BY DECLAN VARLEY
Foodies across the west can enjoy some of the spirit and flavour of Ballynahinch Castle with a delicious Ballynahinch at Home dinner box which is beautifully presented and full of the attention to detail that makes this hotel in the heart of Connemara such a special place.
Available for the whole summer, you order online or by phone to collect from the hotel’s front door on Friday, Saturday or Sunday; There is also the option to pick up your Ballynahinch at Home box at Galway Cathedral from 4.30-6pm every Friday. Menus change weekly and have options available for vegetarian, lactose and gluten-free diets.
The finish at home kit requires some simple assembly as head chef David Bodas and his team have done all the hard work for you, using the finest ingredients and home-grown produce. Each menu is generously designed for two people to share, and includes bread and butter, a starter, main, side and dessert, with the dinner box for two costing €65.
I sampled one last Friday and it ticked all the boxes (pardon the pun ). I collected it from their representative in the Cathedral car park and thoroughly enjoyed the box experience that ensued when I got home. The country loaf and cultured butter came in a beautiful smaller carry box, and prefaced a starter of dressed beetroots, blue cheese and walnuts.
The main was a braised shortrib of beef and was amazing tender, and took just twenty minutes to do in the oven, while the potato gratin and glazed carrots also only needed a short while to be plated.
Sample breads might include a black olive swirl or a homemade sourdough, served with cultured butter, and starters in upcoming menus include estate pork and hazelnut terrine with house pickles and pesto, and asparagus with smoked egg yolk and beef consommé.
Mains in forthcoming menus include a smoked haddock and lobster pie with garden herbs, accompanied by a baby gem salad with lardons and Cáis na Tíre curd, and confit duck with white bean cassoulet and herb-coated rooster potatoes. Desserts include a steamed treacle pudding with whiskey-infused apples and crème Anglaise and a Basque baked cheesecake.
Vegetarian options include beetroot with Young Buck and walnut crumb, pea and watercress velouté with cultured cream, butternut squash and goats cheese Wellington, and asparagus with burrata and charred onion.
From their kitchen to yours, you enjoy all the pleasure and delight of Ballynahinch Castle dining with the Ballynahinch at Home experience.
To order online visit https://ballynahinchcastle1.clickandcollection.com/ where dinner for two is €65. For the dietary-adapted details, or to order by phone please contact a member of the restaurant team on 095 31006 or email [email protected].
