floral, crisp flavours. A refreshing Pilsner is always a popular choice. The vast majority of beer drunk around the world is lager of one type or another. It is a style that micro-breweries should be sure to include in their portfolio.

Geek Bits

Style
Pilsner

Colour/Appearance
Straw colour and crystal clear.

Aroma
Yeast and malt on the nose

Flavour
Clean mouthfeel and malt forward with a slightly fruity and dry finish.

Hops
Saaz, Perle

Malts
Pilsner malt

Yeast
Lager

POETIC LICENCE . POETRY AND PLACES INFLUENCES AFTERNOON TEA ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL

press release

POETIC LICENCE

 

POETRY AND PLACES INFLUENCES AFTERNOON TEA ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL

 

The Five-Star Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel will launch its brand new Afternoon Tea offering on ‘Mother’s Day’, the 10^th of March. The ‘Poetry and Places Afternoon Tea’ has been inspired by some of Ireland’s most famous poets and scribes and features the tastes and flavours of the country’s most iconic destinations.  The rugged cliffs of the west of Ireland and the wild and native flavours of the hedgerows are evocative in every sweet and savoury bite.  Ingredients such as wild Atlantic Sea salt from the west of Ireland and sweet and tangy berry flavours from the wild hedgerows are just some of the indigenous flavours and ingredients the pastry chefs have used to create unique delicacies that will provide you with a true sense and taste of Ireland.

 

This creative and truly unique culinary journey transports the guest through a literary journey via the lines of some of Ireland’s most famous poems while also paying homage to the most dramatic landscapes in the country. Guests will enjoy three pastries from ten themed delights. Flavours have been inspired by The Ring of Kerry, Achill Island, Valentia Island, The Wild Atlantic Way, Kilkenny Castle and Newgrange.

 

The menu also features a choice of delicate sandwiches, pastries, tea breads and homemade preserves. Sandwiches include choices such as Burren Organic Irish Oak Smoked Salmon with dill crème fraiche, served on a traditional soda bread. There’s also a roast beef, horseradish and Achill Island Sea Salt sandwich which presents robust and memorable flavours. Delicate cucumber and chive cream cheese sandwiches are light and refreshing while the corn-fed chicken, tarragon mayonnaise and brioche bun is smooth and deeply satisfying.

Gareth Mullins, Executive Head Chef at Anantara the Marker said, “We wanted to pay tribute to the many great local and indigenous flavours that are found in every corner of this country.  Artisan producers all around the country are making great products in small batches and often by hand. We searched high and low for the very best artisans whose products now sing from our plates.  For example, we created a gorgeous verrine with a bavarois of sheep’s milk yoghurt from Mayo, it features heather honey, oat crumble and is finished with a smoked Achill Island Sea Salt. Our Opera Cake was inspired by the steep cliffs that are found along much of the west coast and is flavoured with chocolate, rye and dillisk.”

 

On the literary side of the Afternoon Tea story, the poem, ‘Blackberry Picking’ by poet Seamus Heaney inspired the blackberry tart, which is seasoned with Wicklow blackberry wine, and topped with a clove meringue. Meanwhile, the poem, ‘Lilac’ by the contemporary poet, Martina Dalton provided the inspiration for the violet macaroon, with Berriolette curd and dried flowers.  Martina is in fact, the mother-in-law of the head pastry chef, Sebastian Ritzen, whose words, and evocative images have resulted in the creation of this tasty treat.

“One of Europe’s most popular attractions and historic cultural symbols of Dublin is of course, The Guinness Storehouse, home to the world’s most iconic beer,” said Gareth Mullins.  “As a tribute to this icon and a ‘thank you’ to Arthur Guinness, we have created a chocolate and Guinness cake to look like a perfect pint of the ‘black stuff’’.  He went on to say, “When you visit the Storehouse, and you absolutely should, they’ll show you how to pour a perfect pint yourself and now you can taste a mini, sweet version of that famous stout on our Afternoon Tea plate.”

 

He continued, “The famous Battenberg Cake is renowned at Afternoon Tea’s around the world, and we’ve put a unique twist on this iconic bake. It’s inspired by our own hotel’s geometric façade which we have replicated in the cake. The traditional pink and yellow sponge has been reimagined in white and chocolate and is enveloped in vanilla caramel”.

 

The menu also features a comprehensive range of botanic and fragrant teas and fruit infusions, in fact there are 16 varieties of Ronnefeldt Tea to choose from, all served in traditional Wedgewood China teacups.  Some unique flavours such as Cherry Cheesecake and Irish Chocolate Cream are on offer as well as an Irish Whiskey Cream tea, while seasonal flavours will be added throughout the year.  Guests can choose to add Bollinger bubbles to their afternoon if they so wish with a choice of Bollinger Champagnes on offer.

 

Michael Davern, The General Manager of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel said, “The theme of ‘journeys’ is central to the Anantara brand itself and so the idea of experiencing Ireland through taste is really interesting and appealing.  We hope people will join us on a culinary and poetic journey around the country and we look forward to welcoming old friends and new for Afternoon Tea. We are so proud of our pastry team lead by Sebastian Ritzen whose creativity and attention to detail really comes through in our new Afternoon Tea offering.”

 

Afternoon Tea at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel will launch on ‘Mother’s Day’, the 10^th of March with complimentary live music in the Marker Bar & Lounge.  The menu price starts from €65 per person for the ‘Poetry and Places’ option to €100 for the Bollinger Rose Champagne Afternoon Tea.  Afternoon Tea will be served daily from 1pm to 4pm every day in the Marker Bar & Lounge and on the Terrace, weather permitting,  To book call                  (01) 687 5104 | E: bookyourtable.themarker@anantara-hotels.com

Church Lane trip well worth it, even in the rain.

 Church Lane trip well worth it, even in the rain.

Plaice

While home-cooked Sunday lunches chez moi are hard to beat, the recent arrival of Church Lane in Midleton piqued my curiosity at the weekend. Though the morning's weather was "apocalyptic" in co-owner Barry Hennessey's words, a well-timed dry (ish) spell and a nearby car park saved the day.

Stepping inside, a glass of Chateau De Cedre Marcel pushed back the weather blues. The concise wine list, featuring four whites and reds by the glass, included this delightful Malbec, a terrific reminder that Cahors is the home of this grape and can still come up with some gems.

Church Lane offers daily lunch, dinner from Wednesday onwards and a Sunday roast special, and promises more exciting additions (my receipt even mentioned new specials!). Last Sunday's Roast of the Day, chosen by regulars through a competition run in the previous week, was lamb. 

Given the team's impressive credentials, including chef Jamie Cullinane's experience under London's Richard Corrigan and his work in renowned local establishments (such as Ardmore’s Cliff House, Mallow’s Longueville House and Castlemartyr Resort) , our expectations were high. Barry and his brother Colin Hennessey co-own the business and they did well to get Jamie on board.

The lamb, reasonably priced at €17.50, surpassed expectations. Perfectly cooked and accompanied by delicious roasties, well-done root vegetables, and a generous jug of gravy, it was a complete success. Sharing a bowl of smooth mashed potato further enhanced the experience.

While CL slightly prefers regular potatoes to the purple ones accompanying her well-presented Roasted Plaice with trout roe butter sauce, she still thoroughly enjoyed the dish. The presentation was equally appealing, quite a plateful, also at €17.50.

Desserts, often a disappointment even in high-end restaurants, pleasantly surprised us. The shortlist presented two winners: a seasonal Rhubarb, Crème Patisserie, and Beetroot Meringue, and my choice of the classic Vanilla Creme Brulée with shortbread. I found myself slightly favouring the seasonal offering (I begged a few spoonfuls).

Rhubarb dessert

Church Lane is a vibrant space. On entering from the street, you'll find the restaurant to the right, through a brick arch. The large bar is to your left, where dining is also available, an option often chosen by midweek diners. Weekends offer live music and the opportunity to watch a game in a lively atmosphere.

Quite a lot going on here and you may stay up to date by checking their Instagram or Facebook. 

By the time we made our exit, very happy with the food and the service, we were glad to see the rain had eased off as we didn’t fancy sprinting (😉 ) up the lane on a full stomach!