Summertime in Salthill

Thu, Jul 17, 2014

Approached from the Seafront Promenade side with uninterrupted views over Galway Bay, Arabica is a busy hub, now an established part of Salthill's buzzing cafe culture. The day starts early and there’s a great choice for breakfast from a traditional fry to a more healthy granola or fluffy Belgian waffles. Lunch brings all kinds of sandwiches and panini, soups, and various colourful salads to eat.

Summer starts at McCambridge's

Thu, Jul 03, 2014

The Irish Summer. You know when it is coming and you know when it has arrived. It is not the weather that indicates the summertime, that will remain as changeable as ever. The summer season is indicated by strawberries. Not the ever present ones in the shops, but the glorious seasonal Irish ones. I go overboard when they first arrive, bringing home punnets full, far more than we could possibly eat in their limited lifetime. Those not immediately consumued go into cakes, ice-cream, milkshakes, and popsicles.

The abundance of the Wexford strawberry sellers on the sides of the roads means it is the height of the season. With the recent good spell of weather they are ripening fast and furiously. These berries certainly do not last as long as the sprayed-to-death super-berries you'll find in stock all year round, that look like strawberries, smell like strawberries but alas, taste of not very much at all.

The Gaslight Bar and Brasserie presents its ‘Cocktail Pairing’ supper club

Thu, Jul 03, 2014

The Gaslight Bar and Brasserie will host the second of its themed “supper clubs” on Thursday July 10 at 7pm, featuring a dinner with pairing cocktails for each course.

Food, wine, and music at dela

Thu, Jun 26, 2014

Brought to you by a team who know a lot about what makes people happy, Biteclub Streetfood Discotheque is the new eatery in Electric Garden, on Abbeygate Street.

An evening with Catherine Fulvio this evening

Thu, Jun 19, 2014

Of all the celebrity TV chefs, Catherine Fulvio is my favourite. You can keep your Rachels and Rozannes, Catherine is the one for me. She has a natural style and an endearing ‘nose crinkling’ smile. My copy of her last book Eat Like An Italian bears all the hallmarks of a good cookbook, being dog-eared and splattered with oil. Her enthusiasm shines through on every page. It is clear to see that she enjoys all aspects of her work from the growing of the ingredients to the creativity of the cooking and, of course, the tasting of the results.

Enjoy a company day out at The Ardilaun

Thu, Jun 19, 2014

Take time out from your busy work schedule and treat your team to an outdoor barbecue at The Ardilaun this summer.

The Ardilaun hotel in Galway city has the perfect setting to have your summer barbecue this year. With superb landscaped gardens and outdoor Camilaun patio in a secluded setting, The Ardilaun is the perfect choice for socialising with work colleagues, family, friends or sports and social outing and one can choose from a selection of barbecue packages for as little as €15 per guest.

Wake up and smell the coffee

Thu, May 29, 2014

The cup of tea, beloved by the Irish, is very much in danger of losing its place as the nation's hot beverage of choice, threatened by our growing addiction to coffee. Even for those of us who cannot be bothered with the fuss of grinding and filtering and are happy enough to put up with the dried and jarred, coffee flavoured dust at home, we still expect much more from our coffee when out and about.

Family friendly fish at Galway Bay Seafoods

Thu, May 22, 2014

We are very lucky here in Galway to have great food outlets to choose from, from bakers and butchers to grocery and deli. These small, independent, stores are very well supported and loved by the discerning Galway shopper.

Sundays and Tuesdays are summer sharing evenings at dela

Thu, May 22, 2014

The past year has seen dela going from strength to strength, with accolades from Lucinda O’Sullivan and the McKenna Guides of particular note.

Jordi’s new seasonal evening menu is just over a month old now and so far has been very well received by diners.

Top of the pops

Thu, May 15, 2014

“And, most dear actors, eat no onions or garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and I do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet comedy.” — William Shakespeare, A Midsummer’s Night's Dream.

Galway city to battle it out for ‘Foodie Town of Ireland’

Thu, May 08, 2014

Galway city has been announced as one of top 10 finalists in the search for the ‘Foodie Town of Ireland’ which is being run by the Restaurants Association of Ireland, in association with Admailer.ie from An Post.

The competition, run in conjunction with Ireland’s largest food awards the Irish Restaurants Awards, will see towns and communities from all over the country being faced by judges and battling it out to win the public vote to be named Ireland’s premier foodie destination.

Ballinasloe cheese farm to open to the public this weekend

Thu, May 08, 2014

Killeen Farm in Loughanroe East, Ballyshrule, Ballinasloe, will be open to the public this weekend as part of the Discover Farmhouse Cheese programme.

Dining at Dela

Thu, May 08, 2014

Many have argued about which are their favourite restaurants in Galway's West End, each preferring one over another, modern over conventional, trend over tradition. The real wonder is that, just a few years ago, this argument could not have erupted. Where restaurants were few and far between, now they are abounding.

Teatime at Aniar

Thu, May 01, 2014

The idea of cooking with tea is nothing new, but the idea of making tea from entirely indigenous ingredients is part and parcel of the philosophy at Aniar. This is the basis of the new tasting menu introduced this week. As always, this is a menu dotted with native seaweeds, wild herbs, and berries, and reflects Aniar’s billing of itself as “a terroir-based restaurant”, a farm to table culinary experience. Terroir refers to the soil and climate imbuing food and wine with the flavours of a region and, as such, carries lots of potential for pretentiousness. This they somehow manage to avoid, this is traditional food made contemporary proving that profound truths can be spoken plainly.

Fish cookery demonstrations at Mary’s Fish Shop next week

Thu, Apr 10, 2014

To celebrate the very successful opening of Mary’s Fish Shop there will be a party on Holy Thursday. Go along and see some great chefs cooking fish to perfection and also demonstrating how to make a great chowder. Everyone loves chowder and it is pretty easy to make, however it really helps to see it done in front of you or to be able to ask a chef for advice.

Paleo night at 37West

Thu, Apr 10, 2014

37 West has announced the arrival of the world’s first fine dining Paleo restaurant to come and take over its kitchen for the Galway food festival.

Out with the old

Thu, Apr 10, 2014

I spent a few years working on Eyre Square many moons ago, when the lunchtime choices were few and far between. My old boss would always try to convince us to have a hefty carvery dinner in Fagan's (in the Great Southern) which would lead to a soporific afternoon in the office trying to keep my eyes from shutting while staring glassy eyed at my computer screen.

Aniar Cookery School

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

When it comes to cookery classes, I have to admit I am a bit of a veteran. I have more than a couple of stints with the Allen family in Ballymaloe under my belt, I have had a nose around Paul Flynn's Tannery School in Dungarven. I have even tucked my knees under the bountiful table at River Cottage HQ with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, still possibly the happiest day of my life (sorry kids).

Nearer to home, and if you like to do things in style, we have Aniar Cookery School, which is now firmly established in the Michelin-starred restaurant. As such, this is no ordinary cookery school. Aniar Restaurant is counted among one of the best in the country, and owner JP McMahon with head chef Ultan Cooke has created a terroir-based menu focusing on fresh, foraged, and wild ingredients sourced locally, and still retains the only Michelin star in the west. The school is run in the restaurant kitchen and all classes are taught by the apparently inexhaustible JP.

Some like it hot

Thu, Mar 20, 2014

If you are touring round the Spanish Arch, the sign will catch your eye. Lime green, gold with a graceful font announces the name of the restaurant, Thai Garden. As one of Galway's long-established restaurants, it is attractively located in a modern building overlooking the iconic scenery of the Claddagh. A smart, heated terrace at the rear is very appealing in the summer, and the spacious interior has an adjoining room ideal for private parties with pleasant views out over the fish market and the River Corrib. If you are looking for Thai cuisine in the heart of Galway then this is your go-to place.

Have you brunched yet?

Thu, Mar 20, 2014

Brunch – a late morning combination of breakfast and lunch — is about taking a time out with family or friends and letting a little decadence into your day in the form of an early cocktail or late breakfast.

E-paper

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