Taste Matters in Loughrea

Wed, Mar 16, 2011

A friend of mine who has a good sense of taste and a keen eye for a bargain (he is a canny Scotsman) suggested I should join him for lunch some day to sample the food from the above-mentioned eatery at The West Bridge in Loughrea. I had eaten there before under two different owners and had noticed it was lying empty for a while.

Brunch time jazz at Sweetie Pies

Wed, Mar 16, 2011

Enjoy brunch to the relaxing sounds of the new resident jazz vocalist and guitarist at Sweetie Pies on Sunday mornings.

The unique vibe in Sweetie Pies will be even more enjoyable with this extra touch. A small sample of what's on the menu is French toast served with sausage, bacon, pudding, and tomato relish, homemade pancakes with chocolate sauce and cream, gourmet sandwiches, pizzas, and of course all those fabulous cakes.

Basilico at The Old School House, Clarinbridge

Thu, Mar 10, 2011

I have been asked many times if I knew why Basilico had opened a second restaurant in Clarinbridge, just a couple of miles away from its main operation in Oranmore. It did seem a strange move in these uncertain times, so I decided to ask the owners what lay behind this venture. The answer has many parts but the main reason is that they have been so busy every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Oranmore they have had to refuse bookings every week. That kind of problem is one most restaurateurs would give their eye teeth to have. They also liked the building and the though of having a ‘restaurant only’ premises appealed. However this in no way will affect Oranmore where they will continue to serve the same food at the same prices in the bar and restaurant areas.

Galway Community Acupuncture — affordable and accessible

Thu, Mar 10, 2011

The aim of Galway Community Acupuncture is to make acupuncture more accessible by making it more affordable. Treatments are provided in a comfortable and relaxed group setting. This way more than one person can be treated at a time, which allows the cost to be significantly lower. Treatments are offered on a sliding fee scale of €25 to €45.

The initial consultation is taken in a private room with a careful review of the client’s health history and current symptoms. Clients remain fully clothed during treatment and relax in comfortable reclining chairs.

Champion hairdresser now creating rave reviews in Galway

Thu, Mar 10, 2011

Mary Duffy at MOHH Hair Couture at the Radisson Blu Hotel is one of Ireland’s most experienced hair extension stylists, having won six international and European medals in hair extension application, style, and care. Ms Duffy, who was ranked fourth in the world at the World Hairdressing Championships, enjoys the creativity that goes with hair extensions. She welcomes anyone thinking about hair extensions to make an appointment for a free consultation with her. She will advise on temporary or long term types, ie, pre-bonds, tape, micro beads, wire, flip/clip-in, etc. Remember hair extensions can add colour as well as length and bulk. Mary Duffy is also experienced in all other aspects of hairdressing, from upstyling to cutting to colouring. For an appointment call

See the difference at Athenry Opticians

Thu, Mar 10, 2011

At Athenry Opticians, Ailbhe Ní Ráighne and her staff pride themselves on the friendly, relaxed, atmosphere within the practice and the rapport they have with their patients.

All patients are given at least a half an hour consultation where all aspects of their vision and eye care are discussed. Ailbhe Ní Ráighne believes the key to successful patient care is for the optometrist to communicate effectively by listening, asking the right questions, and taking the patient’s lifestyle and needs into consideration. All this information is used to provide patients with solutions that optimise their vision and comfort.

Revolutionary Image peels dramatically improve your skin after only thirty minutes

Thu, Mar 10, 2011

Image Skincare is the newest cosmeceutical line to be available at Therapie Clinic in Galway.

Cosmeceutical skincare is where pharmaceutical meets cosmetic. These products contain high levels of active ingredients such as glycolic acids, enzymes, retinol, salycylic acid, amino acids, and peptides. However it is the delivery system of these ingredients that is the key to how effective they are, as well as the skincare consultation and analysis that determines the right products and treatments being prescribed for each individual client.

Bits and bites

Thu, Mar 03, 2011

This week I have four items to mention.

Get cooking...

Thu, Mar 03, 2011

Tuesday March 8 is Shrove Tuesday. Make sure you enjoy some delicious pancakes with this recipe from bordbia.ie

Lunch at Ard Bia and New York Opera at the g Hotel

Thu, Feb 24, 2011

I have been confused about the identity of Ard Bia since it moved to the Nimmo’s building at the Spanish Arch. Downstairs I think was called Nimmo’s, and upstairs called Ard Bia, and I was unsure whether there were different kitchens and menus. That confusion is now gone as it is simply called Ard Bia with the downstairs open all day and night and the upstairs opened as needed when extra busy. The menu is the same throughout and now includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas, snacks, dinner, and Sunday lunch. It is still a quirky restaurant and while I am no longer a fan of retro pine tables and chairs there is nothing retro about the food. It is modern, and top quality with a modern twist to traditional dishes.

Opera at the g Hotel – bringing the New York Met to Galway

Thu, Feb 24, 2011

I had seen advertisements for dinner and opera at the g Hotel and was not quite sure what the details were until I spoke to the Eye Cinema manager. The Metropolitan Opera in New York (‘The Met’ to those in the know) decided to license a satellite connection with cinemas around the world that had a digital projection capability. The Eye Cinema in Wellpark has the technology to do this, and you can watch a live performance of what is being performed at the matinee in New York. The broadcast is in high definition and is screened here at approximately 6pm, which gives you time to have something to eat beforehand or afterwards. The g Hotel offers packages such as a two course meal and opera ticket for €49 per person, or pink afternoon tea and opera ticket for €55 per person.

I was curious as to whether these opera nights are popular, and apparently the widely known operas like Il Trovatore and Lucia di Lammermoor are all booked out well in advance. An added attraction is the fact that during the break the cameras go backstage, so in fact you get to see more than if you actually attended in person in New York. Prices are typically €25 for the opera alone. For further information call the g Hotel on (091) 865200 or email [email protected]

An Oscar for Oscars

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Galway restaurant, Oscar’s Seafood Bistro, has been awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! restaurant of the month for February. The restaurant, which was set up by husband and wife Michael O’Meara and Sinead Hughes in 2000. The Just Ask award recognises the restaurant for its dedication to sourcing food from local suppliers and ensuring this information is passed on to customers on their menu.

Fleming’s home delivery seafood — twenty five years on

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

I well remember back in 1986 when Gay and Freda Fleming opened their fish shop in Dominick Street. I was a regular customer and it had a great selection even then. After a few years they decided to move into the home delivery business and have been delivering to customers as far away as Dublin ever since.

Connemara Smokehouse

Thu, Feb 10, 2011

All the supermarkets and even our convenience shops have stocks of smoked salmon, many of which are labeled in such a way to make it difficult to separate the good from the great and the good from the not so good.

Some of the wording is difficult to understand at first glance; ‘Irish Smoked Salmon’, may in fact mean that the salmon came from God knows where, but was “smoked in Ireland”. ‘Smoked Irish Salmon’ may mean that the salmon is Irish but was smoked in God knows where.

Cupán Tae Restaurant and a great deal in Bankx Restaurant

Thu, Feb 03, 2011

Having driven past the newly opened Cupán Tae restaurant several times over the past few weeks and noticed that it seemed to be a recreation of a typical English tea room with lots of colourful cups, I decided to see if it tasted as good as it looks. I thought that ‘retro kitchen’ look had disappeared, but I can see the appeal of drinking out of real china cups and being served your scones/cakes on a tiered bonbon dish. The interior is spotless with lots of different china patterns in evidence. The menu includes breakfast, snacks, several types of cakes, lots of different teas, and of course afternoon cream tea.

New menu offerings in Asian Tea House and €500 for a Boogaloo Burger invention

Thu, Jan 27, 2011

I visited two city centre restaurants last week to see what changes they were making for their menu in 2011.

First was Asian Tea House in Mary Street. Asian Tea House has dishes from Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China and for that reason it is unique. Another unique point is that it absolutely guarantees that it does not use any of the flavour enhancer MSG and most dishes are available gluten free on request.

What price for lunch in Galway?

Thu, Jan 20, 2011

Having recently been in a very busy pub in Navan that served an excellent chicken a la king with rice at lunchtime at a cost of €5, I decided to walk around Galway city centre and see if there was lunch available to compete with that level of price.

Ali’s Fish Shop, Oranmore

Thu, Jan 13, 2011

During the last few days we heard the sad news about the Harvest Wine Shop in Oranmore and my heart goes out to all who worked there. I hope everyone will find a job in the near future. However, there was also some good news in Oranmore as a new fresh fish shop called Ali’s Fish Shop opened. Regular readers may remember I mentioned his other shop in Barna when it opened in 2010, Ali is obviously a courageous man and all I can say is “fair play to him”.

New year, new name for Oscars

Thu, Jan 13, 2011

Another year to look forward to; I wonder if 2011 will be as eventful as 2010 at Oscars? In fact 2010 was a pretty good year in Galway despite the best efforts of the economic environment. The year got off to a great start for Oscars with our inclusion into the Bridgestone Guide’s Top 100 Restaurants in Ireland. It really is a great privilege to make it into the guide as the top 100 also includes restaurants in the north of the country.

New Year’s resolutions for foodies

Thu, Jan 06, 2011

New Year’s resolutions are a bit like cooking a perfect soufflé, lots of thought and preparation go in to the making but the result is often less than hoped for. However, on the assumption that some good might come from said resolutions, then it is perhaps worth putting pen to paper. I am listing here some which might be worth consideration and also my fantasy resolutions for 2011.

E-paper

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