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What should we know about Apertivo Cicchetti? It's the latest opening on Nassau Street from The Port House group, who are also due to open new Portugese pastelaria Lisboa in the next few weeks. They've pitched it as an Italian small plate, wine & cocktail bar, with a serious selection of Aperitifs, Negronis & Spritzes, designed to "make you feel as though you have been transported to an Italian swing joint in the 1950s." It's very intimate and atmospheric inside, with Ingo Mauer's Campari light fixtures giving the whole room a red hue, dark wood panelling and exposed brick. They've done a great job of making it feel like you're not in Dublin any more. The petite, narrow room seats just over 20, and tables are close together, so don't expect privacy. What did you drink? They have a mean drinks list, with four types of negronis and all types of aperitivo, from Venezianos to Limoncello spritz. The house negroni is small but potent, poured from a large glass bottle, and we also liked the negroni rosato with grapefruit and prosecco. The all Italian wine list also surprised us, with everything we tried over a couple of visits, from Soave to Vermentino packing a punch in all the right places. The red from Maretti is always a good bet with pasta or anything with a tomato based sauce - if in doubt, get the Langhe Rosso out. What about the food? The fritto misto stands out, with perfectly flour-dusted and deep-fried calamari, prawns, whitebait and courgette - or you can go for a full plate of any of the four. Deep-fried aubergine meatballs had great flavour, but needed a dip, while burrata with marinated tomatoes and bread was as good as you would hope, but €15 means it's a sharer. We expected an Italian small plates restaurant to go hard on the pasta, but they were the weakest plates we had, with the pasta clearly dried and bought in, and sauces leaving much to be desired. Carbonara is inexplicably poured at the table from a cocktail shaker (if anyone has the answer as to why we'd love to hear it), and cacio e pepe was a poor, dry example. Bucatini alla Vodka didn't have much going on either, but spinach and cheese tortellini tossed in sage butter was a step up, and one we'd order again. Pasta sizes are small, so one is unlikely to do you as a main. Gnocchi with fennel sausage ragu was better too (although we don't think the gnocchi were freshly made either), and 'Panzerotti' (mini deep-fried calzone) filled with nduja, Taleggio & tomato sauce were an enjoyable, hand-held snack. Vegetable sides of zucchini fritti (fried courgette) and patate al forno (roast potatoes) were great, and there's loads on here for vegetarians in general. Desserts are limited and on the simple side, but both tiramisu and affogato were hard to find fault with, so no complaints here. Why should I go? Aperitivo is fun, the all-Italian drinks list is genuinely original in a city like Dublin, and staff were by and large fantastic. It's different, casual and affordable, and perfect for an intimate catch up when you want to hear each other speak. Go big on the fried fish and veg, easy on the pasta, and make sure it's not a school night so you can do that drinks list justice. Aperitivo 47 Nassau Street, Dublin 2 aperitivo.ie

What should we know about Chequer Lane?

What should we know about Flower & bean? Flower & Bean is the latest (and perhaps greatest) addition to Dublin 8’s thriving café scene. We’ve been glued to their social media the last few weeks, and the love they seem to pour into their baked goods, and wanted to see if it had substance on top of style. The space is bright and clean clean, with paired back benches and tables giving major Scandi vibes. The website describes "baking as a science", and the tables are decorated with test tubes repurposed as flower vases. Flower & Bean is run by a team of three: two coffee experts: Henrique, and Greg, and baker Marta (who's also behind Cake Box ). Each staff member we spoke to was nicer than the last, and they're clearly excited to be here. What did you have? Flower & Bean serve 3FE roasted coffee and we had no complaints about our americanos. Beans, whole or freshly ground are also for sale. Ceramic cups are on the way for those eating in but they're limited to take-out cups for now, so you might want to bring your own. The baked goods are made in house and beautifully presented in enamel dishware, and staff were very enthusiastic and helpful when indecision struck and recommendations were needed. We had a cinnamon roll with dried roses and pistachio which was plump and soft, with flavours that worked so well together. We also had a pear and almond scone, their seasonal speciality, and you should go quick for this as it's due to change soon. It was light and buttery, with vivid almond and pear flavours, and when we asked for jam the staff told us they don’t do it, but had something better - home made cardamom butter. They win. We featured the Crème Brûlée donuts last week , and it may have had more than a mild influence on our visit. It actually involved two visits on the same day as they weren’t ready the first time we tried - commitment or what. Thankfully it was everything we hoped it would be after hanging around - the crack of the brûléed top so satisfying, the custard centre flavoured with delicate and delicious vanilla. Why should I go? We love that Flower & Bean is committed to low waste (albeit needing to sort the coffee cup situation stat). They repurpose croissants into no waste croissant pudding, baking leftovers with chocolate, salted caramel and hazelnuts. They also sell loaves of freshly made sourdough as a whole or a half, for those who don’t need as much. We picked up a half for €3.50 and this is solid sourdough. Couple a visit with a trip to Urban Plant Life (sprawling jungle-like garden centre) next door and you’ve got yourself a very wholesome morning in Dublin 8. Flower & Bean 113 Cork St, Saint Catherine's, Dublin 8 www.flowerandbean.com

- More shock closure news this week from Table Wine , who announced that their last service would be on November 19th. They originally opened as a wine bar serving small plates, before changing to a three course set menu (a sign that maybe things hadn't taken off the way they'd hoped), and now they're calling it a day. No word yet on whether they're going to keep the site, which was formerly Meet Me In The Morning - Joe's Coffee have also announced they're leaving Arnotts, while toastie makers Griolladh are moving in - D15 was devasted this week with the news that Bahay have pulled out of their Blanchardstown opening, along with plans to open a permanent spot anywhere. Read their sad post here - In better news, it's in London, Paris, New York and LA, and now Dublin is getting it's very own Hoxton Hotel . The group have raised finance to start work on the site of the Central Hotel site on Exchequer street, and hope to open in 2024 - Soon to come opening Church and Chambers look like they are not messing around with this signing - Temple bar got a new Japanese restaurant this week, Daruma , and we're cautiously optimistic - Taza have opened their second site in Raheny , and considering how difficult it is to get a booking in their Artane location this is great news for the parish - The first review of Jamie Oliver's Chequer Lane is in and Katy Mc Guinness was not impressed. "The acoustics are dreadful", "a significant number of dishes are already sold out" and in response to you lot on Instagram saying it's the type of place your Mum would probably like, she says: "Well I'm your mum and I'm telling you that she is disappointed." - Angela Scanlon got a takeaway V-Face this week and ate it on her bed in the five-star Merrion Hotel. It's a yes from us - James Corden must have wanted the ground to swallow him up this week, after getting banned from Balthazar in New York. Owner Keith McNally labelled him " a tiny cretin of a man " and "the most abusive customer", before un-banning him after Corden called him to apologise. He then got re-banned after giving an interview to a newspaper where he appeared to deny it. We're struggling to keep up. Corden's behaviour sounds pretty bad, but it's also worth noting that McNally is a loose canon and has put some indefensible stuff on social media before, including much about his arch nemesis, Sunday Times food critic Marina O'Loughlin - The start of the week just got better - Etto is once again open on Monday evenings for the first time since the pandemic - The alcohol free Virgin Mary bar on Capel Street are experimenting with plant-based mood boosters for their new cocktail menu - St. Francis Provisions in Kinsale has been added to the Michelin Guide - about time - In other Kinsale new, Michelin-starred Bastion should probably have invested in some PR advice before posting this thread about charging guests who try to cancel tables at short notice €250. It all kicked off after this article in Cork Beo, when a couple claimed they were charged full price after cancelling when they child had to go to A&E - The ridiculous reality of the energy crisis broken down by Urru in Bandon -The annual Fine Dining Lovers survey is out. Lots of interesting stuff to mull over, including whether the customer is always right, and why paying for meals in advance is cutting off a large chunk of potential customers - Sally & John Mc Kenna have launched a new subscription on Substack, including a Megabites newsletter with really interesting news and information on eating around the country. A must subscribe if you're interested in eating around the country, and supporting independent Irish food journalism. Check it out here - We were so excited to happen on this guide to where to eat Jewish food in Dublin , then we read it and realised there sadly isn't much to talk about - 64 Wines in Glasthule have announced that from now on they will only be adding wine and food to their shop from producers and brands who are making an effort to be sustainable . While these things are never black and white we love the effort - The FSAI were not impressed with Leo Varadkar's meal prep , and neither were we, have you seen it? - Pala Pizza have decided kids eat free every Wednesday and Thursday - can they get any better? - Another high class move from Bujo - Senbazuru Izakaya's Bellabot is getting into the Halloween spirit - Let the Halloween-themed food begin - That's a lot of effort ... - Scéal Bakery is back with pumpkin pies for a Halloween bank holiday bake on Friday, October 28th - Got a gin glass you drunkenly stole one night? There's an amnesty on at The Barbers - More deals at Cluck Chicken, with 2-for-1 on Wednesday wings - A snapshot of our days - Chapter one's version of 100's and 1000's for some two-starred Michelin nostalgia - Obsessing over this new dessert from Clanbrassil House - A baby Keelan Higgs - Um what ? We have yet to uncover whether Pat Shortt has any actual involvement in this - B Skewers open their new Temple Bar site this week and we're so excited for our Thursday night preview ! If you're coming see you there

We want to know where you're eating and loving lately. Send your tips and pics to info@allthefood.ie and we'll publish the best each fortnight, just for you guys... Churchtown Stores, Dublin 14 - Eva H We stopped by Churchtown Stores this week and firstly what a fantastic menu for a pub! Totally different to your average pub grub, and very well priced for the standard of food. Ian Marconi from Jack Rabbit is responsible for the food in there and serves up some fantastic looking and tasting dishes! I had the Sweet-fire Chicken - buttermilk fried chicken breast in a honey and pomegranate 'dunk', with black garlic aioli, house roasted peanuts, herby yogurt, fried shallots, pickled rainbow carrots and toasted seeds. I'd give it 10/10 for bar food - presented so well, packed with flavour and textures, which are all so well balanced, and the portion size was more than enough! Burnt Cabbage at Nell's Wine Bar, Cork - Joanne C Eaten at Nell’s Wine Bar in Cork, with chef Epi Rohan in the kitchen (ex Paradiso ). Mealagulla burnt cabbage with Cashel Blue and chili crunch. Honestly amazing. The Cashel Blue didn’t dominate and was utterly mellow. French Toast at 51 Cornmarket, Cork - Laura T The French toast with honeycomb butter and bacon at 51 Cornmarket is hands down the best thing I've eaten recently. The perfect balance of sweet and savoury - pillowy soft French toast like none I've experienced in Ireland before, Fabulous service and cosy interiors. Even better that it's in Cork!

Blackrock may not immediately spring to mind as a culinary destination due to the two prominent chain-filled shopping centres, but there are lots of independent Irish eateries once you dig a bit deeper. Now mercifully rid of its Wetherspoons, Blackrock has so many options, from spine-tingling Indian to some of the best pizza in the city. Blackrock Market has really evolved over the last few years too, and nearly half of our list is packed into its charming narrow alleys. There are our favourite places to eat and drink in Blackrock... Breakfast Hatch Coffee Home of the famous cinnamon swirl, Hatch serve up this fluffy brioche covered in cinnamon butter and topped with a vanilla cream cheese glaze, which goes perfectly with their 3FE coffee. They're also baked throughout the day to ensure peak freshness. The granola bowl is one of our favourites with pecan granola, honey whipped yoghurt, and seasonal Irish fruit (rhubarb on our last visit). Top tip: for those who live outside the city centre, Hatch have Bread 41 sourdough loaves for sale. Fable and Stey Fable and Stey is a little bit of a walk from Blackrock village but a neighbourhood spot close to our hearts. We are big fans of their sausage rolls and have been guilty of calling ahead to reserve when they’re freshly out of the oven. They serve Roasted Brown coffee alongside freshly baked goodies, including homemade swiss rolls, Kinder Bueno cookies, almond croissants and great savoury lunch specials. Lunch & Dinner Shaka Poké Shaka is our favourite iteration of the wave of poke bowl spots popping up all over Dublin. You can build your own creation or order from the house selection, and there's so much going on in each multi-coloured bowl. A classic is filled with ahi tuna, edamame, pineapple, wakame and topped with crispy onions, pomegranate seeds and their Shaka house sauce. They're really going for a Hawaiian vibe which you may find hard to manifest on a drizzly afternoon wedged between bric-a-brac stalls, but if anything's going to get you in the mood this will. Lebanese Tapas Ram, the owner and chef at Lebanese Tapas serves up homemade cuisine in this little nook within the market. The mezze plate gives you a little bit of everything - their homemade falafel is served with ghanoush, hummus, tabbouleh, stuffed vine leaves and flatbreads, dressed with pomegranate seeds and olive oil. They also serve baklava for dessert. If you're a deemed a VIP, Ram may add you to the wall of fame - currently Ryan Tubridy and Brendan Gleeson, and cash is King, as per the sign at the door. 3 Leaves We get a warm fuzzy feeling when thinking of 3 Leaves - the welcome you receive from Millie when entering is as warming as their curry on a cold day. Santosh and Millie are a culinary power couple, with Millie front of house and Santosh leading the kitchen. Their street food specials including Medu Vada (a south Indian breakfast snack) and Pani Puri can only be described as flavour explosions. We love the Pav Bhaji - pillowy bread used to mop up a spicy curry - and their biryani is very special. They do a thali plate mid-week, ideal for the indecisive as it’s a great way to sample a lot of the menu, served with their signature rainbow rice. You can taste the love in every bite. Bhonn Space From the team at Liath (one to bookmark for a very special occasion), Bhonn Space is a counter setup within Blackrock Market. They serve daily lunch specials like BBQ udon and pierogi, and small plates like salt & pepper octopus, as well as hosting pop up wine tastings. Sit at the bar, have an aperitif (we'd suggest a vermouth and tonic), have a few plates of food and pretend you're in a far more continental country than Ireland. They’ve also just announced a collaboration with the Cake Room across the way and will soon take reservations for sit down dining. Little Forest Little Forest started as a pizza take away during the pandemic, where slots were in high demand and would book up a week in advance. The same is now true of tables, and for good reason. These naturally leavened wood fired pizzas have toppings you won’t find anywhere else, including creamed corn with nduja - an excellent combination in our books. They’ve now expanded beyond pizzas and serve a selection of snacks and salads, and the savoury donut with caramelised onion and parmesan had us craving seconds. Order the garlic bread to use as a mop for the aubergine polpette sauce and thank us later. Kings Sushi You may walk past Kings Sushi with their fluorescent lime green exterior and mistake it for any other run of the mill takeaway, but that would be a mistake. Kings serve up some fantastic sushi, and we're big fans of the soft shell crab and Seafood Futomaki - sushi rolls the size of your fist, packed with crab, tuna, salmon and asparagus. Big Mikes The latest opening from chef and entrepreneur Gareth Smith, Big Mike's is his newest venture in a much larger space. You can have a drink and a snack at the bar (Mini Mikes) or book a table. The seafood is fresh off the boats daily, and their signature seafood sharing platter is a lot of people's death row meal. For meat lovers, they serve Rick Higgin’s aged steaks, which can also be added to the seafood platter for Surf n Turf vibes. Volpe Nera Volpe Nera describes itself as a neighbourhood spot, but it would fit in just as well in the city centre - in any city. The chef is ex- Etto and you can feel it in the menu. We loved the mushroom dumplings and halibut, although you may find it hard to resist the Cote De Boeuf. Dessert Sisi Gelato A chipper may seem like an interesting location to order gelato but trust us. The gelato in Sisi is as thick, soft and creamy as we’ve had anywhere in Italy. We can’t resist the pistachio but they have a wide range of flavours. Drinks Jack O’Rourke’s Jack O’Rourke’s website states they have been consistently serving creamy pints and old-fashioned conversation since 1921, and we couldn’t agree more.  Grab a stool by their fire and settle in for a great pint and a chat. El Celler Wine Bar The term 'wine cave' springs to mind when describing El Celler wine bar, tucked into the middle of the market. Aperitif options include cava, sangria and vermouth in addition to a fully Spanish wine list with some big hitters on there. Did we miss your favourite place to eat in Blackrock? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

For all the great wine flooding restaurant lists across Dublin these days, it’s another expense on top of the already-rising price of a nice meal out. That’s where BYO can come in very handy, letting you take along your own choice of drink for little or no added charge. It’s also a great option for special occasions, allowing you to enjoy that special set-aside bottle alongside some top quality food. We’ve scoped out some of the best restaurants in the city that are happy for you to bring along your own wine (or beer in some cases) and while it’s heavily stacked toward Asian and Arabic food, we think that’s no bad thing. Just be warned that most of the wine glasses you'll be presented with may not be up to your usual standard, so if it's a REALLY special bottle, you might want to think about bringing your own... CN Duck, Ranelagh A highlight of fast casual dining in the south suburbs, CN Duck seriously impressed us a few months back (read our once over here ) with the best Chinese roast meats to be found anywhere in the city. The generous starter and meat main portions are perfect for sharing (not least so you can try as much as possible) and would go down great with a bottle of something special. It's €6 for corkage. Shouk, Drumcondra Delicious, Middle Eastern, purse-friendly food in Drumcondra that's predominantly vegetable based (but don't panic, they do have meat). Pittas, falafel, mezze and flavour-packed salads are always on the menu at Shouk , as well as rotating specials. They've been working on developing their own wine list since opening, so corkage is €9 per bottle. M & L Chinese, Dublin 1 One of the few places in Dublin to get authentic Sichuan food, the dumplings and fried green beans with chilli at M & L Chinese have caused many addictions to be formed over the years (raises hand). Corkage is €6.50 but go easy on the chilli oil if you're taking something nice. Fayrouz, Dublin 8 A taste of Lebanon in the Liberties, Fayrouz has an authentic menu of mezzes and grilled meats on offer alongside broader fare like shawarma and shish. Vegetarian options are particularly good, while their tabbouleh has a reputation as among the city’s best. Corkage is free for tables of fewer than six, and nearby Molloy’s has Lebanese wine in stock for a perfect pairing option. Pho Ta, Temple Bar Delicious, flavour-filled Vietnamese food in Temple Bar with the friendliest staff. Try Pho Ta 's unusual looking (but amazing tasting) steamed rice paper rolls with prawn (above), the cold beef salad or the crispy fried rice noodles with chicken or prawn. Corkage is €5. Zakura, Dublin 2 Fancy some Chardonnay with your sashimi, Riesling with your ramen, Gewürztraminer with your gyoza? Okay, we'll stop now. Zakura ’s three south city sites all allow you to bring your own wine along to enjoy alongside their sushi and noodle-packed menus. Corkage comes in at €6 per bottle. Dada, Dublin 2 Top-quality Irish meat gets the Moroccan treatment in Dada , with a menu brimming with traditional tagines and couscous. The harissa and ras el hanout can make for some seriously spicy dishes, so be sure to pair wisely. Corkage is €4 for wine and €1.50 per beer and only available until 21:15. Pho Kim, Dublin 1 Some of the best Vietnamese food in the city with excellent savoury pancakes, Pho (noodle soup) and Bun (rice vermicelli with a combination of meat, spring rolls, fresh vegetables and herbs). Pho Kim charge corkage of €7 on wine and €1.50 on beer. Musashi, Dublin 1 Musashi now has six locations across Dublin, and the quality doesn't seem to have been affected, with sushi aficionados frequently mentioning it as one of Dublin's top spots. A hot tip is to go mid-afternoon when they've sold out of lunchtime stock and are making it fresh. Only the Parnell Street branch allow BYO and corkage is €6 per bottle. Jerusalem, Dublin 2 Hearty home cooking Arabian style, Jerusalem takes inspiration from across the Middle East in its menu but hones in particularly on Lebanon and Jordan. Makloubeh, a slow-cooked rice dish studded with veg and served upside-down, is one not to miss. Corkage is €5 for wine and €2.50 for beer. Eatokyo, Temple Bar Sushi, gyoza, katsu curry and noodle dishes are all on the menu at Eatokyo on Wellington Quay, although a couple of critics have recommended veering towards the hot dishes over the sushi. Corkage is €6. Rotana Café, Portobello Casual Lebanese restaurant in Portobello serving charcoal-grilled kebabs, falafel sandwiches and mezze platters at very good prices. Corkage is free in Rotana when you have two courses. Keshk Café, Dublin 4 Casual, no-frills Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food in Ballsbridge, with all meat at Keshk Café cooked on a charcoal grill and the lamb moussaka coming highly recommended. Corkage is free.

With spooky season approaching, it’s no accident that four out of five of the things we want to eat this week are filled with sugar. We're tempted to don a witch's hat and do our version of trick or treating, running around town grabbing one of each of these... 1) Crème Brûlée Doughnut, Flower & Bean Anyone tracking our Instagram activity would be concerned by how many times we’ve watched this reel of Flower & Bean ’s crème brûlée donut. The top of the donut is glazed like a Crème Brûlée, giving it a satisfying snap as it's torn apart, revealing a smooth custard inside. A regular jam will never look the same again. 2) Blueberry Clafoutis, Clanbrassil House The latest dessert special from Clanbrassil House looks like art and sounds like poetry. Their blueberry clafoutis (served with marizpan tuille and buttermilk ice cream) originated in the Limousin region of France in the 19th century, but for the moment you can find it at 6 Clanbrassil Street Upper. 3) Ham & Cheese Rolls, Yeeros Yeeros ’ new dish feels like it deserves a more grandiose title than "ham and cheese rolls", which evokes memories of a packed lunch at school, or a takeaway from Spar. The classic filling is rolled up in filo pastry, deep-fried and served with a side of mayo mustard dipping sauce, and we bet it beats the deli counter any day. 4) Almond Ugly, Strudel Strudel ’s new pastry creation comes with its own ugly duckling-esque backstory. The bakers take off-cuts of croissant pastry that would otherwise go to waste, bake them in a tin with brown sugar and sliced almonds, and cover them in a chocolate ganache. We'd like to give this pastry the confidence boost it deserves by not leaving a crumb behind. 5) Crushed Pumpkin, Pecan & Maple Spiced Bake, Honey Truffle Introducing Autumn in tray bake form. Honey Truffle ’s newest addition to their baked good counter is this crushed pumpkin, pecan and maple spiced bake, decorated with crumbed pistachios and caramel dipped pecans. They're obviously fans of the phrase "go Halloween hard or go home".

- A bad week for Dylan Mc Grath's Rustic Stone , whose recent closure order from the FSAI hit the press, following the discovery of rodent droppings in the kitchen. Bow Lane on Aungier Street and Lee Kee on Parnell Street were also shut down. Read the gory details here - This week's high profile closure came from Ennistymon in Clare, with the news that ' This is it ' has run out of road - Anna Haugh at The Conrad are adding a lunch service to the pop up. It starts in a month - NYC's Wildair and Contra are coming to Note for one night only , but tickets are a whopping €140 for six courses - There's a new bakery opening in Rush and it's going to be good - Rumour has it Poulet Bonne Femme are opening in Blackrock - Lucinda O'Sullivan has listed 20 restaurants she says should have a Michelin star but don't, including Roly's in Ballsbridge, Gastropub Mikey Ryan's in Tipperary (who serve burgers & chicken supreme), and of course her favourite restaurant of all time - Rasam. Right then... - Jamie Oliver was in hot water this week for discussing gender in kitchens , claiming he needs to think like a woman to cook better - We don't know where to start with last week's Great British Bake Off 'Mexican week', but the fall out just keeps coming. See this from Eater and this from the New York Times for some hot takes - Variety Jones owner and head chef Keelan Higgs made a guest appearance on The Restaurant this week - Dublin's Iveagh Markets were in the High Court this week fighting to reclaim public ownership of the historic structure, after being repossessed in 2020 by Lord Iveagh, a member of the Guinness family. The case was adjourned again until the 14th of November - Good news for midweek diners, Library street is now open on Tuesday nights - Lucky Tortoise are holding new private dumpling making classes , ideal for a 'different kind of date night' - We need to talk about this crème brulée doughnut - Pitt Bros have launched a new brunch , with four dishes to choose from. You can make it boozy too with one of their signature cocktails, like the Smoked Bacon Bloody Mary - Póg in Clontarf have started pasta and wine Fridays , yours for €20 - More deals to be had over at Cluck Chicken in Walkinstown, where if you buy one tender meal you'll get a second half price - It's officially hot chocolate weather - Together Academy's training café for young adults with Down Syndrome is popping up in Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt over midterm break - 'Grub & Gargle', a chat about pints, pubs and their place in culture takes place on Tuesday at The Circular in Dublin 8. You can get tickets here - Balenciaga has collaborated with Lays potato chips, in one of the most bizarre bag collabs we've ever seen, with a rumoured retail price of $1800 - Sonny's in Greystones is giving us vaccination PTSD with their 'Cheese Injection' burger special - Harry's Nut Butter's pumpkin spice flavour is back this week - prepare autumn mode - The most insane cookies you're going to see this week - The food in the Rotunda Hospital is better than many of the city's restaurants - This experience at Tesco in London is utterly terrifying - Is this crab in a Bloody Mary ? - Real brie vs fake brie - If you could stomach this you're braver than us - Scare-cuterie board for Halloween? - We're so excited for ATF Insiders to get the first look at B Skewers ' new city centre opening - they're putting on a feast for us. There's one table left for Thursday 27th and a couple more for Thursday 3rd, so if you're interesting in coming along, find out how to get tickets here

October's monthly 9 giveaway is live! From an incredible five-star trip to one of the country's best hotels, chances to new Dublin restaurants, food and booze hampers, and tickets to take your friends wine tasting, our nine monthly giveaways is a small way to thank our supporters for letting us stay #ad, #collab and #invite free - and we hope you prefer things that way too. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th October will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Tuesday 18th October. Here's what's in this month's line up... 1) An Overnight Stay & Dinner at Hayfield Manor, Cork It's no news to anyone that Cork's five-star Hayfield Manor Hotel is one of the country's best, but last week they won yet another gong - the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Quality Assurance Award in London, designed to celebrate excellence, consistency and best-in-class experiences in luxury hotels. This month one of our Insiders will be getting a chance to experience Hayfield Manor 's famous hospitality for themselves, with a luxury overnight stay for two in a Superior room, dinner in fine dining restaurant Orchids, and breakfast the next morning. Dates subject to availability, T&Cs apply. 2) A €120 Voucher for 'A Fianco' Calabrian restaurant Grano have given us yet another reason to head for Stoneybatter, with the opening of their sister wine bar next door, ' A Fianco '. With small plates, natural wines and just 16 seats, it instantly become one of the hottest tickets in the 'batter, and one of the best wine bars in the city, and we're sending one of you off to try it out with a €120 voucher in your pocket. You can use it in Grano or A Fianco, or start in one and end in the other. Either way we're sure it'll be one of the best nights you'll have all year. 3) A NOLA Boil Experience for four at Krewe Krewe have just launched a new NOLA Shellfish & Seafood Boil, and we've got a table of four to give away so one of your can try it, along with a bar tab of €100 for a deep dive into their cocktails.. The Krewe Boil will feature all the Irish Shellfish & Seafood, including Langoustines, Prawns, Mussels, Cockles, Clams, Monkfish Cheeks and Cod, as well as smoked Andouille Sausage, boiled in a spiced Cajun broth with potatoes & corn on the cob. It's all shared in middle of the table, so bibs on & dig in. It's €100 (€25 per person) or €130 with Irish Lobster, and limited tables are available every Tuesday in November. Booking by emailing welcome@krewe.ie . 4) Irish Food & Drink Month At Home Hamper It's Irish Food & Drink Month and over 140 venues around the country (including 80 in Dublin) are offering specially designed food and drinks pairings every day, all showing the best Irish beers, cider and spirits (read about where to get involved here ). To celebrate we've got a hamper to give away including a bottle of Stillgarden Give & Take Gin; a bottle of Lambay Whiskey Single Malt; a Fercullen Falls Whiskey Collector's Gift Box from Powerscourt Distillery, two cans of Happy Days Pale Ale from Rascal's Brewery , and two cans of Dublin City Brewing Beers. 5) €100 Lunch Tab At Alfama We recently found the city's first Francesinha, and another contender for Dublin's best pasteis de nata, in new Portguese café Alfama in Dundrum. Weekend specials are all about traditional Portugese dishes, like Bacalhau com Natas (cod pie) and Carne de Porco Alentejana (fried potato with pork and clams), and desserts don't stop at custard tarts, with cream filled buns and doughnuts also on the menu. We've got a €100 lunch tab for Alfama to give away this month, meaning you'll be able to work your way through most of it. 6) Dinner For Four At Nutbutter Nutbutter have just opened their second location right in the middle of Smithfield Square, with new Autumn additions, loads of Irish veg, and the kind of soothing interiors we love to hang out in. To celebrate the opening we've got a three course dinner for four people with a bottle of wine to give away, meaning you can bring your nearest and dearest to feast on tacos, rice bowls and poke, and don't miss the miso panna cotta for dessert. 7) A Hamper From Lilliput Stores Lilliput Stores in Stoneybatter is a treasure trove of condiments, oils & vinegars, antipasti, wine, we could go on... We've been loving exploring their new cheese discoveries recently through their weekly cheese boxes , and selfishly want them to start a cheese club so we can get a monthly delivery without leaving home, but in the meantime they've given us a hamper of some of their best cheese, charcuterie, wine, olive oil, vinegar, crackers, chutney and olives to give away to one lucky Insider this month (the Balsamic di Modena will change your life). Collection only . 8) A €100 Voucher for Korean Table Stoneybatter has a new place for Korean food (can it get any cooler?) and we took it for a test drive - don't miss the Korean Fried chicken. Fresh from a rave in the Irish Times , we 've got a €100 voucher for Korean Table to give away to someone, so you can try all the banchan, bibimbap ad kimchi fried rice you can manage. 9) Tickets to the Rioja Wine Festival The ultimate wine experience for Rioja Lovers is happening at The Morrison Hotel on Ormond Quay on Saturday 22nd October, and we've got four tickets to give away for the afternoon session (14:00 - 17:00). You'll be able to learn about and taste over 80 wines (or as many as you can handle), with cheese and charcuterie boards to pair them with, and you'll also get a tasting map and a glass to take home. Tickets are €35 and you can get them on Wine Online's website here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for October will be automatically entered into the prize draw. 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Brazilian BBQ experts B Skewers have left their Bolton Street home and are moving into Dublin 2. They're opening on Crow Street in Temple Bar in two weeks and ATF Insiders are going to get the first look. We're taking over B Skewers 2.0 on Thursday 27th October for a €45 tasting menu featuring all of the best bits from their menu, including that famous cheeseburger, beef ribs, and a brownie with "pig's fat sauce". We kick off at 7pm, and you can see the full menu below. As we're expecting this night to sell out in minutes like our other events, the guys are going to do it again for us on Thursday 3rd November from 6-8pm, and you'll be able to buy tickets for either date on Friday. B Skewers Preview Menu Welcome Cocktail “Strawberry and Chocolate” (B Skewers take on a Spicy Margarita) Snacks Fried Yuca Snack / Matured Irish Cheddar Fried Yuca Snack / Beef Rib Croquette, served with Smoked Garlic Mayo Mains Pork Belly, served with Mashed Yuca and African Pepper Sauce B Skewers Cheeseburger South American Style Irish Angus Beef Ribs, served with Salsa Verde, Vinaigrette and Farofa Dessert Smoked “Brownie”, served with Salted Caramel Gelato and “Pig’s Fat Sauce Tickets for our B Skewers preview night go on sale this Friday at 12pm. The link will be sent to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders , and each Insider can purchase a ticket for one non-Insider to bring with them. Tickets will be sold in pairs of two. If you're not already signed up to ATF Insiders you can do so here .

- Another week, another round of closures, including the most high profile to date - Circa in Terenure. There were suspicions things weren't good after they closed off reservations for October, but the team confirmed at the start of the week that their time was up - Another shock this week with the closing of the Vegan Sandwich Co, announced by their founder Sam on his Instagram page . Both sites in Smithfield and St Stephen's Green have shut with immediate affect, and the brand's retail products have ceased too - Hemmingways in Stillorgan has also shut up shop, with the only announcement a big banner outside - 31 Lennox in Portobello have reduced their hours to try to reduce their energy bill - Dillingers took a breather in August to refresh and redecorate, and we're excited to see the results - we also hear a much loved, ex-777 chef is going into the kitchen - New opening Dos Bros outside Blanchardstown Centre are serving Quesabirria Tacos to the people of D15, and tacos in Dublin are feeling more and more like buses in Dublin - Kakilang opened their second location in Finglas this weekend. We were not expecting it to be in Charlestown shopping centre, but we'll take our Taiwanese chicken where we can get it - Chapelizod has a new café and deli. Park Lane Deli has opened selling toasties, açai and superfood bowls - A second Artybaker is on the way. We're not at liberty to say where yet but it's not near the original in Dalkey - Speaking of Dalkey, all eyes on the new opening from the team behind The Old Spot - Salsa Mexican have just opened a second location on King Street North - Food on the Edge is back next week, on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th October. It's one of the most important food events in the world in our opinion, and if you have the time and the money you will not regret it. Check it out here - Bookings for the final two months of Allta Rooftop have opened. Get in before they get out - Katy Mc Guinness reviews Together Café in Dublin 4 this week, a training café for young people with Down Syndrome, saying "this could be a template for all cafés and put a heart back into communities". The food sounds great too - Lucinda's gone all Giles Coren in her review of Indo-Chine (formerly Le Perroquet) on Leeson Street. She gives two thirds of the piece over to the general state of the industry, with a whole three paragraphs dedicated to what she ate, which was "terrific" and "lovely" - Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen are finally bringing back their vouchers from October 18th - start hinting now - The Rock Bakery's October menu is here, and ours is a honeycomb choux bun. Or maybe a chorizo and apple sausage roll - Herbert Park pancake roll purveyors Mei Mei have a cute new food truck - Richmond served their 200th tasting menu this week - King Sitric looks like a fun place to work - Note is teaming up with Contra and heading to NYC this week - enough excuse for a last minute trip to the Big Apple? We've got plenty more if you need them - Speaking of incredible apples - Senbazuru Izakaya in Fairview have a new undersea world (i.e. fish projected onto the walls) and we can't decide if it's the best or worst thing we've ever seen - How awful was this fire that forced Neighbourhood café in Belfast to close temporarily this week - 777 is celebrating Día de Los Muertos on October 30th and tickets are on sale now - Mamó has launched a set lunch menu every Thursday and Friday for October and November, and this is your sign to try it - Baking classes are back at The Cake Café - The Washerwoman in Glasnevin should be added to your Sunday roast list - Peanut butter and beer is the collab we were not expecting - A very random competition - 2005 called. It wants its cajun chicken back - This one hits hard - There are people paying $75 for their dogs to have a tasting menu - Hands up if you'd like a Pamela Chocolate - Food wars - Silent screams - We're so happy/relieved/exhausted to have launched our website and are working our way through the last few tweaks. Please feel free to let us know if anything looks amiss or isn't working the way it should - We're hoping to confirm our B Skewers preview nights very soon, keep an eye on your inboxes for details of when bookings will go live!

Our 30 hottest list features the most talked about restaurants in Dublin right now, based on column inches, Insta love and the general pain involved in getting a booking. It started at 20, increased to 25, but post pandemic we struggled to get it under 30, so here they are, in alphabetical order, with two new entries...

The first Irish Food & Drink Month has been launched by Great Irish Beverages , to promote Irish drinks businesses, meaning for the month of October you can find specially designed pairings of Irish food pairings with Irish beer, cider and spirits, in over 140 venues around the country. Loads of our favourite Dublin restaurants are taking part, like Dash Burger , Hang Dai , The Seafood Café , The Old Spot , King Sitric and Kinara Kitchen , as well as bars like The Circular , Taphouse in Ranelagh and Rascals Brewing Co . Some of the pairings we're eyeing up include Irish Lobster & chips with Dublin City Brewing Co Pilsner ( The Seafood Café ), Cashel Blue and guava wonton paired with Stillgarden gin, Omaro and fig liqueur ( Hang Dai ), and Balscadden Bay Lobster Dublin Lawyer Style, served with Writers Tears Irish Whiskey ( King Sitric ). Irish Food & Drink Month runs for the month of October, and you can find the full list of participating venues around the country and their food and drink pairings here .

What should we know about The Parlour Bar? Dun Laoghaire's Haddington House is a boutique hotel that actually lives up to the name. It's been a hotel since the 1950's, but a change of ownership in 2015 saw the accommodation, restaurant ( Oliveto ) and bar see serious investment, in all the right areas. The Parlour Bar opened in January 2022, and it's a four phase project with three rooms complete and another (the room at the front of the hotel with sea views for days) due to be renovated in January 2023. The first room is just off reception, and is all dark wood, red velvet and florals, with the main bar found through a set of green velvet drapes. Pass through for pink upholstered walls, green velvet footstools and tasseled pelmets. Maybe it's the colour scheme, maybe it's the abundance of fabrics, maybe it's the fact it's windowless, but it feels like you've entered a hidden, soothing cocktail den, and so unlike anywhere else in Dublin. What did you have? This menu will end up in a gallery some day as a piece of history, with its stories and stunning illustrations from cover to cover. Drinks look like just as much thought and time went into them, and it took 15 minutes and an internal struggle to make our final decision. The 'Vico Crest' was described as "a sudden wave breaking, sweeping you off your feet", and this was one of those rare occasions when a menu description was not overkill. Consider us swept away on waves of fruit, flowers and bitter aromatics, floating off on a bed of the plumpest, silkiest foam we've ever tasted. There is no sugar in this drink, and the balance of sweet, sour, bitter and acid is remarkable. The Parlour Bar has two house Martinis - the 'Fanny' and the 'Mae'. Fanny is their take on a classic with a lemon twist, while Mae is their take on a Dirty Martini, and it's a take and a half. As well as the key ingredients of gin, vermouth and olive brine, they add fennel powder, mint and a whole olive, and it's a salty, savoury, juicy mouthful in each sip. Love a Dirty Martini? You need to try this. Never had one? You need to try this. Not a cocktail lover? There's plenty of aperitivo, wine and beer too. Why should I go? The Parlour Bar is a clear-cut contender on Dublin's cocktail scene, so if you sniff at Sex On The Beach or roll your eyes at Mai Tais, this should be in your soon to visit folder, and it's a cocktail list we need to work our way through. With four different rooms on the go, all we could think about were reasons to throw a party here, but we'll take a midweek cocktail in blush surroundings while we think of a suitable celebration. The Parlour Bar @ Haddington House 9-12 Haddington Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin haddingtonhouse.ie

After what felt like an agonising wait (for us anyway), Pala Pizza in Foxrock have finally opened their trattoria upstairs, in the site that used to house Bistro One, which was open for an incredible 30 years. Chef Rory Shannon (son of former Bistro One owner Mark Shannon) first started outdoor Pala Pizza as a way to keep the space busy during lockdowns, and his Roman-style, topped pizzas proved so popular that the family decide it was time for Bistro One to say bye, and usher in the age of Pala Pizza & Trattoria. The menu is trattoria through and through, with house-made charcuterie, deep fried suppli and macaroni, fresh pasta, and of course those crispy pizzas Pala is famous for. You'll also find filled focaccia, prime rib and whole seabream, and this is a neighbourhood restaurant very much aimed at locals and families, with prices ranging from a slice of margherita pizza for €4 to Osso Bucco Milanese for €26. We're guessing it's going to be hard to leave without ordering their showstopper dessert of deep-fried apple calzone - definitely one for sharing. Pala Pizza and Trattoria is open from Wednesday - Sunday from 17:00, and reservations can be made here . Pala Pizza & Trattoria 3 Brighton Road, Foxrock, Co. Dublin www.palapizza18.com

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Struggling with the reality of having to dig out the hat and full-length puffa? Resisting the urge to turn the heating on full blast? There's one good thing about the turning of the seasons - many of our favourite restaurants are updating their menus with brand new creations. Here are the five things we most want to eat this week to distract us from the diminishing grand old stretch... 1) Beef Rib Melt, 147 Deli We've never met a 147 Deli sandwich special we didn’t like. We were gone from the teasers of bone marrow laced chimichurri and the progress pictures of short ribs destined for a red-wine slow braise. They’ve promised the final result will have the texture of butter, and we're happy to take one for the team and put that to the test. 2) Wagyu Steak Frites, Mister S Mister S can do no wrong can they. Their latest special, served only on Fridays, is the antidote we needed to the dreaded cost of living crisis. Wagyu steak from Cork with crispy frites cooked over fire, for the bargain price of €19 - what a way to start the weekend. Supply is limited to approximately 20 each week so don't hang about. 3) Chocolate, Hazelnut & Coffee Tart, Urbanity Urbanity’s latest cake creation is here to remind us chocolate and hazelnut should not just be saved for Nutella. This tart has the prettiest piping of milk chocolate cremeaux along with a hazelnut financier base and a dark chocolate and coffee ganache, and looks like it would be the ultimate pick me up alongside their speciality roasted coffee. 4) Grilled Scallops with Caviar and Ponzu, Hang Dai Seafood might not jump to mind when we think of Hang Dai , but these hand-dived scallops cooked over fire with with caviar, ponzu and butter, look like competition for their signature duck . This may be the only place in Dublin serving caviar with a side of house music and disco lights when the restaurant transforms after dark. 5) Bombay Party Bowl, Sprout The recipe video for Sprout 's new Bombay Party bowl has so much going on. It looks to be jam-packed with chaat potatoes, tangy tamarind yoghurt, pickled chilis, and okra - something you don’t see in your average salad. Off the back of this salad, they’ve also launched the chaat potatoes as a side, served with the yoghurt dressing as a dipping sauce, and we never say no to extra spuds.

With the recent stories of five-hour waits to get through to the COVID travel cert helpline, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the world and its mother have opted to escape the unpredictable Irish weather and (let’s face it) often overpriced staycations for sunnier climes. However, on a recent visit to Connemara it seemed to be the opposite story entirely – restaurants and pubs were packed with Irish holidaymakers, and these days there's no shortage of places to get a great feed in the wild, wild West. Dublin has seen an exodus of chefs and hospitality staff over the last year, and we’re pretty sure we know where they’ve disappeared to. There are loads of interesting, recent additions to the area, with a new shipping container/horsebox/caravan making an appearance on our Instagram feeds each week, and we're loving the impact on the Irish food scene. Here's where to make a beeline for next time you're in Connemara… Galway City To Roundstone Ard Bia @ Nimmos Ard Bia At Nimmos is somewhere we go back to again and again, and it’s easy to see why it’s a hit with tourists and locals alike – no matter the time of day, it’s welcoming and cosy with excellent food and drinks. They're currently open for breakfast and lunch (dinner is on hold for the time being) but their weekend brunch is one of the few that we rate in the city – they recently posted a black pudding hash which we haven’t been able to stop thinking about since. The Dough Bros While their DIY Kits were a godsend during the lockdowns, The Dough Bros is one place we can’t wait to get back into in person. Guaranteed great pizza and always a brilliant buzz, the ‘bros’ behind this venture always have interesting collaborations on the go. They’re just doing takeaway for the moment so grab a pizza and a ‘Dough Brews’ IPA and perch yourself by the Corrib to enjoy. Wa Café For a sushi takeaway on the go to rival any in the country, head for Wa Café . Head chef and owner Yoshimi Hayakawa attracts people from across the country for her sushi platters, rice bowls and gyoza. Desserts are way more than an afterthought too. Marmalade Bakery is the place to stop for sourdough, cinnamon buns and sausage rolls. You'll also find cookies, muffins and topped potato farls. If you're staying in self-catering accommodation stock up and treat yourself to the breakfast of Kings the next morning - a few mins in a hot oven will do wonders to revive your haul. Coffee Werk + Press is where you want to stop for a caffeine refuel. They have a few tables outside if it's dry and it's a lovely space to have a browse around, and to stock up on ground or wholebean coffee for your trip. POTA, An Tulach You may want to brush up on your cúpla focal for POTA , in An Tulach. The new Irish language café deep in the heart of the Gaeltacht is doing their part to keep the language alive, while serving organic, seasonal food. They were initially based in chef Diarmuid Ó Mathúna’s native Cork but relocated this summer. Don’t let your rusty Gaeilge deter you - staff are super friendly and they even provide some useful phrases if you want to give ordering through Irish a bash. An bhfuil cead agam… Roundstone To Clifden Good Stuff, Roundstone Good Stuff is the toasty van of our greedy dreams – buttery, super cheesy, perfect sourdough served with a portion of pickles and Builín Blasta's famous smoked onion mayo on the side. Get there early as they tend to sell out. Extra points for the best coffee we found in the area. Roundstone Country Market Roundstone Country Market is only open on Sundays and it’s well worth timing a visit. Among the vintage crockery and homemade wares you’ll find Sand and Pebbles Seafood Truck serving lobster rolls and crab salad, and Le Crêpe Wagon serving, you guessed it, crêpes. Save some room for the creamiest, locally-homemade ice-cream at Jimmy’s. Sweet Nothings, Ballyconneely On the scenic drive from Clifden to Roundstone you’ll find a dotey little thatched bungalow housing Sweet Nothings , serving vegan and vegetarian cakes and savoury dishes. While they’re operating on a takeaway basis at the moment, they have some picnic benches outside and there are plenty of beaches nearby to enjoy your lunch. Don't miss the cakes - this has been called some of the best vegan baking in Ireland. Clifden to Cleggan Baidin @ Clifden Boat Club The newest kid on the block was set up by three friends with experience in some of Dublin's top rated restaurants, including The Fumbally and Cirillos. While Báidín only opened at the start of July, they've generated a lot of buzz, for good reason. The short menu changes daily and is very locally influenced. We tried one of each option and loved them all, but the surprising winner was the summer risotto. It was exactly what we needed on a typically Irish windy summer evening - warming and flavoursome with lovely crunch from the toasted pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Unfortunately, they'd run out of desserts when we visited but we made do with some Irish coffees (crack out the tiny violin) and will be back to try the sweet stuff. Fadó Pizza, Clifden Based in Clifden Camping & Caravan Park, pizza truck Fadó is serving some special pies with their hand-kneaded, 24hr proved dough. Simple and delicious, this would be a great takeaway to grab for a sunset dinner on the beach. Wild Folk, Clifden Wild Folk started as a yoga retreat filled with sea swimming and nourishing food, but pivoted to launching a food truck when restrictions wouldn’t allow them to hold regular retreats. They’re based at Clifden Eco Camping and are serving up some seriously tasty lunch and cakes from their little caravan, like squash and red lentil dahl with tamari seeds and cumin pickled red onion, and chai spiced pear and almond cake. The Connemara Hamper If you’re planning on picnicking or doing some upmarket cooking during your staycay, The Connemara Hamper is the place to stock up on provisions. As well as a full deli with cheeses, salads and sandwiches, they have a great range of our favourite pantry fillers including Harry's Nutbutter and Rosa Madre fresh pasta, as well as local smoked salmon, cheeses and jams. The Lamplight Wine Bar, Clifden The Lamplight has a brilliant selection of wines for a pre-dinner drink, or you could always settle in and order some small plates to go with it. A heated terrace at the back of the shop is the perfect place to hole up with some friends for some well needed catch-ups. The Sea Hare @ The Pier Bar Cleggan This is the second summer for The Sea Hare pop-up in rural Cleggan and it's as popular as ever. They have a daily-changing menu depending on what’s in season and what they can source locally, but alongside this they dedicate the weekend to freshly caught lobster and mussels. We visited for their Saturday Lobster lunch, served with a choice of lemon mayo or wild garlic butter and a homemade brioche bun (still warm from the oven!) for dipping. Do yourself a favour and ask for a double helping of the garlic butter – we would drink this by the mugful if it was socially acceptable. They host a number of dinner events and guest chefs during the season so keep an eye on their Instagram for news. Inishwallah, Inishbofin island Inishbofin is well worth at least a day trip from Cleggan, if only to visit renovated double decker bus Inishwallah , parked up on the island. The menu gets its inspiration from afar - this is definitely not the food you would expect to find in this remote area. The owner grew up in Tennessee and has a Keralan background so expect some surprising island options like pakoras and tacos. A perfect feast to enjoy after a big cycle around the island. Cleggan to Leenaun 12 Pins Food Truck, Letterfrack This find was a welcome surprise for us – the shores of Letterfrack were not where we expected to come across a Filipino street food truck, but we’re glad that we did. 12 Pins Market & Food Truck only opened in the last month, with Emir Catague at the helm. He's crafted the small menu using his native recipes and time travelling the world while working on cruise ships, and we think this is one to watch. Dooncastle Oysters, Kylemore Dooncastle Oysters supply some of the top restaurants in the country and now us mere mortals have a chance to try the goods at their food truck in the stunning location of Kylemore Lough. There's plenty of other seafood options if oysters don’t float your boat, and Handsome Burger also have a food truck in the same spot. Misunderstood Heron, Leenaun Perched in what has to be the most idyllic location in Ireland overlooking Killary Fjord, you'll find Misunderstood Heron . These guys were one of the first serious food trucks to launch in Ireland – they’ve been serving casual, affordable, wholesome, flavour-packed food since 2017. We change our order depending what’s on offer, but we ALWAYS find room for one of their savoury pasties. Did we miss your favourite spot in Connemara? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

Yes it's a long drive. Yes you could go somewhere closer and not spend half a day in the car. Yes it's ANOTHER hour and half from Cork City. But it's all good, because West Cork is Ireland's answer to Mecca for us urban food lovers, worthy of a yearly (bi-yearly if we had our way) pilgrimage to feast, frolic and fantasize about winning the lotto and mooring your new yacht in Crookhaven Bay, only popping off for a pint and a crab sandwich in O'Sullivan's. Part of us wants to keep this magical place to ourselves, and not make it even more impossible to find decent accommodation every summer, but the other part of us knows we have a civic duty to spread the good food gospel, so read on for all the wonderful places to eat in this beautiful part of the country... (Please note that this is not a comprehensive guide to West Cork restaurants - there are hundreds. This is just where we would send you if you asked nicely) Ballydehob The small coastal village of Ballydehob somehow feels like the culinary centre of the West Cork universe, and that's in no small part to the fact that it's home to one of Cork's three Michelin-starred restaurants - Restaurant Chestnut , run by chef Rob Krawczyk and partner Elaine Fleming. Between a lack of bookings and covid lockdowns we've sadly never made it through the doors, but it's on the all-Ireland bucket list. The seasonal tasting menu (currently €100 pp) is "designed around nature", and there's an optional wine pairing. We've yet to hear of anyone who left disappointed. Bookings are released every two months and you can try your luck getting one here . On the more casual side of things, Budd's on Main Street offers, breakfast, lunch and takeaway, and is a cut above your average café (in usual times they also offer dinner but they've chosen to keep indoor dining shut for the time being). The sandwiches and salads change daily, the cakes are top tier, and if they have the crispy potato skins with balsamic and caper berry mayo on when you visit, be warned that one portion will never be enough. Also on the not-to-be-missed list is toastie truck Ron D's , and even if toasties don't get you excited, these ones will. Their three cheese toastie (all from Cork) comes stuffed with with sour cream and charred scallions, and a side of bread and butter pickles, that you will definitely want a jar of to take home, and their potato doughnuts are the perfect follow up. You can currently find them outside the Ballydehob Community Centre on Wednesdays from 12:30 - 15:00, and they're doing sporadic taco nights . Follow them on Instagram for up to date info. For something casual, Yay Burger have just opened on Stabal Hill serving burgers, salads and sides, and Kitchen Stories is a brand new food and wine shop on Main Street, which looks like the perfect pitstop for picnic or holiday home provisions, as well as beautiful kitchenware and tablescaping. No trip to Ballydehob is complete without a few pints in Levis' Public House , and it's always worth checking in advance whether there's a pop up happening - over the past few years they've hosted Belfast's Bia Rebel, Caitlin Ruth, and even Restaurant Chestnut during a lockdown. This summer, during periods when they didn't have their own food on, they were allowing customers to bring food in from other restaurants/takeaways, which is very sound. The large outdoor area at the back is the ideal place for summer pints. Baltimore Another of the ultra special food experiences you can have in this part of the world is Ahmet Dede's Michelin-starred restaurant Dede in the The Customs House in Baltimore. The chef's tasting menu is hyper local, with almost everything coming from the surrounding areas, and since ex-Guilbaud's head sommelier Joey Scanlon joined the team earlier this year, the wine list and pairings have gone to a different level. The staff and vibe are wonderfully relaxed, and like Chestnut this is one to plan a trip around. Look for a reservation here . A few doors down, The Algiers Inn has been there for a staggering 130 years, but only really hit the culinary map after American couple Ann and Bill Hillyard took it over last year. Their Californian inspired menu features housemade tortilla chips and guacamole, Baja fish tacos and chicken taquitos, as well as specially created cocktails, and get there early unless you like to queue, as there's no bookings. Also in Baltimore, Rolf's Country House and Casey's are two hotels with noteable restaurants, serving mainly local produce in a more traditional style. Rolf's also has a beautiful garden if you're not comfortable dining indoors yet. Rosscarbery/Warren Beach/Longstrand No trip to West Cork is complete without begging, stealing and borrowing to get a table, any table, at Pilgrim's in Roscarberry. This is one of the best restaurants in the country as far as we're concerned, and whatever dish they turn their hand to seems infinitely better than anything you've had before. They're blessed with a beautiful outdoor area out the back, and while the menu has gone slightly more casual in the current restrictions, it's no less impressive. Prepared to be wowed by everything set in front of you. Look for a table here . Up the road outside the Celtic Ross Hotel, the CRAFT food truck (Celtic Ross Artisanal Food Truck - clever) serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner from Friday - Tuesday. It's an eclectic menu ranged from stuffed croissants to Roscarberry black pudding croquettes to Huevos Rancheros, West Cork style. If you're visiting the lovely Warren Beach five minutes outside town, Drip at The Warren is where to head for all your caffeinated needs, including the obligatory iced caramel lattés. You'll also find pastries, cakes and other sweet treats. Further up the coast on Longstrand, The Fish Basket is an essential stop for beachside fish and chips, but not just any fish and chips. Battered hake, lemon sole and monkfish have all been known to make an appearance, as well as fish tacos, prawn scampi and homemade chips. The sharing box is supposed to feed two but is gigantic. Skibbereen Skibbereen isn't drowning in exciting places to eat, but it's a great place to base yourself for exploring the area, especially if you don't want to be driving for dinner every day. For breakfast, lunch or special deli bits, head for Kalbos Café . The cakes are quite frankly ridiculous, and you'll find it hard not to walk out with a large bag of Lorge chocolates, yellow tomato passata, and homemade jams. An Chistin Beag is currently open for breakfast and lunch with a simple menu of things like eggs benedict and BLTs, and The Church is where you'll find your Caesar salads, burgers and scampi and chips. They have some lovely tables out front and sometimes live music. If you're in town on a Saturday don't even think about missing Skibereen's Farmer's Market , which makes a mockery of most others in the country. You'll find everything from local fruit and vegetables, cheeses, meats, bread, cakes and cordials, to street food ranging from dumplings to German sausages, as well as the obligatory bric -à- brac. The market's on from 09:30 - 14:00. Sheep's Head Penninsula Our favourite place to eat around these parts is Arundel's by the Pier in Ahakista, who serve simple but very well done dishes like mussels with nduja, seafood chowder and open crab sandwiches - don't miss the brown bread which comes from the owners' granny's brown bread recipe. The picnic benches overlooking the water outside are the ones to nab and staff are lovely. If you're looking for a nice coffee stop while out exploring, head for the Heron Gallery Café and Gardens , for good coffee, cakes and a beautiful garden to enjoy them in. If you're going to do one of the many walks around Sheep's Head (recommended), stop at Bernie's Cupan Tae on your return for a salmon sandwich, some apple tart and a cuppa to rejuvenate yourself. Schull Our favourite thing we ate in Schull were the falafel wraps from Effie's Kitchen in Schull's Sunday Market (expect to come across Ian Bailey at every turn). Floury soft wraps, crunchy hot falafel, fresh salad and zingy sauces makes for a very satisfying lunch. Another place you might want to consider for a sit down meal is L'Escale on the pier, serving locally caught fish, lobster, mussels, oysters, and randomly, pancakes. Just south of the town in Colla you'll find summer coffee and wine pop up Now and Zen overlooking the water, with evening cheese and charcuterie boards if you're peckish. Bantry If you're looking for seafood in Bantry head for The Fish Kitchen , for Sherkin Bay oysters, Bantry Bay lobster with garlic butter, or a West Cork seafood salad plate. At the moment there's limited outdoor seating (walk-up only) and they haven't reopened for indoor seating yet, but they're doing takeaway from the hatch from Tuesday - Saturday. For coffee, mushroom and barley sausage rolls, focaccia with fennel and grapes, salads, sandwiches, and more cakes than you can imagine, head to lovely café and bakery The Stuffed Olive . There's a few benches and picnic tables outside perfect for soaking up some (fingers crossed) summer sun. Another spot for on the go provisions, lunch or food shopping is café/deli/food shop Organico . The café specialises in vegan and vegetarian food (but does have meat too), local produce and predominantly organic ingredients, with the bread, cakes and desserts all made in house. Their wine is organic too, and coffee's from Red Strand in Clonakilty. Others Spots Worth A Stop Caitlin Ruth 's food truck has an avid following, but prepare to wait until the last minute to know where it's going to pop up. It was for this reason we never made it there for her biscuits and gravy or French toast pudding with pecan praline, but universally reports of very happy tummies abound. Most recently she was in Aghafore, before that it was Levis' in Ballydehob and Timoleague Abbey, and you can follow her on Instagram for updates here . You'll probably pass through Leap on the way to Skibbereen, Ballydehob or Baltimore. If you find yourself there and in need of food (or live music), stop at Connolly's for wood-fired pizza, tamarind chicken wings and sweet and sour aubergine. Most of their gigs in August (seated and ticketed) are currently sold out, but the food alone looks and sounds like it's worth a visit. For a supermarket to make you weep with joy (and sadness that they're all not like that), make a special visit to Scally's Supervalu in Clonakilty. It's a culinary treasure trove with practically everything worth eating in the region. They're big on sustainability, with loose eggs, fruit, vegetables and spices a priority (their 'souk' would put some spice shops to shame), a mammoth cheese counter and aisle after aisle of foods from local producers. It's the ultimate place for your holiday home shop, or to fill the boot before coming home.

It's official, Cork is on fire. On a recent trip there we didn't have enough hours or calories in the day to eat everywhere we wanted to, but we did our best and boy were we impressed. Looking for your next food-based weekend away? Look no further, and here are seven places not to miss when you get there... Goldie, Oliver Plunkett Street Goldie Head Chef Aishling Moore is 26. Just try to get your head around that after eating her perfect plates of local tomatoes and crispy sardines, hake with café de Paris butter and caramelised chicory (why isn't this more of a thing), and monkfish dahl (ditto). Michelin were on the money awarding them a Bib Gourmand, and this is a kitchen that could have a star if they wanted it. The wine list is small but perfectly serviceable, staff seem genuinely happy to be there, and children are welcomed with open arms. In our book it doesn't get much better. 51 Cornmarket, Cornmarket Street You'll never want to make brunch again after eating at 51 Cornmarket - what's the point when everything that comes out of your own kitchen is so dull in comparison to theirs. A crab crumpet with brown crab mayo and a poached egg has hidden slivers of pickled daikon running through the middle, 'brunch chips' come with a poached egg, hollandaise sauce and a bacon crumb, and the French toast, which is like a soufflé in the middle yet perfectly crispy on the outside, topped with bacon, honeycomb butter and salty butterscotch sauce, is currently our frontrunner for 'best in Ireland'. Cask, MacCurtain Street Seasonal, 'nature-led' cocktail bar Cask uses ingredients like lemon rose geranium, nettle cordial, and ugly strawberries to make their award-winning, frequently changing cocktail list. It's not hard to see why they won 'Bar of the year' at the 2019 awards of the same name, as well as a litany of other awards , when sipping on a rhubarb and sorrel margarita, or a fig leaf / cleavers (a native Irish herb). For added impact there's a waterfall at the back of the outside area, and plenty to look at inside too. Miyazaki You've probably heard of Miyazaki , Japanese chef Takashi Miyazaki's takeaway (with a few counter seats) in Cork city, but it's as good as it ever was, so make sure to earmark a visit on your next trip south. The specials are where the magic is at, with a salmon zuke don bowl so fresh and vibrant we felt like we'd just left a Japanese fish market. They don't have a website but you can find the menu as well as daily specials on their Facebook page . Iyers, Pope's Quay Iyers has always been known for their dosas, those crispy Indian pancakes made from fermented rice batter and served with chutneys and dips, and it's no exaggeration to say we think about them weekly, so were pretty devo on our last trip to find that they've been relegated to Sundays due to the amount of work involved. However, you can still immerse yourself in the best samosa chaat, pakoras, and a multitude of curries on the other days they're open (currently Friday - Sunday). Everything is vegetarian, with lots vegan too. Good Day Deli, Nano Nagle Place In the beautiful gardens of Nano Nagle Place, Good Day Deli serves up a feel-good, so fresh it's almost jumping off the plate menu of predominantly vegetarian food (but their Kai Moana fish tacos will likely never be allowed to leave the menu). There's a big focus on sustainable eating and living, and a nicely curated list of natural wine, organic tea and West Cork coffee, as well as unmissable homemade cakes. Cush, Ballycotton About 45 minutes drive from Cork city, in the harbour town of Ballycotton, you'll find Cush , with its sea views, impressive list of local suppliers , and very obvious talent in the kitchen. Their three-course, €36 menu is incredible value for food of this calibre, with starters and mains particularly impressive. Don't miss their signature natural smoked haddock with pea velouté and a crispy hen's egg, and a side of Ballycotton queens, skins caramelised almost to toffee in seaweed butter. Do you have a favourite place in Cork we should know about? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

They're baaacccckkkk!!! In what's hopefully the last hurrah for the restaurant meal kit, the enforced 8pm curfew (i.e. the lockdown that's not a lockdown) has meant the slow and sleepy resurgence of meal kits. It feels like a lot of people and places are totally burnt out and can't muster the energy for another round in the ring (or have had their staff obliterated by covid), but here's who's bringing the goods right now, and we'll update as more come on the market. We've kept some helpful colour coding to make things a little easier for those of you with specific requirements. (v) / (vg) Vegetarian/Vegan (d) / (D) - Limited Dublin delivery / Dublinwide Delivery (n) - Nationwide Delivery (1) - Meals for one Winedown (v) (d) (1) Winedown is the big new addition (so far) to the at home kits this month. A six-course, finish at home meal for two is €55, and we're really liking the sound of the menu. There's a veggie version available, and meals for one (€30), and it's available for collection from Thursday - Saturday between 12:00 and 19:00, or delivery is €5 within 6km of the Montague Street restaurant. The deadline for orders is midnight the day before, and you can order here . Tang (v) (d) (1) Tang 's dinner boxes are back as of this weekend, although sadly this time delivery is limited to those within the M50 (€8) - however they do say if you're really desperate they can get you a delivery quote. Otherwise you can collect from their Dawson Street café. The roast chicken, lamb kofta, and flexitarian (half meat, half vegan) boxes are €49.50, and there's a fully vegan option, as well as meals for one for €27.50. You can add on wine, granola and their ridiculous nutbutter, and you should. Order here . 777, Dublin 2 (v) (vg) (d) 777 's at home boxes are back from next Thursday and you can get your order in now. There's a meat and a veggie version, it's €55 for 2-3 people to share, and you can add on their pre-mixed margaritas - reason enough to order. You can collect from 777 or Dillinger's in Ranelagh, and delivery is available for €8, but again only to those inside the M50 (we can already hear the boos). Order here . The Butcher Grill, Ranelagh Sister restaurant The Butcher Grill in Ranelagh is also back with boxes. Their steak at home option is only available for collection on Thursday, with their Côte de boeuf for two coming with smoky black eye beans with bacon, mash potato and red wine jus for €50, and you can add on starters, more sides and dessert. There's also a hot takeaway menu available from Thursday - Sunday. Order here . Jaru (v) (vg) (D) (1) Jaru 's meal kits and pre-prepared meal delivery have been a constant over the past two years, and we have been grateful on many occasions. For the last few months their monthly meal kit has focused on a region of Korean (January is the Jeongol hot pot), with a meal for two with sides and desserts coming in at €50, and their fried chicken meal kit gets excellent reports. There's also a menu of cooked dishes that you can reheat at home or freeze for later, and you can add on food products in the Mart to make the €6.95 delivery charge worth your while. Check them out here . Yumo Kits (v) (vg) (n) (1) Yumo Kits (from Aungier Street's Bao House) also kept flying the food at home flag despite society reopening, and you can order their DIY gyoza, bao, ramen and kimchi for nationwide delivery. Impressive. You can also subscribe for a discount, and who wouldn't want a regular dumpling delivery. Check them out here . Uno Pizza, Rathmines (v) (n) Uno Pizza ’s at home kits are probably the closest you’re going to get to wood-fired pizza made fresh at home, and they also deliver nationwide, as well as offering pick up from their Rathmines restaurant. The clever frying pan/oven method produces a surprisingly good result, and they provide everything you need for a margarita or diavola for €18-€20 for two pizzas. You can also add on prosecco, wine or beer. Order here . The Dough Bros, Galway (v) (n) Galway pizzeria The Dough Bros .99 also send their DIY pizza kits nationwide, containing 3 wood-fired pizza bases, roasted garlic dips and toppings of your choice. The kit is €39.99 including delivery. Order here . Bujo, Sandymount (v) (vg) (n) Bujo ’s perfectly crafted burgers were another highlight of multiple lockdowns, and we're very glad they're coming back next week, with some new additions. New kits will go on sale this weekend (exact details TBC) for delivery in two weeks, which would be really be something to look forward to. Eyes peeled on their order page . Asador/Prado (n) Sister steak restaurants Asador and Prado have moved to nationwide delivery, with a cut off of midnight on Wednesday each week for Friday delivery. They've got boxes with gambas and a Tomahawk, BBQ tacos and chicken adobo, and you can add on dessert, cheese, cocktails and wine. Order here . Sustainable Seafood Ireland (n) SSI 's 'seafood suppers' are still going, with something new announced each week, and they deliver fish plus meals nationwide. Next week it's the goods to make Ahi tuna poke bowls (four for €48), but it could be bouillabaisse or lobster en croute depending on the week. Have a look at what's on offer here . Smokin Bones (n) The BBQ box from Smokin Bones in Temple Bar can also be delivered nationwide, with orders needing to be in by midnight on Wednesday. A box for 2-3 people is €44.95 and contains baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket, beans, corn, buns, sauces and slaw. There's a vegetarian burger option too. Order here . Not meal kits but... Circa, Terenure (v) Circa 's at home menu is back tomorrow. It's €80 for two starters, two mains, two desserts and a bottle of house wine, and it's collection only on Friday and Saturday nights between 20:00 and 21:00. See the menu here , and book a slot here using the takeaway option on their table reservation system. Michael's, Mount Merrion & Sutton (1) Michael's click and collect is back this weekend, with lunch and dinner slots from Friday - Sunday. All the big hitters are there, the fritti, the arancini, the seafood platters, the steak, and there's wine too. Book a collection slot here . Margadh, Howth (v) (1) Mamó in Howth have closed until February for refurbishments, but you can still get heat at home mains from the same kitchen team from their upmarket food shop Margadh a few doors down, and in Elm Epicurean in Dublin 4. Did someone say confit duck leg and guinea fowl Wellington? Did we miss a meal kit? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

Meal prep services have never really been our thing. We love to eat out, and we love to cook, and the idea of having our meals delivered to us in plastic boxes each week has never appealed, but there are situations and times when we can definitely see why you'd sign up. Maybe you live alone, work long hours, have a new baby, or have nutrition goals you're struggling to maintain solo. When we asked recently if you were interest in an article on meal prep services the answer was overwhelmingly yes, so we picked four of the most popular and put them through their paces. There were good days, less good days, and totally offensive days, and here are the results... Gourmet Fuel Price: Pay per meal. Breakfast €5.55 - €6.55. Lunch/Dinner €7.95 - €10.95 for XL dishes. You can save money by opting into a subscription and letting them choose meals for you, or choosing yourself. We paid €58.65 for six meals including delivery. Delivery: €6.95 nationwide (free on orders over €90), or can be collected from Sandyford. Packaging: Recyclable/reusable, and they will take back their cooler bag filled with empty, clean trays if you'd like them to do the recycling. What's the story? Gourmet Fuel is a calorie/nutrition focused meal prep service with dishes in set bands, e.g. 400kcal breakfasts and 600kcal sides. Macro and micro nutritional values, along with ingredients and allergens are very clearly laid out, so it's a good option for anyone chasing numbers each week, whether that's totally energy consumption, protein or fat. They set themselves out as providing "personalised nutrition" prepared by "gourmet chefs", providing fresh food and taking the hassle out of healthy eating each week. The idea is that you sign up for a weekly subscription which can either be left to them based on what you've told the FuelWizard meal plan builder, or totally customised by you, to encompass however many meals, snacks and sides you would like for that week. They say the majority of their meals can be frozen except salads and some breakfasts, and last four - seven days in the fridge (meals come with a date on them). We tried six dishes from their lunch and dinner range, which arrived together in a cooler bag with ice packs. Best dishes: Salmon poke bowl - fresh, loads of flavour, crunchy vegetables, but salmon looked and tasted canned which we weren't expecting. Goat's cheese salad - This felt very leaf-based to add up to 500 calories, and it didn't need all of the dressing (presumably a good chunk of the calories), but it was very tasty with the walnuts and cranberries. For extra pro points you could stick the cheese back under the grill for a few minutes, but it was perfect straight from the fridge. Sweet potato taco fries - We loved these. The sweet potato held a decent shape, the spicing was good and there was enough cheese to make it feel not at all restrictive. Pad Thai with chicken - this had very good flavour (especially with a few splashes of our own fish sauce on top), but should never have been reheated in the oven. After 25/30 minutes the noodles had turned to mush, and it was more like Pad Thai risotto. A shame, as the base was there. Definitely one to microwave. Felt like a huge portion. Worst dishes: Chicken korma with wild rice - Awful, wooly chicken. Barely any sauce, tasted like curry powder mixed with water. Rice was offensively overcooked and mushy. An unpleasant eating experience. Roasted vegetable lasagne - A big plate of watery vegetables. Huge, unappetising portion. Would have preferred a smaller size meal and more cheese, or any flavour other than vegetables/tomato. You would kid yourself into thinking you'll be stuffed after this, but guaranteed you'll be hungry again once all that water breaks down Pros: Meals have clear nutritional information in set calorie bands making it very easy to calculate your nutritional intake or work to set goals Fresh food Can reheat in microwave or oven Online chat available if you need nutrition help Nationwide delivery Cons: Paying €6.95 per delivery means you'll likely only want one per week, and you might not love the idea of eating something that's been in your fridge for five days Oven-cooking seriously overcooked some of the dishes. Sometimes microwaving is best Dishes were hit and miss Very little provenance information outside of Irish beef Verdict: Gourmet Fuel feels fresh and hand-prepared, and it's a good option for someone with specific calorie or macro needs each week. We found the dishes hit and miss which is not ideal at €8-€10 a meal, but imagine after a while you would find your favourites. Check them out here . (LC) Eatto Price: Mains start at €5.25 for single-serving vegan meals up to €8.50 for braised steak, but most are in the €6-€8 range, with sides (most to serve two) coming in at €2.50 - €3.95. All-in-one meals (a single portion meal including side) are priced at around €7 - €8. Kids' meals are available with prices around €4. We ordered in December but the range has now expanded to include soups (€3.50 - €3.95) and smoothies (six for €14.95). New customers can get a 10% discount by subscribing to Eatto 's newsletter. Delivery: €6.95 for nationwide delivery. Packaging: All packaging is fully recyclable or compostable. Even the clear film can be composted, which we haven't seen before. Everything came very well packed with ice-packs and wool lining so remained completely frozen. If you're in Dublin you can give the wool lining and ice-packs back to your driver the next time you order and they'll be reused; Eatto plant a tree for every ten returned. Outside of Dublin, they don't offer this service but they can be reused at home. What's the story? Eatto covers a lot of bases. Meals can be purchased individually (though we'd imagine most people buy several to make it worth the delivery charge), and bundle options cover dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, dairy and/or gluten free, calories controlled under 600, 400, and 300 calories). Bundles for one, couples, or families are available but we did find it a bit confusing to compare bundles - some have five mains, some four, and the ' Family Feast ' bundle (€107.95, to feed four) has three mains, three sides, and one dessert. We'd have preferred an easier way just to click and have seven meals arrive on our doorstep. We ordered the ' Take Me to Work ' bundle; a mix of seven single-serving, all-in-one meals which was €52.95, (excluding delivery) when we ordered in December but now seems to be €51.95. The frozen meals are designed to bring to the office and store in the fridge or freezer until lunchtime. All can be reheated from frozen in the microwave or oven. Portions were generous and definitely felt more like dinner than lunch. All chicken, pork, and beef is certified Irish but we couldn't find information about fish so assume it's imported. While dishes can be reheated in the oven, cooking from frozen can mean a cooking time of 50-55 minutes for meals you'd have probably knocked together from scratch in less time, so for us microwave is definitely the way to go. Best dishes: Chili Con Carne with Basmati Rice - we weren't expecting a lot from this as chili con carne is so often an afterthought on buffet menus, but this one benefitted from aromatic spices and was loaded with slow-cooked beef and black beans. The basmati rice reheated surprisingly well and wasn't even slightly mushy. Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice - creamy, lightly spicy, comforting, and definitely one we'd keep in the freezer for those don't-want-to-cook-but-really-want-to-avoid-another-takeaway nights. Would have liked a little bit more chicken but overall it was a decent portion and we would happily eat our way through lots more of this. Hoisin Tofu with Stir-Fried Noodles - this was one that we were a little worried about as the idea of frozen tofu taking a spin in the microwave didn't sound like a good idea. We were wrong. The tofu held up really well and stayed firm without drying out. The noodles had some red peppers and broccoli added in, and while the sauce was a little on the sweet side for us, it all made for a nice dish. Penne Bolognese - quite a bit of water seeped out of the beef bolognese when cooking, but it incorporated back in pretty well once dished up. Plenty of vegetables and a large portion made this another one that felt like a full dinner. Realistically, it's probably not much different to what you'd make at home, but good for convenience. Worst dishes: Meatballs in Rustic Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti - we're going to channel that culinary hero Joey Tribbiani for a minute here; "meatballs good... spaghetti good..." but sauce let this one down. The meatballs had a good texture with visible chunks of veg, but the sauce was excessively watery and practically tasteless - as if a tin of crushed tomatoes was poured into the sauce pot, but then someone forgot to add anything else. We added parmesan to try and give it some oomph but even that didn't help. Puy Lentil Bolognese with Spaghetti - to be fair, this is a case of "it's not you, it's us". This bolognese, for us, was just too much lentil. It tasted great with chunks of onions, peppers, carrot, aubergine, and courgette, but we hit a legume wall about about three bites in. On the plus side, microwaved frozen pasta is a revelation. Chicken with Wild Mushroom - there are death row meals, and there are meals that are likely served in prison, and this one veers dangerously towards the latter. Of all the meals this is the one we were most concerned about, mainly due to a hatred of reheated mash that began in our 80's childhoods, but the rubbery chicken, tasteless carrots, and gloopy sauce gave the spuds a run for their money. The overriding flavour was salt. Your stomach deserves better. Pros: Effort towards being environmentally friendly and sustainability, and we love how all the packaging can be recycled, reused, or composted Everything arrives frozen and goes straight into the freezer with a minimum of three months freezer shelf-life so you're not under pressure to get through it all in a week Lots of options for those who follow meat-free, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or calorie-restricted diets Gift bundles are available and would be really handy for sending to family who are isolating, cocooned with a new baby, or to a college student learning their way around a microwave Meat is all Irish A subscription service is available Nationwide delivery Cons: The bundles can't be customised; we'd love to order and forego the lentil bolognese for another butter chicken but there's no way to do that without adding all items individually Some dishes were hit and miss The choice of dishes is a bit limited for more adventurous eaters. Out of the selection of meal kits we tried, this one was the most traditional in terms of dishes available Meat may be Irish but that's as far as provenance information goes Verdict: We were impressed by Eatto 's sustainable approach to packaging, and definitely enjoyed the convenience of having frozen meals in the freezer without the worry of loads of colourings and preservatives. Ingredients and nutritional info are clearly shown on the back of each packet. While there was nothing here that most home cooks couldn't put together themselves, the convenience can make it worthwhile for for those nights when you just don't want to cook and want something hearty and fast. Check out Eatto's website for all info. (HC) Hapi Food Co. Price: Sign up by subscription, with the entry-level plan of one meal per day for 5 days costing €45. This will increase as you add days or extra main meals and there's also an option to add breakfast and snacks so you pretty much never need to turn on your oven. Delivery: Included in the purchase price and deliveries are made Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. If you're not home, they can leave it in a safe place in a cooler bag which they will collect at the next delivery. Packaging: Main meal boxes and the bags they deliver them in are recyclable, while the overnight oat and granola pots are compostable. Hapi Food Co. was started in 2016 with their main belief being that "the best food is cooked from scratch". They prepare everything in-house and chill, pack and deliver on the day of cooking, so their customers are always getting the freshest product. They describe themselves as "healthy" and they do have healthy options, but you wouldn't want to be hungry placing your order or you'll find yourself eating pasta every day ... wouldn't be the worst week in the world! The deal is that you sign up for minimum one main meal a day, but you can increase the number of main meals if you want a second for lunch, or if you're ordering for more than one person, and you can add on breakfast and snacks. Meals are chosen manually and there are six breakfast and six main meal options per day - almost too much choice! But the variety would be a definite plus if you're ordering long-term. All dishes are prepared to be reheated in the microwave, but they do say you can remove the food from the packaging and reheat in the oven if required. Hapi Food also have a Monday trial service for €25 which allows you to try breakfast and two main meals to get a feel for it. Best dishes: Beef Mince Ramen Noodles - our favourite of the week, this dish was nicely seasoned with soy and fish sauce, and the caramelised onions brought a lot of flavour. Obviously we couldn't resist a dollop of peanut rayu but could have survived without it. Cauliflower Cashew Curry - this needed a bit of extra seasoning when it was dished up, but with some added salt and pepper it was a lovely meal with plenty of sauce and some tasty sautéed spuds. Thai Green Chicken Curry - as one of our regular meals to make at home we were pleasantly surprised with this version which had a nice hint of spice, perfectly cooked rice and still crunchy broccoli. Christmas Cereal - a little taster that they threw into one of our deliveries, very tasty and much appreciated when that 4pm slump hit. Worst dishes: Pumpkin Gnocchi - this was a fail for us and as the first meal of the week left us worried about what was to come. It was very flavourless and dry, almost as if they had forgotten to add the sauce. Sesame Salmon - fine at best. A bit bland and the salmon became overcooked in the microwave, which we half expected. Not the worst, but we wouldn't order it again. Pros: Multiple deliveries during the week so you're getting the freshest food. Contactless delivery is also available Calories and macros are also available for anyone tracking these and a lot of the meals are searchable on MyFitnessPal making it even easier Very generous portions so you could save some for lunch the next day depending on your appetite They have add-ons such as breakfast (which you can sign up to as part of your subscription or add on specific days), snacks and soup so it makes it really flexible and easy to plan your week. You can even order some essentials like butter and free range eggs to be delivered alongside your meals Everyone we dealt with was very personable and friendly and there were text messages telling us when to expect deliveries, and where it was left when we weren't home Cons: Dishes were a bit up and down and some unseasoned, but this will likely be the case with all food delivery services and the different tastes that they're catering to Deliveries only in Dublin and Meath Very little provenance information. If chicken and eggs aren't listed as free-range, they usually aren't Verdict: Hapi Food Co. would be a good choice for time-poor people who are conscious of eating fresh foods made from scratch. The possibility to add on breakfast, snacks and soups makes it really flexible, as does the fact that you don't need to subscribe for any period of time but can order the odd week depending on your schedule. Value for money wise, we found the portions really generous for what you pay. Check them out here . (KQ) Parallel Nutrition Price: Ranges from a five meal plan from Monday - Friday for €39.50, all the way up to three meals and two snacks five days a week for €115 Delivery: Sunday and Wednesday with deliveries costing €2.25, or you can ask for it all to come together Packaging: Compostable cartons with recyclable lids When we asked about meal prep services, Parallel Nutrition was recommended by quite a few of you. Set up by nutritionist and chef Diarmaid Healy, it's a subscription service (no one-time orders so remember to cancel if you only want to try it), with a wide range of options and prices, depending on how many meals and snacks you want each week. There's a new menu to choose from each Monday which feels appealing and a lot less formulaic than other services, or they can pick for you. In all the excitement of the menu arriving we ended up picking two Thai green curries, one with chicken and one with tofu (still no idea how), so really we're talking about four meals here, but they were good ones. Best dishes: Falafel, wedges, peas and a mint dip - This was so good we're cursing them for changing the menu each week. Falafel were smooth and flavoursome, potatoes perfectly cooked and spiced, and we need the recipe for that mint yoghurt dip. Salmon pesto pasta - If you can't throw a dish like this together at home you need to have a long hard look at yourself, but this was very tasty and we loved the feta, walnuts, and appropriate (i.e. very heavy) use of garlic. Green Thai chicken curry - A really vibrant, fresh tasting sauce full of lime and spice, with tender chicken and al dente green beans. The noodles were slightly overcooked but we still ate it happily. Worst dishes: Lamb tagine with mash - By no means inedible, but in comparison to the other dishes it was a let down. The tagine tasted mainly of cinnamon and tomatoes, and the mash of white pepper. It was a bit one dimensional. Pros: The menu changes each week which keeps it fresh and interesting Team were very helpful and pleasant to deal with Most dishes have a low carb option e.g. cauliflower rice Wide range of plans It feels like good value It tastes good Cons: Subscription only so if you don't forget to cancel you could end up being charged for an extra week (although they seem lovely so as long as the food hadn't been made we imagine they would cancel it for you) Only serving Dublin No provenance information Verdict: We really liked Parallel Nutrition , and thought it was as close to home cooking as we could imagine getting from a service like this. Even though meal prep isn't our bag, we would happily order this again if we needed some help in the kitchen for whatever reason, and it's definitely going on our recommended list for new parents, time poor friends and anyone wanting to reboot their diet, but we'll sidestep the chicken and eggs until we know they're free-range. Check them out here . (LC) Do you have a favourite meal prep company that we should try? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

Now that the official Christmas festivities have come to a close, it might seem like the right time to opt for a virtuous salad over another dessert, but we at ATF believe in indulgence all year round - sure you could be dead tomorrow. We’re all about a balanced diet, but balanced doesn’t mean devoid of pleasure, and this week we're feeling the hedonism, which is not just for Christmas. 1) Honey And Camembert Bread From Go Pan As soon we adjusted to the idea of a cheeseboard after every meal, January had to come and spoil it all with chitchat of veganism and New Year’s resolutions. Luckily Go Pan heard our screams and saved the day with a wedge of camembert encased in hard bread, drizzled with honey. Heat before eating and dive in like it’s Christmas all over again. 2) Caramel Poached Apple Danish From Scéal You probably already knew this but Shane, Charlotte and team, commonly known as Scéal Bakery , have their lamination process down to a tee. This week's seasonal Danish is layered with the perfect balance of butter and dough, and a stellar combination of caramel poached apples, bay leaf whipped ganache and blackberry jam. These babies sell out like hotcakes so order online before they’re gone. 3) The Double Smash Chipotle Burger From Dash The one benefit of early pub closures is that places like Dash are still slinging burgers at 8pm. Smoky smashed patties with all the trimmings and a side of jalapeño poppers are the perfect post-pint soakage, but pre-order in advance to avoid getting stuck in the queue. 4) The Hero Pizza At Paulie's "Please, no more roasties!", were the first words uttered as we pulled ourselves from the debris of the New Year's Eve party, in our kitchen. After what felt like an eternity of cranberry sauce and stuffing, we're ready to embrace Italian food again, starting with the Hero Pizza from Paulie’ s . Parma ham, pepperoni, salami, red peppers, and a classic base of mozzarella and tomato sauce. 5) Vegan Chocolate Brownie At Soup We love a plate of cheesy eggs as much as the next person, but when Soup says the words “crème anglaise” and “warm chocolate” in the same sentence, the absence of dairy becomes irrelevant. We're dying to try their vegan brownie with coconut and caramel ice cream, and reckon it’s the ideal treat for those attempting Veganuary.

For too long vegetarians in our lives have gotten a raw deal – always the afterthought of the menu, with an unimaginative risotto or vegetable curry thrown onto the page to fill the gap. But the times they are a-changing, and like a lot of people we've made a conscious move to more of a plant-based diet, leading to more creative cooking at home and a whole new world of options when eating out. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or simply curious about integrating more plant-based meals into your diet, these are what we consider to be the best places for vegans and vegetarians to eat in Dublin, starting with more casual cafés and ending with the places for going 'out out'. Cafés Little Bird Café and Yoga, Dublin 8 No prizes for guessing the two activities taking place in this spot - yoga and food, a winning combo. Little Bird is a neighbourhood café in the heart of Dublin 8, with all food made on site using seasonal, mostly organic ingredients. Their menu is all vegetarian with plenty of vegan options so you can enjoy a feast after you’ve worked through your sun salutations. Our pick is the wild mushroom toast with artichoke puree and toasted hazelnuts. It's A Trap, Dublin 1 It's A Trap is a dog-friendly coffee shop on the northside of the city serving cakes, toasties and wraps which we can hardly believe are all vegan. They also have a retail arm so you can pop in here to get vegan essentials for your home cooking and treat yourself to lunch while you’re at it. Unfortunately, they recently announced plans to leave these premises sometime during 2022 due to increased anti-social behaviour in the area, but are hoping to line somewhere new up in the meantime. Kale + Coco, Stoneybatter This was one of the first places we came across smoothie bowls, and while they are more in vogue these days and popping up on loads of menus, Kale + Coco are still serving the best around. Their menu is completely plant based and also has porridges, nourishing buddha bowls and sweet treats. You can even pick up some frozen Açaí pulp to make your own at home. Veggie Vibe Café, Blackrock Blackrock Market seems to be a little veggie paradise at the moment with 3 Leaves, Shaka Poke and V eggie Vibe Café all catering to the market. In this case, Veggie Vibe is totally vegan and open seven days with vegan bowls, cakes, and even a full Irish on offer. Woke Cup Café, Smithfield In the heart of Smithfield you’ll find Woke Cup Café serving up vegetarian and vegan fare, including breakfast baps, sausage rolls and toasties, with the option of making everything vegan. Casual Bite Brother Hubbard, various locations Brother Hubbard was one of the first cafes to fill the brunch gap that foodies were crying out for in Dublin when it opened in 2012. Since then, many others have opened but Brother Hubbard have always kept their loyal following and reputation. Their bread and (dairy-free) butter is breakfast and lunch, but they also branched out to dinner in their Capel Street location. There are tons of vegetarian and vegan options on all of their menus (like these Turkish eggs menemen), so you won’t be short of choice. Urbanity, Smithfield Urbanity in Smithfield has one of the best brunches around with both indoor and outdoor seating available for your weekend meet-ups. The menu isn’t exclusively vegetarian, but they have some really creative options for the veggies in the party such as salt and chili grilled halloumi with scallion pancake and edamame ginger spread – this one might even sway the carnivores in your group. Pho Kim, Dublin 1 Parnell Street restaurant Pho Kim changed their name from Pho Viet but is still run by the same family who have been serving up some of the best Vietnamese food in Dublin since 2012. They have a full vegan menu to cater to their customers, from spring and summer rolls to a veggie Bun Cha. The Fumbally, Dublin 8 The Fumbally café is a true community of food lovers coming together to make delicious things. As well as a café and shop, the premises hosts classes, workshops, supper clubs - you name it, they’re probably doing it. The menu is always creative and chefs are generally given free reign, which has led to a number of our favourite products coming out of their kitchen (looking at you Harry’s Nut Butter ). It’s not totally vegetarian but has a nice mix of meaty and vegetarian dishes with options to veganise some menu items. Govinda's, Dublin 1 Longstanding restaurant Govinda's on Middle Abbey Street is part of the Hare Krishna centre upstairs, but has long been an attraction for non-Hare Krishna followers. Their vegetarian and vegan Indian-inspired food is served buffet style and is some of the best value around with very generous portions. Greenshot, Aungier Street A new, totally vegan bakery is a welcome sight, especially when it's in such a central location, perfect for a coffee and cake fix after a morning browsing the shops. Greenshot only opened in 2021 and have since added sandwiches, meatless sausage rolls and tartines to their menu. Vegan Sandwich Co, Smithfield Guys we've found all the vegans - they're in Smithfield, or so it seems with the amount of vegan places popping up between here and Stoneybatter. You may recognise the Vegan Sandwich Co. from their meat-alternative range stocked in SuperValu, Nourish and other stores, but their core business is their sandwich shop which owner Sam Pearson opened in 2020 after years operating a market stall. Their sandwiches look like the standard you might see on any lunch menu - BLT, Chick*n Fillet Roll, Chilli Cheeze Bites, but they're all made using meat alternatives. Definitely one to visit after a big night out. Shouk, Drumcondra Shouk will disprove any notion that vegetarian food is unsatisfying or leaves you wanting. They serve up their truly authentic Middle Eastern food in a gorgeously relaxed space, and while they do have meat on the menu, the vegetarian and vegan offerings are the star here. Bring some friends and ask for the 'Middle East Feast’ (vegetarian and vegan options available) so you can try a bit of everything – a steal at €34 per person when you see the amount of food that arrives. Umi Falafel, various locations Umi Falafel is a mainstay of unfussy Dublin eateries at this stage, consistently delivering top quality food at very good prices. Their main offering is (you guessed it) falafel, and apart from a bit of cheese (halloumi cheese fries anyone?) the menu is predominantly vegan. It’s always a great option for a quick bite and they now have five locations in Dublin - three in the city centre, one in Rathmines and one in Ballsbridge. Nutbutter, Grand Canal Dock A Californian-inspired menu made with local Irish ingredients is right up our street, and Nutbutter gave us just that. Largely plant-based, their menu will make your mouth water with fresh and healthy tacos, rice bowls and salads on offer. Plus they have a plant-based soft serve for dessert. Cornucopia, Dublin 2 An institution since 1986, we can’t imagine a list of vegetarian restaurants without the only decent option for Dublin’s non-meat eaters for many years. Cornucopia operates cafeteria style serving plentiful hot dishes and salads in their spacious yet cosy restaurant. They also offer Leamhain ice cream sandwiches – a vegan dessert created by one of their former chefs. Kerb, Foxrock Kerb was opened by owner Shona McCabe after years of working in restaurants across Australia and New Zealand, picking up inspiration from their diverse cuisine. On her return she decided to focus on giving Middle Eastern food a modern twist - this is definitely not the greasy late night kebab that we all know and love. Sure there is a time (very late) and place (Aungier Street) for that style, but Shona wanted to give it a healthy twist that would enable customers to eat it every day, using the best of Irish ingredients. Kerb opens for breakfast and lunch (takeaway only right now) with plenty of options for both veggies and vegans, and they have some of the best coffee in the locality. Street Food Vietnom, Stoneybatter A longtime favourite of ours, street food truck Vietnom is based in the the back of the Glimmerman in Stoneybatter and always has a great variety of vegetarian and vegan food alongside some meat-based dishes. They serve predominantly Vietnamese dishes such as banh mi but have been known to step out into more of a fusion zone with tostadas, and you'll always find creative specials on the menu. They're taking a break until March 2022 and until then Bahay (below) will operate in their place. Bahay, Stoneybatter Former Clanbrassil House chef Richie Castillo and girlfriend Alex O'Neill created their Filipino food concept Bahay using Richie's Dad's recipesm, and premiered the offering during summer 2021 at the Roe & Co D-8te pop-ups. We were lucky enough to score a ticket and were not let down by the flavour packed food - read our once over here . Since that ended they've been looking for somewhere more permanent to set themselves up, but in the interim they've nabbed the coveted spot at the back of the Glimmerman while Vietnom take a break. The meat-filled and meat-free food is fantastic, with a weekly changing menu based on what's in season, but we're eyeing up their veggie Longganisa hot dog, with a side of garlic rice. Dosa Dosa, Grand Canal Dosa Dosa started as a food truck in January 2020, possibly the worst timing in history, but they made it work touring around Dublin serving Southern Indian dosas to the masses, and they did so well they're now operating from a permanent container in Grand Canal alongside Griolladh and Bites by Kwanghi . They have a great variety of both vegetarian and vegan food at excellent value, and we love their vegan potato masala dosa which will set you back under a tenner. Janet's, Eatyard Eatyard is generally a treasure trove for vegetarians and vegans and Janet's is no different. Within their small range of dumpling and bao buns they've included some very tasty vegan options so no one will be left out. Their vegan gyoza are always a winner, as are the tofu bao. Shaka Poke, Blackrock We've been big fans of Shaka Poké since their festival and food market stall days, and we were thrilled when they set up a permanent shop in Blackrock Market. Somewhere specialising in Hawaiian raw fish might not be the obvious place to look out for vegan food, but their ‘No Catch’ menu item omits any fishy additions, and they also have beetroot and marinated hoisin tofu if you want to bulk out your bowl. Fast Food Token, Smithfield This might not be somewhere you’d expect to see such an extensive vegan menu, but this arcade restaurant does its best to cater for everyone. Token have created a menu where pretty much everything that's available for meat-eaters is also available for vegans, including their nuggs, mac and cheese and even the garlic mayo, so you can feast freely before you work it all off on the dance machine. The Saucy Cow, Eatyard We love the story behind The Saucy Cow and totally understand where owner Roisin Lawlor got her inspiration – on her return from New York she was pleased to see an array of new vegan items on menus but nothing with sauce which can be tricky to ‘veganise’. She took matters into her own hands, creating a range of sauces and from there a vegan fast-food stand serving burgers, fries and desserts, in Eatyard, Dublin 9 and Beach Park in Bray. V-Face, Stoneybatter Another option for when the craving for a dirty burger and fries hit, and another vegan point for Stoneybatter, V-Face describe themselves as "Animal Burgers made with Plants" and we would have to agree with them on this - these burgers are animal and we would easily choose one of these over a traditional meaty burger if we were in the area. They've just added salads including the 'Asian Equation' and the 'Vegano Italiano' to the menu, as well as tiramisu, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes, so every craving is covered. Flip Burger, George's Street Arcade Flip Burger (the brainchild of another vegetarian favourite Blazing Salads) opened in January 2020 after they received really positive responses to their vegan and vegetarian burgers at music festivals (sob, remember them?). They have a variety of plant-based patties served on organic seeded buns, and we loved them when we visited - particularly the focus on vegetables as opposed to pretending to be meat. The best news is that they have a €9.95 meal deal running Tuesday to Friday for a burger and handcut fries, so that's as good an excuse as any to try them. Special Occasions Glas, Dublin 2 If your only experience of vegan food is troughs of courgette curries and squash stews, prepare to be amazed at what they do with vegetables at Glas . The plum and tarragon terrine is positively meaty (jackfruit innit), the flamed kolhrabi smoky and savoury, and the vegan aioli is indistinguishable from one made with egg. There's enough cheese on the menu to keep the non-vegans happy, and it's a beautiful plant-filled space to spend a few hours in. Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2 While the Exchequer Street location is home to one of our favourite food halls to roam around and a cosy wine cellar, Fallon & Byrne 's upstairs restaurant is where you’ll find their best vegetarian offerings with a full plant-based menu available, using all of the great produce from the supermarket below. Glovers Alley, Dublin 2 To say we were surprised when we saw that Glovers Alley has both a full vegetarian and full vegan tasting menu was an understatement. With vegan dishes such as ‘jerusalem artichoke, parsley and truffle’ and ‘mango, pineapple, lemon verbena and mint’ we would be tempted to forgo the carnivorous tasting menu for the veggie option ourselves. They have also priced it at €80 per person, which is obviously still eyewatering but lower than the regular tasting menu. 3 Leaves, Blackrock Indian restaurants are usually a solid option if you're dining with vegetarian friends, and 3 Leaves in Blackrock is one of our most loved. They're only offering lunch right now on a walk-in basis so drop in for their ‘Taster Thali’, which they offer a vegan and vegetarian version of. If you haven't already been it will take about two seconds for you to realise what all the fuss is about. Gursha, Dublin 2 Gursha started as an Ethiopian supper club, holding intimate evenings in the Cloud Cafe on North Strand Road. The supper clubs were a constant sell out and when the pandemic hit and owner Mel moved to a takeaway model, the demand was as high as ever. Luckily for all of us, Gursha has moved into a permanent premises on Poolbeg Street, and don't expect demand to lapse anytime soon. Ethiopian cooking and curries use very few meat products due to religious practices, so Gursha is naturally vegetarian and mostly vegan. Sova Vegan Butcher, Dublin 8 No, that is not a typo, but it is two words you don’t usually see together: ‘vegan’ and ‘butcher’. Sova Vega Butcher on Pleasant Street wants to promote healthier lifestyles by offering the usual favourites with a vegan twist, like steak, kebabs and sushi with substitutions like protein rich seitan and tempeh. They've also just opened a new café in the Liberties serving breakfast and lunch. Veginity + Vish Shop, Dublin 1 Veginity first made their mark with their street food truck serving 'vish and chips', and we were amongst the droves amazed at how fish-like it tasted - some very clever seaweed and vinegar additions in there. Owner Mark Senn opened fully vegan restaurant Veginity on Dorset Street in 2018, with the more casual Vish Shop following down the street. They recently showcased Brazilian, Spanish and Cambodian menus and their current Ethiopian menu looks very interesting. They also offer a brunch menu (including vegan pastries), and their Vish Shop's chipper-style fish substitute is the best we’ve come across. Big Fan, Dublin 2 Another cuisine that tends to work well for your vegetable loving friends is Chinese, and Big Fan on Aungier Street are really going the extra mile for meat-free dining - so much so that we held a fully vegetarian restaurant takeover there for ATF Insiders in mid-October. Their tofu and edamame bao are every bit as good as the more traditional pork, the kimchi buttered cauliflower is outrageous, and you'll be thinking about the enoki mushrooms with garlic and chili for a long time after you've left. The Merrion Hotel, Dublin 2 For a fancier occasion, get your glad rags on and head to The Merrion Hotel for a meal in their Garden Room. Best-selling cookbook author Holly White has collaborated with them on a vegan menu and they have just announced some new additions including a portobello mushroom and puy lentil bolognese, and a red berry shortcake “mess” with chia seed jam, soya yoghurt, caramelised almonds and maple syrup. Did we miss your favourite place for vegan or vegetarian food? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

The days are finally getting longer and there's a definite air of optimism in Dublin as restrictions start to wind down - but the recent drop in temperature is sharply reminding us that we're still in the depths of winter. Where better to seek respite from the cold and moderately scary, reopened world out there, than with the foods that fill us with comfort and nostalgia at any time of the year, but particularly now... Ciaran's Coddle, The Gravediggers Chicken soup might be good for the soul, but Dublin coddle, and in this case, Ciaran’s coddle, is the perfect recipe for warming your bones after a stroll around the historic mecca that is Glasnevin Cemetery. Ciaran Kavanagh, head chef at The Gravediggers , tried and tested iterations of this distinctive Dublin stew before settling on a mix of cocktail sausages, roast ham, bacon ribs and potatoes, served with a side of buttered bread. Add a pint of the black stuff to up the comfort ante. Seafood Chowder, The Winding Stair Traditional Irish seafood chowder is another dish we reach for when in need of nourishment - on several levels. Since taking over The Winding Stair in 2006, Elaine Murphy has continued to champion their much-loved chowder made with seafood and Fingal Ferguson’s chorizo, served with a slice of treacle bread. Pork Sausage Roll, Love Supreme The Love Supreme sausage rolls have garnered attention from pork and pastry aficionados throughout Dublin, for good reason. Their ingredients are primarily sourced from local, sustainable producers, including free-range pork from Pigs on the Green in Offaly and organic milk from the Village Dairy in Meath. The pork and cabbage sausage roll is elevated with honey and mustard and encased in the flakiest pastry, all freshly baked in their shop in Stoneybatter. Creole Style Jambalaya, Krewe Inspired by the “Dirty South” cuisines, Krewe serves various Creole and Cajun dishes with comfort at its core, from their sticky Cajun pork belly to their signature Creole-style jambalaya with chicken, shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, and red rice smothered in a tomato-based sauce. Pair it with a classic Sazerac cocktail and dive in. Chicken Ramen, Musashi Chicken noodle soup is one of those cure-all dishes that acts as a saviour to many of life’s maladies, from a breakup to the common cold. It can't hand you a tissue in times of need (it would if it could), but steamy, spicy broth works its magic on blocked airways while the tender chicken is packed full of protein to give you strength during challenging times. Yes, mum’s chicken soup is the best, but we recommend Musashi ’s chicken ramen with pak choi, ajitama egg, shitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots, as a trusty backup. The Quadrifoglio, Cirillo's There is something exceptionally comforting about a four cheese pizza, and Cirillo’s rendition is composed of a Naples-style base topped with San Marzano tomato sauce and layers of Gubbeen, Hegarty’s cheddar, blue cheese, mozzarella and a sprinkle of oregano. Pop Tarts, Bread 41 Eoin Cluskey has fulfilled our childhood dreams with Bread 41 's freshly baked pop-tarts. A couple of mouthfuls of their ice-white frosting and multicoloured hundreds and thousands and all we're missing is 'Wannabe' on the Walkman. Cacio e Pepe, Sprezzatura Mac and cheese is inarguably one of the best comfort foods on the planet, but lately, its more modest and humble cousin has caused a stir by pairing pasta with two simple ingredients. Sprezzatura is one of our favourite spots for this effortless dish with freshly made spaghetti and plenty of pecorino and pepper. Sunday Roast, Hen's Teeth A Sunday roast is the ultimate comfort food, but they've remained strangely absent from menus across Dublin for far too long - good ones anyway. Hen’s Teeth to the rescue with their bi-monthly 'Killer Sunday Roast' with a choice of a meat or vegetarian main, and shared sides like Hasselback potatoes with rosemary and horseradish, sticky spiced heritage carrots and braised red cabbage with a brioche crumb. Check their Instagram for upcoming dates. Classic Toastie, Loose Canon A list of comfort foods would be incomplete without mentioning the classic cheese toastie. Loose Canon on Drury Street has created a contemporary spin on the old classic by assembling Hegarty’s cheddar from Co. Cork, 18-month aged Coolea, homemade bechamel, and scallions on two slices of Le Levain sourdough. And if that doesn’t whet your appetite, try the pesto or Broughgammon salami toastie instead.

The last few days have been full of discovery here in ATF HQ. Until this week we didn't know about sweet potato mascarpone, Baingan Mirchi Ka Salan, and that we desperately want to eat some Rogue River Blue. Curious? Here are the weird and wonderful sounding things we want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Hummus Eggs, Tang Hummus? Delicious. Eggs? Delicious? Tang? Very delicious. We had no idea hummus and eggs was a thing, but whatever Tang says goes so we need this combination in our lives. 2) Baingan Mirchi Ka Salan, Ruchii There are few things we like more than having to google new foods and dishes that we've never heard of, and Ruchii 's 'Baingan Mirchi Ka Salan' had us racing to our phones for a translation, and what a translation we got. "A scrumptious Hyderabadi dish made with eggplant and green chili ... the peanut, sesame, coconut curry base is creamy, spicy and tangy..." Currently our number one most wanted curry in the city. 3) Jerk Cauliflower Steak, The Woollen Mills We're all for the veggie lifestyle but cauliflower steaks have never done it for us - until we stumbled across this from The Woollen Mills . They're serving it jerk-style with sweet potato and coconut blinis, Irish kale, almonds and grapes, and it's a flavour combination so out there we need to experience it for ourselves. 4) Rogue River Blue, Fallon & Byrne A new cheese is always a welcome discovery, so our eyes widened when we say this Rogue River Blue on Fallon & Byrne 's Instagram feed. It's American, wrapped in pear Brandy-soaked vine leaves, and was a previous winner of 'best cheese' at the World Cheese Awards. They've been allocated a small amount so it's fastest feet first on this one. 5) Pancakes With Sweet Potato Mascarpone, 31 Lennox Who knew this was a thing? Definitely not us. 31 Lennox 's buttermilk pancakes come layered with sweet potato mascarpone, peanut brittle, fresh fruit and maple syrup, and if this works it'll be the most effortless "vegetable into a sweet breakfast" slide we've seen in some time.

We feel like we're suspended in some kind of dream state at the moment, not sure what's real and what's our socially starved brains playing tricks on us. Is it really over? Are we really going back to the old normal this fast? The speedy swing from "back in lockdown" to "all restrictions are gone" has understandably got a lot of heads spinning, but something we're all thinking about is long overdue catch ups with friends, family and workmates. Our number one question from you guys over the past few weeks is "where should I book for a group?", with many of you getting ahead now on planning spring and summer gettogethers, so we've pulled together our favourites for private dining, set menus and big splurges, for serious celebrations. Library Street Library Street 's downstairs PDR seating 6 - 10 people is group dining goals. There's a minimum spend of €100 a head for food and drinks, and chef Kevin Burke will design a menu just for you (which you can make adjustments to if needed). There's a full sound system and record player and it's completely private. Where do we sign. Locks The team at Locks have pretty much written the book on how to keep a restaurant open during a global pandemic. Over the past two years, they’ve done take-away from their hatch and at-home dinner kits, but now it's operating as normal. They have two private dining options, The Gold Room and The Bewick Room, and can seat groups of 8 - 26. Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen For the ultimate, no expenses spared group night out, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen , has a few choices for private, or just more secluded dining. The Chef’s Table, in the kitchen, seats up to six, the (semi-private) Demi-Salle seats four - six, and The Middleton Room seats up to 10. As far as experiences with family or friends go, this is one you'll never forget. Mister S The semi-private space at the back of Mister S is once again open for bookings of up to 18 people. The long wood-carved table is the perfect canvas for plate upon plate of fire-cooked food, like their burnt end rendang spring rolls, smoked pork chop, and monkfish on the bone with a bisque sauce. Big Fan Big Fan can cater for groups of up to 15 in their outside space at the front, and up to 75 indoors. They'll work with you on a menu and service style to suit your group, but don't miss the bao, cheeseburger jiaozi and the enoki fan. Read our once over here . Mr Fox Mr Fox can cater for groups up to 65, the full capacity of the restaurant! Groups are usually seated in the back room with a set menu planned in advance. Prices are the same as the usual menu. Check them out here . Clanbrassil House Clanbrassil House will let you take over their room at the back for groups of 12-18, so you and your pals can feast on fermented potato bread, roasted leeks with chervil and chicken skin, and choux buns stuffed with plum, sheep’s yoghurt and rosehip. Check them out here . The Woollen Mills The Woollen Mills is tailor made for private dining, with a whopping four options seating up to 80 people. The Riverrun room overlooks the Liffey, as does the smaller Joyce room, and the fully heated and covered room terrace can take up to 80 people - ideal for that work Christmas party that never happened. Upstairs Yarn Pizza is currently operating as The Woollen Mills but will be relaunching in the next month, and is a fourth, more casual option for group dining. The Old Spot The Old Spot have two spaces upstairs for groups of up to 20 or 50, with their largest single table seating 12-14. They provide a set menu which is €39 for lunch or €49 for dinner, with a choice of three starters, three mains and three desserts. The Pig's Ear The Pig’s Ear have three rooms overlooking Trinity College's playing grounds, seating up to 48 on the first floor, up to 55 in their Mirror Room, or up to 10 guests in their third floor private dining room. The menu is of the "something for everyone" variety, and the nostalgic desserts shouldn't be missed. One Pico The upstairs Polo Room in One Pico seats 12 - 43, with your own special menu and private entrance around the side. The evening set menu is €85, so one for the bigger spenders. The Bank Bar And Restaurant The Bank Bar and Restaurant on Dame Street has a dedicated space for small groups with The Bank Manager’s room seating 5-8 people, but we reckon that booking out the mezzanine level for a larger group would work really well too. The Brookwood The club room is located on the top floor of Brookwood on Baggot Street. Catering for groups of up to 14, they focus mainly on steak with some seafood options. Also gets our votes for one of the prettiest chandeliers in Dublin. M&L Chinese One of our go to places for Sichuan food, upstairs in M&L Chinese off O'Connell Street there’s a private room that seats 10-12. You can BYO for €5 a bottle so it's a great value option, and if you've yet to try the handmade dumplings, Szechuan green beans and deep-fried fish, your next group outing is the perfect excuse. The Saddle Room At The Shelbourne For groups of up to 20, The Saddle Room offers privacy and elegance if you and your friends feel like splashing out after months of solitude. Hugo's Hugo's on Merrion Row has always been one of those places that covered everything - lunch, dinner, pre-theatre, corporate gatherings and celebrations. Their private dining room accommodates 30, but we think it’s the perfect spot for a smaller group too.