News Archive
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Restaurant Review - Foxy Lounge
15 October 2024
Though some people will enjoy the bling aesthetic of new Foxy Lounge in D4, the 24k gold leaf pizza, white snail caviar and cats’ poop coffee add up to substanceless showoffery, says Lucinda.
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Top 20 Restaurants Serving Food To Go
14 October 2024
Many top eateries offer takeaway options these days, so why not try some of these hotspots next time you’re ordering in? Says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Tiffin by Sunil
08 October 2024
Everything chef Sunil Ghai touches turns to gold, says Lucinda, as she visited his fab takeaway in Greystones.
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Restaurant Review - Little Washer
01 October 2024
Little Washer is a clean winner, says Lucinda, of the new Glasnevin gem with a moreish menu and charming service.
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Restaurant Review - Landline @ Kenmare Park Hotel
25 September 2024
Five-star fare with friendly prices awaits you in the fabulous setting of Landline at the Kenmare Park Hotel, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Mexican Parilla
18 September 2024
With a hip Chinese restaurant already to his name, Jules Mak is now giving offering tasty Mexican nosh in Dublin, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Trump Doonbeg
11 September 2024
Meticulous, stylish and supreme in every sense, Lucinda was suitably impressed by the five-star Trump Doonbeg Resort in Co. Clare.
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Restaurant Review - Baht
04 September 2024
With an experienced family team behind Baht in Carlow, expect tasty fair, stylish decor and a delightful staff, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Coppinger Row
28 August 2024
With the Bereen brothers returning to the block with Coppinger, Lucinda couldn’t wait for the curtain to go up.
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Lucinda's 11 Best Cafes
28 August 2024
For the perfect caffeine kick along with superb sweet treats and savoury delights, Lucinda gives her top spots for coffee, cake and so much more this summer!
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Restaurant Review - Bearú
21 August 2024
Great food in casual settings is what people want nowadays, says Lucinda, as she checks out the new Bearú in Wexford.
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Restaurant Review - Léa’s at The Glucksman
14 August 2024
While the food at Léa’s at The Glucksman was on point, the service at the cafe left a lot to be desired, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Achara
07 August 2024
Thai food has come a long way in the past couple of decades, says Lucinda, as she checks out Dublin’s new Achara.
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A Taste Of The South
31 July 2024
Forget the south of France, Spain or Portugal, says Lucinda, and try a fab foodie safari on our own southern soil.
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Restaurant Review - The Carriage House @ Carton House
24 July 2024
Fine dining might make an occasion, but top-notch casual is what today’s diners hope for at high-end hotels, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - The Sea Rooms @ Kelly’s Hotel
17 July 2024
At the top of the game yet always improving, the renowned family-run hotel is a jewel in the crown of Irish tourism says Lucinda, who was impressed on her recent visit.
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Restaurant Review - Floritz
10 July 2024
Home to a variety of notable spots in the last three decades, 22 St Stephen’s Green is back at its best with Floritz, says Lucinda.
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Lucinda's 30 Best Al Fresco Eats
04 July 2024
Be it streetside, a patio, a posh terrace, a yard or a roadside pitstop, there are endless opportunities to enjoy delicious food outdoors this summer, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - L’Enoteca di Napoli
03 July 2024
With calamari tasting like wallpaper paste being served with an attitude of doing you a favour, The food at L’Enoteca di Napoli was a mixed bag and the service was far from dolce, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Le Petit Renard
26 June 2024
The latest offering from a husband-and-wife team is well-presented but let down by a simple range of food and high drinks prices, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Dublin Food Safari
19 June 2024
With plenty of interesting new establishments opening around Dublin, Lucinda decided to take a tour of the town.
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Restaurant Review - Ingredient
12 June 2024
Checking out the new Ingredient pop-up at the Olive Deli in the north Co Dublin, Lucinda very much liked the chef’s delicious ideas and found herself duly impressed by the fab food and service.
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Restaurant Review - China Sichuan
05 June 2024
For over 45 years, this restaurant in Dublin 18 has been wowing its customers but as Lucinda discovered, this family business is not content to just sit back and rely on its reputation.
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Restaurant Review - Lucas
29 May 2024
Checking out the new cafe and wine bar on the Old Dunleary Road, Lucinda was delighted by the fab food and buzzy vibes.
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Restaurant Review - September
22 May 2024
Sampling both the lunchtime and evening menus, Lucinda double-dips in Blackrock’s latest hotspot – complete with sea views.
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Restaurant Review - Esther's
15 May 2024
Set in the former Little Mike’s in Mount Merrion, this wonderful bijou restaurant and wine bar is a delicious addition to SoCoDu dining, says Lucinda.
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Lucinda's Hot 24 For Summer '24
15 May 2024
Ardent foodies fly in and out of cities worldwide to tick the boxes of top restaurants on their bucket list, but how many of these hot Irish places have you tried? Summer’s almost here and it’s time to hit the road, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Peggy's On The Green
08 May 2024
With all the feeling of a holiday tourist trap, Peggy’s On The Green brought me back to the days when food in Ireland was abysmal, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eathos
08 May 2024
Providing thoughtful food and great coffee using high quality wholesome ingredients is the ethos at Eathos, a superb eatery cum cafe and catering business with three separate locations on Dublin’s Baggot Street.
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Restaurant Review - Fagan's and The Chester Beatty Inn
01 May 2024
Hankering for a good Sunday lunch? Asks Lucinda. Then check out these two popular spots in D9 and Wicklow respectively.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cavistons Seafood Restaurant
29 April 2024
Between their iconic food emporium and their suberb seafood restaurant just a few doors down, the name Caviston is synonymous with great food and service, attracting locals, foodies and celebrities alike to sample their fine fare.
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Restaurant Review - Boeuf & Frites
24 April 2024
Having heard varying opinions, Lucinda was delighted to find that the new Boeuf & Frites offers plenty of bang for your buck.
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Restaurant Review - Support Your Local
18 April 2024
Ireland has one of the most impressive restaurant industries in the world, says Lucinda, but if we want to keep it that way, we have to get behind traders to keep them in business.
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Restaurant Review - ADDA & Thindi
17 April 2024
Always a fan of Eastern cuisines, Lucinda visited two of Dublin’s latest Asian eateries, ADDA & Thindi, finding Chaat and cheer in both.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Brewery Tap
12 April 2024
A superb and buzzing traditional pub on O’Connor Square in Tullamore, The Brewery Tap is also an award winning gastropub renowned for its great atmosphere, great food and great service.
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Restaurant Review - Nine
10 April 2024
With positive chatter coming through the foodie grapevine, Lucinda was eager to check out Nine on Bray’s Albert Walk where the menus, while chic and ambitious, didn't always deliver.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Selkie
05 April 2024
A delightful amalgam of modern and classic styles both in terms of the fare and indeed the decor, 'come for the good food', they say at The Selkie in Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim, 'and stay for the good vibes'.
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Restaurant Review - Jean-Georges @ The Leinster
03 April 2024
Despite being wary of the advance fanfare, Lucinda was blown away by the superb fare at the new Jean-Georges at The Leinster in D2.
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Restaurant Review - Church Lane
27 March 2024
With spring in the air, Lucinda headed south, where she enjoyed a superb seafood feast at the new Church Lane gastropub in Midleton, Co Cork.
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Restaurant Review - Caladh
20 March 2024
Despite some lighting issues and a quick round of the name game, Lucinda loved the new Caladh in Greystones.
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20 Best Afternoon Teas
18 March 2024
Afternoon tea is the perfect ‘one stop shop’ for all occasions and generations so get the lowdown on where to enjoy this classical ritual in the capital and countrywide.
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Restaurant Review - Diwali Camden Street
13 March 2024
With fab food and a great Elvis impersonator too, Lucinda couldn't help falling in love with Diwali Camden Street.
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Restaurant Review - Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
06 March 2024
As the latest Michelin stars dropped, Lucinda was lunching at the long-standing, 2-star Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - One Pico
28 February 2024
Always ahead of the curve, Eamonn O’Reilly’s fabulous One Pico has set menus that are simply divine, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - The Dunmore
21 February 2024
With a great in-house line-up and stunning revamp of Rathmines’ former Bowery pub, The Dunmore is a superb place to eat, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Newpark Hotel
19 February 2024
A renowned family-friendly four star hotel just on the edge of Kilkenny City, the Newpark Hotel is a perfect place to relax, unwind and escape from the real world.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Oxhorn
16 February 2024
Located close to Baggot Street Bridge in what was formerly the Keshk Cafe at a strip of shops and restaurants facing the Grand Canal, the superb Oxhorn Grill on Mespil Road is a must visit for carnivores everywhere.
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Restaurant Review - Daata Blackrock
14 February 2024
The fourth link for this superb chain, Daata Blackrock is a perfect addition to the popular Dublin suburb, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Red Bank Restaurant
14 February 2024
You can expect modern Irish cuisine, with eclectic twists, and a warm welcome at the superb family run Red Bank Restaurant in Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
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Lucinda's Top 20 First Dates Restaurants
14 February 2024
Lucinda gives you her top picks for cosy venues for that special romantic rendezvous this Valentine's Day.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Killeen House Hotel
09 February 2024
Ideally located in the picturesque townland of Aghadoe in Killarney, Killeen House Hotel is classic Irish country living at its best. Abounding with stunning views and friendly faces, it’s a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the real world.
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Restaurant Review - Allta
07 February 2024
The all-new Allta in Dublin's docklands offers the same superb food in a new location – and at much better prices, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Southern Spices
06 February 2024
Southern Spices is a fab South Indian restaurant in a large clean cut casual kitchen style space. An urban setting, facing two apartment blocks, it’s obviously very popular already with many people working and residing in the area.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Summerhill House Hotel
05 February 2024
Escape to the country and let your troubles melt away at the superb four-star Summerhill House Hotel in the charming village of Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Strand Cahore
02 February 2024
Just an hour from Dublin, in a picturesque coastal setting close to Gorey, The Strand Cahore offers the perfect mix of great food, friendly service and stunning views.
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Restaurant Review - Crudo
31 January 2024
The next generation of Dunne & Crescenzi is filling the family shoes with pride as the Sandymount branch in Dublin 4 gets a revamp.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Shannon Springs Hotel
31 January 2024
Just five minutes from Shannon Airport yet right in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, the fabulous Shannon Springs Hotel is the perfect location for your next getaway.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Temple Bar Inn
30 January 2024
Right in the very beating heart of Dublin City, the Temple Bar Inn, right in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the capital is a wonderful place to stay if you want to make the most of your urban escape.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Killarney Plaza Hotel
24 January 2024
On the doorstep of Ireland’s oldest National Park, the fabulous 4-star Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa, in the heart of the popular bustling Kerry town, is the perfect place for a luxurious getaway.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Tābú Tapas
22 January 2024
Easily accessible from the M9, the fabulous Tābú Tapas on Marsh’s Street, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, is certainly worth a detour.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - KIS Pizza & Coffee Bar
20 January 2024
Offering the perfect balance of caffeine and calzone, this superb pizza & coffee bar in Crossmaglen, Newry, is a great place for a quick bite or indeed a meal with friends or family.
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Restaurant Review - Cellar 22 and Row Wines
17 January 2024
Delighted by the recent uptick in city wine bars, Lucinda was more than happy to try out two new spots in the capital.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Ian's Kitchen
17 January 2024
Having people queue up outside your door while waiting for a table is but the stuff of dreams for many chefs and indeed this is a common experience at Ian’s Kitchen on Kimmage Road West, which is walk-in only.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Anantara The Marker Dublin
15 January 2024
The fabulous 5-star Anantara The Marker Dublin on Grand Canal Square is one of the finest hotels our country has to offer. Since it first opened in 2013, there’ve been big changes bringing this already stunning spot to another level.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Tapau House
10 January 2024
Serving delicious authentic Bangkok-style Thai food in the heart of Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Tapau House is most definitely worth a visit.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Diwali Camden Street
08 January 2024
A sister restaurant to the ever popular Diwali South Great George's Street and the excellent Kathmandu Kitchen on Dame Street, Diwali Camden Street offers the same style and flair along with a superb menu of eastern delights to excite the senses.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Haldi By Manish
05 January 2024
Located in the charming seaside commuter town of Rush in North County Dublin, the fab Indian Restaurant Haldi by Manish has been turning heads with its authentic flavourful fare.
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The Good, The Bad & The Unfortunate
04 January 2024
In a year of openings, closings and everything in between, Lucinda gives you her best and worst restaurant moments of 2023.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Shanahan's On The Green
03 January 2024
Perhaps Dublin’s poshest steakhouse, the superb Shanahan’s on the Green, caused quite a stir when it was opened in 1998, following a major refurbishment by Irish American John M. Shanahan of the magnificent Georgian building it occupies.
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Restaurant Review - The Morrison Room @ Carton House
27 December 2023
A visit to the upscale Carton House is always quite a to-do, says Lucinda, who was visiting their upscale Morrison Room restaurant to grill the new head chef.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Sanjay's Kitchen
21 December 2023
Set on Market Square in the beautiful historic town of Birr, Co Offaly, a superb array of varied Indian delights await you at Sanjay’s Kitchen.
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Restaurant Review - Oxhorn Grill
20 December 2023
Dublin’s Oxhorn Grill, set on Mespil Road in D4, offers well-priced steaks without any ego on the side, Says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Christmas Pitstops
13 December 2023
Shopped up an appetite? Recharge or relax at one of Lucinda's picks for the top city pit-stops across the country this Christmas.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - TAPA
11 December 2023
Tapas has only become more and more popular as time goes on, and, grabbing my attention recently, TAPA restaurant in Stepaside is sure to delight the diners of Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - Kicky's
06 December 2023
Having waited outside for the doors to officially open, Lucinda was the first paying customer at Eric Matthews' red hot new Kicky’s in Dublin 2.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Raha Indian Cuisine
04 December 2023
Located at Townpark, in the heart of Dundalk, Raha Indian Cuisine is well worth a visit. The décor and ambiance here are excellent, as are the staff, creating the perfect environment in which to enjoy some superb authentic Indian food.
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Restaurant Review - Musashi/Saba Kildare
29 November 2023
With pal Bayveen in tow, Lucinda enjoyed a fab meal at Musashi in Blackrock, plus lunch at Saba in Kildare Village.
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Restaurant Review - Dromoland Castle
22 November 2023
From nine-course tasting menus at the fancy Earl of Thomond dining room, to posh sandwiches at The Gallery or delicious curry at the Fig Tree Restaurant, at Dromoland Castle you can eat like royalty without paying a king’s ransom.
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Restaurant Review - Basement Dining
15 November 2023
Recommending three lush, plush and delicious spots, Lucinda gives you her picks for the best basement restaurants in the capital.
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Restaurant Review - Sea Shanty
08 November 2023
With plenty of flair and fine fishy fare, Lucinda was impressed by the latest restaurant to open at Dublin’s Blackrock Market.
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Restaurant Review - Five Star Casual
01 November 2023
Eschewing the fine-dining options at Fota Island Resort in Cork and The Europe in Kerry, Lucinda enjoyed the fab food at their ‘casual’ restaurants.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - MIZU Modern Japanese Cuisine
31 October 2023
I’d been fortunate enough, on a recent visit south, to be in Killarney just in time to try the out the new Mizu Modern Japanese Cuisine.
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Restaurant Review - The Bridge House
18 October 2023
With knockout dishes of fish and veal, the Michelin-quality delights at Chef Keith Boyle's Bridge House in Kilkenny are well worth a visit.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Hilliard's Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
18 October 2023
On a recent ‘safari’ of Killarney restaurants and hotels, I went to visit Hilliard’s, a restaurant and cocktail bar, owned by the Sheahan family, prominently located on the town’s main drag.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Tango Street Food
13 October 2023
Located on the Muckross Road in Dromhale, Killarney, Tango Street Food is Ireland’s first and only Argentinian Food Market, where their “authentic, nutritious and tasty gourmet food will transport you to Buenos Aires without the 14 hour flight!"
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Restaurant Review - 3 Leaves
11 October 2023
Returning to Santosh & Millie Thomas’s fab spot in Blackrock Market for the first time since the lockdowns, Lucinda found it to be an absolute knockout.
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Restaurant Review - Brighton Road
04 October 2023
Foxrock’s latest bistro is superb, says Lucinda, who was impressed by its food, wines and freewheeling style.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Yang's Chinese Restaurant
28 September 2023
Boasting beautiful views of the water from the comfort of an attractive traditional Chinese style décor, Yang’s Chinese Restaurant offers an excellent selection of high quality authentic fare served in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
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Restaurant Review - Georgio's
27 September 2023
As she headed for the new restaurant in Wexford, Lucinda was captivated by the idyllic vistas of Fethard-on-Sea.
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Restaurant Review - Forbes Street
20 September 2023
With a fresh vibe, clever name and superb fare, Lucinda was impressed with the newest dining space at Anantara The Marker in Dublin’s Docklands.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Harrow
19 September 2023
Opening in 2022 in what was formerly Gaby’s restaurant on Killarney’s High Street, to say I was impressed by my visit to Harrow would be an understatement.
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A Visit To Connacht
13 September 2023
With two enchanted castles to visit, and lots of fab restaurants spots to discover along the way, Lucinda and her vegan friend, Rena, headed for Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo.
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A Love Letter To Kinsale
06 September 2023
Man Friday, The Old Bank, the Wednesday Market, The Bulman, Koko, Saint Francis Provisions and Rare restaurant in Blue Haven all tickle the taste buds in this culinary wonderland, plus food trucks and tasty pit stops galore!
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Escape to Connemara
30 August 2023
From a stunning castle to a splendid abbey, and fab food adventures, Lucinda found lots of delightson an enchanted escape to Connemara.
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The Best of Killarney
23 August 2023
On the hunt for excellent food, great fun and a Síle na Gig in a graveyard, our critic headed south for the best of Killarney from street food to fish delights, hotel hotspots, spas and more.
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Seafood By The Sea
21 August 2023
From prawn platters to potted crab and creamy chowder to crispy calamari, Lucinda maps her favourite spots around the coast.
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Restaurant Review - The Hound
16 August 2023
Checking out the new terrace at The Hound restaurant at the Co Kilkenny estate’s Hunter’s Yard, Lucinda was delighted by the fine contemporary food.
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Worth a Detour!
09 August 2023
Checking out some new spots on her way south, Lucinda hit the jackpot with not one, not two, but three great restaurants
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Restaurant Review - Olive & Figs
02 August 2023
Knowing of Olives & Figs’ chef and sommelier’s wealth of high-end experience, Lucinda had a hunch a treat was in store.
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Return of the Roast
31 July 2023
Move over brunch, the hearty Sunday roast is back, says Lucinda, Whether it’s beef or chicken, vegetarian or pork, there’s an option to sate your appetite.
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Restaurant Review - Grapevine
26 July 2023
As she people-watched outside Grapevine in Dalkey on her first visit since it moved premises, Lucinda was delighted by the food and atmosphere.
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Restaurant Review - The Chophouse
19 July 2023
A meaty feast awaited Lucinda at Kevin Arundel's newly opened restaurant in Dublin 4.
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Return Of The Roast
18 July 2023
Move over brunch, the hearty Sunday roast is back, says Lucinda, whether it’s beef or chicken, vegetarian or pork, there’s always an option to sate your appetite.
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Restaurant Review - Indian Tiffins
12 July 2023
Loving the small-plate craze, Lucinda was more than happy to check out the new Indian Tiffins restaurant in Rathgar.
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Restaurant Review - Sal y Pepa
05 July 2023
Tucked away behind the old Magic Carpet pub in Cornelscourt, this Spanish tapas outlet is one of Dublin’s best food trucks, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Pickle
29 June 2023
Chef collabs are all the rage these days, says Lucinda, who delighted in an intercontinental effort at Sunil Ghai’s restaurant in Dublin.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Terraces 2023
28 June 2023
Al fresco dining is the essence of summer living, says Lucinda, whether it’s on a buzzy city terrace, in a cool countryside courtyard or at a sublime seaview spot.
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Restaurant Review - Osteria Lucio
21 June 2023
You can’t hang all your hopes on the Michelin man, says Lucinda as she visits Ross Lewis’s more casual eatery.
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Restaurant Review - Hawksmoor
14 June 2023
Despite Hawksmoor’s stunning setting in a historic city-centre building, Lucinda was underwhelmed by the pricey Dublin steakhouse.
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Restaurant Review - The Guinea Pig
07 June 2023
French chef Jérôme Fernandes has brought a fun, fresh flair to Dalkey’s famed establishment, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Ian’s Kitchen and Vanilla Pod
31 May 2023
It’s always a delight when the hype is justified, says Lucinda, having visited two new ventures offering excellent fare.
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Lucinda’s 20 Best Restaurants in Ireland
25 May 2023
From Michelin stars to hidden gems, this is destination dining at its best. Champagne pop-ups, Castletownbere scallops, Dublin Bay prawns, a drop of sherry or a cheeky cocktail...
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Restaurant Review - Daata
24 May 2023
Dining on the Pakistani and Indian fare at Daata’s latest branch, on Bray's seafront, Lucinda was delighted to find that the food and service were even better than ever.
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Restaurant Review - L'Oasi
17 May 2023
L’Oasi’s chic interior and terrific terrace gave Lucinda high hopes, but the food didn’t quite live up to the ambience.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Old Quarter Pub, Cafe & Townhouse
12 May 2023
Set in the bustling centre of Limerick City, The Old Quarter Pub, Café & Townhouse is a fabulous spot offering great food, drink and entertainment as well as accommodation. Established back in 1995, it’s been a hub of activity ever since.
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Restaurant Review - Brabazon
10 May 2023
Having had considerable improvements and additions, Lucinda couldn’t wait to get back to Tankardstown House in Co. Meath.
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Restaurant Review - Eleven
03 May 2023
City restaurateur John Farrell of Dillingers has spun gold at the old Silver Tassie, says Lucinda, where he’s bringing back the big Sunday lunch.
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Lucinda's 12 Best Places For a Breather
26 April 2023
It’s so good to be able to hit the road again, says Lucinda, who has chosen 12 wonderful cafes and restaurants around the country at which to stop off and enjoy the best food our local producers and chefs have to offer.
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Restaurant Review - Flâneur
26 April 2023
Crammed-in tables and bum-breaking wooden chairs were only the start of Lucinda’s troubles at Flâneur in Rathmines...
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Alfama
24 April 2023
With a wave of new restaurants opening, I was in the mood for a taste of Portugal, so I made my way to the delightful distinctive blue and white tiled Alfama at Windy Arbour in Dundrum.
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Restaurant Review - The Club at Goffs
19 April 2023
The somewhat stark outer shell of The Club at Goffs belied the thoroughbred dining experience Lucinda enjoyed inside.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Blackrock Cottage
17 April 2023
a stunningly stylish reincarnation and reinvention of an almost 200-year-old derelict cottage as a cafe, with a bike rental and repair station to come, Blackrock Cottage is well worth a visit.
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Restaurant Review - Lottie's
12 April 2023
Musing on the climate of closures and rising costs, Lucinda tried out a new spot on the scene, Lottie’s on the Rathgar Road in Dublin 6.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Tamra Thai
10 April 2023
Whizzing along the busy N11, it’s easy to forget that just a stone’s throw to your left or right is a whole chain of small peaceful old villages and communities going about their daily business.
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Restaurant Review - Ananda
05 April 2023
All aboard for India at Ananda, Dundrum, says Lucinda, who savoured a superb seven-course Railway Journey Tasting Menu of wonderful regional delights.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Nan Chinese
30 March 2023
Celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, Lucinda decided to check out Nan Chinese fine dining Restaurant on Stephen’s Street, and she was delighted that she did.
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Restaurant Review - Neighbourhood
29 March 2023
The latest offering in the commuter belt piqued Lucinda’s attention, but the food and atmosphere missed the mark.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Sheen Falls Lodge
23 March 2023
For a fabulous 5 Star getaway, look no further than the stunning Sheen falls Lodge overlooking the Sheen River in Kenmare.
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Restaurant Review - The Sea Rooms
22 March 2023
As a fan of chef Chris Fullam’s fare, Lucinda knew she was in for something special at The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s, so it came as no surprise that the seven-course tasting menu was stunning.
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Restaurant Review - Blackrock Cottage
15 March 2023
Having beaten the morning rush, Lucinda and her pals enjoyed breakfast at the newly opened Blackrock Cottage, a converted 200-year-old cottage in a prime spot
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Restaurant Review - Tamra Thai
08 March 2023
Dining in the Burbs can be so relaxing, says Lucinda, who loved the extensive Thai menu on offer at Tamra Thai in Cabinteely.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Trieste Cafe & Wine Bar
06 March 2023
Tucked away on Buttermilk Walk, just off the main drag in Galway, Kate and Barry Donovan’s Trieste Café & Wine Bar is a true labour of love having opened its doors back in February 2020, just weeks before a global pandemic.
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Restaurant Review - Space Jaru
01 March 2023
As Gunmoo Kim’s food empire continues to grow, Lucinda went to the heart of the Coombe check out his first restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - The Station House Hotel
22 February 2023
With a hint of spring — and romance — in the air, Lucinda hit the road for a Boyne Valley Tasting Dinner at the fabulous Station House Hotel in Kilmessan, Co Meath
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Seaclusion Luxury Guest Accomodation
16 February 2023
Located in the stunningly picturesque village of Waterville, Co. Kerry, Bart and Marie O'Sullivan's aptly named Seaclusion is perfect for anyone looking to escape the stressful city vibes.
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Restaurant Review - Gekko at Hyde
15 February 2023
Eschewing Dublin’s latest pricey tasting menu, Lucinda set her sights on easy booking and a la carte option at a new Dublin city centre spot — and she wasn’t disappointed.
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Restaurant Review - Chinese New Year
08 February 2023
As the Year of the Rabbit kicks off, Lucinda checks out Dublin’s newest Chinese, Nan on Stephen Street Lower, and also drops by China Sichuan in Sandyford, which has been open for over 50 years.
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Restaurant Review - Sea Church
25 January 2023
Blowing off the winter cobwebs, Lucinda hit the road to dine in a converted church in one of the most beautifully located villages in the country.
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Restaurant Review - Park Cafe
18 January 2023
While other recent celebrity efforts have fallen short, Richard Corrigan’s Park Café in Ballsbridge is bang on the money, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Commodore Hotel
16 January 2023
If you really want to get the feel and be part of the legendary harbour town of Cobh in East Cork, you couldn't be better placed than at the Commodore Hotel, which is right on the main street coming into the town, overlooking all of the harbour activity.
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The Lucinda's 2022
11 January 2023
Criss-crossing the capital and the country to taste the good, the bad, the ugly. Lucinda looks back on a year of memorable reviews.
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Restaurant Review - The Stables Bar & Brasserie
04 January 2023
Offering well-priced, high-end casual food in a stylish setting, The Stables eatery is a wonderful addition to the fab five-star Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Herbert Restaurant
21 December 2022
As the World’s 50 Best Restaurants finally ‘discovers’ our long-standing hotspots, Lucinda leads the way with a true find in Co Kerry.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Places For Eating & Meeting
21 December 2022
With Christmas closing in fast, and the holiday hustle already in high gear, Lucinda gives you the lowdown on the best spots for seasonal food and fun this December.
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Restaurant Review - Paladar
14 December 2022
Bossa nova, baby! With mixologist extraordinaire Andy Ferreira and Hotel Isaacs’ Richard Evans involved, you’ll leave Cork's new cocktail bar and restaurant in good spirits, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Big Mike's
07 December 2022
We’ve already had Michael’s and Little Mike’s but this time, the irrepressible Gaz Smith is going big in Blackrock, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Chequer Lane
23 November 2022
While cracking the Irish market has proven calamitous for most UK celeb chefs, Jamie Oliver’s new Irish venture, Chequer Lane, was worth the wait, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Shock and Haugh
16 November 2022
Lucinda was looking forward to dining at Anna Haugh’s Conrad pop-up, but found the food was pricey and disappointing with an Oirish flavour.
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Restaurant Review - Cavistons
09 November 2022
The Harrods of SoCoDu, has a stylish but pricey new brasserie. The social set have been waiting for this one for a while and their patience has been rewarded.
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Restaurant Review - Alfama
02 November 2022
With Portuguese pasteis de nata suddenly in vogue, Lucinda made a visit to the brand new Alfama in Dublin 14.
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Hidden Stars - 20 Michelin Worthy Restaurants
01 November 2022
It’s the time of year that the Michelin man comes knocking on restaurant doors, says Lucinda. However, he doesn't always go to the right places.
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Restaurant Review - Some Southern Charm
26 October 2022
With lots of updates and additions in the Rebel County, Lucinda spent some time sampling delights in the rebel county.
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Restaurant Review - Dunraven Arms Hotel
19 October 2022
A hit with the likes of the Princess Royal, Grace Kelly, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Lucinda was more than impressed by the delicious roast meats and legendary breakfast at Adare’s Dunraven Arms Hotel.
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Restaurant Review - Indo-Chine
12 October 2022
With staff shortages and rising costs, the times are, once again, a changing says Lucinda as she checks out the new Vietnam-inspired menu at D4's Indo-Chine.
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Restaurant Review - Terre
05 October 2022
Offering theatrical vibes and a unique flavour, Cork’s Terre at Castlemartyr Resort may be pricey but it’s a fabulous Michelin-worthy experience, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - The Blackrock
28 September 2022
Service and style were great at The Blackrock – the new rugby player-owned pub in SoCoDu – but there was no Triple Crown, with some of the food being more deserving of the Wooden Spoon.
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Restaurant Review - The Flying Duck
21 September 2022
The food was fine, but the service at The Flying Duck, at Dundrum Town Centre, left Lucinda feeling she was at the bottom of the pecking order.
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Restaurant Review - La Terrace
14 September 2022
Having had her taste buds tickled on a previous visit, Lucinda was back to try La Terrace, the newest addition to Limerick's five-star Savoy Hotel.
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Restaurant Review - Dax
07 September 2022
With three critics — including Lucinda — and the RAI chief all at one table, one of the capital’s best restaurants had no problem living up to its stellar reputation
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Restaurant Review - Rugged Lane
31 August 2022
Drawing everyone from Posh and Becks to The Real Housewives, Lucinda visits the historic Luttrellstown Demesne’s Rugged Lane in Dublin’s Castleknock.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Harbor House
29 August 2022
I was passing through Dun Laoghaire with ‘the fashionista’ on a particularly fine Sunday evening, when I spotted the grey fronted Harbor House with its small clapper board out on the pavement.
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Restaurant Review - La Maison
24 August 2022
Summer fun abroad may have been hindered recently, but a fab visit to La Maison in Dublin reminds Lucinda just how lucky we are here.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mary Barry's Seafood Bar & Restaurant
18 August 2022
As you enter the pretty village of Kilmore in Co. Wexford, you can't miss the suberb Mary Barry’s Seafood Bar & Restaurant bedecked in beautiful colourful flowers.
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Restaurant Review - Woodruff
17 August 2022
With ‘fermenting’ and ‘foraging’ the buzzwords, Lucinda headed for Woodruff, but with some rough edges needing to be smoothed out, the experience left a bad taste in her mouth.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Coach House
10 August 2022
The Coach House at Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, is a picture perfect classic Irish Inn, offering restaurant quality pub food and comfortable B&B lodgings with attractive en-suite rooms.
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The Sunny South East
10 August 2022
Skipping the ordeal of international travel, Lucinda found plenty of seafood and tasty treats as she travelled the highways and byways of Co Wexford.
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Restaurant Review - The Duck at Marlfield House
03 August 2022
The surroundings are superb, but Lucinda found the food expensive and some dishes underwhelming on her visit to The Duck at Marlfield House.
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Restaurant Review - O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill
27 July 2022
On a familiar drive from Dublin to Cork, Lucinda found herself at this superb family-owned pub just minutes from Cork City.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Rongcheng
25 July 2022
With fab views of the water and an exciting, extensive menu to choose from, Rongcheng Chinese Restaurant in Blackrock should be on every foodies’ wishlist.
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Restaurant Review - Oliveto
20 July 2022
The boats were in and the sun was out as Lucinda enjoyed fabulous cuisine and service at Haddington House’s Italian restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Carton House
13 July 2022
Romance and intrigue emanates from every nook and cranny of Carton House, but Lucinda was there to try the new tasting menu.
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Summer Staff Crisis
13 July 2022
This summer, many hotels, restaurants and hospitality businesses across the country are faced with cutting back opening hours and bookings due to a dire shortage of staff.
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Restaurant Review - Seaview House Hotel
06 July 2022
It’s time to tick off travel to those places we dreamed of in the pandemic, writes Lucinda, who returned to enjoy this legendary West Cork haven on Bantry Bay.
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Restaurant Review - Harbour House
29 June 2022
On happening upon the new Harbor House Chinese restaurant in Dún Laoghaire, Lucinda was captivated by the fabulous food and cool vibes.
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Escape to Schull
22 June 2022
Lucinda got ahead of the annual summertime exodus to the coast to try out the delights of Cork’s popular seaside town.
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Restaurant Review - Dede at the Customs House
15 June 2022
With one Michelin star already under its belt, Dede at the Customs House in Baltimore is sailing serenely towards a second, says Lucinda.
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Wicklow - From Roundwood to Laragh
08 June 2022
With a glimmer of sun on the horizon, Lucinda heads for the hills and discovers some sensational spots in the Garden of Ireland.
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Restaurant Review - Supper Club @ The g Hotel
01 June 2022
Lucinda savours the flavours of some of the country’s best food producers in an outrageously stylish Galway hotel.
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Restaurant Review - Rongcheng
25 May 2022
On a return visit to Rongcheng with magnificent views over Dublin Bay, Lucinda finds the menu and prices have changed for the better.
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Restaurant Review - CN Duck
18 May 2022
Asian food has never been so popular here, says Lucinda, as she visits one of the capital’s most recent additions.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The White Horse
10 May 2022
Set in the busy buzzy town of Ballincollig in Co. Cork, The White Horse Gastropub is a longstanding and enduringly popular spot, first opened as a public house at the turn of the 20th century.
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Restaurant Review - Orwell Road
04 May 2022
Despite its posh rep, Rathgar is rather short on good restaurants. Thank heavens for the Bereen Bros and their delightful Orwell Road, says Lucinda.
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Crème de la crème: The Top 30 of Lucinda’s 100 Best Restaurants
02 May 2022
Trophies, fancy plating or hip credentials are not enough to earn a spot on my list, says Lucinda, who, in curating her culinary champions, has considered all the ingredients needed for the very best dining experience.
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Lucinda’s 100 Best Restaurants: 31-100
02 May 2022
Numbers 31-100 of Lucinda O’Sullivan’s 100 Best Restaurants are not ranked but are instead listed here in alphabetical order.
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Lucinda's Top 10 Restaurants: Northern Ireland
02 May 2022
As part of her 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland, Lucinda also includes her pick of the bunch for top restaurants north of the border.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Glenroyal Hotel & Leisure Club
29 April 2022
A fabulous and wonderfully elegant family owned hotel in the heart of Kildare, the 4 Star Glenroyal Hotel & Leisure Club in Maynooth is an enduringly popular spot for visitors coming from near and far.
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Restaurant Review - Table Forty One
27 April 2022
Michelin-Bibbed chef Andrew Duncan flies solo at this Wexford restaurant, and while our food critic found much to enjoy, some of the dishes on her visit were overcooked.
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Restaurant Review - Davy Byrnes
20 April 2022
After a rude encounter at a new spot in Dublin, Lucinda was delighted to be back in the safe and steady hands of the iconic Dublin pub.
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Restaurant Review - Babette
13 April 2022
With the popular Dublin 6 tapas spot of La Bodega closing and Babette, a new brasserie, taking its place, Lucinda couldn’t wait to try out Ali Barker’s rebrand.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kitchen 28
13 April 2022
A fab gourmet deli and café in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, Kitchen 28 is the perfect place for a casual daytime bite, whether it’s a social outing, a lazy lunch or if you just want to fuel up for a busy day.
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Restaurant Review - Cashel Palace Hotel
06 April 2022
Having first whetted her appetite with some casual dining in the Queen Anne Room, Lucinda enjoyed the royal treatment at the five-star hotel’s restaurant, The Bishop’s Buttery.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Kinsale Hotel & Spa
05 April 2022
Beautifully situated, just outside of the town, in Ireland’s beloved gourmet capital of Kinsale, Co. Cork, Kinsale Hotel & Spa is the perfect place to escape from the world for a weekend.
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Restaurant Review - Lady Helen @ Mount Juliet
30 March 2022
The fabulous Lady Helen restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate, Co. Kilkenny has retained its Michelin star but executive chef John Kelly’s fare deserves a second, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Old Couch Cafe
28 March 2022
Having been at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Damira Levacic and Przemyslaw Muszynski moved to Waterford to set up their terrific Old Couch Cafe in 2020 in the heart of Waterford’s Cultural Quarter.
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Restaurant Review - The Montenotte Hotel
23 March 2022
Lucinda made a few foodie stop-offs, including cake, fish and chips and more cake, before settling down to a memorable dinner at the Montenotte Hotel.
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Restaurant Review - Barrows Keep
16 March 2022
Having had the Chef Stephen McArdle's food before, Lucinda reckoned she was in for a treat as she headed to Thomastown in Co. Kilkenny.
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Snubbed again by Michelin Man
11 March 2022
Irish chefs keep looking to the stars for validation, but do awards ever give us more than a passing glance? asks Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Mama Yo
09 March 2022
High prices for bog standard fare at the Press Up Group’s newly opened Mama Yo leave a bad taste for our critic.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Hen's Teeth
04 March 2022
If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air, in the culinary realm, I recommend checking out Hen’s Teeth in Dublin 8. Not only do they have a fab café cum restaurant, but they also operate a bright and bubbly store, and art space.
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Restaurant Review - Wildflower
02 March 2022
Chef Adrian Martin has had a rapid rise from container cuisine to D2 fine dining, and Lucinda couldn’t wait to try his new Wildflower.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Olive Tree Kitchen
28 February 2022
Nestled at the gateway to Connemara, 10 minutes from Galway City on the main Galway Clifden Road, Wildlands opened in August 2020 offering Galwegians, staycationers and tourists alike, a unique and exciting adventure experience for all ages.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Pier Cafe
24 February 2022
Tramore has long been one of Ireland’s favourite holiday destinations. Known for its wonderful beach and, of course, its famous amusements which delight all of the family.
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Restaurant Review - Osteria Lucio
23 February 2022
Dreaming of romantic Paris? Lucinda was just as captivated by Grand Canal Quay and chef Ross Lewis’s fabulous Osteria Lucio.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Caisleáin Óir Hotel
22 February 2022
Set in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht on Ireland’s famous Wild Atlantic Way, Caisleáin Óir Hotel is a wonderful place to visit. Offering twenty spacious and tastefully appointed guestrooms.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Walker 1781
21 February 2022
Having previously operated Luna Italian restaurant in Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, Joe Grogan and Grainne Sheridan decided to set themselves a new challenge, transforming an old bar on O’Connell Street, into the contemporary Walker 1781 Bar & Restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Masala
16 February 2022
This tasty takeaway is just one of the many Indian restaurants across the country that would be perfect for a romantic night out, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Fish & Bean
14 February 2022
When it comes to seafood you won’t find any better man behind the stove than Dave Mullan. Top notch chef Dave has worked down the years in prestigious restaurants such as the iconic Mermaid Café, Shanahan’s on the Green, and Eithna’s by the Sea.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Hakkahan
10 February 2022
Hakkahan is an absolute delight serving tremendous Chinese food in an informal diner setting but as one might enjoy in an expensive restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Balfes
09 February 2022
Lucinda was impressed by her favourite starter and delicious market catch of the day on the terrace of Balfes, just off Dublin’s Grafton Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - POTA Café
05 February 2022
Diarmuid Ó Mathúna opened his terrific bi-lingual POTA café in summer 2020 in Baile na hAbhann, next to TG4, in the Connemara Gaeltacht, with Rossaveal Harbour and the Aran Islands virtually on its doorstep.
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Restaurant Review - Blackrock Market
02 February 2022
Irked by the decay of Dublin’s once-great Iveagh Market, Lucinda took solace at the fab, albeit smaller-scale, offering in Blackrock.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cluck Chicken
01 February 2022
Cluck Chicken is the brilliant brainwave of Chef Ian Ussher who has worked at the highest level in top restaurants. When covid struck, Ian wasted no time and with his wife Elaine ‘hatching’ a bright yellow food truck.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Cunningham's
28 January 2022
If you’re looking for a great place to stay and eat, with plenty of shopping and attractions nearby, look no further than Cunningham’s, where they say their rooms are inspired by their love of luxury and travel.
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Restaurant Review - Saba
26 January 2022
Saba has reopened in a new premises on Dublin’s South William Street, says Lucinda, who was delighted with her experience there.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Le Comptoir Cafe
25 January 2022
One of the best-known players in Dublin's dining arena is Tipperary man Ronan Ryan, who is not only a great people person but runs great restaurants too.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Coal
21 January 2022
I’m not used to dining tout seule at the best of times, not to mention on the sidewalk, as our American cousins say, but my first visit to Coal was such, on a bright sunny day.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Dooley's Seafood & Steakhouse Restaurant
20 January 2022
Sitting on the terrace of Dooley’s Seafood & Steakhouse in Waterville, looking out over the waters of the Atlantic to the dark sultry ever-changing mountains in the distance, is one of the best experiences you can have.
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Restaurant Review - Bites by Kwanghi Chan
19 January 2022
"The bao buns were from another planet." Says Lucinda as she reviews Bites by Kwanghi Chan, the latest venture by the Michelin-trained chef who never fails to impress, and his Liffeyside restaurant is no exception.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen
19 January 2022
Ross Lewis had been delighting diners with superb food at his iconic Michelin starred Chapter One restaurant on Parnell Square for thirty years. Always innovative, Lewis has never been one to sit on his laurels.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Armelle's Kitchen
16 January 2022
Armelle and Kenny expanded in 2017 from a micro business selling their fantastic cakes from home to their new premises in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. Now, people travel miles for their French pastries, macarons and cakes.
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Restaurant Review - Six by Nico
12 January 2022
The six-course tasting menu at Dublin's new Six by Nico may have been well executed but the lead-in hiccups were a pain, says Lucinda.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Imperial Hotel
09 January 2022
If ever a hotel imbued a sense of romance and history living up to its name, it’s The Imperial Hotel, which stands proudly dominating Cork’s elegant South Mall.
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The Lucinda's 2021
31 December 2021
The Oscars may still be a few months away, but you don’t have to wait a moment longer for the highlights of Lucinda's culinary year.
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Restaurant Review - Rasam
29 December 2021
‘It’s the restaurant where I’d eat my last meal,’ says Lucinda as she reviews the new menu at one of her favourite haunts, Rasam in Glasthule, Co. Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - Dorian
22 December 2021
With an abundance of fresh spots to choose from, Lucinda visited the brand new D4 wine bar Dorian in Donnybrook, where the desserts were a bit of a shocker...
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Restaurant Review - The Queens
16 December 2021
Fit for a monarch? Lucinda reviews the new menu in the revamped surrounds of The Queens in Dalkey.
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Restaurant Review - The Nosh Pod
15 December 2021
"We’re going to cycle the length of Mexico and work in different countries to hone the skills for our next chapter", say the pair behind The Nosh Pod, who are going on a food odyssey to prepare for their next business venture.
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Restaurant Review - The Saddle Room
08 December 2021
Feeling the call of the fab five-star Shelbourne hotel, Lucinda galloped into town for Sunday lunch in The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne.
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Restaurant Review - Michael's
01 December 2021
Lucinda enjoys some supreme seafood at Gaz Smith’s Mount Merrion hotspot, Michael's.
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Restaurant Review - Hakkahan
24 November 2021
Lucinda samples the heavenly delights of new Chinese diner Hakkahan in Stoneybatter, where the food and service were fabulous, despite a chilly al fresco start.
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Restaurant Review - Chakra
17 November 2021
Lucinda follows her heart — and the Michelin man — to revisit the newly revamped Chakra in Greystones, Co. Wicklow.
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Nick Munier - 'My ideas were too big for my wallet'
11 November 2021
After the painful and costly collapse of his own venture, Avenue in Temple Bar, the restaurant manager and artist’s love for the industry has been reinvigorated once again, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Chakra
10 November 2021
Following her heart — and the Michelin man — Lucinda returned to Chakra keen to check out the revamped restaurant in Greystones, Co Wicklow.
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Restaurant Review - Big Fan
03 November 2021
Aungier Street has really been picking up lately, says Lucinda, who loved the buzzy atmosphere, not to mention the food, at Big Fan.
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Belfast’s 10 Hottest Restaurants
27 October 2021
With scores of fabulous new restaurants at all levels, Lucinda lists buzzing Belfast’s 10 hottest restaurants.
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Restaurant Review - Mikey Ryan's
20 October 2021
Returning post-lockdowns, Mikey Ryan’s gastropub in Cashel rocked Lucinda’s world with its fine food and brand new additions.
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Restaurant Review - The Cove @ Fota Island
13 October 2021
‘A triumph’ — With the bar set high by previous visits, Lucinda sampled the six-course tasting menu at Fota Island’s The Cove restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Bresson
06 October 2021
Temple Garner’s fabulous suburban hotspot has a new chef, writes Lucinda, who was eager to sample his menu.
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Paws, Claws, Purrs & Chaos
01 October 2021
Lucinda writes about her life-long love of elegant, mischievous Siamese cats (and her current brood of five!)
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Restaurant Review - Lighthouse Terrace
29 September 2021
Food festivals are largely on hold for 2021 but there’s still so much to enjoy about gorgeous East Cork, says Lucinda as she sets off on an East Cork odyssey and to Garryvoe’s new Lighthouse Terrace.
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Restaurant Review - Mae
22 September 2021
Having secured a coveted booking, our food critic was charmed by Ballsbridge’s new Mae restaurant, a collaboration with The French Paradox.
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Restaurant Review - Marco Pierre White’s Courtyard Bar and Grill
15 September 2021
The rubber-tyre men may have had a fit when MPW ditched his three stars, writes Lucinda, but Marco’s is still rolling along merrily.
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Restaurant Review - Rare
01 September 2021
Lucinda enjoys Rare delights in Kinsale’s latest restaurant at the Blue Haven Hotel, newest feather in the town’s already well-kitted culinary cap.
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Restaurant Review - Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen
25 August 2021
With indoor dining back in action, Lucinda was only too happy to be heading to relaunch of Dublin’s most famous restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - The Smoke House
18 August 2021
With the sun shining, Lucinda headed for Wicklow to check out The Smoke House, but thankfully the arrival of rain didn’t spoil play.
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Lucinda's 12 Post Lockdown Hotspots
12 August 2021
Rising from the ashes of 2020 comes a host of restaurants, cafes, pubs and food trucks worth seeking out, says Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
06 August 2021
We fought back with passion, says Lucinda, now it’s time to move forward and rebuild.
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Restaurant Review - Le Comptoir Cafe
05 August 2021
Ronan Ryan’s fab Le Comptoir Café offers suburban fine dining without all the D4 stuffiness, says Lucinda.
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10 Best Coastal Meals On Wheels
04 August 2021
Get revved up for some delicious seaside treats as Lucinda gives you the rundown of the finest mobile twists on takeaway favourites.
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Restaurant Review - Volpe Nera
31 July 2021
Returning to Barry Sun Jian’s eatery post-lockdown, Lucinda couldn’t help but smile at just how well the locale has worked out for this suburban legend.
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What's in Lucinda's Larder?
30 July 2021
Have you ever wondered what a food critic stocks in their own pantry? Lucinda shares her staple 'must-haves', along with some delightful new discoveries.
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Restaurant Review - Nannetti’s
23 July 2021
With restaurants everywhere kicking open their doors, Lucinda was only too happy to be back in the city dining al fresco and savouring the sounds she’d forgotten in lockdown.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
22 July 2021
New tricks and old favourites — Lucinda talks to the hospitality insiders who are catering to the demands of a new normal.
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Restaurant Review - The Winding Eagle
16 July 2021
The new ‘Winding Eagle’ menu eaten on a roof terrace, with a bird’s-eye view over the Liffey, convinces Lucinda that Dublin can be heaven.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
15 July 2021
Cúpla focal, the cup of human kindness and new ways of thriving. Lucinda talks to four more hardworking foodies.
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Restaurant Review - Garden Terrace @ Intercontinental Dublin
09 July 2021
With outdoor dining now in full swing, our Lucinda made a beeline for the Garden Terrace at the five-star Dublin hotel.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
08 July 2021
Preserving the pivots and taking on top tips to turn things around after Covid-19.
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Restaurant Review - Whelehans Saturday Pop Up
02 July 2021
Lucinda pops out to Loughlinstown to sample the fabulous, fresh fare at Whelehans sensational Saturday Pop Up Takeaway.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
01 July 2021
This week, Lucinda hears from a chocolatier, a Pig’s Ear, a hotel honcho and an idyllic rural escape.
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Restaurant Review - The Hound @ Mount Juliet
25 June 2021
As our hospitality sector slowly reopens, everyone is striving to put their best foot forward, says Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
24 June 2021
From Michelin gems to coffee with llamas, enticing places await you in Ireland, says Lucinda.
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Lucinda's 13 Top Summer Staycation Destinations
18 June 2021
From luxury in Mayo to tapas in Kerry, with restrictions finally lifting, Lucinda has her engine revved for some long overdue holidays.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
17 June 2021
Here comes the sun to hopefully shine on the great summer reopening, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Lignum
11 June 2021
Irish food is ready to ‘pivot’ again says Lucinda, as she tries the meal kit from Lignum in Loughrea.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
10 June 2021
All systems go as hospitality gets ready to give guests the warmest of welcomes for Summer 2021.
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A new captain for Chapter One
05 June 2021
With Finnish creative talent Mickael Viljanen now at the helm, the legendary Dublin eatery should blossom, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Kwanghi Chan’s BBQ Meal Kit
04 June 2021
With a summer of backyard barbecues beckoning, Lucinda checks out a mighty meaty offering from Kwanghi Chan, which fed the household for an entire weekend.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
03 June 2021
Excitement mounts as reopening draws closer and closer with every passing moment.
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Restaurant Review - Ali Davis Food
28 May 2021
An old rug and a few ham sambos won’t cut it nowadays, says Lucinda, who was delighted by fab al fresco food.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
27 May 2021
The hardworking foodies that are showing the way forward for Ireland’s quality food renaissance.
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Restaurant Review - The Pier House
21 May 2021
Relishing a taste of freedom with a trip to Howth, Lucinda happily indulged in some tasty bites from The Pier House.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
20 May 2021
From cafes to food trucks and top hotels, our industry is finding its feet, says Lucinda, as she talks with more industry insiders.
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Lucinda’s 15 Top Indian Takeaways
14 May 2021
With dining looking set to be an al fresco affair as restrictions rumble on, Lucinda heats things up with 15 spicy Indian takeouts.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
13 May 2021
Four in a bed – top hoteliers reflect on a year of Covid restrictions and closures.
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Restaurant Review - Osteria Lucio
07 May 2021
We may be stuck with takeout for now, says Lucinda, but there’s no reason why they can’t be Michelin quality.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
06 May 2021
Waterford bakers spread their wings while Laois brewers get canning, as more industry insiders talk to Lucinda.
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Lucinda's 16 Best Trucks, Shacks & Huts
30 April 2021
With indoor dining not an option for the foreseeable, meals on wheels are on a roll nationwide, says Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
29 April 2021
As vaccines slowly roll out, Lucinda talks to four more hard working foodie insiders.
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Restaurant Review - Ripasso
23 April 2021
Dreaming of Bray’s bustling promenade in summers gone by, Lucinda made do with a tasty takeaway box instead.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
22 April 2021
Licking their wounds but set to return even stronger than before, Lucinda talks to four more foodie insiders.
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Restaurant Review - Dunraven Hotel
16 April 2021
With all the other stresses going on right now, Lucinda decided to take a break from the kitchen this Easter, instead delighting in a fab burger kit from Adare.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
15 April 2021
Sambos getting capital kudos, while horse sense rules out in Thurles, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - FX Buckley Meal Kits
09 April 2021
The Buckley family’s fab FXB Steakhouses may not be seating diners, says Lucinda, but they do have a superb meal kit for two.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
08 April 2021
Cook-alongs, regenerative farming and world-class wilderness, Lucinda talks to four more businesses about their pandemic experiences.
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Restaurant Review - No.1 Pery Square
02 April 2021
Sun-soaked foreign holidays may be off the table, says Lucinda, but how about a European Food Tour that comes to you? Our first stop-off is Bilbao.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
01 April 2021
From cafes to castles, Ireland is under siege, says Lucinda, who talks to four more businesses about their experiences in the pandemic.
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Restaurant Review - Beach House
26 March 2021
Taking on nationwide meal-box deliveries is a brave move, says Lucinda, but the adventurous couple behind Beach House in Tramore, Co Waterford, have pulled it off.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
25 March 2021
A royal arrival and a growing empire. Lucinda talks to four more businesses about how they've been coping in the pandemic.
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Restaurant Review - Sprezzatura and Platform Pizza
19 March 2021
With at-home boxes the new norm, chefs are upping their game and collaborating to deliver the best foodie kits, says Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
18 March 2021
Lucinda talks to four more hospitality insiders as level 5 restrictions continue to drag on.
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10 Best Afternoon Teas At Home
12 March 2021
You don't have to wait until Mother's Day to indulge in the new favourite at-home treat of afternoon tea, says Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
11 March 2021
Lucinda chats to four more hospitality insiders as Covid restrictions continue to trail along.
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Restaurant Review - China Sichuan
05 March 2021
Searching for a bit of fun in lockdown, Lucinda happily indulged in the foodie festivities of the Chinese New Year.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
04 March 2021
From mobile kitchens in horse boxes to micro home bakeries, foodies all across Ireland are finding innovative ways to keep their businesses thriving.
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Restaurant Review - Le Perroquet
26 February 2021
We can't paint the town red this Valentine's Day, says Lucinda, but you could take home a little taste of Paris...
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
25 February 2021
As restrictions drag on, Lucinda talks to four more hard working hospitality insiders.
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14 loved-up Valentine's feasts
18 February 2021
With a night on the town out of the question, Lucinda gave readers her 14 best takeouts and meal boxes for locked-down lovers.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
17 February 2021
Lucinda talks to four more foodies as they dust themselves down and get stuck in.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
10 February 2021
Lucinda talks with four homegrown heroes as they try out new tricks for succeeding in the pandemic.
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Restaurant Review - Roly's Bistro
04 February 2021
With restrictions keeping her from the new decor at Roly's Bistro, Lucinda settled for one of their fab themed takeaways.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
03 February 2021
Lucinda talks with four more industry insiders as they 'rise' to the challenge in this time of 'knead'.
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Restaurant Review - Coal
28 January 2021
With some time to kill and her curiosity piqued, Lucinda dropped by Coal in Blackrock to see if its fire was raging.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
27 January 2021
Lucinda talks with the artisans, entrepreneurs and grande dames, learning to adapt to survive.
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Restaurant Review - Casper & Giumbini's
21 January 2021
It might have been a bit chilly, but Lucinda was delighted to be dining out again, and enjoyed an al fresco lunch at Casper & Giumbini's.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
20 January 2021
As the pandemic rolls on, Lucinda talks to hardworking foodies as they take 2021 one level at a time.
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Restaurant Review - Little Forrest
14 January 2021
Lucinda muses on what this year might hold and reviews her final click & collect of 2020, from Little Forest in Blackrock.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
13 January 2021
Lucinda talks to four hospitality insiders, optimistic for better business in 2021.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
06 January 2021
'Looking forward to seeing the back of Covid'. More foodies tell their stories to Lucinda.
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A Challenging Year For Our Food Industry
31 December 2020
With 2020 finally drawing to a close, Lucinda reflects on an unusual year of distanced dining and into-the-box thinking.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
30 December 2020
Ready, steady and cooking up some festive treats. Lucinda talks to more hardworking foodies about the year it was and some fab seasonal eating.
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Restaurant Review - Bresson
29 December 2020
It's great to see a French restaurant back in the mix, says Lucinda, who was delighted by a takeaway box from Bresson in Monkstown.
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12 Yuletide Treats
23 December 2020
We all deserve to find something tasty under the Christmas tree this year, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan, who shares her picks for the best hampers and foodie goodies from businesses across the country.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
22 December 2020
"If we don't buy local, it'll be bye-bye local", Lucinda talks with four more hospitality insiders.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
17 December 2020
Lucinda talks to the eager entrepreneurs making this Christmas one to remember for all the right reasons.
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Restaurant Review - Out of the Box Dining
16 December 2020
With food boxes de rigueur once again, Lucinda reels in a deluxe seafood pie by a Michelin chef and a hip fishmonger.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
10 December 2020
Are we there yet, are we there get? With not long left in 2020, Lucinda talks to foodie insiders making positive plans for the new year.
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10 Best Take-Away Sunday Dinners Countrywide
09 December 2020
We can't eat out right now, but here's Lucinda's choice of the best Sunday lunches around the country for collection or delivery.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
04 December 2020
With Christmas closing in on us fast, Lucinda talks to more food industry insiders.
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10 Sunday lunches to go in Dublin
03 December 2020
With big family gatherings on hold for now, Lucinda looks at ten of the best restaurant takeaway Sunday lunches in the capital.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
26 November 2020
Lucinda talks to four more of the hard working foodies that are fighting hard to bounce back from this unprecedented year.
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Restaurant Review - Liath To Go
25 November 2020
Racing ahead of the lockdown posse once more, Damien Grey's Liath is doing superb street food to go, says Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
18 November 2020
As the lockdown continues, our hardy heroes are ready to weather the winter storm, says Lucinda.
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Restaurant Review - Hakka Choi
17 November 2020
With indoor dining off the table for now, Lucinda dropped by for an outdoor bite at Hakka Choi in Monkstown
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
10 November 2020
With Ireland back in lockdown, Lucinda speaks to more hospitality insiders to find out what's on the menu in level 5.
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Restaurant Review - Riba
04 November 2020
With indoor dining restricted, Lucinda took the chance to try out the newly revamped terrace at Riba in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
30 October 2020
With the country in lockdown for most of what's left of 2020, the hospitality industry looks to the future.
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Restaurant Review - Bowls at All Alfresco
29 October 2020
With outdoor eating the current mandated modus operandi, Lucinda checks out Kwanghi Chan's Bowls at All Alfresco, in Glasthule, Co. Dublin.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
21 October 2020
As the country heads back into lockdown, Lucinda talks with four more hardworking hospitality insiders.
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Restaurant Review - Pichet
20 October 2020
When it first opened 11 years ago, Pichet was the hottest ticket in town, says Lucinda, who returned to see if it has retained its allure.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
14 October 2020
With increased restrictions and ever present uncertainty, Lucinda talks to more of the hardworking foodies preserving Ireland's fire and soul.
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Tabletalk - Ashford Castle
09 October 2020
The fabulous historical Ashford Castle has been named the number-one resort hotel in the UK and Ireland, says Lucinda, and with staycation deals everywhere right now, there's an abundance of great value to be had.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
07 October 2020
With further restrictions perpetually looming over Irish businesses, Lucinda spoke with four more hospitality insiders, about their experiences during the pandemic.
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Restaurant Review - The Greenhouse
02 October 2020
Eamonn O'Reilly's two-star Michelin restaurant, The Greenhouse, owes a lot to the talents of Finnish chef Mickael Viljanen, writes Lucinda, who was delighted to be back for a post-lockdown lunch.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
30 September 2020
As new restrictions loom large, Lucinda continues to speak to industry insiders about the effects of Covid-19.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
23 September 2020
Lucinda speaks to the hospitality heroes calling out for government support in these unusual times.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
16 September 2020
Lucinda speaks to four more of Ireland's frontline foodies about life and business during the pandemic.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
09 September 2020
Lucinda talks to four more members of the foodie community about life since the onset of Covid-19.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Gourmet Detours
08 September 2020
From the Michelin-starred to the just damn wonderful, Lucinda gives you her 20 Best Gourmet Detours for distinctive dining experiences.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Oak Room Restaurant
03 September 2020
The Oak Room Restaurant in Cavan is a great spot to dine. The Chef Proprietor here is Norbert Neylon who, alongside his head chef Keith Hutton, has been delighting the denizens of Cavan and beyond.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
02 September 2020
Lucinda continues her series highlighting resilience in the food sector during the pandemic.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Towers
28 August 2020
The Towers Bar & Restaurant in Westport, Co. Mayo is a fantastic spot at any time of day with its gorgeous sea views, great atmosphere and cracking seafood.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
26 August 2020
As Irish businesses continue to find their footing in these uncertain times, Lucinda spoke with four more food and hospitality insiders.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Gastro Pubs
21 August 2020
Lucinda picks her 20 Best Gastro Pubs in the capital and throughout Ireland for 2020.
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Foodies Fight Back With Lucinda
19 August 2020
As businesses all around Ireland continue to find their footing in these uncertain times, Lucinda speaks with four more food and hospitality SME insiders.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
13 August 2020
As businesses everywhere continue to solve the post-lockdown puzzle, Lucinda spoke to four more people about how they've adapted their offerings.
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Restaurant Review - Canteen Marlin
06 August 2020
You have to be brave to open a restaurant, especially now, but chef James Sheridan has never been afraid to set trends, says Lucinda O'Sullivan.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
05 August 2020
With half the capacity but twice the passion, four more industry insiders talk to Lucinda.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
30 July 2020
As the Irish food and hospitality sector continues to rebuild post-lockdown, Lucinda spoke to four more awe-inspiring folk with SMEs about their experiences and their plans going forward.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
22 July 2020
As foodies strive to realign their offerings with the 'new normal', Lucinda spoke to another talented bunch, about how they and their businesses are coping with the ongoing global crisis.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
15 July 2020
As businesses everywhere scramble to pick up the pieces, Lucinda spoke to more of the people fighting to protect Ireland's food and hospitality industry.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
08 July 2020
As Ireland reopens, food lovers are taking stock and preparing to rebuild, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who spoke to four more foodies who are finding their feet post-lockdown.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
01 July 2020
Lucinda talks to the brave and talented foodie entrepreneurs who're taking first steps on the road to recovery.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
24 June 2020
Lucinda talks to a pair of hotshot bakers, an egg-producing clan, a Canny restaurateur and the latest link in Seaview's family chain.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
18 June 2020
This week I found myself talking to a food retailer with a hotline to the man above, some intrepid food producers in West Cork, a chef with a love of baking, and the owners of a five-star boutique hotel in Dingle.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
10 June 2020
This week I have talked to a food retailer, an adventurous food producer, a hot chef and the owner of one of Ireland's best-loved hotels, who have all adapted to new ways of doing business.
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Takeaway News - Kites
05 June 2020
For exceptional Chinese and Asian Fusion food, check out the delicious takeaway menu at Kites in Ballsbridge, Co. Dublin. Collection/Delivery.
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Takeaway News - Ananda
04 June 2020
Looking for a fab takeout to brighten your day? Then check out the superb Ananda Indian restaurant in Dundrum, Co. Dublin, who are offering an Order and Collect service from Wednesday-Monday.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
03 June 2020
Today I'm talking to two veterans of the food and hospitality business and two relative newbies, all of whom have been extremely resourceful in these uncertain times.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
27 May 2020
Chefs, food producers and hoteliers tend to be more than a tad theatrical. Now, they're using their 'show must go on' mindset to fight for their businesses.
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Takeaway News - Crave
26 May 2020
Crave Restaurant in Navan is now dishing out its fab fresh food for collection or delivery.
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Takeaway News - The Hungry Bear
21 May 2020
Ken Reddin’s fab Hungry Bear restaurant in Gorey, Co.Wexford specialises in great breakfasts and lunches and, to everyone’s delight, it has now reopened for takeouts.
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Tabletalk - Lucinda's Top Takeouts For Our Times
21 May 2020
People-watching and Prosecco with the girls may be off the table for now, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, but, all over the country, you can still treat yourself to a fabulous meal, as more restaurants offer contactless takeaway fare.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
20 May 2020
Today I'm talking to four incredibly focused people across the food and hospitality industry who've taken action, grabbing a tough situation by the scruff of the neck.
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Takeaway News - Dela
18 May 2020
Located at 51 Lower Dominick Street in Galway’s West End, Dela is currently offering a Curbside Collection service on Saturdays & Sundays from 10am-3pm.
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Takeaway News - Osteria Lucio
15 May 2020
Looking for a fab contemporary Italian restaurant-quality takeaway this weekend? Check out Michelin-starred chefs Ross Lewis and Luciano Tona's Osteria Lucio.
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Foodies Fight Back with Lucinda
13 May 2020
Our artisan food industry has really stepped up to the plate in this current emergency, deploying their creativity to get their food to those who need it. They too are front-line heroes. Rally around them. Buy Irish, buy local.
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Takeaway News - Vermilion
01 May 2020
Looking for a delicious at-home meal this weekend? Check out Vermilion Indian Restaurant in Terenure, Dublin 6W. Delivery and Collection from Thursday to Sunday from 5:30pm-9:30pm.
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Takeaway News - Rasam
29 April 2020
Nisheeth Tak's spectacular Rasam Indian Restaurant in Sandycove, Co. Dublin is currently offering its superb cuisine via takeaway from Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm to 9pm.
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Takeaway News - 3 Leaves
28 April 2020
Santosh & Millie Thomas' fab and flavour packed 3 Leaves Indian Restaurant in the Blackrock Market, Co. Dublin, is currently offering a pre-order via website and collect service from Thursday to Saturday 5pm to 8pm.
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Takeaway News - Riba
24 April 2020
You may not be able to book a table, right now, but if you’re after some top level Italian food then check out Riba in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, who are operating a contactless at home delivery service.
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Takeaway News - Guinea Pig
23 April 2020
If you're looking to chow down at home on some truly fabulous restaurant-quality food, then check out French Chef Jerome Fernandes' brand new call and collect service, running Wednesday-Saturday from 5.30pm-7.30pm.
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20 Fantastic Feasts and where Lucinda found them
22 April 2020
Let's spare a thought for our fabulous food industry, which needs our full support, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who today is looking back at some of the best lunches and dinners she's had in recent times.
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Takeaway News - Pickle
22 April 2020
Star chef Sunil Ghai’s fab pickle restaurant, on Camden Street, Dublin 2, has introduced its new Pickle@Home service with food being available for collection from 5pm-10pm Tuesday to Thursday and 4pm-10pm Friday to Sunday.
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Takeaway News - Whelehan's Wines
21 April 2020
David Whelehan's fab winebar and wine emporium in Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, is launching a brand new restaurant drive-through from April 22nd, once again allowing relieved regulars to chow down on Chef Nick Clapham's delightful stylish casual fare.
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Takeaway News - Chakra by Jaipur
17 April 2020
Part of the fantastic Jaipur Group, known widely for their delicious authentic Indian food, Chakra in Greystones, Co. Wicklow is offering a special order & collect service from 5pm-9pm Thursday-Sunday & bank holiday Mondays.
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Restaurant Review - 11 Top Takeaways
15 April 2020
We may not be able to dine out in style right now, but that's no reason to be missing out on delicious upscale fare, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who has compiled her picks for the 11 best takeaways for high-end home dining.
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Takeaway News - Saba
15 April 2020
Paul Cadden's delightful Saba Takeaways in Rathmines and Baggot Street in Dublin offer some of the very best restaurant quality Thai & Vietnamese food.
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Takeaway News - Randaddy's
14 April 2020
Chef/Proprietor Randy Lewis' fun fab Randaddy's restaurant on the seafront in Lahinch, Co. Mayo, is currently offering great takeaway meals from pizza and burgers to curries, fish and veg dishes too.
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Restaurant Review - Cush
08 April 2020
Billionaire techie Pearse Flynn is investing in his home village of Ballycotton, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, transforming the former Pier 26 restaurant into the fabulous new Cush; definitely one to try in the future.
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Restaurant Review - Amy Austin
01 April 2020
When restaurateur John Farrell gets a new idea, everyone else gets excited, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, having already had two restaurants falter at this Drury Street spot, here’s hoping that it's third time lucky.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Gallagher's Boxty House
27 March 2020
I’d been hearing all sorts of great things about the long-standing Gallagher’s Boxty House in Temple Bar, and so, at a loose end one evening, friend Bayveen and I headed for the city in search of what were rumoured to be the best boxty around.
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Restaurant Review - Vegging out
25 March 2020
Vegetarians and vegans are finally having their day in the sun, as plant-based eating begins to take centre-stage, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who visits two of Dublin's latest meat-free venues.
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Restaurant Review - 9 Asian Lunches
18 March 2020
From simple food trucks or stalls, to designated dumpling houses and even posh restaurants, Lucinda O'Sullivan gives her verdict on an eclectic array of Dublin's Asian eateries.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Hungry Bear
13 March 2020
We were laden with bags and utterly famished when we chanced upon The Hungry Bear in Gorey, Co Wexford, with its bright attractive exterior. “We certainly have the appetite”, laughed I...
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Restaurant Review - Liath
11 March 2020
Damien Grey's Liath, set in Dublin's Blackrock Market, has gone from strength to strength since it first opened, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and now, with a Michelin star to its name, it's the hottest ticket in town.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Crave
06 March 2020
At the tail end of a day trip with pal Bayveen, we decided that, having shopped so hard, we deserved a treat! And so, our cravings led us to Crave, which had been on my hit list for some time.
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Restaurant Review - Rasam
04 March 2020
Restaurateur Nisheeth Tak is a pioneer who, over the last two decades, has changed the face of Indian dining in Ireland, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who couldn't wait to try the new menu at his SoCoDu restaurant, Rasam
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Le Perroquet
03 March 2020
Le Perroquet bar and restaurant on Upper Leeson Street, which has TV celeb Nick Munier to the fore, and hot young chef and co-owner Chris Fullam at the stove, is one of the hottest restaurants in Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - Six Bites About Town
26 February 2020
With an ever-increasing number of diverse eateries opening around Dublin City and its surrounding regions, today's foodie is utterly spoiled for choice, says Lucinda O'Sullivan.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Murph's Gastro Pub
21 February 2020
The family run Murph’s Gastro Pub at the Derragarra Inn in the pretty country locale of Butlersbridge, Co. Cavan, has a great reputation for serving high quality gastro fare at a reasonable cost.
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Restaurant Review - 20 Most Romantic Spots
19 February 2020
Lucinda's 20 Most Romantic Spots in 2020 for wining, dining and popping the question.
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Restaurant Review - Into The West
12 February 2020
With the days getting brighter and the winter chill beginning to abate a little, there are some fabulous hotel and restaurant deals to be had around the country, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who hit the road for a mini-tour out west.
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Restaurant Review - allta
29 January 2020
With a tasting menu and some 100 wines, the new allta wine bar seemed an exciting prospect, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, but with no bottled water, sparse dishes and overly familiar staff, she was less than impressed.
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Restaurant Review - Volpe Nera
22 January 2020
With all the city premises being grabbed up by big groups, entrepreneurial restaurateurs have headed for the suburbs, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who enjoyed a fantastic meal at a new restaurant in Blackrock, Co Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - The Lake Room
15 January 2020
Having only recently enjoyed a delicious meal at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel in Killarney, news of the imminent arrival of an exciting new chef to the hotel saw Lucinda O'Sullivan back on the motorway a couple of weeks later.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Shelbourne
09 January 2020
Arguably Ireland’s most famous hotel, The fabulous five star Shelbourne is regarded as a national treasure and very much part of the fabric of Dublin social life.
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Lucinda's Lookback 2019
08 January 2020
The best and the worst of 2019, with new Michelin stars and Michelin strippings, and plenty of gourmet gossip, including the very surprising closure of one fashionable Dublin restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - The Old Bank
27 December 2019
Fine feathers and frippery is all well and good, but it must be backed up by the food, service and a table that doesn't make you feel like a sardine, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Dromquinna Manor
20 December 2019
If you’re fed up with the same old hotel routine and want to shake things up, without sacrificing your creature comforts and holiday pampering, then check out the fabulous Dromquinna Manor Estate in Kenmare.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Boathouse Bistro
19 December 2019
Set in an original 19thC boathouse overlooking the rippling waters of Kenmare Bay, when it comes to location it would be hard to top The Boathouse Bistro, on the fabulous Dromquinna Manor Estate.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Christmas Spots Countrywide 2019
18 December 2019
After sorting all the pressies, and entertaining everyone from Tiny Tim to your own personal grinch, take some stress out of your stocking with one of my 20 Best Christmas Spots around the country, for eating, drinking and being merry!
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Osaka Ramen & Bento
17 December 2019
In recent years, Ireland has been swept by the ramen wave, with Asian street food becoming an insta-fave with just about every foodie, and bento boxes have been an enormous hit with the working lunch time crowd.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Christmas Spots in Dublin 2019
11 December 2019
Our capital city is a place of wonder at Christmas, and, with hundreds of great restaurants, you're guaranteed to find a festive feast to suit. Whether it's pub grub, posh nosh, tea with auntie, a night with the girls, breakfast, lunch or a vegan feast.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eden Cafe
06 December 2019
Airy and contemporary, with splashes of colour emphasising and enchancing the minimalist decor, and a big glass front allowing light to beam in, Eden Cafe, on Forge Hill in Cork, is a great place to wile away a few hours over coffee or some great food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Lignum
03 December 2019
Ireland has a new culinary star that's sure to turn a small village in Galway into a dining destination, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was blown away by Danny Africano's Lignum.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Solas Tapas Bar
29 November 2019
We were dining in Nicky and Ann Foley's Solas Tapas & Wine bar, which has been reeling in the locals and tourists alike for its great buzz and food. We quickly discovered the beat on the street was right - there are tapas bars, and then there's Solas.
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Restaurant Review - Mamo
27 November 2019
Having served his time in the kitchens of top restaurants, chef Killian Durkin has teamed up with his wife Jess, formerly of Etto, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and the result, Mamo, on the seafront at Howth, is sure to become a hot destination.
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Restaurant Review - The Bell Tower
20 November 2019
Castlemartyr Resort has a reputation for opulent aesthetics, acres of gorgeous parkland and great food, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was back to try the gourmet fare at its fine-dining Bell Tower restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Spitalfields
13 November 2019
With an unstoppable swell of techy urbanites flooding the restaurant scene, even the Coombe isn't safe from gentrification, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who enjoyed the fare at the new Spitalfields.
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Restaurant Review - Bastion
06 November 2019
Having been Ireland's gourmet capital for many years, Kinsale finally has a Michelin star as its crowning glory, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who couldn't wait to sample Paul and Helen McDonald's Bastion.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Sakura Japanese Restaurant
01 November 2019
Set on the well-known McCurtain Street in Cork City, Sakura Japanese Restaurant has earned rave reviews for its top notch food and wonderfully varied menus.
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Restaurant Review - Mister S
30 October 2019
In the 1990s, Camden Street was tipped as Dublin's next hot spot, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and now, more than two decades later, with all kinds of cool, hip venues in place, suddenly everyone wants in on the act.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Maddens Bridge Bar & Restaurant
25 October 2019
Not just a paradise for surfers, the beautiful town of Bundoran in Co. Donegal has some of the most scenic dramatic Atlantic coastline around. So, it’s no surprise that natives and visiting explorers alike flock to the town for its natural beauty.
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Restaurant Review - Lignum
23 October 2019
It's too late for this year's Michelin awards, but Ireland has a new culinary star that's sure to turn a small village in Galway into a dining destination, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was blown away by Danny Africano's Lignum.
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Restaurant Review - Casper & Giumbini's
16 October 2019
Dun Laoghaire's restaurant scene has been on life-support for the past few years, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was interested to hear that a 1980s Dublin brasserie was getting a reboot on the seafront.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Avalon House Hotel
11 October 2019
Avalon House Hotel in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny is a wonderful 4-Star hotel located right in the heart of the very pretty town, and a perfect base from which to explore all that the Cats county has to offer.
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Restaurant Review - Doolally
09 October 2019
The Press Up Group has built an empire of beautiful, buzzing hotspots, but their food, while inoffensive, is usually fairly mundane, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who unfortunately found the same at their new Indian Restaurant.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Ramen Kitchen
08 October 2019
Right now, its all about ramen, and, if you’re not enthusing about it, the social media foodie crowd will think you're just so passe. After all, It's the latest star to strut the catwalks of our tastebuds.
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Restaurant Review - Ripasso
02 October 2019
When Campo di Fiori decamped from Bray's Seafront earlier this year, local Italophiles felt the sting, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but Gabriele Recchia's new Ripasso restaurant and bar has them feeling 'molto bueno' again.
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Restaurant Review - Frank's
25 September 2019
Frank's, a hot new wine bar, and the bay brother of the well-known Delahunt restaurant, failed to impress Lucinda O’Sullivan, with its tarted up chicken wings, black pudding and unpleasant 'cow's fingers', all at premium prices.
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Restaurant Review - Le Perroquet
18 September 2019
The new Le Perroquet, with Nick Munier and hot chef Chris Fullam at the helm, should keep Dublin's posh D4 Francophiles happy, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who skipped the blogger swamped soft openings.
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Restaurant Review - Michelin Mulling
11 September 2019
We seek them here, we seek them there, but Lucinda O’Sullivan can't help but wonder how many feet the Michelin Guide really has on the ground, as she visited Co. Kilkenny, which already has two Michelin restaurants and plenty of hopefuls.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Montenotte Hotel
06 September 2019
With gorgeous panoramic views of the city, and with lots to see and do close by, The Montenotte Hotel in Cork is a fab place to stay. Having had a major revamp a couple of years ago, it’s bright and modern but also plush, tasteful and wonderfully elegant.
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Restaurant Review - The East Room
04 September 2019
Instagram posts from The East Room restaurant on the University of Limerick campus had Lucinda O’Sullivan yearning for a taste. So, with a free afternoon, a friend in tow and a strict 12.30pm booking, she hit the road.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Markets & Food Festivals
28 August 2019
From bakers and butchers, jam and cheese producers, beekeepers and more, we're spoiled for choice with the fresh artisanal fare and variety of grab and go eclectic street food being served up. Throw in some live entertainment, and it's a proper day out.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eatokyo Talbot Street
22 August 2019
Just off O’Connell Street, in the heart of Dublin city centre, is the fab Eatokyo restaurant on Talbot Street. A sister restaurant of the uber-popular Eatokyo in Temple Bar, this busy buzzy noodle & sushi bar does some of the best Japanese food around.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Gastrobars 2019
21 August 2019
Once upon a time, all Irish pubs could offer was a 'hang sandwich' or a cheese toastie, but that's no longer the case. From beers and a burgers, to fine contemporary cuisine, or an ocean of fresh fish, there's endless variety at modern Irish gastrobars.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Foodie Views 2019
14 August 2019
For great grub with stunning scenery, find your way to one of Lucinda's 20 Best Foodie Views for 2019, from Bray, Co. Wicklow to Ballylickey, Co. Cork, to Sherkin Island, Co. Galway and on to Portnoo, Co. Donegal.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Seafood Spots 2019
07 August 2019
Nothing screams summertime like great seafood served up in beautiful sunny surrounds, and, here in Ireland, We're spoiled for choice. If want to know where the best plaices are for 2019, check out Lucinda’s picks for the 20 Best Seafood Spots
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Foodie Pitstops along the Wild Atlantic Way 2019
31 July 2019
There’s something for everyone to enjoy along the Wild Atlantic Way, stretching from Kinsale, to the Inishowen Peninsula. If you want to experience the best food and drink along the way, check out Lucinda's definitive list of the 20 Best Foodie Pitstops.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Trucks & Trailers 2019
24 July 2019
If you fancy dining on fabulous food, in fun, quirky and often beautiful surroundings, check out Lucinda's definitive guide to the 20 best food trucks and trailers for 2019.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Terraces 2019
17 July 2019
For the best of outdoor eating, both in the capital and throughout the country, check out Lucinda's picks for Ireland's 20 Best Terraces 2019.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Collina
16 July 2019
Uniting the foodie tribes of Galway, I’d heard nothing but great thing about La Collina, a popular Italian restaurant in Salthill. So, on a weekend escape with pal Rena, it was hot on my agenda.
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Restaurant Review - Little Mike's
10 July 2019
Having dined at chef Gareth Smith’s fabulous Michael’s in Mount Merrion many times, Lucinda O’Sullivan was excited to visit his brand new restaurant, the cool and classy Little Mike’s, just a few doors down from its big brother.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - 360 Cookhouse
09 July 2019
Connected to King John’s Castle and the beautiful WWI Memorial Wall, the 360 Cookhouse in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford has been grabbing people’s attention. Close to Davitt's Quay, it's in a great location where all the town's foodie action is happening.
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Restaurant Review - Old Post Office
03 July 2019
Feverish foodies were buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the opening of a new fine-dining Chinese Restaurant in Blackrock, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, with mundane menus and sky-high prices, this one really misses the mark.
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Restaurant Review - Volare by Ciamei Cafe
26 June 2019
With more and more restaurateurs setting up in innovative premises, we now have a wealth of great offbeat spots to check out, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. One such place is the fab Volare by Ciamei Cafe at the Blackrock Market.
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Restaurant Review - Capricho @ Bayview Hotel
19 June 2019
On a recent jaunt to beautiful Ballycotton in East Cork, Lucinda O’Sullivan was on the hunt for a great Sunday afternoon bite, which she found at the Bayview Hotel. She liked it so much in fact, that she went back for dinner.
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Restaurant Review - Aimsir
12 June 2019
The once glittering Village at Lyons was never quite the same after the death of Dr. Tony Ryan, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, the new Aimsir, with its stunning 18 course menu, may soon bring the sparkle of stars back to Lyons.
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Restaurant Review - The Eddison @ The Dylan Hotel
05 June 2019
The Dylan Hotel, in D4, has been turning heads with its fab and funky decor ever since it opened, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Now, following some stylish revamps, it can also boast one of the chicest restaurants around, The Eddison.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Johnny's Ranch
04 June 2019
For great food these days, you don’t have to be sat in the dining room of a five-star hotel, dressed to the nines in-keeping with the white napery, chandeliers and approval of the Maitre d’.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Fish Box
31 May 2019
Dramatically beautiful, Dingle has long since been a hotspot for holidaymakers and foodies alike, and when it comes to great seafood in this popular seaside town, the Flannery family are legends.
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Restaurant Review - Eccles Hotel
29 May 2019
Having tried Chef Eddie Attwell’s award-worthy fare a couple of years ago, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to be crossing his path again – this time, at the fabulous, southern-plantation style Eccles Hotel in Glengarrif, Co. Cork.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Plum Tree Bistro
28 May 2019
On a recent visit to Co. Carlow, friend Rena and I stopped for a meal at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel’s Plum Tree Bistro. The food at this hotel, on the banks of the Barrow, has always been excellent with great service too, but now, it’s better than ever.
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Restaurant Review - 30 Church Street
22 May 2019
With no new openings for ages, the foodie scene was getting a little stale in Dublin's popular Howth Village, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was hoping that the new 30 Church Street would be the answer to her prayers.
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Restaurant Review - Circa
08 May 2019
Tired of all the grainy hodgepodge hipster plates, served with a straight face, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to find sophisticated fare at reasonable prices without all the pomp and circumstance at the new Circa in Terenure.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Sunday Lunch Spots 2019
01 May 2019
Has brunch had it’s day? With more and more restaurants switching back to the classic Sunday lunch, Lucinda gives you her best spots for roasts, racks, pud and spuds in 2019.
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Restaurant Review - Ramen Kitchen
24 April 2019
There's always a 'new' en vogue cuisine, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and the latest star to strut the catwalks of our tastebuds is ramen. So, with Stoneybatter's casual-food boom in full swing, she was on her way to the new Ramen Kitchen.
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Restaurant Review - Liath
17 April 2019
Liath, the derivative of the former Michelin-starred Heron & Grey in Dublin’s Blackrock Market, is the most significant restaurant opening of 2019, so far, says, Lucinda O’Sullivan — who, naturally, was the first one in the door.
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Restaurant Review - Mapas
10 April 2019
The ever-popular, long-standing Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney is still rolling with the times, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was delighted to check in to this fab family hotel to check out their new restaurant, Mapas.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Old Spot
04 April 2019
The Old Spot, on Bath Avenue in Sandymount, is undoubtedly one of the hottest gastro pubs in the country. The Michelin man clearly agrees; given that it has featured in their ‘Eating out in Pubs’ guide for the past four years.
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Restaurant Review - Crudo at Dunne & Crescenzi
03 April 2019
Eileen Dunne & Stefano Crescenzi have been setting the gold standard for Italian food in Ireland for many years, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was excited to see their new Dublin 4 offering, Crudo at Dunne & Crescenzi.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pizza Yard
29 March 2019
Pizza Yard is set in what was the old Sandford Cinema in Ranelagh. A hip hot-spot with trending foodies, I was eager to check it out, but I didn’t realise, that the ‘Yard’ bit of the name meant that the pizzas are sold, like cloth, by the yard.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Casey's of Baltimore Hotel
26 March 2019
Baltimore is one of the most beautiful villages in West Cork, known for its glamorous summer sailing lifestyle. The family-run Casey’s of Baltimore Hotel, at the heart of the community, is renowned for its food, hospitality, and of course, its location.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Black Cat
22 March 2019
We were in Galway enjoying a day of food, fun and shopping. With the feet walked off us and our appetites growing, we headed out to the main drag in Salthill, where, I’d been told, there was a fab tapas restaurant called Black Cat.
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Restaurant Review - The Grill & Bar @ Lyrath Estate Hotel
20 March 2019
With hotels around the country getting kitted out for the next boom, there are lots of fab revamps to check out, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who loved the stunning new Grill & Bar at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Henry's Bistro & Winebar
19 March 2019
Dermot and Noreen Fetton are two of the most experienced people operating within the hospitality business in Ireland today. Consequently, their Henry’s Bistro & Winebar in Ennis, Co. Clare, was quickly proving a popular draw with local and alike.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Foyle Hotel By Chef Brian McDermott
14 March 2019
Owned and operated by popular Irish TV chef and author Brian McDermott, and his wife Brenda, The Foyle Hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal, should be at the top of the list for voyaging foodies on the hunt for the double whammy of great food and accommodation.
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Restaurant Review - Bart's
13 March 2019
With high/low dining taking the world by storm, well-known restaurateur Jay Bourke hasn't missed a beat, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who loved the simple-but-with-style ethos at his new Bart's bar restaurant on Dublin's South William Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Butcher
12 March 2019
Butcher in Kilkenny have been making a big name for themselves in foodie circles, not only for the high quality of their food, but also for their fab presentation.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Amaya Fusion
07 March 2019
Anyone who reads my work knows that I love good Indian food. The variety of flavours and textures, and the beauty of the presentation, when its done right, are magic. So, when I come across a really good Indian restaurant, I can’t wait to tell everyone.
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Restaurant Review - Grano
06 March 2019
With proprietor Roberto Mungo's winning charm, delicious authentic food, plus a little magic from mamma, Lucinda O’Sullivan had a delightful experience at the new Grano Italian Restaurant on Dublin's Manor Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Galmont Hotel & Spa
04 March 2019
Galway is a city that is always alive and vibrant with any number of fabulous festivals from arts to food to film happening throughout the year, and, The Galmont fits the bill perfectly being only a short walk from Eyre Square, the heart of the city.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Gigi
01 March 2019
Casari was as urbane and charming as ever when we arrived, shortly after Gigi opened. A number of the red-bricked D6 legal eagle and other professional Italophile types were settling in, sniffing corks and reminiscing on the summer's lease in Tuscany.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - 3 Leaves
28 February 2019
3 Leaves is a fab Indian restaurant situated in the Blackrock Market in Co. Dublin. Highly impressed with my first visit, I've returned since and found the food and atmosphere just as engrossing each time.
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Restaurant Review - Capital Cafes
27 February 2019
With Dublin's cafe culture thriving once more, Lucinda gives you her 12 best cafes for chills, chats and chowing down in the capital.
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Restaurant Review - Gigi
20 February 2019
Already familiar with long-time restaurateur Giorgio Casari's legendary charm, Lucinda O’Sullivan was unsurprised to find the master in his element when she visited his new restaurant, Gigi in Ranelagh.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Lobster
15 February 2019
There are so many beautiful towns and villages to explore along the Wild Atlantic Way, and Waterville,on the amazing and dramatic Ring of Kerry, is one of the best. It’s where the legendary Charlie Chaplin and his family holidayed for many years.
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Restaurant Review - Variety Jones
13 February 2019
Fed up with the constant arrivals of samey, corporate-controlled venues, it felt like fate when Lucinda O’Sullivan heard that chef Keelan Higgs' first solo venture, on Thomas Street, Dublin 8, was to be called Variety Jones.
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Restaurant Review - Shelbourne Social
06 February 2019
With all of the hype surrounding the new Shelbourne Social in D4, Lucinda O’Sullivan was expecting a massive Gatsby-style sprawl, not the cool, clubby venue that it is. The menu, however, requires a master’s degree...
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Restaurant Review - Uno Mas
30 January 2019
Already a fan of its big brother, the hip hot Etto Restaurant on Merrion Row, Lucinda O’Sullivan, along with lots of other foodies in the know, was excited to see what they were serving up in the new Uno Mas on Dublin's Aungier St.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kyoto Asian Street Food Clonmel
25 January 2019
When husband and wife team Maorong Zhuang and LingLing Shi opened Kyoto, a couple of years back, they were Waterford City’s first Japanese restaurant. Since then, they have thrived; delighting diners with an impressive selection of fab Asian eats.
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Restaurant Review - Cafe en Seine
23 January 2019
Following a massive €4m restoration job, Dublin's Cafe en Seine, has reopened, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. And, with The Ivy just across the street, it looks like the battle for Dawson Street has just begun.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Roseville House
22 January 2019
The beautiful seaside town of Youghal, in Co. Cork, has long since been a desired destination for tourists. It’s a place of exceptional beauty with so much to see and do; from its historical sites, to its sandy beaches to the bustling tourist town itself.
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Restaurant Review - Loretta's
16 January 2019
The D7 suburb of Phibsborough has always been a colourful place with plenty of activity, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was on her way to Chef Jimmy Wiley's new venture, Loretta's, set in an imposing former bank.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Grapevine Wine & Tapas Bar
10 January 2019
The atmosphere at the Grapevine is warm and vibrant – just the place for an evening with the girls or a romantic dinner. They serve food until late and offer a fab selection wine and Irish craft beers.
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Restaurant Review - Mak at Zozimus
02 January 2019
Dery Desmond's Zozimus on Anne's Lane had lots of space and a great cocktail menu but the food was lacking, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, with the talented chef Jules Mak on board, it's all gotten a lot spicier.
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Lucinda's Lookback 2018
02 January 2019
The best and worst of Lucinda's year, from Michelin magic and suburb cheffing to dodgy dinners and would-be-greats that totally missed the mark.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cinnamon Garden
20 December 2018
I’m a die-hard Indian food fan, and, while I had been there a few years ago, having heard nothing but great things of late about Aashim Bajaj’s Cinnamon Garden Restaurant in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, I couldn’t wait to try it again.
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Restaurant Review - Da Mirco
19 December 2018
After 13 years as manager of the fabulous Farmgate Cafe in the English Market, Mirco Fondrini has now planted his own flag, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who visited his contemporary Italian Osteria, Da Mirco, on Bridge Street in Cork City
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Festive Shopping Lunches
12 December 2018
The big day out for Christmas shopping is something we always remember, and lunch is a big part of it. Whether you want pizza, pasta, a traditional roast or something more exotic, there's lots of festive food to be enjoyed.
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Restaurant Review - Layla's
05 December 2018
The Devlin Hotel in Ranelagh is an uber-cool spot with all the modern features and slick finishes that you could ever want, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who made her way upstairs to it’s retro-inspired gastrobar-style restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Del Fino
28 November 2018
Fed up with the non-stop nonsense of frenzied foodies battling for pizza pride on social media, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted by the new Del-Fino restaurant, where thankfully the higher end of Italian cuisine was on display.
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Restaurant Review - The River Club Grill Room
21 November 2018
With the hotel industry perking up again, new spots and revamps are bustin' out all over, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was curious to see and taste the latest innovations and renovations at the fab River Lee Hotel in Cork.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Daata Tandoori Bray
20 November 2018
As most of my readers know, I absolutely love good Indian, Pakastani or other Asian food, and, when I find a restaurant that can deliver on the authentic flavours and spices, I just keep wanting to go back.
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Restaurant Review - The Gastro Bar at Fade Street Social
14 November 2018
From reality TV to Michelin stars, Dylan McGrath is a big deal in the Irish foodie world, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Unfortunately, in reality, the new menu at his Fade Street GastroBar, was not up to par.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cafe Carleton
09 November 2018
Following for a day of shopping at Newbridge Silverware in Co. Kildare, our feet were in tatters and, feeling a bit of post-shopping peckishness, we made our way to the Café Carleton, which is the dining option at the Newbridge Visitors Centre.
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Restaurant Review - Chestnut
07 November 2018
With this year’s Michelin Stars now shining brightly, Lucinda O’Sullivan was on a mission to check off the one place she hadn't yet tried; Chef Rob Krawczyk's much-lauded Restaurant Chestnut in Ballydehob, Co. Cork.
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Restaurant Review - The Carriage House
31 October 2018
Last year, the legendary Adare Manor reopened under the baton of horseracing head-honcho J.P. McManus, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who visited their brand new casual restaurant, The Carriage House.
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Restaurant Review - The Dalkey Duck
24 October 2018
Having visited The Dalkey Duck when it opened and finding the menu very basic, it’s goose was cooked as far as Lucinda O’Sullivan was concerened, however, a repeat visit saw this duck rise like the proverbial phoenix.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel
18 October 2018
Fabulously situated in the heart of the O’Donnell county, the Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel in Ardara, Co. Donegal is certainly worth a visit.
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Restaurant Review - Gourmet Food Parlour Skerries
17 October 2018
Having started out with a small suburban cafe, these two Lorraine’s built their foodie empire in the height of the recession, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who couldn’t wait to grab a bite at their latest GFP branch in Skerries.
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Restaurant Review - Crow Street
10 October 2018
With two neighbourhood restaurants already to their names, David Coffey and Damien Quinn have planted their flag in Dublin City, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan, who tried their new spot in Temple Bar
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Bay View Hotel
04 October 2018
The fabulous seaside town of Kilkee in Co.Clare is renowned for its magnificent views of Kilkee Bay and the the cliffs which surround it, and, it’s a perfect base from which to set about exploring the rough and rugged Wild Atlantic Way.
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Restaurant Review - The Forge
03 October 2018
With a new team at this Co.Meath restaurant, eager to prove their metal, Lucinda O’Sullivan was keen to visit. However, she found it needs to put its own stamp on things, instead of relying on the old guard's dated duds.
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Restaurant Review - Steps Of Rome
26 September 2018
The long standing Steps of Rome restaurant loaded up the chariots, a couple of years back, making its way out to Windy Arbour, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Unfortunately, she felt they'd gone from city chic to neighbourhood nosh.
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Restaurant Review - The Grayson
19 September 2018
With a total reboot of what was the Residence on St. Stephen's Green, Lucinda O’Sullivan couldn't wait to book a table at The Grayson, and was delighted by the food, service and style at the Press Up Groups new venture.
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Restaurant Review - Daata
12 September 2018
Sick of the same old brunchtime routines, and eager for a change of scene, Lucinda O’Sullivan set her sights on the brunch menu at the new Daata restaurant in Greystones, hoping for some top-notch exotic eats.
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Restaurant Review - Cookes
05 September 2018
The sounds of corks popping and glasses clinking at Harvey Nicks' restaurant Dundrum had faded, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Now, after two years of nada, Johnnie Cooke has brought his talents to the table
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Dough Bros
04 September 2018
Nowadays, the Dough Bros pizzas are legendary amongst the hip crowd in Galway, but it all began with their beloved food truck, which is still on the go.
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Restaurant Review - The Ivy
29 August 2018
There's been lots of anticipation for the opening of the new Ivy on Dublin's Dawson Street, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, as other big British brands have learned, it'll take more than a bucket of bling to impress Dublin's diners.
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Restaurant Review - Pizza Yard
22 August 2018
Everyone loves pizza, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, they're tasty, affordable, and never go out of style, as she visits Pizza Yard in Ranelagh, D6, the latest hot shot pizza spot where, za comes, not by the inch, but by the yards.
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Restaurant Review - Mews
15 August 2018
Good service makes such a big difference, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. So, with the helpful phone manner and smiling staff on arrival, she enjoyed every second of her experience at the Scandi-style Mews in West Cork.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Piazza
09 August 2018
Located on Gorey’s Main Street, this popular Italian Restaurant always seems to have a buzz about it. Immediately proving popular with pizza aficionados, word of La Piazza’s impressive Italian eats had gotten to me fast.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Street Food Stop Offs
08 August 2018
With lots of great food to be had at markets fests and foodie vans and trucks, Lucinda gives you her 20 Best Street Food Stop Offs For fab flavoursome food on the go.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Oak Fire Pizza Clonakilty
02 August 2018
Way back in 2009, the guys from Oak Fire Pizza started out their biz in their converted cow box pizza trailer, operating out of markets and catering for festivals and events, proving an immediate hit with pizza aficionados.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Pizza Places
01 August 2018
If you're after the best slice of 'za' this summer, check out Lucinda's 20 Best Pizza Places for a slice of the good life in 2018.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Dining Destinations
25 July 2018
For freewheeling foodies who want great food to go with their getaway, check out Lucinda's 20 Best Dining Destinations.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Fennelly's of Callan
19 July 2018
Always on the lookout for great places to eat, we were on our way back from Waterford, and thought we’d stop off for an early lunch, having been tipped off about a cool day time spot in the pretty market town of Callan just a few miles from Kilkenny Town.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Gastro Stars
18 July 2018
For great casual summer holiday dining, Lucinda's gives you her 20 Best gastro pubs for feeding the whole flock.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - China Sichuan
12 July 2018
Kevin Hui’s incredibly popular China Sichuan is one of our longest-standing high-end Chinese restaurants, and the de rigueur destination for a huge clientele of prominent customers.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Seafood Spots
11 July 2018
With fantastic sunny weather upon us, Lucinda's gives you her 20 Best Seafood Spots to get your claws into this summer.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Baths At Clontarf
06 July 2018
With beach-hut doors, deck-chair fabric covering the seats, brass-topped tables with nautical screws, giant beach chairs, and jaunty staff bedecked in Breton jumpers and jeans, there’s more than a touch of Deauville glamour to The Baths.
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Restaurant Review - China Sichuan
04 July 2018
The once-sacred lobster is popping up everywhere nowadays across a myriad of cuisines, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Summer's here and it's the time to enjoy it, as she did at the China Sichuan in Sandyford, Co. Dublin.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Benny & Co.
28 June 2018
We were ‘on the road again’, as Willie Nelson would say. I'd been tipped off by a friend in the restaurant biz – whose wife was also from Donegal - "you have to go to Benny & Co in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal", he said, "they really do things right."
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Restaurant Review - Ananda
27 June 2018
It's been a decade of accolades and awards for the fab Ananda Indian Restaurant in Dundrum, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and, with talented young gun Karan Mittal now in the kitchen, they'll be hitting the bullseye for years to come.
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Restaurant Review - Everett's
20 June 2018
In an industry focused on flashes in the pan & plating Picassos, it's great when a chef delivers flavour along with the flair, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Peter Everett, chef patron at the new Everett's in Waterford, does just that.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mannion's
19 June 2018
On the hunt for great food and drink, I’m up and down the country week in week out, and the latest foodie find for me is Mannion’s, just on the edge of New Ross, Co. Wexford.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Everett's
14 June 2018
When it’s a choice between flavour or presentation, flavour wins every time. Happily, at Everett’s in Waterford, the new restaurant by chef Peter Everett and partner, Keith Noonan, in the former Wine Vaults, we got both flavour and chic presentation.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Coastal Hotspots 2018
13 June 2018
Lucinda's guide to the 20 best Coastal hotspots for sun, fun and great casual food this summer.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Terraces 2018
06 June 2018
A roundup of Lucinda's 20 Best Terraces for 'Eating out' with style this summer.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Riddler Restaurant
05 June 2018
Close to Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin 8 is The Riddler, a large cafe/restaurant, which has quickly become a popular Dublin hotspot with its laid back entertaining style and atmosphere along with great food.
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Restaurant Review - Ichigo Ichie
30 May 2018
Chef Takashi Miyazaki's new Ichigo Ichie, on Fenn's Quay in Cork, offers a 12 course haute cuisine Japanese experience, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who, despite some eye rolling over the haute hype lead up, couldn't wait to try it.
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Restaurant Review - Forno500
23 May 2018
Finding good food, good service and a little bit of atmosphere all in one spot can be tricky, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, however an impromptu visit to the new Forno500, on Dublin's Dame Street, ticked all of her boxes.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Enniskerry Inn
22 May 2018
Coming back from a day out in Wexford, myself and one of the gals were more than a tad peckish and, having gotten a tip from a foodie friend who lives nearby, we decided to head for the Enniskerry Inn in Co. Wicklow.
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Restaurant Review - Voici
16 May 2018
With summery thoughts of warm French weather, continental cuisine and wonderful wining, Lucinda O’Sullivan went in search of a little 'oh la la', and found it at Voici, a new French style winebar on Dublin's Rathgar Road.
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Restaurant Review - Livin la vida mocha!
09 May 2018
Ireland’s coffee culture has changed massively in the last few years, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Nowadays, it's more than a cup of mud and a scone – whether it’s drag shows, puzzling decors or toasties in a shipping container.
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Restaurant Review - Rasam
02 May 2018
For the past 15 years, Niseeth Tak has been breaking boundaries and setting new standards at his fab Rasam Indian restaurant in Glasthule, Co. Dublin, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who couldn't wait to try his latest menus.
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Restaurant Review - The Baths At Clontarf
25 April 2018
Having driven by the disused and dishevelled Clontarf Baths a thousand times over the years, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted by the fab renovations and the top-notch food on offer at this elegant new restaurant.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Marine
24 April 2018
The Marine Links Hotel & Restaurant has been a Ballybunion mainstay since it was first established in 1922. Today it’s the domain of hoteliers/restaurateurs Derek Nagle and Anthony & Elaine Bennett who’ve brought this classic hotel into the 21st century.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Rafter Dempsey's
19 April 2018
Following a day spent indulging in some girlish retail therapy in the city of my ancestors, Kilkenny, my pal Rena and I were both famished and on the hunt for something good to eat.
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Restaurant Review - Old Town
11 April 2018
We used to have some great Chinese restaurants, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but these days they're few and far between. So, having been tipped to Old Town on Dublin's Capel Street, she went in search of her dream Chinese.
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Restaurant Review - Elle's at the Iveagh Garden Hotel
04 April 2018
With a huge €40 million having been injected into the new Iveagh Garden Hotel on Dublin's Harcourt Street, Lucinda O’Sullivan was eager to try their new bistro, Elle's. Unfortunately, poor service made for a poor experience.
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Restaurant Review - 3 Leaves
28 March 2018
Having loved it the first time around, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to be returning to 3 Leaves, an Indian restaurant at the Blackrock Market in Co. Dublin, which, since her visit, has grown in both size and popularity
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Restaurant Review - Ashford Castle
21 March 2018
With an influx of visitors to our shores for St. Patrick’s Day, the start of the tourist season, Lucinda O’Sullivan checks out the spectacular Ashford Castle, in Quiet Man country, at Cong, Co. Mayo.
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Restaurant Review - Bun Cha
14 March 2018
With a promising online presence and very inviting pics, Lucinda O’Sullivan couldn't wait to try the new Bun Cha Vietnamese street food eatery on Dublin's Moore Street. However, from start to finish, this one was a trainwreck.
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Restaurant Review - Glovers Alley
07 March 2018
A visit to the the new Glovers Alley at the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Dublin, left Lucinda O’Sullivan in two minds. The overly-precious atmosphere did nothing for her, but Chef Andy McFadden's food is a cut above.
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Restaurant Review - Bresson
28 February 2018
With a track record for hot hip city restaurants, Temple Garner is a man who knows what the people want, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and with his latest venture, Bresson in Monkstown, he's brought his best to the burbs.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The International Hotel
22 February 2018
Beautifully situated in the heart of Killarney, only 100m from the Golden Gates entrance to the Demense and Killarney National park, is the fabulous 4-star International Hotel. For anyone looking to go exploring in the Kingdom, it is the perfect base.
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Restaurant Review - 20 Best Romantic Spots
21 February 2018
There are many great hotels and restaurants out there, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, all with unique style and flair, whether it's dinner aboard Orient Express carriages, Indonesian rijstaffel by the Liffey or even a secluded getaway in a private castle.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Brasserie On The Corner
15 February 2018
The City of the Tribes has some really fantastic eateries and restaurants these days, and one of their best is undoubtedly Brasserie on the Corner. With a lovely atmosphere, plenty of buzz, excellent service and some really good food, It’s tough to beat.
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Restaurant Review - Osteria 99
14 February 2018
Osteria 99 is the latest restaurant to set up shop in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, with a neutral atmosphere and an unclear motif, they need to kick things up a notch to compete in this busy, foodie locale.
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Restaurant Review - La Brasserie
08 February 2018
Maynooth is no longer just a destination for priests and students, instead, it has become a thoroughly modern town, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan, and it's now home to the blingtastic and excellent La Brasserie
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel
06 February 2018
Perfectly located in the centre of the Marble City, close to popular attractions like Kilkenny Castle, the Smithwick’s experience and a host of great shops and restaurants, is the fabulous Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Butler & Barry
01 February 2018
The Victorian Promenade in Bray, Co. Wicklow, is one of the finest in Europe. It attracts people from all over the country, and at weekends, and especially Sundays, it is always buzzing with life.
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Restaurant Review - The Guinea Pig
31 January 2018
Mervyn Stewart has ridden off into the sunset after more than four decades at the much-loved Guinea Pig restaurant, say Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, new chef patron Jerome Fernandes knows a thing or two about great food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Savoy Hotel
30 January 2018
Fancy finding yourself in the lap of luxury, surrounded by great shopping and a fab theatre district? Then the Savoy Hotel in Limerick should be at the head of your list. From top to bottom, the Savoy exudes glamour and charm.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Seafood Cafe
26 January 2018
You would have to go a long way to find a man as passionate about seafood as chef and restaurateur Niall Sabongi. And he has brought the fruits of the sea to Dublin city centre in a cool, casual way that reminds me of the Mercado San Miguel in Madrid.
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Restaurant Review - Idas Restaurant
24 January 2018
Kevin Murphy wanted to celebrate the Dingle Peninsula with a culinary adventure that hadn’t been seen before, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, However, despite amazing food and a brilliant team, Idas restaurant has closed its doors.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Hooked
23 January 2018
Walking into Hooked I was dazzled by all the funky decorative features of this new Sligo establishment: the wooden boat on the ceiling, the punning mural along one wall, and my favourite, the Father Jack snug.
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Restaurant Review - The Great Southern Hotel Killarney
17 January 2018
There’s excitement in the Kingdom, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, with the historical and beloved Great Southern Hotel Killarney, which has been The Malton for a number of years, being restored to it’s former glory and name.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Croi
16 January 2018
I have always loved a getaway in Tralee. From the beautiful scenery that surrounds It, to the atmosphere and ethos of the town itself, the Kingdom has always been one of my favourite destinations to escape to.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Klaw Poke
05 January 2018
With good seafood, price can often be an issue. However, Niall Sabongi's sassy seafood shack, Klaw Poke on Capel Street, offers premium poisson at a practical price.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mikey Ryan's Bar & Kitchen
03 January 2018
Cashel has always been a magnet for visitors to our shores, including HM Queen Elizabeth II, and now there’s a place that is, as the Michelin man might say, ‘worth a detour’.
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Lucinda's Lookback 2017
21 December 2017
Overall It’s been a year of positive growth and change throughout the restaurant industry, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and as we enjoy the 12 days of X-mas she gives you her 12 most memorable moments of 2017.
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Restaurant Review - Lucinda's 20 Best Festive Shopping Lunches
13 December 2017
Lucinda's 20 Best Festive Shopping Lunches for this season's best Christmas foodie fare.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Eccles Hotel Glengarriff
08 December 2017
The stunning, majestic scenery that surrounds the fabulous Eccles hotel in Glengarriff, West Cork, is truly a joy to behold, overlooking Bantry Bay and Garinish Island on a beautiful section of the Wild Atlantic Way.
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Restaurant Review - The Garden Room
06 December 2017
The 5-star Merrion Hotel has a lot to boast about, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but they never hit the casual dining nail on the head, until now. Their new glass-fronted Garden Room is a perfect ying to Patrick Guilbaud's yang.
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Restaurant Review - Lucinda's 20 Best Sunday Lunches
29 November 2017
Lucinda's 20 Best Sunday Lunches For Roasts, Grills & Thrills In The Capital & Countrywide.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Peachtree East
28 November 2017
Since it opened, Peachtree East has quickly picked up a loyal following of impressed patrons who cannot speak highly enough of it.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pink Salt
24 November 2017
The Victorian seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow, is a tad shy on good eateries, so when I heard that a new Indian restaurant, Pink Salt, was opening, I was out there pronto.
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Restaurant Review - Host
22 November 2017
Having booked a table in advance, at the new Host Restaurant in Ranelagh, Lucinda O’Sullivan was taken aback when, with lots of free tables to be had, she was pointed to a high stool at a narrow ledge in the front window.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Truffles Restaurant & Wine Bar
21 November 2017
Having a 'black and amber' heritage, I'm always delighted to see the culinary scene in Kilkenny move in the right direction, and it's terrific that there are two Michelin-starred restaurants in county. Truffles on William Street, is another step forward.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Masala - Indian Food To Go - Blanchardstown
17 November 2017
When Masala Indian Food To Go in Killiney opened their doors, their food quickly become a favorite in our house and many others it seems. Their newest branch, Masala Blanchardstown, offers the same great fare.
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Restaurant Review - Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa
15 November 2017
Having visited the spectacular Kilronan Castle Hotel in Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon in the past, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to be headed back, eager to check out new head-chef David Porter's much-lauded cuisine.
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Restaurant Review - Truffles
08 November 2017
With her family tree firmly rooted in the county of cats, Lucinda O’Sullivan is always happy to see their foodie community thrive. They've so many good restaurants now, and the latest to join their ranks is Truffles on William St.
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Restaurant Review - Lucinda's 20 Best Asian Spots
01 November 2017
Lucinda's 20 Best Asian spots for truly great eastern eating, both in the capital and around the country.
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Boyne Valley Food & Drinks event at Signal Restaurant, Kilmessan, Co. Meath.
01 November 2017
Check out the Boyne Valley Food & Drinks Tasting Adventure at The Signal Restaurant, at the delightfully pretty Station House Hotel, Kilmessan, Co. Meath, on Friday, 3rd November.
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Restaurant Review - Dunne & Crescenzi Blackrock
25 October 2017
It's been 20 plus years since Dunne & Crescenzi first broke ground in the Dublin restaurant scene, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Today, they're household names and have recently opened a new eatery in Blackrock, Co. Dublin
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Restaurant Review - Dax
18 October 2017
Olivier Meisonnave and Graham Neville have formed a fantastic foodie pairing, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. A perfect ying for each others yang, it's all for for one and one for all at the fab Dax restaurant on Upper Pembroke St.
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Restaurant Review - Panorama Bistro at the Montenotte Hotel
11 October 2017
At long last, the Cork dining scene is returning to it's former glory, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, after her visit to the splendid Panorama Bistro at the Montenotte Hotel, just one of the great new spots to open in the rebel city.
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Restaurant Review - Mikey Ryan's
04 October 2017
Having sped down the motorway to Cork more times than she could count, a foodie pit-stop in Cashel is a favourite for Lucinda O’Sullivan. Delighted that the famous Mikey Ryan’s had finally re-opened, she hit the road once again.
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Restaurant Review - Peploe's
27 September 2017
Since he first caught her eye 25 years ago, Barry Canny has been a foodie to watch, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who couldn't wait to check out the cool new bar and decor at his much loved Peploe's on St. Stephen's Green.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Ember
22 September 2017
‘Love, love me do, you know I love you’ was coming over the music system, as we were the first punters to cross the threshold of Ember restaurant in Milltown. Looking around at the smart bar, and chicly kitted out room, we were loving it already.
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Restaurant Review - Dollard & Co
20 September 2017
The new Dollard & Co food hall, on Dublin’s Wellington Quay, is a magni cent vision, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but she’d hoped their Grill Room would have had more interesting fare, instead of the same old risk-free fodder.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Nightmarket
19 September 2017
Conor Sexton has long been involved in the Thai food game, having previously been partner in some of the best loved and most successful Thai restaurants in the country. His latest restaurant Nightmarket, in Ranelagh, has been a smashing success.
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Restaurant Review - Tequila Jack's
13 September 2017
Hoping for some Mexican zing and zest, Lucinda O'Sullivan ventured south to the new Tequila Jack's on Lapp's Quay, Cork. Unfortunately, despite a flash premises, the food was bland, dry and dreary.
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Restaurant Review - Lava Rock
06 September 2017
An impromptu bite at Lava Rock in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, turned into quite the impressive visit, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was blown away by the level of attention and care given to the food on such a reasonably priced menu.
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Restaurant Review - Pink Salt
30 August 2017
With a shortage of good eateries in Bray, Co. Wicklow, it's always exciting when a new spot opens, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and, with a team as experienced as the guys at the new Pink Salt Indian, she couldn't wait to try it.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Wild & Native
29 August 2017
Set on the Strand Road in Rosslare, Wild & Native Restaurant & Wine Bar, which has proved a big hit, is the brainchild of Jodie and Fergal Dempsey, who’d dreamt of establishing a restaurant and gourmet store ever since they first got together.
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Restaurant Review - Slane Castle - The Gandon Room
23 August 2017
The Boyneside Slane Castle is an iconic Irish landmark, drawing the world's biggest rock stars, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Now, with a massive distillery launching this month, and two restaurants open, she just had to check it out.
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Lucinda's Top 20 Street Food Stop Offs
16 August 2017
Lucinda's Top 20 street food spots, markets and food fests, for the greatest grub on the go.
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Hot 100 Places To Eat - Part Five
09 August 2017
Part five of Lucinda's Hot 100, here are her Top 20 Grills or finger-lickin' badass bbq in 2017.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Granvilles
03 August 2017
We'd driven by Paul and Leonie Granville’s eponymous family run bar & restaurant on the way into Macroom on many occasions and didn't have time to stop, this time we did.
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Hot 100 Places To Eat - Part Four
02 August 2017
Part four of Lucinda's Hot 100, here are her Top 20 Gastro Greats for pubbing and grubbing in style in 2017.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Belle's Kitchen
27 July 2017
Just a short walk from the popular beach in Rathmullan, Co. Donegal is Belle’s Kitchen on Pier Road sitting beside its sister biz, the Salt 'n Batter fish and chip shop.
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Hot 100 Places To Eat - Part Three
26 July 2017
Part three of Lucinda's Hot 100, here are her Top 20 Hot Coastal Eateries for coast to coast dining in 2017.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Westgrove Hotel
21 July 2017
If your agenda for the next twelve months includes some time spent exploring Ireland’s Ancient East, then be sure to check out the 4 Star Westgrove Hotel, in Clane, Co. Kildare.
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Hot 100 Places To Eat - Part Two
19 July 2017
Part two of Lucinda's Hot 100, here are her Top 20 Sassy Seafood Spots for suckin' and shuckin' in 2017.
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Hot 100 Places To Eat - Part One
12 July 2017
Part one of Lucinda's Hot 100, here are her Top 20 Terraces for eating and drinking outdoors in Summer 2017.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Quay West
10 July 2017
Perfectly situated just opposite Donegal Pier in the county town of the O’Donnell county, is the fab Quay West Restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Poke
05 July 2017
With good seafood, price can often be an issue, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, Niall Sabongi has just opened his new sassy seafood shack, Klaw Poke on Capel Street, offering premium poisson at a practical price
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Restaurant Review - Roberta's
28 June 2017
Roberta's, the latest venture of the ever current Press Up Group, is a surefire hit, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. With a fantastic vibe, great food and an aesthetic that's overflowing with style, book a table at Dublin's latest hotspot.
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Restaurant Review - Screebe House
21 June 2017
Set across a sprawling estate, Screebe House in Connemara is no ordinary getaway, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. From food to furnishings to facilities and fab service, this one gets five stars across the board.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Michael's Mount Merrion
15 June 2017
If you’re looking for a great spot to wine and dine, be it morning noon or night, in the Dublin suburbs, then look no further than Michael's Mount Merrion.
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Restaurant Review - Sivad
14 June 2017
After years of belly-busting brunches with an ocean of cocktails, Sunday roast lunch has finally made a comeback, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. For a great afternoon bite, without the haute hipster nonsense, check out the Sivad Grill
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort
08 June 2017
Stunningly situated on the banks of Blessington Lakes and with fab views of the Wicklow Mountains, Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort boasts some of the most spectacular atmospheric scenery that Ireland has to offer.
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Restaurant Review - Kernel Bar & Kitchen
07 June 2017
Having spent almost three decades perfecting her culinary art, Chef Maria Raftery has gone out on her own, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who couldn't wait to try the new Kernel Bar & Kitchen in the heart of the old city.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Killarney Riverside Hotel
01 June 2017
Steeped in Irish history and culture, Killarney has always been a popular spot for tourists. There’s so much to see and do in the surrounding area, from touring the ring of Kerry, to exploring Killarney National Park, to visiting historic sites.
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Restaurant Review - Herbert Room at Cahernane House
31 May 2017
Having loved her past visits to the historic Cahernane House in Killarney, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to be returning to check out the renovations and to try their new chef's fab contemporary cuisine.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kernel Bar & Kitchen
30 May 2017
With 17 years under her belt as Head Chef at Zuni in Kilkenny, Maria Raftery has a fine culinary reputation and following in the city. However, most chefs dream of having their own restaurant, and, when the opportunity arose to do so, Raftery ran with it.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Mulroy Woods Hotel
25 May 2017
Stunningly set, in the heart of Donegal’s beautiful scenic countryside, and on the main route of the Wild Atlantic Way, is the lovely Mulroy Woods Hotel close to the village of Milford.
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Restaurant Review - Old Street
24 May 2017
Having exploded with life and culture in the boom, Malahide’s happening reputation had waned, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Now, Old Street, with its fab new-wave food and design, is bringing the cool edge back to town.
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Restaurant Review - Nightmarket
17 May 2017
Being reviewed on the first night of opening might scare the pants off some restaurateurs, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but, the new Nightmarket in Ranelagh should have nothing to fear besides stampedes of eager diners.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Button & Spoon
11 May 2017
As we rolled over another humpback bridge, Sir said tersely, "is it Bridgetown or Brigadoon we’re in search of?" The SatNav had led us on a merry dance, passing shortcuts that would be familiar to locals, but I was on a mission to find Button & Spoon
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Restaurant Review - Duende
10 May 2017
An impressive set of pictures, tweeted by the chef of Duende in Drogheda, drew Lucinda O’Sullivan like a moth to a flame. The food and service were good, but the lunchtime menu didn’t exactly set her world alight
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Restaurant Review - Dooks
03 May 2017
Having worked at Ottolenghi's and the Petersham Nurseries, Richard Gleeson returned to the green fields of Tipp to fulfil his dreams, establishing the new Dooks Fine Foods in Fethard, says Lucinda O’Sullivan.
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Restaurant Review - Rachel's
26 April 2017
The arrival of Rachel Allen's first solo restaurant adventure has been eagerly awaited in Cork, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who hot-footed it to the rebel city to try the sassy cocktails and high-class menu at the brand new Rachel's
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Restaurant Review - Guilbaud's Reborn
19 April 2017
There weren’t many Michelin stars floating around Ireland when Patrick Guilbaud showed up, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Three decades on, his name, and the stars it carries, are synonymous with the best of Irish cuisine.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Ballyliffin Townhouse
13 April 2017
Topping the National Geographic's 17 for 2017 Cool List, Donegal is officially the coolest place on the planet, not just for its fab scenery and proximety to the Wild Atlantic Way, but for it's warmth & hospitality.
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Restaurant Review - Coffee Counter Culture
12 April 2017
Cafe society has never been more in vogue, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. From high end barista bars to greasy spoons with heaps of personality, everyone that’s anyone has a regular coffee spot nowadays.
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Restaurant Review - Cask
05 April 2017
With a somewhat stagnant foodie scene, Cork isn’t the culinary hotspot it once was, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, Bryan McCarthy, Head Chef of Greene’s and the new Cask at Hotel Isaacs, is just the man to shake things up.
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Restaurant Review - The Bay Tree
29 March 2017
Innovative Chef Keith Boyle is no stranger to the Waterford dining scene, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and his new venture, The Bay Tree on Merchants Quay, is a fantastic 3-floor undertaking that’s sure to make a big splash.
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Restaurant Review - Thali
22 March 2017
We've had a few scattered Nepalese Restaurants around Dublin over the years, but the new Thali on Popes Quay is Cork's first, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who couldn't wait to drop in for a bite.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Suesey Street
21 March 2017
Having loved everything about it when I had first visited, I was finally back on what is one of the best terraces in Dublin, located to the rear of one of the citys fine Georgian houses, Suesey Street - which indeed was the original name for Leeson Street
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Castle Oaks House Hotel
16 March 2017
Set on 26 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, which lead onto the banks of the famous River Shannon, as soon as we set foot on the Grounds of the Castle Oaks House Hotel, we knew that we’d picked a winner.
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Restaurant Review - Anocht
15 March 2017
Kilkenny has become a fab foodie destination with artisan producers and Michelin stars aplenty, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Anocht, at the Kilkenny Design Centre, is the perfect place to try some of the best of modern Ireland.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Dining Room
08 March 2017
On a recent excursion west, we found ourselves overnighting in Castlebar and in search of an evening bite. After 20 minutes or so of humming and hawing, we stumbled across Dining Room, on Bridge Street, and decided to give it a go.
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Restaurant Review - 64 Wine
02 March 2017
During the week, 64 Wine is already a bastion of great wines, artisan small plates and sharing boards, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and now this fabulous wine bar has added a superb repertoire of hot specials to its weekend menu.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Republic Bar & Grill
02 March 2017
With a relaxed charm and an effortless, welcoming atmosphere, the Republic Bar & Grill in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, was the perfect respite after a morning and afternoon spent wheeling around the rebel county.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Charleville Park Hotel
28 February 2017
If you’re thinking of heading south-west in search of respite or adventure, then set your sat nav for Charleville, Co. Cork. In the heart of Munster, Charleville is a terrific spot, with plenty of craic to be had, and well worth the pilgrimage.
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Restaurant Review - Bagots Hutton
24 February 2017
Bagots Hutton, located on the capital's quays, is a fantastic new undertaking, featuring a cafe, bar, restaurant and nightclub, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who found herself delighted from antipasti right through to dolci.
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Restaurant Review - Valentine's Getaways
14 February 2017
With V-Day upon us, lots of folks will be panicking and rethinking the cheap bouquets and ambitious kitchen plans, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. For anyone still twiddling their thumbs, check out her 12 romantic hot spots.
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Restaurant Review - Mr. Fox
09 February 2017
Making a success of a basement restaurant in a not-so-salubrious neighbourhood is a challenge, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, this new venture may have just what it takes, with excellent food and retro sweet treats
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Restaurant Review - Lobstar
02 February 2017
With a host of great eateries already in situ, a newbie has to be pretty damn good to survive in Monkstown, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. Lobstar, the latest to plant its flag, has personality, style and some really good food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Sivad Grill & Wine Bar
01 February 2017
I love the way dining styles have evolved in Ireland over the years with todays mode of choice being much more casual fare, though painstakingly and expertly prepared, served up with really good imported wines.
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Restaurant Review - Dulse
25 January 2017
With a new name and chef attached, she couldn't wait to get back up to Mulberry's, now Dulse, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who, after making a beeline out West, discovered that the new chef had already departed.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Whelehans Wines
25 January 2017
When I first visited David Whelehan’s vast new wine emporium in the bleak first days of January 2015, one half of me thought ‘this place is amazing’, while the other half wondered if he wasn’t a bit mad….
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Restaurant Review - Ember
20 January 2017
The new Ember Restaurant looked trendy and was serving up some tasty, top-notch fine dining on their opening night, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. Watch this space, it's sure to be deep in hipsters and cool cats in no time.
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Restaurant Review - Whelehans Wines
13 January 2017
When David Whelehan took on the derelict Silver Tassie pub, she wasn't sure how he'd fare, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, but today his fab Whelehans Wines has brought the world's best wines to Loughlinstown, along with great food.
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Restaurant Review - Seasons @ Intercontinental
06 January 2017
The Four Seasons Ballsbridge was a boom-years hub for the who's-who and elite hobnobbers, but it lost its cool before departing in 2014, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. However, the fabulous new Intercontinental Hotel has brought the A-list back.
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Lucinda's Lookback on 2016
03 January 2017
After 12 months of the good, the bad and the Donald, Lucinda O'Sullivan, with a rocking Chinese, a Michelin starred market cafe, and the irrepressible Prez, gives you her 12 hottest dining experiences of 2016
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Restaurant Review - Ballynahinch Castle
02 January 2017
Hotel dining has come a long way in a short time, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and, at the fab Owenmore Restaurant in Ballynahinch Castle, Chef Ultan Cooke’s contemporary cuisine is definitely a contender for best in the west.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Dingle Skellig Hotel
20 December 2016
Dingle is certainly one of Ireland’s most beautiful spots, drawing holidaymakers from near and far to witness the kind of idyllic beautiful scenery that captured the worlds hearts in the classic film Ryan’s Daughter.
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Restaurant Review - Christmas chow
13 December 2016
A true Yuletide shopping spree wouldn't be complete without a festive foodie pit-stop, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and, with so much great food and drink to choose from these days, December's diners are sure to be merry
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cirillo's
13 December 2016
In 1977, Emilio Cirillo took over Nico’s, one of Dublin's oldest Italian restaurants, and almost forty years later his nephew, James Cirillo, has opened the eponymous Cirillo’s on Lower Baggot Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Connemara Greenway Cafe & Restaurant
08 December 2016
On a late summer afternoon, whilst adventuring along the Wild Atlantic Way, we came across the wonderful Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant on the Main Street in Oughterard, and, feeling a tad peckish, we were more than happy to stop and check it out.
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Restaurant Review - Wilde
08 December 2016
Set in Dublin’s fab Westbury Hotel, Wilde restaurant has had a major makeover, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and, with its glamorous new 30s-style retro look, not to mention great food, it’s sure to be more popular than ever.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mercantile
05 December 2016
Right in the heart of Dublin City, the fabulous Mercantile Hotel has become a buzzing local hub of good food and drink with a very popular late night scene.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cafe en Seine
28 November 2016
After all the hard work of shopping up and down Grafton Street, Café en Seine was the perfect place for friend Mary and I to grab lunch on a recent day in town. A hotspot at any time of the day, Café en Seine is a treasure trove of great food and drink.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - House of Plates
25 November 2016
Tapas and small plate dining has taken the foodie world by storm, and, when it's done right, it’s a fantastic, social way to eat and to try out lots of different dishes. House of Plates in Castlebar, Co. Mayo is the perfect example of this.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Opium
23 November 2016
Opium Asian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, has been hot and happening since the day it opened its Wexford Street doors. I stopped in with friend Paul when it first opened to find all sorts of cool dudes, long legged blondes and rock band types sussing it out
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Cucina
22 November 2016
The bar for good food and service in Dublin City has been raised so high in these past few years that you have to be really very special if you want to compete.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Soder + Ko
17 November 2016
We’ve had the gastropub and now it’s the gastroclub. I love the notion of good restaurant-style food being served in casual surroundings, so do many others, which is why Michelin starred chefs worldwide are rapidly turning to this ever-growing market.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Kilronan Castle
15 November 2016
Ireland abounds with beautiful old heritage houses and castles and if many of them could speak for themselves no doubt the tales they would tell would be fantastic. One of the best is Kilronan Castle In Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon.
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Restaurant Review - Campagne
15 November 2016
For whatever dubious reason, getting Michelin recognition in Ireland is like Mission Impossible, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Fortunately, Kilkenny’s fab Campagne is one of the few to get its rightful place among the stars.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Marcel's
14 November 2016
Having reviewed Marcel’s in its original location on Mary’s Road and really liked its Franco Moroccan style colours and furnishings, I visited its new location on Merrion Row, in the buzzy heart of what's called the Golden Mile around St. Stephen's Green
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Pichet
10 November 2016
Since hitting the ground running in 2009, the fab Pichet has gone from strength to strength, keeping high the bar of good food in Ireland and continuing to be one of the hottest spots in Dublin City, and lately it’s had a major makeover.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Le Plancha
08 November 2016
“It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do to a place”, I said to my friend Mary, in the new Le Plancha in Monkstown.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Green Hen
04 November 2016
I'm rather partial to French food at all levels, which is why I love the whole extravagant French bistro vibe and ambiance of The Green Hen, not to mention the food. Located right beside the well known Old Stand Pub on Exchequer Street in Dublin City
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - McNean House
02 November 2016
Neven Maguire is far more than one of Ireland’s best-known chefs, more importantly, he is one of Ireland’s best loved chefs. His smiling face and down to earth approach, have earned him a legion of fans.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - InterContinental Dublin
31 October 2016
A true oasis of luxury and style, the InterContinental Dublin in Dublin's prestigious D4 Embassy belt, is one of the very best hotels that Ireland has to offer.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - East Side Tavern
28 October 2016
East Side Tavern is set in what was once O’Dwyer’s pub on the corner of Leeson Street and St. Stephen’s Green East. This was a real hot spot in the 60’s and 70’s with students, politicians, and literary figures such as Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Cox's Steakhouse
26 October 2016
Off the beaten track, in the picturesque village of Dromod in Co.Leitrim, is Cox’s Steakhouse Bar & Restaurant, where from the moment you set foot in the door you know you’ve picked a winner.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Chandpur Indian Restaurant
25 October 2016
Some of my very favourite places to go are Indian restaurants. I’ve always loved good Indian food with it’s wonderful rich palette of flavours that just can't be found in other cuisines.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eatokyo Japanese Restaurant
20 October 2016
I’ve had a lot of bad food dished up in the name of Japan in recent years, from soggy tempura prawns to bad takeaway Chinese style stirfries. So, it was rather nice then to discover Eatokyo, a delightful new noodle and sushi bar on Wellington Quay.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mimosa Bar De Tapas
17 October 2016
Tucked away in a side street of Carlow Town is the popular Mimosa Bar De Tapas, a bastion of tasty food that runs on the ethos of simplicity.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Girl and the Goose
13 October 2016
Tucked away, up a steep staircase, in the very heart of D4, is a hidden gem. “Who is Michael Sabik?”, you might ask. He’s not a guy who seeks the limelight, he just keeps his head down and works in his kitchen.
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Restaurant Review - The Restaurant by Johnnie Cooke
12 October 2016
With fab food and style, Johnnie Cooke has been dazzling Dublin diners for the last quarter century, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and his latest venture, The Restaurant at Brown Thomas, is no exception.
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Restaurant Review - Rosa Madre
10 October 2016
We have lots of Italian restaurants in Ireland, though many are of the pizza/pasta fast food variety, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. However, from gnocchi to scalloppina, Rosa Madre on Dublin's Crow Street offers a true taste of Italy.
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Restaurant Review - Greenes
04 October 2016
The classic refined lunchtime took a beating in recent years in favour of a pulled pork roll or or a bowl of noodles at the desk, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, fab, fancy fare and lavish lunchtimes are back on the rise
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Restaurant Review - Charlotte Quay
24 September 2016
Unable to stand the heat, restaurateur after restaurateur have abandoned the kitchen at Charlotte Quay Dock, says Lucinda. Will the latest crew to house their colours here have the right brand of cool?
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Restaurant Review - Fishbone
06 September 2016
With great food and clearly a lot of effort and thought from the kitchen staff, Lucinda O’Sullivan was disappointed by the abysmal front of house service upon her arrival at the new Fishbone in Clontarf
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Clonskeagh House
01 September 2016
"Flavour is clearly the goal here”, I said to my friend Rena, as we drooled over our starters. That may sound obvious but very often flavour is lost in favour of presentation.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat – Cahernane House Hotel
30 August 2016
Set on the doorstep of the Lakes of Killarney, with breath taking views of the mountains beyond, is the beautiful and luxurious Cahernane House Hotel, with a fascinating history that goes all the way back to the War of the Roses.
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Restaurant Review - Zen
23 August 2016
There’s so much fab modern innovative Asian cuisine to explore these days, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but a visit to Zen Restaurant in Rathmines, with all the feeling of a bad 80’s time warp, left her longing to get back to the future.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat – Cream Room Curry House
16 August 2016
I love good Indian food, but unfortunately good Indian food can be hard to find, with lots of operations being of the fatty fast food variety. So, when I find somewhere good, I can’t wait to sing its praises, and this is just the case at the Cream Room.
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Lunching at leisure
16 August 2016
With the sun shining brightly and the wicked month of August truly at its height, Lucinda O'Sullivan suggests 10 top spots in unique settings to help you make the most of summer, with as much great food, and fun, as possible.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Supper Club
10 August 2016
Kinsale has always been a beacon of great food and hospitality – Whether it’s fancy and formal or trendy and casual. Tom Kay’s Supper Club, on Cork Street, is definitely the latter. It’s laid back, funky and informal, and I love it.
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Restaurant Review - The Amber Lounge @ Fota Island
09 August 2016
Whether it’s kids or couples, Fota Island in East Cork is a great spot for a summer getaway, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and the new Amber Lounge at the Fota Island Resort is the perfect place for a casual bite pre or post safari!
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Restaurant Review - Lady Helen Restaurant @ Mount Juliet
02 August 2016
Returning for the first time since they were awarded their Michelin Star, Lucinda O’Sullivan was once again blown away by the service, style and cuisine at the Lady Helen Restaurant in the fab Mount Juliet, Co.Kilkenny
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Rasoi: Indian To Go
26 July 2016
The days of the mush merchant have ended with the arrival of Benny Jacob’s fab Rasoi: Indian To Go, in the heart of D6 Ranelagh.
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Restaurant Review - Samphire
26 July 2016
Social eating is the latest trend to break out in the foodie world, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. It’s about putting all the hip aspects of the food and drink scene under one roof and creating one stop shops for socialising
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Bare Food Company
22 July 2016
Healthy eating is where it’s at these days, and The Bare Food Company, in the centre of Drogheda, has its finger on the foodie pulse.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pickle Restaurant
20 July 2016
There isn’t a culinary accolade in this country that Sunil Ghai hasn’t achieved. Over the past decade he has been declared Best Chef in Ireland by various awarding bodies…..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Nine Market Street
13 July 2016
Kinsale is, and always has been, one of my favorite places in the world to be. Besides the historic beauty of the town and the wonderful summer atmosphere that it seems to maintain year round, Kinsale is a bastion of good service and great food.
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Restaurant Review - Canteen Cellbridge
12 July 2016
When James Sheridan and Soizic Humbert opened there first Canteen, in the Blackrock Market, they made a splash right away, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who couldn’t wait to get through the doors of their new Canteen Celbridge.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Church Bar & Restaurant
06 July 2016
Perhaps one of the most distinct and unique spots to dine in Dublin, The Church Restaurant at the Junction of Mary Street and Jervis Street, is a fantastic destination at which to spend an evening.
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Restaurant Review - St Kyrans
05 July 2016
Having got wind of a hot young chef, Lucinda O’Sullivan hit the road for St. Kyrans in Virginia, Co.Cavan, where she was suitably impressed by Eddie Attwell’s culinary prowess
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Restaurant Review - The Coburg
28 June 2016
When it comes to pushing the boundaries of contemporary cuisine, there's a fine line between fusion and confusion, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. Unfortunately, The Coburg at the Conrad Dublin has crossed that line.
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Cork's Casual Revolution
21 June 2016
Cork hasn’t always been a trendsetter when it comes to Irish dining, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, lately, they’ve been riding a wave of hip, casual, unpretentious street food that’s as tasty as it is cheap
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Restaurant Review - Cirillo's
14 June 2016
With a pedigree in Italian food, great things were expected from James Cirillo’s eponymous new Dublin restaurant, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and with authentic food in a cool setting, she wasn’t let down
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Restaurant Review - Forest & Marcy
07 June 2016
Things got off to a slightly rocky start at the new Forest & Marcy on Dublin's Upper Leeson Street, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, but it soon became smooth sailing, as Ciaran Sweeney's outstanding food couldn't but impress
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Baan Sujittra
01 June 2016
The level of choice in this country, when it comes to varied cuisine, has really taken leaps and bounds forward. With the ever-growing foodie culture showing no signs of slowing down, we’ve never had so much choice where good food is concerned.
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Restaurant Review - Zizzi's
31 May 2016
With 143 branches in the UK, the new Zizzi pizza & pasta restaurant has just opened at Dundrum Town Centre, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, after her visit, she couldn’t help feeling perhaps she’d found a weak link in this chain
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Saba Baggot Street
26 May 2016
Some people don’t like Indian food, some people don’t like Chinese food but pretty well everybody loves Thai food. Saba, which means ‘happy meeting place’, is one of the great success stories and consequently celebrating its tenth birthday this year.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Fire Restaurant and Lounge
24 May 2016
Competition in Dublin’s dining scene has never been hotter and, amongst the dining destinations vying for your attention in the city centre, Fire Restaurant at the top of Dawson Street, burns as brightly as any.
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Restaurant Review - Two Cooks Restaurant & Wine Bar
17 May 2016
The Two Cooks Restaurant & Wine Bar in Sallins, Co.Kildare, is turning up the heat in the kitchen, Says Lucinda O’Sullivan, with a tip top husband and wife cheffing team proving that two heads are better than one
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Collins Bar
11 May 2016
The gastro pub revolution has seen a dramatic change in the way in which we view pub grub in this country. The bar has been raised, so to speak, and, while some establishments have not met the challenge, others have exceeded expectations.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Vermilion
05 May 2016
It’s hard to beat good Indian food. The fantastic palate of spices employed by Indian cuisine brings out flavours and taste sensations that are indescribably splendid, and really tough to find anywhere else.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Kaya Thai
03 May 2016
Thai food has taken Ireland by storm in recent years with upscale, traditional, casual and even street food styles all being eagerly devoured by the munching masses.
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Restaurant Review - Wanderlust
03 May 2016
With a fine pedigree in Asian food, Ricky and Jules Mak have let their imaginations roam free at their fabulous new restaurant, Wanderlust, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who adored their casual food from all over the world.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kyoto Asian Street Food
28 April 2016
Kyoto is the newest addition to Waterford’s dining scene, and the first Japanese restaurant in the city, I was told – though they do have other Asian street food.
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Restaurant Review - Nico's
26 April 2016
With 25 years between visits, Lucinda O'Sullivan, found a fab Art Deco interior, thoroughly professional staff and authentic food at Nico's on Dame Street
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eastern Tandoori Loughrea
22 April 2016
As many of you may know, I’m partial to Indian food, and when I find somewhere good, which specialises in providing their customers with high quality, authentic cuisine, I can’t wait to talk about it.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Masala: Indian Food To Go
20 April 2016
Our passion for spicy food is ever-growing and the notion of the old bog standard Indian Takeaway has come along way with some of the newer ones offering superb restaurant standard food to eat at home.
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Restaurant Review - Aroi Kilkenny
19 April 2016
Eddie and Jenny Ong Chok Fong's Aroi eatery in Limerick hit the nail on the head when it opened two years ago, says Lucinda. So, when she heard they had opened their doors in Kilkenny, she could'nt wait to drop in...
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Restaurant Review - Saba Baggot Street
12 April 2016
It’s amazing how far Ireland’s Thai scene has come, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. With fabulous places like Saba, which has a new branch on Dublin’s Upper Baggot Street, it seems that the shameless slop houses of the Celtic Tiger are a thing of the past
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Restaurant Review - Best Italian Restaurants
05 April 2016
A good Italian meal is one of the best and undeniably most romantic ways to spend an evening, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and luckily, in Ireland, we have a fantastic selection of ristorantes, pizzerias and trattorias to choose from
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - I Monelli
29 March 2016
I Monelli Restaurant, overlooking the Grand Canal at Portobello is an absolute haven of fabulous, authentic Italian food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Cote Seafood Restaurant
22 March 2016
La Cote Seafood Restaurant in Wexford has been delighting patrons with a fine dining experience that’s both affordable and relaxed since it opened its doors in 2014.
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Restaurant Review - Pickle
22 March 2016
Sunil Ghai’s new venture, Pickle Eating House & Bar on Dublin’s Camden Street, is an authentic and absolutely fabulous taste of the old Irani cafes of Bombay, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, so book your passage to India now.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Mystic Celt
16 March 2016
In recent years, there has been a huge resurgence in people’s desire for fresh, locally sourced food that is high in quality, made from scratch and truly tasty. The Mystic Celt Restaurant in Wicklow Town answers this call.
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Restaurant Review - Craft
15 March 2016
Sooner or later, every ambitious chef wants to take a chance on their own restaurant, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Philip Yeung’s new Craft, with the cool vibe and ambience of a little Parisian bistro, is a gamble that’s sure to pay off
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Restaurant Review - Monto Cafe Restaurant & Steakhouse
09 March 2016
With good food at good prices, the new Monto Cafe Restaurant & Steakhouse on Dublin’s Camden Street is well worth a visit, says Lucinda O’Sullivan — but sadly the waiter’s lack of warmth left a bad taste in her mouth . . .
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Restaurant Review - Heron & Grey
02 March 2016
Fine dining doesn't have to be a stuffy affair, says Lucinda O'Sullivan,and at the new Heron & Grey, in the Blackrock Market, chef Damien Grey is dishing up haute cuisine without any haughtiness
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Four Winds & Second Wind Bar & Eatery
24 February 2016
I spend a lot of time on the road looking at restaurants and hotels and when it comes to lunchtime I am always hungry. We very often travel the road between Limerick and Cork which is how we found the Four Winds Bar and Lounge in Charleville.
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Restaurant Review - Pullman Restaurant
20 February 2016
Looking for romance? Lucinda O'Sullivan says the fabulous Pullman Restaurant at Galway's Glenlo Abbey Hotel, set within two of the original carriages from the world famous Orient Express, is a one-of-kind dining experience
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Love is in the Eyre - and everywhere you look
11 February 2016
Leap Year love is in the air this Valentine's Day, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, so why not treat your better half to a luxurious leap?
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Restaurant Review - Union Cafe
10 February 2016
Things got off to a great start at the stylish new Union Cafe in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, says Lucinda O’Sullivan — however, three battered-to-death pieces of ‘hake scampi’ left her wishing she had let her husband have it
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Restaurant Review - The Seafood Bar by Wright's of Howth
05 February 2016
The dining room at the Dawson Hotel, formerly La Stampa,on Dublin’s Dawson Street, has had a lot of ambitious suitors, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but the latest, The Seafood Bar by Wright’s of Howth, might just be ‘the one’
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Brambles @ National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
02 February 2016
It may have started with one small cafe, but 20 premises later, Brambles has become a household name. No two quiches will ever be the same, say Ciaran and Maeve Reid, because everything is made by hand.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Hylands Burren Hotel
28 January 2016
If, like many others today, you’re in search of an adventure along the Wild Atlantic Way, then look no further than the enchanting 18th century Hylands Burren Hotel in Co. Clare.
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Restaurant Review - Avalon
27 January 2016
The cheffing team at the new Avalon in Donnybrook did more than break a leg for opening night, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, if the nightly performance is as good as on her visit, the curtain call won't be anytime soon
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Farmhill Cafe & Restaurant
26 January 2016
There’s nothing like having a really good reliable neighbourhood restaurant on your doorstep to slip down to on a regular basis, be it for breakfast or brunch, for a casual bite in the evening or all those family occasions.
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Lucinda talks to Ciaran & Maeve Reid of Brambles
26 January 2016
Homemade and wholesome is the recipe for success It may have started with one small cafe, but 20 premises later, Brambles has become a household name, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Chapter 16
21 January 2016
On a recent excursion to the south, Brendan and I were in Kildare town looking for an early evening bite. We decided to try our luck at Chapter 16, and boy were we glad we did.
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Restaurant Review - Angelina's
21 January 2016
The atmosphere and decor at the new Angelina's, overlooking Dublin's Grand Canal, was New York cool, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, now if only they could take the time to put taste before 'taste'
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Magnificent Irish cheese, a long way from plastic slices
20 January 2016
With so many great Irish artisan producers now on the scene, things have certainly moved on for the better, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Siri
19 January 2016
Siri Indian Cuisine is one of a new breed of fantastic venues that is supplying the very best of restaurant standard food to take out.
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Taste Kilkenny offers the best of local artisan food
17 January 2016
An enterprising group of Kilkenny food producers has formed the new Taste Kilkenny brand, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Rage
15 January 2016
Blackrock was definitely in need of a good restaurant that appeals to families and diners of all ages, and now it has it, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, following her visit to the new Rage flame-grilled restaurant
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Belleek Castle
13 January 2016
The stunning Belleek Castle in Co.Mayo, an absolute medieval dream, was built in the early 19th along the River Moy, atop the site of a former abbey.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Menlo Park Hotel
11 January 2016
Galway has always been a very popular tourist destination and the perfect base for exploring Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way but, over the last couple of years, it has also really stepped up its game on the food front.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Green Man Wines
08 January 2016
There’s something very civilised about having a nibble, on a balmy summer evening, surrounded by lots and lots of lovely bottles of wine!
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Restaurant Review - Tribeton
08 January 2016
Galway's restaurant scene has really kicked it up a notch in recent times, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, following her visit to Gerry Barret's massive new industrial-warehouse-style gastrobar on Merchant's Road
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Lock 13
07 January 2016
Making my way back from an afternoon of retail therapy in the Kildare outlet, myself and a pal headed for Lock 13 Gastro Pub and Craft Beer House, on the banks of the Grand Canal in the very pretty village of Sallins, Co. Kildare
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Riba
05 January 2016
On a cold winters evening, with the wind blowing hard and the rain falling even harder, we were on our way to Café Restaurant Riba in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.
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Don't bother with new diet books just brush off last year's'
04 January 2016
Don't go rushing to buy any new diet books in 2016, just dust off the old ones because we've heard it all before.....
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kenz
31 December 2015
“It’s always been our dream to open a restaurant”, said Samir Hachadi of the new Kenz Moroccan Restaurant and Takeaway on the main street in Blackrock in Co. Dublin.
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The Lucindas 2015
30 December 2015
As we bid farewell to another year, Lucinda O'Sullivan takes a look back at the best and worst experiences of a year spent devouring great food - and not-so-great restaurateurs. The award goes to...
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New Year Breaks
29 December 2015
Once a year, we all get a chance to start over again, a chance to reset our hopes and goals, put the past aside and to approach the future with optimism - and New Year's Eve has always been a celebration of that.
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Restaurant Review - Bastible
20 December 2015
With its deceptively simple urban chic style and its fairly priced fine dining, Barry Fitzgerald’s new Bastible,on Dublin’s South Circular Road, is a sure fire hit, says Lucinda O’Sullivan
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Reservation sites leave restaurants hot and cold
27 November 2015
Fees charged by table-reservation sites mean another slice out of a dwindling pie for eateries, Lucinda O'Sullivan is told
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Restaurant Review - 12 Years of Rasam
27 November 2015
Rasam are celebrating their 12th anniversary with a tasty new menu, and Lucinda O’Sullivan couldn’t wait to sample the latest delights at this renowned Indian restaurant
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Restaurant Review - loko
14 November 2015
Upon arriving at Loko in Waterford, Lucinda O’Sullivan was amused by the enormous effort that has clearly been put into making it seem casual and effortless, If only they put as much thought into the food...
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Restaurant Review - Cavern
10 November 2015
'Just knock three times and whisper low, that you and I were sent by Joe . . ." There's a real whiff of Hernando's Hideaway to the new Cavern, a wine bar on Upper Baggot Street. It is the sort of place that you think you have discovered all by yourself an
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Restaurant Review - Kenz
01 November 2015
Finding it difficult to choose from their extensive, authentic menu of tagines, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted by the food and atmosphere at the new Kenz Moroccan Restaurant & Takeaway in Blackrock, Co. Dublin
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The cut and thirst of Christmas Day
01 November 2015
Impressing your guests with your carving skills and sophisticated wine choices is easy with the right advice, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Derry Clarke at the Muckross Park
20 October 2015
Join Michelin Star Chef and TV Celebrity Derry Clarke on Saturday 14th November for 'How to cook the perfect Christmas Dinner'.
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Restaurant Review - Cinnamon
11 October 2015
Having had a bad experience in their Ranelagh branch three years ago, Lucinda O’Sullivan hoped for a better result on her visit to Cinnamon in Monkstown. Wishful thinking!
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World Animal Week – 4th – 10th October 2015 #EndCruelty
04 October 2015
To celebrate World Animal Week 4th – 10th October coinciding with the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals on October 4th, the ISPCA is launching a social media campaign and asking all animal lovers to Join Our Fight to #EndCruel
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Dax Restaurant at the Dublin Simon Fun Run
02 October 2015
Olivier Meisonnave is bringing a gourmet experience to Phoenix Park this Saturday 3rd October at the Dublin Simon Fun Run!
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Restaurant Review - Unicorn
16 September 2015
With a great new team now in the saddle,the legendary Unicorn Restaurant, just off D2’s vibrant Merrion Row, is back to its best, with fantastic food, superb service and a wonderful atmosphere, says Lucinda O’Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Trump International Doonbeg
16 September 2015
Having purchased the former Lodge at Doonbeg, in Co. Clare, for a cool €15m, Lucinda O’Sullivan wondered what plans ‘The Donald’ had in store for the fabulous estate that completes his so-called ‘Trump Triangle’
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Mam's dripping reigns supreme
15 September 2015
When Pat Whelan made his mother's old fashioned beef dripping, he never expected to see it in Harrods, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Marcel's Musical Chairs
11 September 2015
With Il Segreto's beans well and truly spilled, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, it's no secret that Marcel's is now making itself at home with a new traditional Irish bar and contemporary restaurant
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Restaurant Review - Saucey Suesey
22 August 2015
The brand new Suesey Street,in the former Brasserie Le Pont, on Fitzwilliam Place, is servin some really fab food in an atmosphere thatseems effortlessly chilled out, says Lucinda O’Sullivan
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Feast of Festivals to say so long to summer
19 August 2015
The sun hasn't shone on us much this summer, but when did we ever really need the sun to have a good time? For us, the sun has always just been a bonus! There are still two weeks in which to have a really great time before the kids go back to school.
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3 to Try - Al Fresco Dining
18 August 2015
We all love dining al fresco when we manage to get the chance in this country! Here are three suggestions that you might enjoy
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Restaurant Review - Jules
12 August 2015
The new Jules Restaurant, on Dublin's Dame Street, may have some pedigree when it comes to its foodie history and ambience, but the only thing modern about the menu are the prices, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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The Lime House in Mallow is a treasure trove
12 August 2015
You only have to look at the number of builder's vans outside houses in the past few months to realise that people have got sufficient confidence back to splash out a bit on their homes.
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Restaurant Review - Luna
04 August 2015
With great food and service, a trip to the new Luna on Drury Street had Lucinda O’Sullivan suitably impressed.However, the growing trend of ‘POA’ left her a little peeved
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Sister Sadie
15 July 2015
One of the most popular spots to go brunching in Dublin, right now, is Sister Sadie on Harrington Street, around the corner from the top of Camden Street.
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CREATE at Brown Thomas
14 July 2015
Last Tuesday saw the launch of Create at Brown Thomas, showcasing and celebrating the works and talent of some 50 Irish designers and craftspeople. The event will run until August 16 in Dublin, with pop-ups also taking place in BTs in Cork and Limerick
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mykonos Taverna
07 July 2015
The notion of a lovely al fresco summer supper had certainly appealed, but the artic weather on the day, called for an indoor venue offering protection from the elements! We spotted the perfect answer; Mykonos.
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Lough Erne and Fermanagh's own Lake District
06 July 2015
Not everybody has it in them to be a true hotelier - let alone a five-star hotelier. You have to have that innate ability to be a people person, to be out there greeting and interacting with your guests, not hiding in an office writing reports.
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IRELAND'S HOTTEST YOUNG CHEFS ARE SERVING UP ACES
02 July 2015
With the tennis starting at Wimbledon tomorrow, the O'Sullivan family has been busy discussing possible outcomes on the grass courts....
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Restaurant Review - Taste at Rustic
27 June 2015
Dylan McGrath's new Taste at Rustic is the result of his food-foraging world travels and Lucinda O'Sullivan finds the 'hard man' chef has brought some real winners back with him
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Lismore Craft Gallery
26 June 2015
No matter where you travel in Ireland, uphill or down dale, you will always find individuals and groups of wonderfully talented craftspeople plying their trade.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Osteria Lucio
16 June 2015
Located on Clanwilliam Terrace, is the fab Osteria Lucio, the latest venture of the popular restaurateur & chef Ross Lewis.
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Will two and a half men represent us at World's 50 Best?
15 June 2015
With the questionable voting structure at the 'academy', Ireland has little chance of featuring in this gong show, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Head Chef Jenny Flynn's Food Journey
05 June 2015
As a woman in a man's world, 'you have to be bold, you have to be ballsy', to become a head chef, Jenny Flynn tells Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - The Washerwoman
04 June 2015
An underwhelming and overpriced experience in a new restaurant in the leafy suburbs of Glasnevin left Lucinda O'Sullivan feeling rather unloved on a wet summer's day
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3 to Try - Classy Joints
03 June 2015
We all love a reliable place to eat and here are 3 suggestions for places that are tried and tested over a long period
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Fisherman Seafood Bar & Grill
28 May 2015
With cool, retro-modern décor, (wood and open brick meet chrome) and stunning views out over Galway Bay and Blackrock, not to mention some of freshest and best seafood you will ever taste, the Fisherman Seafood Bar and Grill has become a real hotspot.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Westport Coast Hotel
26 May 2015
With picturesque views out over Clew Bay, Westport’s only waterfront hotel, the Westport Coast, is the perfect place to escape the modern rush without sacrificing modern comforts.
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Restaurant Review - Brabazon at Tankardstown
25 May 2015
Princess Grace would have felt at home dining at the 'swellegant, elegant' Brabazon Restaurant at the fabulous Tankardstown House in Co Meath
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ACE GUIDE TO JUNE BANK HOLIDAY DEALS
25 May 2015
Summertime is upon us, and the livin' should be easy, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, so get yourself ready for the June bank holiday.
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Queen Bee's honey sting before her tragic end
25 May 2015
Julia Holmes' Irish Bee Sensations Honey won food awards left, right and centre, but it was all a con, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - The Jarvey's Rest
22 May 2015
Amid hordes of tourists out for some crack at The Jarvey's Rest in Killarney, our food expert liked the 'cupla focal' and the Kerry charm of the local waiter, followed by some excellent casual food
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Roseville Rooms at Faithlegg House
20 May 2015
With an elegance and old world charm, that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into a French chateau, the Roseville Rooms restaurant at the fabulous Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Resort, in Co. Waterford, is undoubtedly a great place to eat.
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Resort
12 May 2015
Stunningly located, on an estuary of the River Suir, in Co.Waterford, is the spectacular Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Resort...
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Meet Pat O'Sullivan of Masterchefs Hospitality
11 May 2015
I've met different people, at various stages of my life, who've all had a major influence. But, you do have to put yourself in the way of them. I've been very lucky."
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Restaurant Review - Carluccio's Glasthule
11 May 2015
I must confess I had steam coming out of my ears by the time I'd arrived at the new Carluccio's, which has just opened in Glasthule, Co Dublin. I'd called up to book a table but was told they were not taking bookings for the first few nights,only walk-ins
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A Royal Afternoon Tea at The Hotel Meyrick
11 May 2015
To commemorate the Official Visit of the Prince of Wales, Price Charles & Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall to Galway on Monday next May 19th ; a special “Royal Afternoon Tea “ will be available at Hotel Meyrick, overlooking Eyre Square.
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Restaurant Review - Soder + Ko
27 April 2015
We've had the gastropub and now it's the gastroclub. I love the notion of good restaurant-style food being served in casual surroundings, as do many others, which is why Michelin-starred chefs worldwide are rapidly turning to this burgeoning market...
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3 to Try - On the Waterfront
26 April 2015
There is nothing more pleasurable than sitting in a restaurant close to the water be it river or sea. Here are 3 different waterside restaurants you might like to try.
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Restaurant Review - Avenue
25 April 2015
Nick Munier's long and winding road has led him to his new Avenue Restaurant in Temple Bar, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who found that style was the only thing being savoured on her visit
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Artisan food producers at Kilruddery Market
20 April 2015
Artisan food producers tell Lucinda O'Sullivan how the recession caused them to switch careers and set up great new businesses
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Lally has his finger firmly on Limerick pulse
18 April 2015
Our wonderful hotel industry gets the boost it needs as deep-pocket investors return to our shores at last
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Restaurant Review - Cookbook Cafe
18 April 2015
The new Cookbook Cafe offers dishes prepared from the recipes of international cookery writers and famous chefs, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who enjoyed her 'Ottolenghi' brunch
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pichet
17 April 2015
Since hitting the ground running some five years ago, the fab Pichet has gone from strength to strength, keeping high the bar of good food in Ireland and continuing to be one of the hottest spots in Dublin City.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Pavilion at University of Limerick
09 April 2015
The Pavilion, at the University of Limerick is one of the best multi purpose venues in Ireland. Wonderfully modern and fantastically equipped, The Pavilion is proudly operated by Pat O’Sullivan’s Masterchefs Hospitality.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Bobby Byrne's
07 April 2015
The gastro pub has taken Ireland by storm these last few years, marrying really well prepared and sourced foods with the relaxed atmosphere of a pub setting. Bobby Byrne’s in Limerick City is a perfect example of this.
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Easter Breaks
04 April 2015
Lucinda O'Sullivan: Easter fun and frolics for all the family. The ultimate concise round up of breaks around the country
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Restaurant Review - Durty Nelly's
04 April 2015
We had lunch in the well-known Durty Nelly's. In the shadow of Bunratty Castle, it has been a magnet for hordes of tourists down the years, for refuelling and comfort stop...
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Coolbawn Quay Lakeshore Spa & Marina
31 March 2015
So near to the real world, and so far from the stress of it, is the fantastic private village resort of Coolbawn Quay. Perfectly located on the picturesque shores of Lough Derg in North Tipperary.
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Restaurant Review - Victoria Asian - Monkstown
28 March 2015
I get this great longing every now and again for good Chinese food, but frankly, good Chinese restaurants, in general, have become very thin on the ground....
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Bay Restaurant
26 March 2015
Beautifully situated, with fantastic views looking out over Dublin Bay and the inescapable freshness of the sea air, is Bay restaurant, which, from the moment I walked through the door, was a pleasure to visit.
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Clos des Papes Wine Tasting at Kelly's Resort
25 March 2015
Bread and wine are two of the great joys in life; both almost as old as time, both loved unreservedly more than ever. And now we are out of the recession, there has been a great resurgence in the opening of standalone wine shops and artisan bakeries arou
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Tipperary food producers
20 March 2015
Here we are on Mother's Day - and hopefully the lady of the manor is being spoiled rotten. However, women always have to think ahead for 'high days and holy days', and, with Paddy's Day on top of us, the question du jour is: "Are you having bacon and cab
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Restaurant Review - Fellini's
20 March 2015
Twirling my fork languorously through luscious ribbons of fettucine and popping the results of my efforts into my mouth, almost caused a When Harry Met Sally moment! There's a US TV show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and such establishments are hot as he
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Winnie's Craft Cafe
17 March 2015
Knitting has become hugely popular again over the past few years and when I heard about Winnie’s Craft Cafe, I was excited to pay a visit. What I found there was a whole other world of fabulous wools and crafts in a wonderful and welcoming café setting.
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From Kazumi to Le Gensake
13 March 2015
Jenni & Jennie: sisters doing it for themselves From dazzling Irish hair to gourmet French fare, Jenni and Jennie Crawford are a superb double act
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Restaurant Review - Papillon
13 March 2015
Sitting in the window of the new Papillon cafe and wine bar in Clontarf, we had wonderful views looking out over the Bull Wall and Dublin Bay.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eastern Tandoori
10 March 2015
On a recent cross-country sojourn, we stopped for dinner at the Eastern Tandoori Restaurant in Galway and we were certainly glad that we did. An evening spent enjoying really good Indian food is amongst my very favourite things to do.
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3 to Try - New to You
07 March 2015
Restaurants are opening all over the country and it is always interesting to try places you haven't visited before....
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AVOIDING THOSE WEDDING BLOOPERS
03 March 2015
With preparations for weddings taking place all over the country, Lucinda takes a humorous look back at some of the weddings she has attended over the years
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Restaurant Review - Stanley's
03 March 2015
What's in a name? Well, marketing people would say that your business moniker is very important in luring people across your doorstep. The name needs to be appropriate to the type of customer you want to attract....
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Shop 'til you drop with Enniskerry's village people
27 February 2015
Seventies-style tops, china tea cups, and big, yellow-yolked eggs are among Enniskerry's treasures, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Rio Rodizio
27 February 2015
With gaucho chefs, smiling passadores and a masterclass in carving, Lucinda O'Sullivan was enjoying this new 'eat-all-you-wish' Brazilian churrascaria, until her camp came under siege
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The final dismantling of an Irish Versailles
23 February 2015
Tony Ryan was one of the greatest collector of art and antiques. Now you can see the remaining pieces of his collection which go under the hammer at Adams Blackrock on March 24
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Restaurant Review - Dennison's
19 February 2015
David Dennison has been a well-known name on the food and wine scene in Waterford for many years. He formerly had The Wine Vaults, a popular restaurant and wine business on the city's historic High Street, which sadly closed just as the recession hit
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IRELAND IS 2ND LARGEST CONSUMER OF CHOCOLATE
18 February 2015
Many of us will be overindulging in chocolate this Valentine's weekend as hopefully our beloveds will have done the decent thing by stumping up for chocolates to go with the red roses! Chocolates and roses have always been associated with love....
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RINUCCINI'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY FEAST
18 February 2015
At the tender age of 15, Antonio Cavaliere left his home in Italy to join his older brother, who was already working in Quo Vadis, a well-known Italian restaurant in Dublin, which operated for many years in St Andrew's Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Silk Road Cafe
18 February 2015
Right in the heart of Dublin’s City Centre, at the Chester Beatty Library in the grounds of Dublin Castle, is a very special café, which has been delighting its patrons with a fantastic array of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods.
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Restaurant Review - Chapter One - Chef's Table
11 February 2015
The dazzling tasting menu at Chapter One's very special chef's table is an amazing experience, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who comes away with stars in her eyes and romance on her mind...
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pullman Restaurant @ The Glenlo Abbey Hotel
11 February 2015
If you’re in search of a fun and unusual atmosphere in which to dine, then look no further than the Pullman Restaurant Aboard The Orient Express at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in Galway.
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Food, fun and frolics to satisfy the romantic soul
10 February 2015
Check out some great packages and events around the country over this coming Valentine's weekend
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3 to Try - Valentine Specials - Romantic Destinations
10 February 2015
Want to get away from it all - here are three superbly romantic destinations offering great breaks for Valentine's weekend
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3 to Try - Carnivore Heaven
06 February 2015
If you are a dedicated carnivore here are three excellent steak houses which you might like to try this weekend.
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Restaurant Review - Delahunt
03 February 2015
The meticulous restoration of a historic 'purveyor of groceries and provisions', complete with a cute little hideaway 'snug', in the heart of old Dublin, left Lucinda O'Sullivan quite enchanted
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Beeftro - Balfe Street
30 January 2015
Beeftro, a steak house with a French twist, opened just over a year ago in Dundrum Town Centre. Describing itself as a purveyor of ‘Viandes de Qualite’, the idea started originally in Monaco and now has branches from Mexico to Moscow.
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Restaurant Review - Beeftro Balfe Street
29 January 2015
Having enjoyed a tasty crab and prawn Thermidor and a perfect filet mignon, not to mention the sinful dessert, Lucinda O'Sullivan was impressed by the new Franco-American diner-style Beeftro
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Restaurant Review - East Side Tavern
29 January 2015
A new chapter for this... East Side Story A legendary Dublin pub has reopened with a cool new style, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was impressed by the ethereal delights of woodruff and sorrel in a dessert that tasted of springtime
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A Songbird for Charlie's supper
28 January 2015
Irish Life... A songbird for Charlie's supper Delicacies such as the ortolan may be off-putting to most, but there will always be a demand for illicit delights
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Glenlo Abbey Hotel
27 January 2015
Tucked away, just two miles from Galway City is the fabulous five-star Glenlo Abbey Hotel, with grounds spanning 138 acres of rich, lush scenery on the banks of Lough Corrib.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Locke Gastro Pub
20 January 2015
Between culture and cuisine, visitors to Limerick are spoiled for choice these days, with a fantastic array of restaurants, cafes and pubs to draw in diners of all ages and gastronomic desires.
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Lucinda meets Mayo Food Producers
19 January 2015
We all seem to know, or know of, someone who has walked the Camino de Santiago, and come back raving about the simplicity of life on the road and its artisan food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Perla @ The Lyrath Estate Hotel
16 January 2015
At the Lyrath Estate Hotel, there is a fantastic assortment of choices when it comes to sating those culinary cravings. Their fabulous La Perla Restaurant, is simply a delight to dine in, featuring a vast picture window that runs the length of the room.
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Restaurant Review - Tavern at the Dylan
15 January 2015
Following the current trend for informal dining, it's off with the tablecloths at the Dylan Hotel's Tavern restaurant, where Lucinda O'Sullivan loved the light, chic, contemporary cooking
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Lyrath Estate Hotel
15 January 2015
The City of Kilkenny has been pulling in crowds and crowds of tourists for as long as I can remember. Its fantastic 12th Century castle has been drawing spectators and history buffs to its doors from far and wide.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Restaurant at Brown Thomas
13 January 2015
We have tended down the years to associate self-service cafes as being the dining element in Department Stores. Indeed, when my boys were young, the self-service restaurant in the then Switzer’s was the cause of great excitement.
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A fearless performance in the theatre of hospitality
12 January 2015
With faith and courage, John Healy and David Whelehan show that anything can be achieved, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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LUCINDA MEETS DONEGAL CRAFTS PEOPLE
07 January 2015
Running a small artisan business reminds me a bit of the famous Alan Sillitoe story, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, about the courage and independent spirit of the hero.
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Restaurant Review - Sophie's
07 January 2015
With amazing views, good casual food and a buzzing atmosphere, Lucinda O'Sullivan was impressed by new kid on the block, Sophie's, based in the hip Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street.
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HOTEL BREAKS NEW YEAR
30 December 2014
There's still time for you to treat yourself, or your beloved, and the family to a New Year's Eve break away. Just think of the bliss of having everything served up to you and no washing up to do.
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The Best & The Worst of Dining in 2014
23 December 2014
It's that time of year again when Sunday Independent restaurant critic, Lucinda O'Sullivan, takes a look back at the good and not-so-good dining experiences of her culinary year. The award goes to . . .
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Restaurant Review - Fallon & Byrne at the People's Park
22 December 2014
The greatest psychological uplift for Dun Laoghaire in recent times is not the monstrous building - and equally monstrous waste of money - that is the new dlr LexIcon library on the seafront, but rather the opening of Fallon & Byrne's new restaurant, caf
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A Christmas Feast Fit for a Maharajah
22 December 2014
In 1965, the American novelist Arthur Hailey wrote a blockbuster called Hotel, which went on to be a movie and subsequently a TV series. With a changing colourful 'cast' coming through their doors every day, hotels can provide the ultimate backdrop..
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Beeftro Dundrum
16 December 2014
Beeftro, a purveyor of “Viandes de Qualite”, in the Dundrum Town Centre, is one the finest steakhouses around. It started in Monaco as the less expensive sibling of Beefbar, owned by Riccardo Giraudi.
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Restaurant Review - Balfe's
15 December 2014
From the moment we crossed the threshold, we loved what Balfes had to offer. It had a natural, uncontrived air, and while it's reminiscent of Paris or Madrid, its retro, urban, white-tiled decor- brown leather banquettes and marble-top tables - captured
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Christmas Shopping Lunches
15 December 2014
Every year, I resolve to have my Christmas shopping done by December 1, but every year I fail. Maybe it's just as well, because, had I done it earlier, I would have missed out on the amazing atmosphere that is out there on the streets of Dublin right now
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Restaurant Review - Loam
12 December 2014
Loam is the new, long-awaited restaurant by Enda McEvoy. Why long-awaited? McEvoy is a Cavan-born chef who has been cooking in Galway for some time, both in the former Sheridan's on the Dock, and Aniar when it was awarded its first Michelin Star in 2013.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Henry's Bar & Grill
10 December 2014
Located in one of the most beautifully scenic settings that our country has to offer, Henry’s Bar & Restaurant in Cashelgarron, Co. Sligo rests just at the foot of the famous Benbulben.
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Cafes Cafes Cafes
26 November 2014
In the dark days of November 2011, when Vivienne Johnston and Janine Breslin took the big step of opening their Mellow Fig cafe on George's Avenue in Blackrock, Co Dublin, everyone told them they were very brave. They are now celebrating their third birt
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3 to Try - The Brunch Bunch
25 November 2014
Chilling out with family and friends over Sunday Brunch is becoming more and more popular - here are three suggestions worth trying.
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Restaurant Review - Bakers Donnybrook
25 November 2014
Half-baked: Like a loud bang to a souffle, an evening spent at the latest 'friendly neighbourhood restaurant' on the scene left Lucinda O'Sullivan feeling somewhat deflated and a bit disappointed.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Newgrange Cafe & Tearooms
18 November 2014
Newgrange is probably one of the busiest tourist stops in Ireland being a must see for most tourists as well as a popular excursion for Irish families and schools. Being over 5,000 years old, it pre-dates Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
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Top Hoteliers share recession busting tips and optimism for the future
17 November 2014
Liquidators see no value in flowers for hotel guests. Five of Ireland's top hoteliers share their recession-busting tips and optimism for the future.
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Best recipes for serving up success and crucial change
14 November 2014
If you want things to stay the same, you need to change,say three of Ireland's leading restaurateurs
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Restaurant Review - The Restaurant at Brown Thomas
14 November 2014
In-store dining has taken quite a leap forward, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, following a visit to Brown Thomas, where she was impressed by The Restaurant's Patrick Guilbaud-inspired menu
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3 TO TRY - HOTEL EATERIES
04 November 2014
Hotel dining has changed very much in recent years nowadays having some great contemporary restaurants and food
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Restaurant Review - The Old Spot
04 November 2014
With the sounds of the Dart line rumbling overhead and a table that was located all too near the loo, Lucinda O'Sullivan was less than impressed with The Old Spot gastropub
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The Chameleon turns 20!
03 November 2014
A 20th birthday deserves a decent bash. Co-owners Carol Walsh and Kevin O’Toole are marking The Chameleon’s two decades of business in Temple Bar with four weeks of celebrations,
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CHRISTMAS COOKERY DEMO AT MUCKROSS PARK HOTEL
31 October 2014
Kevin Dundon one of Ireland’s most loved chefs will put a sparkle into Christmas with a festive Cookery Demonstration in the splendid surroundings of Muckross Park Hotel & Spa on Friday 7th November.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pier 26 Restaurant
31 October 2014
Ballycotton, in Co. Cork is renowned for its fishing. An extremely charming and picturesque village, overlooking Ballycotton Bay and its beautiful lighthouse.
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Restaurant Review - Street Food
28 October 2014
Street food is hot, hot, hot right now and it's popping up in various spots all over the capital, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, as she visits three new eateries serving tasty Indian, Mexican and barbecued treats.
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TRIUMPH OF FAB FASHION AND FEARLESS FEMALES
21 October 2014
There is a lift, there's no doubt. You can smell it in the air, you can see it in the cars on the road - white is the new colour, by the way - and you can see people walking around with shopping bags once again. Confidence inspires confidence, and now
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Restaurant Review - Table 6
21 October 2014
The 1970s sprang to mind when we first saw the in-your-face purple and lime colour scheme adorning the new Table 6 Restaurant in a first-floor premises in the centre of Templeogue village. Procul Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale it was not! This premises u
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Restaurant Review - Hailan & 3 to Try
17 October 2014
Hailan is a new Korean and Japanese eatery on Dame Street, near the Olympia Theatre. Nowadays, everyone knows good Chinese or Thai nosh from bad Chinese or Thai slosh.
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WELCOME TO RAYTOWN
15 October 2014
We often forget that Dublin is not just one big splodge, it is made up of a series of wonderful old villages, each of which has a history and community of its own. Indeed, it's not all that long ago that Ballymun and Tallaght were farming areas and...
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Restaurant Review - Mamma Mia
15 October 2014
Mamma Mia is a small, very authentic, Italian cafe-cum-trattoria-and-pizzeria on a side road off Bray's Main Street. Primarily residential, it is not a street you'd necessarily think of wandering down if you were looking for a bite to eat.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Interlude
07 October 2014
Dungarvan, in Co.Waterford has always been one of my favorite places to visit. It’s a beautiful, vibrant seaside community that has been home to some great restaurants over the years.
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ALL ABOARD FOR THE BOOZE CRUISE TO FRANCE
30 September 2014
Standing in the Salon des Vins of the French supermarkets, Geant and Leclerc,in the town of Morlaix in Brittany, just 20 miles south of the port of Roscoff, it was clear that 'le booze cruise' certainly has won a place in the hearts of Irish wine fancier
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Restaurant Review - Lobster Pot
30 September 2014
I was asked by a lady in Co Waterford to recommend a Dublin restaurant for "a special occasion, which she didn't want to go wrong". As you can imagine, recommending a restaurant for a special occasion is a poisoned chalice, so it is something I never do..
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Restaurant Review - Chinatown Dublin
24 September 2014
Fancy chowing down on chicken feet, jellyfish head, frogs' legs, razor clams, shredded tripe, whelks, or a Chinese breakfast buffet for €6? These are just some of the delights that are available in the array of eateries in Dublin's Chinatown area....
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Autumn's Fabulous Food Festivals
23 September 2014
This is my favourite time of year. The weather is still mellow and we have a great series of food festivals around the country up to the end of October. In fact, you could roll along gently for the next few weeks visiting different parts of the country..
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'The mart is our family, we all know one another'
23 September 2014
Alison De Vere Hunt of Cashel Mart is all too aware of the intolerable pressure farmers are under, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Mare e Monti
12 September 2014
Mare e Monti is a new 'Italian Surf & Turf restaurant' located on the first floor of a prime corner in my local village of Monkstown, Co Dublin. We are blessed to have a variety of restaurants in the village, as restaurateurs have snapped up any vacant...
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A GLUTEN FREE DIET
10 September 2014
Almost three years ago I wrote an article about how cutting wheat out of my diet saw me lose four stone in as many months.....
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - 8A Brasserie
07 September 2014
The new 8A Brasserie certainly piqued the interest of the denizens of Monkstown in a big way when it opened earlier this year and it has settled in very nicely....
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Restaurant Review - Finns' Table
06 September 2014
With most restaurants going down the more casual route, we were a tad surprised to find the new Finns' Table in Kinsale bucking the trend with white linen napery, fine china, classical music and the other trimmings and frippery of the more delicate...
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Artisan Food Producers move up the ladder
05 September 2014
I am always impressed by the innovative people I meet at the various markets around the country. Not only do I admire their courage but also their food products, which never cease to amaze. It was wonderful then to see how well so many of them...
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3 to Try - Tempting Tapas
30 August 2014
With lots of tapas eateries around the country, here are three you might like to try.
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The Kerry Food Story
29 August 2014
TJ O'Connor is one of those great people involved with the training of young people going into the hospitality industry. He is Head of Section, Hotel, Culinary and Tourism Department at the Institute of Technology in Tralee, Co. Kerry. He has just launche
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Restaurant Review - Salt Yard Kilkenny
27 August 2014
Kilkenny has been hitting the news on the culinary scene in a big way in recent times, with the awarding of two Michelin stars in the county, one to the Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet in Thomastown, and one to Campagne in Kilkenny city. There is al
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - THE WOOLLEN MILLS
26 August 2014
The Woollen Mills was where your granny, for more years than Harry Moore might have cared to remember, went to buy knicker-elastic, tweeds and buttons and bows. It was in business for over a century before closing its doors in recent years - James Joyce..
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The Silk Road Kitchen
26 August 2014
So, I come to Abraham Phelan, who has been doing Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food here for many years in his very popular Silk Road Cafe, located in the Chester Beatty Library in the grounds of Dublin Castle...
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Waterfront House Restaurant
19 August 2014
On a recent trip to Co. Sligo, we found ourselves in the restaurant at Waterfront House in Enniscrone and we couldn’t have been happier that we did. Enniscrone of course is a stunning location in itself, a total Mecca for surfers...
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IRISH FOOD PRODUCERS SHINE AT GREAT TASTE AWARDS
18 August 2014
Well now it's official - we have great taste! Irish food producers have had tremendous success at this year's Great Taste Awards, run by the Guild of Fine Foods in the UK. What is so exciting and satisfying about all of this is that it endorses Ireland's
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THE SCALES ARE FALLING FROM OUR EYES
18 August 2014
Fishmongering seems to run in the family says Lucinda O'Sullivan as she meets scions of the Wright and Rogersen families
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Bella Donna
16 August 2014
On a recent visit to Donegal, I discovered La Bella Donna, an Italian restaurant on Bridge Street in Donegal Town. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with classical Roman look making you feel as though the Colosseum could be just outside...
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WW1 - FINDING BILLY MORRIS IN THE SOMME
12 August 2014
Last week saw the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of World War I, which spanned four years from August 3, 1914 until November 11, 1918. Very many Irishmen and women fought in the Great War and it is only now that they are being properly honoured
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Restaurant Review - Amuse
12 August 2014
Inventive Franco-Asian tasting menus are the order of the day at chef Conor Dempsey's chic new venture, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was utterly delighted by what she found at Amuse....
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Russborough Tea Rooms
12 August 2014
Russborough House, in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, is one of the finest stately homes in Ireland. A wealthy Dublin brewer named Joseph Leeson, who later became the first Earl of Milltown, built it in the 1740’s...
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Clodagh's Kitchen Blackrock
08 August 2014
A decade or so ago a young lady from Cork sent me a recipe for chicken liver pate, which she was selling in Midleton Farmer’s Market. Since then she has moved rapidly up becoming one of our foodie stars. I speak of course of Clodagh McKenna.
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Eating Out is Party of the Holiday Experience
07 August 2014
I am taking a look at places to eat in holiday spots. After all, eating out is very much part of any holiday experience. Starting in east Cork, you are spoiled for choice. In Ballycotton, Pier 26 eatery at the Inn by the Harbour...
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Lucinda in Ireland's Holiday Hotspots
07 August 2014
In the second part of a series looking at excellent places to eat on Les Cotes d'Irlande, ?Lucinda takes you on a whistle-stop tour of eateries in Wexford, ?Kerry and Donegal
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Festival fun under an August moon
07 August 2014
This month's festivals are kicking off across the globe, but there is much to savour at home, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY BREAKS FOR ALL THE FAMILY
28 July 2014
August is a wicked month, they say, when the cities of the world empty out on to the beaches - be it Antibes or Alghero, Baltimore or Roundstone. If you haven't planned your break, you need to get dialling fairly smartly because the holiday season...
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Al Fresco Restaurants for sunny day dining
24 July 2014
If you’re looking for the top spots around the country to eat seafood and other myriad delights in the open air here is the quintessential guide to doing just that...
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kelly's Cafe
23 July 2014
Kelly’s Hotel & Resort has made their name, over the years, with food, hospitality and top notch service.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Brook Inn
21 July 2014
In the heart of the pretty village of Glanmire is the Brook Inn, a wonderful atmospheric old world style restaurant and bar.
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3 to Try - An Ocean Breeze
18 July 2014
There is nothing like an ocean breeze to put a spring in our step followed by some delicious food. Here are three places you might like to try.
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Restaurant Review - Saint
18 July 2014
Clams cooked in craft beer may not have rocked my boat, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, but the atmosphere and enthusiastically prepared food at Saint certainly did.
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3 to Try - Seafood & Steak
18 July 2014
Seafood and steak restaurants are perennially popular at any time of the year. Here are suggestions for three you might like to try.
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Restaurant Review - China Sichuan
18 July 2014
It's Chinese food, but perhaps not as you know, with the delicious exotic goodies that are on offer at China Sichuan Sandyford
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From snack boxes to cookies, food producers find a link
07 July 2014
From snack boxes to cookies,this chain gang helps Dublin food producers promote their wares, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Fiorentina
07 July 2014
Looking out through Venetian blinds at the mighty illuminated portico of Dublin’s magnificent City Hall on a balmy evening was a mood raiser and uplifting experience in itself. We were in the new Fiorentina restaurant.
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THREE TO TRY - SUMMER SUPPERS
03 July 2014
Hopefully on these bright summer days and weekends you are out driving around the country. If you fancy a bite to eat on that trip, here are three places worth trying.
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Restaurant Review - Mourne Seafood Bar
03 July 2014
Wooden, double-bench-style picnic tables of the 'throw your leg over' variety, complete with booze-company-endorsed umbrellas, didn't create ?a great first impression as we walked down the boardwalk to the new Mourne Seafood Bar....
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Three to Try - Noodle Doodle
27 June 2014
We all adore the spices and noodles of Asian food so here are three different places for you to perhaps try.
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SOMETHING FOR BONO AND THE BOYS ON THEIR WORLD TOUR
25 June 2014
I spoke recently to two men, both involved for many years solely in the world of women's fashion and accessories, who by adding 'something for the boys' to their repertoires, have found that it has greatly enhanced their businesses.
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Restaurant Review - Sage Restaurant, Midleton
25 June 2014
Since first opening Sage Restaurant some five years ago, in a tucked-away premises off Midleton’s Main Street, in East Cork, chef patron, Kevin Aherne, has continuously moved forward.
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Restaurant Review - HX46
16 June 2014
‘HX46 — Cafe and Pan Asian Casual Dining”, emblazoned on a smart, pale-grey shop front in a row of shops on Harold’s Cross Road in D6W, had me hitting the brakes for a better look.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - McLaughlin's Restaurant @ The Castletroy Park Hotel
16 June 2014
The four star Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick is home to a most attractive restaurant, McLaughlin’s, which has a bright elegant atmosphere with lots of light enhanced by cream colours and elegant decorative touches.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - McGettigans Cookhouse & Bar Cork
11 June 2014
The first branch of McGettigan’s opened its doors way back in 1964 with McGettigan’s Pub on Queens Street in Dublin and their brand has certainly come a long way since then. Today they boast a successful chain of modern Irish restaurants.
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The man behind O'Crualaoi's Cork
10 June 2014
Driving from East Cork to Kinsale, which we do fairly frequently, I have had to restrain myself on many occasions from jumping out of the car, in the line of traffic through Carrigaline, to join the queue of eager customers hovering around a barbecue outs
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Restaurant Review - 64 Wine Sandycove
10 June 2014
Some years ago, Gerard Maguire visited Martel, a small town in the south-west of France and, while sitting with his wife, having a glass of the local Bergerac wine with a salad of duck confit, he was struck by the perfection of this simple repast.
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THREE TO TRY - COOL BASEMENTS
06 June 2014
Here are suggestions for three cool basements in Dublin and Galway with cracking food to try out.
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Restaurant Review - Saison
06 June 2014
Tucked away in a totally secluded alcove, one could be forgiven for thinking that it was gone midnight, rather than a little after midday. The basement of 21 Kildare Street has had more column inches written about it over the past number of years than a
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Galileo's
06 June 2014
It was a lovely bright Sunday morning, spring was in the air, the daffodils were peaking through and the ‘urge was on me’ to point the car in some direction out of Dublin!
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The Caterer
05 June 2014
Looking recently at the movie The Women, a 2008 remake of the acerbic and amusing 1939 movie, based on a play by Clare Boothe Luce on the lives, loves and dramas of a group of Manhattan wealthy socialite friends, all I could think was plus ca change.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Aroi Asian Street Food
30 May 2014
Street food is the thing people talk about when they return from the Far East. Those morsels of spicy deliciousness cooked and sold from stalls in markets and on the streets for no more than a few cents. Foodies waffle too about street food in Ireland,
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - An Bhialann
28 May 2014
There is something very enticing, honest and welcoming about the family run An Bhialann restaurant located on the Sandford Road end of Ranelagh’s main drag. In what has become virtually a restaurant village over run with tapas and tasting plates,fast food
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The Mary Stanford returns to Ballycotton
26 May 2014
Living beside the port of Dun Laoghaire, my ears always prick up when I hear the distinctive beat of helicopter blades swirling around the area. It very often means that someone is in trouble and the helicopter is trying to spot them in conjunction with
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Restaurant Review - Exchequer Wine Bar Ranelagh
26 May 2014
I could probably sit down every second week and write about an eatery that has "just opened" in Ranelagh. This suburban village, for many years best known for being a Dublin flatland, with launderettes, cheap takeaways, and cafes, morphed into a hot resid
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Barracuda
21 May 2014
If your looking for a restaurant with great food and really great atmosphere then look no further than Barracuda. Located on Bray’s magnificent and ever popular Victorian seafront and with floor to ceiling windows.
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THE WORLD'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS - HOW IT WORKS
19 May 2014
Rene Redzepi recently saw his Noma restaurant in Copenhagen restored to the position of No 1 in the ranks of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, having been knocked off the pillar by Spain's El Celler de Can Roca last year. Now back in the top spot for 2014
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3 to Try - Almost Nationwide
19 May 2014
Something old, something new, here are three restaurants suggestions for you to try around the country.
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Restaurant Review - Fiorentina
19 May 2014
Looking out through Venetian blinds at the mighty illuminated portico of Dublin's magnificent City Hall, on a balmy evening, was a mood-raiser in itself.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pizza E Porchetta
16 May 2014
Ronan Ryan is one of the best-known names in the restaurant industry in Ireland and his forte is modern Italian food, which he is serving up at his new Pizza e Porchetta eatery in spectacular style. P & P is a happening place.
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10 Years Younger! A Decade of Dining
13 May 2014
The cosmetic-surgery TV programme, 10 Years Younger, springs to mind when I think of the last 10 years of dining in Ireland. Since 2004, the restaurant industry has been nipped and tucked, weeded and plucked, resulting in a much tighter and keener ....
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3 Ladies of Kinsalebeg - Food and Craft
12 May 2014
WHEN Mary Kay Solomon came to Ireland 11 years ago from the US to work in the computer industry, I doubt she thought she would now be married to an Irishman and living in Killeagh in east Cork, or that she would totally change her career from computers t
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3 to Try - The Spice is Right
07 May 2014
We all have a passion for spices and Oriental and Asian food - here are three place you might like to try
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Getting the simple things right in the food business
07 May 2014
THE ‘management meeting of one’ is the hardest meeting there is to have,” says Paul Williams of the uber cool Canteen eatery in Limerick. “Just staring back at yourself in the mirror. There's no one else to point the finger at. It's you, and you alone..
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3 to Try - Diverse Dining
07 May 2014
Fancy trying somewhere different to eat - here are three diverse places to try all with something interesting and different to offer.
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Restaurant Review - Deep South
07 May 2014
There's a fine line between being naturally cool and overly contrived. Likewise, there's a fine line between shabby chic and just plain shabby. It felt like the latter when we arrived for lunch at the Deep South Cafe Bar in Cork.
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Restaurant Review - Aroi
30 April 2014
Street food is the thing people talk about when they return from the Far East. Those morsels of deliciousness cooked and sold, for no more than a few cents, from stalls in the markets and on the streets
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Kirsti O'Kelly's 'Silver Darlings'
29 April 2014
Kirsti O'Kelly's Silver Darlings are inspired by Kirsti's native Finland, where herrings are an everyday staple. We have wonderful herrings in our Irish waters but a lot of them are exported to Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and the Middle East and the Scandi
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Sefik Dikyar's Baklava to die for!
29 April 2014
Sefik Dikyar is originally from Turkey, and he produces the best Turkish baklava, and other specialties, I have seen this side of the Bosphorus.
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3 to Try - All Greek to Me
24 April 2014
Take yourself off to a Greek or Mediterranean restaurant and try some of their very interest mezze dishes.
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Restaurant Review - El Greco
24 April 2014
People sometimes say to me, "How do you pick a restaurant to review?" The answer is simple. In a review, people want to know about new restaurants, and new eateries are opening apace – especially in Dublin.
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COME DANCING AND LEAVE YOUR WORRIES BEHIND
21 April 2014
SINCE time immemorial, the movement of dance has fascinated, enthralled and even frightened at times. Around the world, there are courtship dances, rain dances, sword dances and war dances, not to mention the Maori Haka. Just as Spain enthralled...
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FOOD NOTES
21 April 2014
The new Terenure Village Market kicked off last Sunday, outside Gerry Caffrey Motors on Terenure Road North. The market committee is made up of a small number of locals who volunteered their time to set up this market "to try revive
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Restaurant Review - Brookwood
19 April 2014
Brookwood’ is a new eatery on busy buzzy Lower Baggot Street.I can’t say I quite get the significance of the slightly rural folksy name in the center of the city, particularly as it is a sleek steak and seafood house, rather than of the ‘fumble and forage
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Ardmore Open Farm, Brigid Shelly Gallery, White Horses Restaurant
18 April 2014
WE COULDN'T help but burst out laughing at the sight of 'Dorothy' rolling languorously on her back, then pausing mid-roll to look at us as if to say, 'come scratch my tummy'.
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3 to Try - Steak & Seafood
16 April 2014
Steak and seafood restaurants are perenially popular and here are three suggestions you might like to try.
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Restaurant Review - 8A Brasserie
11 April 2014
Having now lived for many years in Monkstown, County Dublin, I remember when number 8A Monkstown Crescent was Coopers – which was one of a chain of popular bistro/brasserie-style restaurants around the capital.
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Cracking Easter Breaks
08 April 2014
FOR the next couple of weeks it is all about fluffy yellow chicks, Easter bunnies and lots of chocolate. Hotels around the country are getting ready to welcome guests over the Easter holidays with various packages.....
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3 to Try - Fashionably, fabulously fast.
04 April 2014
There is some really great food to be had in the casual fast food dining arena nowadays. Here are three interesting places to try
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LIMERICK'S CULTURE & CHIPS
01 April 2014
DENIS Allen’s anthemic Limerick, You’re a Lady pays tribute to the Shannon’s waters as “tears of joy that flow”.
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Restaurant Review - Galileo's
01 April 2014
It was a lovely, bright, Sunday morning. Spring was in the air, the daffodils were peeking through and the "urge was upon me" to point the car in some direction out of Dublin! I am notoriously last-minute – some might say impulsive, some might say advent
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3 To Try - P is for Pleasure
26 March 2014
With some great eateries out there around the country here are three suggestions for you to try out.
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Restaurant Review - Peruke & Periwig
26 March 2014
Set in a compact, three-storey Georgian house on Dawson Street, Peruke & Periwig is the latest offering from the people behind Wagamama, the Vintage Cocktail Club and the Liquor Rooms in Temple Bar. Tourists, trendies and young-bucks-about-town may
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Chic niche boutiques streets ahead
26 March 2014
It's busy, it's buzzy, and it's jam-packed full of quality goods. Go visit Drury Street, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Marianne Weidner opens 4th Oska Shop at Avoca Mount Usher
18 March 2014
Passion and change are the two words that drive Marianne Weidner. Marianne has recently opened her fourth OSKA shop, this one at Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford,Co Wicklow.
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3 to Try - Gastropub Grub
18 March 2014
I must say I love the casual ethos and restaurant grub on offer in Gastropubs- here are three great places you might like to try.
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Restaurant Review - S Caviston@Goggins - Closed Before Review Published!
18 March 2014
I guess you are skating on fairly thin ice when you set out to review a new food element in what has been your local pub for the last 30 years. You are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don't!
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Oyster Grill Restaurant @ Hotel Meyrick
14 March 2014
The city of Galway is famous as a hub for visitors of all kinds, with thousands flocking to the city of tribes every year. Whether they’ve come for a relaxing retail getaway, an oudoorsy adventure holiday or for one of the many popular festivals.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Hotel Meyrick
12 March 2014
Known far and wide as the city of tribes, Galway City is the thriving hub for culture and tourism in the west of Ireland. With beautiful beaches along its coasts and a buzzing social atmosphere both day and night, the city is a pleasure to explore.
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Restaurant Review - Frites Haus
11 March 2014
Oh dear! I've had a couple of iffy experiences with "take it or leave it" service of late. I hope we're not heading for the situation of restaurants losing the plot again. Restaurants are opening all over Dublin, but, in this era of tight belts, they need
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The Royal Treatment in our own Glass Tower
10 March 2014
ANGELA Merkel was entertained there last week, as was Queen Elizabeth during her state visit in 2011. I'm talking about the CCD – Convention Centre Dublin – the dramatic, tilted glass tower on the northside of the Liffey docklands that gives the leaning
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Restaurant Review - Drury Buildings
05 March 2014
An orchestra without a conductor, a ship without a captain, a circus without a ringmaster. It felt a little bit like that at the new Drury Buildings on our midweek visit for dinner.
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Kelly's open new chapter in its book of welcomes
04 March 2014
AS I thumbed through The Book of Kelly's, a fascinating history of Kelly's Resort Hotel at Rosslare Strand, Co Wexford, I thought, 'This is going to have to be updated!'
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Darwin's Restaurant
26 February 2014
With Whitefriar Street Church being its best known landmark, I suppose I might be forgiven for saying that when Darwin’s first opened in Aungier Street some years ago it had always been more “mantilla” land than “Manolo” land.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Conyngham Arms
24 February 2014
The historic village of Slane springs to the fore when it comes to Rock Festivals in Ireland. Over the years Slane Castle has seen thousands of people enjoy the music of Thin Lizzy, Bruce Springsteen, Guns ‘N Roses, David Bowie, Queen, U2, Madonna, etc
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Conyngham Arms
24 February 2014
Right in the heart of the historic village of Slane, Co. Meath you will find the Conyngham Arms Hotel, a magnificently restored 18th Century coaching inn.
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Restaurant Review - An Bhialann
21 February 2014
In a city that is awash with – nay, expects – value menus and early birds, the first thing that struck us in the new steak and seafood restaurant, An Bhialann, on a bleak Thursday evening in January, was that there were no such offerings.
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THREE TO TRY - NEW FACES NEW PLACES
20 February 2014
Restaurants are opening like wildfire in Dublin and surrounding areas. Here are three places you might like to try.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Germaines Bar & Restaurant
19 February 2014
When I was a child I spent my summer holidays with my aunt and uncle on the farm in Tullow, Co. Carlow. I was regularly packed off on the bus which jogged along, making a ‘comfort’ stop in Blessington, before heading on for Baltinglass and Tullow.
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Hats Hats Hats - Ireland's Great Milliners
18 February 2014
WITH weddings being planned right now all over the country, we are coming into the season when it's also all about hats, hats, hats.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - The Mill Times Hotel
17 February 2014
The town of Westport is known far and wide as a bustling and welcoming community that draws tourists year round both from home and abroad.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Temptations Restaurant Westport
17 February 2014
The town of Westport is famous as a busy, buzzing tourist community that draws in vistors from around the world for its beautiful scenery, historical sites and its thriving hotel and restaurant scene.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pasta Fresca Restaurant
13 February 2014
Just off Grafton Street lies one of Dublin’s most popular restaurants, so popular in fact that it has been running since 1985. The secret to its continued success is that on top of serving really delicious Italian food, there is always a buzz.
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THREE TO TRY - PLAISIR D'AMOUR
11 February 2014
With Valentine's Day virtually on our doorstep here are three suggested romantic restaurants to try.
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Restaurant Review - Canteen at the Market
11 February 2014
Love is in the air this week, and one place you can't help but feel the love is at Canteen at the Market, owned by young couple, James Sheridan and Soizic Humbert.
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GET BOOKING THAT VALENTINE BREAK
11 February 2014
WITH St Valentine's Day falling on a Friday this year, it is the perfect opportunity for a spring break and the hotels around the country are gearing up to woo your custom.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - McGettigans Cookhouse & Bar
11 February 2014
Right in the heart of Dublin’s City Centre, opposite Connolly Station, close to the Liffey and convenient for the O2, you will find McGettigans Cookhouse and Bar, which I have to say is one of the most inviting and atmospheric venues I’ve visited.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Cava Bodega
10 February 2014
There is no doubt but the colour, vibrancy, drama and romance of Spain has held a huge attraction for the intellectuals and artistic of this world from the great American writer Ernest Hemingway to movie star Rita Hayworth.
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THREE TO TRY - PIZZA PLUS
04 February 2014
Everyone loves Italian food and here are three suggestions for you to try which offer pizzas and more....
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Restaurant Review - Pizza e Porchetta
04 February 2014
It was rather nice to see restaurateur Ronan Ryan striding on familiar turf by way of the new Pizza e Porchetta in the Malting Tower on Grand Canal Quay.
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No 1 Best Bargain Hotel in the WORLD 2014
03 February 2014
IF someone asked you where was the No 1 Best Bargain Hotel in the World, your head would probably whirl around images of the blue oceans of the Seychelles, a chalet in the Swiss Alps, or a colourful riad in Morocco.
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THREE TO TRY - HOMELAND DINING
28 January 2014
American casual food is hugely popular with all age groups so check out these three places.
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Restaurant Review - TUCKBOX
28 January 2014
'You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind," crooned Elvis Presley, followed in rapid succession by Diana Ross rolling up with Ain't No Mountain High Enough. "Well, the music's a winner anyway. Young rockers and old rockers are going to love
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Spinng a tasty yarn at Winnie's cafe
27 January 2014
WHEN driving through a Dublin suburb, you are not expecting to encounter a grassy green sheep pen with gambolling lamb figures peering over the fence – not to mention 'Winnie' in the corner.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Clancy's Bar & Restaurant
24 January 2014
One of the great new additions to the seaside town of Youghal in East Cork is Clancy’s Bar & Restaurant on the Front Strand.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Texas Steakout
22 January 2014
We all love a good steak and, when I say a good steak, I mean a good steak. We want it juicy and tender, cooked the way we like it, with all the trimmings – our favourite sauces, fries, onions, mushrooms – the works.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Holland's
21 January 2014
Right in the heart of the popular seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow is a venue that has been delighting its patrons for over 40 years now, Holland’s Gastropub.
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3 to Try - New Kid on the Block
20 January 2014
Restaurants are opening apace all over the place - here are three restaurants you might like to try.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - SEVEN SOCIAL
20 January 2014
You really do have to admire the get up and go of some people. Seven Social is a 24-seater restaurant on Benburb Street, which has never let its diminutive size or location curtail its ambitions.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Hen House
20 January 2014
Graham and Rosie Campbell’s Hen House restaurant, overlooking Dun Laoghaire’s seafront, has become one of the most popular restaurants in the area and continues to draw customers who love to chow down all American style in a relaxed comfortable atmosphere
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LUCINDA VISITS THE DSPCA AND MEETS LOTS OF FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS
13 January 2014
'A DOG is for life, not just for Christmas" was the slogan created way back in 1978 by Clarissa Baldwin of the Dogs Trust in the UK.It is a slogan that is every bit as relevant today as it was back then. The idea was to discourage people
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THREE TO TRY; ORIENTAL EATS
13 January 2014
Fond of Asian food, then check out these three Oriental restaurants who will be in full flight for the upcoming Chinese New Year at the end of January.
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Restaurant Review - Ka Shing
13 January 2014
I'd never before sat in a Chinese restaurant in Ireland and been the only European in the place. And it wasn't a simple, tucked-away venue in some backstreet of what is, euphemistically, called our Chinese quarter -- around Parnell Street and Capel Stree
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Lord Baker's Restaurant
10 January 2014
To be a succesful restaurant or pub in the town of Dingle, Co.Kerry one has to be something pretty special. With 36 eateries and 50 pubs to be found within the town, it can be tough to compete.
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Weighing up the diets that might work for you
06 January 2014
ONE of these fine days, when the last of the tinsel has been packed away, very many of us are going to try and put our New Year's resolution into operation and, for very many of us, that resolution is to lose weight.
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Restaurant Review - Opium Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
06 January 2014
Restaurants seem to gather in clusters. Once one paves the way successfully, others follow hot on its tail -- the Haddington Road area, Upper Leeson Street and Ranelagh are all prime examples.Now the hot-to-trot Dublin city-centre place is Wexford Street
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LUCINDA'S GASTRO GONGS FOR 2013
31 December 2013
THIS year it has been wonderful to see a huge number of new restaurant openings -- both big and small. Also worth noting, as I looked back over this year, the standard and pride in food overall in restaurants and hotels has improved more this year than...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Bakestone
27 December 2013
As an inveterate shopper who drags the better half around every store and retail outlet in the country, I am always looking for something delicious to revive us both after our efforts. What a joy it was to happen upon Bakestone at Ballyseedy Home & Garden
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HERE COME THE GIRLS - MEET SOME OF IRELAND'S FEMALE CHEFS
24 December 2013
THE restaurant industry is predominantly run by men. It's all about this, that and the other celebrity chef, shouty chef, pouty chef and idiot macho chef, some gazing from professionally posed photos looking as if they had discovered the atom rather than
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Veda Indian Restaurant
19 December 2013
Believe it or not, one of the hazards of being a food critic is that every time you sit down to review a restaurant you have to ‘go the distance’ with three courses, three tapas plates or whatever, otherwise you disappoint someone.
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Restaurant Review - Two new Gastropubs
18 December 2013
It’s always great to see new restaurants and eateries opening. I recently visited two new gastropubs, which have more than one thing in common. Both hostelries have been opened by Irish guys who have lived and worked for a considerable length of time in
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Festive Food Traditions Abroad
17 December 2013
AS YOU prepare to douse the pudding with brandy and set it alight on Christmas Day, did you know that the plum pudding goes back to Roman times? It began as a pottage of meat and vegetables prepared in a cauldron to which dried fruits, sugar and spices...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Monastery Inn
17 December 2013
We spend a lot of time on the road travelling around the country and consequently always on the lookout for somewhere to stop and have a bite to eat. This was how we discovered the atmospheric Monastery Inn, a thriving local pub and restaurant...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Aprile Restaurant
13 December 2013
Situated on the Lower Kilmacud Road, opposite the Stillorgan Shopping Centre in Dublin, you will find Aprile Restaurant, a wonderful asset to the Stillorgan restaurant community. Beautifully decorated with a cool contemporary look, Aprile’s has a
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - dela
11 December 2013
The City of the Tribes is always an exciting place to visit with events and festivals happening it seems almost all year round. There is a tangible buzz and a vibe and, over the past couple of years, it has also become a foodie destination with the
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Pepper Brasserie & Grill
10 December 2013
Peter Clifford is a young chef with the Twitter handle of @pistolpete1991who has used this medium to raise his profile very successfully. He has now taken up the reins at the new Pepper Brasserie & Grill, at the Bram Stoker Hotel in Clontarf....
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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A BREAK
09 December 2013
CHRISTMAS and New Year are times when a lot of people like to get away from it all. Some hotels are already booked out. I am told this is often by people who work right up to Christmas Eve, perhaps in the hospitality or retail business, or those whose
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Marco Pierre White Courtyard Bar & Grill
06 December 2013
The sometime enfant terrible of the kitchen, Marco Pierre White, has expanded his empire by opening a second restaurant in Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - Etto
04 December 2013
Etto, a really chic little wine bar, has joined the coterie of eateries and bars that make up Dublin’s Merrion Row, smack in the heart of what is known as the golden mile. It is located in long narrow premises that were for over twenty years an Indian re
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Elena Arzak Judges at Eurotoques Young Chef of the Year 2013
02 December 2013
LAST Sunday week saw five young hopefuls reach the finals of the Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year 2013, held at a 'secret' location of which guests were notified the day before.
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Christmas Shopping Lunch Spots
02 December 2013
The shops are decorated to the hilt, you can't escape the Christmas jingles – we are now seriously into Christmas shopping time! December 8 was traditionally the big day for people to come to Dublin for present buying.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - FOREST AVENUE
26 November 2013
There is a stark Nordic ‘Wallander’ feel to the new Forest Avenue restaurant, accented by a floor to ceiling glass frontage, offering vistas of acres of sky. A faux white stags head hangs on an urban grey wall, as a cute little ‘antlers’...
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Hospitality ascends to new heights at Aghadoe
25 November 2013
IN 1965, just around the time the Aghadoe Heights Hotel was being built overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, American novelist Arthur Hailey wrote the best selling blockbuster Hotel.
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Thanksgiving Dinner in Youghal
21 November 2013
Thursday November 28th is Thanksgiving, America’s favourite holiday, which is destined to be celebrated most sincerely in a bar on the beach in the seaside heritage town of Youghal.
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Restaurant Review - Pepper
19 November 2013
Twitter is a mighty marketing tool if used properly but, unfortunately, it does allow what were known in the old days as ‘poison pen’ writer’s free rein. However, it also facilitates people who have a common interest to find one another and I
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TAKE 4 GIRLS
18 November 2013
TAKE four girls, take four ideas – and hey presto, you have four businesses. I recently met four such young women whose ideas really took my fancy. Their products are all innovative, stylish, and would make anyone happy on Christmas Day.
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Restaurant Review - Franchini's
12 November 2013
The opening of the eponymous Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork in 2007 was the talk du jour. The magnificent house, which had for many years been in the hands of a religious order, was exquisitely restored and refurbished, whilst the grounds and gardens
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LUCINDA IN FLANDERS FIELDS
11 November 2013
Fiv years ago coincidentally the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice, I wrote here in Life magazine the story of my uncle, Billy Morris, a young man from Kilkenny who like many other young Irish men of his generation had felt honour bound to go off to war
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"I Died Smiling as I Lived" - Kilkennyman Billy Morris Story WW1
11 November 2013
When Lucinda O'Sullivan was given a cache of letters, sent by her uncle Billy Morris from Kilkenny while he served with the British army in World War One, it set her off on a wonderful, and deeply moving journey of discovery that ended with Billy's final
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Cookery Book Launches - Rick Stein, Chapter One, Lynda's Table......
11 November 2013
YES, 'tis the season to be cooking – but it also seems to be the serious season for launching new cookery books.
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Seven Social - Ancient Irish Feast
11 November 2013
Don't miss out on Seven Socials fab 10 Course Tasting Menu next Sunday 17th November.The night is putting the spotlight on genuine Irish cuisine, our food history and traditions both current and ancient.
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Restaurant Review - House
05 November 2013
‘House’ is not the American medical TV series, nor is it a reality TV show but, I guess, you could say there will certainly be a lot of ‘people watching’ within its walls. Rather, ‘House’ is the sibling of 37 Dawson Street’, Dublin’s hot, hot, bar/eatery
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Designer Leathergoods in Dingle
04 November 2013
CONOR Holden and his wife Clare are this year celebrating 25 years of Holden Leathergoods, their quality handcrafted designs business.
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KILKENNY, KILKENNY, KILKENNY
04 November 2013
OVER the bank holiday weekend, we were in Kilkenny for the seventh Savour Kilkenny food festival, which proved a tremendous success. We stayed in the Pembroke Hotel and on Friday night we were guests of Savour Kilkenny at Zuni's Restaurant where, followi
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Restaurant Review - Marco Pierre White Courtyard Bar & Grill
29 October 2013
The sometime enfant terrible of the kitchen, Marco Pierre White, breezed into town recently for the opening of his second restaurant in Dublin. Unlike many of the ventures by English celebrity chefs, MPW’s restaurant in Dawson Street, in partnership with
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Knitting & Stitching Show
28 October 2013
when it came to sewing, I didn't get off to a great start. I grew up looking at my mother's black and gold electric Singer sewing machine – it was a treasured piece of 'high tech' equipment and carried warnings to be extremely careful about threading bobb
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Restaurant Review - Zaragoza
22 October 2013
Everybody it seems wants to be a restaurateur. However, I must confess the latest convert to the hot steamy cut throat world of the professional kitchen certainly surprised me. The ex deputy leader of Fianna Fail, Mary Hanafin, is one of ten people...
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Meet Helen & Brian Heaton of Castlewood House Dingle
21 October 2013
Everywhere I go in Ireland, I meet hoteliers who say that they've been having a great year. I have tremendous time for these people who, through good times and bad, have had to keep the best front out, maintain their premises and try to keep their staff
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Hayfield Manor wins Conde Nast Readers' Choice Award 2013
20 October 2013
The staff & owners of Hayfield Manor hotel have been honoured with one of the most prestigious awards in the travel industry. The readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, a collection of some of the most discerning travellers across the globe, voted for
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Restaurant Review - Platform
15 October 2013
When a restaurant is hopping on a Monday night, I guess you can take it they are doing something right. So it was when we arrived sans reservation to Platform Pizza Bar on the seafront in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Aptly named as it backs onto Bray Dart Station
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'This is Cavan'
14 October 2013
'THIS is Cavan' is the new branding for marketing all that Cavan has to offer. The county recently hosted 'A Taste of Cavan' where I met some enthusiastic food producers from Cavan and surrounding counties. The fact that Richard Corrigan....
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Restaurant Review - Veda
08 October 2013
Believe it or not, one of the hazards of being a food critic is that every time you sit down to review a restaurant you have to ‘go the distance’ with three courses, three tapas plates or whatever, otherwise you disappoint someone. When off duty....
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The Local Shop
07 October 2013
FOR generations, the corner shop was very much part of the local community. It was where housewives bought their daily bread and milk, their bacon and newspapers, had a chat with the shopkeeper, perhaps ran a little monthly account or put it 'on tick'.
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Restaurant Review - Sr Frango
03 October 2013
Sr Frango ‘Modern European Cuisine’ is the latest eatery to join the plethora of reasonably priced spots in the Camden and Wexford Street area of Dublin. Its rustic Tex Mex wood panelled shopfront didn’t initially strike us as the most appealing
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A Whirl Around Brittany With Some Wine Buying As Well
01 October 2013
FOR many years now, we have taken ourselves off to France for an autumnal break. It's a lovely time to travel, being still generally warm, and it is also a great opportunity to stock up the wine cellar for the long winter ahead.
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Michelin 2014
29 September 2013
MICHELIN Guide announced its much vaunted Michelin Stars 2014 last week with editor Rebecca Burr saying, "We have never produced a GB & Ireland guide that provides our readers with such diversity and variety.
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Autumn Food Festivals
23 September 2013
It's very seldom that we slide gently into autumn, but this summer has been a real cracker, which has raised our spirits and given us all more positive thoughts. We have had a summer of food festivals countrywide and now, as we approach the season of mist
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Restaurant Review - The Greenery
23 September 2013
Tucked away in the corner of a little strip of shops in Donnybrook Village is The Greenery. With a candy stripe awning over a couple of outside café tables, the ambiance is light bright and relaxed with pretty young girls flitting around.
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Restaurant Review - Marcel's
20 September 2013
It’s funny how some new eateries manage to hit the ground running whilst others make excuses for their failings for weeks. Located in what was the former Espresso Bar on St. Mary’s Road in D4, facing the Dylan Hotel, the new Marcel’s Restaurant exudes
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Honest2Goodness really is Honest To Goodness
19 September 2013
FOUR years ago this coming November, brother and sister team, Colm and Brid Carter took the risky step of launching Honest 2Goodness, an artisan food market, in a warehouse on Slaney Close in the Dublin Industrial Estate in Glasnevin. Since then, H2G has
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Dolce Vita
12 September 2013
La Dolce Vita is a popular Italian restaurant, which was previously in Sandyford Village and is now in a super new contemporary premise, complete with an outdoor terrace, in the Sandyford Industrial Estate.
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Restaurant Review - Beeftro
11 September 2013
Is it mere coincidence that in a recession people love to snuggle themselves up beside the security of a humongous steak? Certainly we are seeing plenty of new beef eateries hitting our streets.
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THAT APPALLING PHOTO
10 September 2013
Can you imagine how you would feel if you saw a picture of yourself, decapitated, blood dripping down, your hair being grasped by an angry looking man, whilst his companion, clutching the offending cleaver, stared angrily out of the photo? This is what I
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Lucinda meets Vivien Walsh - Jewellery Designer
10 September 2013
THERE is nothing to put a glint in a girl's eye more than the sight of a nice little jewellery box!
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Restaurant Review - Breakfast is King
05 September 2013
“Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Lord, and dine like a pauper”, is an old adage. Perhaps it’s not a bad one for, having cast aside our Celtic Tiger ways and returned to many old traditions, we are realizing that perhaps Granny did really know best.
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Restaurant Review - Cleaver East
29 August 2013
What is it about men and their weapons? Thirty years ago, Marco Pierre White launched his cleaver clutching, tousle haired, moody, sexy-chef image –- today he promotes stock cubes and steak houses! Now Michelin starred chefs, Oliver Dunne of Bon Appetit,
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SABA Lobsterfest is back!
29 August 2013
Lobsterfest, the annual shellfish shindig at Saba, is back from Monday 9th until Sunday 22nd September. Diners can enjoy exquisite lobster fresh from the waters of Inisboffin or freshly shucked Carlingford Lough oysters to sip, slurp and sup!
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Chefs and limelight are a recipe for trouble!
28 August 2013
EGO – three little letters for a very powerful word that can destroy people and their families. Other ways we have of describing misplaced supersized ego is 'losing the plot', 'believing one's own publicity', 'carried away with themselves' or
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Cloister Restaurant
28 August 2013
Dermot and Noreen Fetton are two of the most experienced people operating within the hospitality business in Ireland today. Both spent many years working in 5 Star establishments; the legendary Dromoland Castle and the Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork.
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END OF SUMMER FAMILY HOTEL BREAKS - GRAB THEM!
19 August 2013
AS AUTUMN leaves approach, many families like to seize the moment and head off for a last precious few days of fun before the school year begins.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - REUBEN'S RESTAURANT AT THE STEP HOUSE
19 August 2013
It was a scorching Sunday morning as I decided to hit the road for somewhere, rather than the road to nowhere around the house! I am a last minute traveller defined by my family of men as bonkers for, on a previous impulsive Sunday a few years back,
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Restaurant Review - La Dolce Vita/Village Bistro
16 August 2013
Early Bird and Value Menus are the midweek mainstay of many restaurants, so it is in a restaurant’s own interests to make them as inviting as possible. We took in a few recently, during the lovely summer evenings.
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Makers & Brothers
14 August 2013
RIVERDANCE brought Irish dancing into today's world giving it a modern edge – and brothers Jonathan and Mark Legge are aiming to do the same with Irish crafts and design...
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A Caviston's Greystones now open for Dinner
08 August 2013
Amy Caviston of A Caviston's in Greystones is now opening her brilliant seafood cafe restaurant for dinner.....
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MARBELOUS CITY FOR ARTS, CRAFTS AND FOOD TRAILS
05 August 2013
FOOD tourism is a huge industry around the world and something that has been growing in Ireland in the past few years. There is no doubt but that when businesses in a region or town band together it proves to be to everyone's advantage.
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Restaurant Review - Copper Bar
05 August 2013
Will it be third time lucky, we wondered, as we arrived at the new Copper Bar in Sandyford Industrial Estate. Certainly the signs looked good. The place was busy and had life about it, but this is a building with a story. The Sandyford Estate was....
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Restaurant Review - Clodagh's Kitchen
30 July 2013
A decade or so ago a young lady from Cork sent me a recipe for chicken liver pate which she was selling in Midleton Farmer’s Market. Since then she has moved rapidly up the foodie ladder so it was good to see that she has been true to her origins...
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New businesses at Cabinteely Park Market
29 July 2013
In the midst of all the doom and gloom there is a veritable boom in small-business enterprise. It's a 'we can do it' philosophy and, as small-time entrepreneurs soon find out there is absolutely nothing like working for yourself in business.
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Hot Dining in Holiday Hot Spots
24 July 2013
We all like to try the local restaurants when we are on holiday whether home or abroad. Maybe you go to the same part of Connemara or West Cork each year,visit old favourites and know them all by heart, but then again maybe you don’t,and places do change
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Asian Tea House Restaurant
24 July 2013
Galway, the City of the Tribes, is always an exciting place to visit. Its ancient streets are vibrant and buzzy, but like all cities it's always good to know where you will find great food in a great ambiance.
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The Dublin Flea
23 July 2013
WE CAN'T all make it to the world famous two-day Braderie de Lille on August 31 and September 1, or indeed the famous flea markets of Paris, but we do have our very own Dublin Flea Market, held on the last Sunday of every month at .....
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Restaurant Review - Perfect Pitstops
16 July 2013
Many years ago, when planning our first trip driving around the North of France, I found a book which followed the ‘B’ roads, leading us up highways and byways of delight, with recommendations for eateries and places to lay our heads. I am not going to
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Meet the guy behind the Bunsen Burger
15 July 2013
“What I loved about New York is that you have a guy that does the best chips, a guy that does the best sushi, a guy that does the best baguettes, ….the best coffee, and they can all trade independently whereas here there is a rush to satisfy everybody....
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Restaurant Review - Town Kildare
09 July 2013
Arguably one of Dublin’s most talked about restaurants, Town Bar & Grill, was re-launched recently as a “high end casual restaurant” with the owner, Gillian Ronan, dropping the ‘Bar & Grill’ moniker for ‘Town Kildare Street’, and wheeling in a brace
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A Kerry Odyssey
08 July 2013
'THE windows have been painted for the first time in 27 years and new boilers installed," said Tony Daly, managing director of the consortium of investors who bought Parknasilla Resort & Spa in Sneem, Co Kerry, at the start of this year.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Torrino's
03 July 2013
Westport is one of the great destination towns for tourism and weekenders. It is a thoroughly attractive place with lots to do and see for the visitor. It also has some great shops and restaurants.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Bang Restaurant
02 July 2013
Located in the hub of what is known as Dublin’s Golden Mile, on Merrion Row just off St Stephen’s Green, Bang Restaurant is right where it’s at when it comes to chic contemporary dining.
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New Head Chef at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
01 July 2013
The Lake Room Restaurant and Heights Lounge have a refreshing new look menu created by Head Chef Sebastian Schulze.
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Nobo Dairy Free Icecream
01 July 2013
DUBLINERS Brian Nolan and Rachel Flynn will become Mr and Mrs Nolan this coming October, but, notwithstanding the excitement of wedding plans, they have just established a new food business, Nobo, which is ice-cream with a difference.
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Kids Cookery Bootcamp at Ryeland House
01 July 2013
All great chefs and foodies say they learned to cook at their mother's knee and, from my own experience, it is a skill you never forget. Nowadays not everyone has as much time to spend cooking with their kids as they might like and, as we all know,
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Restaurant Review - 1826Adare & Dunraven Arms Hotel
01 July 2013
A visit to Rick Stein territory in Cornwall proved a defining moment for Wexford born chef Wade Murphy and his wife Elaine.
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Heiko Riebandt joins The Lodge at Doonbeg as Executive Head Chef
26 June 2013
The Lodge at Doonbeg is delighted to announce that Heiko Riebant has been appointed Executive Head Chef. He joins Doonbeg from The Sheen Falls Lodge Hotel in Kenmare, Co. Kerry where he has been Executive Chef since 2009.
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WATERFALL FARM ENNISKERRY
24 June 2013
Michael and Hannah Keegan are a young couple who farm pedigree Lleyn sheep on 170 acres in the shadows of Powerscourt Waterfall in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, aptly named Waterfall Farm.
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Restaurant Review - NEDE
24 June 2013
Since departing Noma, the legendary Copenhagen restaurant, Yannick Van Aeken and Louise Bannon have caused a flutter in the foodie arena and divided the Critics....
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Adrift @ Dunmore House Hotel
21 June 2013
Clonakilty in West Cork is definitely worth exploring. With its colourfully painted houses and Georgian Squares, it is lovely little town to stroll through, bursting with blooming flower baskets in the spring and summer.
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Restaurant Review - Las Tapas de Lola
19 June 2013
Rule No. 1 in any business is not to leave potential customers hanging on a phone for 15 minutes before they hang up, as happened when I called up to book at table at Las Tapas de Lola. It is enough to make you tear your hair out, as is being told that,
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Dermot & Noreen Fetton open The Cloisters Ennis
17 June 2013
WHEN visiting the splendid Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork three or four years ago, I met the delightful Dermot and Noreen Fetton. At the time they were both on the managerial team of The Dromoland Collection, which had taken over the management of...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Brasserie On The Corner
14 June 2013
The City of the Tribes has been raising its head in the foodie arena in the past couple of years with some really good eateries and one of those is undoubtedly Brasserie on the Corner. There is a lovely atmosphere here, plenty of buzz, excellent service,
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Brambles Bistro Terenure
12 June 2013
Brambles is a well know family owned group of some 20 excellent daytime cafes in high profile Shopping Centers, Museums, and other venues principally in the Dublin area.
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My childcare nightmare in my own home
10 June 2013
I went down the route of even more expensive childcare in my own home as I felt he would be safest there. What could go wrong under our own roof?
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10 GREAT RESTAURANTS TO VISIT THIS SUMMER
10 June 2013
The first question asked of a restaurant critic is “what is your favourite restaurant”. For me a good restaurant is not always about twiddly bits of artwork on a plate, it can be good produce simply cooked, wonderful aromatic spices from Asia....
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Forge Bar and Restaurant
07 June 2013
The village of Moycullen is on the main road between Galway and Oughterard both of which you pass through en route to Clifden. Nowdays Moycullen has become a really happening village raising it’s profile both in relation to food and retail.
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The Punnet Health Food Store - Glasthule
03 June 2013
"We met in a smoothie bar in Gran Canaria," explained Darragh. "I did my Leaving Cert in 1998 and James was going into fifth year. Twenty-seven students went from Blackrock College, where I was, and from St Mary's, where James was a student. We all got.
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Jarek's Kitchen
03 June 2013
'My mother is a chef, which is how I learned to cook, I got my passion for food from her," explained Jarek Baryga of Jarek's Kitchen.
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Dublin's Best Gastropubs
03 June 2013
The Restaurants Association of Ireland and Sunday Life Magazine 2013 Irish Restaurant Awards are taking place in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on June 10, Eight establishments have been shortlisted for Best Gastropub in Dublin.....
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - The Bosun
30 May 2013
The Bosun at Monkstown is one of Cork’s longest standing and best loved establishments and for over a hundred years, it has drawn travellers from both near and far through it’s welcoming doorway.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Bosun
30 May 2013
For over a hundred years now, The Bosun in Monkstown, Co.Cork has welcomed patrons from all around the country and indeed overseas.
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Dromoland Castle - 50 Years of Hospitality
27 May 2013
The Sixties was the decade that liberated a generation and changed the world in so many ways. The Russians sent Yuri Gagarin into outer space in 1961, whilst Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon in 1969. The Beatles were
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - An Canteen
23 May 2013
Dingle is a town that is just magic in itself. From the moment it featured in the iconic movie ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ it’s stunning dramatic beauty capitvated people from all over the world.
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Restaurant Review - FXBuckley Temple Bar
21 May 2013
I lusted long and hard for a couple of years over a designer dining table with a silver Indian ‘white metal’ top. “They are very cool - I saw a similar one in Jamie’s in Covent Garden,” I pleaded with Himself - who remained unmoved by the t
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Winding Stair
21 May 2013
The Winding Stair is one of the most respected and popular restaurants in Dublin. Over the past number of years Elaine Murphy’s fantastic eatery has charmed and enchanted not only thousands of locals but also thousands of visitors to the City
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Summer Festivals
20 May 2013
LIFE is what you make it. And, one way or another, you can have a brilliant summer in Ireland by following the festival trail – and many do. I am not just talking of food festivals, but also literature, music, comedy, the lot.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Vista
14 May 2013
There are lots of great restaurants in Kinsale, but very few have such a setting as Vista.
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Cornstore Group Delivers Innovative Beef Aging Process
14 May 2013
CORNSTORE GROUP celebrate launch of their own in-house dry aging beef process. This initiative involves..
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Claire Doyle - Dress Designer
14 May 2013
CLAIRE Doyle is an accomplished businesswoman, dress designer and manufacturer, with an assurance and poise that belie her 27 years.
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Restaurant Review - Soulful Bistro
14 May 2013
‘Some people are so poor, all they have is money’ and ‘the best things in life aren’t things’ are phrases scripted in gold on the walls of the new Soulful Bistro in Dublin’s Stoneybatter.
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EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA PIPS NOMA AT THE POST WORLD'S50 BEST
07 May 2013
From Peru to Dubai, Brazil to Shanghai, an army of worldwide chefs gleamed and preened as they rubbed shoulders in London's prestigious Guildhall for the announcement of the San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2013.
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Restaurant Review - The Brasserie at The Marker
07 May 2013
“I’m having difficulty choosing a starter”, said friend Rachel. “They are all ‘wobblies’ or ‘cheesy’”. We were in The Brasserie of the new Marker Hotel, on Grand Canal Square in Dublin’s Docklands. The ground floor is open plan - light....
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Restaurant Review - The Table
30 April 2013
Devotees of the popular urban Lennox Café Bistro will be happy to know that the owners have spread their wings and opened The Table Restaurant & Wine Bar in the nearby former Nonna Valentina premises, overlooking the Grand Canal at Portobello.
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May Bank Holiday Breaks
29 April 2013
After the extraordinary unseasonal weather we've 'enjoyed' this spring, there is a longing in all of our hearts for an escape – however brief. Check out some May Bank Holiday breaks and get going!
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Go Vintage in Borris, Co. Carlow, for Tractor Nuts Festival 2013
29 April 2013
The nation is going VINTAGE mad with HUNDREDS of tractor nuts from all over Ireland and abroad descending on the quaint village of Borris in Co. Carlow on May 11th and 12th for the 10th annual Tractor Nuts Festival.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Morilles Bistro
24 April 2013
Today, situated above the Yellow House Pub, you will find Morilles Bistro and the moment you walk through it’s doors you’ll know you’ve come to the right place.
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Kate Browne - BeU Beauty Clinic
23 April 2013
As we all know, retail and other small businesses have been decimated over the past few years through high rents and the drop in spend. In February 2011, Kate Browne of BeU Beauty Clinic in the Dublin suburb of Kimmage was also battling hard to keep her
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Restaurant Review - Tropica Chinese Restaurant
23 April 2013
Many years ago I remember a popular Chinese Takeaway to which everyone flocked after the rugby hops. We downed large quantities of mustard yellow Chinese curries with chunks of woolly chicken and chewy onion in the name of exotic food. Chinese restaura
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BLOOMING BURREN - GLORIOUS FOOD AND WALKS
21 April 2013
The weekend break takes place from Friday May 10th to 12th. Aidan and Kate McGrath provide superb food and stylish accommodation at the multi-award winning Wild Honey Inn located in Lisdoonvarna.
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BURREN SLOW FOOD FESTIVAL
21 April 2013
The seventh annual Burren Slow Food Festival takes place in Lisdoonvarna on the weekend of 17th, 18th and 19th of May. This year’s special guest is Irish native, UK based Chef Richard Corrigan.
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Restaurant Review - Browne's Brasserie
16 April 2013
‘Hello’ said the tall man, dressed in a casual outdoor jacket and scarf, resting his elbow on the top of our booth as he looked down on us. ‘Hello’, we replied, a tad bemused as we had never seen him before. There was that awkward pause before he said “
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Putting bread on our tables is a labour of love
15 April 2013
'I did corporate law in Galway before becoming a baker. It's a natural progression really," said Patrick Ryan with a laugh. Patrick, 27, set up the Firehouse, a bakery and bread school on Heir Island, west Cork, last year, and is about to embark on a new
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'FOLLOW ME DOWN TO CARLOW LADS.....'
15 April 2013
Grandmothers Day - Forgotten Skills Slow Food International Grandmothers Day. “A celebration of Food Heritage and Forgotten Skills” Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April 2013 Sandbrook House, Co. Carlow
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KELLY'S HOTEL ROSSLARE - SPECIAL MAY GOLF BREAK
14 April 2013
With so many great golf courses in the sunny South-East, the ever popular Kelly’s Hotel in Rosslare, Co.Wexford provides the ideal base for that spring golfing break, and all...
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All Ireland Chowder Cook off Kinsale 21st April, 2013
13 April 2013
It certainly won’t be a case of “too many cooks may spoil the broth” in Kinsale on Sunday 21st April, as chefs from all over Ireland compete in the All Ireland Chowder Cook off.
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South American Wine Tasting Dinner at Roly's on 16th April
12 April 2013
On Tuesday the 16th of April Roly's will be hosting a dinner with a wine maker from South America......
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Pop Up Dinner at Dublin Cookery School
09 April 2013
I recently had one of the best meals of the year so far – not as one might expect in a posh restaurant, but at a pop-up event of graduating students at the Dublin Cookery School in Blackrock, Co Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - That's Amore
09 April 2013
“When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that’s amore, When the world seems to shine, like you’ve had too much wine, that’s amore.”
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Dylan Restaurant
05 April 2013
Since first opening its doors, tucked away on the exclusive Eastmoreland Place in Dublin’s D4, the Dylan Hotel has been one of Dublin’s hottest destinations.
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Restaurant Review - VM Restaurant
03 April 2013
When chefs have reached a certain level of skill and proficiency you know, provided they are on the bridge during your visit, that you are unlikely to receive a less than perfect plate. So it was on our recent trip to VM restaurant in Longford where Chef
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The Hills are Alive with the Smell of Chocolate
01 April 2013
AS WE wake up this Easter Sunday morning, the hills may not be alive with the sound of music, but at Kylemore Abbey in Letterfrack, Co Galway, the kitchens are alive with the sound of industry – and the aroma of chocolate.
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130 years of Renvyle House Hotel
25 March 2013
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”were the opening lines of Daphne du Maurier’s famous novel ‘Rebecca’ a tale of love, deceit, and murder, and an all destroying fire in the mythical house Manderley on the Cornish shoreline. Many great novel
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Restaurant Review - Anar Persian Restaurant
25 March 2013
Anar is a new Persian Restaurant and Wine Bar in the heart of Terenure. ‘Persia’ - isn’t that Iran nowadays - I can hear you say! Yes, indeed it is, but doesn’t Persia sound so much more romantic. It brings back memories of the last Shah, Mohamed Reza
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Restaurant Review - Morrison Grill
19 March 2013
We’d had a great cocktail each in the new Quay 14 Bar, been looked after by amazing bar staff, and were now seated in the Morrison Grill, on a low backed banquette in a Siberian draft. As the evening progressed, the tempo music was raised, and looking ou
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Lucinda meets Atul Kochhar
18 March 2013
'Idedicated my new book, Atul's Curries of the World, to my mum and I was very emotional about the first copy I got so I sent it to her immediately. Two days later I thought I would check that she had received it, so I called her up. Before I could ask
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Fashionista paradise in G4
11 March 2013
GOREY has always been a great business town but did you know that it has now become a serious fashionista destination? Esmonde Street has become a boulevard of boutiques and cafes, acquiring the tag of G4 and attracting the ladies in their droves. Also
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Restaurant Review - PHX
11 March 2013
Restaurants tend to cluster in groups, a good thing as a choice of eateries draws more people to an area. The latest little cluster of eateries is between Benburb Street and the Quays. First in here was Seven Social, a really good spot for delicious and
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Rockpool Restaurant @ Carlton Kinsale Hotel
05 March 2013
Since first opening, some years back now, The Carlton Hotel Kinsale has gone from strength to strength with it’s fantastic modern facilities and it’s high standards of hospitality.
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NEDE - EDEN - Yannick & Louise
04 March 2013
It's mirror, mirror – on the ceiling at NEDE as Yannick Van Aeken and Louise Bannon take over the pots and pans at Eden
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Restaurant Review - Pho Viet
04 March 2013
Due to the long French occupation of Indochina, Paris was always the best European city in which to experience good Vietnamese food from Vietnamese people who had settled there. I was rather excited then at the idea of a dedicated Vietnamese Restaurant
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Kathmandu Kitchen
01 March 2013
Joanna Lumley attracted a lot of publicity for the State of Nepal in recent times when she took up the cause of the legendary Ghurkas, a fiercesome and brave military unit in the British Army who were being denied the right to live in the U.K. despite..
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Carlton Kinsale Hotel
27 February 2013
Stunningly set in 90 acres of mature wooded parkland, including a walled garden and wonderful walks, The Carlton Hotel Kinsale has glorious views overlooking Oysterhaven Bay.
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From Poland to Paris - Cafe Eatery Value
26 February 2013
'People want value – scones are flying out, I do them differently every day," says chef Vivienne Johnston, one half of the duo behind the delightful Mellow Fig Cafe on George's Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
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Restaurant Review - Kathmandu Kitchen
26 February 2013
Joanna Lumley attracted a lot of publicity for the State of Nepal in recent times when she took up the cause of the legendary Ghurkas, a fiercesome and brave military unit in the British Army who were being denied the right to live in the U.K.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - EAT@Massimo
26 February 2013
The colourful couple who really raised the foodie profile of Galway have now taken on the Gastropub world with their food offerings at EAT@ Massimo.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Wilde's at Lisloughrey Lodge
23 February 2013
The entire first floor of the house has been given over to their uber smart Wilde's at the Lodge restaurant, overlooking Lisloughrey Quay, and a spectacular view of Lough Corrib. Here you can enjoy the best of Contemporary Country House Cook
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Arbutus Hotel Killarney
23 February 2013
The Arbutus Hotel Killarney is not just any hotel; it is a hotel with a history, a hotel with style, a hotel where you will be looked after with extraordinary hospitality and attention by the Buckley family.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Donelli's Cafe Restaurant
23 February 2013
Located in the centre of Wicklow Town, Donelli’s Café | Restaurant has been attracting a loyal and regular clientele for the last ten years, who come not only for the cracking food but also for the atmosphere and buzz.
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130 years of Hospitality at Renvyle House Hotel
22 February 2013
Renvyle House Hotel reopens this week for a new season that will mark the historic property’s 130 years as a hotel. Renvyle, which has been the meeting place of poets, politicians and influencers for many....
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ISPCA RESCUE VALENTINO THE BEAUTIFUL DONKEY
20 February 2013
Lucinda O'Sullivan went on a rescue mission that started with a tweet and ended in a marshy forest in north Leitrim
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Restaurant Review - Hot Stove
20 February 2013
Chapter One paved the way for a high end restaurant on Parnell Square but whilst they now have a Michelin Star, and are probably the most popular and desired restaurant in the country, Ross Lewis and Martin Corbett, are the first to say that having opened
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay - The Westbury Hotel
17 February 2013
The Westbury Hotel is at the very heart of Dublin Society. It’s not just its stupendous location off Grafton Street, the heart and soul of Dublin’s fashion and dining world, but it’s accessibility. And, again, by accessibility I do not mean just its
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OUR LATEST GREAT PLACE TO EAT - THE OLDE POST INN
14 February 2013
There is a sweet little Auberge de Terroir in Normandy with a half dozen bedrooms, which we discovered a few years ago, where Monsieur is a superb chef and Madame is front of house. Arriving in to the dining room one evening, we noticed a couple already..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Peperina
13 February 2013
There was a really nice relaxed urban cool feel on our visit to Peperina Garden Bistro, on Dunville Avenue, in Ranelagh. Set amidst a group of shops, which comprise an upmarket niche shopping area for the redbrick D6 brigade, the premises formerly house
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Valentine Specials in Restaurant & Hotels
11 February 2013
LET there be no unromantic curmudgeons this Valentine's Day. Your Fair Lady or Gentleman would love a bit of rosy-hued fun whether you cook at home, go out to dinner or even take a break away.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kelby's Bistro @ Amber Springs Hotel
07 February 2013
The Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey is the sister hotel to the nearby Ashdown Park. Both are owned and operated by the Redmond family, whos ethos in supporting local, artisan and Irish food is to be commended.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Rowan Tree Restaurant @ Ashdown Park Hotel
07 February 2013
Since opening a dozen years ago, The Ashdown Park Hotel has become a very popular venue for dining. There are two principle dining options; The Ivy Bar and the more formal Rowan Tree Restaurant.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Laragh House
06 February 2013
I make no excuses whatsoever for the fact that I have a penchant for Kilkenny, both City and County. The fact is I have Black & Amber heritage so I am drawn like a bee to honey.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Chervil Restaurant @ Hotel Doolin
06 February 2013
Hotel Doolin’s innovative eco friendly and green approach to everything they do is nowhere more to the fore than in their food. Their philosophy here is their passion for delivering original wholesome and inventive food.
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Delicious treats a piece of cake for three bakers
04 February 2013
IT WAS impossible to resist the smiling face proffering a taster of delicious cakes as I went into Blackrock Market on a cold blustery Saturday...
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The Road to Damascus
04 February 2013
Tabletalk “What’s the difference between Syrian and Lebanese food”? I asked the agreeable chap, who was wearing a fez and colourful national dress, at the new Damascus Gate restaurant on Upper Camden Street. “Nothing really,” he replied, “but like
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Amber Springs Hotel
03 February 2013
The sunny South East is always hugely popular with holidaymakers attracted by the myriad of wonderful beaches along the coast of Co.Wexford.
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SHOWCASE - IRISH CRAFT AND DESIGN - A WOW
28 January 2013
This year's Showcase expo at the RDS was full of top-quality design-led Irish crafts, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - RINUCCINI
28 January 2013
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Italian food. It is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. However, here in Ireland for many many years, our Italian dining experiences were bastardised Italian restaurants, serving mainly sloshy
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - The Killarney Royal Hotel
26 January 2013
“How can you buy Killarney” went the old song made famous by Bing Crosby. Well you can’t of course but, if you know the right places to stay, you can buy into the best of the Killarney experience for the time you are there.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - The Glasshouse
25 January 2013
It is easy to see why The Glasshouse caused such a stir when it opened at Swan Point in Sligo, for the fact of the matter is that it is absolutely stunning.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay - Raheen Woods Hotel
23 January 2013
There isn’t a better known or loved Irish song than ‘The Fields of Athenry’ - just ask any rugby fan. The orgins of this inspirational piece of music are rooted firmly in the beautiful and historical town for which it is named.
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Surprise arrival adds baby bib to Michelin bib
21 January 2013
When Billy Whitty and Joanne Harding got up on the morning of Friday, April 13, 2012, to start work at their Aldridge Lodge Restaurant and Guesthouse at Duncannon, Co Wexford, they had no idea that by that afternoon, they would be happy parents to a new b
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Restaurant Review - Rock Lobster
21 January 2013
The new Rock Lobster eatery over Kiely’s Pub in Donnybrook is a somewhat unusual collaboration between two guys in the restaurant industry in that they are at opposite ends of the country!
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Hotel Doolin
17 January 2013
Doolin is a very special place in the hearts of many. It’s spectacular rugged location on the northwest coast of Co. Clare, combined with its rich heritage and culture, draws people from all over the world to enjoy its natural beauty, hospitable people,
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Seafield Restaurant
16 January 2013
The Seafield Restaurant at the Seafield Hotel in Ballymoney, Co. Wexford, is a beautiful location with views of the golf course and courtyard but better still it also offers cracking innovative contemporary food that makes it a destination in itself.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Barony Restaurant @ Talbot Hotel
15 January 2013
“True to region, true to season” is the slogan of Orla and Tom Talbot at their eponymous Talbot Boutique Hotel in Belmullet. There are two dining options at the hotel, the chic Barony Restaurant, which offers contemporary cooking in style, or The Talbot
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay - Seafield Hotel
15 January 2013
Once you swing left out of Gorey on the road to Ballymoney, it is not long before you realize you are in a different world. The windy roads abound with lush thick tropical greenery and it feels like you are in a very different place – away from it all –
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How Margaret's farm animals are tickled pink
14 January 2013
'The abattoir is a small one and he had almost finished a consignment of pigs when we arrived. The smell was all embracing – it seemed to settle in a gelatinous layer on me. The screams of the pigs were blood curdling and I glanced at 'Sausage' who had sh
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January Value in Countrywide Restaurants
14 January 2013
Last week we took a look at restaurant offers and value in Dublin. This week we are seeing what is available countrywide in our restaurants for January and February. In Co. Wicklow, at A. Caviston in Greystones, their new ‘fish deals’ concept has
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay - The Talbot Hotel Belmullet
14 January 2013
There is nothing I like better than hitting the road and getting out of Dublin at weekends, consequently I am always looking for somewhere new and different. Our latest discovery is The Talbot Hotel at Belmullet, Co. Mayo.
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January Value in Dublin Restaurants
08 January 2013
Today, being Little Christmas, is the last day of the Festive Season, but January and February don’t have to be dreary for it is clear from the plethora of new eateries springing up that we do really want to go out to eat in an informal casual way. There
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How a stray dog helped Sasha to follow her heart
07 January 2013
No sooner have we packed the Christmas decorations away than we get down to planning the summer holiday. It was ever thus, for there is a time for everything and everything in its time.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Richy's Restaurant & RCafe
04 January 2013
One of the best known restaurants in the South West is Richy’s Restaurant and RCafé. Since first opening his doors in 2002 Richy Virahsawmy has been tantalizing locals and visitors alike with his cracking eclectic food bearing the influences of the Mauri
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt
02 January 2013
Powerscourt Estate at Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, has always held a special place in the hearts of Dubliners. A truly splendid estate with a magnificent Palladian Mansion with formal gardens and terraces reminiscent of Versailles, it was here in 1965 that..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt
02 January 2013
There was excitement enough when the fabulous Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt Hotel opened its doors at Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, but there was a frisson of bliss when it was announced that the signature restaurant would be Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt.
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The good, the bad, and who takes the biscuit....
31 December 2012
Lucinda O’Sullivan dishes out the awards for her personal best and worst dining experiences of 2012
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay - Hampton Hotel
28 December 2012
One of my best friends lives in Co. Wicklow and her favourite treat is to overnight in the Hampton Hotel when she comes into town to the National Concert Hall or to a restaurant.
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Book Your New Year's Eve Dinner or Break Away
25 December 2012
The bubbly is flowing, so don your Stetsons for a Dallas night or climb a mountain to mark 2013, says Lucinda O'Sullivan.....
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Dublin's Hot Dining Pitstops
20 December 2012
There’s a lot of talk about online shopping for gifts this Christmas but, frankly, nothing beats the feel of the ‘real thing’ in your hands, the buzz of choosing those gorgeous gifts, being able to touch or smell them, pondering on whether it should be th
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Evan Connon - Stained Glass Artist
17 December 2012
The recession hit Evan Connon hard, but out of it, he found himself, and he found love, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan.......
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Restaurant Review - Damson Diner
17 December 2012
Adding another vast hip new eatery to what has euphemistically been christened the Creative Quarter, the Bereen brothers have just opened the Damson Diner in premises where they previously ran the South William Urban Lounge. Marc and Conor Bereen also..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Masterson's Steakhouse & Wine Bar
12 December 2012
When I was a kid Swords was a small town where we would often go on the ‘Sunday Drive’ and you thought of it as being out in the country. The father would drive around taking in Ballyboughal, the Naul, all of those great places, and of course blackberry
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Pods, Pizzas, Pop Ups
10 December 2012
'Large streams from little fountains flow, tall oaks from little acorns grow," is an old saying and so it is with the vanilla pod. I, however, speak not of a vanilla pod per se but The Vanilla Pod Eatery at The Park Retail Centre, Carrickmines, which is s
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Restaurant Review - Asador
10 December 2012
On its second night, Asador was already awash with bright young things hanging off the cocktail bar, as we rolled up to try it out. With Twitter and Facebook, the drums beat loudly nowadays revving up the hordes who descend like a swarm of mosquitos to p
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Diwali Indian & Nepalese
08 December 2012
I remember years ago finding great authentic Asian and South East Asian restaurants in Amsterdam and London that were simple in style and décor, but were relaxed and friendly, and where good food and fun were King.Diwali reminds me of these places...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Indie Spice - Sandymount
06 December 2012
I have a passion for Indian food, the spices, the aromas, and the colours, which are rarely seen to the same extent in any other cuisine. In fact, I sometimes wonder why I wasn’t born on the sub-Continent instead of freezing in this part of the Northern
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Sirocco's
05 December 2012
I don’t know anybody who doesn’t love Italian food, not to mention the lighthearted fun atmosphere to be found in Italian restaurants. We have very fond memories of a little Italian restaurant in Soho that we used visit many years ago, and Sirocco’s..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Peploe's
04 December 2012
Very few restaurants have the honour of ever being recognized as an institution in Dublin society, but Peploe’s on St. Stephen’s Green achieved that status the minute it opened its doors a decade or so ago. Barry Canny is a foodie himself, he understands
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Christmas Markets, Fairs, Fun and Frolics
03 December 2012
It's that time of year again – the wonderful season of Christmas. And each year more and more Christmas markets, fairs, fun and entertainment are springing up. We are an indefatigable people!
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - 37 Dawson Street
30 November 2012
If you want to rub shoulders with the cool and happening people of Dublin, well 37 Dawson Street is where it is at. This is an amazing bar, which is better than any club and where the movers and shakers hang out.The décor is quite brilliant, it is like
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Sandbar Trattoria
29 November 2012
I have very happy memories as a child of long summer days in Clontarf – cycling along the front by the sea from Hollybrook Road where my aunt lived, to the famous Clontarf Baths for a swim. It was absolutely magical so anytime I can get over to Clontarf
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Peppers at The White Deer
29 November 2012
Mallow is a very pretty historic town on the River Blackwater about 20 miles or so north of Cork City. It is a town I have always liked – I always think of it as mellow Mallow with its lush surroundings – I also have to say the same of nearby Kanturk..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Kirby's Korner Bar
29 November 2012
Kirby’s Korner is in Ballinhassig, not far from Kinsale, and on the main road to West Cork. It is a great pub, very much part of the local community, with always something happening by way of sporting occasions, off the cuff sing songs, weekly games of c
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Lyon's Cafe The Recipes - New Cook Book
29 November 2012
Gary Stafford and the staff at Lyon’s Café extend an open invitation to the launch of their cook book: Lyon’s Café, The Recipes. The launch will take place in Lyons café on Saturday December 1st at 3pm with mulled wine, seasonal nibbles and music by the..
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Lucinda meets the man who put sole into Kilkenny
27 November 2012
A flair for fabulous footwear is in the family for the man behind the Shoe Box, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Lady Helen Room
27 November 2012
The recessionary tightening of belts has brought about an extraordinary amount of innovation in the foodie world with new small food businesses, and value menus, particularly in Dublin. However it is important too that the spirit, creativity and ambition
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - La Raclette
25 November 2012
The times we are in have brought about a burgeoning of smashing small and interesting restaurants around the country. People want to be able to eat out at reasonable prices, and have a nice bottle of wine with their friends without it breaking the bank.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Flanagan's Gastro Pub
25 November 2012
When I was a girl, all you could get to eat in an Irish pub was the proverbial butt of many a joke – the ‘hang sangwich’ – with a slice of fluorescent orange cheese slapped in the middle if you wanted it toasted! I was always fascinated then by how good
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Harbour Bar - Rush
24 November 2012
No matter where we all go on holidays, be it in Ireland or Abroad, we are always hoping to find that ideal local pub or simple restaurant, that is friendly and welcoming, yet does cracking 5 Star seafood and steaks – oh yes and it has to.....
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Christmas at the Green Barn, East Cork
23 November 2012
Here I am in East Cork at the Green Barn Killeagh which has a fab selection of unusual Christmas Decorations..........
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Union Square - Terenure
21 November 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan looks at a union of restaurant, classroom, design shop and theatre that grabs the imagination....
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Restaurant Review - Bamboo
21 November 2012
“Do you have a voucher”? Asked the young waiter greeting me at the door of the ‘new’ BamBoo on the corner of Parliament Street facing City Hall....
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Moloughney's
17 November 2012
I have always been of the belief that good chefs are born not made!Of course they have to be trained but you do really know the difference between food that has been cooked by someone with a gift, and someone who is just doing a job.Two people can cook
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Samphire@ The Waterside
16 November 2012
Samphire Restaurant is in the most stunning location, right on the beach, and is the new restaurant of the Waterside House Hotel. Executive Head Chef Tom Walsh has created a whole new image and theme here delivering classical French cuisine with a Moder
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Saba
15 November 2012
When Thai food was first becoming popular in Ireland, a man wrote to me from London telling me that we would soon be over-run with airport hanger size restaurants doing bad Thai food. Happily that didn’t happen here....
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Vinos - Greystones
14 November 2012
There was almost an air of a Greek Taverna or Parisian Café about Vino’s in Greystones as we arrived in to meet four friends who live locally. The place was abuzz including a couple of big family groups celebrating birthdays, and the décor and ambiance g
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Mitchel House Restaurant
13 November 2012
One thing that always gets me off to a good start in a restaurant, apart at all from the food, is the welcome, and that you are always assured of at Mitchel House Restaurant. Michael O’Dwyer is a total professional and really knows what he is about when
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Saba: The Cook-book
13 November 2012
"Saba: The Cook-book is so beautiful you could leave it on your coffee table - if you could trust your visitors!!" Lucinda O'Sullivan, Food Critic, Sunday Independent.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Lemon Leaf Cafe
12 November 2012
As a part time resident of Kinsale for many many years I guess I can claim to know the restaurant scene there better than most.It is a place I have loved all my life and where my kids took their first steps. When the Lemonleaf Café first opened its doors
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Wasabi Japanese Restaurant
12 November 2012
I was never quite sure how I feel about Japanese food. I love sushi and the lightness and crispness of Tempura but, after that, I sometimes flounder around wondering what to have. Wasabi, is a new Japanese eatery on Malahide’s Main Street, so off we se
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Billy Morris - "I died smiling as I lived." WW1 Remembrance Sunday
11 November 2012
When Lucinda O'Sullivan was given a cache of letters, sent by her uncle Billy Morris from Kilkenny while he served with the British army in World War One, it set her off on a wonderful, and deeply moving journey of discovery t
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Restaurant Review - Fade Street Social
11 November 2012
When the cream of Dublin’s restaurant scene is out in force to check out a new arrival, you know it is major opposition! Such was the turnout to Dylan McGrath’s new Fade Street Social eatery that it even included some of those who had challenged his
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Vaughan's Eatery
09 November 2012
Vaughan’s Eagle House Pub has always been a landmark pub at the crossroads in the center of Terenure Village but in the last couple of years it has also become a landmark eatery - Vaughan's Eatery. It is a place that combines the wonderful old historic
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Brennan's Lane
07 November 2012
Keith and Siobhan Brennan are really on the nose of how people like to dine out and enjoy themselves nowadays. They know what good food is and they have really put Brennan's Lane on the foodie map,as well as it being a great contemporary pub and nightclub
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Ashtons Gastropub
05 November 2012
Long before the word Gastropub was ever dreamt up in the nether regions of London’s ECI at The Eagle on Farringdon Road, Ashtons in Dublin’s leafy Clonskeagh had a reputation for good food that would give anyone a run for their money..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Purty Kitchen
03 November 2012
Living in the Borough of Dun Laoghaire, I am but a veritable stone's throw from the famous Purty Kitchen. The Purty Kitchen has been around since 1728, not in its present form I hasten to add, but it is the oldest pub in the great seaport of Dun Laoghaire
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Step Inn & Stone Grill
01 November 2012
The Step Inn in Stepaside has long been a destination for good food and drink. Built in the style of an old Coaching Inn, The Step Inn in the old days was outside the 3 mile city limits, and consequently known as a ‘bona fide’ pub, which meant it was no
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - An Sugan
31 October 2012
Clonakilty is a fantastic town, full of colour and atmosphere, from its long narrow streets lined with interesting shops and houses all painted in different colours, to its interesting, elegant and historic Georgian squares. It is a very open and welcomi
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Slender Choice
30 October 2012
PEOPLE all over the country have been coming up with wonderful ideas and new businesses over the past couple of years, but 36-year-old Karen Daly and her husband Frank entered a market that is normally reserved for the big boys -- the corporate food world
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Restaurant Review - Vie de Chateaux
30 October 2012
We were in the north of France recently where I was struck yet again at how seriously the Frnech take lunch. In fact, everything seems to stop for lunch at noon; shopkeepers drag in their displays and close up shop on the button whilst workers descend on
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Restaurant Review - Wasabi
24 October 2012
I am never quite sure how I feel about Japanese food. I love sushi and the lightness and crispness of Tempura but, after that, I sometimes flounder around wondering what to have.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Eala Bhan
18 October 2012
Some people just have the knack of getting things right and that can certainly be said of the team behind Eala Bhan. Anthony Gray and Cedric Roussilhe, along with Head Chef Julian Regneres, have long since put Tra Ban in Strandhill, Co. Sligo.....
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Greta Garbo at Newbridge Silverware
15 October 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan grabbed the chance to view items once owned by Greta Garbo on display at Newbridge Silverware.........
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Restaurant Review - Jamie's Italian
15 October 2012
With his new Dundrum Town Centre eatery, Jamie Oliver follows a list of U.K. based chefs into Dublin, most of whom hightailed it in jig time back to London. There is no point in pretending anymore that any of these guys are going to stir a pot in Dublin,
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Restaurant Review - Vino's Greystones
11 October 2012
There was almost an air of a Greek Taverna or Parisian Café about Vino’s in Greystones as we arrived in to meet four friends who live locally. The place was abuzz including a couple of big family groups celebrating birthdays, and the décor...
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A Booze Cruise to France
08 October 2012
With the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness upon us it is time to think like the farmers, harvesting and squirreling away goodies for the dark winter evenings, and the Christmas store cupboard. It is also Booze Cruise time, which, along with...
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Enjoy an Indian Feast at Savour Kilkenny Festival
07 October 2012
Enjoy A Journey Across India this October Bank Holiday Weekend! As part of the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival, Royal Spice Indian restaurant will be treating its guests to an extensive five-course "Taste of India" dinner.........
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Muckross Park Hotel Gourmet Weekend
05 October 2012
Celebrity Chef, Martin Shanahan joins awarding Winning Head Chef at Muckross Park Hotel, Mike Hayes for the hotel’s Autumn Gourmet Weekend on Friday 19th October.
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October Food Festivals
01 October 2012
October promises to be a month of gastro bliss for food and fun-lovers as Lucinda O'Sullivan serves up some highlights THERE are now more food festivals in Ireland than ever before -- from Westport to Donegal, Macroom (which is happening today), to Dun
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Restaurant Review - De Ville
01 October 2012
There is nothing like a discount to disarm and sweeten the punters when you open a new restaurant. This was the tactic taken by the new De Ville’s Restaurant in Dalkey. A good idea perhaps for other restaurateurs who try out their new restaurants...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Basilico Italian Restaurant
26 September 2012
What you get at Paolo Sabatini and Fabiano Mulas’ Basilico Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria is the best of Italian and Irish food delivered with panache and style in their cool restaurant in the old stone building that is also the 16 bedroomed Coach House...
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The Quiet Man Behind Dublin's Favourite Institution
25 September 2012
ONE of Ireland's most successful and longstanding restaurateurs never seeks the limelight for himself. While John O'Sullivan is very well known and respected in the hospitality industry, it is the name of the restaurant that he co-founded in 1992 -- Roly'
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Restaurant Review - Foodworks
25 September 2012
I’m on about service again this week. Maybe I am just having a bad run of it but staff and restaurateurs should remember that a restaurant only gets one chance to make a first impression. Is there anything worse than feeling you are getting the cursor
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Restaurant Review - NSquare
18 September 2012
“Am I in an Italian, Moroccan, Thai or a Steakhouse & Grill”, I asked of the waitress in N Square, a new restaurant under a block of apartments, by the River Lee, just over the bridge from Cork Opera House. Keeping things simple here was certainly not..
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Love Antiques - Adams Blackrock
18 September 2012
From the fictional roguish Lovejoy of the 80’s, to the Antique Roadshow and mahogany tanned ‘Duke’ David Dickinson’s ‘Real Deal’ and Bargain Hunt of today, our TV screens have been lit up with antique finds, from Great Granny’s chest in
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - EASTERN SEABOARD
18 September 2012
I decided on one of those few recent fine days to take a ‘Thelma and Louise’ type spin up the coast to the Eastern Seaboard Restaurant at Drogheda with friend Rena. It seemed the perfect opportunity for a late lunch, or an early evening supper....
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A Touch of Salt
04 September 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan meets a savvy Cork businesswoman who's proven that she's worth her salt (and pepper)
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Restaurant Review - Farm - Leeson Street
04 September 2012
It’s funny how some niche areas seem to mushroom organically creating a cult zone for dining with a vibe. Generally it revolves around a good pub where ‘the crowd’ likes to hang before moving on to eat.Ranelagh and Cabinteely villages spring to mind,
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Restaurant Review - Eden Bar & Grill
29 August 2012
Restaurants are opening apace in Dublin. The bigger enterprises tend to be by long term restaurateurs who, although they may have had a couple of bumpy rides, get back in the saddle and keep going. The latter, I guess, could...
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The revivial of the Conynham Arms, Slane.
27 August 2012
A magnificent hotel in Slane, Co Meath has been brought back to life -- to the joy of the community, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - La Reserve
17 August 2012
Ranelagh may well be over-run with eateries of varying standards, but the addition of La Reserve Brasserie in the center of the village raises the bar. I had noticed this little spot, which had “Soft Opening this week” chalked’ on its window and....
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat
15 August 2012
There’s a very thin line in this country between ‘Al Fresco’ dining and what is basically the strung together Smoking Area. Scant effort goes into providing real designated outdoor dining options in comparison to the Continent, and I refer particularly t
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Knockdrinna Cheese - Another Winner
14 August 2012
Charles de Gaulle famously asked how anyone could govern a nation that had 246 different kinds of cheese. That was many years ago, when Ireland knew only processed cheese of the luminous variety, and perhaps a simple cheddar. I know, I know, someone ....
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Restaurant Review - Ananda Indian Restaurant
14 August 2012
There are some restaurants and chefs that feature again and again at the top of list when it comes to Restaurant Awards and there is sound reason – simply because they are consistently good. Ananda in Dundrum Town Centre is one of them and received the
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Restaurant Review - Rigby's Deli Dame Street
08 August 2012
Chefs are a mercurial bunch. Some are dour, some are gregarious, some are vain, some are prima donnas, some are bitchy, some are namby pambies, some are showmen, some are shit stirrers, some are delightful, but, provided it is on their own terms, all of..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Ocean Bar & Grill -
08 August 2012
I love sitting in places like Cancale and Saint Malo on covered decks, which abound all over the place and can’t be that expensive to construct. I was reflecting on this whilst breakfasting one Sunday morning recently on the fantastic enormous terrace...
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An Overview of Last Minute August Family Breaks
06 August 2012
It's now or never if you want to make the most of summer breaks Fabulous hotels are offering great deals for the August getaway, so start booking, says Lucinda O'Sullivan....
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Blackwater Open Farm
30 July 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan discovers how an innovative couple managed to marry hen parties with kids' activities -- a plan well-hatched!
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Restaurant Review - Sassy Summer Suppers Dublin
30 July 2012
There is an almost insatiable appetite for al fresco dining on the Capital’s streets, not dispelled by the thoughts of either, bad weather, quaffing back exhaust fumes, or indeed being hassled with fellas rattling begging bowls! So, here are a few idea
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The Grand Old Lady of Eyre Square
23 July 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan visited the City of the Tribes -- and rekindled teenage memories of afternoon tea in the iconic hotel on Eyre Square.....
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Restaurant Review - Summer Dining
23 July 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan visits 3 different eateries which offer a Summer ambiance....
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Eastwood & Mays
17 July 2012
One of the great things about cities like Paris, Rome and Madrid, has always been that, once you stepped out of your hotel and went off down some side street, you would stumble on some little gem of a Bistro where you wined and dined at inordinately.....
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Hound's great leap leads from the Wirral to Achill
16 July 2012
A chance encounter led to a change of scenery for artist Deborah Joyce, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan WHEN you take your dog for a walk, you don't think that it will lead to a total career change, let alone moving to another country. Such was the case
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HOLIDAY PIT STOPS
16 July 2012
So here we are, at the height of the holiday season, maybe travelling to, or already arrived at, that west Cork rental, or Sligo yurt. You are defo out of the home-comfort zone, and looking for a decent reliable bit of nosh. Here are a few ideas.
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Restaurant Review - Find That 'Seafood Shack'
11 July 2012
The ‘Mission’, more dedicated than Tom Cruise, and sometimes equally ‘Impossible’, of many city folk when on the family holiday, is to find that great mythical ‘seafood shack’ by the coast , just waiting to ply you with crab claws the size of your fist..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Konkan Indian Restaurant Dundrum
11 July 2012
Konkan Indian Restaurant started out a few years ago in the somewhat simple surroundings of Dublin’s Upper Clanbrassil Street but it wasn’t long before fans of Indian food discovered it and the really rather good authentic traditional and regional Indian
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Follow the Summer Festival Route
09 July 2012
Roll up, Roll up, Ireland has become a Nation of Festivals! Festivals are great for local areas, they not only bring a great verve and excitement, bonding and getting together of local communities, but they bring people in to spend money and keep..
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Lucinda in the Kitchen at Rasam Indian Restaurant
04 July 2012
Twitter followers will know that I spend a lot of down time in Indian restaurants loving the aromatic spices, herbs,and their wonderful way with vegetables.In fact, I guess I am almost the perfect candidate to have joined the group who took off to India
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Waterloo Bar & Grill
29 June 2012
I love Gastropubs of all sorts; provided that is that they live up to the ideal of the Gastropub, which is cracking restaurant style food in informal surroundings. The Waterloo Bar & Grill certainly meets those criteria with knobs on. The original Wate
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Randaddy's - Lahinch
28 June 2012
Isn’t Randaddy’s just the perfect name for a café restaurant in the home of Ireland’s surfing world? It’s so very Beach Boys, so perfect in every way to convey a light fun atmosphere but, as well as that, chef proprietor Randy Lewis also dishes up ..
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Pat Whelan Butchery Skills Demo at Avoca Monkstown
28 June 2012
On Tuesday 10th July, renowned craft butcher Pat Whelan is holding an evening butchery demonstration class in Avoca Monkstown, where he'll show you how to use knives safely, butcher pork and beef and give you a new found confidence and understanding ...
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - EASTERN VALUE EATERIES
26 June 2012
There is a lot of good value to be had out there on the general eatery scene if you look around. I don’t mean the Internet ‘cheap deals’, which are often not that cheap in the end. The greater value, however, does tend to be in Dublin,a factor that isnt
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The Antique Gems on Francis Street
19 June 2012
Lucinda O'Sullivan was heartened to discover talents of all sorts busily engaged in a thriving city antiques quarter
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Restaurant Review - Ard na Sidhe
19 June 2012
Tucked away on a height, overlooking the glorious Caragh Lake in Co. Kerry, just outside Killorglin, lies one of the most beautiful houses, and most perfect of romantic and magical escapes, in the country. Set on 32 acres of spectacular garden
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A Magical Kingdom To Be Explored
12 June 2012
Kerry is a place that is extraordinarily good for our souls. Sunshine or rain, it somehow doesn't matter, because we are always blown away by the.....
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Restaurant Review - The Weir
12 June 2012
God be with the days when the culinary experience in many hotels was universally described in one sweeping, dismissive, statement “hotel food.” It is a term that said it all - dreary ‘bad mammy’ food embellished with commercial gravy .....
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Accents - Anna Young's "Sober Pub"
04 June 2012
THERE are very few places in this country where you can just get a cup of coffee and a cake in the evenings. It's a poor state of affairs. Cafes tend to shut up shop anywhere between 4pm and 6pm, or alternatively they swing into restaurant mode. Option
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - BRIOCHE CE SOIR
04 June 2012
Laissez faire was rampant during the CT years, nowhere more so than in the restaurant industry, with many chefs churning out anything they felt like in the name of 'contemporary' food at ridiculous prices.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Greenhouse
31 May 2012
Long long ago the legendary Dick Whittington left his rural homestead for London, with his cat, to make his fortune and ended up becoming the City’s Lord Mayor. I don’t know whether Finnish chef Mikael Viljanen has a cat, or whether he wants to be Lord M
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Restaurant Review - Gastropub Grub
29 May 2012
I love gastropubs; their ethos is to offer restaurant-standard food in a casual atmosphere, as opposed to bog-standard pub grub. We were in a few places recently, starting off with lunch in the new hot, hip Black Sheep on Capel Street
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Restaurant Review - La Reserve - Ranelagh
23 May 2012
Ranelagh may well be over-run with eateries of varying standards, but the recent addition of La Reserve Brasserie in the center of the village raises the bar. I had noticed this little spot, which had “Soft Opening this week” chalked’ on its window..
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Gourmet Greenway
22 May 2012
EVERY second person I meet tells me they have done, or are off to do the Camino -- the pilgrims' route in northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. It seems to have captured people's imagination in a big way. Many people walk sections of it each year..
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Restaurant Review - Lucinda at BITE
14 May 2012
Renowned Town Bar & Grill founder Ronan Ryan is back with Bite, a new fish, chips and cocktails venue, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who found finger-licking good food, al fresco dining and friendly service
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World's 50 Best Restaurants 2012
07 May 2012
The world's best restaurant awards have taken place in London. Panel judge Lucinda O'Sullivan reports The World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards 2012 took place last Monday night in the Guild Hall in London, following a lead-up hoopla to beat the band.
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Restaurant Review - A Brace of D6 Dining
07 May 2012
We recently had two outings to Ranelagh’s big sister - Rathgar! Ranelagh is awash with restaurants so restaurateurs are moving outwards to the fresh fields and affluent red-bricked D6 roads of Rathgar. We had set forth on a Tuesday night to the new
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Red Earth
02 May 2012
Red Earth is a new Lifestyle Store & Café which has added a new dimension to both shopping and eating in Mullingar. It is located in a former industrial building in Mullingar Business Park which is absolutely ideal for a day out shopping ‘til you drop
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Restaurant Review - The Greenhouse
23 April 2012
Long, long ago the legendary Dick Whittington left his rural homestead for London, along with his cat, to make his fortune and ended up becoming the city's lord mayor.I don't know whether Finnish chef Mickael Viljanen has a cat, or whether he wants...
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Greystones - a Great Place for a Day Out
19 April 2012
Greystones has had a renaissance, with new and more established businesses staying afloat, says Lucinda O'Sullivan THE once sleepy Edwardian holiday town of Greystones, Co Wicklow, has seen a burgeoning of new businesses from fashion to food and wine..
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Restaurant Review - Street Food
19 April 2012
The passion for Asian Street Food rages away and there is no denying its satisfying and seductive attractions as new eateries open apace. Emmet Daly of Café Sol has entered the market with his new Neon Asian Street Food on Dublin’s Camden St....
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Breakfast Like a King
09 April 2012
EASTER Sunday is the perfect day to indulge in a super- duper breakfast to fortify you for all that Easter egg hunting with the kids! "Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dine like a pauper" is sage advice.
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Restaurant Review - The Kitchen Restaurant Mount Falcon
09 April 2012
Irish produce and French heart combine at Mount Falcon to create a piece of 'Upstairs Downstairs' bliss, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who revels in some of the country's finest food amid Gothic splendour
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Seven Social
05 April 2012
There are people who just have the knack of creating a really good eatery and make it seem like it is no bother. They dish up really good food that has flavour and taste, is satisfying and filling, good and delicious. You know it involves a lot of hard
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - A BRACE OF CORK GOODIES
03 April 2012
The restaurant that undoubtedly made the overall biggest impact on the face of Cork dining is this year celebrating its 20th Anniversary in May.
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SPRING FOOD FESTIVALS
02 April 2012
WE are facing into a spring / summer of more food festivals around the country than ever before. This is really fantastic for many reasons...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Las Rada
30 March 2012
If there is one thing that Jules and Joanne Bradbury know how to do really successfully it is to create a relaxed casual restaurant with great atmosphere that people feel they are part of and want to return to time and time again for their regular nights
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River Restaurant at Limerick Strand Hotel - Tasting Dinner
29 March 2012
The River Restaurant at Limerick Strand Hotel and Nash Wines have teamed up for an exclusive dining experience showcasing local produce matched with amazing wines by Gregory Barbet from Loron et Fils in Beaujolais, France. All produce used will be source
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Restaurant Review - 777
28 March 2012
Some so-called hip eateries have a real attitude nowadays. Many of them have a list of conditions before they agree to accept my dosh, and it certainly never gets me off to a great start to be told, as I was when I went to book 777...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat
24 March 2012
Isabel’s is a bijou in a bijoux less world these days. Tiny and classy, it is located in the basement that first housed Derry Clarke’s L’Ecrivain many years ago and also saw off the start of
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Restaurant Review - Bear
23 March 2012
Restaurant review: Lucinda O'Sullivan is accused of being 'bizarre' after complaining to Joe Macken Restaurant trendsetter Joe Macken should spend less time tweeting and more time training his staff, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who is accused of being 'biza
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat
16 March 2012
The Dining Room at La Stampa has had a number of celebrity chefs featuring there over the past few years,
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Dave's Pizzas
12 March 2012
Dave's Wood-Fired Pizza Co will be a familiar sight to many who frequent the lunchtime food markets of Dublin. These are not the great big lumpy doughy pizzas that have been slammed of late as being one of the biggest sins of all when it comes to calori
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Restaurant Review - El Toro Bravo & The Black Cat
12 March 2012
Antony Worrall Thompson hit the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons, a far cry from thirty years ago when he started Ménage a Trois, a restaurant serving only starters and desserts, which became a favourite eatery of the ménage a trois..
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat
12 March 2012
We got married in St. Mullin’s, a tiny village in South Carlow, and spent the first night of our honeymoon in White’s Hotel in Wexford. That was in the old days, and the funniest part of the whole event was that the Bridesmaid got a double bed, the Best
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Niamh Browne knows the score when it comes to both people and hostel management, writes Lucinda O'Sullivan
06 March 2012
WITH a music teacher for a mother, music has been Niamh Browne's life since she was a child, and has been her saving grace in difficult and tragic....
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - ISABEL'S
06 March 2012
She may have needed her trusty torch to make out what was on the menu at Isabel's, but, low lighting aside, Lucinda O'Sullivan was utterly charmed by this sparkling new treasure on Baggot Street
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Black Pig in Donnybrook
27 February 2012
I think we could safely say that from the start of the package holiday in the 1960’s holidays to Spain were best known for sun, sea, sand and sex! Food and fun to the tourist was limited in their mind to paella, Sangria, followed up with a good belt of..
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EDIBLE AT SCIENCE GALLERY TCD & MODERNIST CUISINE
22 February 2012
EDIBLE/MODERNIST CUISINE Did you know that in Ireland we consume on average over 400 grams per day of beer against the world average of around 80 grams per day. On the good side we apparently also consume over 200 grams per day of oranges against the
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Restaurant Review - Two Little Crackers
22 February 2012
I am writing this review on a Saturday evening, having failed to secure a table in a number of Dublin restaurants. Well, perhaps I could have had a table if I was prepared to play the two-sittings game -- 6pm or 9pm -- or sit in the upstairs function r
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Designing Women Are Jewels of the Downturn
13 February 2012
FROM time immemorial jewellery has always had a fascination for people. It is the ultimate declaration of love, as we saw recently with the auction of Elizabeth Taylor's fabulous jewels, including the famous 33.19-carat diamond ri
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Restaurant Review - Pearl Brasserie
13 February 2012
'How would you like to be, down by the Seine with me? Oh what I'd give for a moment or two, under the bridges of Paris with you." So goes the romantic song crooned by the sultry Eartha Kitt. We can't all be under the bridges of Paris at the drop of a hat
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Two Industrious Self Starters -A Soapmaker & Linen Producer
06 February 2012
I never cease to be in awe of the number of brilliant people who have the 'get up and go' to start their own business. As seen at the recent Showcase
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Restaurant Review - Cinnamon, Ranelagh
06 February 2012
How difficult can it be to process an order for two starters and two main courses? It seemed all too much, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, for the staff at Cinnamon. A shame, as the food was good
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Trim Castle Hotel
03 February 2012
The lush wonderful lands of Co. Meath are aptly named the Royal County for they have attracted the great and the good down through the centuries including Empress Elizabeth of Austria, a noted beauty about whom the romantic movies ‘Sissi’ were made....
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Born of the Earth but Heavenly in Inspiration
31 January 2012
Tony and Jackie Collins were not deterred in any way by the times we are in when they developed and opened their big new Red Earth Lifestyle....
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Restaurant Review - I Return to the China Sichuan
31 January 2012
When you return to a place where you have previously had a bad experience and reported on it, there is an element of stepping into the dragon's den. You know that they are on edge when they see you, and I guess it is not a very comfortable experience a
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Restaurant Review - Pop Up Pyg
27 January 2012
Sex and the City seemed alive and well at Pop Up Pyg in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre as I observed a pair of Carrie Bradshaw lookalikes engrossed in themselves and one or 10 cosmopolitans each. There was nothing for it but for Mary and I to enter i
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Brasserie Le Pont
20 January 2012
Brasserie Le Pont is a new restaurant tucked away in the large basement of a Georgian House on Fitzwilliam Place close to Leeson Street. Its entrance belies its size, and a lot of dosh has been spent converting it into a modern brasserie of the neutral
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Bedlam
19 January 2012
Bedlam is the name of May Frisby’s fabulous ‘happening’ in Castle Market. I guess if I said her restaurant was bedlam she mightn’t be too happy but, as she has named it so herself, let me say it is organised buzzy bedlam with rather good food and a fun
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Restaurant Review - San Lorenzo's
17 January 2012
Temple Garner is the Godfather of New York style Modern Italian food! Having been originally at Il Primo, and the defunct Mermaid Café on Dame Street, Garner opened the New York style Modern Italian cuisine restaurant Town Bar
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MY NEW WHEAT FREE REGIME
16 January 2012
A lot of people have expressed interest in my wheat free regime and what I am eating. I don’t call it a diet because I am eating plenty of other foods. There is no simple answer to giving up wheat – it’s a bit like an addiction and you just have to go ‘
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Restaurant Review - Salt@ Avoca - Monkstown
09 January 2012
The much-awaited opening of Avoca's new Food Market and Cafe in Monkstown came to pass in time for Christmas, and had the denizens of the borough eagerly jostling for parking places in fear of Dun Laoghaire Corporation's dreaded team of parking wardens..
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MY NEW WHEAT FREE LIFE
09 January 2012
Having tried all kinds of weight-loss regimes, Lucinda O'Sullivan found giving up her morning toast worked.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Corfu Greek Restaurant
05 January 2012
The sight of two olive trees and a perky canopy blowing in the wind tunnel that was Parliament Street, running up from the River Liffey to Dublin Castle, on a cold winter evening proved very attractive as we dashed in search of sustenance. It was early e
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Ard na Sidhe
03 January 2012
One of the most intriguingly beautiful areas in Ireland is tucked away off the beaten track around Caragh Lake on the Ring of Kerry. Just south of Killorglin this magnificent lake is four miles long and surrounded by heather hills, forests, and exotic
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THE LUCINDAS 2011
02 January 2012
IT'S been a year of value menus and early birds, pop ups and pop offs, bloggers and blaggers. My annual awards are a reflection of a colourful dining year for all of us. So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Lucindas 2011!
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat
30 December 2011
When I head off for a few days break to a coastal location what I really want of a restaurant is a relaxed ambiance, no city stress or fuss, and I always look forward to some really nice seafood. Jack’s Coastguard Restaurant at the little fishing village
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CHECK OUT NEW YEAR OFFERS
28 December 2011
There is so much shopping, preparation, cooking and partying in the lead up to and over Christmas, that I always feel the women of Ireland deserve a break immediately afterwards. This year, as New Year's Eve falls on a Saturday, you have the perfect excus
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - El Vino at The Elysian
21 December 2011
In the final act of the romantic move Moulin Rouge, Toulouse-Lautrec shouts from the rooftops.....
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Limerick Strand Hotel
21 December 2011
The Limerick Strand Hotel is a spanking new sleek hotel which was developed in 2007 on the site of the former Jury’s Hotel at O’Callaghan Strand in the vibrant heart of Limerick City. Some €50m went into the creation of this 7 storey ultra modern and...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Amicus
19 December 2011
Being part-time residents of Kinsale, we often pop into Douglas in Cork en route from Dublin to do some shopping
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Roly's Bistro - a Dublin Institution
18 December 2011
ON a recent busy Saturday, more by accident than design, we stopped off for lunch at Roly's Bistro in Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. Roly's is firmly entrenched in society as a real Dublin institution.... Sitting surrounded by families, f
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Tuscany Bistro
16 December 2011
we all love Italian food, I think that's pretty well a given, but when it is really good Italian food, that is even better.
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KILKENNY PEOPLE
13 December 2011
Small shops and businesses throughout the country are our lifeblood, and one cannot emphasise enough how important they are in our society and to our future. People who have the get-up-and-go to set up a business, working for themselves, are the people wh
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DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPING LUNCHES
13 December 2011
It's that time of year again when family memories are set in stone. The Big City visit is still de rigueur for many -- it's so much more exciting than sitting at a computer, buying online, with none of the crowds, excited children, or that wonderful feel
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Magpie Inn, The
08 December 2011
Gastropubs are judged now by diners as severely as restaurants so the grub has to be wholesome and cooked with a certain flair, unlike the old pub grub world of meat and two veg.
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Landmark Hotel & Boardwalk Cafe
07 December 2011
The Landmark Hotel is more than aptly named for it is a truly fine landmark not only in Carrick-on-Shannon itself, but in the general region as it has achieved a huge reputation for consistent hospitality, comfort, style, service and good food. Carrick-
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Restaurant Review - The Dining Room at La Stampa
06 December 2011
You would be forgiven for thinking that The Dining Room at La Stampa is beginning to sound like a pop-up restaurant. Jean Christophe Novelli pops up, Paul Flynn pops up, Conrad Gallagher pops up. All popped off -- and the latest pop-up is Ronan Ryan, pic
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Christmas Markets
06 December 2011
We now have an amazing range of Christmas markets all over the country. These homegrown markets give a lot of people in the food or crafts business the opportunity to raise some extra money this Christmas. Whether it is food or gifts...
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Chop House
01 December 2011
Kevin Arundel has created his own mix of France and a Chelsea Gastropub at his Chop House at a D4 crossroads that his become a very hip place to wine and dine. He has an undoubted eye for the latest trend. Originally a chef at the Michelin starred resta
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Isaac's Restaurant
30 November 2011
Every City in the world has a restaurant that personifies its people, a buzzy busy brasserie that is the destination for birthdays, conferrings, family celebrations, or just a good night out with good friends. In Paris it might be La Coupole, in London
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Restaurant Review - GOOD COOKING
29 November 2011
Some of our restaurants lost out on the awards front recently, while others go from strength to strength, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who revisits two worthy winners and remains well pleased
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Absolute Hotel Limerick
29 November 2011
Limerick is a great City which has come on in leaps and bounds in the area of food and sleek accommodation over the past four or five years making it an even more desirable destination to visit. One of the fabulous additions over this period has been...
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - CORFU
24 November 2011
Not everything coming out of Greece these days is a total disaster, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Their economy may be on the skids, but Corfu restaurant is one export we’re more than happy to see here
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Lucinda talks to Sunil Ghai of Ananda
23 November 2011
Public get a taste for fine Indian dining The Irish are beginning to appreciate true Indian cuisine, Sunil Ghai tells
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Keenan's of Tarmonbarry
17 November 2011
Luckily you don’t have to be a ‘ Toad of Toad Hall’ mucking around on the river to enjoy Keenan’s of Tarmonbarry. Certainly my better half was never good on the waterways and regales us regularly about how he and six of his mates, in their single days, u
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat - Dunloe Castle
16 November 2011
There are more hotels in Killarney than in any other town in the country, and some fabulous hotels at that. Top of the range on all fronts from comfort, luxury, friendliness, and liveability, not forgetting superb food, is the 5 Star Hotel Dunloe Castle.
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Heat - The Castle Hotel Macroom
16 November 2011
I have a great regard and love for family run hotels that have been of service to their community and area for generations. We see so much of this Abroad in France and Italy but we have just as many wonderful such establishments here in Ireland.
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Slaney Country Market
14 November 2011
Every Saturday morning in the heart Bunclody a group of dedicated ladies gather to sell their food and artistic produce at the Slaney Country Market. Bunclody is a very pictueresque town in itself, in North County Wexford on the Co. Carlow border.
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Restaurant Review - The Magpie Inn
14 November 2011
Ever more we are veering towards the casual relaxed value dining ethos with good Tapas, Italian, and Gastropubs all flying. We have always wanted to dine like our Continental neighbours on a regular basis on reasonably priced simple food and
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Aniar
07 November 2011
We can expect to see mini ‘Noma’s’ popping up worldwide faster than High Street copies of Catwalk designs over the next couple of years. Rene Redzepi’s Noma Restaurant in Copenhagen, voted the San Pellegrino World’s No. 1 Restaurant for 2010 and 2011, h
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat
04 November 2011
The Harlequin Hotel is a modern boutique hotel in Castlebar which is furnished in boutique style with chandeliers, plush buttonbacked feature chairs and sofas, lovely Venetian mirrors, beautiful throws, funky details, all of which are uplifting and bright
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GREAT PLACES TO STAY IN LONDON
04 November 2011
Had a great visit to London where shopped til we dropped, had fab food, and checked out a couple of great hotels...
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Our Latest Great Place to Stay & Eat
03 November 2011
Le tout Irlande was mesmerised in 1969 when the late General and Mme de Gaulle came on a two week visit to Ireland. The paparazzi of the day ducked in and out trying to get black and white pictures of this legendary tall tall man relaxing in Connemara.
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Ode to Italy - Eileen Dunne & Stefano Crescenzi
31 October 2011
Sunday October 30 2011 'IF IT'S for you, it won't pass you by" is an old saying that certainly seems to have been the case with Eileen Dunne, and Stefano Crescenzi, who not only met and fell in love in a somewhat roundabout way but who revolutionised t
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Restaurant Review - Oriental Cafe
31 October 2011
Tabletalk We were almost elated sitting down in the new Oriental Café by the Yamamori restaurant owners in the former Bewley’s Oriental Café premises in South Great George’s Street. Here at last it seemed was the perfect, nay obvious, match for this
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Restaurant Review - Weafer & Cooper
27 October 2011
Glasthule Village in South County Dublin has had a real awakening with the arrival of Weafer & Cooper, an all day modern Italian style eatery, very much along the lines of Jamie Oliver’s ‘Jamie’s Italian’ neighbourhood restaurants which are opening apace
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CHECK OUT HALLOWEEN & MID TERM BREAKS
27 October 2011
Halloween Breaks 2011 With Halloween and the Midterm Break approaching the evenings are closing in fast but it is still a time of year that gives us bright crisp days with golden autumnal leaves and is, as our American cousins say, perfect for a‘Fall..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Spires & Thomas Moore Tavern
21 October 2011
Extravaganza is certainly not dead in Wexford if The Spires restaurant is anything to go by. All it needed was Joan Collins to waft through the doors in a cloud of big hair, shoulder pads, furs, and Dynasty jewels, and take up residence in the button back
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3 MEN AND A BOTTLE OF SPIRITS
20 October 2011
JUST what is it about men in threes? Down through the centuries, we've had the Three Musketeers, Three Men in a Boat, Three Men in a Tub, Three Men And a Baby... And continuing that tradition, right here in Ireland, in the pretty...
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RESTAURANT - REVIEW - GUINNESS STOREHOUSE
20 October 2011
Tabletalk “I’ve just got off a plane this morning and headed to the Guiness Storehouse otherwise my friends back in New York would never speak to me again.”So said a young scientist here for a three day conference in Trinity College as he supped his pi
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - THE SPIRES, WEXFORD.
12 October 2011
Extravaganza is certainly not dead in Wexford if The Spires restaurant is anything to go by. All it needed was Joan Collins to waft through the doors in a cloud of big hair, shoulder pads, furs, and Dynasty jewels, and take up residence...
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35 Years of Kinsale Gourmet Festival
11 October 2011
Today sees the culmination of the 35th Kinsale Gourmet Festival -- an idea that was started out way back in 1976 by a group of enterprising restaurateurs and hoteliers and which has become one of the longest running food festivals in the country
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Ireland's Cafe Culture
11 October 2011
Cafes and bakeries have been doing very well in these times, especially those combined with bakeries because people find the alluring aroma of freshly baked breads and cakes irresistible. We have a very special relationship with the cafes...
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MICHELIN STARS & BIBS 2012
06 October 2011
Here is the list of Michelin Star Holders for 2012 - no change on 2011. Michelin Bibs has one new addition and two who have lost their Bibs! Picture shown was at The Box Tree!
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - WHITEFRIAR GRILL
04 October 2011
Despite the recession, restaurants are opening apace and you have to commend people for their enterprise. Indeed, it seems the heat had barely left the kitchen at Conrad Gallagher’s former Salon des Saveurs premises on Aungier Street, than a new boy was
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Gourmet Food Parlour Malahide
04 October 2011
Lorraine Heskin and Lorraine Byrne are two young ladies with a passion for delicious food of which they have an extraordinary knowledge. They opened their first Gourmet Food Parlour on Cumberland Street in Dun Laoire, not far from where I live in 2006.
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Cakes, Horses, and Photography
20 September 2011
Best friends Sinead Ni Riain and Jacqueline Lanigan Ryan have more than their surname in common. Both were brought up as only girls in families with five and six brothers respectively, and both work using their artistic talents and sensory skills.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - CAMPAGNE KILKENNY, VM LONGFORD
20 September 2011
Tabletalk I have always loved watching how the French do Sunday lunch. It is sacrosanct. Extended family and friends of all ages sit around just doing what was intended for the Seventh Day - resting and renewing themselves. Sunday lunch is a great...
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ORGANIC WEEK SEPTEMBER 2011
13 September 2011
Shane McEntee, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Food, Horticulture & Food Safety and Eileen Bentley from Bord Bia (right) presented Kitty Colchester from Second Nature Oils in Kilkenny (ce
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MONKSTOWN - THE REVIVAL OF THE CRESCENT
13 September 2011
People not living in Dublin tend generally to think of the City as one big urban sprawl whereas, in fact, the heart and soul of our Fair City are the various villages which comprise Dublin and Co. Dublin. I think of places like Glasnevin, Finglas, Howth,
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Restaurant Review - Aniar and Kai - Galway
13 September 2011
We can expect to see mini ‘Noma’s’ popping up worldwide faster than High Street copies of Catwalk designs! Rene Redzepi’s Noma Restaurant in Copenhagen, voted the San Pellegrino World’s No. 1 Restaurant for 2010 and 2011, has dazzled chefs as no other....
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DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - 10TH SEPTEMBER 2011
06 September 2011
Here is the perfect opportunity for a break in wonderful East Cork. Next Saturday 10th September sees Midleton hold its Food Fair.....
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UPCYCLING IS THE NEW DECORATIVE THEME
05 September 2011
WHEN Nawel Kouadri and Al Birbeck met doing an interior design diploma course at the Senior College in Dun Laoghaire, they became not only firm friends but business partners too.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - GREGAN'S CASTLE
05 September 2011
'I'm holding out for two nights and if I don't get them, then I'll take one night," said the man on the other end of the phone at Gregans Castle, Co Clare, as I tried to book a double room with dinner for the recent bank holiday Saturday night.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Black 'n' Blue Grill
01 September 2011
Names can sometimes lead you off course but in this case I have to say I was even more pleasantly surprised. Expecting the new Black ‘n’ Blue Grill in Wicklow town to be serving a typical modern grill menu of ginormous steaks, prawn cocktails, and so on,
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Restaurant Review - The Herring Gull & Foley's Gastropub
30 August 2011
“No problem, I’ll change it for you” should surely have been “sorry, I’ll change it for you” from the lady in charge in the new Herring Gull Restaurant in Ballycotton, on my pointing out lipstick on a wine glass. Equally mystifying was her whipping away
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Lucinda's Last Rose of Summer Tour of Kerry & West Cork
30 August 2011
Each year, for many years past, I have taken myself on what I call my own ‘Last Rose of Summer’ trip driving from Killarney, through Moll’s Gap to Kenmare, and on over through the tunnels and unparelled mountainous vistas over hill and bay that lead you..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Vanilla Pod
25 August 2011
Eggs Benedict is one of my favourite breakfast treats and nobody knows this better than Kate O’Sullivan, Derek Breen and Veronica Muresan! How do they know this you might well ask? Well Kate, Derek and Veronica were all in the Brown Thomas Café where I
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - MEXICAN EATERIES
22 August 2011
Jonathan Ross devoted the opening chapter of his book “Why Do I Say These Things” to the ‘joys’ of Mexican food he experienced on a trip ‘South of the Border…’. As you might imagine, Mr Ross pulled no punches and in his inimitable way was fully descript
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FOOD FESTIVALS AUTUMN 2011
22 August 2011
We are winding down in August from what one might euphemistically have referred to as High Summer ever so gently into Autumn. People are getting kids organised for school and college but, for the culinary community and many towns around the country, this
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Bar One
19 August 2011
Mark and Alan Cadden are not newbies when it comes to the game of food for they were brought up in the industry whilst their parents owned the well known Asgard Pub in Westport. Their brother also went into the food industry and owns the very popular Sab
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WHERE TO FIND DUBLIN'S BEST STREET FOOD
18 August 2011
Want to sample food cooked by a chef who worked for the top London Moroccan restaurant ‘Moro’ or authentic dishes from Korea? Look no further than the Food Markets of Dublin where nowadays you will find a huge range of delicious street food from all over
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MEET YANNICK & LOUISE FROM THE WORLD'S NO 1 RESTAURANT - NOMA IN COPENHAGEN
16 August 2011
Between them you might say that Yannick Van Aeken and Louise Bannon have captured two of the most sought after jobs in the culinary world. Yannick Van Aeken is Sous Chef at the charasmatic Rene Redzepi’s Noma Restaurant in Copenhagen whilst Louise Bannon
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - BEDLAM
16 August 2011
Is there bedlam at Bedlam - May Frisby's new restaurant in Castle Market, Dublin? Find Out...
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SCULPTOR NIALL HARKIN EXHIBITION IN THOMASTOWN KAW 2011
09 August 2011
“I gave myself five years from the date of my retirement to have my own one man show devoted to sculpture, and in this ambition I have succeeded” says artist and sculptor Niall Harkin. Niall’s solo exhibition “Votive Offerings”....
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Fallon & Byrne
05 August 2011
It takes real guts and endeavour to set up a business the size and proportion of Fallon & Byrne. Paul Byrne and his wife, the former journalist Fiona McHugh, took an enormous leap of faith when, in 2006, they took over the massive old Art Deco style Tele
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TAKE TWO GIRLS
02 August 2011
Although they didn’t meet until College in Limerick when they were 17, Lorraine Heskin and Lorraine Byrne not only share the same Christian names, both are from the West of Ireland, with Lorraine Heskin’s dad having come from Lorraine Byrne’s home village
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Markree Castle support Trocaire
02 August 2011
For the first week in August Markree Castle is donating €3 for every booking made to Trocaire's East Africa Emergency Appeal
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Restaurant Review - The Hen House
02 August 2011
We have all been getting back to basics in Ireland, no where more so than restaurants where the trend is towards the casual, so the new Hen House restaurant at The Pavilions in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, has you chowing down all American style folksey.
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'Relax Me Breaks'
25 July 2011
Travelling around the country quite a lot, as I do, I am seeing that the times we are in has brought about a huge level of innovation and co-operation between people, which was perhaps a quality that was missing in us during those unreal Celtic Tiger Year
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Restaurant Review - Lunch French, Italian and Irish style
25 July 2011
Tabletalk “It’s very cold in Perpignan”, said the friendly young French waiter – it was cold here too but I was so delighted to spot Marseillaise anchoiade on the menu, I smiled blissfully back. Surrounded by wine racks in the perfect oasis that is t
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The Silk Road
19 July 2011
There is more than a touch of drama at Judith O’Sullivan’s stunning Atelier ‘Roisin Cross Silks’ for not only have they supplied the silks for the magnificent costumes of ‘Henry V111’ himself, as played by sexy Jonathan Rhys Myers, and th
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Restaurant Review - Long Room at Doonbeg
19 July 2011
Approaching through the Atlantic mist and haze of the mystical wild beauty of West Clare, the cluster of houses and main building that comprise The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club appeared shimmering and inviting like the mythical village of Brigadoon. This
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FOOD TOURISM
13 July 2011
Food Tourism The importance of Food Tourism cannot be emphasised quite enough. It is a huge market which has not been recognised sufficiently in the past in promoting Ireland as a food destination. It only recently that there is even a vague nod to th
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - FIRST FLOOR - HARVEY NICHOLS
13 July 2011
Just as I made a reprise visit to the First Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols, it was announced that we are in for a revival of TV’s ‘Absolutely Fabulous’. It seems a lifetime ago since Patsy and Edina flaunted themselves around London, Bolly Stolly i
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Green Barn Bistro
13 July 2011
The Green Barn Café Bistro is in a lovely building which always reminds somehow or other of the R.D.S. at Simmonscourt with its equestrian style weathervane and perfectly maintained pretty grounds where you can also sit outside, weather permitting, and ha
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SURFING AND FOOD IN COUNTY CLARE
06 July 2011
Lisdoonvarna is not just for matchmaking, surfing and taking the waters, for nowadays you can also eat rather well, as we discovered on a recent visit to the area for the Burren Slow Food Festival. They weren’t blessed with the weather on the day, which
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - THE DINING ROOM BY CONRAD GALLAGHER
06 July 2011
A business alliance is like a marriage, and every bit as painful when it comes to the divorce! I think it can be said that the proponents in the latest cullinary alliance, ‘Head Chef’ Conrad Gallagher, and Louis Murray, at The Dining Room at La Stampa...
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Restaurant Review - Jamie's Italian
27 June 2011
Cheryl Cole was not the only one returning from the U.S.A. with a flea in her ear for Jamie Oliver has also had his ‘cough softened’ by the Yanks! But then I guess it’s somewhat of a mammoth task for a Brit to land on the shores of the most powerful nati
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'The Restaurant' at The Wineport - John Healy Special Event
22 June 2011
A crowd of 150 foodies and John Healy fans gathered on Mid Summer night for a special fundraising and awareness night at the fabulous Wineport at Glasson....
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BERNADETTE CROWE'S BAKERY IN SIXMILEBRIDGE
20 June 2011
I could see that none of the cakes I bought in were as nice as those I could make myself. I always had a flair for baking - big apple tarts, brown wholemeal bread - that’s what we were reared on as a lot of people are – soups and stews, bacon an
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PRINCESS DAISY AT BUNRATTY CASTLE & FOLK PARK
20 June 2011
Having departed the good folks of Sixmilebridge we headed to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, which I had not visited for many many years and it, was a great experience. Bunratty Castle was built in 1425 and was home to the Earls of Thomond. In 1646 it was
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MEET A REAL BEAN AN TI AT BUNRATTY
20 June 2011
This is the brilliant Eileen Clancy who is Bean an Ti at the Golden Vale House at Bunratty Folk Park, who is not only brilliantly entertaining...
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - GORDON RAMSAY AT RITZ-CARLTON
20 June 2011
Ramsay was merrily chopping slices off some poor bull’s penis, bound for a soup, attributing each ‘chop’ to English food critics....
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TOTALLY TIPPERARY FOOD FESTIVAL NEXT SATURDAY 25TH
19 June 2011
Give yourself a great break and a great foodie weekend with the good food producers of Tipperary this coming Saturday at Cloughjordan.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Lyons Cafe
17 June 2011
Sligo is a very busy town traffic wise and if you are not in the know when it comes to where to head for that really delicious bite to eat, or coffee and scone, after you have visited Yeat’s grave, or just been simply shopping, well let me tell you, Lyons
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FEAR OF FLYING
13 June 2011
Your stomach turns over, your palms sweat, you don’t hear what anyone is saying, you are convinced you have just signed your own death warrant, and that is only when you book your airline ticket! Does that sound familiar to you? I talk of course about
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - BRASSERIE LE PONT
13 June 2011
Brasserie Le Pont is a new restaurant owned by one Michael Kelly and is part of the Fitzwilliam Hall Business Centre. Tucked away in the large basement of a Georgian House on Fitzwilliam Place close to Leeson Street, its entrance belies its size, and it
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Crazy Crab
03 June 2011
‘Tis not very often you leave a restaurant awarding it in your own mind 2 Badges of Distinction-Best Seafood platter in Ireland and Best Value seafood in Ireland. This is how we felt having left the new Crazy Crab Seafood Bistro and Café at Kilmore Quay
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"WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR..."
01 June 2011
What child and adult does not have magical dreams and memories, a desire to live in the fantasy world of the Disneyland Castle where dreams come true, where frogs turn into Princes, where Cinderella arrives to the ball wearing glass slippers, where Snow W
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - MULBERRY GARDEN
01 June 2011
In an episode of the TV Show ‘Frasier’, the irrepressible Crane brothers have a stab at opening a restaurant where, midst first night high jinks, the mythical food critic, Gil Chesterton, arrives blathering “I don’t usually review on first nigh
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'The Restaurant' at The Wineport - John Healy Special Event
27 May 2011
Ray Byrne, Jane English and the team at Wineport Lodge are throwing the bash of the year this June to assist their colleague and friend - the loveable Maitre D’- John Healy of RTE’s ‘The Restaurant’ who is seriously ill and requires a heart transplant.
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Rasam Indian Restaurant wins Best Ethnic Restaurant 2011
26 May 2011
For the second year running Nisheeth Tak's Rasam Indian Restaurant has won Best Ethnic Restaurant at the RAI/Sunday Independent Life Magazine Awards.
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Chapter One proves invincible
26 May 2011
Chapter One is to Irish Restaurants what Rafa Nadal is to the tennis courts of the world - invincible! Ross Lewis and his team have done it again with Chapter One winning Best Restaurant 2011. Well done guys!
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SOS - SAVE OUR SHOPS
25 May 2011
British Prime Minister David Cameron has taken the unprecedented step of appointing a retail expert, 'Queen of Shops' Mary Portas, to save the British high street. Ireland has a host a retailers and business people who could do a similar job for the mo
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WE NEED ACTION TO SAVE OUR HIGH STREET SHOPS
25 May 2011
Just as Mary 'Queen of Shops' Portas has been roped in to help the British government revive the flagging high streets and bring a bustle back to town centres, so too some Bridget Banrion of Boutiques is needed here to put a rocket under local authorities
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Restaurant Review - Pygmalion Restaurant at Parknasilla Resort
25 May 2011
Parknasilla Resort on the Ring of Kerry has long been one of the jewels in the crown of Irish Tourism. Built in the mid 18thC on a sub-tropical 500 acre estate, overlooking an inlet of the Kenmare River, with the Gulf Stream nibbling at its toes, it has
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - CODA
18 May 2011
Arriving for dinner with Houston based Paul, who spends his life flying from New York to Naples,Peking to Paris,Seoul to Sydney,he felt quite at home striding through the vast Hemidemisemiquaver Bar and on to the section that is Coda Eatery.“Good Airport"
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Burren Slow Food Festival This Weekend
18 May 2011
There will be lots of fun and activity at this weekends Burren Slow Food Festival in Clare. Check it Out.
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Mervyn Stewart & Her Majesty
10 May 2011
Having ‘Met the Middletons’ in all their glory in recent weeks, and with the Queen coming to grips with new additions to the family tree, it occurred to me that she might care to meet her long lost cousins, the Stewarts, when she comes to Ireland...
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Restaurant Review - Downstairs
10 May 2011
‘Downstairs’ is a new restaurant at Gilbert & Wright in Clontarf on sea, located where the old Hollybrook Hotel once stood. Gilbert & Wright have hip ‘1970’s style bars also in Malahide, Swords, and Dun Laoghaire. ‘Downstairs’, as you may gather, is a sub
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San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants
04 May 2011
Last week saw the announcement of the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2011. What is quite extraordinary is not the fact that Rene Redzepi’s ‘Noma’, the much lauded restaurant in Copenhagen, has been voted No. 1 Restaurant in the World for the
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - ELECTRIC
04 May 2011
I guess it’s quite some time since a restaurant of size and import has opened in the centre of Cork, and on The Mall to boot. In recent times the focus for such openings had centered on Lapps Quay, with The Boardwalk Bar & Grill and Augustine’s joining t
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Restaurant Review - Global Village
27 April 2011
Hopefully all of you on this Easter are basking somewhere nice around the country. Basking leads me to Fungi’s home territory of Dingle and the Global Village Restaurant whose chef patron, Martin Bealin, along with his wife Nuala Cassidy, is also very mu
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Meet Kanturk's Foodie & Business People
27 April 2011
One of the longest standing businesses and best known characters in the town is Jack McCarthy of the eponymous McCarthy’s Butchers. Jack is a very pro-active artisan food producer, and a great public relations man for Kanturk. He is the fifth generation
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Lucinda as Guest Critic on RTE's The Restaurant TV Show
11 April 2011
See how Lucinda and the other critics found Ian Dempsey's food on The Restaurant
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Restaurant Review - The French Table
11 April 2011
It’s a case of the two ‘Fs’ this week in two parts of the country – lunch in both The French Table in Limerick and The Fatted Calf in Athlone. Taking time for a proper lunch is a very civilized thing which unfortunately many of us do not have time to do
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The Rising Tide
05 April 2011
As a part time resident of Kinsale and a regular visitor to East Cork I guess you could say we are always on the whirl around looking for different places to eat in both areas. Nowadays too we really like to dine in a more informal fashion than years ago
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Galway Store to open in Dundrum Town Centre
04 April 2011
“This building was supposed to be occupied by Solicitors and Accountants but, when that fell through, we turned it into retail”, said Annette Curley of Home Gallery at Newtownsmith, Galway.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Brasserie One at 1 Pery Square
31 March 2011
Take one great Georgian Quarter, a great Georgian House, a lady with a great eye for style, detail and elegance, and you have No. 1 Pery Square, undoubtedly one of the coolest destinations in the country. Patricia Roberts recognised the potential of th
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Mulberrys
29 March 2011
I have always maintained that if you do good honest seafood without mucking it around too much, a restaurant will always do well for people love it. Add to that the other most popular cuisine, a taste of Italy that is, and you are really on a winner. Ad
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - O'Connells in Donnybrook
29 March 2011
The well known restaurateur, Tom O’Connell, who was previously in Ballsbridge, came up with a fantastic location for his new restaurant O’Connells in Donnybrook – in the former Madigan’s pub on Morehampton Road and corner of Belmont Avenue. Madigan’s was
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Galway Artisan Producers at the G Hotel
28 March 2011
We used all hear of the old Wartime spirit in the U.K. and how everyone pulled together, we may not be in that type of war but in our economic war we are seeing this happen here too, people are not as pushy or dismissive of your business as they were in t
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Restaurant Review - Matt The Threshers Dublin
28 March 2011
We were impressed walking into the smart new D2 version of the Tipperary based Matt The Thresher’s eating and drinking emporium, in what was the former Pembroke Pub on Lower Pembroke Street. Billed as a Seafood Bar & Grill, MTTD2 is urban chic gastropub
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Gilbert's Restaurant & Townhouse
28 March 2011
On a recent visit to East Cork we headed for Gilbert’s Restaurant & Townhouse in Cobh. Now, Cobh is a really beautiful little town, with its neo Gothic Pugin Cathedral, and poignant nautical history. What it has lacked, until now, has been a decent res
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OUR LATEST GREAT PLACE TO EAT - CAFE NOIR
23 March 2011
In a short three years Pat O’Sullivan has created one of the most dynamic Café restaurant chains in Limerick and happily intends expanding far and wide. Pat O’Sullivan is no newcomer to the food industry so he really knows what he is about and what his cu
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The Many Colours of Adare
21 March 2011
The village of Adare in Co. Limerick with its extraordinarily picture postcard pretty thatched roofs has long been a destination for tourists and home visitors alike. At the heart of Adare is a very hard working and enterprising business community who..
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The Foodie Folk of Cabinteely Village
14 March 2011
People sometimes forget, in the great urban sprawl that is the Dublin of nowadays, that at the heart of many suburban areas are the old villages that once made up the very distinctive villages on the outskirts of Dublin. I think of places like Raheny..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - City Bar & Grill
10 March 2011
There are lots of restaurants in Kilkenny but the food in the Hibernian's City Bar & Grill is considered by many to be one of the best around. You can expect maybe to feast on delicious seafood chowder to start or sauteed Dublin Bay prawns in garlic oil w
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - The West End House
08 March 2011
Sandra and Peter Dunlea are a charming couple who have a particular gift for creating atmosphere, nostalgia, and style, in each of their restaurants. They are behind the fabulous Miss Courtney’s Tearooms in the centre of Killarney
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RESTAURANT REVIEW - CAFEBAR H - PORT HOUSE DUNDRUM -TAPAS TAPAS
01 March 2011
February is the month of the Seville Tapas Festival but, whatever about that, Ole! Ole! Ole! was alive and well in Dublin when we arrived on a Friday evening to the new Cafébar H at Grand Canal Plaza. The place was heaving with 20-somethings – mainly gir
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - No 35 Kenmare
01 March 2011
Kenmare has a really special place in tourism in Ireland, it is pretty, friendly, offers a myriad of things to do and see not only in the town but as a base for working out around Kerry. We all go there for great weekends and holidays. It offers also a
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Surviving the Recession - Dublin Artist - Gerard Byrne
24 February 2011
One of the good things that came about during the Celtic Tiger years was a great increase in art across the spectrum. Galleries boomed. Everybody wanted art on their walls be it massive paintings or massive prints. In essence whether or not it was origina
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Casey's Bistro
24 February 2011
When it comes to food, their Casey’s Bar and Bistro produces excellent modern cuisine, both Irish and International, using and best of local and seasonal produce. Having perhaps just done the Ring of Kerry you will be hungry so for dinner you can start th
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TIPPERARY FOOD PRODUCERS
01 February 2011
A really nice bunch of people gathered together to meet me and show me their produce at Nora and John Egan’s fine Georgian Mansion, Inch House Country House and Restaurant, just outside Thurles in Co. Tipperary, which not only has a lovely restaurant but
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Restaurant Review - Indie Spice Sandymount
27 January 2011
Sandymount has recently had the addition of a new Indian restaurant in the form of Indie Spice. When I say ‘new’ it is not a totally new concept but rather a new branch of a long established group. Indie Spice started out with a restaurant in Belfast
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Michelin Stars & Bibs 2011
24 January 2011
Last Tuesday morning, it was a case of synchronise your watches for, at 11.40 a.m. precisely, not a second earlier not a second later, Michelin announced on its website the recipients of its stars and bib gourmands for Great Britain and Ireland 2011. I g
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Locks Brasserie
12 January 2011
“11 out of 10” said a departing diner to the Maitre d’ in the new Locks Brasserie overlooking the Grand Canal at Portobello and its gliding swans. He was right and, from the cross table conversation he had been enjoying with another solo gentleman, it ap
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Open All Hours!
10 January 2011
Well we all know the old joke “when the going gets tough the Irish go on holidays.” So it struck me was the case over the Christmas/New Year period.We have had a couple of years of restaurants telling us how much they have been suffering with the dow
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'THE LUCINDAS' 2010
05 January 2011
You might have thought that 2010 was a dull year for restaurants but life on the restaurant scene is never dull as chefs and restaurateurs vie for business. My Awards 2010 reflect the good, the bad, and the ugly, of a Restaurant Critic’s year!
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THE LIFE AND LOVES OF MIRANDA, COUNTESS OF IVEAGH
05 January 2011
We have all been watching with fascination the romantic happenings of life in the fictional Great House, Downton Abbey, but it would be true to say that life in the real world of Farmleigh and Wilbury Park, former homes of Miranda, Countess of Iveagh..
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Salt & Chilli Prawns
31 December 2010
After all the rich meats and game, salt and chilli prawns went down well on New Year's Eve...
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CHRISTMAS MARKETS COUNTRYWIDE 2010
08 December 2010
Christmas Markets are the buzz this year and there are lots around the country be they one day events or weekly in the lead up to the big day.In Dublin there is a new Christmas Market at Fitzwilliam Square this year with over 70 stalls lit up by more tha
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34th Kinsale Gourmet Festival Kicks off....
08 October 2010
This evening saw the kick off of the 34th Annual Gourmet Festival at a Champagne Reception at the White Lady.
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Autumn Courses
27 September 2010
Guess what? The traditional Aran sweater, a la Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, is back in high fashion and on the catwalks of Europe. When I say traditional, I mean traditional, and not in the funky funky revival way of 10 or 15 yea
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Booze Cruise 2010
09 September 2010
With the kids firmly ensconced at their school desks this is the time when dedicated booze cruisers set sail for La Belle France to stock up the cellars for autumn. There is no doubt but that you save an awful lot of money on wine in France.
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Get Back to Cooking
30 August 2010
For the past fifteen years our TV screens have been literally awash with cookery programmes from the sublime to the ridiculous. We have had the Two Fat Ladies, doling out colonial style ‘receipts’ with Jennifer dipping her grotesquely painted finger
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Memories of France
21 July 2010
The French may think they are very chi chi but they have yet to cotton on to decent beds – that is unless you are staying in the Ritz! We now take for granted our high off the floor superking beds with orthopoedic mattresses and it is only after a night
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Indonesian Spicy Summer Dressing
26 June 2010
Chameleon Restaurant's Kevin O'Toole shares his fantastic recipe for a summer dressing with a difference.....
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The Ultimate Hotelier
08 June 2010
We all remember in the movie Pretty Woman how the suave Hotel Manager came to the aid of “Vivian”, played by Julia Roberts, when she needed a special gown for the ball with Richard Gere’s character “Edward”. He had been somewhat disapproving initially of
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COLIN O'DALY TALKS TO LUCINDA
12 May 2010
Without any F-words, tantrums, or attention seeking antics, one of the best known, most talented and, above all, most respected names in the Irish culinary world undoubtedly has to be Colin O’Daly. Most would associate Colin O’Daly with Roly’s Bistro..
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KINSALE GOURMET FESTIVAL 2009
19 October 2009
"No recession at The Kinsale Gourmet Festival 2009" say the organisers, "it was a whopping success story!"
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NEW LUCINDA O'SULLIVAN WEBSITE
14 October 2009
Wednesday 14 October 2009 We're delighted to announce the launch of the revamped, primped and preened LucindaOSullivan.com, my online Little Black Book of not only Great Places to Stay and Eat, but also Great Restaurants to Eat in too.