Asian Tea House - a world of difference

Thu, Oct 04, 2012

The Asian Tea House on Mary Street is a popular spot and for good reason. Connacht’s Best Restaurant at the RAI Irish Restaurant Awards 2011 still maintains the same high standard, certainly a cut above your average Chinese restaurant.

So Aniar, and yet so far

Thu, Oct 04, 2012

Aniar is the third best restaurant in Galway. If we are to believe the TripAdvisor rankings, that is. Yes, the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the whole of Galway currently takes the bronze behind the “consistently good” Gourmet Tart Company and the “excellent little gem” that is Oscar’s Seafood Bistro. With The Galleon and Kirwan’s Lane restaurant completing the top five, you may or may not agree with this analysis of the current state of dining in Galway.

But a quick look at the reviews for the newly-starred Aniar will show that there is something not quite right with the system. While the contributors are in general fair and honest, now and again an isolated bad experience skews the numbers, often leaving fine dining restaurants like The West in Barna out-ranked by cute, popular, little cafes like Cupán Tae on Spanish Arch. Like is not compared with like.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Sep 27, 2012

Emiliana Novas Viognier Gran Reserva 2010 (Independents, €7.49)

The Book Shelf...

Thu, Sep 27, 2012

Hugh’s Three Good Things… on a plate
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Food champions nominated to represent the west’s food sector in Canada

Thu, Sep 27, 2012

Two of Galway’s best known restaurateurs have been chosen as food champions to represent the west of Ireland as part of a food tourism delegation due to visit Canada next month.

Eat in or out with the Gourmet Tart Company

Thu, Sep 27, 2012

The Gourmet Tart Company is one of Galway's biggest success stories, as far as food is concerned. The business started out selling cakes from an ironing board in Limerick's Milk Market and now boasts four bakery/delicatessens and a restaurant. What began in 2001 as a small French-style bakery has become a thriving business with very loyal customers. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week and has both sweet and savoury ranges and quality take-home meals. The shops are bright and white, sleek and efficient. Look for the pink and white sign above the door and the trademark grapefruit-sized meringues streaked with raspberry in the windows.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Romanico Bodega Teso la Monja Toro 2010 (Independents, €12.99)

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Zonte’s Footstep Langhorne Creek 2011 (Independents, €14.99)

On the cookery book shelf

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Weber’s Barbecue Anytime
Over 190 Inspirational Recipes to Help You Get the Most Out of your Barbecue

Twelve out of ten for West

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

For such a tiny village there is certainly no shortage of choice when it comes to eating out in Barna. Mulberry's for casual and family dining, O'Grady's for the seafood lovers, and what many consider to be the jewel in Barna's culinary crown, West at The Twelve. West's outstanding contemporary regional cuisine and seamless service has earned much critical acclaim, as has its extensive wine list. Here seasonal and local ingredients shine to deliver a superb fine dining experience.

Green Earth Organics to hold open day during National Organic Week

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

National Organic Week celebrates the work being done by thousands of food producers all over Ireland who are committed to farming organically. Throughout the week, organic producers, retailers, and farmers’ markets nationwide will host events including organic farm walks, cookery demonstrations, barbecues, harvest feasts, complimentary in-store tastings, and talks.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

Main À Main Syrah Sud de France Pay d’OC IGP 2011 (Market 57, €10)

Dunnes French wine sale

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

Dunnes Stores begins its French wine sale next Wednesday (September 5) running until September 25. With numerous reductions and a noticeable movement into wines from Saint-Émilion, those that catch the eye include Arthur Metz Riesling 2010 (€8), Domaine des Grosses Pierres Sancerre 2011 (€10), La Grand Bouffe Chardonnay 2011 (€7), Château de l'Estagnol Côtes du Rhone 2011 (€7), and Les Saules Vacqueyras 2011 (€10).

Pocket friendly dining in the city centre

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and, with September being a time to welcome the students back, I found myself revisiting the places we used to go when we were the young kids on the block. Students are always notoriously hard up, so here are three of the longest serving and best value eateries in the city, as good today as the day they opened. Certainly you could make some extra money to afford a meal in one of the fancier restaurants, maybe by working part-time or starting your own religion online and asking for donations to build your place of worship. Otherwise just go to one of these places when you realise that plain pasta does not constitute a complete meal. For all of you new to Galway, start off in any one of these and you will not go wrong.

Great response to new sliding wardrobe range at Top Drawer Max

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

Top Drawer Max has had a massive response to the launch of its range of Komandor sliding and walk-in wardrobes.

Age old craftsmanship and timeless design at Kreations Kitchens and Bedrooms

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

Kreations Kitchens and Bedrooms was established by Peter Murphy and Tom Callanan, who have 40 years of combined experience in the design, manufacture, and installation of bespoke kitchens and bedrooms.

Aniar Restaurant is named best in Connacht

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Aniar has been named Best Restaurant in Connacht at the Food & Wine Louis Latour 2012 Awards. The restaurant, located in Dominick Street, Galway, scooped the award at a ceremony held in Dublin’s Convention Centre which was attended by the stars of Ireland’s culinary world.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Main À Main Syrah Sud de France Pay d’OC IGP 2011 (Market 57, €10)

The kitchen

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

There are some places you go to for the best coffee, some for the best dessert, and some to have just one particular dish over and over again, but you go to The Kitchen to be surprised. Head chef and proprietor Michelle Kavanagh’s extensive travels bring an eclectic mix of flavours to the table — Asian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, this is fusion at its finest.

Starting life as a cafe, The Kitchen at the Galway Museum opened its doors over a year ago. It is a friendly cafe, quirky, homey, and comfortable with a mixture of seating and lounging areas, pulled together by an enormous pretty, patterned, rug. The space is airy with high ceilings and some lovely natural light from the glass wall. The outside seating area is very popular when the sun shines, offering a gorgeous view of Nimmo’s and the river by the landmark Spanish Arch. Lunch here has a growing regular clientele for its selection of healthy salad plates, imaginative and great value food. There is good coffee and freshly squeezed juices to order. All breads and bakes are displayed on the counter among a colourful array of bric-a-brac and cookbooks, perfect for a quiet afternoon coffee and cake treat. The weekend brunch is also gaining a following — bacon and eggs, stacks of thick syrupy pancakes with Colleran’s bacon, or the near legendary (in our house anyway) chorizo hash. It is popular as well with Galwegian parents, with ample room to park a buggy.