L’Osteria Da Roberta makes a welcome return to Salthill

Thu, May 09, 2013

L’Osteria Da Roberta Restaurant has reopened due to popular demand. This restaurant is situated in the heart of Salthill, just a short walk from the Promenade and next door to its sister restaurant Da Roberta Pizzeria.

Cooking the books at Kai

Thu, May 09, 2013

The last outpost of civilisation before you reach Salthill, when Kai opened, it opened with a bang and very quickly achieved a cult following. It suffered not a jot from teething problems, it was a fully formed concept practically from the word go. Kai was unpretentious and fun with flower and seed strewn salads piled on boards, big Ortiz tuna tins filled with bread, and the sun spilling through the skylight even on the dullest of days illuminating the lunchtime altar of cakes. Everyone's favourite Kiwi chef Jess Murphy brings her own brand of kitchen voodoo and you know you are a regular when you grow to understand husband and partner-in-crime David Murphy's accent at front of house.

Aside from the best brunch in town every Sunday, it is always well worth the extra trek and the couple of extra euro for the short, seasonal, lunch menu. Six or seven options that always showcase the best the west coast has to offer, from potted crab to gurnard fish finger sandwiches on Kai’s own foccacia, I have yet to be disappointed. Dinner is an equally short and ever changing menu with about five 'beginnings', 'middles', and 'ends'.

Enjoy Italian food, wine, art and culture with Basilico

Thu, May 09, 2013

Renowned for providing customers with not only the taste-bud tempting aromas of its delicious dishes but also a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by fine art, Basilico Restaurant will be embarking on a new phase in its business by offering lovers of food, art, and culture, weekend breaks in Oranmore or longer painting holidays to Italy.

Bay roasted baby hasselbacks

Thu, May 02, 2013

Last year was my first time growing my own potatoes. I ordered a few heritage varieties from Seed Savers, varieties that would be difficult to find in the shops, some early and some main crop. I planted them late enough in the season so as to avoid any lingering frosts as we are prone to here in the west. They grew readily with the plentiful rain and flowered in white, yellow, and some in a glorious purple. When the leaves faded and died back it was time to harvest. It was lovely to see the children’s delight at sifting through the soil and discovering hidden potatoes, like a messy Easter egg hunt… potatoes with skins so thin that you could brush them off with your thumb. The taste of those freshly dug little earlies, with butter, ground pepper, and fat flakes of sea salt was amazing.

Even if you don't care to grow your own, be careful to read the country of origin on your potato because for most weeks of the year we should be buying Irish and eating our way out of recession one spud at a time.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, May 02, 2013

Bodegas Salentein, Numina 2010 Uco Valley (Independents, €22.99)

Made with a blend of Malbec (65 per cent), Cabernet Sauvignon (14 per cent), Merlot (eight per cent), Petit Verdot (eight per cent), Cabernet Franc (five per cent) in Argentina’s Uco Valley, this is a fine example of what Argentina is capable of, and one of numerous wines from that part of the world that are increasingly making up some of the space on our wine shelves. On the nose, it is a cornucopia of intense blackcurrant, blackberries, blueberries with a little cassis, vanilla and sweet spice. On the palate, it has got all of the above fruit with some stone cherry fruit, violets, and damson in what is a full-bodied, well-structured, wine with gentle tannins, all combining to offer a very satisfying and long, elegant, finish. In essence, a super wine that is perfect with barbecued steak or farmhouse cheese.

The Book Shelf...

Thu, May 02, 2013

Lorenz Books is without doubt one of the best publishers of glossy, picture-led, cookery books that generally have more than one photograph per recipe. Already this year it has published titles such as 500 Sensational Salads and 30-Minute Cookbook, offering much of what this particular publication is very good at providing. Thus, we have more than 500 pages of colourful, succinct, recipes that are enticing and easy to follow, beginning with an introduction that sets out the editor’s manifesto and the notion of clever cooking: The idea of buying and using ingredients that will enable the reader to create a fabulous meal for less than what it would cost to buy an ordinary sandwich in the shops.

Wild garlic weekend at Rua and Café Rua

Thu, Apr 25, 2013

Wild garlic is a forager's delight and one of the best natural ingredients around at this time of year. Unlike the usual variety of garlic, the wild stuff is prized for its leaves rather than the bulb. The flowers are also edible, but are more often used raw in salads.

Aniar wins Best Restaurant in Galway at Santa Rita Irish Restaurants Awards

Thu, Apr 18, 2013

Aniar has been crowned winner of Best Restaurant in Galway at the Connacht regional final of the Santa Rita Irish Restaurant Awards 2013. The awards, which took place in The House Hotel in Galway last week, named the top restaurants in Connacht for 2013.

Ireland’s leading chefs to gather at the g Hotel for the 2013 David Gumbleton Memorial Award

Thu, Apr 18, 2013

The g, one of Ireland’s leading five star hotels, will host a gala dinner to announce this year’s recipient of the David Gumbleton memorial prize. The award, which is in its seventh year, was created in memory of David Gumbleton, one of Australia’s brightest culinary stars, who passed away in 2004. The g’s relationship with David Gumbleton began at the original launch of the hotel.

Delicious dining at the Bridge Mills Restaurant

Thu, Apr 18, 2013

Located in one of Galway's old and beautifully renovated buildings, the Bridge Mills Restaurant is on the banks of the Corrib just across O’Brien’s Bridge. After a 15 year absence it is back in the hands of previous owners Frank and Ellen Heneghan, also of Heneghan Florist, for almost a year now.

The House Hotel to launch new cocktail menu in style this evening

Thu, Apr 18, 2013

The House cocktail mixologists have been beavering away for a few weeks now and have crafted a new cocktail menu for your delectation.

Casual Italian dining with a twist at Renzo

Thu, Apr 18, 2013

Renzo Gallery Café is an Italian-style café located just off Eyre Square on Eyre Street beside Debenham’s.

Il Folletto — rustic Italian food in the Latin Quarter

Thu, Apr 11, 2013

In many tourist towns both home and away, you will notice that there always seems to be a street full of tacky souvenir shops, a smattering of dull cafes, and some terrible tourist-trap restaurants. Not so in Galway. We are lucky enough to have Quay Street, the buzzing heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter. It has medieval architecture, 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. There are almost always some buskers and performers, a festival or parade, and this is the best place in Galway 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 of the streets of Galway.

The Book Shelf...

Thu, Apr 11, 2013

While it has been obvious for quite a few years that the only time we tend to see Delia Smith now on the television is when the cameras name-check her in the directors’ box when Norwich City are playing, her culinary career has gone in a different direction online where her cookery school at www.deliaonline.com has opened for business. In fact, while it is a business, it is also free, offering advice on everything from making classic sponge cakes to storing and freezing brownies as well as putting forward numerous recipes with easy-to-follow aids. That said, Delia has not gone completely virtual, as this ‘newish’ particular cookery book attests.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Apr 11, 2013

Velenosi Querciantica Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2011 (widely available, €16)

Made in Italy’s Marches, this is mostly Verdicchio (85 per cent) with the addition of smaller quantities of other unspecified varieties. On the nose, the fruit has a pleasant welcoming bouquet of steely green Granny Smith apples with hints of honey and a touch of spice. On the palate, the fruit mingles from apples to citrus, the acidity is mouth-watering as you would expect in Verdicchio, and there is a decent amount of lingering depth offering a fine classy finish. In essence, with a bit of heat in the air and a plate of mussels served in a dish with white wine and garlic, what more could you ask for?

Pub food, only better

Thu, Apr 04, 2013

The Kings’ Head and Malt House Restaurant have just joined one of the more exclusive food clubs in Ireland – Good Food Ireland. It is not an easy club to get into either - you have to jump through a fair amount of hoops before you get one of these coveted stickers for your front door. And they're in good company too, with Kai, Aniar and Renvyle House also on the GFI list.

Sunday lunches at Creole that offer delicious and distinctive dining

Thu, Apr 04, 2013

There is now fantastic opportunity to sample the delicious fare of one of the most exciting restaurants to open in Galway over the past year. Creole now opens for Sunday lunch, serving many of its evening dinner favourites and combining them with more traditional Sunday lunch incorporating the Creole signature taste. It offers a value and choice that will appeal to the most demanding of tastes, and with children’s dishes priced at €6.95 and main course retailing at €9.95, everyone’s palate is accommodated for.

Kinvara Farmers Market returns for new season

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

Kinvara Farmers Market has announced the reopening of a new vibrant season with the best food and craft around. The heart of picturesque Kinvara will once again host this joyful and popular weekly rendezvous.

Enjoy Sunday lunch at Kylemore Abbey

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden in the heart of Connemara is the ideal destination for a day out with something for all the family to enjoy. Get outdoors and enjoy woodland walks or explore the Victorian gardens, all just an hour from Galway.

Sunday lunch at the g Hotel

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

I'm quite fond of the g. They have been nice to me over the years, giving me a lovely upgrade on my last significant birthday, a piece of chocolate cake complete with candle waiting for me in the room. The afternoon tea is a real treat, scones, little bites of desserts, finger sandwiches with tea or some girlie pink champagne, or a junior tea for an exceptionally good child.

E-paper

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