Search Results for 'Cuisine'

Galway has always been known for its diversity — a town of exotic sailors and Connemara tribes, this medieval city has been a melting pot for as long as it has existed. We have well established Chinese and Thai restaurants, and more recently some terrific Japanese ones. For fans of Indian food, however, Kashmir has been offering consistently delicious examples of this varied cuisine to Galway diners for some time now. Indian food is the 'Marmite' of global cuisines — it evokes a love or hate attitude that other ethnic traditions just do not get. There is often an excess of heat over flavour that has alienated many a diner. Not so at Kashmir.

I mentioned in a previous article that it I am amazed that during such recessionary times we see so many new restaurants opening, and fair play to all who do so. Peppino’s is one such venture, and it has risen from the ashes of the very well known Bol Uisce in Spiddal’s main street. The new owners are experienced in the business of providing Italian food at Il Foletta in Quay Street. Now they have two restaurants to run and while both are Italian the new Peppino’s offers a more varied menu. Maybe it is because better rents can be negotiated, but whatever the reason you have to admire and congratulate all who open a new restaurant. It brings money to an area in all manner of ways, jobs for chefs, kitchen porters, waiting staff, someone will get paid to do a website, painters, electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, waste companies, oil, etc, etc. So when you see a new venture in your area be sure to support it.

Kashmir restaurant is Galway’s oldest Indian restaurant. It was established in 1994 by the Bhan family who named in after their homeland, the beautiful Valley of Kashmir, described by one of the mogul emperors as “paradise on earth”.

Many people think that all Indian food is spicy/hot and full of calories. This can of course be true, but many dishes do not have any chillies whatsoever and those that do can be ordered without them. So never be afraid to try Indian food just because you do not like fiery tastes, talk to the waiter and you will be surprised by the choice available. In fact the dishes I will be mentioning later are all extra mild. With regards to the calories it is true that some dishes are well endowed but there many, such as tandoori dishes, that are cooked without any oil being added. Again talk to the waiter if you are watching the calories and ask for recommendations. If you are a vegetarian you will be well catered for. In fact in India it is more normal to eat vegetable based dishes and I think the menus that you see here in Ireland and the UK were designed to keep us meat eaters happy.

This will be celebrated over the Easter weekend, April 6 to 9. It is a pretty ambitious project and involves cooking demos in the festival tent, foodie talks at the Galway City Museum, and food tastings all over town. Even if you have only the tiniest interest in food you really need to visit www.galwayfoodfestival.com

When Fergus at the Twelve does anything he tends to go all out and go one better than everybody else, especially if it is something that he really likes, and I reckon he is a secret pizza addict. Most people who want to add a pizza section to an already established restaurant would simply ring up the catering equipment suppliers and get three or four quotes, call the sparks, and job done. Not Fergus, he headed off to Napoli in Italy and met the manufacturers of several pizza ovens. You might wonder how the oven could make a big difference, well in the world of cooking things perfectly, authenticity is everything, from the ingredients to the tools of the trade. This oven is made from material that came from Mount Vesuvius and can be fired by either gas or timber. That makes it pretty authentic in my book.

The Carlton Hotel on the Dublin Road is a favourite for quick and tasty lunchtime dining. Located within easy access of some of the city’s many business parks and hospitals and with ample free car parking, it is a lunchtime favourite with Galwegians and visitors to the area.

Half-hidden off the slopes that run up High Street towards Bastion Street on Athlone’s left bank at Abbey Lane, Kin Khao is one of Westmeath’s, if not Ireland’s, most striking restaurants. From the outside the eatery is predominantly bright yellow with red window and door trimming and signage to match with a high black porch over the entrance. It’s a vision that’s as much a phantasm of colour as it is a curiosity waiting to be explored.

THE FIFTH and final heat of the popular Show Me The Funny II takes place this Monday at 8pm in The King’s Head.

An Italian staple, vibrantly rich on the eye and wholesome to boot, with crusty bread to mop up.