Search Results for 'Jess Murphy'

The launch of the programme for the fourth Galway Food Festival was held on Monday March 9 in one of Galway’s coolest new hangout spots, Bite Club. Celebrating Galway as a food destination, the festival strives to highlight the importance of food provenance and sustainability. Many of the great and the good of the Galway food scene were present — chefs, producers, restaurateurs, educators, and food writers. One of the best things about the launch being in Bite Club was the refreshments — spicy tacos, hot wings, and poitin slushies were the order of the day. It certainly made a difference to the usual smoked salmon on brown bread and a glass of pinot gris. A huge amount of organising goes into the festival, with the committee members and many others giving freely of their time and expertise to make it a success. More than 60 food related events will take place in hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shops throughout Galway city and county during Easter weekend. Fifty shades of kale, the Twelve Apostles, Cava on the Corrib, and Easter-themed afternoon teas are just some of the fun activities planned.

The west of the country has been on something of a winning streak of late when it comes to food and hospitality. Kai Café and Restaurant was the big winner at the start of the year scooping the top prize, Restaurant of the Year for 2015, in Georgina Campbell’s Awards, the country’s longest-running hospitality awards. Run by New Zealander Jess Murphy and her Irish husband David, Kai had been converted from a tearoom to a rustic restaurant, and was praised for having seriously good food with a sense of fun. Best Asian Restaurant went to The Asian Tea House, with Mitchell’s in Clifden and Frankie Mallon of An Port Mór, Westport, awarded best seafood restaurant and best seafood chef respectively.

“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.

As Cava rises phoenix-like from the flames on Middle Street in the city centre, its old lodgings have been given a makeover into a Scandi-style eatery known as dela. On walking in the door, it is impossible for any regular of the previous occupant not to compare one to the other. The layout is pretty much the same, there is a lunch-time deal of soup and a sandwich with coffee for €10 just like the old days, and they have patatas bravas on the menu, but then again, who doesn't these days? And there ends the similarities, as they are as different as the proverbial chalk and a sharing plate of Sheridan's cheese.

The last outpost of civilisation before you reach Salthill, when Kai opened, it opened with a bang and very quickly achieved a cult following. It suffered not a jot from teething problems, it was a fully formed concept practically from the word go. Kai was unpretentious and fun with flower and seed strewn salads piled on boards, big Ortiz tuna tins filled with bread, and the sun spilling through the skylight even on the dullest of days illuminating the lunchtime altar of cakes. Everyone's favourite Kiwi chef Jess Murphy brings her own brand of kitchen voodoo and you know you are a regular when you grow to understand husband and partner-in-crime David Murphy's accent at front of house.

The launch of the programme for the second Galway Food Festival took place on Monday March 11 upstairs at McCambridge’s. The lovely Máirín Uí Chomáin, in a particularly elegant outfit and a covetable pair of shiny, fire-engine-red shoes, did the honours beautifully. As an author, the chairperson of Irish Food Writers Guild, and a true Connemara woman, she was perfect for the job. JP McMahon, festival chairperson, also spoke at the launch, in particular speaking warmly of the late lamented Gerry Galvin, who had launched the festival last year. A man who will be sadly missed.

The House Hotel is one of my favourite little boltholes in Galway. Cool, quirky, and fun, you can't beat it for location. The rooms are lovely and settling into one of the squashy pink couches in the lobby with one of the rather superior afternoon teas is a great way to catch up with friends.

Cafe Express is situated in a prime bit of Galway retail space, in Abrakebabra's old location on Eyre Square. The previous menu of doner kebab, chip butty, 'special' pink sauce, and the ever popular taco fries (imagine an Irish version of the French Canadian 'poutine') has been pushed aside for something completely different. While Abrakebabra surely has its fans, Cafe Express, it has to be said, is a vast improvement and a welcome addition to Eyre Square. On the corner, this is fast becoming the coffee destination for city centre workers commuting from the outskirts and tourists on sightseeing excursions. With the trains, buses and taxis all feeding into the square, the Lavazza sign over this door acts like a beacon that draws coffee lovers like moths to a flame, and it's certainly hard to fault their real Italian-style coffee.

If you ask any student or ex student from Galway where they drink in Galway city, I think The Cellar Bar will be among the top places. It has also been a regular for locals, tourists, and weekenders. It was unfortunately closed down last January for a few months and now is in new ownership, up and running seven days a week.

Last Wednesday saw teams of students from all over Ireland competing at the first National Third Level Student Innovation Awards for a €3,000 prize and the possibility of their product being distributed by a national food company.