Friday, July 12, 2024

Egawa Sushi: A Fusion Frenzy in Cork City's Kyle Street where Japan meets Brazil.

Egawa Sushi: A Fusion Frenzy in Cork City's Sushi Scene
You'll find her in Kyle Street. Not the girl from Ipanema!


Move over, California rolls! Cork City's sushi scene just got a splash of vibrant fusion with the arrival of Egawa Sushi on Kyle Street. You'll find them in the former Brazilian Golden Bites space, Egawa offers a unique twist – Japanese sushi with a Brazilian flair - note the international flags (Japan and Brazil!) displayed on their Instagram.

Intrigued by the

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Beer of the Week. Kinnegar’s mixed 4-pack. Cold IPA. Pale Ale. Pilsner. Raspberry Grisette

Beer of the Week. Kinnegar’s mixed 4-pack. 

Cold IPA. Pale Ale. Pilsner. Raspberry Grisette 


Donegal’s Kinnegar has just launched their summer adventure into 4-pack territory and this very convenient format is out there to be enjoyed. “Look forward to a refreshing journey through these four great beer styles. We don't often indulge in tasting notes but this time we set Sean the task of putting the experience in words.”


Cold IPA 5.3%, 400 ml can Bradleys


Colour of this Cold IPA, a once-off by Kinnegar and part of their new 4-pack this summer, is a light gold with bubbles galore racing to the soft white head. Peach, apricot and grapefruit feature in this light hoppy beer with a very refreshing finish indeed.


Kinnegar report it as a big success.  “Can’t you make it part of the core range?” they’ve been asked.

Wondering what a Cold IPA is? I was. It is an IPA fermented at lower temperatures than what is normally used to ferment an ale. Brewers often use a lager yeast or a combination of a lager and an ale yeast. Kinnegar: “Another riff on a tune we’ve been playing with for the past year. Practice makes perfect.”


Hazy Pale Ale,4.5%, 440 ml can Bradleys

This session pale is light straw and cloudy. The American hops have endowed Kinnegar’s latest iteration of this quaffable popular style with quite a backbone of tropical fruit, citrus and pine and just a moderate bitterness. Refreshing as expected and ideal for a session.


Sean’s verdict: “Juicy, sweet fruit, high drinkability. An indispensable summer companion. One will not be enough.”


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See updated Beer of the Week index here

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Pilsner, 5% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys


This latest lager from Donegal is straw-coloured with a soft white head and tons of bubbles rising. Much like the craft lagers we know in this part of the world but with a hoppy punch. A touch of lime runs through it to the refreshing finalé. Well worth a try and another excellent can in the 4-pack.

They say: An old-world style with new-world flair courtesy of its distinctive New Zealand hop profile. 

Sean’s verdict: Citrus (lime), grape, clean bitterness





Raspberry Grisette, 3.8% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

Grisettes are refreshing, low-alcohol beers with origins in the Hainaut province of Belgium. They are crisp, medium/light-bodied, citrusy beers—brewed to be endlessly approachable. It is also supposed to be a summer beer. I’ve waited long enough for summer, so here goes.


Our Raspberry Grisette from Kinnegar has an orange colour with a short-lived white head and lots of micro-bubbles. It is crisp and dry with a fruity tang from the raspberries. I reckon loganberries would have given it a real kick-ass tang. As it is, this is a very refreshing low alcohol beer indeed. Recommended pairing: with a summer’s day if you can find one in 2024. Preferably outdoors.


Sean’s verdict: Crisp, dry, citrus, raspberry. Sean doesn’t waste words. 




A Taste of Tradition: Connemara Smokehouse on the Wild Atlantic Coast

A Taste of Tradition: Connemara Smokehouse 

on the Wild Atlantic Coast

Tasting Plate

Nestled right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Connemara Smokehouse is a haven for seafood lovers. Founded in the 1970s by John and Bridget Roberts, this family-run business has become internationally renowned for their mastery of traditional Irish fish smoking, with Graham and Saoirse Roberts now at the helm.

The Smokehouse has achieved esteemed

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Stepping into the Past, Embracing the Present. Victorian heritage with modern comforts at Foyle's Hotel, Clifden

Stepping into the Past, Embracing the Present. 

Victorian heritage with modern comforts at Foyle's Hotel, Clifden

. Celebrity chefs. Not really. Recognise anyone? Gerard King's painting is always a talking point in Marconi's

Imagine sinking into a plush armchair in Foyle's Hotel's foyer. The ornate wooden staircase whispers stories of a bygone era, transporting you to a time of classic elegance. 

Marconi's
Foyle's, a cornerstone of

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Luxurious Low-impact Guesthouse, Barnahown, Opens Its Doors In Mitchelstown

press release
Room with a view. Pic: Kirsty Lyons


Luxurious Low-impact Guesthouse, Barnahown, Opens Its Doors In Mitchelstown

Offering Galtee Mountain Views Plus A Host Of Outdoor Adventures And Experiences


Barnahown, a luxurious new low-impact 4-bedroom Irish guesthouse near Mitchelstown in Co. Cork has opened its doors, offering Galtee mountain views, creature comforts aplenty, and access to a multitude of local wellness, adventure-based, and food-focused experiences.

The sensitively renovated and lovingly-restored 1800's farmhouse provides the

Dive into Oyster Nirvana at Moran's Oyster Cottage

Dive into Oyster Nirvana 

at Moran's Oyster Cottage

Thermidor

Imagine this: a quaint, thatched cottage perched right on the Galway coast, the salty breeze whispering promises of fresh seafood delights. That's exactly what greets you at

Monday, July 8, 2024

CELEBRATE THE MAGIC OF AYALA CHAMPAGNE AT FORBES STREET BY GARETH MULLINS

press release 

CELEBRATE THE MAGIC OF AYALA CHAMPAGNE

AT FORBES STREET BY GARETH MULLINS


 

Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins is delighted to announce the next wine dinner in their exclusive series on Thursday, 25th July. This prestigious event will be run in association with Findlaters & Co. and will celebrate the heritage and craftsmanship of the Champagne house AYALA, an esteemed family-owned establishment founded in 1860 by Edmond de AYALA. Nestled in Aÿ, in the

This fresh and fruity wine is Highly Recommended. Poderi Dal Nespoli Trebbiano Rubicone. Crossing the Rubicon!😉

Poderi Dal Nespoli Trebbiano Rubicone (IGT) 2022, 12% ABV

€12.95 Bradleys



Fresh and fruity wine is Highly Recommended.

Crossing the Rubicon!😉


The colour of this full-bodied organic Italian white is a pale and clear straw. Aromas hint of lemon and peach follow through in the flavours (where you may also find

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Into Kildare and Newbridge Silverware Host Members Event to Showcase Kildare’s Premier Tourism Offerings

press release 

Into Kildare and Newbridge Silverware Host Members Event to Showcase Kildare’s Premier Tourism Offerings

Aine Mangan, CEO Into Kildare and Ronan Mackey, Newbridge Silverware


Into Kildare, the official tourism body for County Kildare, recently welcomed (2nd July) 40 members to a collaborative event and lunch held at Newbridge Silverware. The event highlighted the attractions and accommodations that Kildare has to offer visitors to the county, while also providing a

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Monte Dall’ Ora Valpolicella Classico (DOC) Saseti. “Knowledge and respect for natural cycles help us to find the balance.

Monte Dall’ Ora Valpolicella Classico (DOC) Saseti 2022, 12.5% ABV

RRP €26.95. Stockists: 64 Wine, Greenman Wines, Bradleys Cork, Le Caveau online



“Knowledge and respect for natural cycles help us to find the balance”


The colour of our Valpolicella Classico is a pale, though very bright, garnet. Aromas of cherries and strawberries greet you. Freshness and flavour prevail in the mouth with minty notes and crunchy spices. It’s a gentle, light-bodied wine with a

The fox is back in the chicken run! Our Beer of the Week is Kinnegar's Maddyroe American Red


 Beer of the Week

Kinnegar Maddyroe American Red, 5.8%, 440 ml can Carry Out St Luke’s


The fox is back in the chicken run!


Red is the colour of my true love’s hair (as Donovan sang away back when) and also the colour of

Monday, July 1, 2024

Farmgate Finds a New Home, and a Big Welcome, in Lismore

Farmgate Finds a New Home in Lismore

Calamari

Lismore has warmly welcomed Farmgate, a beloved restaurant forced to relocate from flood-stricken Midleton where they had been operating since that restaurant business was founded by Marog O'Brien in 1983. Bringing their renowned food and friendly service to West Waterford, Farmgate offers a

A light-bodied charmer, perfect for a casual evening.

A light-bodied charmer, perfect for a casual evening.

Musella Valpolicella Superiore (DOC) 2020, 13% ABV

€21.95 O’Briens Wine


Forget that boring red juice – this Musella Valpolicella Superiore is here to shake things up!

Pour yourself a glass and check out the gorgeous ruby red colour – a touch deeper than the recent Monte Dall’ Ora Valpolicella Classico. Take a whiff, and you'll be greeted by a