360 Town Stay Excellent Base For West Waterford Trip

 360 Town Stay Excellent Base 

For West Waterford Trip

Baker's Table in Lismore

In the heart of Dungarvan town, 360 Town Stay offer a selection of studios and apartments. We stayed in one of the apartments during a recent mini-tour of the West Waterford area. Even though we didn’t meet a single human at 360 - everything is done online or via code - it worked out very well indeed.

The 360 house is entered from the large car park St Augustine’s/Scanlon’s Yard in the town centre, perhaps not the most promising of entrances on a dull day. Used our code to get the key from the black box and made our way up some fifty steps (not as difficult as it sounds).

360 front entrance

The apartment is spacious and comfortable. An average sized bedroom and separate bathroom had all we needed. Then we were into the living space. Sofas and armchairs to relax in if we wanted to watch the large TV (we didn’t, even though it had Netflix).

Mount Congreve, with the Suir in background

Around the corner was the kitchen with fridge/freezer and cooker and lots more besides, and in another space was a fine dining table and chairs. You could easily stay here for a couple of days. And they also have a restaurant nearby. Check it all out for yourself here. We made good use of it before we had to depart, using that code again to put our key back. Still no human!

Our mini-tour had started with a visit to Mount Congreve Gardens which is of course nearer to Waterford city than Dungarvan. The house and gardens, café also, are well worth a trip, particular now that they are so much improved following a seven million euro re-furb. See post link below.

That evening, we had the most enjoyable meal in The Shamrock, a every short walk from 360. Really good local food and a very friendly atmosphere. All generations seem to dine here. Not fine dining that you get in the Old Bank for instance but good stuff and it is very highly recommended. See post link below.

Petit Fours at Cliff House

At The Local

We did of course have our spot of fine dining and that was a splendid Seafood Tasting Lunch at the Michelin starred Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore. The lunch was part of the West Waterford Festival of Food. It was a spectacular display by Tony Parkin and his team, very enjoyable indeed. See post link below.

After our meal at The Shamrock, we strolled the few yards to the square and ended up in The Local, also newly renovated. And it was busy, mostly with serving food. The willing and smiling staff were on their toes, serving food and drink, even charging mobiles for customer. Besides, they had a selection of the local Dungarvan Brewery beers (in bottle) and here we enjoyed their Mine Head American Pale Ale.

The following morning we were up on the Vee for a fairly early walk. We went up through Cappoquin and then on past Mount Melleray. We more or less had the sunny pass to ourselves and enjoyed the views and got some good photos as well before we headed back down to Lismore for brunch. See post link below.

Mount Melleray

Our venue here was the Baker’s Table. It was sunny but also cold as we strolled to the cafe and went on to enjoy a relaxed and excellent meal. See post link below.

Sunny out but fire on inside at The Bakers, Lismore

Vinilo is another baker in the town and we called in there. They have a table or two inside where they serve coffee and pastry. But they are most busy with customers calling for bread and cakes and also takeout coffees. We bought a sourdough loaf and it was quite a good one as well. 

Vinilo sourdough

So that was about it for this trip to West Waterford, every bit as enjoyable as before. We’ll be back.

On this trip

Mount Congreve, Kilmeaden

The Local, Dungarvan

The Baker's Table of Lismore

Vinilo, Lismore

Marvellous Sunny Morning On The Vee (Waterford/Tipperary)

360 Town Stay, Dungarvan

The Shamrock

Seafood Delights at Cliff House Hotel Festival Lunch

Seafood Delights at Cliff House Hotel Festival Lunch

Seafood Delights at Cliff House Hotel Festival Lunch

West Waterford Festival of Food Highlight

The minute I read that the House Restaurant were doing a Seafood Lunch Tasting Menu as part off the West Waterford Festival of Food, I booked our table. And my confidence was rewarded spectacularly as we absolutely enjoyed the meal served up by Chef Patron, Tony Parkin. I have enjoyed a few splendid meals at this elegant cliff-side location but this was perhaps the best.  I could be back there again soon as it just 45 minutes from my door.

After a gentle welcome we got a prime window seat with a view of the bay. We’ve had better weather here but never a better lunch. First the wine had to be settled. The list is extensive but I concentrated on the list of five whites available by the glass.

Haddock croquette
canape

The Guerila Rebula from Slovenia (left) immediately caught my eye as I was very impressed by their wines at a recent La Rousse tasting at the Glass Curtain. This golden wine is made from biodynamic grown grapes; it has complex aromas, and is fresh and elegant on the palate, quite close to an orange wine, and combined well with the fish.  

We also very much enjoyed the Weingut Malat Höhlgraden, Grüner Veltliner, from Kremstal, elegant and fine and a classic expression of the Austrian grape, always versatile at the table.

Then the food began with a couple of canapés, a Smoked Haddock croquette (right) and John Dory tempura, each a tempting hint of delicious things to come.  

Then we were into the menu proper beginning with Tuna, Nahm jim, Galangal. Just a sliver of tuna with the Thai sauce giving a sweet and sour and spicy flavour enhanced by the ginger of the Galangal.

Red Mullet

The Red Mullet (carrot, ginger, orange, jalapeño) followed in a foamy liquid. Another slightly spicy and delicious dish and here the wines played a role as well. A memorable dish indeed - there was a spoon to take up the liquid, otherwise we would have tempted to use a piece of the earlier bread! A pity that we don’t see more of this fish in Irish restaurants and fish shops.

No problem getting your hands on John Dory but not like this serving of the fish with asparagus, morel, wild garlic and a sauce of mushroom and truffle. Quite a simple dish with every single element a star. It is an outstanding fish in any case but surrounded by such an assembly of delicious local and seasonal elements, the dish was amazing and memorable.

Tuna

And we would finish on a high as well with the 63% Manjari Chocolate (Marsala, Coffee and Yoghurt Sorbet).  I was wondering where the fruit notes were coming from and it was from the Manjari itself, a single origin Madagascar, which is made from rare cocoa beans giving it a fresh, acidic, sharp bouquet with red fruit notes. Add in the Sicilian Marsala, the coffee and the sorbet and we had quite a chocolate symphony. Perhaps the best chocolate dessert I have tasted.

Not quite finished yet as, with the coffee, came our Petit Fours, a Chocolate Truffle and a gorgeous White Chocolate piece loaded in the middle with a white chocolate ganache. Lovely finalé to a splendid meal indeed. Bravo to Tony Parkin and his team at The House.

White Chocolate Petit Fours
with white chocolate ganache filling

On this trip

Mount Congreve, Kilmeaden

The Local, Dungarvan

The Baker's Table of Lismore

Vinilo, Lismore

Marvellous Sunny Morning On The Vee (Waterford/Tipperary)

360 Town Stay, Dungarvan

The Shamrock

Seafood Delights at Cliff House Hotel Festival Lunch

 

Just 2 weeks to the much-anticipated West Waterford Festival of Food!

Just 2 weeks to the much-anticipated 

West Waterford Festival of Food!

Fabulous food, over 70 events, unique experiences, famous quay side market, fantastic family programme, thought-provoking talks, guided forages and more from 14^th- 16^th April.

Kate Morrissey (left) with 2023 Festival Director Eunice Power (2022 pic)

It’s the final countdown to the highly anticipated West Waterford Festival of Food, one of Ireland’s largest and longest running community festivals, which takes place from 14^th to 16^th April 2023.  

The 3-day festival, which shines a spotlight on locally produced, wholesome food and chefs from the county. The festival will feature more than 70 events in the scenic harbour town of Dungarvan, along with nearby Lismore and throughout the West Waterford region, making it a truly local celebration with huge community heart behind it.

The exciting programme features an eclectic mix of events including a Gala Dinner at Lismore Castle to food trails, a fantastic family programme, workshops, a food stage, pop-up experiences in unusual locations, foraging trails, bus tours, cooking demos and camps, top chefs, masterclasses plus one of Ireland’s largest outdoor markets. However, with many ticketed events close to selling out, it’s best to book now to avoid disappointment!

Four year old Teddy Drohan all set for the festival fun

There’s so much to choose from but here’s a selection of our favourites.  

1. Bia not Bluster: Thought Provoking Talks about the future of the food industry Dungarvan Town Hall, Saturday 11am-3.45pm, FREE

If you’re interested in hearing about  change in the Irish food industry, this entertaining and thought -provoking event curated by conversation starter Richard Jacob is not to be missed.  Some of the most influential food and hospitality figures from the food and agri business sector will deep dive into topics from sustainability and farming to the shifting nature of restaurants themselves.    A hotly contested “Toast off” will also see six well known chefs from Cork and Waterford battle to see who can make the best toastie in 15 minutes, armed with local ingredients and a domestic sandwich toaster. 

1. Table-scaping: Learn the art of how to dress your table followed by dinner.

Old Market House Art Centre, Saturday 6.30pm, €125

Learn the art of dressing your table for a dinner party or special occasion in this creative workshop with Sinead Connigle Palmer of Lovenest.ie followed by sumptuous dinner cooked duo Eamon and Ro and served on beautifully curated tables. You’ll leave feeling inspired, with lots of insider known- how, tips and tricks.

1. Gather at the Mart for ham sandwiches and crisps, music, laughter, and family stories
   Dungarvan Mart, Friday and Saturday evening, €30

Popping up at the unusual location of Dungarvan Mart will be two charming events with a musical theme.  You are invited to ‘gather around the table of Clancy’s Kitchen’ on Friday night as the 2^nd generation of the famed Waterford  musical family will regale with songs, stories, and music from the household of the Clancy Brothers in what promises to be a spine tingling night. Then on Saturday night, renowned singer songwriters Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley will bring an exciting evening of songs and stories fusing food and music and drawing on their personal passions for both. In true mart tradition a simple supper of ham sandwiches, crisps and mulled apple juice will be provided at both events. 

1. Family Fun: Teddy Bears Picnic, Junior Bake off, Sensory cooking and more 

All weekend

There’s so much to do all weekend for kids, that will inspire a true love of food, including a ‘Junior Bake Off’ contest, sensory cooking classes to learn useful skills in the kitchen, a teenager and young adult food workshop, an adorable Teddy Bear’s Picnic, a gigantic RNLI duck race down the quays, the Agri Aware Mobile Farm, Wobbly Circus stilt walkers, and even a Family Fun Dog Show! There is also a free dedicated family fun zone sponsored by Tírlán in Walton Park Dungarvan with a host of free events from 11am to 3pm on the Saturday 15^th and Sunday16th April. 

1. Sustainability Bus Tour: A true farm to fork experience in West Waterford
   Saturday 10am, buses depart from Shandon Car Park, €30

A number of fun Bus Bia tours are running for the weekend, with some availability still left on the gorgeous sustainability tour.  Embark on a fun filled and informative adventure through the wonderful countryside of West Waterford where you’ll spend the morning with food producers, learn about organic vegetable growing, sustainable farming and bees, before enjoying a delicious lunch. 

1. Inclusive Thinking with a mobile sensory room
   Walton Park, Free

Ensuring the festival is as accessible as possible, a mobile sensory unit for people on the autism spectrum will be available at the festival in partnership with Autism Ireland.  This will give the option of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the event if needed. The padded unit is complete with a bubble wall, projector and dark den staffed by autism trained volunteers. A Lámh signed cookery demonstration with Chef Aisling Larking will be another fun event for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and communication needs and their families, with a song or two from Nollaig Hennessy!

1. Surplus to Spectacular Supper: Combating Food Waste

Sisters Restaurant Dungarvan, Saturday 7.30pm, €55

Combating food waste is a strong theme at the festival and organisers have partnered with Food Cloud who will host a ‘Surplus to Spectacular Supper’. Zero-waste chef, Ralph Utto, will prepare a delicious five course feast (including tea or coffee) from surplus food, and will share his thoughts on farm to fork eating, food waste and the climate. 

1. Afternoon Tea at a historic private house

Saturday and Sunday, €40

Indulge your tastebuds and at one of Waterford’s historic private houses.  Choose from the picturesque garden room at Woodhouse Estate in Stradbally prepared by pâtissier Judit McNally from Ormond Café or Ballyin House in Lismore, a beautiful Georgian home serving their own signature treats.

In addition to ‘popping up’ at Woodhouse Estate, Judit Mc Nally will also offer a Chocolate Masterclass at Ormonde Café in Dungarvan where she will demonstrate how to work with chocolate and make chocolate truffles. There will be recipes and some chocolates to take home afterwards. This masterclass takes place on Friday 14^th April from 7pm-8.30pm and costs €30.

1. The Park after Dark

Walton Park, Friday 7-10pm, €15 

Bringing Walton Park to light by night, a street party style celebration will take place from 7pm-10pm only on Friday April 15th with bars, bia and bands for over 18s.  Get a taste of the region with hog roast from Siobhan and Ross at Newbard Farm, Little Catch Seafood, Blackwater Gin, Dungarvan Brewing Company, Legacy Cider, Dungarvan Wine Buff and more, while you listen to bands Presto, Saoirse and Seascapes.

1. The Gigantic Festival Market

Sunday

Festival markets will run all weekend but the big highlight every year is the town-centre festival market on Sunday, one of Ireland’s largest outdoor markets.  It features dozens of colourful stalls inviting festival goers to graze their way around the bustling town square, along the quayside and in Walton Park. This is the perfect excuse to stock up on fresh, local produce, artisan baking, Irish and international cuisine or to eat out while soaking up the music and atmosphere. 

***

Part of the charm of the West Waterford Festival of Food is how bespoke the festival experience can be. Whether you wander the stalls, dip into a food trail, or pop to an event, there is plenty to whet your appetite. A more dedicated festival goer may want to pour over the programme in advance and book a dining experience, masterclass or any of the other ticketed workshop or tasting events.

The West Waterford Festival of Food is funded by Waterford Council, Waterford Leader Partnership, Fáilte Ireland, and Waterford LEO and would not be possible without the support of sponsors, friends circle and the community.

Pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.  For the full programme, more information, and tickets, see www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com/ 

West Waterford Festival of Food has all the ingredients of the ultimate food lover’s weekend!

West Waterford Festival of Food has all ingredients 

of the ultimate food lover’s weekend!

At the launch (l to r) are Richard Jacob of ‘Bia not Bluster’,
Eunice Power Festival Director and Chef Paul Flynn of the Tannery.

Increasing significantly in scale this year’s programme features over 70 food events and activities centred around Dungarvan, Lismore and the wider West Waterford Region.

Highlights will include a burlesque dinner show, chefs on trial in a real courthouse, pop- up events in the local mart, a toasted sandwich contest, a tablescaping workshop, a chocolate making masterclass and a Gala dinner at Lismore Castle in celebration of local food heroes Paul and Maire Flynn.

 

The West Waterford Festival of Food, one of Ireland’s largest and longest running food festivals, has today launched their 2023 programme. More than 70 events are set to take place in and around Dungarvan from 14th to 16th April. Highlights among the diverse range of events include gala dinners tapas trails, workshops, a food stage, pop-up experiences in unusual locations, a full children’s programme, foraging trails, bus tours, cooking demos, top chefs, high-end and casual dining experiences, plus one of Ireland’s largest outdoor markets. 

The main hub for the 3-d­­­ay festival is in the scenic harbour town of Dungarvan with events also taking place in nearby Lismore and throughout the West Waterford region, making it a truly local celebration.

The festival market is a huge draw with dozens of colourful and appealing stalls inviting festival goers to graze their way around the bustling town square and along the quayside and in Walton Park. This is the perfect excuse to stock up on fresh, local produce, artisan baking, Irish and international cuisine or eat out while soaking up the music and atmosphere.

Teddy Drohan (4), from Abbeyside, at the launch

New event highlights this year include a very special Gala dinner set in the resplendent Lismore Castle, which will honour Paul and Maire Flynn and be cooked by Chefs who are all ‘past pupils’ of the Tannery. The culinary couple will also chat to award winning author John McKenna.

Another unmissable dinner humorously titled ‘Chefs on Trial’ will bring fun and flavour to the unusual location of The Courthouse in Dungarvan. Here a gastronomic feast will be lovingly prepared by recently graduated cooks from Ballymaloe Cookery School!

Two high profile ‘Guest Chef’ events will take place at The Tannery over the weekend as TV Chef Mark Moriarty and Aisling Moore of Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded ‘Goldie’ each take turns at the pass for what promises to be foodie’s dream.

Other dinner events during the festival weekend include; a Burlesque dinner,  a ‘Surplus to Spectacular’ Supper with Food Cloud Kitchen,  dinner events entitled ‘A Seasonal adventure with Irish Food’ and ‘From the Mountains to the Sea’ and a collaborative 7 course farm tasting menu. For lighter bites options include a Taste Waterford Tapas Trail, a ‘Night of Antipasto’, cocktails and pizza at Blackwater Distillery, a Jazz Brunch, Beer and Bites tasting event to mention just a few! 

Adding further substance to festival line-up will be a new concept called ‘Bia not Bluster’ curated by conversation starter Richard Jacob, formerly of Idaho Café. Taking place at Dungarvan Town Hall high profile thought leaders and food industry experts will join in a series of panel discussions on topics of importance to the future of food. Topics will include farming, sustainability, and the future of restaurants. Amid these proceedings, a hotly contested “Toast off” will see 6 well known chefs from Cork and Waterford battle to see who can make the best toastie in 15 minutes, armed with local ingredients and a Breville sandwich toaster. 

Popping up at the unusual location of Dungarvan Mart will be two charming events, with a musical theme, bringing this agricultural trading space to life by night.  ‘Clancy’s Kitchen’ will regale the audience with songs, stories, and music from the household of the Clancy Brothers. While Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley will bring evening of songs and stories fusing food and music. In true mart tradition a simple supper of ham sandwiches, crisps and mulled apple juice will be provided at both events. 

Eunice Power Festival Director and Chef Paul Flynn of the Tannery pictured at the launch.
Pics by David Clynch

For the creative types check out the food photography or Art of Tablescaping workshops.

There is an abundance of family fun planned this year including an incredible Tirlán family fun zone at Walton Park with a host of free events from 11am to 3pm on the Saturday and Sunday. Throughout the festival there is lots to love for young and old including a ‘Junior Bake Off’ contest, sensory cooking classes, a teenager and young adult food workshop, , Teddy Bear’s Picnics, guided hillwalking and yoga, the Agri Aware Mobile Farm, Wobbly Circus stilt walkers, and even a Family Fun Dog Show! 

Of course, there will also be adult only events such as the Park after Dark with bars, bia and bands, Wine Tastings and more!

Ensuring the festival is as accessible as possible a mobile sensory unit for people on the autism spectrum will be at the festival provided by Autism Ireland to give the option of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the event if needed. A Lámh signed cookery demonstration with Chef Aisling Larking will be a fun event for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and communication needs and their families, with a song or two from Nollaig Hennessy added in!

Part of the charm of a weekend immersed in the West Waterford Festival of Food is how bespoke the festival experience can be. Whether you wander the stalls, dip into a food trail or pop into a drop in event there is plenty to whet your appetite. A more dedicated festival goer may want to pour over the programme in advance and book in for a dining experience, masterclass or any of the other ticketed workshop or tasting events which are sure to be hugely popular.

The West Waterford Festival of Food is funded by Waterford Council, Waterford Leader Partnership, Fáilte Ireland and Waterford LEO and would not be possible without the support of sponsors, friends circle and the community.

For the full programme, more information and bookings for ticketed events see www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com (Tickets available from Tuesday 7th March at 9am)