Adventurous dining at The Salthill Hotel

Thu, Mar 19, 2015

That the Salthill Hotel has only recently been awarded four star status came as a surprise to me. The lofty foyer and comfortable reception would not be out of place in Kensington. Any weddings or events I have attended there have always been to a very high standard. Overlooking the Promenade, with views of Galway Bay and the Clare Hills, this elegant hotel features an exceptional leisure centre. But the official announcement was granted by Fáilte Ireland, that the Salthill Hotel has achieved the four star status, only on February 12 2015. This accomplishment is testament to the hard work of the staff, coupled with the substantial investment by the Byrne family in the property in the last few years.

McKennas’ Guides crowns Galway “the finest city to eat in Ireland”

Thu, Mar 12, 2015

The west of the country has been on something of a winning streak of late when it comes to food and hospitality. Kai Café and Restaurant was the big winner at the start of the year scooping the top prize, Restaurant of the Year for 2015, in Georgina Campbell’s Awards, the country’s longest-running hospitality awards. Run by New Zealander Jess Murphy and her Irish husband David, Kai had been converted from a tearoom to a rustic restaurant, and was praised for having seriously good food with a sense of fun. Best Asian Restaurant went to The Asian Tea House, with Mitchell’s in Clifden and Frankie Mallon of An Port Mór, Westport, awarded best seafood restaurant and best seafood chef respectively.

Afternoon tea at The Ardilaun

Thu, Mar 12, 2015

Tradition, hospitality, and old world charm are synonymous with the luxurious The Ardilaun hotel, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea. The new afternoon tea menu will not disappoint. Head chef David O’Donnell has carefully chosen local artisan ingredients to produce an afternoon tea menu that combines classic delicacies in a contemporary style. A staple of afternoon tea, scones, come with added flourish — Cuinneog buttermilk sultana and chocolate scones served with Irish Mist and berry jam, vanilla mascarpone, and Cuinneog butter. Finger sandwiches take a classic and elevate it to include local producers McGeogh’s Air Dried Lamb, Cornamona Smoked Salmon — the humble cheese sarnie is transformed into chargrilled cereal bread with beetroot and pink peppercorn hummus, Aran feta cheese, arugula leaves, caramelised apple, and pumpkin seed oil.

Dinner, drinks, and bistro bites at The Gaslight Bar & Brasserie

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

The Parlour at the Meyrick has long been popular as a meeting place for coffee, lunch, or afternoon tea. In the space adjacent to the ground floor reception, previously the Oyster Grill, you will find The Meyrick’s new bar and brasserie, the Gaslight. Although open less than a year, The Gaslight has quickly become one of the hottest spots in Galway for those looking for a vibrant city centre venue for dinner or drinks. Located right in the heart of the city, it is well placed for after-work cocktails, evening meals, brunches and lunches with friends or colleagues. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, suitable for any occasion, from a romantic meal for two to a corporate or family occasion.

‘The Butcher and the Brewer’ supper club at the Gaslight Bar & Brasserie

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

A cut above the rest, the Gaslight Bar & Brasserie is hosting a ‘Butcher & The Brewer’ supper club on Friday March 13 from 7pm. Enjoy a three course deliciously lush and meaty menu paired with the award winning Galway Hooker beers for just €35 per person.

An Púcán, the ultimate whiskey experience

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

An Púcán on Forster Street is less than a year in existence but its presence is going from strength to strength on the Galway food, drink, and entertainment scene. An Púcán is renowned for its remarkable selection of Irish and international whiskies, with around 200 to choose from. The extensive range can be enjoyed in traditional and truly modern ways — from neat tasting platters of food and whiskey pairings and truly scrumptious whiskey cocktails (try the Teeling Brûlée sour) An Púcán is not afraid to try something new and exciting with Irish whiskey.

The rugby-themed 6 Nations of Whiskey promotion is also great fun — who knew there was Italian and Welsh whiskey? — and after recently hosting a talk on The History of Galway Distilling, An Púcán really is set to be part of whiskey’s bright future as well.

The new bistro at The Ardilaun

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

It is fair to say, I think, that we have all learned to lower our expectations a little when dining in a hotel. Often we hear the phrase “the food was great” qualified by the appendage “for a wedding”. After all, serving 120 plus plates of beef or salmon all at the same time is an entirely different prospect to cooking two or four plates to order.

Brilliant Galway brunches

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

With the summer season fast approaching again, one of the bonuses for the frequent diner in Galway is better breakfast and brunch options. This was a bleak enough prospect for a long time, but now we are spoiled with great weekday breakfasts. PoppySeed, Ard Bia, and McCambridge’s cafes notably serve up perfect starts to the morning before the more reliable pubs join in after 10.30am or 11am with big fry-ups and comforting mugs of tea. At the weekends there is even more to choose from.

Enjoy delicious Indian cuisine in Salthill

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Diners in Salthill and surrounding areas have a new venue when it comes to top quality Indian cuisine — Falguni Indian restaurant and takeaway has recently opened, offering a delicious mix of classic Indian dishes and regional specialities.

Feast your eyes on the new spring menus in the Gaslight Bar & Brasserie

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

The Gaslight Bar & Brasserie opened in Hotel Meyrick last year and swiftly became one of the most talked about dining venues in Galway. Located in the heart of the city, overlooking Eyre Square, the Gaslight is a bright and airy casual dining space where you can escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy a working lunch or a catch up with friends over great tasting coffee. Grab a window seat with views over Eyre Square or sit at the bar counter and banter with the barman. During the day, enjoy satisfying sandwiches, crunchy bruschetta, fabulous fish, serious steaks, and seasonal specials with quality attentive service. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available for all guests.

Evenings at McCambridge’s

Thu, Feb 12, 2015

McCambridge’s is one of my favourite shops. Not a week passes that I do not go in for something special. You can easily put together a wonderful lunch, maybe some grilled artichokes, artisanal cheese, or organic salmon on the freshest of brown bread. An evening meal is just as easily assembled with confit duck legs and something from the salad bar. There are the ever popular sandwiches from the counter to be eaten by the surging waters of the Corrib on a sunny day.

McCambridge’s wins Food Retailer Off Licence Award 2015

Thu, Feb 12, 2015

McCambridge’s was crowned Best Food Retailer Off Licence of the Year at the National Off Licence of the Year Awards 2015 at the Honourable Society of Kings Inns, Dublin, recently.

Try regional specialities of Italy at Trattoria

Thu, Feb 05, 2015

In many seaside towns both here and afar, there always seems to be one main street filled with souvenir shops, a smattering of dull bars, and some terrible tourist-trap restaurants. In Galway we buck this trend and are lucky enough to have Quay Street, the buzzing heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter. It has medieval architecture, and a pedestrian street for browsing the many quirky little shops full of wooden toys, vintage clothes, and pottery, alongside the quality woollens and Celtic jewellery. The atmosphere in the pubs is fun and friendly, with the sound of music from trad to rock spilling onto the street. You are guaranteed entertainment from buskers and performers, a festival or passing parade, and it is the best place in the city on a sunny evening, when the outdoor seating is packed with tourists and locals engaged in 'people watching' and enjoying all the sights and sounds on our streets.

Eleventh annual McCambridge’s Food and Wine Fair to take place next week

Thu, Nov 13, 2014

McCambridge’s of Shop Street will celebrate its 11th annual Food and Wine Fair on Thursday November 20 at the Salthill Hotel from 6pm to 10pm.

Loam — Galway dining redefined

Thu, Nov 13, 2014

By and large Galway does not like fine dining. White table cloths, fine linens, and silverware don’t appeal to our Bohemian tendencies. Elaborate five hour, three-figure, hushed meals make us collectively regress to our inner toddler, wanting to smear our foie gras and veloute around. That is not to say we don't enjoy fine food, we just like it in a more lively environment. Galwegians, and those who are drawn to settle here, are comfortable in the easy elegance of Kai, the relaxed charm of Il Vicolo, or propping up the bar upstairs in Sheridan’s — any place with that touch of novelty, eccentricity, and fun. In recent times, it seems the rest of the world is coming round to our point of view. There is a shift in the industry from formal and traditional establishments towards a style of low-key dining, both nationally and internationally. Now that chefs are busy opening pizza joints and noodle bars, the days seem numbered for fancy dining rooms and yet that is exactly what has just happened.

New menus and decor, but the same great quality at Season’s

Fri, Oct 31, 2014

For new menus, updated decor, and a taste sensation that is not to be missed, it has to be Mulroy’s Gastro Pub, Main Street, Castlebar.

An Púcán, a great addition to the east side

Thu, Oct 30, 2014

Many crimes against food are committed by pubs claiming the dubiously desirable title of 'gastro'. Carefully sourced artisan produce are carelessly piled into sub-standard baps. Bags of breaded mushrooms and nuggets are pulled from the freezer, deep fried, and shovelled onto local organic leaves, melting them to pondweed. A sandwich of home baked ham with a fine Irish cheese will sit on the same plate as the mass produced claggy coleslaw from the catering tubs. The intention is there, but the Devil, as they say, is in the detail.

An Púcán does not claim to be a 'gastro' pub, but its food is now so much better than many who do. Located just off Eyre Square on Forster Street, it had in the past a well deserved reputation as a great traditional Irish music venue, sometimes hosting Irish dancing. I had not often darkened the doors of this establishment for fear of one of these displays breaking out in front of me.

Galway Restaurant Week — a seven day culinary adventure

Thu, Oct 23, 2014

An initiative by the people who brought us Galway Food Festival will see the city’s restaurant owners come together to showcase the variety, quality, and standard of Galway’s restaurant scene.

Delicious dining options at The Latin Quarter Bistro

Thu, Oct 23, 2014

The Latin Quarter Bistro opened its doors in May and has gradually made its mark on the Galway food scene. The bistro offers a diverse menu of flavoursome dishes using local seasonal ingredients served in casual and relaxing surroundings. Chef Patrick and his team carefully source their ingredients to create classical bistro dishes with a modern Irish twist.

Breakfast club

Thu, Oct 23, 2014

Having spent a few years of my teens and early twenties meat free, I am still in the habit of scanning a menu to see what is on offer for vegan and vegetarian folk. As I recall, it was the smell of a smokey bacon burger after one too many fermented apple juices on a student night out that brought me back to being a practising carnivore. Just as well really, as a column featuring vegetarian food in Galway would have been very short lived. The vegetarian option is sadly still all too often the afterthought when planning a menu.

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