Ellen’s Kitchen. A firm favourite with Cobh locals and visitors.

Ellen’s Kitchen. A firm favourite

 with Cobh locals and visitors.

It was a miserable wet day when we called to Ellen’s Kitchen in Cobh last week. Normally it’s sunny and you see the colourful café on the way in to the attractive town and you spot the customers through the large glass windows.

Looks like a friendly place from the outside. And it is; a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. Lots of chatting going on and I’m reminded of the song from Cheers: Where Everybody Knows Your Name. And sure enough, within minutes, we know our server’s name and she knows ours!

Ellen's is a trained chef with over 20 years culinary experience. Breakfast, lunch, and Weekend Brunch menus with an array of freshly made savouries, salads and home-baking daily are on offer here. And there’s always callers for their takeout service as well.

Lunch starts around the 12.30pm mark and the big blackboard menu was going up as we arrived. We had quite a choice including Homemade Beef-burger with Ballymaloe Relish; Pan-fried Tiger Prawns and chorizo salad; Sweet Chilli Chicken Goujons Wrap with Mozzarella; plus freshly made sambos and wraps; quiche, sausage rolls, more; and a big selection of cakes!

CL picked the Piri Piri chicken flatbread with Sriracha Mayo, Roasted peppers, rocket salad and a bunch of chunky fries. Quite a plateful, neatly presented, for 11 euro.

Meanwhile I was happily making my tasty way through The Ballycotton Smoked Salmon Frittata with two homemade salads, quite an enjoyable plateful, again priced at 11 euro. And I did give herself a hand by sharing her fries! 

Anyone for chocolate?

Nothing cutting edge here but you get dependable tasty food, and plenty of it, at a good price. Indeed we were pretty well close to full after those two platefuls and decided to share the dessert. Just as well as the Coffee Cake slice was quite a large one, quite a delicious one as well and went down nicely with large cups of the excellent Maher’s coffee.

Ellen’s has a large collection of cakes, many for takeout. And you can get more of these tasty treats via the NeighbourFood weekly service at nearby Cuskinny. And, as if she is isn’t busy enough, Ellen is also available for outside catering!

• I’ve often passed Ellen’s on the way in to Cobh and wondered about parking as you are not allowed park on that main road. Here’s the tip: drive past the cafe and take the next left, then take the next left again (on a one-way road) and soon you’ll be able to join the line at the “back” of Ellen’s and do take the first space available, otherwise you might find yourself circling again!

Ellen’s Kitchen 

Wharton's Corner, Rushbrooke, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland P24 R997

Tel: 085 718 8469

Cobh Bedecked with Flowers. Well worth a visit.

Cobh Bedecked with Flowers. 
Well worth a visit.

Cobh is becoming as well known for its displays of flowers as for it well perched cathedral.

Water's Edge Hotel, The Quays Bar & Restaurant and the Sirius Art Gallery all in this block

The Crescent has splendid views over the town centre and the harbour.

Looking well: the Commodore Hotel

Welcome to Cobh

Seasalt, a lovely café battling in the Covid19 aftermath

Not a vegan café, I'm told

Time to chat at Cuppacity

Like Harbour Browns, you'll
find Leonardo on the West Beach

Does what it says on the tin.

Lights guide you into this shop called Turkish Delights

Looking down from cathedral 

Handiwork

Café in heritage centre

Say it with flowers

Café on Rushbrooke side of town

Hederman's famous smokehouse is near Belvelly bridge

A bite on the way in or on the way out at Bramley Lodge

Fota House and Gardens, Now Open. Waiting for you (with hours for cocooners). Photos to brighten your day.

Fota House and Gardens, waiting for you!

Now open (with hours for cocooners).

Photos to brighten your day.

"We are delighted to again welcome visitors to enjoy the magnificent grounds from 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM daily following Covid-19 closure. Our grounds access plan is for safe, respectful visits to the Arboretum & Gardens with visitors asked to observe HSE guidelines at all times. The House is due to reopen on July 20th." 

More info, including opening hours here and on their Facebook Page.

Cobh will remember Titanic anniversary

Cobh will remember Titanic anniversary

Junior Cert student Bláthín Verwey from Cobh prepares to place a floral tribute in the sea from the pier where 123 passengers departed Cobh to join the Titanic 108 years ago.

(Photos taken by her father Hendrick Verwey)

For the first time in over 20 years, there will no public ceremony to mark the anniversary of the sinking of The Titanic in its last port of call, Cobh, Co. Cork, as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown measures.

Instead, a member of the Cobh Tourism Board will place a solitary floral tribute on the Titanic Memorial in the town square, to honour all those who lost their lives 108 years ago.

Commenting, Chairman of Cobh Tourism Jack Walsh said, “Instead of a traditional public ceremony this year, we are inviting everyone to say a prayer or share a thought this Saturday (11th April) for all those who embarked on their final journey from Queenstown, as the town of Cobh was then known, on board the ill-fated Titanic.

“As you remember all those who died on Titanic, please also think about those who have been taken from us in the current Pandemic – they are not a statistic or a story, they are real people with families who love them and hopefully their ancestors will continue to remember them and commemorate this current tragedy long into the future.”

The colourful town of Cobh is famed as the last port of call of the Titanic.  All year around, you can visit the town’s Titanic Memorial Garden, which is situated on the waterfront overlooking The Titanic’s final anchorage.  Here you will see a Glass Memorial wall which bears the names of the 123 passengers that embarked in Queenstown.  The town also has a Titanic Memorial in the town square, dedicated to the 79 passengers who boarded The Titanic in Cobh on 11^th April 1912 and lost their lives. And there are a number of fascinating museums and heritage centres dedicated to The Titanic story, including Cobh Heritage Centre and The Titanic Experience.

Continuing, Jack Walsh said “Cobh is a beautiful, scenic town with a rich maritime history and the Titanic story has become deeply engrained in our local identity. Those who departed from Titanic’s last port of call did so with trepidation, excitement and in hope of a new life in America. The tragedy that unfolded on that maiden voyage is something that we are committed to paying tribute to, even this year, with an overarching emphasis on remembering above all else the tragic loss of life for many of those onboard.”

For more see www.visitcobh.com

* The Titanic Memorial Garden was developed in Cove Fort in 2013 by Cobh Tourism with assistance from SECAD and Cobh Town Council.

press release

COBH MANAGER TAKES HOME TOP HONOUR AT PRIDE OF CENTRA AWARDS

COBH MANAGER MICHELLE TAKES HOME TOP HONOUR AT PRIDE OF CENTRA AWARDS

-Annual Award Ceremony Applauds Centra Employees-

The sixth annual Pride of Centra Awards ceremony took place recently in Dromoland Castle in Co. Clare, where a selection of outstanding Centra employees were honoured for their passion and commitment shown in the workplace this year. There were 54 employees from across the country shortlisted across six categories with Michelle McCarthy, Department Manager of Centra Cobh, Co. Cork, taking home the Department Manager Award but also named as the Overall 2019 Pride of Centra Award winner.  

Presented by Sybil Mulcahy, the Pride of Centra Awards celebrates the dedication and enthusiasm demonstrated by employees. Each of the shortlisted finalists have gone above and beyond their role to emulate the Centra brand values and ensure their store is at the heart of their community. The overall winner was selected from six category winners; Employee Award, Department Manager Award, Store Manager Award, Length of Service Award, Community Champion Award, Outstanding Customer Service Award & Overall Pride of Centra Award 2019.

Commenting on the Pride of Centra Awards, Dan Curtin, Centra Sales Director, said; “These awards were established to recognise and celebrate the incredible individuals who consistently live by the Centra brand values, each and every day. Centra stores operate in the heart of communities across the country and these awards not only provide the opportunity to showcase the amazing work that Centra staff do every day within the store, but also highlight the remarkable and selfless work they do within their local communities. Customers tell us time and time again that the number one driver of shoppers to Centra is our staff and we are proud and grateful for their dedication, commitment and passion for our brand.”

Pride of Centra 2019 Category Winners:

1. Pride of Centra Overall Winner & Department Manager: Michelle McCarthy, from Centra Cobh, Co.Cork
2. Pride of Centra Employee Award, Nikita Kelly, Centra Kells, Co. Louth
3. Pride of Centra Store Manager Award, Connie Lynch, Centra Piltown, Co. Kilkenny
4. Pride of Centra Length of Service Award, Brendan Deane, Centra Belmullet, Co. Mayo
5. Pride of Centra Community Champion Award, Bridget McLaughlin, Centra Moville, Co. Donegal
6. Pride of Centra Outstanding Customer Service Award, Rachel Ellis, Centra Kells, Co. Meath

Commenting in relation to overall winner Michelle McCarthy, Judge Paul Ellison said; “Since joining Murphy’s Centra Cobh, Michelle has helped turn the shop into a local landmark, famous for its fresh food and high-quality service. She is an inspirational leader that has built a fantastic team of staff and created a positive culture through continuously motivating, involving and encouraging all employees of the store. Michelle is loved by all the customers with her wonderful positive attitude, friendliness and enthusiasm and she is hugely involved in the community dedicating her time to many different initiatives and charity events every year. She truly embodies the Pride of Centra Award.”

The 54 finalists represented 19 counties; Dublin, Cork, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford, Donegal, Galway, Clare, Cavan, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Laois, Tipperary, Kildare, Kilkenny, Kerry, Carlow and Offaly. All shortlisted candidates were recognised for their ongoing commitment to their work with community initiatives, charity organisations, customer service and engaging activities in-store.

 press release