Liss Ard Estate joins Relais & Châteaux – the prestigious worldwide family of landmark properties

 press release

Sleep like a king

Liss Ard Estate is delighted to join Relais & Châteaux – the prestigious worldwide family of landmark properties 

Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen, Co. Cork, is delighted to become a member of the prestigious family of landmark Relais & Châteaux properties, just the seventh property in Ireland, and one of only ten new member hotels and the only Irish hotel added to the worldwide association this year.

Established in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of more than 580 landmark hotels and restaurants operated by independent owners who share a passion for authenticity in countless extraordinary destinations.

With member properties in 67 countries, from the Napa Valley vineyards and French Provence to the beaches of the Indian Ocean, from snow-covered high mountain chalets, country houses surrounded by vineyards, gourmet restaurants in the heart of major cities, villas overlooking the sea or perched on the banks of a romantic lake, what makes Relais & Châteaux properties special is both their sheer diversity and their uniqueness. Defined by the values it shares with its members throughout the world, Relais & Châteaux is about authenticity and excellence — in food, in experience, and in culture.

Come on in!

Announcing the new additions on Sunday 9th July, Relais & Châteaux said, “Liss Ard Estate epitomises the enchantment of the Irish countryside. Surrounded by a lush, 163-acre estate, this elegant, Georgian-style mansion is prized for the beauty of its natural surroundings.” Relais & Châteaux also mention the bright, fresh guest rooms with their generous natural light, furnished in modern country style, and the award-winning Garden restaurant, with its menu featuring in-season ingredients, including vegetables grown in Liss Ard Estate’s own organic vegetable garden. 

“During your stay,” continues the entry on new member Liss Ard Estate by Relais & Châteaux, “you can choose to stroll along paths lined with cypresses and century-old Lebanese cedars, go kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding on the serene waters of the private lake, or join an outdoor yoga class followed by a relaxing massage at the wellness centre. The hotel also offers guests a nearly metaphysical experience with its Sky Garden: a giant earth-and-stone crater lined with emerald grass, the work of landscape artist James Turrell, that beckons you to contemplate the heavens and the unique sensation of the earth and sky changing places. This property is also an excellent starting point for exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, going deep within the untamed landscapes of the Irish coast.”

“We are delighted that Liss Ard Estate is officially a member of Relais & Châteaux and to represent such a distinguished membership in our beautiful corner of West Cork,” says Liss Ard Estate General Manager, Alexi Argyris (right)). “It’s fantastic for each team member who made this possible with their incredible work and commitment. It has been a dream to have Liss Ard Estate be part of the Relais & Châteaux family and we are proud to join our sister property in Burgundy, the historic Abbaye de la Bussière, as a member of this prestigious family. We look forward to welcoming guests and showcasing our unique setting, excellent local cuisine and the warmest Irish welcome to guests from near and far through our Relais & Châteaux membership.”

For more information on Liss Ard Estate visit www.lissardestate.ie

A Covid Confused Year Yet Chefs Come Up With Amazing Dishes

 A Covid Confused Year Yett Chefs Come Up With Amazing Dishes 

Fish:

Turbot at Bunnyconnellan's Coastal Restaurant, Myrtleville, Cork

Tuna and Prawns at Oliver Plunkett Bar, Cork City

  John Dory at Liss Ard 

Halibut at Doolin Inn 

Kelly's Oysters at Monks Ballyvaughan

Greene's. Monkfish Carpaccio, with fennel textures, orange and seaweed.

Fish Pie on Scallop Shell at Tom Crean's Basecamp, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Glenbeigh Hotel Seafood Mariniere (salmon, prawns, mussels, white fish)

Mackerel at Greene's

Oysters at Poachers Inn Bandon

Nash19: Hedderman smoked fish plate 

Tandoori Monkfish Carpaccio with a lightly smoked mussel
 and lentil salsa, and pickled samphire at Cornstore

Poultry

Greenes: Chicken breast, carrot purée, pancetta, kale and even with Christmassy bits such as cranberry and Mulled wine jus

Nash19 Chicken Crispy Chicken Confit of Leg with Korean Dressing and Charred Corn 

Cliff House Bar Lunch:
Confit Duck Leg, roast cabbage, celeriac, gratin potato, port sauce

Meat

Jacques: Rump of Lamb, Greek style with Feta

Ferrit & Lee: slow cooked Jameson Featherblade of Beef

Elbow Lane: Blasket Islands Lamb Chops with Feta

Dessert/Pastry/Cake

Passionfruit and White Chocolate Mousse at Holly's Kilkee

Crême Brulée with raspberry at Oliver Plunkett Bar, Cork City

Raspberry at Greene's

Sandwich

Croque Madam on Arbutus Toasted Brioche, with On The Pigs Back Free-Range Glazed Ham, Emmental Cheese and Mornay topped with a Fried Free-Range Egg

The Muffuletta at Ron D's Food Truck Ballydehob 

Breakfast Waffles

Hazelwood Lodge, Ballyvaughan

Superb Dining in “Garden Restaurant” at Liss Ard Estate

Superb Dining in “Garden Restaurant”

 at Liss Ard Estate

John Dory

Garden Restaurant at Liss Ard Estate is quite a splendid venue and the food served up by Alex Petit and his team in the bright and high ceilinged L-shaped dining room is top notch. Because of Covid restrictions it is not at full capacity these days but there is still quite a buzz.

Mackerel

We hadn’t been here for a few years and then the meals were based on local produce. And glad to realise, as we read the menu, that the new owners and the new chef have continued on that trail, with top West Cork producers such as Gubbeen, Skeaghanore and Woodcock featured, along with quite a bit of produce from their own walled garden.

Beef starter

Good to see some local beers on the drinks menu even if the only craft beer on draught was the Lagunitas IPA but then the new owners are American, I’m told. I went on to enjoy a bottle of the West Cork Brewery's “The Rapids” Rye IPA and also the Inchydoney Blonde Belgian Style Wit by Clonakilty Brewery.

We had a choice of five starters or Small Plates as they’re called here. The Wild Atlantic Mackerel (with gooseberry jam, pickled radishes, seaweed and Walled Garden potato salad, and dill oil) was eye-catching and palate pleasing. And the West Cork Beef (12 hours braised beef croquette, smoked aubergine yogurt, charred Walled Garden courgette, chimichurri dressing) was another excellent opener. Other starters on the night were Skeaghanore Duck, West Coast Scallops and the vegetarian Walled Garden Offerings.

Pork Belly

They say: “All dishes are inspired by the seasons, harvested from the garden, coupled with the best of local meat, fish & game to bring you the most authentic West Cork flavours. Garden’s ethos combines; supporting small producers, locally sourced ingredients & farm to fork lifestyle.”

And that’s the way it turned out over the enjoyable evening. Five main courses were reduced to four from early in the evening as the Bantry Bay Lamb had sold out. My pick was the Free Range Rosscarbery Pork Belly (Thai spices, roasted turnips, peanut rayu, and fresh apple salsa) a flavoursome and slightly spicy combination and enhanced by a shared side dish of really excellent potatoes.

CL meanwhile was delighted with her Wild Atlantic John Dory. The quality of the fish was certainly respected here by the kitchen and, cooked over charcoal, with Walled Garden beets, dukkha crumb, saffron aioli and on Woodcock smoked mackerel and tomato purée, it proved to be a gem of a dish. West Cork Fillet of Beef and the vegetarian Walled Garden Carrots were other mains available.

There was a hiccup with the service but the faux pas was quickly acknowledged and corrected and indeed, free desserts and coffee were offered. Just room for one dessert though and that was  their own strawberries (white chocolate parfait, caramelised pecan nuts, edible flowers, lemongrass and lime leaf syrup). Smooth and sweet and all’s well that ends well. Other desserts on offer were Dark Chocolate Crèmeux, Walled Garden Rhubarb, Café Gourmand, and West Cork Cheeseboard.

Woodland shortcut back to rooms,
lit up after dinner

After that, we resisted a call to the splendid and comfortable bar and headed off on our 8-minute spotlit walk through the woods to our room at the Lake Lodge. As the name suggests it is at the edge of the lake and has great views over it. It includes six of the estate’s “ 25 oversized guest rooms”. Our room was not one of them; we knew that as it is named “Cozy”. 

Quite a lot of money is being spent at Liss Ard and I’m sure some will find its way to the lodge. If you can’t do without your mobile, this lodge is not for you; the signal is bad, sometimes non existent and the Wi-Fi is not great either, certainly not in Cozy!

The main building, where the restaurant and bar is situated, is quite impressive and here the Wi-fi is fine. You have 163 acres of pristine nature and manicured gardens to explore, a 40 acre private lake to paddle on and it is also home to James Turrell’s renowned Irish Sky Garden.

Breakfast in The Garden

We visited the Sky Garden after breakfast which was taken in the Garden Restaurant. Again, Covid regulations were adhered to, which wasn’t the case in a 5-star hotel in Kerry last summer. There was no buffet but a good mix of cereals and juice and breads was brought to the table on a sharing board and there was a decent choice of cooked dishes to order from.

Weather wasn't the best this June,
so I've pulled out this pic of the lake from Spring 2013 visit.

We were both inclined to go for the pancakes but they were off. Still, I absolutely enjoyed my second choice of Eggs Benedict, perfectly cooked and presented. CL, who picked the Real Beans on Toast (slowly cooked beans in a rich tomato sauce, avocado & tomato salsa, poached West Cork egg, herb oil) was also very well pleased indeed. Other dishes listed included Creamy Porridge, Gubbeen Continental Plate, Union Hall Smoked Kippers and the Full Irish (of course!).

We had visited the Sky Garden eight years back but it still managed to surprise us. After that stroll, we packed the cases, settled up and headed a little deeper into the misty west on the search for Ron D’s Food Truck in Ballydehob!

Swing seat at The Lodge overlooks the lake.

Also on this trip:

Ron D's Food Truck Ballydehob

Visiting the home of Clonakilty Black Pudding

Dining at Liss Ard

Dining at Liss Ard

Visited Liss Ard Estate near Skibbereen for the first time recently and decided to join a few of the other residents for dinner in the main house. Head Chef Cliona McCarthy uses lots of produce from local suppliers including Caherbeg, Gubbeen, Glenilen and Sally Barnes. The food on the table is, as they say themselves, “simple uncomplicated food bursting with freshness and flavours”.  It is also fairly priced.

We started off with two salads (7.50). My pick was the Caherbeg Crispy Bacon and Potato Salad. Some really fresh leaves here with excellent flavour from both the bacon and potato. It was much the same with CL’s Warm Chicken Salad with Glenilen Yoghurt and Mint Dressing, another very simple yet satisfactory plateful.

You don’t have a great choice here but there is no shortage of quality in the five starters and five main courses. We both settled on the same mains: Roast Union Hall Cod with Lemon Herb Butter and a Mussel Risotto (about 18/19 euro). This was as fresh as you’d expect and the risotto was really well executed.

The wine list is also rather short but appropriate to the demands on the restaurant and again there is quality there. We certainly enjoyed our Main a Main Chardonnay from the Pays d’Oc, unoaked with a gorgeous gold/yellow colour, fresh and fruity and a balancing citrus zest, all for €25.00.

The evening’s dessert was a New Season’s Rhubarb Fool with homemade shortbread (6.50). Again, quite a simple dish but delicious.

Service was excellent at dinner but more hit and miss at breakfast time (two bookable sittings 8.45 and 9.45). For instance, you do have to make your own toast. No big imposition but the toaster (and remember you can have maybe more than twenty people in the room) is your ordinary domestic two slice job and the bread slices are supplied in drips and drabs. So you may have to visit the hall more than once and then be lucky to have bread and access to the toaster at the same time.

Some of you might like to know that there is no bar here. But they do have an “honour bar” from which you may help yourself to a bottle of beer or wine and sign for it on the nearby blackboard!

The estate itself is huge with many woodlands paths that lead you to different features such as the Water Gardens and a Wild Flower Meadow, both of which will probably look better in another month or so. By the way, there is a unique long term approach at work here with the gardens as a whole  expected to reach maturity in thirty to fifty years time!

 The main feature of course is the Irish Sky Garden, also growing and developing, where you’ll experience the giant earth and stone works, The Crater, by famed artist James Turrell, with its contemplative 'Vault Purchase' or plinth (below) at its centre.

                                                    

There is also a large lake in the grounds, used for various sports including canoeing and fishing. We stayed in the Lodge that overlooks this lake. So too did a ten strong group who had exclusive access to the lounge there. If we needed to lounge (we didn’t really), we'd have had to travel up to the main house (either by car or by a pleasant short walk through the woods). You also have to "travel" for breakfast and dinner but we knew that!

 One other handicap in the Lodge (some may not regard it as such) is the lack of a decent signal for your mobile phone – even our receptionist who showed us our splendid room there had to go back to the main house to check something out because she had no reception. Needless to say, the Wi-Fi, available in the main house, doesn’t extend to the lodge. Ideal, if you want to get away from it all!

There is a lot going on in Liss Ard even though driving up the bumpy main driveway, you might be wondering what you are letting yourself in for. But there is a philosophy at work here, allowing you to experience the “beauty, wonder and tranquillity of Irish Nature”. We did see a fox running along the same driveway!

See also Stunning West Cork in yesterday's sunshine.