Search Results

With Paddy's day done for another year we're hoping brighter days and warmer temperatures are in our near futures. Until then we plan on warming up with fried chicken, cheese-stuffed sandwiches, and smoky lamb belly, all new to the capital's menus... 1) Haddington Fried Chicken, Oliveto Oliveto in Dun Laoghaire are veering slightly from their Italian anima to join the premium fried chicken ranks. Their HFC sees boneless free-range chicken thigh marinated for 24 hours in buttermilk, then coated in a crispy crumb, flash-fried and finished in the oven, before being drizzled with hot honey (which improves absolutely everything). There's also some ‘nduja and peperoncino mayo on the side, and between that and a brisk walk down the pier, any cobwebs will be well cast off. 2) Spiced lamb belly, Green Man Wines We love a wine bar, and we love when their small plates are big and bold enough to stand up to all the wines we want to drink. Never one to expect customers to exist on cheese and charcuterie alone, Green Man Wines in Terenure are constantly adding to the menu, and their newest addition is this slow-cooked lamb belly with cannellini beans, sesame broth, and pickled Guindilla peppers. They promise it goes with practically all the wines by the glass, and that they've done copious research to make sure. Find it in the wine bar from Thursday - Saturday. 3) Smoked halloumi melt, Tír Deli Few people make veggie sandwiches look as sexy as Tír Deli , whose commitment to Irish ingredients is a citywide benchmark. Their " celeriac and hallou-mi" has left the building, to be replaced by the new "smoked halloumi melt", with Toonsbridge cheese, roasted Abercorn Farm greens, fermented hot honey, wild garlic pesto, pickled Irish mushrooms and toasted pumpkin seeds. It all comes on Oaksmoke Bakery ciabatta, and sounds like yet another knockout. 4) Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa , Osteria Lucio Osteria Lucio has all the quiet confidence of somewhere that's not here for the Tiktok trends. This is classic Italian cooking letting prime ingredients do the talking, and this orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa with Italian sausage ragu, turnip tops, chilli, and Felsina 1st press extra olive oil looks like a case in point. 5) Belfast coffee Basque cheesecake How Elliot's keep coming up with one banger after another is more than our tiny brains can process. This weekend saw them join forces with Bar 1661 for a Belfast coffee Basque cheesecake, spiked with Ban Poitin, cold brew coffee, dark panela sugar and freshly grated nutmeg. Paddy's weekend saw its first debut, but if demand is there we can't see why this wouldn't be a permanent addition to the menu. Tell them we sent you.

What should we know about Mama Shee? Few of last year’s closures were as disappointing as Bless Up . The Tallaght opener lasted just six months, serving up a pan-African offering heavy on Nigerian favourites like jollof and efo riro. That’s why we jumped at the news that D24 was to get a second taste with the opening of a sit-down spot for Mama Shee . Edizemi Onilenla’s brand has done stalwart trade on Moore Street and other market locations since 2019, building a growing chorus of fans in the process. What should we have? The buffet-style setup gives you the option to mix-and-match, getting as much variety as possible. It's a little confusing though as the menu shows set prices for each dish, but we were charged €25 each for "all you can eat". We earned some side eye with a smile from our server at the “eclectic plates” we assembled, but found it a fun way to greedily gorge. Most other punters played it straight with one of the meats or stews heaped on a plate of rice, served with a side of fried plantain. Everything here has its distinctive merits, the rice chief among them. Jollof is a mainstay of Nigerian cuisine, long-grain rice cooked in a fragrant tomato sauce until soft, sweet and spicy. Mama Shee’s is a prime specimen, flavourful enough to devour without anything else on it – but where’s the fun in that? Fried rice has just as much taste, if a little less character - for us, it’s jollof all the way. Asoro is a yam porridge with varying mashed and whole chunk textures, and the subtle starchy flavours of the stewed tuber pair well with the jollof's light spice – it's a top tip for vegetarians. So too is the efo riro, with a welcome kick of heat giving the spinach stew staying power - a big bowl of this would make for a satisfying meal on its own. Egusi “soup” is thicker than the title might suggest, with the pounded melon seeds it takes its name from giving a creamy texture swaddling yet more yam. Carnivores will delight in the variety of meat here, with everything from smoked turkey to snails (!) among the dishes we spotted in weeks of Insta-eyeing. Against the idea of those, neither which were on the day we dropped in, tender chicken thighs couldn’t stack up, for all their juicy, charred-skin goodness. Beef in a sauce of roast red and chilli peppers was better, with fatty cuts dissolving into a rich broth. The same sauce plays host to a curious combo of goat and turkey, the former’s bone-in chunks beautifully tender. The more adventurous should single out the the ayamase, a distinctively black stew of boiled eggs and tripe that's a tasty treat for anyone into offal. Why should I go? For a crash course in the cuisine of Africa’s most populous country, you won't do better. Mama Shee ’s diverse dish array offers a welcome chance to dive headlong into a food culture heretofore not widely available in Ireland, and more’s the pity. We’re already keeping tabs on the rotating specialties and planning a return -those snails can’t come soon enough. Mama Shee 1 Belgard Square West, Tallaght, D24 instagram.com/mamashee

What should we know about Chiya? Opening in November, Chiya would look set to threaten the Dame Street dominance of Reyna in the kebab stakes, if not for the fact it’s the same family team behind both. This newer venture sits across from city hall in the old Beshoff Bros location - where we were briefly and tantalisingly promised popup 'Meyhane' before being landed with nondescript chicken joint Bird Box for a few months - and goes all in on “Berlin-style” döner sandwiches. What should we have? While bowls are also available, it’s all about the bread. Though the “Berlin-style” pitch speaks to this thicker-crusted kind’s popularity in the German capital, it’s a Turkish diaspora dish - why it’s only migrated here now to join its more common flatbread fellows we wish we knew. We're not gonna mince words - this bread is a sensation, light and airy inside, gloriously crusty on the outside. The diamond-shaped dough from a family recipe is grilled fresh to order before the puffed-up final product is pinched open and crammed full of filling, and its just-cooked crispness is a real weak at the knees moment - we’d happily eat this without anything inside. It's a bonus then that Chiya’s fillings are every bit as good as the bread, with 24-hour marinated mixed chicken and beef the star. Threaded on the rotisserie between layers of fat to allow it to crisp up without drying out, the thin-sliced, brown-edged meat is a marvel, and one they don’t shy away from piling high. Blissfully, veggie tagalongs have three choices, giving them more options than the carnivores. We tried the müjver, falafel-esque fritters of grated courgette (other options have halloumi and mixed veg), and the well-seasoned sweetness and golden coating make this a must-try. Played off the crisp comfort of the bread and you-can-feel-it freshness of the mixed veg, these fillings have all the makings to be our new go-to fave about town. The most important factor for many these days will be price, and here’s where Chiya really excels, with all four sandwiches giving change from a tenner (€8.90 - €9.90). This is incredible value for 2025 Dublin, not least when it’s among the best to boot. Bowls will leave a bigger dent in your pocket, but portions are substantial, with rice, barley, veg or fries forming the base in their curated or build-your-own options, but we can’t fathom a reason outside of strict dietary requirements why anyone would forego this bread. Curly fries have kicked up some early attention from social media punters, but after trying them we're no wiser as to why - they’re not much more than fine, with paprika-flecked crisp edges making for solid grazing alongside the glory of everything else. Save the stomach space for the main event, and pile high those house pickles sitting pretty on every table. Why should I go? Chiya is not the first sight of this kind of döner to Dublin - Richmond Street’s Berliner beat it by a few months - but its almighty lead on quality and price versus the local competition, mark an arrival in style. Late-night louts have never had it so good, but this is food worth making a trip for any time of the day. Chiya 71 Dame Street, Dublin 1 instagram.com/chiyadublin

Nothing says I love you like flowers, but nothing says I get you like an artisan cheese hamper. We’re always looking for gifts to send our fellow food-obsessed mates, whether the occasion is a birthday, a new baby, an engagement or a breakup, so we did some digging on the best places to order seasonal patisserie, Irish craft beer, and extraordinary tinned fish, and they're all just a click away from landing on someone you love’s doorstep. Toonsbridge Initially known for their cheeses, Toonsbridge branched out into provisions with their offshoot The Real Olive Company, and it's hard to think of a more perfect housewarming gift than their Food Box to Fill Your Pantry (€88.00). We’ve all had that moment late in the move where you’re faced with empty cupboards and not a huge amount of will to live - here's the antidote. Good tinned fish, pickled Cippolini onions, mustards, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a cloth shopping bag, and even a bar of Provencal soap for beside your new sink - check out their hampers here . Toonsbridge deliver all over Ireland from Monday to Wednesday, with shipping free on orders over €85.00. Le Patissier We discovered Le Patissier during the pandemic, when staying indoors and eating became an international pastime. Their selection of seasonal patisserie can be ordered for delivery in most areas of Co. Dublin for a flat rate of €10.00, arriving as a box of perfectly rendered jewel-like cakes, tarts and mousses. Their current spring collection (€50.00) features an Alphonso mango mousse with a passion fruit curd centre; a pistachio tart; and a milk chocolate tonka bean cremeux with cherry gel; all as beautiful as they are delicious. Dublin delivery costs €10. Sheridan's Sheridan’s are the OG of Irish cheesemongers, their green and white striped branding recognisable the country over, signifying delicious things within. Their website is a wonderland for gifting, featuring old world wines, tinned seafood, jams, chutneys, and of course, cheese. We love the straight to the point Cheese, Chutney and Wine Hamper (€80), but for very special occasions there’s the Luxury Hamper (€250.00), full of characteristically assertive cheeses, wines, Pedro Ximenez sherry, aged balsamic vinegar, acacia honey and smoked almonds. Delivery anywhere in Ireland is €10.00, or €50.00 to anywhere in the EU. Check out their gifts here . Laudurée One for the bougiest amongst us, Ladurée ’s distinctive pastel boxes of macarons can be delivered nationwide for €10.00, along with bottles of Rosé Champagne, chocolates and teas. Available in boxes of eight (€33.00) to thirty five (€120.00) macarons, the website has a very cute feature allowing you to click on various flavours to populate your virtual box before adding it to your cart. Another adorable option is a mixed box of langue du chat biscuits (€24.00) with a charming cat illustration on the box which is giving both Wes Anderson and Marie Antoinette. Who doesn’t want to feel like an indie princess on their birthday? Nationwide delivery is €10. Gannet Fishmongers / eatmorefish.ie Gannet Fishmongers through their Eat More Fish website are on a mission to supply Ireland with sustainable seafood, and both their ethos and taste in gifts are excellent. They have one of the best selections of tinned fish we've ever seen, from Nazarena sardines in spicy olive oil (beyond good on sourdough toast) and hot smoked anchovies (ditto), to cockles with ginger and kombu and jarred sea spaghetti. Putting together your own selection to send to your seafood obsessed friend is the move here - maybe adding in one of their wooden handled oyster knives for good measure. Home delivery is only available for orders over €35.00 and it's a flat rate of €8.50. Indie Füde Indie Füde are going well beyond the typical wine-chocolate-teddy bear hampers with their range of lovingly sourced Irish-food-forward hampers delivering all over the country. Featuring producers like Burren Balsamics, Monto chocolates and Broighter Gold oils, they have a brilliantly curated hamper for every occasion. We love The Weekender (£58.95), full of biscuits, coffee and charcuterie for a relaxing weekend in, or the Incredible Irish Indulgence box (£169.95), featuring some of the best and brightest producers from across the country. Delivery costs £12.95 to the Republic of Ireland (£16.90 for chilled products), or £6.95 (£10.90) up North. Check out their hampers here . Naomi's Kitchen Sometimes it’s not always possible to find the time to cook, and it tends to be at those times when you most need a nourishing meal. The meals from Naomi’s Kitchen are pure comfort, exactly what you might need in challenging times, with wholesome dinners like beef bourguignon, lasagne, and chicken and broccoli crumble. Everything is handmade from scratch by Naomi and her team, and everything freezes, ready to be heated up as needed. An ideal and possibly sanity preserving gift for new parents, a friend going through a bereavement, or someone recovering from an illness. Naomi’s Kitchen is currently only delivering within Dublin for orders over €50.00, but collection is available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from their Glenageary kitchen. Ardkeen Ardkeen specialise in artisan Irish foods and their gift section showcases all that expertise in a thoughtful range of hampers. We particularly like the Craft Beer and Snack selection (€59.00), with everything you might need for an evening in with friends - a selection of Irish IPAs, ales and stout with snacks like Keogh’s crisps and Blanco Nino tortilla chips. Some of their hampers are available for international delivery, like the Love Irish Food Favourites hamper (€50.00). Full of tayto crisps, Club Orange and even a soda bread mix, it’s an ideal gift for someone missing home. Hampers can be shipped throughout Ireland from €8.50, or over to the States from €25.30. Fallon & Byrne Most people will be familiar with Fallon & Byrne , but not everyone is aware that they deliver their range of food and wine hampers nationwide. We love their Ultimate Vegan hamper (€100.00), made to spoil the vegan in your life with Harry’s Nut Butter, Nobó Chocolate and Plaza Del Sol black truffle crisps - delicious products that are incidentally vegan without carrying the yoke of virtuousness that can too often tar the lifestyle. Nationwide delivery is free for orders over €100.00, or €10.00 for orders under. Urru Urru don’t do hampers, they do “ Urruboxes ” - a limited and thoughtful range of curated food gifts. Their taste of the year Urrbox (€170.00) is a round up of the Irish food products that have impressed them most throughout the year, with the 2024/25 edition showcasing Filligan’s Fiery Pepper Relish and Whisky Marmalade, Seymour’s Chilli Sable crackers and Shine’s Lobster Pate, among many other brilliant small producers. Send it to someone lucky nationwide for €10.00 (or free within Bandon town). On The Pig's Back Cork based On The Pig’s Back carries the best Irish and French charcuterie, and you can bless your friends with it via their seasonal gift store. This is one for meat lovers - whether you want to send one of their pre-made hampers or build your own selection, they're laden down with pork rillettes, Jack McCarthy’s pastrami, chicken liver pate with smoked bacon and port, and all of the extra bits to enjoy them with (Okina savoury biscuits, pickled gherkins, and red onion marmalade to name a few). Nationwide shipping is free on orders over €120. Otherwise it's €15 for orders under €50, or €10 for orders over €50.

Spring is in the air and on those plates, and the new openings are coming like a bullet train. From Peking duck to all the pies, here's where hot for March... For the buzziest opening of 2025 so far: Lena, Portobello Locks is dead. Long live Lena ! While locals (and many more) might have shed a tear at the thought of Locks no longer residing at 1 Windsor Terrace, in reality it's just had a major glow up. Liz Matthews and Simon Barrett, the restaurateur icons behind Etto and Uno Mas , have joined chef/owner Paul McNamara (also a partner in Uno Mas ) to bring us neighbourhood Italian Lena , and if you haven't had the sage leaf and anchovy fritti, lardo toast and Osso Bucco by the end of March, can you really call yourself a Dubliner...? Read our once over here . For the return of one of Dublin's greats: Assassination Custard, Dublin 8 After pulling the shutters down last summer (read about why in this great piece from the Irish Independent), Gwen McGrath and Ken Doherty's Assassination Custard is back - and this time you can book. There's still only around 10 seats, the menu's still written on a paper bag, and there are now two sittings at 12:00 and 13:30. They've also introduced a minimum spend of €25 - €30 to make it worth opening, but if you weren't already spending that you weren't doing it right (order it all). To book, call them on 0874701577. For the best value lunch in town right now: Coppinger, Dublin 2 We never fail to be impressed at those restaurateurs who innovate rather than capitulate, and what better way to get bums out of office chairs and into nicer ones than with a two course lunch for FIFTEEN EURO. IN A RESTAURANT. Or three courses for €20, with an optional glass of wine for an additional €5 (we don't endorse drinking on the job, but we don't not endorse it either). Coppinger are having to work smart with their "Menu del Dia" dishes, but we hear the chefs are loving the challenge, and the diners clearly love those prices. Available Wednesday - Friday, 12:00 - 15:00. For the slickest new Asian experience in South Dublin: China Tang, Monkstown The group behind Hakkahan in Stoneybatter and Nan Chinese in the city centre have just opened a fine dining Cantonese restaurant in Monkstown, and the pre-order whole Peking duck , sliced and served by the chef at your table, is right at the top of our want list for March. China Tang (no relation to the one at The Dorchester in London) has a suppliers list that includes Silverhill Duck, Andarl Farm and FX Buckley, and the menu is full of Cantonese dishes we've never seen in Dublin before. Get us in there. For pies to widen your eyes: Cellar 22 Dublin has never been somewhere that had its pick of the pies, but Cellar 22 are on a mission to change that and become the city's prime pie destination. Their 'Cellar Pie' changes daily so there's always something new to try, and we're very keen to get in here for one of these and a glass of red while it's still chilly outside. To save money on food and go bigger on wine: Monty's of Kathmandu Monty's of Kathmandu is best known for Momos (Nepalese dumplings), being a warm escape from tourists in Temple Bar, and for having a hell of a wine cellar. Their new set menu, running Thursday - Saturday at lunchtime, and all night Sunday - Thursday will let you dive even deeper into those bottles, with two courses for €32 or three for €37. Go for deconstructed samosa chat, and owner Lina's Achari chicken, and take your pick from that tome of a wine list, with margins well below the city's average. For when you can't be bothered to leave the house but want something nice: DropChef's collaboration with The Salt Project DropChef , the Irish-owned meal kit delivery service, have enlisted The Salt Project 's Caomhán de Brí for a special St. Patrick's Day collaboration. The chef, known for his hyper-local sourcing, has designed four new meal kits, available for delivery from the 16th March, all incorporating the best of Irish food, like an Irish Farmhouse cheese and onion tart; and pork fillet wrapped in bacon with Keeling's Black Apple Butter and Olly's Farm Hot Dublin Honey Glaze. Each kit comes with step-by-step instructions to cook and serve within 30 minutes, and it's the ideal delivery the next time you don't have the energy to flip through recipe books, but can't be arsed going out.

It's our favourite food holiday! Which means pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, amirite ? While our own pancakes pans are going to get a serious workout today, here's the ones we most want to eat around town... (P.s. don't come at us for how many of these are in Dublin 8 - we don't decide who kills it on pancake day) Alma, Portobello Alma can be depended on for their dulce de leche pancakes 52 weeks of the year, but there's a savoury special today too - the Jamon Serrano ones. We spy eggs, we spy pickled roasted chickpeas, we spy strawberry harissa, we spy limited numbers that won't last long in Portobello so don't delay. Space Jaru, Dublin 8 Miso. Caramel. Pancakes. We have no other details, and we need no other details. A Korean spin on an Irish tradition from Space Jaru will always get our vote. Flower & Bean, Dublin 8 Flower & Bean in Dublin 8 always go hard for our most special of food holidays, and this year as well as sweet pancakes with rhubarb and rose; protein pancakes with chilli, banana and bacon; and teddy bear pancakes for the smallies, there's also this ridiculously adorable baby pancake bowl with yoghurt, Harry's nutbutter, cinnamon, pomegranate and blood orange. Would you be well? Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2 Former Allta head chef Hugh Higgins is serving fresh pancakes from 8am-6pm today in Fallon & Byrne 's Food Hall, where he's now the development chef. Traditional lemon & sugar are two for €5, and for the pistachio obsessives they'll have one with house-made pistachio crème & Irish strawberries. At lunchtime the savoury option features house-baked ham, Hegarty’s smoked cheddar and béchamel, and they're all made using Killadoon Farm milk. Slice, Stoneybatter Slice are bringing all the dessert pancakes to Dublin 7 this year. Their banoffee pancakes come topped with dulce de leche, banana cremeux and a biscuit crumb, while the apple crumble comes with caramelised apple, crumble, and cardamom custard. Two Pups, Dublin 8 and Fairview Two Pups have fluffy stacked pancakes on the go in Dublin 8 and in Fairview, with miso caramel, blood orange, homemade honeycomb and whipped ricotta. How's that for a combo. Hidden, Smithfield Hidden in Smithfield picked a good time of year to introduce their "Dubai chocolate pancakes to the menu", and they're reduced to €15 just for today. The whole thing is homemade, even the chocolate bar on the side, and their regular sweet and savoury pancake options are also reduced to €11 for one day only. Ango's, Dublin 8 If you like more of a simple life, without all those fancy ingredients and exotic toppings, and just want a plate of pancakes like your mammy used to make, head to Ango's in The Liberties for thin, cripsy crêpes topped with whatever you'd like. Go fruit, go jam, go honey, go nuts, or ask them to rock out the lemon and sugar if that's how you want to play it. The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke, Rialto Not into pancakes? Celebrate with a pancake cupcake instead from The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke . There are f our flavours available - vanilla, red velvet, oreo and chocolate, and each is topped with three mini pancakes, a chocolate drizzle and sprinkles. Happy Pancake Day to all who celebrate. At Home - Ottolenghi's fluffy stack and Nigella's crêpes Can't get to any of these places? Make the fluffy stacks served in Ottolenghi's cafés at home, and top with whatever you've got to hand. Find the recipe here . For crêpes Nigella's version never fails, and if you're more of a savoury person, this recipe for Okonymiyaki is one of the best.

We’re not sure we’ve ever felt as much sheer seasonal relief as on our first sighting of forced rhubarb stalks over the last week - the perfect pastel pink summons the sense of spring to our mind like little else, and tells us that – finally! – winter has come to a close. We’re looking forward to pigging out on all things rhubarb, blood orange and early wild garlic and white asparagus in the weeks to come, but here are the spring dishes already on our eat list... Granola with rhubarb-lime compote, Honey Truffle The drabness of an Irish winter giving way to the bright brilliant pink of rhubarb is one of the best bits of the year – we feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t love it. Honey Truffle have brought out the colour even more with a splash of lime (you don’t see that every day), and spooned the lot over their house granola. No better way to start the day, or the season. Blood orange, fennel and radicchio salad, Baa Baa Blood orange is another seasonal beauty that’s becoming increasingly common about town - once only the preserve of fancier restaurants, it’s made its way to more cafés and grocers the last few years. Baa Baa ’s salad treatment shines a smart spotlight, played off creamy burrata and bitter radicchio to bring out its sweet and juicy best.   White asparagus and sea bream, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen We’re still scratching our head wondering what it will take for Michelin to dole out a third star to Chapter One - we’ve been to enough in our time to know Mickael Viljanen and co are operating at the top of the game. This white asparagus wonder is a case in point, partly for the perfectly-cooked stalk itself, but all the more so for the foam served alongside that had us almost erupting in tears of joy.   Rhubarb black sesame bun, Elliot‘s Elliot’s  are at it again with this deceptively simple-seeming seasonal specimen - you can bet plenty of time-intensive testing went into perfecting it. They’ve opted for black sesame to bring out the best of rhubarb, with a toasted seed sugar and crémeux balancing out the tart tang in a crème within, and poached batons atop.   Blood orange donuts, Flower ‘n’ Bean It’s just as well Flower ‘n’ Bean  are serving these doughnuts on Fridays only, or we’d be in every day of the week. For the day that’s in it  they’re doing a duo of blood orange and rhubarb pancakes today too, plus a first sighting of wild garlic in their weekly soup and sandwich special – it’s a seasonal feast.   Gnocchi with wild garlic, Coppinger Wild garlic has wound its way over to Coppinger  too, and just look at the colour they’ve teased out from the first shoots. Confit and BBQ King oyster mushrooms, and teasingly charred pan-fried gnocchi join the bright green puree on the plate, all lifted with lemon ricotta dollops and a pop of pickled shallot. Wipe your mouth there...   Rhubarb waffles, Urbanity We can always rely on Urbanity  to lean in hard to seasonal specials, and this weekend waffle dish is no exception. Ginger is a classic bedfellow of rhubarb for good reason - here they’ve doubled up with a ginger custard (genius) and a spiced ginger and oat crumble both working to balance the stewed stalks across the plate.   Blood orange and pistachio croissant buns, Bread Naturally “Homemade blood orange and vanilla marmalade” is a sequence of words guaranteed to stop us in our tracks. We’d welcome the chance to buy that by the jar, but until then, getting it within Bread Naturally ’s croissant buns will have to do. They’ve topped it with a pistachio mascarpone cream and pistachio crumb, plus a candied slice of blood orange to really show it all off.   Scallop and blood orange, Mamo We’re as much, if not more, excited to see savoury treatments of seasonal fruits as sweet, and Mamo  always accommodate with a seafood slant out in Howth. The sweetness and slight sharpness of blood orange accentuates and elevates the subtle flavours of scallop, not to mention just how very pretty it looks in the shell.   Rhubarb, tarragon and pistachio buns, Fable If it ain’t broke… This spring Fable have gone back to the well and put last year’s rhubarb recipe bun right back on the menu. Considering we tried and failed five times to get one before they’d sold out, that’s no bad thing in our book. The gorgeous golden hue of the buns plays off the perfect pink of the rhubarb for a very seductive snack.   Salmon with blood orange, The Seafood Cafe More smart seafood treatment of everyone’s favourite spring citrus from the folks at The Seafood Café – they really do what they say on the tin here. Cured organic salmon is another clever foil to play off the sweetness of the blood orange, while the kick of elderflower vinegar ties it all together – we can almost taste the freshness from here.   Blood orange pancakes, Two Pups We usually wouldn’t allow something so short-term on a rundown meant to last the season, but we can’t not spare a moment for Two Pups ’ pancake plate of the day. You rarely get to see blood orange heaped on a stack; we don’t think we’ve ever seen it paired with miso caramel and a homemade honeycomb. It’s just as well they say they’ve made a big batch. See more pancakes we want to eat in Dublin today here .

Chefs Victor Lara and Celina Altamirano have been ripping up cacti over in Ranelagh with their Mexico-city style plates at Suertudo , deeply inspired by their Jalisco and Oaxacan homelands. ATF's Ronan Doyle called the revamp of what was formerly Dillinger's " the kind of bold move we badly need more of around town "; the Irish Times noted its " flashes of brilliance "; and the Irish Independent said it's brought " the spark back " to a prime location. We're taking over Suertudo on the night of Tuesday 11th March, and the kitchen team are determined to show our readers what they're all about, with a liberal, nine-course menu featuring ceviche, pork, octopus, mole, tacos and more for the first-rate price of €68pp. They're even throwing in a welcome cocktail - 'The Jaguar Sip'. There will be two sittings on the night at 17:30 and 20:15, and Lara and Altamirano are going to ensure you leave with no Mexico-city stone unturned, after trying camotito, housemade tortilla chips, two types of mole and all the tacos. The chefs themselves will also be on site all night to serve the dishes and chat with diners. T his is an ATF Insiders-only event - sign up here  for €5 a month if you're not already part of the best food club in Dublin. Each Insider can book a table for two, and bring a guest with them.  If you're coming with friends who are also signed up and you want to sit together, just make a note on your booking. As this is a group dining event, you may be sitting at a table with other people. Unfortunately it's not possible to offer a vegetarian menu for this event, or make dish substitutions, but if you're someone who eats All The Food , then take a look at the feast we've got in store for you... Bookings for our Suertudo takeover on Tuesday 11th March go live tomorrow, Tuesday 4th March at 12pm. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders  will receive the booking link in their inbox. If you're not already signed up you can do so below.

Was Glasgow on our must visit list before Michelin decided to hold the 2025 award ceremony there? No it was not, but we knew they must have had their reasons, so all the research began. What we found was a hopping food and drink scene, well priced, with the nicest staff and the warmest welcomes literally everywhere. After endless hours of research, and then putting that research to the test, here's where we think should be on your Glasgow hit list... The Michelin-starred ones Unalome Unalome and its Chef-Patron Graeme Cheevers won their star just eight months after opening, and while it's the third Michelin-starred kitchen he's run, it's the first time winning it for his restaurant, in his home town. The evening tasting menu costs £135, but the three course lunch feels like a steal at £55, complete with canapés, bread and petit fours to finish. The food, inspired by Japanese cuisine and French technique, is above all else groan-eliciting, with the bold wine pairings another reason to visit. The room is soft and unstuffy, and staff are full of interesting tidbits about what you're consuming - don't miss the spectacle of a cheese trolley, complete with creamy Scottish cow's milk cheese "Minger", named after the cheesemaker's wife (there's another called "Fat Cow" named after his mother-in-law). Cail Bruich Executive Chef Lorna McNee took up her first head chef role at Cail Bruich (which means "to eat well") in summer 2020, and was awarded a Michelin star just over five months later. Her focus is on elegant plates highlighting Scotland’s seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant has its own kitchen garden. This is contemporary Michelin-starred dining, with star ingredients like West Coast brown crab, Isle of Skye langoustines, and Creedy Carver duck. The brilliant casual ones Margo You know when you're lucky enough to experience a restaurant at its zenith, when it's fully firing, when you think how can they possibly top this? That's Margo right now. Only open since October, Michelin awarded them a Bib Gourmand at last week's ceremony, and the UK and Ireland's top chefs were scrambling to get a table while they were in town. This seven days a week, lunch and dinner operation, works on volume, with the team saying they can do up to 500 covers a day, and with food like this, there's no wondering why Glaswegians are queueing up. The beef tartare with grilled onions and crispy potato; the chipsticks and taramasalata; the half Creedy Carver duck with liver parfait and marmalade - and we haven't mentioned the very fair wine prices and very lovely staff who seem delighted to be a part of it. It would not be over the top to hop on a cheap flight to Glasgow just to eat there. Crabshakk Go to newly refurbished Crabshakk for a celebration of Scottish seafood. You'll always find the classics like baked crab (with peppery garam masala running through it), Langoustines the size of your forearm with garlic butter, and deep bowls of mussels, but specials could throw up anything from whole mackerel in a honey chilli crisp, to red mullet in a herby green goddess dressing. Sit at the bar for a piece of the action or upstairs for some respite from the grey Glasgow weather. Gloriosa Mediterranean small plates and indie wines are the vibe at Gloriosa , where chef/owner Rosie Healey and team are known for restraint, simplicity, and never over complicating a beautiful thing. Try the sweet and sour roast pumpkin agrodolce, homemade pasta with chicken liver ragu, or a rich roast pork tonnato, all paired with classic cocktails and small production wines. The high-ceilinged, minimalist room is softened by floor to ceiling blue velvet curtains and candlelight, and whether you want a quick snack or a multi-course feast, Gloriosa delivers. Ga Ga Malaysia-inspired diner Ga Ga is a subway ride from the centre of town, but deep-fried prawn bao, Malaysian-style curries, and Sichuan-fried chicken will make it worth the trip. Pair will stellar cocktails from an Asian-inspired list, and relax in the bamboo and plant-filled space. Not ordering the crispy potatoes with curry leaf mayo would be a Scottish sin. Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch Tantrum Doughnuts This independent doughnut shop has a constantly changing roster of flavours in their three locations - those on the quest to avoid glucose spikes should probably look away. With flavours from crème brûlée to blueberry pretzel cheesecake to maple apple old fashioned, there's always a new reason to stop at Tantrum Doughnuts , and even Phil Rosenthal has heard of them - look out for them in the next season of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. Outlier We didn't have time to get to Outlier but an ATF Insider told us they had the best sausage roll of their life there, and that's good enough for us! The most beautiful pastries, cakes, breakfast and brunch dishes, with housemade syrups for coffee and doughnut days, Outlier is known as one of Glasgow's best for good reason. Sub 126 Another one we didn't get to, but the team at D'Olier Street did and said it was "unreal!!!!" Italian-American sandwich shop Sub 126 opened last year and immediately gained a loyal following for their icon-level subs, with fillings like short-rib, porchetta and salsa verde, and the classic meatball marinara. Sandwiches are priced from £6.50 - £8 so this goes in the bargain section. Piece You know what to do when you see a queue right? You join it. When we saw the one snaking through Piece and down the street at 12:30pm we were already on our way to Margo, otherwise we would have turned around and joined the crowd. Turns out this is Glasgow's fiercely independent sandwich shop, there since 2008, now with four locations. Combos like hot salt beef with gherkins and garlic mayo, and the vegan "Nottolenghi" with hummus, roasted cauliflower, pickled onions, chillies, and green sauce are what cause the daily frenzy, as are prices starting at £5.75. Cocktails Underneath Margo you'll find their even cooler, more casual sibling Sebb's , known for food cooked over fire and some of the most masterful cocktails to be found in Glasgow. You can come for food or drinks, and it's got diner vibes, with five-star smells. Try the chip shop martini with house pickle, or the miso and malt old fashioned, and sink happily into those leather seats. Up for an unknown adventure? Book a table at The Absent Ear , whose location is only revealed after you book. This award-winning cocktail bar is inspired by Vincent Van Gogh - his artistic legacy and his madness. Another must visit for cocktail tourists is the Devil of Brooklyn , with its grand bar the setting for cocktails like 'The Gorgon' with coriander and chilli tequila, or 'Hermes' with mint-washed Macallan double cask 12 year and house acid. Left to right: The Absent Ear, Devil of Brooklyn Over in Glasgow's West End, dive bar-inspired Westside Tavern serves 'taptails', "compounded and carbonated in house", as well as a 'New York Icons' menu, while Kelvingrove Café has become a hospitality hang out for brunch, lunch, cocktails and dinner, thanks to their 10:00 - 01:00 opening hours seven days a week. Clockwise from top left: Westside Tavern, Rascal, Kelvingrove Café On the other side of Kelvingrove Park, Rascal peg themselves as a neighbourhood cocktail bar serving specialty spirits, but their innovative creations have made this one of the most in demand places to drink in the city, whether they're in your neighbourhood or not. Wine While Glasgow is very much in it's cocktail era, the same cannot be said for wine. Ask anyone where there's a good wine bar and the same two names come up each time - Sylvan , a vegetarian restaurant specialising in natural wine which also has a bar and shop, and Malo Wine and Negroni Bar , which we tried to get into but it was shut despite Google telling us it would be open. Left to right: Sylvan; Malo Wine & Negroni Bar Coffee Coffee will not be the same issue as wine, with every corner seeming to sport a specialty coffee shop. We loved the minimalist, narrow room home to Level 11 , with their bubbly staff and iced cherry vanilla almond milk chai. Absolute Roasters was a reader tip which provided us with a couple of very fine flat whites for a walk to the West End, and another reader told us they had the best coffee of their life in Godshot Studio to the south of the centre. How's that for a testimonial? Clockwise from top left: Absolute Roasters; Godshot Studio; Level 11 Cheese If you're the kind of person who can't visit any country that produces their own cheese without bringing a sackful home (*waves*), you'll have to take a decent walk or hop on public transport to find Glasgow's finest. George Mewes Cheese has all the award-winning Mingers, Bonnets and Isle of Mull cheddars you could want, as do I.J. Mellis Cheesemonger in Hillhead, and Starter Culture down in Shawlands. Clockwise from top left: Minger at George Mewes Cheese; Cheese plate at I.J. Mellis; Gifts at Starter Culture The ones that got away... The Gannet - Modern Scottish fine dining that sounds like it could be bringing home Glasgow's next star Celentano's  - Ex-Robin Gill chef Dean Parker's first solo opening is intimate and all kinds of Italian-ish Fallachan Kitchen - A communal table in front of an open kitchen under a railway Brett - From the same owners as Cail Bruich. Simple dishes cooked on open grills showcasing everything Scotland has to offer the world of food Eighty Eight - Small plates and Mediterranean vibes at great prices Ka Pao - Electric South East Asian cooking from the same owners as Margo Clockwise from top left: The Gannet; Celentano's; Fallachan Kitchen; Eighty Eight; Ka Pao

We're finally beginning to be spoiled for choice when it comes to Dublin’s bakery scene, rather than trekking for miles each weekend to stand in line because if we're doing pastry, we're only doing the best. Between new arrivals like Bold Boy and institutions like Bread 41 , it’s easy to get decision fatigue trying to figure out what’s going to go best with your morning coffee (or get you past an afternoon slump), so to help you out, here’s a round up of what we think are the flagship pastries from Dublin’s best bakeries - the one product that encapsulates what these heavy hitters do best... Scéal Bakery - Everything Croissant Scéal Bakery started back in the Fumbally Stables in 2017, but decamped to the seaside in recent years and have been very much missed. Lucky for all of the inhabitants of Dublin 8 and beyond, they've now returned, operating out of The Wine Pair on Saturday mornings only. Their Everything Croissant is indeed everything we want in a savoury breakfast situation - flaky croissant dough topped with a perfectly piped blob of their housemade cream cheese, sweet red onions and everything bagel seed mix. Equal parts crunchy, buttery, salty, creamy and rich, with a hyper savoury allium note. Bold Boy Bakery - PB&J Danish Bold Boy Bakery is the newest addition to the Dublin pastry scene, and we love everything from their tongue in cheek branding to their original range of pastries. The P&B danish is everything we want from a pastry moment - nostalgic and revelatory, it takes a well known flavour combination and works a textural magic. The almost-sharp jam is offset with a rich whipped cloud of peanut butter cream, on a raft of flaky buttery pastry, and finished with a shard of peanut brittle. Joyous. Fable Bakery - Cinnamon Bun Fable Bakery ’s focus is on perfecting and extending the concept of the Scandinavian style bun, with almond, chocolate and classic cinnamon versions, alongside savoury options like sundried tomato, an everything bagel, and a consistently delicious seasonal special. The cinnamon bun is the one to go for, and is the platonic ideal of its kind - sturdy but squidgy, sticky, spiced and deeply flavoured with little pops of texture from the sugar pearls on top. Una Bakery - Almond Croissant Una Bakery is everything you could ask for in a neighbourhood bakery - a well considered range of takes on classics, and a view into the kitchen where you can watch the bakers laminating and shaping the dough as you wait for your coffee. We loved their almond croissant when we visited in April , a prime example of the genre, realised with such skill that it felt a little like tasting one for the first time. Almond croissants can tend towards stodge, but this one is magically light with great almond flavour and shatteringly delicate layers. The Bakery by the Cupcake Bloke - Mikado The Bakery by the Cupcake Bloke is a haven in Rialto village, carrying a range of preserves, cheese and baking equipment as well as cupcakes, biscuits and brack. Graham Herterich is Ireland’s answer to Christina Tosi, injecting a distinctly Irish nostalgia into his recipes, and while his brack is a cult in its own right, the thing to get here is his version of the Mikado biscuit. Tangy jam, soft marshmallow and a crumbly biscuit will take you right back to childhood by way of a (slightly) more sophisticated adult palate. Bread 41 - Custardo Bread 41 was one of Dublin’s contemporary bakery first movers, and has firmly established itself as both a neighbourhood stalwart and a destination bakery for literally everyone from further afield. They like to keep things exciting with a rotating range of daily & weekend specials, and we almost don’t want to be prescriptive here. Getting out of bed early on a Saturday and rocking up to see what looks good is almost certainly the move, but on a weekday their Custardo is a perfect little bite every single time, showcasing both their buttery layered pastry and their attention to flavour in a rich vanilla custard. Elliot's - Pain Suisse There’s a sense of peace about Elliot's' two locations, even though they’re almost constantly out the door with customers. From the understated monochrome branding to their thoughtful range of bread and pastries, it’s very clear that they take what they’re doing seriously, and the proof is in the quality. Their viennoiserie is all top tier, but the one to go for is the Pain Suisse. Generous with good dark chocolate and vanilla pastry cream, the cross laminated shell is perfectly crisp, and the best bits are undoubtedly the sweet chewy edges where the chocolate and custard have oozed out during baking and caramelised on the tray. No Messin - Cardi B Characteristic of Dublin’s “third wave” bakeries, No Messin’ has little interest in interpreting the classics - you won’t find a croissant or pain au chocolat on the counter of Proper Order . Instead, No Messin's interest lies in creating their own brilliant hybrid creations. Their lineup includes cutely named inventions like the Almond and Chocolate Frankies, but we love the OG Cardi B - a twist of spiced filling and light and buttery brioche drenched in a syrup that keeps it moist, making it as good a decision in the afternoon as it is in the morning (if they haven’t sold out). Hong Kong taste - Bento Cake Hong Kong Taste is the place to go in Dublin for pillowy yeasted buns and airy delicate cakes, with the Hong Kong style of confectionary featuring cotton-light sponges filled with barely sweet whipped cream and fresh fruit. As the antithesis to the hurriedly purchased waxy and synthetic supermarket old reliables (no hate Colin), their personalised bento sized cakes are a beautiful option to take along to a birthday dinner or picnic date. Adorable and delicious Noisette - Cruffin Noisette ’s pastries are world class, and their preoccupation with good ingredients is more than apparent in the quality of their products. Made with Isigny butter and organic flour, their range of cruffins are standout - tall swirls of croissant pastry rolled in sugar and filled with a changing assortment of seasonal flavours, like pear and caramel, pistachio cream and Black Forest. Blossom Artisan Bakery - Tonka Bean Tart Lucky for North Dublin locals, Blossom Artisan Bakery set up shop in Buddy’s Farmers Market in Ballymun in 2023 . Their pistachio and tonka bean tart was supposed to be a seasonal special, but people ( waves ) went so crazy for it that they had to make it permanent. A flaky croissant base is filled with white chocolate tonka bean cream, and finished with a pistachio crumb. Tonka bean has has the profile of a more complex vanilla, nutty, spicy and floral, and while we’re surprised more bakeries aren’t taking advantage of this beautiful ingredient, we’re glad Blossom took the lead in this utterly perfect creation. Russell Street Bakery - Croissant Russell Street Bakery is the place to go for classic viennoiserie - they’re playing the hits and doing so perfectly. This is for the plain croissant purists, because Russell Street’s version is exemplary - delicate honeycomb layers housed in a shatteringly tender golden shell. There’s often an issue with some Dublin bakeries who shall not be named selling stale pastries, and a croissant lives and dies by the amount of time that passes between the oven and your mouth. Russell Street have never hit a bum note in our experience, and they bake throughout the day so there’s always something fresh from the oven. The Rock Bakery - Sausage rolls It's almost impossible to pick one must order at The Rock Bakery , because this micro bakery in Skerries change their endlessly creative menu every.single.month. Sausage rolls are one thing that are permanent, but they're never the same - this month it's garlic and herb, last month's was black pudding, the one before that was bacon and sage stuffing - and like everything else here, they're impeccable.

There's a spicy, fatty, energy dense feeling to our hit list this week, which probably says a lot about the never-ending winter we're going through. Plenty of time yet before the season of less clothes starts, so we'll be bulking up on this lot for the foreseeable... 1) Hot Pep Danish, Elliot's When two icons collide. Elliot's are tipping their hat to Bambino with the new 'Hot Pep Danish', named after the slice shop's most famous pizza . Croissant dough is filled with ricotta, pepperoni, jalapeños and finished with hot honey, and it sounds like a recipe for a long queue outside. 2) The Big Matt, Hawksmoor We're unapologetic food snobs, with no time for fast food chains serving additive filled, copy and paste food, using intensively reared meat and 56 ingredients in their most famous burger. However, when one of the world's best steakhouses  does their own version of that burger, we're here and hungry for it. Hawksmoor 's "The Big Matt" was named the world's best burger in 2023, and it's just landed in Dublin. Race ya. 3) Butter chicken ramen, Soup DL Soup in Dun Laoghaire are known for Japanese ramen, not Indian curry, but their latest special is bringing both culinary wonders to the seaside suburb. Their new butter chicken ramen has a base of 12-hour chicken broth, with Indian style butter chicken, Bombay mix, crispy shallots, diced kimchi, fermented red cabbage, and spring onion. And as if all that wasn't enough, it's served with a side of poori bread. 4) Biryani, Adda, Clanbrassil Street There are few things worse than a dry, tasteless Biryani, and Adda 's looks like the opposite of that statement. You could go for the classic chicken yes, but we're loving the sound of the veggie one with paneer cheese, and if lamb is on as a special, obviously you order that. 5) Croissant cheesecake, Medialuna We've had this croissant cheesecake from Medialuna once, and this pic brought the creamy, crunchy flavours crashing back in our brains. This one is spiked with a red berry centre, and you'll find us sniffing out their following list on Instagram to search for stockists.

It's that time of the month where we tell you about the nine amazing prizes we've rustled up for ATF Insiders to thank them for keeping the ATF wheels turning. As an ad-free, invite-free platform, ATF Insiders is how we're funded and operate, ensuring everything recommended here has been paid for by us . and you're only getting honest, uninfluenced appraisals of where we eat. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th February will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Tuesday 18th February. Here's what we've got for you this month... 1) A "LegenDerry" food experience worth over €300 One of our very lucky Insiders is going to win a gourmet getaway to Derry, to celebrate LegenDerry Food Month taking place throughout February. The winner and their guest will be heading to the Ebington Hotel to relax in stylish surroundings, before heading out for dinner at El Tapas Grá , where Irish ingredients meet Spanish flavours. The adventure continues the next day at  Walled City Brewery , where you’ll embark on a tasting experience sampling craft beers paired with delicious bites that celebrate the best of LegenDerry ’s food scene. It's the perfect chance to experience the best of Derry and soaking up some of its famous hospitality. 2) A midweek escape for two at Kelly's Resort Hotel & Spa The legendary Kelly's Resort Hotel  in Wexford on the stunning Rosslare beach has been the scene of many great Irish holidays since opening in 1895 (wowza!), and it's now firmly on the foodie travel map with four different restaurants to dine in. We've got a midweek escape for two to give away this month, for a relaxing overnight stay with dinner in the award-winning Beaches Restaurant , access to the Aqua Club  and spa, and breakfast the next morning of freshly baked pastries, homemade preserves, and all the hot dishes you might want to start your day off. Kelly's is the perfect escape from reality, filled with relaxation, gourmet dining, and coastal charm, and we're very excited to send one of our Insiders  off for some RnR! 3) Two tickets for the "Ganbei" duck and wine pairing at Hang Dai Chinese worth €260 On Sunday 9th March, Hang Dai  will host Ganbei - the ultimate duck & wine pairing experience. Each course of the five-course, eight-dish tasting menu will be paired with wines picked by their in-house sommelier Laoise Dempsey,  who be guiding diners through each pour, and you can expect pairings like hoisin sauce and juicy beaujolais, and Sichuan pepper with a zippy Riesling. There are two sittings on the night and tickets for all food with the wine pairings are €130, but we're sending one of you with a friend FOC. Tickets for Ganbei go on sale Sunday 16th February at 15:00. 4) €150 voucher for Bar Italia   Bar Italia  is one of those IYKYK places, where the carbonara , cacio e pepe and Roman-style pinsas have their own cult-like following, but next month they're changing it up. Their famous daily specials are moving to a monthly menu change, meaning more time to get your hands on those one off dishes, and joining the core canon will be Ossobuco with risotto; fettucine with Curragh lamb bianco; and house focaccia with Wagyu bavette steak - you'll need to bring a gang to get it all on the table. After an incredible 26 years in business, they're having their latest renovation at the end of March, and have given us a €150 voucher to give away so one of you can head in and check out the changes. Check them out here . 5) A cookery class for two at Howth Cookery School Howth Castle Cookery School has just gotten a brand new kitchen in association with luxury appliance brand Gaggenau, and they've given us a cookery class for two to give away to celebrate! The cookery school offers a wide variety of hands-on cooking classes, from traditional Irish dishes to international flavours, suitable for all skill levels. They also host bespoke corporate experiences, including a Catch & Cook  where you can fish for your lunch out the back of Ireland’s Eye in Dublin Bay - what a day that would be. Check our their upcoming classes including Japanese street food and gourmet pizza here . 6) €100 voucher for Featherblade Featherblade , one of Dublin's best (and best value) places to go out for steak, have been quietly collaborating with the Droimeann Cattle Society , which has played a vital role in bringing the beautiful ancient breed back from the brink of extinction just a few years ago. Soon you'll be able to get a taste of the premium, well-marbled beef at Featherblade ! The farmer supplying them rears his 56-strong herd on a tiny island on Lough Ree which is entirely organic, and which supplies his herd with enough food to graze on and forage for that the herd is totally self sufficient. How amazing is that? We've got a €100 voucher to give away for Featherblade this month so you can have a taste of rare breed beef for yourself. 7) A seafood prize pack from Kish Fish Dublin-based fine seafood experts,  Kish Fish , founded in the old Dublin Fish Market nearly 60 years ago, have just rebranded and announced a collaboration with Guinness. The family-run wholesale seafood business, with three retail shops in North Dublin as well as Avoca Dunboyne, have developed a new Guinness Smoked Salmon. To celebrate, they've given us a voucher for lunch in Kish Café in Howth, plus a seafood hamper filled with their Guinness Smoked Salmon, Hake & Prawn Curry, Luxury Fish Pie, Seafood Chowder, Organic Smoked Irish Salmon, and more. Check out Kish Fish here . 8) €100 voucher for Ruchii, Blackrock Ruchii in Blackrock have been steadily gaining a reputation as one of Dublin's best restaurants to experience "true Indian food", with dishes coming from all sides of the subcontinent based on the "six primary tastes" - sour, salt, bitter, astringent, pungent, sweet. They're celebrating after a great review in the Irish Times last week, which said they have " the potential to elevate this neighbourhood spot into a genuine destination for Indian food enthusiasts ", and have given us a €100 voucher so one of our Insiders can head out to Blackrock to try their Chetinaad beef rib, mango coconut prawns and six-taste thali. Check out Ruchii here . 9) Brunch for four with cocktails at Slice, Stoneybatter Slice in Stoneybatter is the café that doesn't miss, with regularly changing specials like Cáis na tire leeks on sourdough; and beetroot achar with Ballyhubbock haloumi on toast, using the best organic veg from McNally Farm in North Dublin. They've also got the best drinks menu (boozy and non-boozy) of any café we've seen, and did you know you can get Slice all to yourself? They do private and corporate catering , serving canapés, sandwiches, salads, cakes and more for 10 people plus, and you can also hire the café in the evening for groups of 15-30 people - sounds like our kind of group dinner. We've got brunch for four with cocktails to give away this month so one of you can check out the food before immediately wanting to book Slice for your next event. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for February (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here before midnight on Monday 17th February. You'll be supporting independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

Ireland has three new Michelin-starred restaurants, and two new Bib Gourmands, after the 2025 guide was released this evening. The three new stars went to T he Morrison Room in Kildare, Lignum in Galway, and the restaurant at Ballyfin Demense in Laois. New Bib Gourmands, awards for good restaurants offering refined cuisine at an affordable price, were given to Daróg Wine Bar in Galway, Baba'de in Cork, and Mr Deane's in Belfast. A star was awarded to The Morrison Room in the five-star Carton House in Kildare, and t wenty-eight year old head chef Adam Nevin, who took over in September 2023, after returning home from London where he was Head Chef at The Grill at The Dorchester . They were added to the Michelin guide in 2024, with inspectors praising the " breathtaking room " with a " menu matches it for opulence with an abundance of first-rate produce " and " strong classical technique but some wildcard flavour combinations ". The dinner menu is currently €110, with the tasting menu €140, but that may jump after tonight. The Morrison Room, Kildare Lignum in Galway finally got their star, after a five year wait in which they made it very clear that was the end goal. Chef proprietor Danny Africano and partner Molly Keane, the restaurant's GM, opened Lignum in 2019, and have been tipped for a star since year one, with each new release bringing great disappointment for their die-hard fans. The guide called it " immensely likeable ", with the wood-fired cooking lending " a delicious smoky dimension to the creative dishes ". The 10-course tasting menu is currently €145. Lignum, Galway The restaurant at Ballyfin Demense in Laois (famous for hosting Kim Kardashian and Kayne West on their honeymoon) was the third Irish addition to the one star list. Inspectors called it " a spectacular, lovingly restored Regency-era manor house that screams luxury ", with opulence continuing " into the dining room, where the chefs serve fittingly impressive dishes ... with bags of flavour ", completing " the rather special picture. " As one of the most expensive properties to stay and eat in in Ireland, this is one for the moneybags, but at least the restaurant is now open to non-residents, with dinner at €105 - €125 depending on the menu. Ballyfin Demense, Laois   Daróg Wine Bar 's Zsokt Lukás was awarded the Sommelier of the Year award, for his Galway wine bar with small plates, as well as a Bib Gourmand. The guide praised their " huge amount of passion" , as well as Lukács' " infectious enthusiasm for wine ", and sharing plates that are " exactingly executed, deliver on flavour and provide brilliant value for money ." Zsolt Luk às, Daróg Wine Bar Irish chef Luke Ahearne , previously at Campagne in Kilkenny, Corrigan's of Mayfair and Luca, won a star for Lita , the London restaurant where he's head chef. Here's hoping for a return home at some point in the future. Luke Ahearne, Lita The rumour mill was rife this year that next year's awards are going to be held in Dublin. Watch this space...

We love a mini-break, a cheeky over-nighter, an escape from life for the weekend, but why does hotel food have to be notoriously pants! We find ourselves routinely searching for the best places to eat withing taxi distance of everywhere we stay, and on the rare occasions we do eat in the hotel we tend to regret it, BUT there are some hotels and guest houses around the country where food as much of a draw as the spa or the rooms, even if they're in the minority... The five-star ones with spas Fresh from their Michelin win last year, The Cashel Palace Hotel 's Bishop's Buttery restaurant is as much of a headline grabber as its five-star surroundings, with diners frequently taking Air BnB's nearby so they can go for dinner in Cashel without the overnight five-star price tag. Similarly two Michelin -starred Terre , in Castlemartyr Resort in Cork draws gastrotrippers from around the globe, and there are cottages on the grounds that work out much more affordable than the hotel's rooms, especially if you have a group. Top: Cashel Palace Hotel and The Bishop's Buttery. Bottom: Terre and Castlemartyr Resort In Galway, the Pullman restaurant at Glenlo Abbey has been reinvented by chef Angelo Vagiotis, who previously worked with Vincent Crepel at Terre , shooting the former Orient Express carriages high up the food lovers experience list. W hile in Kilkenny, chef John Kelly in the Lady Helen  restaurant in Mount Juliet , is a bit of a hospitality legend, with chefs from around the country frequently travelling to eat there, Top: The Lady Helen and Mount Juliet. Bottom: The Pullman restaurant at Glenlo Abbey In Kildare, Adam Nevin returned from working in some of London's best fine dining restaurants in summer 2023 to take up the head chef role at The Morrison Room in Carton House , and it's safe to say they're now firmly on the food map , hotel or no hotel attached. Down south at The Park Hotel  in Kenmare, Kerry, you can eat in the grand dining room that's home to Landline , their restaurant filled with Sean Scully paintings and the best of the local bounty, from chef James O'Sullivan (read the Irish Independent review here ). Top: Carton House and Head Chef Adam Nevin in The Morrison Room. Bottom: Landline at The Park Hotel, Kenmare Money no object? You'll be heading to Adare Manor  in Limerick to eat Mike Tweedy's signature tasting menu (€160) at The Oak Room , or to Ballyfin  in Laois, where former Michelin-starred chef Richard Picard-Edwards uses all the local produce and plenty from the estate's walled garden. Top: The Oak Room and Adare Manor. Bottom: Ballyfin and their restaurant The boutique hotels Head for Cork and you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food-focused hotel stays. The Blue Haven Hotel is home to Rare , from Chef Meeran Manzoor, whose explorative, creative menu never seems to miss. Head west towards Clonakilty and you'll find Dunmore House , with its spectacular views and Michelin-recommended restaurant Adrift . Clockwise from top left: Rare at the Blue Haven Hotel; Adrift at Dunmore House Hotel; Ballyvolane House; the dessert trolley at Ballymaloe In the east of the county, Ballyvolane House (the birthplace of Bertha's Revenge gin ) has long been thought of as one of Ireland's best country house experiences, using ingredients from their walled garden and rearing their own rare breed pigs. Thirty minutes south you've got the iconic Ballymaloe House , with its 100 acre organic farm and internationally famous dessert trolley . If you're lucky you might spot Darina, Rachel or Rory in the flesh. In Connemara, Danni Barry , who won a Michelin star at Eipic in Belfast, took over as Executive Head Chef of The Owenmore  in Ballynahinch Castle  at the end of 2022, and is making better use of the local larder and produce from the walled garden than ever before. Neighbours   Renvyle House Hotel 's Rusheenduff restaurant , renouned for its local seafood, was named  " Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant " in Connacht for 2023 at the Restaurant Association of Ireland awards. Top: Ballynahinch Castle and Executive Head Chef Danni Barry. Bottom: Rusheenduff Restaurant and Renvyle House Hotel Pockets not deep enough for Adare Manor? Limerick is also home to the less assuming Mustard Seed , a four-star country retreat with its own orchard, serving unpretentious, very lovely food in the evenings. At Gregan's Castle  in Clare, former Bastible chef Jonathan Farrell has brought new, excited eyes on the restaurant , showing everyone just how good hotel food can be . Top: The Mustard Seed dining room and food. Bottom: Gregan's Castle and their food In Brooklodge & Macreddin Village , Co. Wicklow, The Strawberry Tree  is Ireland's first fully-organic restaurant, and has a supplier's list to make any food lover's head spin, while just south in Wexford, Kelly's Resort  has long been a family favourite, but since the opening of The Sea Rooms , with chef Chris Fullam  in the kitchen and the freshest of ingredients served in front of sea views, it's now drawing all kinds of gastro tourists too. Clockwise from top left: The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge; The Sea Rooms at Kelly's Resort; The Mill Restaurant and dining room at Cliff at Lyons And in Kildare, chef Sean Smith (formerly of The Cliff Townhouse) is filling the Aimsir-sized hole left at Cliff at Lyons , and doing a good job of it by all accounts - when we asked readers recently where they'd had really good hotel food The Mill  came up repeatedly. The restaurants with rooms A gauntlet must be run to get a booking in MacNean House , with the restaurant and rooms frequently booked out a year in advance. The general advice is "take the next available date, then try to forget about it. When it eventually comes around it'll be a happy surprise". MacNean House & Restaurant Relatively easier to get a table in is Kildare's Alumni Kitchen Table , who are clearly hoping Michelin will recognise their "immersive culinary experience", feeding a four hour tasting menu to just eight guests a night. Paul and Márie Flynn's The Tannery is still going strong, with cookery classes an optional add on if you pick your dates right, and in Donegal, former Forest & Marcy head chef Ciaran McSweeney has put the Olde Glen Bar on the gastronome map, with rooms available in Clara's Cots . Clockwise from top left: Alumni Kitchen Table; Ciaran Sweeny at The Olde Glen Bar; Cr ab crème brulée at The Tannery The very special guesthouses "Headland hideaway" Breac House is an eco-friendly, adults-only dream, with up to date luxury, Atlantic views, and a breakfast tray delivered to your room that you'll be thinking about months later. The converted bungalow opened in 2017 and has been featured in the New York Times and CN Traveller to name a few, and while they don't serve dinner year round, The Olde Glen Bar, Fisk and The Rusty Oven are within 30 minutes. Breac House At the other end of the country, Pax House in Dingle was named ‘ Ireland’s Best Small Stay ' in the Irish Independent's Reader Travel Awards 2024 . They don't serve dinner but guests say it's worth the trip for the breakfast alone - just look at this line up - and those stunning views. Back in the west, Connemara country house Currarevagh House have " food and feasting" an integral part of what they do (as well as a boathouse sauna), with chef Lucy Hodgson cooking every element of her nightly four-course menu from scratch, and this is not your average Irish country cooking . Clockwise from top left: Pax House; Curraveagh House; Ghan House; Blairscove House & Restaurant At Georgian country house Blairscove in West Cork, the starter seafood buffet is the big draw of their (currently €85) set dinner - you can only take one plate so pile it high, and in Carlingford, another Georgian property, Ghan House serves local lamb and beef that graze nearby, as well as making their own bread, stock, ice-cream and sauces. Enjoy homegrown veg, shellfish from the Lough, and views out the windows of the Mourne Mountains. Where did we miss? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

What should we know about Bloom's Café? We’ll always welcome an independent business swooping in to fill space vacated by a chain - Bloom’s Café ’s arrival in the Redmond Hill site that was previously a Costa is the kind of changeover we love to see. With pristine white walls emphasising its floral colour pops, and a patisserie range that stopped our scrolling dead in its tracks, this one’s already on course for a lot of Insta and TikTok attention. What should we have? Certainly nothing savoury - Bloom’s is pitching itself a brunch destination as much as an eye-catching cake café, but we found everything outside of the patisserie range sorely lacking. The sausage roll (€3.40) was a sad sight, short of any side salad, and all the more miserable on tasting – a fridge-cold centre dulling any taste inside, even as warm pastry alluded to a meagre microwave spin. There went our appetite. At least the ham and cheese croissant (€6.50) was heated all the way through and had some greenery to cheer things up - praise be for small mercies. Flaky, buttery pastry at least put our expectations back on course for some baking prowess at work behind the scenes, though the dish as a whole could have come from just about any city centre café. Over-soaked brioche brought the French toast (€12.50) texture closer to custard than we’d ideally have liked – a case of over-egging it. Some will rejoice in the souffle-adjacent style, but for our part this was just too soft and sweet, with under-acidic fruit and a nondescript raspberry sauce offering little reprieve. But it’s less the brunch (thank god) that Bloom’s has staked its reputation on than its head-turning confections, a dainty selection of picture-pretty patisserie and photorealistic faux-fruit in the Is It Cake? mould. Here we’re on much firmer footing -the painstaking detail of the coconut’s chocolate shell (€6. 80) is as impressive as the assertive intensity of real mango within – this is where the talent is. The pear’s a similar showstopper (€6) with a glazed green shell yielding white chocolate cream within, and a hidden treasure cavity of super-sweet stewed fruit. Slathered over a shard of oat shortbread base, the textures and fresh flavours are a delight, and rendered the sorry savoury plates a distant memory. Maritozzi are having a moment in Dublin and Bloom’s (€6) have gone in hard with a fast-changing choice of the cream-loaded brioche buns. We were beaten to the last of the pistachio so settled for strawberry instead. The delicate dough is a sweet feast of airy indulgence, so light it might dissolve on contact. We’re keen to see what seasonal variations might be in store here. The layered matcha cake (€6) is a must-have for die-hard fans of the green tea flavour, so shot through with its intense earthy notes you hardly sense the sweetness. If a little less showy than its neighbours on the shelf, it’s just as much a showcase of a top new baker in town. Why should I go? Steer clear of the box-ticking brunch menu and Bloom’s Café ’s confections have plenty to merit a visit - their social feed-friendly patisserie picks are more than just pretty pictures. Bloom’s Cafe 13 Redmond’s Hill, Dublin 2 instagram.com/bloomscafedublin

If there’s anything on earth more likely to inspire a weekend getaway than an Irish winter we can't name it - the endless energy-sapping trudge from dark mornings to grey afternoons has us in a permanent state of flight fantasy. Between cheap flights, a super-short haul and a guaranteed minimum five degrees in the difference, Lisbon is one of our top tips for reprieve at this time of year, and it helps that it’s bursting with great places to eat. Here’s some of our favourites for your next quick break, which you really ought to get booking... Breakfast & snacks   Alcoa Tucked amidst the warren of hilly shopping streets in Bairro Alta, patisserie Alcoa is stocked deep with a choice of decades-old winners from the annual Alcobaça International Exhibition – they take pastry very, very seriously here. Friendly staff will help you navigate the dizzying choice and find something to your taste, and the best-selling custard cornucopia and almond-intense coroa de abadessa were as good a start to the day as we could have imagined. Santo António The little scream we let out of us on spying a port croissant could have woken the dead – why aren’t these everywhere? Santo António is an unassuming spot set in one of the quieter corners of Alfama, the kind of place that even if you traipsed past it you might not think to pop in. Don’t make that mistake. Red ripples run through the dough just as the intense fruit flavour punctuates the sweetness - this is a great local take. A clotted cream doughnut was delicious too, and their picture-perfect pastéis are a textbook specimen. Pastéis de Belem For the  textbook specimen, though, you’ve got to traipse out to the western suburb Belém, where this tourist-thronged bakery stakes its claim on being the OG. They’re certainly top-tier, and so persistently popular you’re guaranteed to get one fresh from the oven, though branded sachets of icing sugar and cinnamon give it the feel of a franchise in the making. The Bifanas of Afonso Where pastéis have flooded the rest of the world, bifanas might be the most popular Portuguese food not often found elsewhere. These simmered pork sandwiches aren’t much to look at, but one bite of the stew-soaked soft bread, and tender, mustard-drenched meat makes appearances soon forgotten. This tiny cash-only, social media-free window hatch in central Baixa has built up enough of an IYKYK rep to sling them out by the dozen all day – plan an off-peak arrival if you don’t want to be queueing ‘round the corner. Lunch & dinner   Taberna Sal Grosso Extensive research is an absolute must for any sit-down meals in Alfama (you’re off to a good start here) with a plethora of hole-in-the-wall tascas, tabernas and cervejarias giving no real clues to discern which are the tourist traps and which the true treasures. Taberna Sal Grosso sits squarely in the latter camp and is the one entrant on this list we’d return to in the fastest fashion - this tightly-packed twenty-or-so seater has lived rent-free in our heads ever since we were in. Bacalhau à Brás is a Portuguese classic, matchstick-thin potato tossed with salt cod and onions and bound in egg – you will not find a better version than in here. Just as good were the cod tongues, dredged and deep-fried on a pea purée base and spooned over with salsa - this contrast of salty/crispy/creamy had us very close to calling for seconds. A garlic sauce-basted ray was every bit as simple and satisfying as the best treatments of this flatfish always are, while the traditional meringue-and-custard farofias dessert sent us stumbling out the door in ecstasy – no shortage of Algarve Alvarinho can only have helped there.   Andorinhas Belém isn’t the best part of the city to be when you’re famished, with the tourist hordes visiting its namesake tower and the Jerónimos Monastery making local eateries largely about turning a buck off the passing trade. Venture slightly off-course and you’ll find your way to Andorinhas , a little family-owned spot almost entirely frequented by Lisbon locals. Save time on skimming the sizeable menu and dive into the arroz de tamboril, a massive monkfish stew that shows off the best of Portuguese food’s peasant roots. It will take at least two to have any hope of finishing it. Griddled salmon steak and a veal and prawn dish swimming in glorious gravy are simplicity incarnate - for wholesome home cooking look no further. Tasca Baldracca Less likely to be dished up by a grandmother is the fare at Tasca Baldracca , a buzzy little nook offering on-trend twists on Portuguese petiscos, the local take on tapas. If there’s a mantra here it’s the “fine dining is dead xx” that graces their chalk-scrawled menu. They may hold for the atmosphere, but not for the food, plenty of which is fine as it comes. The blood sausage and apple plate wouldn’t look out of place in many Michelin-aspiring restaurants, with the flavours to boot. Tender squid rings take great heat and depth from the puddle of moqueca (Brazilian fish stew) they’re piled in, though like with the cod croquettes and crisps we wished they’d gone a little easier on the herbs – or just chopped them. Tartare is one thing you won’t want to miss, with a bold blast of flavour from anchovy mayo and the plumpest capers. Maçã Verde Fine dining really might be dead if Maçã Verde has anything to do with it. Another exceptional little family-run eatery, this is a place that doesn’t look like much at all but my oh my can appearances be deceiving. Forget booking a cheap flight, we’d charter a whole plane if we had to for another taste of their grilled cuttlefish, with generous chunks of sweet meat stirred through parboiled potatoes and onions, all lifted to the heavens with an olive oil and vinegar dressing we’re not ashamed to say we mopped up with a finger. The cinnamon-rich rice pudding is a traditional treat to finish on, and a great counter to the intense acidity of the cuttlefish we still felt flaring through our nostrils. If we’d had another few days to explore we would have gone back again and again. The ones that got away...   Prado   – just about every chef we trust in Dublin has raved about this Michelin-listed bistro, and we’re gutted we couldn’t make the times work Cervejaria Ramiro  – the gambas aguillo and spider crab are the stuff of legend, and allegedly well worth the lengthy wait that kept us from making it in Tapisco Lisboa  - a Michelin-starred chef’s more casual sister outlet that shows a lot of Spanish influence. We’ve heard a lot about their take on bacalhau à Brás Casa da India  – another unassuming tasca with an IYKYK rep – we’ve had a few hot tips about the tripe here Taberna da Rua das Flores  – fried sardines and mini-mackerel are just some of the seafood treats we really wish we’d managed to make it to in this one

A brand new bakery making peanut butter and jelly Danishes, a new (to us) Southern Indian restaurant making a thali we can't stop thinking about, and the bao they tried to get rid of but the customers were having none of it. Here's what we most want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Peanut butter and jelly Danish, Bold Boy Bakery Well they kept that one quiet didn't they? Two Pups unleashed a brand new bakery on the city last week that will be supplying both of their locations in Dublin 8 and Fairview, and you could say we're excited to try Bold Boy Bakery 's peanut butter and jelly Danish, and the bread and butter pudding, and the salted chocolate chip cookie... 2) Dulce de Leche cheesecake, Bakeology There's a time and a place for dulce de leche, and it's not very often, so when you're gona do it you've got to make it count. Bakeology in The Liberties never get it wrong, and their dulce le leche cheesecake is so beautifully piped it's just begging for that golden spoon to glide through it... 3) Pulled pork bao with togarashi, Soup DL Soup in Dun Laoghaire say they tried taking their pulled pork bao bun with gochujang mayo, fermented red cabbage and togarashi off the menu, but it did not go down well with customers, so now it's back and we've never wanted a bao more. 4) Non-vegetarian thali, Southern Spices Have we been the only ones snoozing on Southern Spices in Sandyford? Yet another restaurant dedicated to Southern Indian food like dosa, idly and vada, since chef Meeran Manzoor mentioned it in this article we can think of little else but heading off down the M50. This "Non-Vegetarian Thali" with lamb, chicken, prawns, dal, Potato, pulao rice and buttery Malabar paratha looks like the perfect introduction, 5) Panna cotta with clementines and pistachio, Volpe Nera On oldie but a goodie, Volpe Nera 's barley malt panna cotta is back, and have you tasted clementines in the past few weeks?? Off the charts. Get in and get this into you.

How much did I love Bologna? So much that as soon as I got home from 48 hours in the Northern Italian city, I immediately booked flights to go back eight weeks later - the €24 Ryanair flights greased the wheels, but an obsession had begun. This is Disneyland for grown ups who think of little else but what they eat and drink. Every corner you turn sees another handmade pasta shop, charcuterie specialist, natural wine bar, Parmesan shop, award-winning gelateria - prepare to walk around with your eyes on stalks. As an aside to all of the monumentally memorable food experiences, there's also the 40km long Porticoes (deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Two Towers (Le Due Torri), the oldest university in the world, towering Basilicas and sprawling piazzas to make your way through. Emilia Romagna's capital is compact, walkable, and the centre is nine minutes by tram from the airport. Could you ask for anything else from a city break? Are you checking flights right now? Yes is the right answer... A reader told us that the Bolognesi argue about food the way other people argue about politics or religion, and it's impossible not to feel how seriously they take every meal, snack and drink while walking the streets. Despite this we're told you can very easily go wrong here if you don't do your research, with some of the formerly best restaurants taking the dumbed down tourist route. Lucky for you we do all the research , and had one smash hit after another. Here's how to follow in our very well-fed footsteps... Breakfast and coffee Caffè Terzi There is no better start to a morning in Bologna than a visit to Caffè Terzi , a narrow coffee bar with suave, suited waiters and what might be the largest coffee selection in existence (we didn't count but there were pages upon pages of coffee creations we couldn't have dreamt up). Join the queue, place your order (and don't skip all the local treats with cherries, chestnuts and chocolate to go with it), then grab a perch opposite the bar while they rustle it up. The only problem after going here is that you'll want to start every day the same, but that would not be a bad decision. Aroma The other don't miss coffee spot is Aroma , a speciality coffee shop that most likely also has a queue. It opened as a traditional Italian coffee bar in 1994 before moving to specialty coffee in 2001, and owner Alessandro has won multiple barista awards, as well as being a local coffee legend. Forno Brisa Born in Bologna in 2015, Forna Brisa now has five locations, each turning out some of the city's best pastries day after day. The bread is also in high demand, and the coffee is top level stuff, selected and roasted by the company in the city. Street food MO Mortadella Lab Is it too dramatic to suggest getting on an airplane for a sandwich? Try this one then come back to us. Have you ever eaten anything that you immediately know was one of the food highlights of your life? That you'll be trying to relive and recreate until the end of days? That's MO Mortadella Lab 's freshly baked, warm crispy roll packed tight with paper thin mortadella, straciatella cheese and chunky pistachio cream. We're talking last meal on earth kinda stuff. Don't let the queue put you off. It moves fast and there's a good system in place where your number flashes up when it's ready. Indegno La Crescentina You can't come to Bologna without eating the best cresentine, and you'll find it at Indegno (three locations). The fried in lard dough pockets are said to date back to the Middle Ages, when Northern Italy had abundant pig farms and a need to use up excess pig fat. There are loads of regional variations (like gnocco fritto in Modena and torta fritta in Parma), and they're usually served alongside cold cuts and cheeses, but Indegno stuff theirs with all kinds of fillings, from classics like Mortadella and Parmesan cream, to specials like porchetta, Provolone, potato croquette and caramelised onions. Food guide Gambera Rosso named it the best street food in Emilia Romana for 2024 , so it needs to be on your Bologna bingo card. Indegno.eu Pisamentuccia Sometimes in Bologna you're on your way to your next meal when you pass a window with a sign saying " 50 Best Pizzas In Italy " and you find yourself stopping for an accidental pre-meal snack. Pisamentuccia is a little takeaway serving crispy Roman-style slices heated to order, with a multitude of meat, veggie and cheesy toppings to choose from. At around €3 for one of the best slices of your life, it's an offer you shouldn't pass up. Ramaciotto We never made it to Ramaciotto due to time constraints, but this little shop is famous for serving handmade pasta to eat in, take on the go, or cook at home. Ideal if you're staying in a apartment and want to cook in, or just need another pasta stop. Lunch and dinner Sfoglia Rine Don't let the queue deter you - if you only had time for one meal in Bologna we'd send you to Sfoglia Rine . This handmade pasta shop and restaurant has been here since 1963, named after the matriarch who makes the pasta (the Sfoglia) and the current owner's Grandmother (Rine). It's stupidly good value, with generous plates of pasta priced from €13 - €14.50, and they all come with pickled veg and bread for "scarpetta". Order the tortellini with butter and sage, the local gramigna pasta with sausage, and all the specials, and let the Lambrusco flow. (No reservations) Trattoria da Me Trattoria da Me is on every Bologna food guide for good reason. It's a buzzing trattoria relaunched by chef and owner Elisa Rusconi in 2015 - her grandfather originally opened it in 1937 . She's famous for her cheese ice-cream antipasti, Bologna's iconic dish 'tortellini en brodo', and the Sunday lasagne, and this is another excellent place to feast on cresentine and cold cuts while you wait. The staff are warm, the wines are local, and when they ask if you want a bowl of ragu for the table, say "si, grazie". Ristorante Grassilli There's a collection of restaurants in Bologna that feel like they're from another time. At Ristorante Grassilli , opened in 1944 by a former opera singer, it feels like nothing has changed in 80 years, nor would we ever want it to. The walls inside the small space are covered with pictures of famous people who've eaten there over the years, and there are few dining rooms we've eaten in that ooze this much old-school charm. Calm, suited waiters bring simple, perfect plates of antipasti, handmade pasta, and cotoletta (breaded veal cutlet) from a short, well priced menu to eager tables, and the wine list is surprisingly modern and natural leaning - we had some of our best wines in Bologna here. Don't miss the plate of grilled vegetables - we saw this tip online and will forever be grateful to the writer. Never change Grassilli... Risorante Rodrigo Another Bologna institution that harks back to simpler (possibly aristocratic) times is Ristorante Rodrigo . It feels like a special occasion restaurant (with prices to match), and food comes out on trolleys before being given a snowfall of Parmesan, or served tableside. Weekends are full of families luxuriating in top quality ingredients over long leisurely lunches. The fried calamari and zucchini is the light, crisp version from your Italian food dreams, the tagliata steak with rocket and Parmesan will wipe the floor with any other you've tried, and the pastas have the power to bring a silence over any table, apart from the odd groaning noise. If you're in Bologna over winter the famous dessert is the "Mont Blanc" - chestnut purée topped with cream. We can't say we get the fuss. If you want some more theatre at the end, order an Amaro which comes in a bottle half the size of your waiter. Noi, Mercato delle Erbe If you're looking for a more casual setting, need to scale back your spending, or have noisy kids in tow, head for buzzy food market Mercato delle Erbe , whose collection of restaurants cater for groups of all sizes on all budgets. We found Noi on a few guides and loved it so much we went on both visits to the city - with antipasti starting at €4 and pastas starting at €10 it's too easy to go back again and again. Noi is all about fuss free Bologna specialities, with dishes like polenta chips and local squacarone cheese, lasagne verde, and more of those cresentine with cold cuts (we needed them at least once daily). Don't miss the pickled veg to start and the meatballs in tomato sauce (will any other meatballs ever do), and the lovely staff will happily recommend a glass of local wine to go with your order. Some others we didn't get to but were high on our list: Ragù - takeaway pasta shop with a few stools inside. Expect a queue but it moves fast - ragubologna.it Berberè Pizzeria - Sourdough pizza recommended by Roberto Mungo who owns Grano . Nuff said - berberepizza.it Di Via Serra - Trattoria a little out of town but an easy stop en route from the airport. We desperately wanted to visit after reading reviews online but couldn't make a reservation as they didn't respond to emails or answer the phone. You could wing it - trattoriadiviaserra.it La Prosciutteria - Now with 12 sites across Northern Italy, this is the place to pull up a stool and gorge yourself on cured meats and red wines. It gets packed with groups of friends and family catching up and chilling out - laprosciutteria.com Clockwise from top left - Ragu, Berbere, Di Via Serra, La Proscuitteria Gelato If you're not having several gelatos a day in Bologna, you're not doing it right. The standard here is incredibly high, the gelato incredibly luscious, but Cremeria La Vecchia Stalla is one of the best - just don't try to take pictures inside, they do not like. We also loved the flavours at chocolate shop Venchi . The don't miss ice-cream stop is Cremeria Santo Stefano , which has been likened to Michelin-starred restaurants but for ice-cream. Sadly we did miss it, as it wasn't open either time we tried to get there, but you might have better luck. Flavours change regularly and there's always some more unusual ones. Wine and cocktails Enoteca Storica If you're looking for somewhere to cosy up with all the natural wine, head for Enoteco Storica . The narrow, dimly-lit room is overflowing with some of the best organic, biodynamic and natural bottles from across Europe, and there's lots by the glass - they're even known to open bottles on request. You can buy wine to take home too, and there's a food menu if you want something simple to nibble on. Ruggine We escaped into Ruggine out of the pouring rain, and it felt like a warm oasis, the type of place where the bar staff know everyone's name and favourite drinks. They're known for their excellent cocktails, with nearly every addition made in house, and from a Bloody Mary with tomato and basil chutney, to their version of a Milano-Torino washed in hazelnut yoghurt, it's worth diverting for if you love a good cocktail. Bar Volare & Bar Senza Nome Another two bars that should be on your radar, Bar Volare is an old-fashioned homage to the Italian tradition of apertivo. It's another step back in time, with classic drinks served amongst all the style. Bar Senza Nome has been called Bologna's most unique bar. Owned and run by deaf people, they'll lip read your order, or you can try your hand at sign language with the help of pictures on the walls. There's a full selection of apertivo, beer and wine, and a simple food menu. Food shopping Did you check in a bag to bring home cheese? You're our kinda person. For an awe-inspiring Parmesan experience, make your way to Al Regno della Forma , where the walls are covered in wheels of the region's best. We recommend getting large chunks of the two year, three year and five year cheeses to bring home and compare (the most expensive is €3.20 per 100g - fill your boots). For a more wide-ranging selection stop don't miss a stop at Formaggeria Barbieri in Mercato delle Erbe, where charming owner Alberto (who took over from his father) will talk you through all types of Italian cheeses, from hard to soft, cow to sheep, flavoured and unflavoured. We didn't even plan to buy cheese here yet left with five. For charcuterie, Salumeria Simoni is a treasure trove of mortadella, salami, guanciale, coppa and everything else you can think of. In fact the whole street of Via Pescherie Vecchi is an epicurean dream, with every window selling handmade pasta, broth, brighly coloured vegetables and local cheeses. Salumeria Simoni, Tambourini Likewise Tambourini a few streets over has all of this plus cheeses, fresh pasta, antipasti and wine - be aware though that prices in the centre are higher than what the Italian Mamas pay a bit further out. The Parmesan here costs substantially more than in Al Regno della Forma , which is a seven minute walk from the central strip. One of the oldest shops in Bologna, Paolo Atti e Figli has stood in the same spot since 1886! They make bread, pasta, pastries, biscuits, and the most beautiful torta di risos (Italian rice cakes) in a variety of sizes. Take a single serve home for breakfast the next morning with a coffee - we guarantee it will be one of the most memorable bites of your stay. Stop at Fabbri on the main Via Rizzoli to stock up on their famous Amarena cherries in syrup, as well as candied strawberries and stem ginger. The sour cherries grow wild before being picked and candied, and every gelato shop in town has an option for vanilla topped with a spoonful of these. There's also cherry liqueur, syrups and spreads, and you can try a lot of it before you buy. Be warned though, those jars are heavy and will eat into your baggage allowance. For a lesson in balsamic vinegar without a trip to Modena, head for Giuseppe Giusti back on Via Pescherie Vecchie, who've been making the stuff since 1605. It's a vinegar lover's paradise, with different ages, flavours and uses for each type they make. Staff will let you try them all by spoon, and a drizzle over chunks of Parmesan once you get home will take you straight back to Bologna. We still regret not buying the one with truffle which they suggested drizzling over scrambled eggs, but we already had three in the bag. If this incredible city inspires you to start making your own pasta, be sure to stop at Anticipate Aguzzeria del Cavollo to stock up on tools that can be impossible to find elsewhere. From pasta cutters, rollers and stamps, to knives designed for getting paper-thin slices of parma ham, your kitchen will be all the richer (even if your bank account won't be). Anticipate Aguzzeria del Cavallo

Eating out in Dublin doesn’t have to mean maxing out your credit card or surviving on bags of chips. Yes we know it feels like that lately but there are plenty of spots serving up legit incredible food that won’t break the bank - if you know where to look. From early bird menus set up for a midweek treat to generous portions in the right places, from a full on night out to a casual bite, these places prove that good food doesn’t have to come with the heftiest of price tags... Achara, Aston Quay Achara  keeps us coming back, not just for their Thai-inspired food, but also for the prices.  Their three course early bird menu is €25 a head, running Monday to Fridays from 17:00 to 18:30, and fo r groups, the family-style sharing menu is €45 per person, with snacks, small plates, large plates to share, and dessert. We dare you to find a better option for your gang's next night out, although you could easily be undone by the excellent cocktail and wine list - you've been warned. Read our once over here . 777, George's Street The king of the deal in Dublin is 777 on George's Street, running multiple days of the week. On Mondays, margaritas are two for €20, which is crazy good value considering they're normally €14 each. Tuesdays are for tacos where they offer two for €9 - enough said - and on Sundays, select menu items are €7.77. Lucky's, The Liberties Coke Lane pizza is the bomb dot com, and after a scan of all the reputable reliables in the capital, Lucky's have come in at the best value with their 10 inch margarita setting you back just over a tenner (€11.50 to be precise). The pies are hot, the beers are crafty, and there's jazz on Wednesdays. Hawksmoor, College Green Between 17:00 and 18:00 from Monday to Thursday, Hawksmoor  have two and three course menus on for €31 and €35 respectively. It's available for reservations up to six guests and for the quality of food this swish steakhouse serves up, this deal is a steal. M&L Chinese, Dublin 1 Known for having some of the most authentic Sichuan food in Dublin, M&L nails the winning combination of great food at greater prices. Their set menu for two comes in €42, but going à la carte always has us leaving feeling like we've robbed them. Starters average around €9 and mains €15, but even if you paired their most expensive starter (€12.80) with the most expensive main (€25.80) plus a side and some rice, you'll still come in under €50. Orwell Road, Rathgar The only spot on the list to have its own listing in the Michelin Guide (those guys need to get out more), Orwell Road’s neighbourhood set menu runs Tuesday to Thursday from 17:00 - 18:00. Two courses will set you back €39, and three is €49. A cozy, elevated escape just outside the city center, and if you keep the drinks to a minimum you can get out without too large a price tag. Andhra Bhavan, Dublin 1 Southern Indian food doesn’t get better - or better priced - than Andhra Bhavan . For the bargain buster opt for one of their Thali platters which comes in at €28 for the veggies, and €30 for the carnivores. If you're going à la carte, the average starter, main, and side takes you up to €37, a lassi €43, leaving enough for a 15% tip before you hit the €50 mark. That's a big fat yes from us. Read our once over here . Pho Ta, Temple Bar Vietnamese Pho Ta has no website, and they don't update their social media, but they don't need to because food this good at prices this good advertises itself. Starters are under €10, mains are under €20, and you can BYO beer or wine, meaning a major saving on the bill too. We're die hard fans of the Bánh Cuốn with pork and the bun cha, but it's all fresh, hearty and chock full of herbs. Glas, Dublin 2 Vegetarian paradise Glas's early bird menu is extremely good value with two courses for €30, and for an extra €5 you can get three. Running from 17:00 to 18:00 from Sunday to Thursday, it does have its time constraints, but could be the perfect after work bite if you're in town. Chiya, Dame Street Killer kebabs and Berlin vibes are the order of the day at Chiya on Dame Street. The veg is fresh, the meat juicy, and the pita bread so pillowy you could sleep on them - don't do that, they're too tasty. These jam packed Berlin Style Döners all come in at under a tenner, making this one of our favourite casual dinners around town that your bank account won't even notice. Read our two minute review here . Full Moon Thai, Temple Bar Full Moon Thai is the restaurant that transports us back to beaches on Ko Tao, looking out at fishing boats catching your dinner, and baskets of fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs that will take centre-stage on your plates. You can push the boat out in here with some of the pricer fish dishes, but starters are all under €10, and there's plenty of mains around €20, meaning it's easy to come out for under €50 a head even with drinks. Seemo's, George's Street Arcade What was previously Za'atar from the same owners as Umi Falafel, was taken over by new owner Seemo last year, and while more European-friendly pizzas have been added to the menu, th e Lebanese Manakish (the main draw) have st ayed the same. Try the za'atar with cheese, or t he Lahm Bil Ajine with minced lamb and pomegranate molasses, and at €12-13 each, you'll have enough change to head across to Loose Canon for a glass of something nice to send you on your way.

What should we know about Hong Kong Wonton? The latest string in the bow of Eva Pau, Asia Market ’s second-generation owner, Hong Kong Wonton opened last month in the Fade Street spot previously occupied by Duck, before they shuttered following a damaging FSAI report . The menu here is Hong Kong classics, with a bustling kitchen to the rear shipping out dishes to the fifteen-seat space at lightning speed. What should we have? We started with spring rolls, crisp parcels of satisfying satay chicken elevated by the fresh crunch of beansprouts. The dipping sauce on the side has the character of a smoked ketchup – we were into it, but found it slightly overshot some of the spring rolls’ subtlety. Congee is where things kick up a gear. The rice porridge, a popular breakfast dish across east Asia with a history of wartime rationing, might be tempting to skip – don't. HKW brew theirs with a rich chicken stock, breaking the rice down to a soothing softness, stirred through with shredded chicken, fresh ginger and a fried dough stick on the side. No wonder it’s often prescribed for the sick - this comfort bowl is the perfect thing to kick a cold. Given the name and literal ton of wontons the place claims to have gone through in perfecting their recipe, there’s no shortage of pressure on the in-house dumplings to deliver. Through a very full mouth we can confirm that they do - the thin but strong wrappers yield to reveal a bulging feast of prawn and pork, in a sea of steaming soup. We reckon HKW’s website’s copywriter must have been paid by the adjective – the understated broth can’t live up to the breathless narrative of ten-hour dehydration and savoury complexity we were promised, but as a vehicle for top-notch wontons it does the trick. The egg noodles’ back story is just as loaded, only to be undone by the reveal that they’re not homemade. Save the faff and go for a plate of wontons in chilli sauce, all the better to let these standouts sing. Ever the canny operator, Pau has called out TikTok trends   as a must-follow for anyone in the food biz, and the Hong Kong French toast here is tailor-made for socials – not a table dared skip it. The artery-clogging club sandwich is spread with peanut butter and smothered in golden syrup, loose threads of crisped egg batter overspilling its edges - much like your gut might soon overhang your belt. If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a death wish, this is for you. What about drinks? The flagship Hong Kong milk tea had too much concentrated tannin taste for our poor Irish palates, only slightly offset by the stirred-through evaporated milk. Coconut red bean was an experience of its own, nutty sweetness shot through with the grainy texture of beans – it’s a different sensation, but plays well off chilli sauce. Why should I go? Quality, quick food isn’t always easily available in the heart of the city, and while Hong Kong Wonton’s pitch is simple, it delivers. Some of the menu could use more work, but t here ’s a lot of invention packed into this petite place. Hong Kong Wonton 15 Fade Street, Dublin 2 hongkongwonton.ie

Yesterday was officially the bluest day of the year, so we're going sweet treat and carb heavy in the capital this week to help get us through what feels like the month that will never end. Picturesque pastries, the prettiest tarts, and a crab sandwich destined to make you forget it's still very much winter out there.... 1) The specials, Blossom Artisan Bakery Ballymun bakery bastions Blossom have finally returned after what felt like the longest three and a half weeks ever, meaning that we're more jazzed than normal for their new specials. Can we have a moment of silence for how beautiful the blueberry matcha pain Suisse looks on the bottom right? See also the affogato Kouign Amann (top left), apple puff (top right) and macadamia nut and orange Danish (bottom left). 2) Black forest mikado, The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke The Cupcake Bloke's Graham Herterich has reinvented a childhood classic with the Mikado part of their retro biscuit range, and the latest flavour is Black Forest (screams). A chocolate shortbread is topped with vanilla marshmallow, dark chocolate and cherry, all topped with chocolate vermicelli sprinkles. Find it at The Bakery by the Cupcake Bloke  in Rialto. 3) Rhubarb and pistachio tart, Sorn Although it might not quite be quite rhubarb season, that doesn't stop us fully swooning over Sorn’s latest Tart. The sweet pastry base is filled with a pistachio and rhubarb compote frangipane and topped with chamomile yogurt and rhubarb that's been poached in a hibiscus and spice blend. Bring on the pink! 4) Campfire cocoa indulgence, Amy Austin Yes it's another sweet treat, and you've clocked it, the second mention of marshmallow on this list, but it's dark and dull out there, we need it. Amy Austin's latest scroll stopper is made with a chocolate ganache, crème Diplomat (a lighter version of pastry cream), and marshmallow fluff. Could there be a more perfect dessert for a cold, blustery evening in the city. 5) Crab sandwich, Bar Pez Bar Pez’s  crab sandwich is the little slice of sunshine we all need to break up the January blues - enough so to break our sugar-filled run this week. Hand picked crab bound with an apple and celeriac remoulade is served on a hyper local Fumbally  sourdough, bringing a bright, zesty hit of summer to even the dreariest January day. Pair it with a glass of Jura Chardonnay, and for a moment, you might just teleport straight to Spring.

What a WHOPPER of a line up for this month's ATF Insiders giveaways to start the New Year off with a bang! ATF Insiders is ou r premium service which offers added extras for our readers, allowing us to operate ad-free and ensure everything recommended here has been paid for by us . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Friday 17th January will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Saturday 18th January. Here's what we've got for you this month... 1) An overnight Ballymaloe dining experience at the 5-star Castlemartyr Resort worth €380 We're sending one of you off for a one-of-a-kind dining experience at the luxurious 5-star Castlemartyr Resort in Cork! On Thursday 6th February, Ballymaloe House Hotel ’s Executive Head Chef, Dervilla O’Flynn, will cook an exclusive dinner in the Canopy Restaurant, with a menu showcasing the simplicity and richness of Irish cuisine. There'll be farm-to-table seasonal cooking, as well as Ballymaloe House Hotel  classics, and you'll be staying overnight in 5-star surroundings with breakfast the next morning. See full details of the amazing value overnight package here . 2) Denim overall from Abito worth €240 We featured Abito 's Long Apron in our ATF Christmas Gift Guide , and it elicited all the love heart eye emojis from our readers, so we're pleased as punch to have one of their denim overalls worth €240 to give away this month. In a world of Sheins and Temus, this is a garment made to last generations - look after it and you'll be passing it onto your grandkids - how cool would that be? Its uses range from workwear, to gardening, to studio work, or just as the most stylish utility jacket on the market. Follow Abito on Instagram here , and shop the stunning range here . 3) Dinner for two with wine at Jean-Georges @ The Leinster Jean-Georges at The Leinster has two new dining concepts coming to Dublin in January, parachuted straight in from NYC. First up a menu from abcV , his plant-forward restaurant that was named 14th best restaurant in the city 2024 by New York Times critic Pete Wells. An abcV inspired menu runs from Wednesday 9th - Tuesday 28th January at lunch and dinner time. THEN from Wednesday 29th, a special Chinese New Year menus lands straight from The House of the Red Pearl - another of his NYC restaurants famous for a modern take on Chinese cuisine. To celebrate we've got a three-course meal for two with wine to give away this month, which can be used for either of the special menus, or for the regular à la carte. 4) €100 voucher for Berlin-style kebabs at Chiya   We've been spreading the good gospel about Chiya 's Berlin-style kebabs, that you all need to try STAT, and we're going to make that easier for one of you this month with a €100 to try the whole menu at your leisure. Marinated mixed chicken and beef for the win, and the courgette fritters are another must-try. Read our two minute review of Chiya here . 5) A fermentation class at Fairmental New Year, new food habits? We're sending one of you off to Fairmental to learn about the fascinating world of fermentation. They provide everything you need in their Saturday classes to make your own jar of ferments to take home, while learning the skills and techniques to increase the health benefits of your food, and how to use ferments in every meal. You'll also get to try lots of different ferments, as well as snacks and drinks. Check our Fairmental's fermentation class dates here , and follow them on Instagram here for updates. 6) Two limited edition pizza kits from The Dough Bros & Lucky Saint Alcohol free beer Lucky Saint has joined forces with The Dough Bros for a juicy January collab , with none of the hangover. Their limited edition pizza kits (€49.99) include everything you need to make four pizzas, with toppings including Gubbeen chorizo, nduja sausage, and Lucky Saint beer-braised onions, along with their signature pizza sauce, basil, mozzarella, parmesan, and a beer ranch dip. You'll find two cans of Lucky Saint  lager in there too - voted Trustpilot’s #1 alcohol-free beer - and it's sugar-free, at under 59 calories per can. The limited edition pizza kits are available to order until Tuesday 21st January for delivery on Friday 24th. We're sending two to this month's lucky winner - get one here before they're gone.   7) A Sunday roast for four at Searson, Baggot Street What we need in temperatures like these is to hunker down on a Sunday with a very large roast, some very nice wine, and all the papers (ideally in physical form, remember those?) Searson's on Baggot Street is set up for Sundays like these, and we're sending one of you plus three pals in for a Sunday Roast for four with wine, live jazz, and a choice of Hereford beef, rotisserie free-range chicken, or a nut roast. Does the day of rest get better than that? Check out Searson's here . 8) Tickets to an oriental-inspired cocktail class at Asia Market Asia Market always marks the Lunar New Year in style, and this year Dublin's go-to Asian grocery store has a series of experiences to celebrate the ‘Year of the Snake’. As part of the festivities, they've teamed up with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin - a brand whose journey began in China - for a cocktail making experience on Thursday 30th January, and we've got two tickets to give away. The ‘Snake In The Glass’ class takes place in J.T. Pim’s, where you'll learn how to make two different Asian-influenced drinks with gin and whiskey, and after making, shaking and enjoying your creations, you'll be treated to sweet and savoury canapés. You'll then hand-pick your own botanicals, with your favourite flavours infused in a teapot and added to your gin for a personalised cocktail. Get tickets here . 9) €100 voucher for The Cow Pub and Kitchen, Ballsbridge What was The Chophouse in Ballsbridge has been taken over by new management and reopened as The Cow Pub and Kitchen . They're keen to keep things business as usual, with staff, chefs and suppliers remaining the same, and all The Chophouse favourites like seared King prawns, dry-aged rib-eye and slow-cooked lamb shank staying put. They're also planning renovations and upgrades for early 2025 to make the drinking and dining experience even better. Check out The Cow here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for January (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here before midnight on Friday 17th January. You'll be supporting independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.