Celebrate Mothering Sunday with a chic brunch in the elegant setting of The River Lee

 Press Releases #hotelsspring25

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Celebrate Mothering Sunday with a chic brunch in the elegant setting of The River Lee

Part of the luxury Irish hotel group The Doyle Collection, The River Lee is a touch of glamour in the heart of Cork city, and the perfect setting for an afternoon spent honouring and cherishing the wonderful mothers and mother figures in your life.

 

Running from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on Sunday March 30th, in the sparkling setting of The Mirror Room with its panoramic windows facing out onto the river. The three-course Mother’s Day brunch begins with a complimentary welcome cocktail upon arrival, with live music setting the tone for a lovely, leisurely afternoon.

 

Begin with a granola pot with fruit compote and then choose from a selection of dishes created using the finest local produce, including crayfish and crab linguini with baby spinach, roast vine tomatoes, and a creamy Parmesan sauce, or buttermilk chicken waffles topped with sriracha sauce and maple-glazed bacon. There’s the brunch classic of eggs Benedict with Gubbeen chorizo, Riverview poached eggs, and hollandaise on a toasted muffin, an English Market quiche with dressed rocket, and a fresh vegetarian option of Coolea cheese & charred corn fritters with hummus, chilli crisp, and lime dressing. Desserts include a rich chocolate tart with cassis sorbet or delicious confit rhubarb and orange sorbet paired alongside a baked vanilla cheesecake, each as sweet as the ladies you’ve gathered to celebrate. For the little ones, there will also be a 3-course children’s menu available with beef burgers, chicken tenders and of course a sweet treat at the end.

 

Tickets cost €60 per person and include the three-course brunch and a complimentary welcome cocktail. If you wanted to make a weekend of it, room rates start at €275 per night for that weekend. To book your ticket to Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday March 30th visit www.sevenrooms.com

 

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Bottomless Brunch this Easter at 

The Limerick Strand Hotel

Hop into Easter with a celebratory  Hoppy Hour Bottomless Brunch at The River Bar & Restaurant, Limerick Strand Hotel!  Join the fun with a delicious celebration featuring bottomless prosecco and stellar food on Saturday, April 12th, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

 

Savour delectable brunch options such as Eggs Benedict, Pancakes topped with Fresh Berries, and Chicken and Waffles, all skilfully crafted by Executive Chef Paddy Anslow and his exceptional team. This is a great chance to spend quality moments with loved ones—be sure to join this lively Easter celebration, complete with scrumptious food and refreshing beverages!   The complete menu is HERE.

 

The Hoppy Hour Bottomless Brunch costs €50 per person and features entertainment from our Duracell Bunny House DJ. Additionally, consider trying their exclusive Hoppy Hour Easter Cocktail as an add-on!

 

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EGGS-PLORE A LITTLE MORE THIS EASTER

CRACKING GOOD VALUE FOR ALL THE FAMILY AT 4* LIMERICK STRAND HOTEL

Overnight break from €125 per adult sharing

PACKAGE OVERVIEW 

-Overnight Package Includes Family Room Accommodation (2 Adults & 2 Kids Ur 12 Yrs) 
-Family breakfast

-Easter Egg on arrival for the children
-Complimentary access to Energize Health Centre 
-Kids Under 12 Dine Free in The River Bar & Restaurant with every adult main course purchased

 

Instagram: @limerickstrandhotel Facebook: @LimerickStrandHotel www.strandlimerick.ie

 

Hop over to Limerick Strand Hotel this Easter for some wholesome family fun and enjoy their overnight “Eggs-plore a Little More” experience running throughout the Easter holidays.

The overnight package includes family room accommodation (two adults and two children under 12 years), an award-winning breakfast for all the family, and a welcome Easter egg for the kids. Children under 12 can dine for FREE! (This includes a free main course for every adult main course purchased.) Hotel guests also have complimentary access to the Energize Health Centre, which includes a 20-metre swimming pool, sauna, and jacuzzi. The overnight break costs from € 250 per family.

Why not book an Easter Sunday Lunch at The River Restaurant & Bar for families arriving to stay on Easter Sunday? It’s popular for those seeking a memorable and entertaining afternoon with exceptional food and service. On Sunday, 20th April, they will offer a delicious 4-course Lunch Buffet where you will be warmly welcomed with a glass of bubbly and a visit from the Easter Bunny, who will hop around delivering chocolate eggs to all the children. Reservations are available from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday (pre-booking is essential) and include a glass of Prosecco on arrival for adults and an Easter egg for children. It costs €39 per adult and €18.50 per child, and kids under 5 years old can dine for free!

Families can easily explore Limerick city on foot or hire a bike and take advantage of the green spaces along the Shannon riverbank or go further afield and explore the beautiful wooden trails and parks, which include Curraghchase Forest Park, Ballyhoura Mountain Trails & Limerick Greenway. During Easter, the city and environs will host a series of activities, including the fun Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt in Croom on April 18^th. The city is packed with historic places of interest, activities, cultural hot spots, and great food stops including the famous Milk Market and the hotel offers a complimentary range of walking, running, and cycling map routes for hotel guests and are happy to provide suggested driving itineraries if guests fancy venturing a little further for a day trip as Limerick is the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way.   They also offer EXCLUSIVE GUEST DISCOUNTS for various local attractions and activities.

If you fancy staying by the edge, then Limerick is the perfect base to explore the beauty of the region, plus the hotel is beautifully perched overlooking the majestic River Shannon, blessed with superb facilities, warm and attentive staff plus award-winning food, making it the perfect place for an urban escape or an ideal base for exploring the incredible surrounds of the Wild Atlantic Way 

To make a reservation, call 061 421800 or hello@strandlimerick.ie . For more details, please visit www.strandlimerick.ie. 

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MOTHERING SUNDAY AT 

THE LIMERICK STRAND HOTEL

 

  Treat your mother like the queen she is on Sunday, March 20^th, at the multi-award-winning Limerick Strand Hotel, where you are guaranteed a stress-free and relaxing day.   The exclusive Mother’s Day Sunday Buffet Lunch is a gorgeous affair, where you’ll receive a warm welcome from the friendly and dedicated staff and enjoy a delicious feast in the gorgeous surroundings of the River Restaurant & Bar with stunning riverside views.

The buffet Sunday lunch includes a welcoming glass of bubbles on arrival and four-course options.  Your mum will also receive a special gift and will be able to take advantage of free on-site car parking.  The Mother’s Day Buffet Lunch experience costs €39 per adult and €18.50 per child, with kids under five dining for free with a child-friendly menu on offer.

Alternatively, you can treat your mum to a relaxing Afternoon Tea in the heart of Limerick City at the Limerick Strand Hotel. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious afternoon with views of the River Shannon. Indulge in a three-tiered platter of exquisite finger sandwiches complemented by freshly baked warm scones, clotted cream and jam, and a selection of afternoon tea pastries and treats. The Limerick Strand wholeheartedly supports all things local and is always in search of new suppliers while aiding small artisan producers. They have crafted a bespoke Limerick Afternoon Tea in collaboration with the iconic Cahill’s Tea, Limerick’s oldest shop, nestled in the historic tobacco factory on Wickham Street in Limerick City.

It is available daily from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and costs €34.50 per person. Children’s Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed for €16.95 per child.

To make a reservation, please visit www.strandlimerick.ie or contact 061 421800 or hello@strandlimerick.ie for assistance.

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CORK INTERNATIONAL HOTEL LAUNCHES SPRING MENU TO SHOWCASE SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS

At the launch: L-R Eoghan Murphy, General Manager, Edel Kavanagh, Deputy General Manager and Executive Head Chef, Paul Ryan. Photo: Brian Lougheed

The Cork International Hotel has launched a new Spring menu with a special emphasis on reducing food waste.

A number of dishes have been created to contribute to the hotel’s Zero Food Waste targets and these are identified by a special symbol on the menu. One of the key measures is sourcing ingredients from local suppliers and these are highlighted on a map which is printed on the menu.

Locally sourced produce and sustainability have always been a key consideration for the team at the Cork International Hotel. As part of the Trigon Hotel Group, along with the Metropole Hotel, they launched a Food Charter last year which aims to combat food waste and bolster sustainability efforts. As a result, the hotels have reduced the amount of food waste by 12.5% or four tonnes so far.

Among the 10 commitments outlined in the charter is to monitor all waste and its source and use every element of a product where suitable. They have designed no-waste dishes by creating specific meals which do not generate organic or non-organic by-product waste.

The team has always been committed to using seasonality and supporting local suppliers including McCarthy Meats in Cork City, Waterfall Farm Vegetables, Allshire Meats in West Cork, Glenmar Seafood in Union Hall and Clóna Ltd. Dairy Products in Clonakilty.

Executive Head Chef at Cork International Hotel, Paul Ryan, said: “We are committed to reducing our footprint and this menu is a reflection of the overall vision of the hotel group. We have a wonderful community of top class food producers and suppliers which we are delighted to work with. As a team we are working hard to reduce food waste and we have created a number of dishes on the menu to speak to that. By choosing those options, you are helping us on our journey working towards a more sustainable future. We look forward to welcoming diners and them trying our dishes.”

A sample menu includes: 

Levantine Falafel - Preserved Apricot Salsa, Houmous, Raita Dressing, Toasted Almonds

New York Inspired Chicken Wings - House Hot Sauce and Cashel Blue Cheese Dip

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Tagliatelle Pasta - Oyster Mushroom & New Season Spinach, Parmesan Cream, Truffled Gremolata

Roast striploin of Irish Beef  - Thyme Roasted Baby Potatoes, Butternut Squash Puree, Charred Broccolini, Rich Red Wine Jus.

Wild Atlantic Fish and Chips - Crispy Battered Fresh Local Haddock, Tartar Sauce,

House Pea Purée, & French Fries

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Brooklyn’s Famous Black Out Cake - Chocolate Génoise, Amarena Cherries, Candied Hazelnuts, Chantilly Cream, Caramelised White Chocolate

Rhubarb & Almond Delice - First of the Season Rhubarb & Vanilla Compote, Apple Cider Jelly, Almond Streusel

General Manager of Cork International Hotel, Eoghan Murphy, said: “Our team of chefs, led by Paul, have designed a really exciting menu which reflects the hotel’s ethos of reducing food waste and supporting local suppliers. Each dish has been designed using the freshest ingredients and we look forward to inviting our customers to the New Yorker for lunch or dinner throughout the Spring and beyond.”

The restaurant opens daily 12pm - 9.30pm and reservations can be made online at https://www.corkinternationalairporthotel.com/dining/make-a-reservation-online/

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An evening with Emanuele Rocca of Dezzani and Podere don Cataldo Wineries in 

The Grill Room at The River Lee 

The River Lee is delighted to present the next in its series of wine dinners, welcoming Emanuele Rocca  (right) of Dezzani and Podere don Cataldo Wineries to the sophisticated surroundings of The Grill Room on Thursday, 27th March at 7pm.

An opportunity to sample some of the stellar wines from Angelo Rocca & Figli, a respected Italian family company founded in 1880, this dynamic and successful business produces wines from the renowned Italian regions of Puglia and Piedmont. 

Podere Don Cataldo is a 100-hectare estate in the heart of Salento, in Puglia, with a focus on traditional regional varieties, and Dezzani is a niche historical cellar in Monferrato, Piedmont, where the emphasis is particularly on Barbera.

In partnership with ENO Wine, Emanuele Rocca of Dezzani and Podere don Cataldo, the fifth generation of his family in the business, will introduce the wines on the night of Thursday, 27th March, with a menu designed to complement the selection created by Executive Head Chef Paul Lane. 

Beginning with cheese gougères and a glass of Vermentino, Podere Don Cataldo 2023, Salento, the dinner begins with a Ballycotton scallop ceviche, yuzu and avocado emulsion paired with Cortese, Dezzani 2023 Gavi, Piedmont. Slow-cooked pork belly with a spiced mushroom ketchup is matched with a Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Dezzani 2021, Piedmont, and this is followed by roast West Cork Wagyu fillet steak, with carrot, salsa verde, baby turnip and foie jus, partnered by Primitivo, Podere Don Cataldo 2022, Salento.

To finish, a selection of fine local Cork cheese with fig jam and lavash crackers is accompanied by Nebbiolo, Dezzani ‘San Carlo’ 2018 Barolo, Piedmont, and followed by petits fours and tea or coffee.

Tickets for the Dezzani and Podere don Cataldo wine dinners in association with ENO Wine are available from March 3rd from www.sevenrooms.com and cost €95.

An unmissable wine dinner with Giacomo Boscaini of Masi Wines at The River Lee

 

An unmissable wine dinner with Giacomo Boscaini of Masi Wines at The River Lee

 

 

The River Lee, in partnership with Findlater & Co., presents an exclusive wine dinner with Giacomo Boscaini of Masi Wines, a seventh-generation winemaker of the

All Happening at the River Lee. Afternoon Tea, Harvest Carriage, Jazz Fest

All Happening at the River Lee

Afternoon Tea, Harvest Carriage, Jazz Fest

Petite pieces of finesse and elegance, crowned by this quartet of sweet sensations.
Congrats to the team here as their Afternoon Tea has been awarded best in Munster.

Always a buzz around the River Club in the River Lee. Even more so at present as the riverside hotel steps up another gear - no standing still around here. Latest highlights include a splendid Afternoon Tea and the Harvest Carriage. 

And, for the October Bank Holiday, between the Club and the River Room, there’s a score and more jazz slots, all free, a whole lot of fun from 5.00pm on Friday until 7.00pm on Monday. The excellent New York Brass Band will be here everyday. They are superbly entertaining and watch out too for the Art Crimes Band. But there is something for everyone. Check it all out here 

We were in for the Afternoon Tea last Friday but we also had a look at the Harvest Carriage. The what? Did you know that a three-foot narrow gauge train-line ran from Cork City to Blarney from the late 19th century until it finally ceased service in 1934.

The Harvest Carriage

The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway brought pleasure-seeking tourists from the city to the countryside and ran right through where the River Club now stands. This was the very site of the old Western Road station – in fact you can still see the remnants of the train tracks just under the terrace of the adjoining Grill Room restaurant and two stumps of supporting columns stand in the river outside!

These days, the riverside terrace has been decorated to evoke the good old days of train travel, not so much on the Cork and Muskerry, more like the luxury continental lines. The River Club, in partnership with Fever-Tree mixers, is offering a selection of cocktails to while away the “journey”.

And we started with one! Since we had been assigned to drive the express, the drink had to be non alcoholic. And our host, Pierce Lowney, General Manager, had just the ticket. A seasonal one, based on the refreshing and spiced Seed-Lip, with ginger beer and their own apple and pear cordial. Now, after that delicious Amuse Bouche, blow that whistle and check out the dining carriage for that superb tea.

River Club Bar

The menu follows the traditional three parts: savoury, scones and sweet, all tempting. Four finger sandwiches were Curry Spiced Coronation Chicken, Cucumber and Chive Glenilen Cream Cheese, Focaccia with sun-dried tomato and basil hummus and my favourite Dressed Ballycotton Crab on homemade Guinness brown bread.

The influence of Modern Botany was seen in the very tempting Bramley Apple and Flax Financier in the scone plate and in the sweets as well. There was Camomile and Honey Carrageen Moss pudding, Orange and Polenta Cake with calendula mousseline cream, Earl Grey Chocolate Choux Bun and a joint favourite Pineapple and Coriander Green Tea Tartlet.

We choose the House Tea here, Barry’s Gold Blend, to start with and when that pot was finished I switched to one of the Ronnefeldt Loose Leaf Teas, the delicious balanced Early Grey. And they had more to offer including an Irish Whiskey Cream tea! Coffees too of course.

Speaking of balance, I think that this was one of the best balanced Afternoon Tea menus I’ve enjoyed, not too heavy at all, even that green tea tartlet in the desserts is quite light. So, feeling nicely fed than overly so, off we headed on a leisurely walk downtown. No train going that way now.

Plants and flowers, both wild and cultivated, are at the heart of Modern Botany’s approach to skincare, using the best natural botanical ingredients to promote skin health, including flax, calendula, borage and chamomile. 

These same plants and herbs all feature in this Modern Botany Afternoon Tea at The River Lee. The company is based in Schull and draws on the botanical richness of the Wild Atlantic Way to create their products. And, if you are an Afternoon Tea customer, you’ll get a gift of a Modern Botany travel size gift.  

The River Lee Hotel  

Western Road

Cork

A very modern Afternoon Tea at The River Lee

press release

A very modern Afternoon Tea at The River Lee, in partnership with Ireland’s leading luxury skin health brand, Modern Botany

Modern Botany is Ireland’s leading luxury skin health brand, based in Schull in beautiful west Cork, along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The River Lee introduces a very modern Afternoon Tea in partnership with Modern Botany, an elegant celebration of some of the botanical richness of the Wild Atlantic Way which this contemporary Irish success story has incorporated into its exclusive series of exceptional products.

Plants and flowers, both wild and cultivated, are at the heart of Modern Botany’s approach to skincare, using the best natural botanical ingredients to promote skin health, including flax, calendula, borage and chamomile. These same plants and herbs all feature in this Modern Botany Afternoon Tea at The River Lee. 

Get a feel for the flavours of the Wild Atlantic Way without leaving the comfort of your armchair, as the exquisite top tier sweet treats include the selected Modern Botany ingredients, in a chamomile & honey Carrageen moss pudding, calendula mousseline cream and a Bramley apple & flax financier.

Starting with a surprise amuse bouche, Modern Botany Afternoon Tea also celebrates the best of Cork produce in classic finger sandwiches like curry spiced coronation chicken, cucumber & chive Glenilen Farm cream cheese, and dressed Ballycotton crab on homemade Guinness brown bread, along with a selection of handmade scones and tea cakes served with luscious Glenilen Farm clotted cream and fruit preserves. 

It wouldn’t be an afternoon tea without a proper tea, so all Modern Botany Afternoon Teas at The River Lee are served with the house tea – Barry’s Gold Blend, a blend from the finest tea gardens of Rwanda, Kenya and the Assam Valley of India, and famous for its rich golden colour and much-loved taste. Barry’s Tea is one of Cork’s most famous exports, and one of which locals are supremely proud. There’s also a selection of Ronnefeldt loose leaf teas from which to choose, as well as a coffee menu.

Modern Botany Afternoon Tea is available daily from 12-5pm in The Cocktail Bar in the lobby of The River Lee, the ideal spot for an afternoon tea with a sophisticated and refined nature. The space is a glamorous take on a mid-century cocktail bar with a handmade mahogany bar topped with white marble counter, plush velvet seating and rich textures. 

Modern Botany Afternoon Tea is a tempting tea with a distinct botanical slant and is available for €35 per person. Prosecco Afternoon Tea is available for €43 per person and Champagne Afternoon Tea for €50 per person. Pioneers in natural beauty with a firm focus on quality, Modern Botany make the perfect partner for The River Lee and, an extra treat, each guest will also receive a complimentary and exclusive Modern Botany travel-size gift.

To book, call 021 4937772 

A Smooth Vermouth Lesson at Dalcassian Tasting. Much More Too!

A Smooth Vermouth Lesson at Dalcassian Tasting. 
Much More Too! 

Vermouth? Do you know any? You probably do. Perhaps the best known is Martini, made in a number of styles. And then there’s Cinzano. Vermouth may be used as an aperitif. And widely used in cocktails, most notably perhaps in Negroni (usually a mix of equal parts of gin, Campari and sweet red vermouth). Many are produced in Turin but can come from all over. Quite a few are made in Spain and even the venerable Lustau sherry company produce a few.

I got something of a lesson in this particular drink at the very impressive Dalcassian wine and spirits portfolio tasting in the River Lee Hotel last week where the Cocchi firm displayed their range for tasting. They are based in Asti, about an hour’s drive from Turin, and have been making vermouth since 1891. Vermouth is based on wine and is essentially an aromatised wine to which sugar, herbs, spices and other ingredients like gentian, cinchona, wormwood and bitter orange peels have been added.

Our first taste was their Americano which has an abv of 16 degrees. The name “Americano” is both due to the alcohol made bitter (“amaricato”) by the addition of herbs and spices and to the American habit of drinking vermouth with ice and soda. I’ve read too it was rebranded for the American ex-pats - Ernest Hemingway was a noted fan of the drink - who came to love it during Prohibition.

Rosé from Provence

Cocchi have been making this since their foundation, to the same recipe. Drink it with ice, soda and zest of orange, we were told, the we being myself and Beverley from L’Atitude. It is also very successful in cocktails (including a white Negroni) and in combination with spirits such as gin, vodka and Mezcal. They also produce a Rosa that, you’ve guessed it, contains rose petals.

On to the reds now and the introduction was via their Storico, “a little bit more bitter… used as a digestif”. Great for Negroni. Then we had the Vermouth Amaro Cocchi which has been always been made according to the original recipe by Giulio Cocchi where Artemisia is a key ingredient and it is further enriched with rhubarb, quassia wood, chiretta and a double infusion of cinchona.

The final one, Barolo Chinato, a special wine produced with Barolo DOCG. It is aromatised with cinchona, calisaya bark, rhubarb and gentian root and the precious cardamom seed. Characterised by balance and harmony in the aromas with an immediate pleasant taste and a pleasant aromatic persistence. This is really something else and my favourite. Of course, the Barolo base is a big help! So there you are, over to the cocktail moves and shakers!

There were quite a few spirits at the River Lee. Most of you know about the excellent gins coming from Drumshanbo, especially their Gunpowder Irish Gin. They also do a vodka intriguingly entitled Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka! But did you know they now produce whiskey. Des Ring, who looks after Munster Sales for Dalcassian, introduced me to the whisky, a very promising one, not yet on the market but do look out for it. Watch out too for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin’s unique new glassware which should now be in limited stock in your local independents and O'Briens Wine.

Loire

Dalcassian had wines on display from all over the world, from France of course, and from lots of European countries including Spain, Austria, Portugal and Italy. And from further afield we had Sileni from New Zealand and Bodegas Bianchi from Argentina. There were a few representing Australia and also Chile (including Luis Felipe Edwards) with the Taub family doing the honours for the USA.

Enjoyed some excellent whites at the Jaffelin stand (never got back for the reds) from the Petit Chablis to the Viré-Clessé right up to the Meursault 2017, I was well impressed. But if you really want an excellent white at  very good price then do try and get your hands on the Carlos Reynolds Branco from Portugal (still great value there but for how much longer?). I presume their top of the range reds bearing the Gloria Reynolds name are also excellent but again, with a Panel Discussion about to get underway, I missed out on quite a few reds. It was a major portfolio show and there were some 30 pages of wines plus about 20 of spirits!

I rarely miss out a chance to sample Bordeaux though and Alexandre Truffaut took us through the Géricot wines. We began with two very drinkable whites from Entre Deux Mers, one the 2016 Pierre Lurton and the other the 2017 Chateau Des Trois Tours.

Lurton is a well known name in  Bordeaux and his 2016 Rouge gave us a good start on the reds. The old vine Les Dames de Haut Vigneau was even better. Listrac is one of the smaller appellations in the Médoc and one I enjoyed visiting a few short years ago. The excellent Le Grande Demoiselle d’Hosten from 2010 is very high quality indeed. No doubt about the best drop Alexandre poured and that was the Les Fiefs de Lagrange (2016), a still young St Julian but packed full of promise.

The Tenuta Ulisse had quite a strong line-up of both whites and reds and noted were the Sogno di Ulisse Montepulciano D’Abruzzo IGT along with the Tenuta Ulisse Pecorino Terrie di Chieti IGT.

By then though the Panel Discussion was getting underway and I headed there. It was on the future of the restaurant wine list and you may read all (well, a bit) about it here. 

River Lee Hotel