Showing posts with label K O'Connell Fish Merchants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label K O'Connell Fish Merchants. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Kate's back in town. Find the top chef at O'Connell Fishmongers in Dunne's Stores.

Kate’s back in town. Find the top chef at 

O'Connell Fishmongers in Dunne's Stores


Kate Lawlor is back in town. You’ll find the former chef/patron of 5 Fenns Quay in the kitchen of Kay O’Connor’s Fish Merchants in the heart of the impressively laid out new food hall in Dunne’s Stores Patrick Street. 


Renowned fishmonger Pat O’Connell is delighted to have the experienced Kate head up the team for this new venture for Dunnes. Here, you may buy your hot dish from Kate, pay for it at the dedicated payment desk and then take it to one of the many seats and tables around the food hall.


That’s just what I did on my first visit last Wednesday. As you can imagine, there are fish all the way here, from oysters and crab to salmon and cod. There is a regular menu, but do also watch for the specials. Dishes can also be packaged for takeout.



Another recent offer is Monkfish Nuggets with tonkatsu sauce, rice, wilted greens and toasted sesame seeds (all for 12 euros); throw in a side of chips for 4 euros, and you have dinner. Their Fish Plate, with smoked salmon included, is another worth looking out for. And if you are in a rush and want a sandwich, then try their Smoked Salmon Sandwich and/or the Prawn Cocktail Sandwich (7.50 euro each).


I picked from the specials board and was delighted with my Seafood and Pasta special. Delicious prawns and freshly made pasta made for quite a lunch. Eye-catching, too, as a lady passing asked about it and immediately went to the counter and ordered one for herself! 


In addition to the new outlet in Dunne’s, O’Connell’s has recently established Kay’s Kitchen in their English Market space, where Martina and Darren will look after you. Check out their superb Fish Box!

Menu at ABC Bread


After the pasta, I was thinking about supper. My eye had been caught by the colourful Sushi Gourmet stall down to my left, and I headed there and, indeed, spent quite a bit of time trying to make up my mind! There’s a great choice, and they were constantly bringing out new selections. In the end, I went for the Salmon Make Mixed (slices of salmon on pillows of rice, salmon sushi rolls, and vegetable sushi rolls with fried onions), all for €7.25 with free sachets of ginger, wasabi and soya sauce.


Need something to drink? No bother, just head over to the large Chilled Drinks cabinet and take your pick. Just be sure to get all your food and drink together, which will mean just one visit to the payment desk.


The new food hall is large, and there are quite a few traders around the perimeter, including Baxter and Green (deli, self-service salad bar, pizza and more), a rotisserie, and Sheridan’s Cheese (offering toasted sandwiches). 


If you want just a slice of toast and jam and a cuppa, why not try ABC bread? They have a variety of breads for you to try and can top your toast with jam, lemon curd, peanut butter, honey, marmalade or marmite, and butter of course. Robert Roberts Filter Coffee and Barry’s Tea are also available. Just add a croissant and enjoy your break!


Monday, February 3, 2025

January Dining In Summary. Good Hood and The Wine Tavern at St Luke's and K. O'Connell's in Dunnes Stores

January Dining. Good Hood,  The Wine Tavern at St Luke's and K. O'Connell's in Dunnes Stores

Good Times Roll at The Wine Tavern St Luke's


The Wine Tavern at St Luke's, a family-run establishment, has been a local favourite for years, known for its warm welcome, relaxed atmosphere, and focus on wine and tapas. The Tavern aims to provide a social dining experience for individuals or groups. 

A highlight of the Wine Tavern is their sharing board, a generous platter featuring Cashel Blue cheese, smoked cheddar, brie, spiced beef, serrano ham, chorizo, roasted almonds, pickles, and homemade dips. It's a perfect accompaniment to their wine selection. Beyond the sharing board, the menu offers a variety of tapas, including the highly recommended Crispy potatoes with Garlic butter and Parmesan cubes, a delicious alternative to standard chips or Patatas Bravas. Full review here.


Tapas, Pizza, and Service: A Winning Formula at Good Hood


Good Hood, a new restaurant at St Luke's Cross, has quickly gained popularity with its winning combination of tapas and pizzas. 

Headed by Colin Ryan, known for Hansum Rotisserie Chicken and Paperboys Café, and partnered with Ciarán O'Regan of Dublin’s Rita's Pizzeria, Good Hood is focused on delivering quality food and service, leading to a strong initial success. The restaurant's popularity is evident in its consistently full house, with reservations recommended.

Until its expected drinks license arrives, Good Hood encourages patrons to bring their own beverages from the nearby off-license, providing glasses and waiving any corkage fee. They anticipate obtaining a drinks license soon and adding dessert options in the near future. The pizzas are a highlight, with options like the Diego, featuring tomato, mozzarella, garlic, oregano, anchovies, and capers. The menu also includes other creative pizza options like the Hunted Hog, Hay Pesto, and the Cheek of It.

Beyond pizzas, Goodhood offers a selection of tapas-style sharing plates, including highly recommended dishes like the Beef Cheek with crispy potato terrine and Pecorino Romano, and the Beets on Goats with beetroot, blackberries, goat’s cheese, and chive oil.  Full review here


Kate's back in town at O'Connell Fishmongers


Chef Kate Lawlor, formerly of 5 Fenns Quay, has returned to the Cork culinary scene, now heading up the kitchen at Kay O'Connell's Fish Merchants within the new food hall in Dunne's Stores on Patrick Street. This collaboration between renowned fishmonger Pat O'Connell and Lawlor offers a variety of fresh seafood dishes, from oysters and crab to salmon and cod, with both a regular menu and daily specials. Customers can purchase their hot meals and enjoy them at the seating provided within the food hall or opt for convenient takeout.

The menu features diverse options like Monkfish Nuggets with tonkatsu sauce and rice, a Fish Plate with smoked salmon, and sandwiches such as Smoked Salmon and Prawn Cocktail. Lawlor's culinary skills are evident in dishes like the Seafood and Pasta special. In addition to its new Dunnes Stores location, O'Connell's also operates Kay's Kitchen in the English Market, offering a "Fish Box" and other seafood delights. Full review here.


Thursday, August 24, 2023

Greenwich Café Brunch A Perfect Finalé To Cork On A Fork Festival

Greenwich Café Brunch A Perfect Finalé To Cork On A Fork Festival



Eggs Royale: O'Connell's Smoked Salmon, Poached East Ferry Farm Eggs and Hollandaise sauce. The best Eggs Royale I've tasted in a long long time and Evin (of Brunch Cork), at the table with us, agreed. The ingredients were superb. The smoked salmon was a light and delightful surprise, so much better than what you get in many hotel breakfasts, you know those that come with a punchy aroma that dominates everything else on the plate.


Greenwich café chef patron Dermot O'Sullivan supports local all year round at the popular Caroline Street venue. So it was no big surprise to see him do it again with his Cork on a Fork Brunch special last Sunday, fittingly entitled "A Celebration of The English Market with Kinsale Gin". No surprise either to see the event sell out. 

It was quite a gin weekend for us and
the Kinsale version kept up the
standard in this welcome G&T
just after arrival.






CL enjoyed her tasty plate of Irish mushrooms on Pana sourdough toast, Parmesan shavings and slow-roasted tomatoes with basil pesto. Again the ingredients were key. The mushrooms and tomatoes were packed full of flavour and there was no shortage of moisture to soften the sourdough crust. Thumbs up again!

We had recently enjoyed the third dish on this special menu and knew the Strawberry Crumble Challah Bread French Toast using challah bread from The Alternative Bread Company, new season Irish strawberries, whipped mascarpone and oat crumble / or Rosscarbery bacon with maple syrup is another gem from the little kitchen here.

French Toast (from a previous visit)
is a regular on the menu here

Felicity Roberts of the Greenwich team heading to the sunny terrace
during last Sunday's A Taste of The English Market Brunch
 with Kinsale Gin during Cork on a Fork Fest. 
Pic: Joleen Cronin.

Supporting local is ingrained here in Greenwich. Just check out all the local names on the regular menu below.















Sunday, May 9, 2021

Roughty Foodie - K. O’Connell Fish - Izz Cafe - Bradleys - Neighbourfood - Dungarvan Brewing. Supporting Local. Make It A DailyHabit

Roughty Foodie - K. O’Connell Fish - Izz Cafe - Bradleys - Neighbourfood - Dungarvan Brewing

Supporting Local. Make It A Daily Habit!



Lots of us are on Click and Collect these days, supporting our local restaurant, grocer, baker and supermarket. It’s easy to do once you have the hang of the technology or a son or daughter or grandchild to help out.

But it doesn’t always have to be a “big meal” at home. Budgets have to be met. In a city like Cork, well served by the English Market, various farmers markets and a string of independent grocers, it is easy enough to vary the offering, leaving room for the odd treat and still not break the bank. There is a bit of legwork involved of course but that has the benefit of meeting people and enjoying the conversations, even through the mask.


I know you each have your preferences (and particular treats) but this is what I did last Thursday and Friday. No walks involved with the first dish as the Musakhan was delivered via Neighbourfood on Wednesday evening. The Musakhan? You may well ask.

Well it is a dish from the Palestinian Izz Café on Georges Quay, consisting of local fresh Irish chicken breast, cooked with cardamom, red onions and Palestinian sumac in extra Virgil olive oil. They bake the vibrant mix on traditional dough. It is garnished with pomegranate seeds and served with a delicious yogurt dip. It is a delicious meal all round. One costs €10.50 and we shared it at lunch on Thursday. And there’s a lot more to be explored on the Izz menu!

Friday morning, we were in the English Market, heading for the O’Connell fish stall. We were in good form, lining up a treat for ourselves. John Dory, known as St Peter’s Fish around Venice (though you’ll get a different species, called Tilapia if you ask for St Peter’s Fish in Galilee). They had some on the counter and fourteen euro later we had our catch.


But what would we use with it? Minutes after, while chatting to Margo Ann at the Roughty Foodie, I saw the answer: a three euro bundle of fresh asparagus! The vegetable (I'm not sprayed!) and superbly fresh and flavoursome fish went down a treat at dinner.


On up to Bradleys then for bread and jam and a few other basics. I was primarily on the lookout though for the newly canned beers from Dungarvan Brewery and scored the full hat trick here. Looking forward to trying them very soon!

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Taste of the Week. Cajun Salmon from K O'Connell Fish

 Taste of the Week.

Cajun Salmon from K O'Connell Fish

O'Connell's Cajun Salmon with our Cajun Salad

Isn't it great that so many Irish butchers and fishmongers are more and more giving extra choice just like the French traiteurs. Our latest such purchase was a couple of hefty salmon fillets from O'Connell's Fish Stall in the market, both looking well in their coat of Cajun sauce. And, just to reassure you in case you don't like things too spicy, the O'Connell sauce is mild (but tasty!).

We added a bit of oomph to it ourselves, thanks to the Official Blog Chef remembering a Cajun Salad recipe from an old Reader's Digest Cookbook. Peppers, red onions and celery were involved. We didn't have everything on the list. No Tabasco, for instance. But that was very satisfactorily replaced with a dash of the excellent Dr Trouble Sauce from Zimbabwe. And the result was an warming dish in the middle of winter and our Taste of the Week.


K O'Connell Fish Merchants

English Market, Cork.

Email Address: Freshfish@eircom.net

Contact number: 021 427 6380

Facebook: K O’Connell Fish Merchants

Instagram: K O’Connell Fish Merchants

Twitter: @Pattheenglishmarket