An Fulacht Fia restaurant, Ballyvaughan

Thu, May 26, 2011

This is a fairly new purpose built restaurant on the road from Ballyvaughan to Fanore. As you arrive at the T-junction in the village of Ballyvaughan, left will take you to the Ailwee Caves and the Corkscrew Hill, and turning right brings you to Fanore. An Fulacht Fia restaurant is just about a mile out the Fanore road on your left hand side and with fabulous sea views. It is built with lots of stone and blends in perfectly with its surroundings, in fact so much so that you need to keep your eyes peeled to spot the entrance. However once you are in the door there is a beautiful modern dining room with sumptuous dining chairs, good oversized tables, starched white linen, and proper wine glasses, all a good start to an evening.

High tech cooking

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

These days everything seems to be classed as ‘high-tech’ from phones to cars to iPads to games to television on demand. Now the ancient art of cooking has entered an era of research and is producing a food style that is know as molecular gastronomy. Over the centuries cooking has evolved mainly through trial and error, noting carefully what worked and then attempting to replicate it again and again. That is the basis of a recipe and now we have thousands if not millions of recipe books to choose from. However, there has been very little pure research into exactly why certain recipes worked at the molecular level.

In the late 1980s, Nicholas Kurti and Hervé This, one a physicist and one a physical chemist, coined the term ‘molecular gastronomy’ and their aims were to bring together professional cooks for discussions on the science behind traditional cooking, eg, why does a mayonnaise become firm when it is being mixed, or why does cream thicken when beaten, or why does a soufflé swell when cooked, etc. They also wanted to investigate old wives’ tales about cooking to see if they were true, and if so, why.

Good Friday will be great at the Meyrick

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

This Good Friday seafood lovers can enjoy a speciality fish and seafood menu as part of the Good Friday Agreement, a culinary night in the Hotel Meyrick. The event will take place on Friday April 22 in the appropriately named Oyster Bar & Grill restaurant.

Easter in the Burren-An Fulacht Fia restaurant

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

Now that spring is in the air, why not take a trip to the picturesque village of Ballyvaughan in the heart of the Burren and make the most of the glorious sunshine. An Fulacht Fia Restaurant is a family run restaurant located just outside Ballyvaughan, enjoying superb views of Galway Bay. Emphasis is on locally sourced food which is lovingly prepared by the restaurant’s highly acclaimed chef Irmantas.

Kate’s Orantown Centre and choosing a good oil

Thu, Mar 24, 2011

Kate Wright has moved from her Cobblestones Cafe in Quay Lane, Galway, to a location upstairs in the Orantown Centre in Oranmore. A courageous move, I would think, but I am sure the legendary high rents in the city have something to do with it. Similar to the article last week about the new owners in Loughrea, these premises have also had two previous incarnations. The fact that Kate makes absolutely everything on site every day should make the difference and help make this a success.

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.

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.

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.

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.

E-paper

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