Spilling the tea with Maitre D'

Would I open a restaurant in the current economic climate? Probably not. But I daydream about it all the time, especially at this time of year, after the Michelin Guide makes its annual announcements for Ireland and the United Kingdom.

For an auld hospitality fart like me, it’s thrilling to see the instalment of three new one-star venues in Ireland, and to hear that all previously awarded restaurants (20 in total) have retained their one and two-star ratings. New inductees to the Michelin Guide include Lignum in Co Galway, Ballyfin Demense in Co Laois and The Morrison Room (Carton House) in Co Kildare. What’s better than three new Michelin stars? Three new stars found well outside a city centre; proving our rural food offerings are really something else.

Forget whatever weird, minimalist dining experience is “in” right now – we Irish have developed our own unique style and it reflects the warmth of our chefs, food producers and wider culture. Our food offerings are dynamic and diverse; they offer a real, tangible culinary experience. Well done to all of our industry friends who obtained or retained their Bib Gourmand, Green Star or Michelin Star (and kudos to Zsolt Lukács at Daróg Wine Bar in Galway, who not just achieved a Bib Gourmand, but the UK & Ireland Sommelier Award).

Now that Dry January is but a distant memory (good riddance, says I), your Maitre D’ is looking forward to visiting this year’s Cork Whiskey Festival (running from 21-23 March). The festival will take place in the bars and venues of MacCurtain St in Cork city and looks to be a great time indeed; featuring plenty of rare and premium whiskeys and limited-edition releases. If whiskey isn’t your bag, you’ll be glad to hear that distilleries will also be showcasing their gins, rums, poitíns and vodkas, so you’ll be free to “pick your poison” as it were. If you’re looking for me, though, I’ll be at the Vintage Irish Bottle Tasting at The Shelbourne Bar.

corkwhiskeyfest.com

For any professional, high-end hotelier, a career pinnacle must be when you can say your establishment has made the Condé Nast Traveller Gold List. Condé Nast is the crème de la crème of travel-focused magazines and their annual Gold List is a guide to the best hotels, resorts and cruise ships all around the world. And Adare Manor in Limerick is the only Irish hotel to make the list.

General manager Brendan O’Connor called the accolade “a lovely way to round out a very successful year.” I bet there was some fancy champagne sabred in the dining room when the news broke.

In 2027, Adare Manor will host the famous Ryder Cup golf competition, so in addition to this new accolade, we might never be able to get a room – or a dinner reservation – ever again.

adaremanor.com

Jesus wept: American fast food chain Chick-fil-A has opened at an Applegreen service station in Lisburn, just outside of Belfast; seemingly out of nowhere.

What’s more, it has been mobbed – I’m amazed they haven’t run out of nuggets – with “foodies” sussing via TikTok whether it’s as good as the American version (by all accounts, it is). The company says they plan to source all of their chicken from within the United Kingdom.

I know you’re going to say, “But Maître D’, Chick-fil-a announced that it planned to expand to the United Kingdom”. Yeah, but it happened so quickly! By comparison, how long have we been waiting for that first Wendy’s to open in Ireland? If you’re planning a pit stop in Lisburn, you should know the Chick-fil-a “order hack”: nuggets, mac and cheese, waffle fries, buffalo sauce and Chick-fil-a sauce. Ask for a container (with a lid), add everything in, put the lid on and shake so everything gets mixed up. Thank me later.

I love a good omelette, and I especially love the one on the menu at the GIY (Grow It Yourself) headquarters – Grow HQ – in Waterford city. Sure I stop in for one whenever I’m in the vicinity. Now, I see they have announced a new campus director, and she is a familiar face to many of us working in Irish food.

Ali Honour is a Co Cork chef who heads the Irish arm of the Beans Is How campaign, which aims to encourage more beans and legumes in our everyday diet (as per the Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger and achieve improved nutrition). On 5 February, Grow HQ announced Ali as their new campus director, praising her as a chef, educator and sustainability champion. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing her for the chats the next time I’m wolfing down my eggs.

Read more

Spilling the tea with Maitre D'

Spilling the tea with Maitre D'