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A coffee and plant shop in Stoneybatter, an Argentinean bakery in Dublin 8, and an antiques inspired café in Santry. Here's the latest openings we think you should know about... Bakeology, Dublin 8 Dublin's first Argentinean bakery, Bakeology , opened on Meath Street yesterday, selling facturas, alfajores, empanadas and a lot of dulce de leche. Their facturas (a distant cousin of the Danish pastry) will be filled with custard, membrillo (quince paste), and of course dulce de leche, and they'll also have medialunas (like croissants), libritos (named because the puff pastry layers make them look like the pages of a book), and tortitas negras - little cakes covered in brown sugar. Find Bakeology at 43 Meath Street, seven days a week from 09:00 - 17:00. Little Cactus, Stoneybatter Little Cactus owners Kate and Jamie grew up in Dublin, but their passion for coffee, plants and vintage clothes really came to light after moving to Vancouver and discovering concept coffee and retail shops. When the couple decided to move home after the pandemic hit, they decided the time was right to bring their own concept coffee shop to Dublin. Little Cactus opened in Stoneybatter last week and is focused on quality coffee (from Bailies), beautiful houseplants (particularly cacti), and vintage clothes, and we can't think of a better café concept for Dublin's coolest neighbourhood. Pastries are from Tartine, treats from Blasta Kitchen and sandwiches from Greenville Deli. Find Little Cactus at 1a Prussia Street from Wednesday - Sunday. Coffee Run, Santry Coffee Run owner Paul Murphy is an athlete in his spare time, hence the name, and wanted to open a café with a rustic, vintage, antique-y feel, so expect lots of antique radios, telephones and clocks around the place. Sandwiches and pastries come from Tailor and Blue in Phibsborough, coffee is from Drury Tea & Coffee in Youghal, and ice-cream is from Freezin Friesian, from Paul's hometown of Waterford. They're on Northwood Avenue, just between Santry and Ballymun, and open seven days a week.

We went such a long time with barely anything happening on the food scene that it feels like sweet relief to see new shoots popping up all over the city again, with some heavy hitters among them. Here's what's happening in Dublin right now... Library Street, Dublin 2 We've been keeping a close eye on Kevin Burke since he moved home to Dublin mid-pandemic and started working at Allta on South Frederick Street. It seemed obvious that the former Head Chef of Michelin-starred The Ninth in London had eyes on his own place, and when Allta chef/owner Niall Davidson decided they had outgrown the space (after their very successful Allta Summer House pop up at Slane Castle), Burke decided to take it over. Library Street will open in the next few weeks with a focus on interesting wines, sharing plates and seasonal food from across Ireland, and we're about as excited for this one as we were for the original Allta (remember we gave you guys first dibs on booking their soft launch and you crashed the website? That, again.) Library Street was the name originally intended for South Frederick Street, as it leads towards Trinity College's library, and the chef is promising dishes like crispy chicken wings stuffed with scallop and tarragon mayo, whole baked bass with fennel and mussels, and Kouign Amann milk ice-cream sandwiches with caramelized apples. Stay tuned for booking details. Allta Winter House, Dublin 2 They're keeping things very quiet on this one, with only the meerest glimpses of what's happening, but work on Allta Winter House is well underway on the top two levels of Trinity Street car park. The format will be similar to the game-changing Allta Summer House , with a ticketed 12-course, frequently changing tasting menu (€95) at the top, and an art gallery and cocktail bar called Glove Box below. We're on the edge of our seats waiting for news about the launch and expect it to be open in the next few weeks. More when we have it. Six by Nico, Dublin 2 You might know Six by Nico from Belfast, but if not the UK restaurant group from Scottish-Italian chef, Nico Simeone, is known for changing their six course tasting menu every six weeks. There was a lot of buzz last week when they announced their ninth restaurant would be opening at 1 Molesworth Street, formerly home to the short-lived Le Pain Quotidien, in November. However eyebrows were raised when stories emerged that the group were accused of mistreating staff by trade union Unite earlier this yea r . The company deny the claims. This is their first opening outside the UK, and will seat 56 diners alongside an open kitchen, with the tasting menu priced at €45 and an optional wine pairing for €39. Ebb & Flow, Camden Street There are not enough good places in Dublin for a really excellent brunch - sad fact. So when we heard Ebb & Flow (formerly in Clontarf) were opening a new place on Camden Street (where Cracked Nut used to be) focused on brunch, our ears perked up. It's owned by the same people as Full Circle coffee, and drinks be will espresso-based with seasonal rotations. The menu includes dishes like soufflé pancakes with berries, pork bao with Korean short ribs, and 'The Forager' - sautéed wild mushrooms, truffle oil, poached eggs and spinach on sourdough toast. They've also got an in house baker making things like banoffee cake, and will have 'classy cocktails' at the weekend. Sign us up. They're open Monday - Friday from 08:00 - 16:00 and 09:00 - 16:00 at weekends. Ana's, Rathgar There was an outpouring of dismay last week when Fia in Rathgar announced they were closing (we hear they're hoping to reopen in Rathfarnham soon), but it seemed like we blinked and ' Ana's ' had opened in its place. The eponymous Ana is a fourth generation chef from Lisbon who's been in Dublin for the past seven years. She's had a longtime dream of running her own neighbourhood café, so when she spotted the lease was up for grabs she jumped, and that's how you can now find pastéis de nata in Dublin 6. The menu is an Irish/Portugese mash up, with avocado toast, soups and sandwiches like the 'Bó Loca' - Irish beef slow cooked in a Portugese wine reduction flavoured with peppers and herbs served on bread. Fresh cakes and pastries are made each day, coffee is from Coffee Perfection in Meath, and they have plenty of vegan and gluten free options. Ana's is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and she's planning a 'Fridays with Friends' supper club to start very soon. It's 2 Eat, Dublin 8 You may remember we posted about some sensational choux buns from Aventura café earlier this year. Well they were from It's 2 Eat , and the guys behind it have just opened their own café and bakery in The Liberties. Chef/owner Higor Martins left Brazil four years ago with a dream of running his own business, and up to now has been supplying shops and cafés with his pastries and desserts, but as of last week you can get them direct from the source. They've got choux, eclairs, flan, coffee cake, and savoury options like beef sfiha, smoked sausage pastries and coxinha filled with pulled chicken. Everything is homemade and freshly baked, and they open 08:00 - 16:00 during the week and 09:00 - 17:00 at weekends. Find them at 90-97 Cork Street. Also - we're pretty excited about new wine bar Note opening soon on Fenian Street. We'll have the full story later this week so keep your eyes peeled.

Who would have thought in the latest "lockdown without having a lockdown" we'd see so many new openings, but it feels like people are fed up of waiting around and just want to get on with it. Here's what's just opened, with two more to come... Glovebox, Allta Winter House, Dublin 2 It feels like we've been waiting forever (definitely a few weeks) but Glovebox , the art-filled bar under Allta Winter House has finally opened. From Wednesday to Saturday each week you can buy tickets for €20, redeemable against snacks and drinks, and there's a live DJ from Wednesday - Sunday. Snacks, ranging from €8 - €14, include smoked Gubbeen fries; lamb shoulder with crispy potatoes and crème fraîche; tempura soft shell crab with kimchi; and lobster rolls, and the art gallery, curated by artist and designer Ronan Dillon, will rotate Irish and international contemporary artists. Find out more and book tickets here . Luna, Dublin 2 Lovely Luna on Drury street shut unexpectedly in May 2019 and remained closed throughout the pandemic. There were rumours over the past year that another restaurant owner had taken over the space and was going to reopen it, but we were still taken aback to see it reopen just as suddenly last weekend. Its new owners are the same as L'Gueuleton and Hogan's pub around the corner, and L'Gueuleton head chef Ben Dineen has been installed in the kitchen. We're waiting on the first few reports, but this is a completely different Luna than the original. Out with the 1950's NY-Italian theme, in with the bowls of nitro . Yoi Izakaya, Dublin 4 Yoi Ramen near Grand Canal Dock have opened a second site in Dublin 4 - Yoi Izakaya , specialising in "Asian Tapas". Truth be told the menu is almost identical in both sites, but on a recent recon visit we were impressed by the sushi, less so by the ramen. The restaurant is nicely fitted out, staff are utterly lovely, and we'll be back to try more of their "tapas". Lennan's Yard, Dublin 2 Apart from this stealthily released article in the Irish Times, multi-million euro opening Lennan's Yard on Dawson Street seems to have flown under the radar for a lot of people. It's probably not helped by the fact that the website still says coming soon, there's no online booking system, and there's only a scant few posts on their social media feeds, but we're assured that the restaurant and bar are open, with a gastro pub coming before the end of the year. It's from the same owners as Asador in Ballsbridge and Prado in Clontarf, with a former Shanahan's head chef leading the kitchen, and while we haven't seen a menu, a three-course meal is reported to set you back €65-70. The name comes from William Lennan , a saddler who was based on Dawson Street in the 1800s, and the ambitious project is on the site of the former Savills auctioneer’s premises, with a mews and original stables dating from 1780, all part of the restoration project. We're avidly awaiting the first reviews... Arty Baker Romain Tessier's Arty Baker stole hearts and Instagram feeds with his stand at Sandycove Store and Yard, and now he's gone permanent with his first shop and bakery in Dalkey. They're at 20A Castle Street from Wednesday - Sunday, 08:30 until sell out, so get there early for sourdough loaves, chocolate raspberry cruffins, and jalapeno popper croissants. Junior's This is not completely new, but Junior's in Beggar's Bush have just reopened for dinner after a few months of R&D, and the times they are a changing. The former neighbourhood café has turned into a sort of upscale American diner, with chicken and waffles, ox cheek marmalade and bone marrow on toast, and deep fried apple pie on the menu. Initial reports are very positive and we can't wait to get into this one. Coming soon... Chef Adrian Martin, as seen on the Six O'Clock show, and RTE's "Chef Adrian eats Ireland" , is bringing his Wildflower restaurant to Richmond Street, next door to Doolally. The original is in Camden Market in London, where reviews have been good , and not so good . And Filipino food truck Bahay are back next week! We'll reveal all the details you need to know later this week...

An upmarket chipper, a new place for tacos, and a futuristic coffee shop - here's what's just opened in Dublin, and some more coming soon... Taco Libre, Dublin 1 Taco Libre is a new opening on the corner of Capel Street and Bolton Street, from Galway Bay Brewery , who seem to be expanding across the city at neck-breaking speeds. They say that everything is made from scratch by their chef Bruna (who's from Mexico), and they're sourcing a lot from Mexican supplier Picado, including avocado leaves, masa harina (used to make tortillas and tamales) and a variety of chillies. The menu features housemade tortilla chips, elote croquettes, papas fritas with queso fresco, and four different tacos which can be ordered individually. The beer menu is a lot more interesting than the average restaurant, and cocktails are from Craft Cocktails. See the menu here . Salt & Vinegar, Rathfarnham Salt & Vinegar is the latest upmarket chipper to hit the city, opening in Rathfarnham but no doubt having designs on multiple sites. The guys behind it are Conor Kavanagh (ex-Bresson) and Nicky Higgins (ex-Allta/Fish Shop), and everything is fresh and made in house, from the fish finger sandwiches to the chips, the tartare sauce to the pickled onion rings. It's new and it's buzzy, so order online if you don't want to be a) disappointed or b) waiting an age. Lee Sun, Dun Laoghaire W e have tried and failed to get any certifiable information on this one, so other than showing up and banging on the door we're going off what's online - which isn't much. Lee Sun is a new sushi restaurant in Dun Laoghaire opened by a guy called Eric who's described as "the alchemist of Dun Laoghaire", and has apparently devoted 20 years to the craft. They say all of their fish comes from Irish suppliers, and there's bubble tea and Japanese cakes too. Initial reports are positive and we're cautiously optimistic. Griolladh, Dublin 8 Toastie trucks Griolladh have gone permanent with their first site without wheels on Thomas Street in Dublin 8. This one makes four, with food trucks still operating in Malahide, Dundrum and Grand Canal Street, and the toastie is still the centre of the menu. They're open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, with new additions including a bacon and brown sauce scroll and a mini apple tarte tatin, and a vegan toastie is coming soon. Zakura Sushi, Lower Baggot Street Zakura have opened their third Japanese restaurant at 17a Lower Baggot Street close to St Stephen's Green, in the building which formerly housed Sanai Indian. The menu is similar to the other two on Upper Baggot Street and Wexford Street, with sushi, ramen, rice dishes and noodles, and they're open seven days a week for dine in, takeaway and delivery. Check them out here . H&T Coffee There's a futuristic new coffee shop on Liffey Street near the Ha'penny bridge that's "bringing a brand new aesthetic" to coffee. H&T Coffee describe themselves as "barista led", and it's the first café from entrepreneur Liam Wei. There are H&T hair and beauty salons upstairs and downstairs too, so they're covering all the female bases. Coffee is from Irish roaster Bell Lane and Swedish roaster Koppy, and on the food front they've got cakes and pastries. Coming soon... Nomo Ramen Nomo Ramen , due to open near Camden Street in March/April, is from former IT worker and trained chef Kevin Hughes - a self-confessed ramen obsessive. He trained and worked in China before moving here and getting sucked into the tech world, and says he's spent the last five years travelling and perfecting his ramen, and now he's ready to unleash it on Dublin. He's bringing the noodles in from the US (from the same supplier as Momofuku and Ivan Ramen), and meat will be Irish and free-range. We'll bring you more when they're closer to opening. Spatched Those Sprezzatura guys have been promising us their free-range chicken concept Spatched for months now, so we're excited to finally get our hands on a working copy of the menu - check out that brunch! There's going to be brining, marinating, sous-viding and confiting, all leading up the the final fry. They're calling it "slow slow slow fast food" - we like. Wildflower Chef Adrian Martin's Wildflower restaurant has opened for bookings. The Irish Times did a preview of it yesterday, and we're very unsure about those gold-backed chairs. The pricing is punchy - €70 for a three-course meal (the tasting menu at Variety Jones is €75) - so here's hoping the food lives up to it. The Saucy Cow Your favourite vegan fast food stall is going permanent, bringing their burgers and loaded fries to Dublin 2. The Saucy Cow 's first bricks and mortar site should be open for dine in by the end of February, serving brunch straight through to dinner. We'll have more info for you soon.

Foldable pizza, egg sandwiches, and a new neighbourhood restaurant for Rathgar. Here's what's new in Dublin... South Paw, Temple Bar From the guys at Coke Lane , South Paw is bringing 'pizza a portafoglio ' to Crown Alley in Temple Bar. They say it's the Naples way of "transforming a sit-down staple into grab & go street food", and basically just involves folding up their Neapolitan pizzas and adding some more sauce and cheese on top. There's cannoli too (three flavours) and organic soft drinks from Galvanina. They unofficially opened on St Patrick's Day, so the next time you're wandering around Temple Bar looking for something to eat on the go, you know where to head for. Orwell Road, Rathgar The owners of Charlotte Quay and Coppinger Row (RIP for now) announced at the weekend that their newest restaurant, Orwell Road , opens this Thursday in Rathgar. Leading the kitchen is Daniel Hannigan (ex-Mister S and the force behind the Food for Thought events), and the 24 seat, 'Modern Irish' r estaurant will be focused on as much local and Irish produce as possible. Hannigan says his most exciting dishes so far are a Cais na Tire tortellini in burnt onion broth; lamb rump, asparagus and lamb belly caesar; and BBQ dry-aged turbot with smoked mussels and roe sauce. Orwell Road will open for dinner from Wednesday - Saturday, and lunch from Friday - Sunday, and bookings will be live on OpenTable in the next few days. Mad Yolks, Smithfield Mad Yolks started as a food truck in 2018, with brothers Hugh and Eoin O’Reilly slinging egg sandwiches at festivals and weekend markets. They've lived a nomadic life, popping up in various pubs, but opened their first permanent site on Smithfield Square two weeks ago. Expect brioche buns filled with scrambled and fried eggs, Applewood cheddar, streaky bacon and sriracha mayo, as well as halloumi fries, hash browns and 'carnage' nachos. See you at brunch. Day n Night, Dublin 1 Day n Night opened last week looking like the city's newest health food spot, but serving up an extremely eclectic menu featuring ramen, open crab and caviar sandwiches, and a beef bulgogi breakfast. The owners have been working in Dublin hotels and restaurants for the past seven years, and wanted to open something that people would want to come to day and night - get it - and you can find them at 18 Great Denmark Street (parallel to Parnell Street) seven days a week from 08:00 - 22:00. Coming soon... - Nomo ramen are getting closer to opening with their (sold out) soft launch the first weekend in April - Póg are coming to Clontarf . They're taking over the site that was former Fish and Meat Bone - Remember the very short-lived Shelbourne Social? We hear the site is reopening in the next month or two with a UK-based celebrity chef at the helm

2020 has gone off with a bang in the restaurant industry, with several high profile closures in the first few days, and plenty more rumours about who's next. There were also several closures in December, and between rising council rates, impending VAT bills and the threat of making independent restaurants calculate the calories in every dish they serve, things have been better for the city's restaurateurs. Here's where's closed since December. Deep, Howth The longstanding casual seafood restaurant on Howth's pier closed very quietly last week, with their website and social media accounts disappearing overnight. The blinds are down and the menus removed from outside, but we've been told that the property has already been snapped up - we presume by an existing business or local restaurateur. More news when we get it. Iskander's, Dame Street After nearly 30 years on Dame Street and probably millions of kebabs served to millions of less than sober people, Iskander's kebab house will close this Sunday - but it's coming back as something more upmarket, and it won't be called Iskander's. It's thought to have been one of the first kebab shops in the city, and the family say they want the new iteration to be "a more modern concept". Read more about it here . Amuse, Dublin Conor and Joanna Dempsey's fine dining restaurant, Amuse , announced they were closing last week due to a variety of factors, including a 50% rent increase from €80,000 to €120,000 a year on their Dawson Street premises. They also cited an increase in VAT and rates in this depressing Irish Times article. While Amuse had a lot of fans, with many questioning why they didn't have a Michelin-star, they struggled to drum up publicity in recent years. They had little social media presence, and seem to given up what little they did at the start of 2019, and were rarely mentioned by food critics in recent years, which begs the question of whether people simply forgetting they were there was part of the problem. Fallon & Byrne, Rathmines Fallon & Byrne announced the closure of their Rathmines site on the 2nd of January, with staff reportedly turning up to work to find the shutters down. A company statement said they were closing the branch because it was loss-making, despite rumours that they were planning on doubling in size over the next five years, with new outlets planned in Dundrum Town Centre and Connolly Station. On Sunday the Business Post reported that their landlord, the Swan Centre, is owed circa €140,000 in rent and service charges, and is objecting to them striking off several companies which may prevent them having to pay the bill. Read more about that here . Beo Kitchen + Wine Bar Two days before Christmas, Beo Kitchen and Wine Bar , which brought vegan fine dining to Stoneybatter, announced they were closing due to "difficult trading conditions", just nine months after opening . A glowing review from Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times last May clearly wasn't enough to bring a sufficient number of customers through the door, and owner Ethna McDermott said that no-shows contributed to their business being unsustainable, and that they may have been ahead of their time, when speaking to the Irish Times . Know of any other Dublin restaurant closures? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

What better way to distract yourself from the rude exit of summer than to plan a few things to look forward over the next few weeks. From movies to end of summer BBQs, authentic Mexican pop ups to wine tastings, here are five of the best things happening in food and drink over the next fortnight... 'Pig' at Light House Cinema Nicolas Cage's new movie 'Pig', about a reclusive truffle-hunter whose prized animal has been stolen, has been called " his most contemplative performance in years", with the Irish Times giving it five out of five . It's playing this week in the Light House Cinema in Smithfield, and prepare to have major truffle cravings post-viewing - if you're really clever you'll book a table in Grano for afterwards. The end of Summer BBQ at Hen's Teeth From 12pm until late this Sunday 5th September, Hen's Teeth will be signing off summer (sob) with an all day BBQ. It's a collaboration with the makers of Kold Sauce, so expect plenty of spice on the menu, as well as limited edition bottles, merch, and typically amazing food from the kitchen. Order a picnic from Aoife Barker Former L'Gueuleton Head Chef Aoife Barker's picnic boxes have been going down very well with customers, and this is your last week to grab one before she changes things up for Autumn. It's forecast to be 19c on Sunday so get planning for what could be your last picnic of 2021. Orders via Instagram . Get Tickets For Neighbourhood Wine's First Wine Fair Neighbourhood Wine on Leeson Street are holding their first wine fair on Sunday 12th September. Tickets are €40 (although ATF Insiders get an exclusive discount code for €15 off) and you'll spend an hour and 45 minutes tasting your way through loads of their range. Get your tickets here . Book A Table At Mexican Pop Up Gabo Chef Jules Mak isn't one to stand still, and his latest creation is Gabo, "an authentic Mexican dining experience", popping up in Hush, Rathmines on the 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th of September. He says that Hush has a kitchen full of Mexican chefs, and they've been working hard to make this one to remember. He's started to tease the menu, and you can book by sending him a DM on Instagram .

Not a bad week of eating by the ATF team, including everything from fine dining by the sea to tacos out of a truck. Here's some of the best things that made it past our lips over the last fortnight... Dinner In Mamo's New Dining Room, Howth There are few places in Dublin I've returned to as often as Mamó in Howth, and their brand new upstairs dining room was as good a reason as any to book another dinner. What was formerly the restaurant downstairs is now a sleek little wine bar that's mostly for walk ups, while where the bar was on the right is now a set of stairs to the first floor, complete with white linen tablecloths and blue velvet backed booths. The rooms may have changed, but the cod chip hasn't, and it's still one of the best things to eat here. We could smell a starter of gnocchi with mangalitsa pork, red pepper and pecorino before it was even set down on the table, and when it smells that good it generally tastes that good - it did. Another highlight was a side of orzo with Balscadden lobster, which came with the market fish - wild cod. We would have happily forgone the fish for a full-sized bowl of this. You would also be wise not to miss a side of chargrilled brocolli with smoked yoghurt and spiced almonds. It's been on the menu for at least a year and should never, ever leave it - Lisa Tacos at Just Chubbys, Clontarf Just Chubbys is currently open on Thursday and Fridays from 18:00, and we got there at about 18:30 to find a short queue and lots of happy diners eating tacos as the food gods intended; hunched over wooden barrels with birria broth dripping down their wrists. We had the beef and Guinness birria with white cheese and birria broth for dipping, pork taco with pineapple and habanero and salsa roja, and the veggie version with portobello mushroom, cheese, confit garlic, and salsa macha. All were great but we’d happily walk to Clontarf for that mushroom taco alone - salt, smoke, chili, Unami; so much flavour packed into a crispy corn tortilla. A side of nachos with jalapeño cheese sauce and salsa roja had us eyeing each other up to make sure nobody was able to snag the last one without consultation, but we regret skipping the corn ribs for the crispy chicken crisps - a full portion of these is probably best left to the die-hard skin aficionados. You can have your food packed to take away but, if you can stick around, we recommend that you eat your tacos as soon as they’re handed to you. Ours held up perfectly in the time it took to eat them, but it makes us sad to think of these great corn tortillas going soggy - Helen Located just behind Lott’s on Clontarf Road, Ciao Cannoli are right next to the Just Chubby’s van so it would be rude to not leave with a cannolo or four. The crunchiest shells filled à la minute, and the perfect balance of creamy and sweet - Helen Tasting Menu, Potager A midweek trip to Potager in Skerries to check on their tasting menu and it's hard to argue with €69 for nine courses with optional petit fours (which must help with waste too). The bread course is always a highlight here and this trip was no different, with a fermented seed bread served with Cuinneog butter from Mayo, and an onion bread served with ricotta and savoury. We were also very taken with a dish of beetroot, cherries, walnut and a buttermilk sorbet. Red mullet with garlic, yellow bean sauce and broccoli tempura was another favourite, and dessert of strawberries with basil and yoghurt was a lovely, sweet but herbal ending - Lisa Brunch at Rúibín, Galway A weekend trip to Galway showed the city of the tribes still punches well above its weight in food (and general good time) terms. Pretty quayside café-restaurant Rúibín has been on the hit list a while and this beautiful two-course brunch did not disappoint. The heat of the Kashmiri-spiced hash browns played well off a poached egg and creamy sheep's yogurt, while grilled peaches with meade and crusty brioche made for a lovely light dessert - Ronan Eel Rosettes & Oyster Ice-Cream at Aniar, Galway Aniar is one of the crowning glories of the city's food scene, and if the look of the plates doesn't make it clear why, the tastes surely will. Chef JP McMahon's menu works hard to hero the best of the west in largely locally-sourced ingredients, and this is a team that really knows how to make them sing. The flaky-salty smoked eel rosette is like the best crisp you'll ever eat (they don't come by the bagful, we asked) but the oyster ice cream - you read that right - is the most memorable invention. Some will run a mile from this, I licked the shell clean - Ronan

We've eaten a lot lately. No judgement okay, it's all research... A Fianco We were first in line for a seat at ' A Fianco ' the new Italian 'wineria' in Stoneybatter from the guys behind Grano. It's petite, meaning seats fill up fast, but there's a clever standing counter which we'd happy pass some time at before parking our bums on those leather seats. Wines are unique, small production and special, and we fully recommend letting them choose for you. Plates are small and simple, with some Grano favourites like polpette and the deconstructed canolo. There's plenty of cured meats, cheeses and things on toast, and we're coming back to go all in on seafood - Lisa Dim Sum From Good World A quick dim sum lunch at Good World on George's Street involved the discovery of Grade A soup dumplings in our own fair city, and we've been looking for a while. Char siu cheung fun and char siu buns also hit the spot. Make sure to ask for chilli oil, and the dim sum menu - it's not always handed out on arrival. The Summer Menu at Sprezzatura Finally got around to sampling the new additions to the Sprezzatura summer menu last week, and the arancini menu alone has doubled since my last visit so I had to try the new spicy sausage with orange and tarragon aioli. It had a surprisingly had a good kick to it, and paired with a herby and zesty aioli it was a nice change from the usual rich cheesy options… Who am I kidding, I already regret not ordering the “Four cheese of Ireland” version. While a couple of their pasta dishes are in need of a lighter summer update (we miss you spaghetti vongole), the prawn tagliatelle really stood out, huge (and not overcooked) Dublin Bay prawns in a white wine, chili and garlic butter, exactly the kind of pasta dish you crave in the heat. Best pasta shape award goes to the Malfadine, and it’s not just a pretty face. Served in a creamy Cashel blue sauce with caramelised onions and roasted walnuts, the flavours and textures were on point - Rachael Lunch at Chapter One I'm not sure how many times in a year is too many times to go to Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen , but I have a problem and can't stop. A recent cancellation for the €65 lunch meant we got to try new some dishes. Foie gras with cherries, wet almonds and Banyuls vinegar involved a game of 'guess which one is an actual cherry' (not the one we thought), and BBQ Wicklow sika deer calf in grilled butter with carrot, citrus and sauce poivrade was described by a younger member of the party as "like steak but better". Never a truer word spoken. Castletownbere cod with 'gnocchi' (no actual potato, just some form of wizardry with flour), girolles, pike roe and shio-kombu beurre was dazzling, and put the all too often watery, flavourless fish into a new realm of flavour excitement. Despite being days from their summer break the team here was riding as high as ever - Lisa From Fish Shop in Smithfield to Ox in Belfast I don’t know any craving as compelling as the one for a good fish and chips: once the idea’s settled into my mind, I just don’t feel right until I’ve given in. That’s one of the reasons I’m always so grateful for Smithfield’s Fish Shop and its pristine seafood plates dished up alongside a great selection of wine. As much as the fish burger scratched that itch for another while, it’s the simple snack plate of squid and capers on toast I can’t stop thinking about: a dream of delicate texture and perfectly balanced flavour. I think I feel another craving coming on… It was back in (just!) pre-pandemic 2020 that I first visited Belfast’s Ox , proud home to one of the city’s three Michelin stars, and I couldn’t find fault with it. This time, though, a mismatched summer tasting menu managed to drop the ball more than once, with a mid-meal series of dishes overpowered by big and bold, dominant flavours. Those misfires are highlighted all the more by the one perfect plate: sun-dried heirloom tomatoes, whipped St. Tola goat’s cheese and beautifully fresh broad beans bring the best of the season to bear in forkfuls, then spoonfuls, then tip-of-the-finger-fuls of salty-sweet joy - Ronan Pastries From The Rock Bakery A spin to Skerries to try out The Rock Bakery' s August menu saw calamansi Danishes, malteaster choux buns, sausage rolls, and spicy apple pie Danishes. All were devoured greedily. If only every village had one - Lisa Recipe's From Ixta Belfrage's New Cookbook Ixta Belfrage co-wrote 'Flavour' with Ottolenghi, has her own Guardian cookery column, and has just released her first book ' Mezcla ', meaning 'to mix' in Spanish (a nod to her Mexican, Brazilian and Italian heritage). I've cooked maybe 10 recipes from it so far, and each one has been a flavour-laden banger, including garlic yoghurt with crispy herbs, giant cheese on toast with honey urfa butter, ricotta dip with hot sauce pine nuts, crispy fried eggs with porcini mushrooms, and mackerel udon. A lot done, a lot more to do... Lisa Ice-Cream from Muckross Creamery, and nothing on the train Honeycomb and salted caramel brownie ice-cream from Muckross ice-cream parlour in Killarney. It's a small family-run business making the creamiest ice-cream from their own herd. You'll find tubs of their ice-cream in selected outlets accross Kerry, but during the summer they open a pop-up from a converted cottage on their farm. Well worth a detour, and at €5 for a massive waffle cone with two giant scoops, fantastic value. And finally, nothing on Irish Rail. A three-hour train trip at 07:30 meant not even a bottle of water was available. With rising energy costs and a need to look at greener modes of transport, they're not making it easy to leave the car at home - Helen

In between spending every second trying to get our new and improved website up and running, we've naturally found time to eat - those calories won't replace themselves. Here's some of what we've eaten over the past fortnight, and what we thought of it... A Quick Dinner, l'Gueuleton , Dublin 2 It's been a while since we sat under l'Gueuleton 's red and white stripped awning, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying a plate of steak frites. With an hour for a quick bite in town we headed for one of their outside, wooden tables and found that steak frites are now a whopping €39. Gnocchi in a tomato vodka sauce with mozzarella and unadvertised artichoke (€24) was the best thing we had, the gnocchi firm and pan-fried. Pork fillet au crepinette was fine and forgettable - box-ticking tourist food with flavour not at the forefront. Truffle chips weren't hot or crispy, and while tenderstem broccoli with chill, garlic oil and almonds had great flavour, the broccoli was overcooked. It's a great spot for city centre people watching, or just to pull in for a glass of wine, and staff were uniformly lovely, but on the food front they could do better - Lisa All The Pastries, Ella's Heaven, Dublin 1 We’ve been meaning to visit Ella’s Heaven on Talbot Street for a while, and the main attraction in the mainly Georgian bakery and café is their Khachapuri - baked, boat-shaped dough stuffed with tangy cheese and topped with a fresh egg yolk. The airy, pillowy bread is perfection dipped in the cheesy, eggy topping, and at €7.50 it’s exceptional value for Dublin in 2022. Don't miss the potato pie, baklava and cream horns too - Ronan Dinner, Thyme, Athlone Athlone on a warm Saturday evening was packed (including plenty of hen parties - nature is returning) so the dark and woody interior of Thyme felt like a refuge from the noisy streets, and we can see why this restaurant has so many admirers. Smoked Gubbeen g ougères topped with chorizo and cheese emulsion set the right tone, and we knife-fought over the last of the tomato and basil butter that came with the sourdough. Starters of rabbit and woodpigeon terrine, and seared scallop with uchiki kuri squash were packed with really fresh flavours. For mains, lamb loin with confit belly and pressed shoulder was one of those dishes where you quickly glance around to see if someone will notice if you lick your plate (corner tables for the win), while seabass with langoustine bisque and fennel was light and something we'd happily eat again and again. The evening was rounded-off with desserts of a perfectly lovely 70% chocolate mousse with raspberries and a black sesame tuile, and a pink pepper panna cotta buried under crisp shortbread and strawberries, which divided opinions. One person at the table thought it tasted "too peppercorny", but they were wrong - Helen Dinner, The Fatted Calf, Athlone If you're eating your way through the Midlands, The Fatted Calf has probably crossed your radar before. Previously operating out of an old pub in Glasson, Co. Westmeath, it moved a few years ago into the glass-box street-level unit of a shopping centre in the middle of Athlone. We've yet to find a restaurant in a shopping centre that has an atmosphere that makes you feel like, well, like you're not sitting in the periphery of a shopping centre, but the menu here definitely feels more upmarket. A snack of chorizo croquettes made us sit up, pay attention, and look forward to what else was to come, and sarters of Castletownbere crab with ruby grapefruit and pico de gallo, and scallops in a savoury broth with mushrooms were both excellent. Unfortunately the 10oz fillet advertised on the menu came out as two smaller pieces of meat meaning that the request to have it cooked (vegetarians, look away now) blue meant that we had one perfectly blue piece, with the other smaller steak was closer to medium-rare, but the taste and quality couldn't be faulted. Accompaniments were very limited so the beef spent its remaining minutes hanging out with some chips that were pale, soggy, and a bit sad looking. The pork saltimbocca was a much lighter dish with pancetta, roast peach and basil salsa, served on a salad of apple and rocket, but again, the accompaniment let it down - boiled new spuds are a joy, but on a plate with apples and peaches is not the place for them. Dessert game here was strong - chocolate orange fondant with salted caramel gelato and honeycomb was perfectly molten in the centre, and the caramel doughnuts with affogato were super pillowy, but we didn't register till afterwards that it was on the menu as Baileys affogato". We tasted no Bailey's, just a pretty weak espresso - Helen Hummus & Fatayer, Izz Café, Cork There are plenty of places in Cork I feel drawn to revisit every time I have the pleasure of being in town, but few have a pull quite like Izz Caf é . Since setting up shop on the city's south quays three years ago, Jordanian-Palestinian couple Izzeddeen and Eman Akarajeh's Middle Eastern feasts have become a local institution. For my money theirs might be the best hummus in Ireland, gloriously creamy and served with a steaming-hot, puffed-up portion of bread, tangy olives and pickles. I also finally got the chance to try their fatayer: a cheesy, eggy breakfast pie with sesame-sprinkled dough and seriously rich filling. Do not miss this next time you're down south - Ronan Farm-To-Fork Dining, Camus Farm Field Kitchen, Clonakilty An hour's drive southwest takes you to Camus Farm's Field Kitchen on the outskirts of Clonakilty: a farm-to-fork fine dining experience that's all about connecting you to the land whose spoils you're about to enjoy. Given that, I'd have loved a few more dishes with real focus on own-grown ingredients - most plates mix with produce from other suppliers without much indication of what came from where. Still, it all tastes excellent . The opening beetroot borani worked wonders with a sourdough flatbread, while slices of smoked pollock matched with grilled peppers and gigantic ripe capers for a beautiful blend of fresh flavours. As enjoyed in the setting sun of late summer, there's few experiences out there quite like it - Ronan The PB&J Sandwich from Bake by Graham Herterich After getting my hands on a preview copy of Graham Herterich's (more widely known as The Cupcake Bloke) new book Bake , I could barely wait to procrastinate from actual work by trying out some recipes. His fruit scones are perfectly light and fluffy; his rye, ale and honey bread is a joy with sliced ham and mustard (or butter, or cheese, or jam), and his PB&J sandwich is a celebration showstopper. It's a bit fiddly and mistakes were made resulting in a thinner than planned jelly layer and some broken sponge, but the taste, my word the taste... - Lisa

It's the first of our monthly 9 giveaways and we have a mega line up of prizes to thank you for supporting our content. Everyone who subscribes by Saturday 17th July will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Sunday 18th July. August's line up of prizes will be released in the next few weeks. 1) A Table For The Opening Night Of 'Mae' Former Clanbrassil House head chef Gráinne O'Keeffe opens her first solo restaurant ' Mae ' in Dublin 4 in August, and we've bagged a table for two for their opening night. We'll also be giving you a voucher for €150 so you can drink and dine in style. 2) A €200 Tab For Hawker We loved Hawker , Hang Dai's new streetside pop up, when we ate there a few weeks ago (read the full once over here ). This month one of you will win a €200 tab and a confirmed booking for you and your mates (usually walk up only). However many you want to share the tab with is up to you, but you'll comfortably feed and water four. 3) Outdoor Dinner For Four At Fade Street Social The prime people-watching tables outside Fade Street Social and in their rooftop garden are like gold dust right now, and we've got a three-course dinner for four plus two rounds of cocktails to give away this month. (Can be redeemed Sunday - Wednesday until the end of August) 4) €100 Voucher For Three Leaves One of our favourite restaurants, the brilliant 3 Leaves in Blackrock, have given us a voucher for €100 to give to one of you so you can fill your boots with pani puri, palak pakora chat and their special biryani, either for eat in (out) or takeaway. 5) Dinner With Wine Pairings At The Legal Eagle/Winding Stair The terrace above The Woollen Mills is currently home to a pop up with one of the best vistas in the city, featuring favourite dishes from The Winding Stair and The Legal Eagle . They've given us a three-course dinner for two people with wine pairings to give to one of our Insiders, or you can do their four course weekend lunch instead. 6) Aoife Noonan's August Pastry Drop And A Class Of Your Choice Ex-Michelin starred pastry chef Aoife Noonan has gone it alone, with a monthly pastry drop delivered anywhere in Dublin and online classes in cake making, chocolate work and desserts. We've got her August drop of a box of 4 canelés to give away this month, along with a cookery class of your choice. 7) Two Tickets To Nightmarket's Pop Up At Roe & Co Roe & Co are holding a summer of D8TE pop ups at their Dublin 8 distillery this summer, and up next are Thai restaurant Nightmarket with a menu including grilled, marinated pork neck with sticky rice, and steamed seabream in red curry paste. We've got two tickets to give away for their lunch tasting menu with cocktail pairings on Sunday 1st August (over 18s only). 8) A Cheese Hamper From Ballylisk Our love for Ballylisk cheese is deep (triple cream for life). They've given us a hamper of all of their cheeses with biscuits and chutney to give away to one of you lucky cheese lovers. 9) A Seasonal Veg Box Plus Strawberries From Harvest Day Harvest Day deliver their organic and 100% Irish fruit and vegetable boxes nationwide, from small farms like Larkin’s Hill Farm in Puckane, Co. Tipperary, Sprout Organic Farm in Rathcoffey, Co. Kildare and Jim Cronin's sixteen-acre Organic Market Garden near Killaloe, Co. Clare. They'll be delivering a Harvest Box as well as some punnets of fresh Irish strawberries to one of our July winners. Read more about ATF Insiders here. Not signed up yet? Join here .

It's that time of the month where we announce our monthly 9 giveaways for August, and once again we have a cracking line up of prizes for ATF Insiders, to thank you for supporting our content. Everyone subscribed by Tuesday 17th August will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Wednesday 18th August. Here's what's coming up... 1) Two Tickets For Allta's Summer House It's been the hit of the summer, with the hospitality glitterati (and the rest) travelling to Allta Summer House on the grounds of Slane Castle each weekend to eat Dexter beef tartare, Cromane oysters with damson, and whole slow-roasted turbot with gooseberry beurre blanc. We've got two tickets to give away for their service on castle grounds on Sunday 12th September. 2) A Champagne Reception And Wine Pairing Dinner At Monty's Monty's of Kathmandu is known for Nepalese dumplings, tandoor oven fired rotis, and the private wine room of your dreams. One of our lucky readers will be heading there (with a plus one) for a Pol Roger champagne reception hosted by owner Shiva in their Santa Rita wine room, followed by a six course tasting menu with matching wines in the dining room. 3) A Duck Tasting Menu For Four At Woodruff We eat in Woodruff weekly with our eyes, thanks to their insane Instagram game - and having been there we can tell you it lives up to the pictures. We've got a four course tasting menu of salt-aged Feighcullen duck with wine pairings to give away to one of you, and you can bring three people along for the ride. 4) A Back To Dine Box Delivered To Your Home Back To Dine 's current at home box looks like a feast and a half. It's a modern Italian, seven-course menu from chef Temple Garner, featuring dishes like Vitello Tonnato, rabbit croquette, and gremolata-rolled porchetta. Not forgetting the Amarena cherry and almond frangipane doughtnut with diplomat cream for the day after. One of you will be winning a box for next weekend, for collection or delivery within Dublin. 5) A Meal For Four At Aventura Our favourite sunshine-filled Venezuelans at Aventura Café have opened their first restaurant in Portmarnock, serving brunch and dinner like their signature picanha steak with chimichurri, chicken alitas with pineapple sauce, and nachos with pulled pork, homemade tomato salsa and the chef's special cheese sauce. They're going to treat one of you to a meal for four people with starters, mains and desserts, any time from Wednesday - Saturday. 6) A Jamon, Cheese And Sherry Hamper From Spain Iberico You may have seen how excited we were a few months ago to have discovered Spain Iberico , and to finally have a source for top of the range Spanish jamon, goat's cheese and sherry without having to get on a plane. They're giving one of you an incredible hamper of four different types of Jamon Iberico, two goat's cheeses, salted almonds, pico breadsticks, and one of our favourite Manzanilla sherries from Bodegas Alonso. 7) Ramen, Bao And Gyoza From Yumo Kits Yumo Kits did much to brighten up our lockdowns with their excellent ramen, gyoza and bao kits, available for nationwide delivery. They're giving one of you a ramen kit for two, a gyoza kit AND a bao kit. You can share (or not) with however many people you'd like. 8) A €100 Voucher For Cluck Chicken Cluck have made Walkinstown a go-to area for fried chicken with their Mother Clucker Burgers, truffle parmesan tenders and kimchi cheese fries. To celebrate their move to free-range, organic birds from Ring Farm in Kilkenny, we've got a €100 voucher to give away, so you can bring your mates and go clucking mad. 9) A Pizza Party For Six From The Dough Bros This week The Dough Bros in Galway were named best pizzeria in Ireland by 50 Top Pizza , a guide to the best pizzerias in Italy and worldwide. If you tried and failed to get one of their at home pizza kits during lockdown (demand was fierce), you'll probably be excited at the thought of a pizza party for six, with bases and a selection of toppings, beer from White Hag, The Dough Bros socks (to keep your feet warm obvs), postcards and other merch. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for August will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content.

It's that time of the month where we announce our monthly 9 giveaways for September that all ATF Insiders are automatically entered into, and wait till you see what's up for grabs this month. As always thank you for supporting our content. We couldn't do this without you. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Friday 17th September will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Saturday 18th September. Here's what's coming up... 1) Dinner For Two At Clanbrassil House There's a new chef team in the kitchen at Clanbrassil House and we can't wait to check it out. New head chef James Dobson (previously at Potager in Skerries and two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston in London) has been joined by David Bradshaw (previously at Michelin-starred Lyle's in London), and they've unleashed a brand new menu on Dublin 8. They've given us a three course meal for two with a wild blackberry and rose hip cocktail on arrival, and a choice of dishes like roasted onion tortellini with braised shiitake and tarragon; glazed pork jowl with turnip, broad beans and mustard; and baked cream with fennel and wild blackberry (that we featured here ). (Can only be used Wednesday or Thursday evening) 2) A €200 Voucher For Mister S We loved Mister S from the minute it opened, devouring their shortribs, gambas and pork tomahawk – all cooked over live fire at the back of the restaurant - at every opportunity. Their commitment to the absolute best Irish produce while keeping their prices uber affordable really made them stand out, and we ate way more of their heat at home boxes during lockdown than we’d like to admit. They’ve given us a €200 voucher to give away so one of you will get to feast on dishes like whole garlic prawns with focaccia; dry-aged beef rib on the bone; and whole black sole, with however many people you'd like. 3) Two Tickets For The Stillgarden Distilling Academy Stillgarden Distillery , the innovative, community-based distillery in Dublin 8, recently reopened its Distilling Academy experiences, where you can learn all about distilling gin and vodka while creating your own bottle of whichever you choose using Stillgarden ingredients to take home. You’ll visit their community garden and sample a drink from their Old Tom dispenser (the only working model in the world), and they’ve given us two passes for the Distilling Academy experience (worth €200) to give away to one of our lucky Insiders this month. 4) A Gourmet Break To The Pembroke Hotel In Kilkenny We are always, always looking for food-based getaways in Ireland, so were very interested to see that chef Ken Harker (formerly of the Michelin-starred Lady Helen restaurant in Mount Juliet) has taken over at Statham’s , in the four-star Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny. They’ve launched a series of gourmet food packages to celebrate, and we’ve got one to give away! One lucky Insider is going to win overnight accommodation for two in a double room with breakfast, and a three-course meal in Statham’s, with a choice of dishes like venison ‘bolognaise’ croquettes with parmesan and truffle mayo; braised pig cheek with Jerusalem artichoke, apple and black pudding granola; and dark chocolate crème with coffee caramel and hazelnut cream. (Prize subject to availability and can’t be redeemed at weekends or on holidays) 5) Seafood And Champagne At The Shelbourne September means one very important thing – it’s oyster month at The Shelbourne . They have daily specials, pairings and offers all month in No. 27 , the hotel’s bar, like a half dozen Galway natives with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne, a pint of Guinness, or you can go for broke with a bottle of Billecart Salmon (one of our all-time favourite Champagnes). If raw isn’t your bag there’s also a menu of warm oysters with wine pairings, like oysters Rockefeller with Chablis, or smoked oysters with creamed leeks and Goatsbridge caviar with New Zealand sauvignon blanc. To celebrate oyster month at The Shelbourne Hotel , we'll be giving one of you a seafood platter and a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne, so you can head in with your nearest and dearest to live it up for a few hours. 6) A €200 Voucher For Featherblade Featherblade on Dawson Street has got to be the best value steakhouse in Dublin, only sourcing Irish, grass-fed beef from top suppliers, and still managing to sell a steak for under €15 . One of you will be able to go all out with surf and turf, dressed crab on toasted focaccia, their famous burgers (their at home kits were another highlight of lockdown), and all the wine and cocktails, because they’ve given us a €200 voucher to give away. They’ve just had a very nice refurb, inside and out, so there’s never been a better time to a visit. So fresh. So juicy. 7) Dinner For Two At Winedown Wine bar Winedown , on Montague Street, have just released a new menu for Autumn, and don't leave without trying their toastie croquettes, inspired by sister toastie shop Meltdown . They've got plates ' from the sea' , like Irish Porcupine prawns with lemongrass and chilli emulsion, ' from the land ', like Asian marinated bavette steak skewers with house rayu and pickled ginger, and ' from the ground ', like grilled halloumi with romesco and grilled courgettes in a sherry vinegar reduction, and plenty of wines to pair them with. There's also loads of cheese and charcuterie, and the suppliers list is very impressive, featuring Carraignamuc Cottage fruit and veg, Glenmar Shellfish, and Little Italy to name a few. They've given us a brilliant prize of dinner for two with cocktails on arrival, four small plates, two sharing plates, two desserts and a bottle of wine. You'll be well and truly wound down after that. 8) A €150 Voucher For The Wine Cellar In Fallon & Byrne Fallon & Byrne ’s wine cellar is back! It’s been closed for a long 18 months, but it’s just reopened with a new look (including a snug that seats up to 30 people), a new wine list (as good as ever) and new food menu , including pizza and pasta made on site. Their ridiculously good €1 corkage offer is still on offer from Sunday – Tuesday, and they do over 50 wines by the glass, so no arguing over which bottle to pick. They’ve given us a €150 voucher to give away to celebrate, so one of you will be filling your boots with brilliant wine, handcut Jamon Iberico and Neapolitan pizza. 9) Dinner For Two In Zampas In The Hard Rock Hotel Last up for this month's killer prizes, Peruvian restaurant Zampas Bar & Restaurant , at the Hard Rock Hotel , have given us an à la carte dinner for 2 people with a bottle of wine and a cocktail each. They describe their food as "Peruvian with a distinctly Irish accent", and the winner will be able to chose from dishes like wild, locally landed white fish ceviche, Peruvian-style roast chicken from the asador, and chargrilled monkfish with South American flavours. There is not enough Peruvian food in Dublin, and definitely not enough ceviche, so this is all good news. (Subject to availability, non-transferrable) Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for September will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond.

Our monthly 9 giveaways for October are now live! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and we can't wait to make another nine people very happy. As always thank you for supporting what we do, we love you all a lot. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Sunday 17th October will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Monday 18th October. Here's what's coming up... 1) Sunday Tasting Lunch With Wine Pairings At Potager Our love for Potager in Skerries runs deep (read our once over here ), and each meal there is a journey full of twists and turns. Owner and head chef Cathal Leonard isn't working from any playbook except his own, and we're always struck by the originality (and absolute deliciousness) of his food. For a fine dining restaurant the service is so friendly and laid back (echoing Chapter One where Leonard used to be head chef), and the wine list is just as interesting as the food. We've got a Sunday tasting lunch for two with wine pairings to give away to one of you very lucky subscribers, and we're struggling to think of a nicer way to spend a day off. 2) A €150 Voucher For Volpe Nera If you haven't ventured out to Blackrock to try Barry Sun's brilliant neighbourhood restaurant Volpe Nera , you should rectify that ASAP. The former Etto head chef's first solo restaurant has been a hit with everyone who's walked through the door (read our once over here ), and we've managed to bag a €150 voucher for it, so one of you can feast on mushroom dumplings with pickled fennel, lovage and aged soya; suckling pig with morcilla, braised endive and romesco; and spinach and ricotta malfatti with confit egg yolk and courgette gremolata. We just wish every neighbourhood had one. 3) Brunch For Four With Champagne At House Of Bubbles Tickets for new city centre pop up House Of Bubbles go on sale today, and we've got brunch for four with Champagne to give away. It's all about food, drink, disco and glamour, and the three-course evening menu will be paired with sparkling wines (including Champagne) picked by sommelier Cathryn Bell. The menu will include dishes like crab & prawn brioche rolls, and panko lemon sole goujons with lemon and caper mayonnaise and hand cut chips. Brunch will feature dishes like brioche French toast with crispy streaky bacon and maple syrup, and breakfast tacos with avocado, chorizo, scrambled eggs, tomato salsa and potato home fries, with cava to start, followed by Gosset champagne. And if that wasn't enough to entice you, there will also be photographs on display for the first time from photographer Leon Farrell, shot around Dublin in the 90s, featuring Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Bono amongst others. House of Bubbles opens on Friday 19th November at Crow Street in Temple Bar and is definitely going to be jam-packed for party season, so if you want tickets we'd hop on this one fast. For more details follow them on Instagram here and get tickets on their website . 4) Spicy Margaritas And A Cocktail Bundle From Craft Cocktails We've been major fans of Craft Cocktails since day one, and have been known to get slight palpitations when our home supply runs low, so we were very interested to see they've launched a special Spicy Margarita for Halloween (yes we have already ordered it and no we're not sure it's going to make it to the 31st without being consumed). They've given us a 750ml bottle of it (serving seven), along with a bundle of their six original cocktails to give away, so your Halloween drink stash will be sorted. 5) Dinner For Two With Wine At Hakkakan We were really impressed with our recent visit to Hakkahan in Stoneybatter (read our once over here ), particularly loving the fresh chilli and salt squid, the basil duck from Silverhill, and the fact that they have an entire menu section dedicated to dumplings. We'll be sending one of you there to try all of their dumplings, along with any two mains, sides, dessert and a bottle of wine. 6) A Year's Subscription Of Full Circle Coffee D ublin-based coffee roasters Full Circle have started investing directly in small-scale coffee growers in Brazil, in order to help the Brazilian coffee industry as it battles the increasing effects of climate change, and protect the livelihoods of farmers in the process. They've committed up front to purchasing a number of lots, regardless of how that year's weather affects the crop, and want to ensure these famers continue growing coffee, instead of switching to a different crop. All of these coffees, plus other single origins, are available to purchase on their website , and they also have a monthly subscription service. To celebrate this initiative one of you will be winning an annual subscription, with coffee delivered to your door every month for a year, along with a Hario V60 and filter papers. 7) A Clonakilty Distillery Hamper Vodka fans listen up. Clonakilty Distillery 's Minke Irish Vodka has just scooped a gold award at The Spirits Business Vodka Masters 2021. It was commended for its "nice creaminess", "good balance" and "peppery spice notes", attributed to the fact that it's distilled from a whey-based (rather than grain-based) spirit, derived from milk produced on a nearby family farm. The maritime distillery in Cork also produces other award-winning, premium whiskeys and gins, and they've given us an amazing hamper including their Minke Gin, Minke Vodka, Seasonal Minke Sloe Gin, Port Cask Whiskey, as well as whiskey and gin/vodka glasses. You will be entirely set for the Christmas season. If you want to see what all the fuss is about you can buy it online or from Supervalu. 8) A €100 Voucher For Veginity V egan restaurant Veginity are always changing things up, bringing food from other countries and cultures to their Dorset Street space, and this month it's all about Ethiopian food - much of which is naturally vegan. The three-course set menu for the month of October is €35, and they recommend diners come hungry to try ther injera, tibs, red lentil Misir Wat, green puy lentil Azifa salad, tomato Timatim salad, and cabbage and potato Atkilt Wat, with an Ethiopian affogato for dessert. See the full menu here . We've got a €100 voucher to give away so two of you can take a culinary trip to Addis Ababa , and if you can't make it there this month, we're sure they've got something just as interesting planned for November. 9) A Food & Wine Packed Hamper From Kate's Kitchen Whenever we're looked for food based gifts we really struggle to find quality hampers full of things we would actually want to eat and drink, so we were very happy to see that Sligo based Kate's Kitchen have just made their hampers available for nationwide delivery. There are loads of options, like the Bosca Bia (€55) full of Irish treats, all the way up to The Kitchen (€190), full of everything you could possibly want in your presses. We've got a very special Many Thanks hamper to give away to one of you, including jams, relish, chocolate, cookies, granola, coffee, and the all important wine. See the full range of hampers and how to order here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for October will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond.

Our monthly 9 giveaways for November are now live! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and we're looking forward to sending those joy-giving emails. As always thank you for supporting what we do, we literally couldn't do it without you. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Wednesday 17th November will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Thursday 18th November. Here's what's coming up... 1) Sunday Tasting Menu For Two With Wine Pairings At Circa Michelin-recommended Circa restaurant in Terenure recently introduced a six-course, Sunday evening tasting menu for €55, with weekly changing dishes. Head chef Darryl Haynes and sous chef Conor Morrissey are sending out dishes like monkfish with black trumpets and mussels; boar, crab apple, kale and chanterelle; and a Teelings whiskey soaked sponge with custard, and Circa are treating one of our lucky Insiders to a Sunday tasting menu for two with wine pairings. Can you think of a better way to end the week? See more about Circa here . 2) Dinner And An Overnight Stay In O'Donoghue's, Killarney There's a new place to eat in Killarney and we're sending one of you on an overnight stay to check it out. The newly renovated O'Donoghue Public House has just reopened with the next generation in charge, and seafood chowder, braised beef pie and Mai’s trifle on the menu (the matriach of the family). The signature cocktail list is based on historical classics, like the Killarney Mountain Dew with Bán Poitín, Boatyard Old Tom Gin and clarified milk, and the hand-carved timber bar or one of their many snugs are the perfect place to drink them at. They'll also put you up for the night in one of their three O'Donoghue Ring Hotels in Killarney, with breakfast the next morning. If you're currently swimming in a sea of sickness like the rest of the country this would be the ideal date in the diary to look forward to. (Subject to availability, non-transferable, not valid Bank Holidays, Christmas & NYE. Valid for 12 months) 3) A Christmas Bundle From Dublin Cocktail Lab Dublin Cocktail Lab are all about using unique, high-quality ingredients and methods, and creating products to make the home bartender look like a professional - this is always welcome. Fresh from collaborating on the new Library Street drinks menu, they've given us a Christmas bundle to give away. Whoever wins it will get their Hot Whiskey Syrup , Fig and Cranberry Mulled wine mix , Amabuki Tea (a matcha based gin cocktail), and their limited edition (only 100 made) Dublin Cocktail Lab X Conor Merriman collaboration 'Stout & Chaser' - a collaborative signed, embossed & numbered print by Conor Merriman, and and a 500ml cocktail of Powers Gold, coconut, Guinness, Pedro Ximinez and a balsamic reduction. 4) Dinner And Drinks For Two At The Purty Kitchen The Purty Kitchen , in Dun Laoghaire's oldest surviving premises, has reopened with a new look, new menu and new owners. Friends and hospitality professionals Mark Heather and James Burgess have fully refurbished the iconic building close to Dun Laoghaire DART station, adding a weatherproof outdoor space with heating that will open later this year. They describe the new menu as "comforting, homely and delicious", with dishes including ham hock with black pudding and thyme croquettes, Galway Bay rope mussels in a white wine cream, and the Purty Kitchen fish pie, and because they're a pub too you won't be kicked out once the kitchen closes. They're giving one of you a three-course meal for two including wine pairings as recommended by manager Amanda Gill to accompany your starter and main course, and an after-dinner cocktail. 5) Regal Rogue Australia’s first native vermouth, Regal Rogue was established in 2011 and celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. The award-winning brand has had a major move to increase sustainability over the past year, with the packaging now 99.5% recycled, using bespoke recycled glass and paper bearing the Forest Stewardship Council stamp of approval. They've also moved to 100% organic Australian wine, and 80% organic native Aboriginal herbs, farmed under biodynamic practices. They're available from select Supervalu stores and lots of the city's wine and spirit shops, but we've got one of each to give away to one of you - Lively White, Daring Dry, Bold Red and Wild Rosé - promising a Negroni, Martini and Manhattan filled Christmas. 6) A Monthly Jaru Meal Kit For Four Now that restaurants have given up on meal kits in favour of opening their doors to customers again, we constantly find ourselves recommending South Dublin based Korean food producers Jaru , for their DIY boxes, hot food to heat at home, and Korean pantry items. Their latest creation is their monthly meal kits , focused on a different region of Korea each month, and they've given us two kits to feed four people to give to one of you on a month that suits you - we'd be earmarking a stress free New Year's Eve get-together. They deliver in Dublin on Wednesdays and Fridays, or any of their food can be ordered for collection from their base in Rathfarnham. 7) G'wan Ireland Hamper Brilliant and beautiful Dublin 8 lifestyle store Hen's Teeth recently launched their G'Wan Ireland Hamper , featuring Irish goodies and treats for the food lover in your life (or a payday gift to yourself). It includes, Blanco Nino Chips, Henzo Mix, Chimac Sauce, Harry's Nut Butter, Mella's Fudge, White Mausu, Bean & Goose Chocolate, Nobu Chocolate, Conbini Sunday Sauce and Assassination Custard's Piccalilli. If something in the line up isn't right they'll let you swap it out, and you can add a gift note at the checkout - they also do custom and corporate hampers for those looking to treat the crew this Christmas. The G'wan Ireland Hamper is usually €90 (ex-delivery) but they've given us one to give away to you lot this month, and they deliver to anywhere in Ireland. 8) Ginger Beer, Poitín And Mixers From Poachers Award-winning Irish mixers Poachers , made in Wexford, come in seven, low sugar flavours, like Classic With Thyme, Citrus with Irish Rosemary, and Ginger Ale with Irish Apple, using native ingredients. Their ginger beer, made with organic ginger, lime, Irish apples and Irish grown chilli from Galway goes particularly well with award-winning Bán Poitín, distilled from potato, barley and wheat, so they've given us a Ginger Beer and Poitín Box to give away so you can see what all the fuss is about. They've also given us a Poachers Mixers Gift Box , and some socks from the Irish Sock Society, because it's getting cold. 9) A Deluxe Dessert Hamper From Cream Of The Crop For a Christmassy finish this month, Cream Of The Crop , the innovative zero waste gelato brand based in Dublin 8, have just released their Deluxe Dessert Christmas Hampers, and they had us at "rum and raisin gelato-stuffed panettone cake". It's a collaboration with other Dublin food producers, so the four gelatos included are Banoffee Pie; Almond Harry's Nut Butter; Sea Salt Caramel & Rua Food Brownie; and a Katie's Kombucha raspberry sorbet. You'll also find the inspiration for the flavours in there with some Rua Food brownies, Harry's Nutbutter and Katie's Kombucha included. They're also throwing in some of their zero waste chocolate covered banana bites, and a €50 voucher for Cream Of The Crop, because once you taste this stuff you're going to want more. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for November will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond.

Our monthly 9 giveaways for December are now live! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and making people's day/week is definitely the best part of the month for us. As always thank you for supporting what we do, we love you long time. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Friday 17th December will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Saturday 18th December. Here's what's coming up this month... 1) Dinner For Two With Drinks At Sprezzaura Everyone's favourite fast casual Italian, Sprezzatura , has taken on chef Anita Thoma (formerly Il Primo) as Head of Product Development across both restaurants. She's developed a brand new, seasonal menu, adding even more Irish suppliers and growers to the list, with dishes including wild Wicklow venison & pork meatballs; arancini; and tagliatelle with chestnut and portobello mushroom ragu. Their virtual queuing system Waitlist is back in action so no standing out in the cold, and for those wanting to stay home they're also on Deliveroo . One of our lucky Insiders is going in to experience the new menu for themselves as they've given us a dinner for two to give away, with cocktails on arrival, starters, pasta, dessert and a carafe of house wine. 2) Dinner & Drinks For Two At Junior's Junior's in Beggar's Bush has just reopened for dinner with a brand new menu style, based on American comfort food with a serious flavour punch, from head chef Fiachra Kenny. Produce is predominantly Irish, like free-range Salters chicken and pork for the fried chicken and waffles, and schnitzel with anchovies, and Milleens, smoked Gubbeen and Cais na Tire in their Mac and Cheese. We're all over the ox cheek marmalade and bone marrow on toast, and the deep-fried apple pie for dessert, and one of you will be too because we're sending you there for dinner. One of our Insiders will be treated to cocktails, starters, mains, desserts and a bottle of house wine for two, and your only problem is going to be choosing what to have from this menu . 3) A €100 Voucher For Hen's Teeth Hen's Teeth is undoubtedly on the "Dublin's hottest restaurants" list right now, with chef Killian Walsh and team turning out dishes like Korean fried chicken with pork skin and pickles; seabream with cucumber, sorrel and jalapeno; and Connemara mussels in an nduja broth. The wine's natural, the art work is second to none, and the vibes are very Dublin 8. We've bagged a €100 for one of you so you can get in and see what everyone (and we mean everyone) is rating as some of the best cooking in the capital. We're also very excited for their pop up with London-based Willy's Pies on the 8th and 9th of January. How good does this sound ? 4) The Baller Hamper From Boujee Booze Online wine shop Boujee Booze was set up by friends Michael and Simon who'd worked in hospitality and wanted to sell the wine, beer and food they love. They have a killer selection of natural wines (as well as some more conventional types), recipes and snacks to pair them with, and even the best takeaway to suit each bottle, with next day delivery available nationwide. The guys are always on hand to make recommendations or give advice through the website, and we've got a special ATF Boujee hamper to give away to one of you for a very happy Christmas. It's got five top natural wines, Ballylisk Triple Rose, Cashel Blue and Milleens cheeses, Iberico de Bellota lomo and chorizo, damson cheese fruit, mini toast crackers, and olives. You could give this away as a present, but we just want it for ourselves. 5) A €100 Voucher For Pala Pizza We've officially designated Roman-style Pala Pizza in Foxrock worthy of your time, money and travel costs, so are delighted to be sending one of you off to eat all the pizza. The no bookings, outdoor eatery (with heaters coming next week!) will even take a special, pizza oven adjacent booking just for our winner and whoever they choose to share their pizza prize with. Slices range from €3.50 for garlic bread to €8 for a guest special, so €100 will get you a lot of crispy, by the cut slices, and if they have their new focaccia sliders with oxtail and pig trotter ragu on when you visit, you better order it and tell us all about it. 6) A Maharani Gin Gift Set Mahanari gin is made in Cork with botanicals from Kerala in India, a combination of the different backgrounds of married owners Robert and Bhagya Barrett. They wanted to create an original gin with spice, citrus and sweetness, so it's zested with pomelo fruit and spiced with cassia and nutmeg-mace, all sourced from a women’s organic farming co-operative in Bhagya’s home state of Kerala. ‘Maharani’, meaning Queen, won four awards in its first year on the market, including gold in The Gin Masters , and the perfect serve is with premium tonic, grapefruit and mint leaves. Intrigued? One of you will be getting sent a 70cl bottle, London Essence tonic, Mr Bell's spice mix, and some Maharani merch so you can see what all the fuss is about . 7) A €100 Voucher And Sake At Yoi Izakaya Yoi Izakaya in Dublin 4 is the second opening from the people behind Yoi Ramen near Grand Canal Dock, and we were really impressed with the sushi when we visited a couple of weeks ago. They say they wanted to bring the culture of Japan to Ballsbridge, with a multitude of dishes including Asian tapas, ramen and teriyaki, in a modern setting. To celebrate their opening they've given us a €100 voucher to give away to one of you so you can eat as much nigiri, futomatki and gyoza as you can manage, and they're throwing in a bottle of sake too. 8) A Heart Of Spain Hamper Cork-based Heart of Spain are bringing the food and wine of Castilla y Leon to Ireland with their online food shop. From Ribera del Duero wines, to farm-produced cured meats, to artisan sheep's milk cheese, it's like going on an eating holiday without running around Madrid looking for a PCR test centre. We've got an amazing tapas hamper to give away to one of you this month, including wines, cheeses, meats, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pates, nuts and jams, all delivered in a beautiful wooden box. You can order their hampers online for nationwide, pre-Christmas delivery up until the 20th December, or collect from their Cork shop if you happen to be heading that way for Christmas. There's also 10% off everything until the 23rd! Get on it. 9) A €100 Voucher For Dublin Cookery School In a pandemic-related cookery rut? We're sending one of you off to the Dublin Cookery School in Blackrock. Situated two miles down the coast from Dublin city centre, you'll be heading to their state of the art, modern, spacious cookery studio, €100 voucher in hand, with hundreds of courses to choose from. From pizza to pasta, Japanese to Mexican cuisine, you can see what's coming up at dublincookeryschool.ie , and they sell custom gift vouchers too. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for December will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond.

Our monthly 9 giveaways for January are now live with a definite January theme! At home kits, meal prep deliveries and veganism. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and we're looking forward to brightening up these dark days for nine of you. As always thank you for supporting what we do. You literally keep the lights on around here. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Monday 17th January will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Tuesday 18th January. Here's what's coming up this month... 1) Tasting Menu With Cocktails & Wine At Ukiyo Ukiyo aren't letting no 8pm lockdown get them down. Their covered, heated terrace off Exchequer Street is serving small plates, sliders and sushi from 12:00 - 20:00 seven days a week, and there's indoor seating too in case you've got the January chills. They've given us a prize for one of our lucky Insiders of a tasting menu for two with a selection of small plates, sushi, otoshi snacks and bento box specials, as well as cocktails on arrival and a bottle of house wine. Could there be a better way to beat the January, how-is-Covid-still-a-thing, blues? Check out Ukiyo here . 2) A Chinese New Year Prize Package From Asia Market The year of the tiger is fast approaching, and who better to show us how to celebrate Chinese New Year on the 1st February than our favourite source of noodles, kimchi and all the frozen dumplings - Asia Market . They're hosting loads of cultural food events across their Drury Street and Ballymount stores (and online) in January and February, including a free Chinese New Year Night Market on Thursday 3rd February, featuring Bites By Kwanghi, Ginger's BBQ, Man Street Kitchen and more. As part of the celebrations Asia Market have given us an AMAZING prize package to give away to one of you, including: - A 'Journey To The East' box for two full of Asia Market goodies, and a ticket to their 'Explore Cook Eat' after-hours online tour and live, interactive cook-along with Malaysian chef Sham Hanifa of The Cottage restaurant on Sunday 30th January - A Chinese New Year-themed banquet feast for two from their Fade Street restaurant Duck - A €50 voucher to spend in-store or online at www.asiamarket.ie Happy new year or what! 3) Dinner For Two With Drinks From V-Face V-Face have been bringing their 'animal burgers made with plants' to the Dublin market since 2019, and opened their permanent restaurant in Smithfield in 2020. We were immediately struck by the amount of feedback they were getting from non-vegans saying how shockingly good their burgers were, and they seem to have gone from strength to strength. They've just launched a new salad and milkshake range for Veganuary, featuring the 'Bravo Chicky Avocado' and the 'Asian Equation', as well as Tiramisu, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes. To celebrate they've given us a meal for two to give away, with mains, sides, dessert, milkshakes and wine included. Check them out here . 4) Dinner For Four With Wine From Elm Epicurean The residents of Dublin 4 were spinning with excitement last year when the owners of Howth based Mamó opened their third specialty food store Elm Epicurean on the Merrion Road (with dine in options for breakfast and lunch), to join Margadh in Howth and Barrow Market near Grand Canal Dock. Their Margadh heat at home range, which is available across all stores, has kept us going through many a lockdown, with highlights including their mushroom gnocchi, pithiviers and chocolate mousse with blackberries. They've given us a brilliant prize of dinner for four from their weekly chef-prepared menu, with starters, mains, sides, desserts and a paired bottle of organic wine. It will be available for collection, and there's a vegetarian option if preferred. Check out Elm Epicurean here . 5) €200 Worth Of Meals From Parallel Nutrition Earlier this week we reviewed four meal prep companies , and were really impressed with Parallel Nutrition and their clear nutritional information, environmentally-friendly packaging, and most importantly how good their food tasted. It was launched by chef/nutritionist Diarmaid Healy in 2018, who was disillusioned by corporate life & trying to maintain some sort of work/life balance. From initially stocking some gym fridges to now having customers across Dublin, they cater for every meal of the day and deliver twice a week for freshness, you just need to subscribe to a meal plan. They've given us an amazing €200 worth of meals for one of our Insiders this month in whatever form you'd like, whether that's three meals a day plus snacks, or five mains over the week. Check them out here . 6) A Poke Picnic For Six From Shaka Poke W e loved Shaka Poke from our first bite of raw, marinated fish, and the Blackrock stall (also on Deliveroo ) has been upping the ante when it comes to sourcing from Irish waters. Their 'Big Island Citrus' bowl features Donegal citrus-cured hake with heirloom tomatoes, edamame, avocado and mango, while the 'Togaraski Crab' contains Irish crab meat, wakame, kiwi, carrot, Granny Smith apple, pickled onion, and togarashi Mayo. They also have three vegan bowls (earning them a spot in our ' best places to eat vegan guide '), or you can build your own, and it's all served alongside their nitro coffee - a nitrogen infused coldbrew that they compare to Guinness. Shaka poke have given us a poke picnic for six to give away this month, with a bowl and drink of your choice for you plus five of your nearest and dearest. An excellent excuse for an outdoor catch up. 7) A €100 Voucher For 777 777 are like the reliable, always up for a laugh, margarita in hand friend that we all need in our lives right now. From their €7.77 menu on Sundays to Margarita Mondays (two for €16), taco Tuesdays (two for €7) to their amazing outdoor Afuera area , they're here for us through all weathers, curfews and budgets, and they've given us a €100 voucher this month so one of you can go and let loose on them. Tostadas, taquitos and margaritas = ideal winter's evening content. Check out 777 here . 8) A €100 Voucher For Smokin' Bones Smokin' Bones have been keeping lots of you going through January with their American BBQ in a box meal kits that can be shipped anywhere in the country. The Temple Bar restaurant (now with sites in Walkinstown and Swords) is known for dishes like their Hickory wood-smoked baby back ribs, 16-hour brisket, and Applewood smoked pulled pork amongst others, and they've given us a €100 to dine or or try one of their boxes at home. The veggies are taken care of too with the Vegetarian burger in a box featuring Beyond Meat patties. Check it all out on their website . 9) A Month's Supply Of Leamhain Ice-Cream Sandwiches Leamhain 's ice-cream sandwiches have redefined vegan ice-cream, with customers hardly able to believe there's not even a trace of a cow in there. Made with raw coconut oil and free from gluten, nuts, artificial ingredients, eggs and dairy, it's the brainchild of chef and entrepreneur Conor Sweeny, who's followed a plant-based diet since 2015. Demand has been fierce, and to celebrate their nationwide expansion they've given us a month's supply of ice-cream sandwiches and pint-sized tubs to give away, including Butterscotch Blondie, Double Chocolate Brownie, Lemon Curd Meringue and Mint Stracciatella sandwiches, and Chocolate, Vanilla Irish Sea Salt, and Cocoa Crumb & Caramel ice cream tubs. Check out stockists here or buy online . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for January will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out.

February's monthly 9 giveaways await your eyes, and is it just us or does this line up get better every month? Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and making 9 of our Insiders' days is the highlight of every month. If you're one of our supporters, we heart you. Everyone subscribed by midnight tomorrow, Thursday 17th February will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Friday 18th February. Here's what we've got for you this month... 1) Dinner With Cocktails And Bubbles At Big Fan It's been a big month for Big Fan , who have been officially added to the Michelin Guide for 2022 . They're going to be celebrating for a while, and they want to invite one of you plus three of your mates to celebrate with them, with dinner and a bottle of bubbles on the house. They'll also throw in a round of their new cocktail 'Ho Lee Fook' - a classic Negroni filtered tableside through ground coffee beans via a Vietnamese coffee filter. These guys never stop pushing, so expect to find new dishes each time you visit, including the just added tiger dumplings (tiger prawns, pork and chives) for the year that's in it. 2) Raw Bar Tasting Menu At Saltwater, Terenure Saltwater Grocery in Terenure started as a specialty food and wine shop, but it's their recently opened raw bar that has us looking up the number 16 bus times. From Klaw's Niall Sabongi and chef Karl Whelan, Saltwater serves a 12-course, frequently changing tasting menu four nights a week, with a mixture of raw, cured and cooked seafood, aged fish and seasonable vegetables. There's also an optional wine pairing by sommelier Tara Deery (formerly at Uno Mas and Bastible), and great non-alcoholic options. Saltwater have given us dinner for two at the raw bar with the wine pairing for one of you lucky people this month, and honestly we're quite jealous. 3) A Preview Of The New Weekend Roast From Margadh T hose guys at Mamó and Margadh in Howth never seem to stop coming up with new ideas, and their latest creation is the answer to our lazy Sunday dreams. Their new weekend roast starts at the end of February (but can be ordered now ) and will be available for delivery across Dublin on Saturday and Sunday. For €49 for two (with plenty of leftovers) you'll get a prepped and brined roasting meat, three sides, sauces and dessert, and there'll be optional wine pairings. We're going to be giving one of our Insiders the first chance to try it, alongside two bottles of wine to really boost your weekend enjoyment levels. 4) A €100 Voucher For Taco Libre We recently reviewed new opening Taco Libre at the end of Capel Street and were really impressed at the level of Mexican bar food their head chef Bruna is sending out of the kitchen, with practically everything from tacos to tortillas, salsas to queso fresco made in house. They're given up a €100 voucher so one of you can head in, order the whole menu, add on some beers, wine or cocktails, and if you're after something sweet to finish don't miss the margarita milkshakes . 5) A Brunch Tasting Menu For Four At Brother Hubbard Ranelagh They was plenty of southside-based excitement last month when Brother Hubbard revealed they were opening their fourth location in the restaurant-spoilt suburb of Ranelagh. They're going to be working with some brilliant suppliers like The Village Butcher across the road, Pigs on the Green, Garryhinch Mushrooms, Sean Ring’s Farm and some of the best Irish cheese makers, and there's going to be loads of new treats and drinks to try. Brother Hubbard Ranelagh is due to open in the next few weeks, and they've given us a brunch tasting menu for four (featuring most of the new menu) accompanied by cocktails, plus a copy of the Brother Hubbard cookbook to give to one of you this month. They've advised that the winner comes hungry... 6) Dinner For Two With Bubbles At Póg, Howth Póg in Howth have just launched a new dinner service from Thursday - Saturday, which is great news for the seaside village. The Italian-influenced menu from chef Antonio Dedola (formerly head chef at Rosa Madre) features dishes like savoury panna cotta with parma ham, fig jam and pane carasau; pappadelle with pork and sausage ragu, parmesan cream and truffle; and Sicilian cannoli with lemon ricotta and crushed pistachio, and three courses will set you back €40, which is pretty good value by current Dublin standards. To celebrate dinner at Póg they've given us a three course meal for two with a bottle of bubbles to give away to one of our Insiders this month. 7) A Two-Month Seafood Subscription From SSI Sustainable Seafood Ireland deliver ethical, local and ultra-high-quality fish nationwide, and their seafood subscriptions are ideally for shaking up your weekly meal routine. Boxes can be delivered weekly, fortnightly or monthly, with fish coming vacuum-sealed in compostable bags, perfect for quick cooking or freezing. What you get depends on what's in season and just caught, and you can also add on luxury items like oysters or lobsters if you've got a special evening coming up. One of our Insiders is going to win a month-long seafood subscription, with two deliveries worth €100, and a chance to flex your fish muscles in the kitchen. 8) Afternoon Tea At The Parlour In Haddington House Let's face it. Most afternoon teas are too sweet, too boring and too expensive. So colour us very interested in the new afternoon tea menu at The Parlour in Haddington House , Dun Laoghaire. Beetroot meringue with foie gras parfait and chicken skin? Panipuri with homemade ricotta, blood orange and kimchi? Rhubarb & grapefruit cheesecake macaron? Yes, yes and yes. At €50 including a glass of Champagne (actual Champagne, not some fizzy imposter) and loose leaf Ronnefeldt tea served in fine bone china, and in luxe surroundings with sea views for miles, we think this sounds like an ideal way to spend an afternoon. The Parlour Afternoon Tea is served every Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 - 16:00, and one of our Insiders is going to be heading off with a plus one to experience it for themselves. 9) Poulet Bonne Femme For Your Office Poulet Bonne Femme , the free-range rotisserie chicken specialists, are celebrating the reopening of their Suffolk Street store, just off Grafton Street, and want to offer one of our Insiders lunch for them and five of their favourite colleagues - and if you're self-employed don't worry, you can just bring your mates. Choose from a free-range chicken, pork or ham sandwich, with their rotisserie roasted potatoes and a drink, while you catch up on all the office (or non-office) gossip. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for February will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out directly from us.

March's monthly 9 giveaways are live! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and there are few things we love more than doling out awesome food and drink prizes. Without your support we couldn't do what we do, so if you're one of our favourite people, thank you. Everyone subscribed by midnight tomorrow, Thursday 17th March will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Friday 18th March. Here's what we've got for you this month... 1 ) Dinner with cocktail pairings from Man Street Kitchen at Roe & Co Distillery The D-8TE restaurant pop ups at Roe & Co put the Dublin 8 distillery on the map last year (and was our first chance to try Filipino pop up Bahay ), and they're back for 2022 with a brand new line up. They kicked off with The Salt Project , and next week Man Street Kitchen move in, with a menu inspired by Asia, the Middle East and the USA, including hot-smoked salmon baby gem tacos, and whiskey-glazed pork ribs. The menu is €40 per person, and the mega mixologists at Roe & Co have created cocktail pairings for each course for another €30, or you can free-style. It's also outdoors, so ideal for the covid-conscious. We've got a table for four with drinks pairings to give away for Man Street Kitchen at D-8TE which is running Thursday - Sunday until the 10th of April. 2) A three-course dinner with cocktails at The Pier House, Howth The Pier House in Howth have just launched their new Spring menu and it is looking good. They opened on West Pier in 2020 (the year that shan't be mentioned), as a new modern Irish dining option for the seaside village, with plenty of fish (of course), but also free-range pork from Andarl Farm, and vegetarian options like barbecued white asparagus with romesco and cashew nuts. From head chef David Walsh's new menu we're loving the sound of the citrus cured & smoked salmon with miso crème fraiche, kohlrabi and lotus crisp; the grilled halibut with smoked potato foam and Dublin Bay Prawn tortellini; and the Andarl Farm pork ravioli with tomato fondue and oregano burnt butter, and two of our Insiders will be going off for a three-course meal for two plus a welcome cocktail to try it out for themselves. 3) A Praline Chocolates hamper You've probably seen Praline's amazing looking chocolates on your social media feed or in your favourite newspaper - everybody seems to be talking about them, and now we are. Chocolatier Norma Kelly has just launched a new signature range of handcrafted chocolates available to order online for nationwide delivery - perfect timing for Mother’s Day and Easter. There are six specially created fillings, each inspired by local food producers, like the 'Vanilla Salted Caramel' using Irish Atlantic Sea Salt, 'Heather Honey & Orange' using honey from The Galtee honey farm, and 'Toffee Apple' using apple juice from The Apple Farm in Co. Tipperary. We've got a chocolate-packed Praline hamper to give away to one of you this month, with two boxes of their new signature collection, their full range of artisan bars, and a €50 voucher to spend online at www.praline.ie . 4) A €120 voucher for The Village Butcher, with nationwide delivery It's no exaggeration to say that people drive long distances to get to The Village Butcher in Ranelagh, because their direct, small farm focused meat sourcing is amongst the most impressive in the country. Dermot Allen's Duroc pork; Feighcullen Farm's organic, free-range chickens; goat, venison and boar from Dizzy Goat Farms - eating less meat but better is easy with a butcher like this, and we dream of a day that every village has one. If that's not enough to get your excited, their sausages are handmade with no preservatives or sulphites, rashers are cured in house, and they make their own guanciale and bone marrow butter. And in the best news our petrol tank has heard all month, they've just launched nationwide delivery , and they've given us a €120 voucher to give away to celebrate. 5) A €100 Voucher For Canal Bank Café Canal Bank Café on Upper Leeson Street, named after its view of the Grand Canal, has been going strong for an amazing 11 years, and they've just launched a new menu inspired by their head chef's recent trip to LA. They've added loads of healthier options, like rose harissa gambas with cucumber tzatziki & fresh herbs, and an heirloom tomato & Macroom buffalo bocconcini salad with black olive & sun-dried tomato vinaigrette, but their famous chicken wings with Cashel Blue cheese dip are staying put, as are Korean-style BBQ ribs with gochujang marinade, and the chargrilled, porcini-rubbed Delmonico Ribeye steak w/ pickled wild mushrooms, caramelised shallots, roast garlic & herb butter, and frites. Canal Bank Café have given us a €100 voucher to give away to one of our insiders this month, and whether you go healthy or otherwise is entirely up to you. 6) A month's worth of garden boxes from Harvest Day Few things make us happier than presses fill with Irish products, so we felt a warm glow when we saw that Harvest Day , the nationwide vegetable box delivery service, have just extended their offering of Irish products. Now you can add sourdough, organic milk and eggs, and lots of lovely pantry essentials to your fruit and veg order, like The Merry Mill's oats, Heather honey from the Wicklow Mountains Beekeeper, and Nutshed peanut butter - our current morning obsession. Support Irish growers and producers, eat the freshest food, and you don't even have to leave your house - what's not to like about that? Harvest Day have given us a month's subscription of their Seasonal Garden Boxes to giveaway this month - a weekly delivery of freshly picked, organically and naturally grown vegetables and salad from local growers, plus artisan sourdough bread from Sugarloaf Bakery in Co. Wicklow. 7) A bottle of Glendalough's 7-year-old Mizunara cask whiskey Glendalough Distillery has just launched a 7-year-old, Irish single malt whiskey, aged in rare Japanese Mizunara casks sourced from the island of Hokkaido, Japan, and the spirits world is in a spin over it. They say they searched for the most flavourful, sought after oak in the whiskey world, and found Mizunara in the volcanic north of Japan. Glendalough's is the first Irish whiskey to use this type of oak, which costs ten times more than the average cask, and they say the result is "wonderfully different ... vivid but delicate with seamless depth and an exceptionally long finish." They've given us a bottle of their Mizunara 7-year-old Single Malt (RRP €85) plus a NEAT whiskey glass and coaster set to give away to one of you this month, and for the rest of you, find it in O'Briens , Celtic Whiskey Shop and all good independent off-licences. 8) Foraging walk for two with With Nádúr Collective We're completely in awe of expert foragers, and three of the best are chefs Dave Gallagher, Niall O'Sullivan and Paul Quinn from Nádúr Collective , who run foraging walks in Wicklow when they get a break from the kitchen. Their wild food walks teach you how to find edible plants, with practical uses in cooking and preserving. They cater for beginners to professionals, but want people to learn in an informative, relaxed and fun way, leaving with lots of inspiration for how to transfer what you've found to the plate. Their next foraging trips are coming up in April and May and they've given us two places (€50pp) to give away to one of our Insiders this month. 9) Dinner for four with drinks at Dosa Dosa in Stoneybatter Did we dosa before Dosa Dosa ? Did we parotta or uttapam? Not to the best of our recollection. Dosa Dosa's South Indian street food, served out of a van off Grand Canal Street, was something properly fresh for Dublin, and despite their out of the way location, queues formed quickly and never really stopped. So it's very good news that they've just opened a second location in Stoneybatter, at the back of Hynes Bar on Prussia Street. You'll find the full menu there from Thursday - Sunday, 16:00 - 21:00, and one of our Insiders is going to win dinner for four with drinks, including a dosa and parotta each. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for March will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

April's monthly 9 giveaways have landed! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and once again we've got some incredible prizes to thank you for your support each month. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Sunday 17th April will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Monday 18th April, for a very happy Easter. Here's what's in the line up this month... 1) Dinner at Rare 1784, Kinsale, with an overnight stay at the Blue Haven Hotel If you've been following us for a while, you'll know about our deep, unending love of West Cork, in large part because of all the places we love to eat and drink there, and since our last visit there's a new kid on the block in Kinsale - Rare 1784 at the Blue Haven Hotel . Head chef Meeran Manzoor serves a 5-10 course tasting menu that he says is rooted in his hometown of Cheenai in India, but inspired by Kinsale and the incredible food producers in the region, and serves dishes like octopus corndog with caviar crème fraîche, and John Dory with bouillabaisse and a potato terrine. Reports from some of our readers who've eaten there in the past few months made us sit up and add it to the "must visit" list, and we've been advised not to miss the bespoke cocktails either. We are delighted (and not at all jealous) to be able to give one of you lucky Insiders a one night stay at the Blue Haven Hotel this month, with breakfast and a five-course tasting menu at Rare 1784 . Can you take us with you? (Not redeemable on bank holidays) 2) An overnight stay in Faithlegg House with cocktails and bar bites in Bar 1783 The beautiful Faithlegg House has just opened its very plush new cocktail and whiskey bar, Bar 1783, and we're taking this as a sign to explore more of the food and drink scene in Waterford (including recently featured Tramore which is just 20 mins away). It's named after the year the original Faithlegg House was built, and is perfect for afternoon cocktails in the bay windows, pre-dinner apertifs, post-dinner digestifs, all of the above. The new cocktail menu takes inspiration from the stories, surroundings and figureheads of the house over the years, and showcases Irish ingredients from nearby, like Micil Poitín, Glendalough gin, Clashganny organic apple juice and homemade elderflower syrup. And to go with all of that? A bar bites menu from head chef Jenny Flynn, designed as a taste of the local region, featuring dishes like Mooncoin beetroot hummus with wild garlic oil and nori crackers; Kalamata olive tapenade with Knockanore cheese biscuits; and Ardcavan Dexter beef croquettes with horseradish cream. We're sending one of you off to Faithlegg House for an overnight stay with cocktails and bar bites in Bar 1783, and breakfast the next morning, and remember - we are always available as travel companions. (Not reedeemable on bank holidays) 3) A €100 voucher for Crow Street to celebrate Dining Week Next Tuesday sees the start of ' Dining Week ', powered by Early Table , and we've got a €100 voucher to give away for Crow Street in Temple Bar to celebrate. Dining week runs from Tuesday 19th - Thursday 28th April and is a great excuse to eat out (as if we needed any more), with 25% off the food bill at loads of restaurants around town (and nationwide) when booked through Early Table , including Crow Street , Hen's Teeth , Charlotte Quay and Dillinger's to name a few. A €1 charity donation will also be added to each bill for St Vincent de Paul . Vist the dining week website to see who's involved and book your table. 4) Food & cocktail pairings for four at Curated by Karen, Roe & Co Distillery We've featured the chef pop ups at Roe & Co Distillery in Dublin 8 before, and now it's pastry chef Karen Smith's turn to step into the kitchen, for Ireland's first dessert and Irish whiskey tasting menu. Starting this weekend and running until the 24th of April, ' Curated by Karen ' will feature a menu including Airfield Jersey milk ice-cream with nasturtium flowers; nettle & dandelion Intelligent Tea jelly; carrot cake with fennel meringue and ginger jelly; and a Valhrona dark chocolate and seaweed dome, paired with cocktails including a mango and hazelnut bellini, and a carrot cake milk punch. The menu costs €35pp, with optional cocktail pairings €30pp (you can book here ), and we've got a table for four with food and drinks to give away to one of you this month. 5) Dinner for four with wine and beer from Salt & Vinegar, Rathfarnham Salt & Vinegar in Rathfarnham opened in January in a blaze of smoked cod, fish fingers sandwiches and pints of prawns with lemon mayo. The guys behind it are Conor Kavanagh (ex-owner of Bresson) and Nicky Higgins (ex-manager of Allta and Fish Shop), and they opened the city's newest hipster chipper to deliver "the freshest, most delicious fish and chips in Ireland", with everything cooked to order. Katy McGuinness in the Irish Independent called it "q uite possibly some of the best fish and chips in Dublin", and we're giving away a meal for four including a selection of starters, four mains with chips, sides and dips, plus three bottles of wine from Le Caveau (a crémant rosé, white and a magnum of red) and an 8-beer selection from Grand Cru that they've picked especially to match with seafood and chips. Summer evening dining sorted. 6) A celebration cake worth €100 from Cake Box We recently featured Cake Box 's stunning, floral-inspired Mother's Day cupcake s , and this month we've got a mega celebration cake to give away to one of you. Owner and master baker Marta Wincenty is going to make the winner a personalised celebration cake (15-18 servings) with edible flowers and delivery included (within Dublin), worth €100. Cake Box is based in Dublin 8 and Marta grows her own flowers for her creations, and forages others. She uses seasonal and local ingredients, a lot less sugar than commercial cakes, and she caters for allergies and vegans too. Everything is made from scratch, and she's all about classic, natural designs, using seasonal fruits, flowers and herbs, with no sugar fondant in sight. Check out her beautiful creations here . 7) A €100 voucher for Picnic Park, Malahide One massive positive to come out of Covid was the increase in food trucks and outdoor dining in general, and Picnic Park in Malahide Marina is one of the best things to happen to the seaside village's food scene in years. We've waxed on about El Milagro's tacos (and if you haven't tried them what are you doing), but there's also Paddy's Pizza Pies serving the best Neapolitan pizza for miles around, and Puck Burger with their freshly made burgers and breakfasts - and a plant-based burger coming soon. Lick Ice-cream has just joined the party too so dessert is covered, and all of the food trucks offer click and collect - which is very handy if you're impatient. We've got a €100 voucher for Picnic Park to give away this month (spread across all vendors), so one of you can head down and enjoy seaside dining, twinkly lights and a bit of everything, and if you're northside beach bound this summer you know where to stop for food. 8) A €100 voucher for Sprout Sprout were serving up flavour-packed, colour-filled salads long before it was cool, and recently they opened their largest location to date (as well as the first outside Dublin), in Kildare Village . To celebrate they've given us a €100 voucher to give away to one of you, which will easily cover lunch for four, including salads and warm bowls, cold pressed juices, speciality coffee and tumblers of wine. Watch your food being prepared in the open kitchen, with ingredients grown on their organic farm down the road at Rathcoffey, before tucking into their local seasonal menu. Read more about Sprout here . 9) Gin, glasses & passes to the new Gin School from Tribe Gin There's a new small batch gin in town, and it's inspired by ingredients from the west of Ireland. Tribe Gin , founded by four friends and based in Galway, uses locally sourced seaweed and botanicals from the West coast, along with lemon, heather, cassia and cardamom in their blend, and soon they're going to open Galway's first gin school, in Salthill. Visitors will sample Tribe Gin , learn about how it's made, then get to work creating their own unique gin blend - which sounds like a great excuse for a visit to the 'City of the Tribes'. We've got a bottle of Tribe Gin, two glasses, and two passes for the soon to open gin school to give away this month, and if you need any inspiration on where to eat when you're there, check out six places you need to eat in Galway here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for April will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

May's monthly 9 giveaways are live! And what an exciting line up we've got for you again this month. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and while we wish everyone could win, we're grateful to be able to randomly thank some of you for your support each month. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Tuesday 17th May will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Wednesday 18th May. Here's what's up for grabs... 1) An overnight stay with dinner at The Wicklow Escape Dining destination The Wicklow Escape have just launched their spring menus under new head chef, Mark Ahessy, focused on hyper-local sourcing and the freshest, seasonal ingredients from their own gardens . They've got two restaurants, the outdoor wood-fired restaurant The Fiery , and the " Long Table " for more fine dining, and some of the new dishes include turbot with Jerusalem artichokes and brown shrimp, and Ridgeway wagyu with potato fondant and béarnaise sauce. You can visit for lunch or dinner, or book yourself in for an overnight package with all kinds of breakfasts, lunches and picnics, and did we mention the hot tub? We're going to be sending one very lucky Insider off to experience The Wicklow Escape for themselves, with one night's accommodation for two people sharing, dinner at The Fiery wood-fired restaurant including wine pairings, and breakfast the following morning. Eh, you are welcome... (Dining at The Fiery takes place on Wednesday and Friday nights so the prize is only available on those nights, subject to availability) 2) A gold table for you and 5 friends at 'Picnic At The Manor', worth over €400 At The Manor returns to Palmerstown House Estate this June Bank Holiday weekend for Picnic At The Manor . With acts including Spring Break, Smash Hits, Mack Fleetwood and Qween in the line up, food from the Disco Diner vendors Cali Cali, Bullet Duck & Dumpling, Kerala Kitchen, Burger Republic and Pizza Truck, and a cracking weather forecast on the horizon, bank holidays don't get much better. Tickets are on sale now via the At The Manor website , and we've got a VIP gold table to giveaway to one Insider plus 5 friends on either the June bank holiday or the weekend after, worth over €400! You'll get a reserved table in the gold area, access to luxury toilets (no portaloos around here) and premium drinks table service ensuring maximum chillout time. Follow them on social for up to date news. 3) A three-course lunch with wine at Mamó in Howth Mamó in Howth has just reopened after a big refurbishment, with the former downstairs dining room now a bar and waiting area, and all of the tables moved upstairs, complete with views over Howth harbour. Diehard fans (hi there) will be glad to know that the big changes haven't applied to the menu, so the cod chip, Lough Neagh eel tart and homemade pasta dishes remain, as does the legendary wine list and service. We're still over here sighing about summer lunch on the lovely terrace last year, but a window seat upstairs is next on the list. You can choose where to want to sit if you win this month's prize of a three-course lunch for two with a bottle of house wine. 4) An 'All In Menu' for two with wine at Lucky Tortoise Lucky Tortoise have just opened their second location in Temple Bar, serving dumplings, pot stickers and okonomiyaki seven days a week from 17:00 - 23:00. Their all in menu is €28 per person, taking all the decision making out of dinner, or plates can be ordered individually or as add-ons. They also cater for vegans and coeliacs, so if you have either in your life add it to the list. One of our Insiders is going to be heading in for pork siu mai, pajeon and Sichuan aubergine dumplings this month, as we've got an all-in menu for two plus wine to give away. 5) A €100 voucher for Tang Tang open their third location tomorrow morning on Cumberland Street South in Dublin 2, with more of the flatbreads, salads and granola bowls we know and love. This one has a summer-ready, sun-drenched courtyard which will no doubt will be prime summer lunch seating, as well as tables and counter seats inside. They're starting off Monday - Friday from 08:00 - 16:00, but hope to extend to Saturday opening soon. Between this and Note across the street, visitors to Holles Street (or Pearse Street) have never had it so good. To celebrate their opening we've got a €100 voucher to give away this month, and if you spent the whole thing on their unequaled peanut butter we wouldn't judge you in the slightest. 6) Four tickets to Dash Burger's pop-up with George Motz This Thursday, Dash Burger are bringing the smash burger King, George Motz , to Urban Brewing in the IFSC as part of his world tour. Owner Barry Wallace has often cited Motz as the inspiration for his juicy, dripping smash burgers, all too frequently mentioned as the best in Dublin, and the event will see guests meet both the Irish and US smash burger pros with an outdoor cookoff, followed by a generous helping of Motz's version of the historic Oklahoma onion burger, and beers. We've got four tickets to the sold-out event to give away, plus a €50 voucher for Dash Burger so you can relive it all again. 7) A €100 voucher for Eathos Eathos are always brightening up our feeds with their acai bowls, picture perfect pastries and mountains of brightly coloured salads. The city centre café and patisserie serves thoughtful, wholesome food using Irish produce that's made to make you feel good (and naturally uplifted when you see the plates), and their suppliers list features some of the best producers around. They serve breakfast, all day brunch and lunch in their two locations on Baggot Street from Monday to Friday, and we've got a €100 voucher to give away this month, so one of you can take a deep dive into their menu of seriously feel good food. 8) Four 'Whole Hog' tickets for The Big Grill The Big Grill is finally back from the 11th - 14th August, and what a line up to return with. The four day fire extravaganza will see appearances from outdoor expert Ray Mears, Hometown Bar-B-Que's Billy Durney, Food Network US star Christina Fitzgerald, and Mike Johnson from the Sugarfire Smoke House in St Louis - and that is quite literally the tip of the line up iceberg - see the full eye-popping details here . There's going to be BBQing demos, talks and long-table dinners, not to mention pop up restaurants from Lignum, Liath and Austin Texas' Valentina's to name a few. There's plenty for kids in the Little Grillers sessions (under 12's go free), and there's going to be 20 Irish craft breweries on site as well as great wine and cocktails. We've got four (sold out) whole hog tickets to give away this month, giving you and three friends access for the entire four day event. 9) Tickets To Taste Of Dublin With Moutai Prince Taste of Dublin is back next month and there's a new prince visiting this year - Moutai Prince . The newly released distilled Chinese liquor, a style of 'baijiu' with fresh and sweet aromas of apple and pear, is perfect consumed neat or as a base for cocktails, and we're giving one of you a bottle so you can start experimenting. We're also giving you two tickets to Taste of Dublin with Moutai , for a day of cocktails, games and prizes. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for May will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

June's monthly 9 giveaways are here! And every month we think it's the best one yet. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for June will be automatically entered into the draw, and it's through your support that we're able to remain #ad, #collab and #invite free, so if you're one of our supporters we salute you. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Friday 17th June will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Saturday 18th June. Here's what's up for grabs... 1) Four Tickets To Otherside Festival With A Banquet From Happy Endings, Slane Happy Endings are heading for Slane this July to host a Middle-Eastern inspired banquet style feast, Zhug, at Otherside Music & Arts Festival . Inspired by trips to the Middle East & Africa, and using the "zero kilometre" food movement by sourcing ingredients from Rock Farm and the Boyne Valley, the menu includes dishes like sumac burrata and jalapeno zhug; baharat white bait with calamansi and garlic aioli; and Rock Farm chermoula beef onglet with miso onions. We've got four weekend camping tickets for Otherside to give away, with music, comedy and hot tubs running from sun up to sun down, as well as a table at Friday night's Zhug banquet, worth a whopping €850. Get tickets for Otherside here , and tickets for the banquet can be found here . 2) An Overnight Stay With Dinner In Aloft, Dublin City Centre How better to end a night in town than by flopping into a hotel bed, after maybe one last cocktail. The four-star Aloft , in the heart of The Liberties, with its cutting-edge design elements and modern in-room technology was built to stand out from the rest, and we're sending one of you off for an overnight stay, with dinner and a cocktail in Tenters Gastropub and breakfast the next morning. If you time your stay right you might even catch one of their monthly live gigs on the 7th floor, in collaboration with Hotpress magazine. Check out Aloft here . (Prize subject to availability and not available on blackout dates) 3) Dinner For Two With Cocktail Pairings, Big Fan @ Roe & Co. Big Fan are popping up at Roe & Co for three weekends only, and we could not love their promo video any more. The menu includes all the head-spinning flavours we've come to expect from the Michelin-recommended Aungier Street resaurant, including Irish razor clams with pickled lotus and okra, and charcoal bao with braised beef, vinegar-pickled cabbage and salted plum, and the Roe & Co mixologists have been working their magic to come up with the perfect drinks pairings. We've got a tasting menu with cocktails for two to give away on the date of your choice between now and the 2nd of July, and if you can't wait, bookings can be made here . 4) Cocktails And Food On The Belvedere Terrace At The Shelbourne The gorgeous terrace hidden away upstairs in five-star The Shelbourne Hotel has just relaunched as "The Belvedere Terrace", serving the premium vodka's new organic range, infused with 100% organic and fruits and botanicals as part of the new drinks offering. It's the ideal city centre hideaway, perfect for an ultra comfortable, al fresco drink whatever the weather, and we've got a prize of cocktails for four from the new Belvedere cocktail menu (two each), with a choice of the Belvedere blackberry and lemongrass spritz; pear and ginger spritz; or lemon and basil 75, or you can keep it classic with a regular or espresso martini. They'll also serve up two sharing platters of food (a choice of shellfish or meat and cheese), to round off your Shelbourne summer evening in style. 5) Two Tickets To The Italian Wine Dinner At Fallon & Byrne June is Italian month at Fallon & Byrne , and to celebrate they're holding an Italian Feast in the Fallon & Byrne Ballroom on June 23rd. For one night only, wine writer Leslie Williams and wine importer and Venetian native Enrico Fantasia of Grapecircus will host an Italian Feast - an evening full of flavour with specially selected wines and entertaining anecdotes from two characters who have an impressive, combined knowledge and expertise in the finest Italian wine and food. Tickets for the Italian Feast are €75 per person, and we've got a pair to give away to one of our lucky Insiders this month. 6) A €100 Voucher For Dorian, Donnybrook Dorian Wine Bar and Restaurant in Donnybrook have just launched their new summer menu from new Head Chef Rowen Babe (formerly of Relais & Châteaux in London ), and we're sending one of you to check it out. The neighbourhood bistro in the heart of Dublin 4, which takes décor inspiration from the roaring 20's, aims to embrace the flavours of the seasons, and use as much local produce as possible. The new summer menu features dishes like fennel cured mackerel, courgette, basil, garlic and chilli oil; and Korean cauliflower “Wings” with spicy gochujang sauce, crispy shallots, sesame & coriander, to go with Dorian’s extensive wine and cocktail list, from mixologist Dorian (no jokes). We've got a €100 voucher for Dorian to give away to one of you this month, and we expect a full report. 7) A Case Of Natural Wine From Wines Direct You know we love us some natural wines, and Wines Direct have been dabbling in them for almost three decades. They've been working with many of their winemakers since the day they opened their doors, and at this stage are working with the second or third generation from some families, many of whom see natural winemaking as second nature. They created their new Au Naturale Case to showcase these winemakers who deeply respect the land they live off, and whose wines showcase their ethics and beliefs perfectly, and deliciously, and we've got one to give away this month. Be warned, once you go natural, it's hard to go back... 8) A €100 Voucher For Neon Whenever we do an article about the best restaurants to eat with children , Neon always gets a mention - amazing what the promise of a free post-dinner ice-cream cone can do for good behaviour. Neon have been serving relaxed Thai food in an informal setting on Camden Street for an amazng 10 years, and their €10.95 lunch deal of any main, drink and ice-cream is an ideal option for when you need to save those pennies. We've got a €100 voucher to give away for Neon this month which will go a long way. Whether or not you bring the smallies is totally up to you. 9) A Hamper From Folláin F olláin is the Irish word for wholesome, and they've been producing preserves in West Cork for nearly 40 years. We love their no added sugar jams, relishes and traditional fruit preserves, and our eyes lit up when we saw their recent limited edition series of jams and curds. We've got a gorgeous Folláin hamper to give away this month, full of traditional preserves like strawberry, blackberry and whiskey marmalade, some no added sugar relishes for your summer BBQ, and two new products to hit the shelves this summer - Passion Fruit Curd, and Raspberry and Pink Gin Jam. Available nationwide and online at follain.ie . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for June will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

July's monthly 9 giveaways are here! This month we've got a break in West Cork, wine, chocolate, and multiple restaurant visits to give away. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for July will be automatically entered into the draw, and it's through your support that we're able to remain #ad, #collab and #invite free, so if you're one of our supporters we bow to you. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Sunday 17th July will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Monday 18th July. Here's what's up for grabs... 1) Two Nights With Dinner At The Kinsale Hotel and Spa We're just back from West Cork and already have itchy feet to get back down there before summer's over. If you're feeling the same, you could be this month's lucky Insider heading off for an overnight stay in the Kinsale Hotel and Spa . Set in 90 acres of woodland with stunning views over Oysterhaven Bay, it's the perfect retreat in a part of the country we consider food heaven, in easy reaching distance of Cork city and the rest of the west. We're sending one of you off for a two night stay in a spacious room with breakfast each morning and dinner in The Rockpool restaurant on a night of your choice, and the leisure centre and spa, with panoramic views of the bay is ideal for unwinding between meals. See more about the Kinsale Hotel and Spa here . 2) Neighbourhood Wine Block Party Giveaway This weekend, Neighbourhood Wine and their nearest and dearest on Upper Leeson Street and Sussex Terrace are teaming up for a block party in the sun, and get ready for this line up... Neighbourhood Wine have a list of 'rare gems' on by the glass; Dublin Cocktail Lab will be doling out 3fe Nitro Tonka Espresso Martinis and Pink Peppercorn Negronis; Forest Avenue Wine Bar will be outdoors on the BBQ with their famous Kebabs, The Sussex Restaurant are on the fish and chips, 3fe will have special 99's; Canal Bank Café are bringing the wings; and O'Brien's are on the scoops and spritz! The lounge will be open, the terrace will be rocking, and there's no need to book. To celebrate the block party to end all others, Neighbourhood Wine & Dublin Cocktail Lab have given us a summer backyard essentials prize worth €150, full of Pet Nat, Rosé, Reds and some A-rate batched cocktails to give to one of you. Party with them this Saturday from 13:00 - 22:00, or find Dublin Cocktail Lab there all weekend, and we've got a free Espresso Martini for ATF Readers on arrival (while stocks last). Look out for that email in your inbox later today. 3) Gaucho Rodizio BBQ Experience, Bah 33° We're having a bit of a moment for Brazilian BBQ right now, and the Gaucho Rodizio BBQ experience (€49.90) at Bah 33° , just off Grafton Street, has been on our list for a while after some positive reports from those in the know. It works in slots of two hours, where the food is unlimited, starting with traditional starters, free reign on the salad bar, hot dishes including Gaucho stewed beans, pampas-style rice and potato salad, and the main event - the meats (all Irish). Servers pass through the restaurant with Picanha (rump cap), Vazio (flank), Paleta de Ovelha (lamb leg) and loads more (including smoked pineapple) and you'll end with coffee. We've got a gaucho experience for two with a drink each at Bah 33° to give away this month, and if you win this we hope you go very, very hungry. 4) €100 Voucher For The New Bar Bites Menu At Kinara Kitchen, Ranelagh Ranelagh favourite Kinara Kitchen has just announced a weekly night of cocktails and Pakistani bar bites, with award-winning mixologist Paul Lambert at the helm. Every Wednesday from 5pm, the brand new cocktail menu will be available along with weekly changing bar bites, including lamb chops, homemade samosas and Kurkuri Machli (spicy fried fish), with prices starting at €7.95. Paul Lambert (creator of the ready-to-drink Mr. L's Cocktails ) will be on hand to bring the drinks menu to life or create bespoke cocktails to your taste, and some of the options on the menu include the Mango & Hibiscus Bellini , the Byzantine with basil infused gin and passionfruit, and a creamy Roasted Hazelnut Espresso Martini . To celebrate the launch we've got a €100 voucher to give away for a cocktail and bar bites experience on a Wednesday of your choice. 5) Food And Merch Hamper From Grumps, Foxrock Grumps in Foxrock seems to be every southside local's favourite coffee shop, and they're gearing up for summer with a new summer menu of gelato, milkshakes and homemade slushies, as well as branded water bottles, keep cups and mugs. They've given us a hamper full of summer goodies to give away to one of you, with all the merch, a treat bag and their brand new Grumps coffee at home retail bags. Gelato, slushies and milkshakes unfortunately won't travel so you'll have to go to Foxrock to try them. 6) Butler's Chocolate Factory Tour & Hamper We've all dreamt of visiting Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but unfortunately that doesn't exist. What does exist is Butler's Chocolate Factory in Dublin 17, and it's just reopened for visits. You can secure your golden ticket online and see how ingredients are turned into luxury chocolates, bars, fudge, toffee and hot chocolate. The 90 minute tour includes a movie on the origins of chocolate, time to soak up the facts in the chocolate museum, a bird's eye view of the factory from a glass-panelled walkway, and of course plenty of chocolate tasting along the way. You'll finish by decorating some chocolate, before having it wrapped up to take home (if it lasts that long). We've got a pass for four people to give away to one of you this month, as well as a chocolate hamper to sweeten the deal. 7) A FitzPicnic From The 5-Star Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin’s 5-star Fitzwilliam Hotel has just launched their summer FitzPicnic , available to enjoy in the oasis of city centre calm that is St. Stephen's Green Park. They'll pack everything you need into a luxury wicker basket, before you're escorted there by your own hotel concierge - how posh. They'll pick the perfect spot and get you set up to sit back, relax and enjoy your al fresco picnic, full of savoury and sweet treats. It's served with a Pimm’s cocktail or homemade lemonade, and Prosecco or Champagne can be added on. The Fitzpicnic costs €45 per person or €130 for a family of four, and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance by calling 01 4787000 or emailing enq@fitzwilliamhotel.com . We'll be sending one of you off to enjoy a Fitzpicnic for two with a cocktail or glass of bubbles before the summer's over. 8) Cacao Hamper, Nibbed Have you jumped on the cacao ceremony vibe yet? If not this could be your month. Fresh from celebrating World Chocolate Day last week, Wicklow-based artisan organic bean-to-bar producer, Nibbed , will be introducing one ATF Insider to the world of cacao, by giving away their entire range of products. Their best-selling Pure Organic Cacao Blocks, hand-crafted in small batches in their roastery in Wicklow, use ethically sourced, fairly traded and certified organic single-origin cacao beans from the Dominican Republic, are completely free of additives, sugar, dairy and soy, and are vegan. As well as its rich, intense flavour, pure cacao also has proven health benefits and is high in theobromine, antioxidants, fibre and many other essential nutrients. As well as the blocks they're giving away Cacao Teas, Dark Chocolate Barks, Melting Spoons, and Cacao Nibbles, and they've even thrown in a locally made ceramic cup for you to enjoy your virtuous drinks in. See Nibbed's full range here . 9) A €150 Voucher For Nights At Surge, Clontarf Surge in Clontarf might be known for coffee, Greenville Deli sandwiches and Medialuna croissants, but you can now add cheese and wine into the mix. They've started opening at night from Thursday - Saturday until 22:00, serving some of our favourite natural wines, as well as housemade charcuterie, cheese and paté from Old Street in Malahide. You can book online here or just drop in, and we've got a €150 voucher to give away to one of you this month, so you can drink the really good stuff. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for July will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

August's monthly 9 giveaways are live! This month we've got a Dublin city hotel stay, a wine club subscription, cocktails and copious dinners and lunches to give away to you guys for supporting what we do. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for August will be automatically entered into the draw, and it's through your subscriptions that we're able to remain #ad, #collab and #invite free. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Wednesday 17th August will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Thursday 18th August. Here's what's we've got for you... 1) An overnight stay at The Hendrick, Smithfield Fancy making a night of it in the city? Of course you do. We've got an overnight stay for two at The Hendrick , Ireland's first street art hotel to give away this month, home to a vibrant ground floor bar, outdoor courtyard space and over 270 works of Irish and international street art for guests to enjoy. Situated between Smithfield Square and Stoneybatter, The Hendrick is a short walk from some of the best dining and entertainment that the capital has to offer - we're talking Grano (and their new wine bar A Fianco ), Fish Shop, Variety Jones and No Messin' within a very short walking distance. After check-in, you and your lucky plus one will be treated to your choice from The Hendrick's new summer cocktail menu which features only Irish spirits from distilleries across the country, and before you check-out you'll enjoy breakfast in the hotel's courtyard. Check out The Hendrick here . 2) Sunday Lunch for two at Bresson The terrace at Bresson is one of the most idyllic outdoor spots for a swanky lunch in Dublin, and Head Chef Peter Byrne's menu takes the best Irish ingredients and spins them in the direction of classic French cookery. Their lunch menu (€49.95 for three courses) is served Thursday - Sunday and features dishes like Slow Cooked Rabbit Leg, King Oyster Mushroom and Vin Jaune Sauce; Gratinated Scallops, Chaudrée of Smoked Haddock, Alsace Bacon and Brown Shrimp, Pommes Duchess, Buttered Leeks and Gruyere; and Poached Rhubarb, Coconut Rice Pudding, Pistachio and Strawberry Ice Cream. We're sending one of you off to enjoy a three-course Sunday lunch for two with a bottle of wine up to the value of €50, and we strongly advise booking in while it's still terrace weather. 3) Dinner for Four at B Skewers BBQ Shop We were completely charmed by B Skewers BBQ Shop on Bolton Street when we visited last month (read the once over here ). The steak skewers, the burger, the vinaigrette, the prices, the lovely owners - it's the most excited we've ever been about Brazilian food in Dublin. We're delighted to have a meal for four to give away this month comprising of a combo for four with two bottles of wine. That means nine skewers (choose from steak, pork belly, sausage, chicken hearts and more), six sides and four sauces, and you should definitely throw on a burger for good measure. See more about B Skewers , book a table or order online here . 4) A Secret Pairing for two from ELY Wine Bar ELY Wine Bar on Ely Place has just launched their brand new experience - ‘A Secret Pairing’ . Each week the team select three of their favourite wines, and Head Chef Luca comes up with a selection of seasonal plates to match them to. Each pairing is explained only when they arrive, so this is one for food and drink lovers who like to live dangerously, and have open minds (and palates). They've also introduced weekly changing wine flights for €18, with themes based on regions, grapes, producers and more. 'A Secret Pairing' is available from Tuesday - Saturday from 17:00, costing €59 per person, and we're got an experience for two to give away this month. Check out ELY Wine Bar here . 5) A three-month subscription to Boujee Booze's Wine Club Looking for an excuse to learn more about wine, and what food to have with it? We've got a three-month subscription to Boujee Booze's monthly wine club to give away to one lucky Insider this month. You'll receive a surprise package of three very different, unique wines to get your teeth into each month, and they could be white, red, pink, orange or fizzy, with a heavy emphasis on the natural, organic and biodynamic. Each case comes with tasting notes and all the information you'll need on where the delicious juice you're drinking comes from. They also send an exclusive food pairing for each bottle, including a recipe, recipe video and even a takeaway pairing for when you don't want to cook but still want to drink great wine. See more about the Boujee Booze wine club here . 6) Dinner and cocktails for two at Zampas Bar And Restaurant's Summer Fiesta One of our Insiders is going to be enjoying the final days of summer with a table for two at Zampas Bar and Restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin , for their first Summer Fiesta , taking place on Thursday 25th August from 18:00 til late. They're promising an electric atmosphere with a jam packed line-up of music and entertainment from Sabor Cabana & The Strictly Salsa Club, Coisa D'Preto Samba Orchestra, the Yeoo DJ stage show and street performances from The Fire Angels. We've got a table for two in Zampas Bar and Restaurant (bringing Lima to Lord Edward Street all year long) where you'll start with a Pisco Sour before being served three courses of Peruvian food with an Irish accent. Check them out here . 7) The full range of Mr L's bottled cocktails Mr. L’s Bottled Cocktail Collection is a brand new pre-mixed selection from award-winning mixologist Paul Lambert, who's been behind the drinks at The Blind Pig speakeasy since the start. It’s just gotten a lot easier to enjoy his classic creations at home, with the release of four new bottled cocktails - the 1930's Cosmo (a zippy, more refreshing, prohibition era version of the classic); the Pina Colada (pineapple blended with sweet coconut and Caribbean white rum); the Whiskey Sour (Irish whiskey, sharpened with lemon juice, sugar and bitters); and the P*rnstar Martini (vodka, passion fruit juice and vanilla flavoured syrup). We're got a bottle of each to give away this month as well as a shaker, jiggger and strainer for your own creations. Check out Mr. L's on Instagram or buy them online from selected retailers, like this one . 8) A €100 voucher for Farmer Browns Farmer Browns have just relaunched their "free kids main with every adult main offer", and we've got a €100 voucher for their Bath Avenue location to give away to one of you this month, which will feed an army of big and small eaters. Their kids eat free offer is available all day, seven days a week at their Clonskeagh and Kilternan locations, and at off-peak times in Rathmines and Bath Avenue (all day Monday - Thursday, Friday until 18:00 and Sunday after 16:00). Spacious interiors, outdoor terraces and Irish ingredient-led menus can be found at all four locations, and to see their menus for brunch, lunch and dinner, or to book head to their website . 9) Two Tickets to Lilith's first birthday party Stoneybatter's best wine shop Lilith turns one this weekend and they're having a little party to celebrate. They're setting up shop in Hynes' beer garden to pour natural wines from their favourite producers, while Dosa Dosa are serving the food. They're bringing their best and most interesting bottles from the shop and making them available at shelf price plus a small corkage fee once your get through your drink tickets, and there's going to be a raffle full of great prizes in support of the Capuchin Monks. Tickets are €50 and include a port and tonic on arrival, four glasses of top wine, and a plate of food from Dosa Dosa, and the party's on from 14:00 - 19:00 but you'll probably be having so much fun you'll want to hang around till closing. Get the last few tickets here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for August will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

September's monthly 9 giveaway is live! This month we've got so many chances to visit new restaurants and bars, try new menus in established ones, and someone's going to Oktoberfest, all to thank our ATF Insiders for supporting what we do. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for September will be automatically entered into the draw, and it's through your subscriptions that we're able to remain #ad, #collab and #invite free. Everyone subscribed by midnight on Saturday 17th September will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Sunday 18th September. Here's what's in this month's line up... 1) A €250 Bar Tab At Tapped What was formerly Porterhouse Central on Grafton Street reopened as ' Tapped ' last week, serving over 50 beers, wines and cocktails on tap from their 15 metre bar. Specialising in local and craft beers (Rascals, Trouble Brewing and Porterhouse to name a few), organic wines, and a cocktail list curated by sister company Dingle Distillery , the venue has had a brand new fit out, and plans to host some of Dublin's best DJs. Dublin Pizza Company are in charge of the food, with a menu of pizza, salads, wings and smash burgers, and plenty of sides, dips and desserts, and the brilliantly located venue is open seven days a week. To celebrate the opening of Tapped we've got a whopping €250 bar tab to give away to one of our Insiders this month, and we don't think anyone will have a struggle finding friends to join them for this one. 2) Dinner For Four At Nomo Ramen Nomo Ramen got off to a flying start in the city with their compact menu of ramen and sides, featuring Dave Chang's favourite wavy noodles flown in from the US, but now they're scaling up with more additions to the menu. Newbies include miso-butter corn with a sous vide egg, shitake croquettes with chashu and kimchi mayo, and there's a new ramen in town - the Shoyu Paitan with glazed chicken breast, 24-hour marinated egg, scallions, leeks and spinach. We've got a table for four at Nomo Ramen to give away this month with a starter, main and dessert of your choice - just make sure you take friends who share food. 3) A €100 Bar Tab For The New Cocktail Menu At Bar 1661 Following on from winning Bar of the Year 2022, Bar 1661 has just launched their brand new, much awaited 32 drink cocktail menu, with the menu reading " Staunchly Irish, Fiercely Independent ". You probably know we think this is the best cocktail bar in Dublin (maybe in the country), and love that these guys make drinks based on flavours alone (they don't take big kick backs from alcohol brands to use their products - a rarity), so we're uber excited to send one of you in with a €100 bar tab to start working your way through their newest creations. 4) A €100 Voucher For Soup Two We're forever answering your questions on the best restaurants to eat early in the week, so were big time thrilled to see that ramen specialists Soup Two in Smithfield can now be added to the list, and in case you needed any more convincing to visit, they're also running early week deals. On Mondays you can get a bowl of Kimchi Mussels (with chipotle chili, kimchi sake cream and chargrilled bread with garlic oil) and a pint for €20, and on Tuesday it's small plates and €10 cocktails, including favourites Aperol Soup, Lemonchillicellos and Tennis Balls. We're got a €100 voucher for Soup Two to give away to one of you this month, which will go a long way with those offers. 5) A Table For Six With Drinks And Food At Eatyard's Oktoberfest After a sad couple of years for all of us on the events front, Eatyard in Drumcondra is bringing back Oktoberfest for an entire month! There will be steins of beer, there will be currywurst, there will be pretzels, and in true Bodytonic style you can also expect Hasselhoff Karaoke, Lederhösen Limbo, and Blind Beer Tasting. For non beer drinkers there'll be german wines on tap and 'Bavarian Winter Warmers', and other food on offer will include bratwursts, schnitzel burgers and Bavarian cheese and charcuterie boards. Oktoberfest runs at The Bernard Shaw from 30th September - 30th October on Friday and Saturday evenings, and we've got a table for six to give away including two drinks each and a massive Oktoberfest platter. 6) A €100 Voucher For Aperitivo Cicchetti On Nassau Street Aperitivo Cicchetti has just opened its doors on Nassau Street opposite Trinity College, serving Italian small plates (Apertivo) alongside classic Aperitif cocktails, and what we're promised are amazing Negronis (four different types). The interior of the 20-seater restaurant has been designed to offer an intimate experience, making diners feel as if they've been transported to an Italian swing joint in the 1950s, and the well-priced small plates mean you can try a bit of everything, from 'fritti' to 'pasta' to 'panzerotti'. We've got a €100 voucher to give away to one of our Insiders this month so you can fill your boots with Proscuitto San Daniele, fritto misto and arancini. 7) Graham Herterich's New Book 'Bake' And A Hamper From The Cupcake Bloke Graham Herterick has just released his first cookbook ' Bake ', which he calls "traditional Irish baking with modern twists", and we wasted no time putting the stunning recipes to the test . From soda bread and scones to instructions for making his famous tea brack, it's a book we're sure everyone will love, and we've got a signed copy to give away to one of you this month, along with a hamper of some of his favourite baking bits - a Joseph Joseph Rolling Pin, Tea Towel, Wooden Spoon, Measuring Spoons, Bake Spices, Nelsen & Massey Vanilla, Masterclass Baking Tins & a Mini Blowtorch, with the whole thing valued at €150. Time to get baking. Buy Bake here . 8) A €100 voucher for Vice Vice has just opened in the city centre close to Trinity College, and aims to introduce Dubliners to the art of pairing pizza and chicken wings (free-range ones thankfully). Bobby Lawn (formerly at Pichet and Osteria Lucio) feels strongly that these two foods go together like macaroni and cheese, and wants to take "an elevated approach to familiar favourites". Sourdough crusts have 'finishes', like white sesame or everything bagel, and toppings include fennel sprinkled cheese and chilli-infused pineapple, while wings come with lemon pepper, buffalo and gochujang sauces. Vice is open seven days a week on Merrion Street and if you win the €100 voucher we're giving away this month you can go any time you like. 9) A Boozy Brunch For Four At Mad Y0lks We're big fans of brother Hugh and Eoin O'Reilly's egg sandwiches at Mad Yolks in Smithfield (read our recent once over here ), and can think of few better ways to ease into the weekend (or ease off a Sunday morning hangover, or spend a lunch break) than with a 'Fresh Yolk', halloumi fries, and a portion of nachos con carnage. Beers, mimosas and Aperol Spritz are optional but recommended. We've got a boozy brunch for four at Mad Yolks to give away this month including an egg sandwich or burger, side and drink of your choice, which would be a very nice way to ease those end of summer blues. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for September will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

In March of this year, after being told so much about how hopping Belfast's food scene was, we jumped in the car, high-tailed it up the M1 and rubbed our bellies in anticipation of three days of very good eating. That very day the ROI went into lockdown, with the North following a week later, so while we managed to stick to the food plan we weren't able to publish it, as everywhere was shutting their doors. We've been sitting on it for five long months, but can finally share our guide on where to eat in Belfast, in partnership with Discover Northern Ireland . *As this is a fast moving and sometimes daily changing situation we'd always advise double checking with any restaurants you want to visit that they will be open at the time you're there. Breakfast/Brunch The Pocket , just off Belfast's Victoria Square, has it all going on. Iced coffee, freshly baked cinnamon scrolls (do not miss), and savoury and sweet brunch dishes that will have you gladly jumping out of your hotel bed in the morning. We really loved the Piña Colada french toast, a properly unique twist on a classic brunch dish, with coconut and vanilla toast, sweet lime mascarpone, glazed pineapple, shortbread crumb, toasted hazelnuts and basil syrup - have you booked that train ticket yet? The blackberry granola comes packed with juicy blackberries, homemade honey and spiced granola and natural yoghurt, and the chorizo brunch comes with Bara Bakehouse sourdough, a poached egg, sundried tomato sauce, crispy kale, halloumi, homemade pickles, chilli oil and dukkah - and if that sounds like too much going on, it's not. Welcome to flavour-town. The Pocket opens Monday - Saturday from 08:30 - 15:00, and Sunday from 10:00 - 15:00. Established Coffee 's pie and drip menu has become a thing of legend around these parts, mainly due to their untouchable Instagram game. We're glad to confirm that the weekly changing pies taste as delicious as they look, and the coffee, from a variety of roasters like Origin, Heart and Calendar Coffee, is first rate. There's also a full brunch menu if you're feeling less sweet and more savoury. Currently they're only back open from 09:00 - 14:00 Monday - Saturday but watch this space. Lunch If you've got wheels (or are happy to jump in a taxi) head for Noble in Holywood, 15 minutes outside the city. You can also get the train from Belfast Victoria Station to Holywood (a 5 minute walk to the restaurant), and there's the option of a lovely walk along the North Down Coastal Path from Holywood to Bangor afterwards, to walk off all the food before getting the train back to the city. Noble's intimate upstairs dining room was shot into the spotlight in 2017 after a gushing review from Jay Rayner in The Observer , and it's been a mainstay of the Northern dining scene ever since. Owner Saul O'Connell is usually found in the dining room looking after guests and being generally charming to everyone who walks in, and it manages to feel cosy yet occasion-worthy. Coming from the capital, the lunch menu feels like sensational value, with four courses for £25. We loved the fresh, crispy scampi with aioli, the braised beef with mustard remoulade, the gnocchi with ricotta, braised leeks and hazelnut gremolata, and the frangipane tart with plum ripple ice-cream. And the beef-dripping chips. Always the beef-dripping chips. You could also do a lot worse than ending your meal with one of their affogatos. Noble is open for dinner from Thursday - Saturday, and for lunch Friday and Sunday. Book here . Another brilliant lunch option is the Michelin-starred Muddlers Club on Warehouse Lane in the city centre (we do love a good Michelin-starred lunch). Since reopening in the first week of August they're offering tasting menus only at lunch (Thu - Sat) and dinner (Wed - Sat), costing £60 for food and £50 for the wine pairing. They also do a children's option of grilled fish or steak with potatoes/chips and vegetables for the bargain price of £5, so you can bring your mini-gourmet with you - more of this please restaurants. Expect seasonal, locally-sourced food, with a vegetarian menu that looks just as good as the meat and fish based one. We loved a dish of mackerel, buttermilk, dill and potato, another of lamb, squash, cabbage and dukkah, and a dessert of rhubarb, blood orange and white chocolate, but it was all tastefully executed and came across as effortlessly elegant - even if a lot of effort actually went into it. Book a table here . Wine For a glass of wine (and a very serious cheese plate) head straight for Ox Cave , at the side of Michelin-starred Ox. All wines (yes all) are available by the glass, carafe or bottle, the room feels more like you're on the banks of the Seine than the Lagan, and the staff are nothing short of delightful. Put yourself in their hands when it comes to what to drink and gaze out at the candlelit room, basking in smugness that you found the best wine bar in the city. (c) Ox Cave Dinner Bia Rebel , Belfast's most talked about ramen bar on the Ormeau Road, has been eulogized by everyone from Jay Rayner in The Observer ("an £8 bowl deserving of poetry") to Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times ("a perfect bowl of food"), and we'll have to join the reverential ranks by saying they're both correct. The ramen here is almost unimaginably good, with the hours and hours of work that go into it self-evident from the flavour, and while the 'Belfast Original' (pork shoulder chashu, leeks, tamago egg, fermented bamboo shoots and nori seaweed) is one you won't want to miss, the 'Truffle Parmesan' (pork shoulder chashu, sesame kikurage, mushrooms, leeks and truffle butter) should also be on your hit list. Sides like 'crack chicken' and bao buns are well worth your time and calories, and slurping is encouraged. The bad news is that if you were planning a trip in August, Bia Rebel is closed for ramen until September - you can find them at the back of Levi's pub in Ballydehob, Cork for the month of August - but if you're heading north from Autumn onwards you'll be very happy you stopped here. Somewhere that's very much open and very much in demand around these parts is Bo Tree Kitchen , close to Queen's University. There's a fascinating background to this place which you can read in this FT article , but in a nutshell Helen O'Malley (front of house) and her ex-husband Surthat (in the kitchen) have run a Thai restaurant together in some form for 25 years (while married and divorced - impressive), starting in Oxford and ending up in Belfast - lucky Belfast. They fly in herbs and spices from Thailand on a weekly basis and it shows - there's zero imposter syndrome going on here. The menu is extensive, with lesser known dishes like Krua King (spicy, dry, curried minced pork with turmeric, peppercorns, kachai and chillis) and Pad Ped Taleh (stir-fried mixed seafood with Thai herbs, lime leaves, lemon grass and oyster sauce), but features plenty of dishes you'll recognise, like Pad Thai, Chicken Satay and Massaman Curry - they're just a lot better than other versions you've tasted. As if it couldn't get better, it's BYOB with a corkage charge of a ridiculously cheap £2.00 per bottle of wine and 90p per bottle of can of beer/pre-mixed cocktail. Booking is essential as this is a very popular spot with locals. Book by calling them on +44 2890507544 or emailing thaibotree@gmail.com . Last but most definitely not least, Michelin-starred Ox is the place to chalk in the diary if you're in need of a treat - and who isn't over the last few months. We didn't get there this time but visited late last year and couldn't have loved it more. Owner and chef Stevie Toman loves to make vegetables take centre-stage, and co-owner Alain Kerloc'h has been a sommelier and restaurant manager in some of the world's best restaurants, including L’Arpège and Mirazur, and it shows in the level of service you can expect when dining here. Ox opens for lunch and dinner from Thursday - Saturday, with dinner only on Wednesday. They're at reduced capacity right now so be sure to book here in plenty of time. (c) Ox Where To Stay We stayed at the Radisson Blu at The Gasworks, which was perfectly situated in the middle of everywhere we wanted to eat, and a 10 minute walk to both the city centre and places like Bia Rebel and Bo Tree Kitchen, on or just off the Ormeau Road. They're closed until the start of September due to the pandemic, but pre-paid midweek rates from then start at £71.60 a night for a standard room, going up to £154.28 a night for a junior suite with a balcony. Check dates and rates here . If you want to go sooner, other accommodation options that come highly recommended are the Grand Central Hotel , Ten Square Hotel and the Malone Lodge Hotel . (c) Grand Central Hotel This article is in partnership with Discover Northern Ireland , but everywhere in this article was chosen by us after extensive research and the bending of many ears. Check out Discover NI 's brilliant website dedicated to exploring the North here , with recommendations of places to stay, things to do and where to eat. Also look out for the ' We’re Good To Go ' mark. When you see a business is ‘Good To Go’ you can be reassured that they’re fully compliant with all Covid-19 government and public safety measures. That includes social distancing, following recommended cleaning processes and agreeing to undergo spot checks. You'll find the logo displayed on their premises, as part their communications, and next to their listing on the Discover Northern Ireland website .

Well ladies and gents, the big day is almost here and it's come around in lightning speed. What we always think will be a nice, relaxed run into Christmas has once again become one of the most hectic times of the year. For us, like many, it’s only in the days after Christmas that we really get to put our feet up. This is especially true for all of the lovely people working in our bars and restaurants who are run off their feet right up until Christmas Eve, so the days in between Christmas Day and New Years are a time when we don't begrudge them shutting up shop and having some well-deserved time off. Which is great sure, but where are they (and we) supposed to go if everywhere is closed?! We're asked this question every year (incessantly) so if you're only getting around to meeting up with your pals on the 28th, or if you’ve been avoiding social contact before spending Christmas Day with family, we've found some places taking one for the team and keeping their doors wide open …. at least until 8pm. Sigh... Mamó, Howth Starting off strong with one of our favourite restaurants for any occasion, Mamó is open from December 27th – 31st and would be a great way to round off festivities. Their food is primarily sourced locally in North Dublin and the cooking is some of the most exciting around. We've visited a few times and haven’t come across a dish we didn’t like, but a must order is their signature cod chip. Read our once over here . One Pico, Dublin 2 We’re big believers in the age-old Irish proverb, ‘sure f*ck it, it’s Christmas’, and like to live by this until at least January 10th. If you’re like us and want to keep the festive gluttony going, One Pico is the place for you. While it’s always been a ‘special occasion’ spot, when we visited recently we thou ght the food was the best it's ever been. It's the perfect place for a long, languid lunch in the city, and to keep the party spirit going when they reopen on the 28th. Nightmarket, Ranelagh By now you’ll likely have had a couple of Christmas dinners and countless leftover sandwiches, so you’ll be wanting a bit of a change – enter Nightmarket in Ranelagh. The food in this vibrant, Thai restaurant is consistently great – always fresh, always spicy, and never boring, and they're re-opening on December 29th and running into the New Year. Pichet, Dublin 2 What better way to reward yourself after a day trawling the Christmas sales than heading into Pichet for lunch or an early dinner. It's been a mainstay of Dublin dining for years but it got a new lease of life in 2020 with the arrival of Harry Quinn as head chef. With a number of Irish institutions under his belt including Chapter One and Clanbrassil House, as well as multiple impressive kitchens in London, he's revamped the menu and we’re impressed. They're re-opening on December 28th after a very short break, so on the off chance you don’t spend all your pocket money in the shops, make a beeline here. Coppinger Row, Dublin 2 Another place to wet your whistle after some retail therapy is Coppinger Row , and this may be the last time you get to walk through these doors (sob). They announced their closure as the building they lease is being redeveloped (tenner bets on another soul-less hotel), so they'll be closing their doors for the last time on New Years Eve. Pop in for a meal and to say your goodbyes to this lovely spot from the 28th - 31st. Pala Pizza, Foxrock We recently visited outdoor pop-up Pala Pizza in Foxrock village and were delighted by the Roman style pizza. The base is crispy, but not too crispy, and every topping was delicious – and yes, we did try them all, you can too as they’re served by the slice. They don’t take bookings but we didn't have an issue getting a table, and since our last visit they've also added blankets and heaters to keep you nice and toasty. They’re back open from the 27th through to the 31st. Spitalfields, Dublin 8 Nothing says "antidote to Christmas" like bao buns with roasted bone marrow and pickles, or Iberico pork secreto schnitzel with peas and smoked garlic potatoes. Both can be found at Spitalfields in The Coombe with bookings from 15:00 - 18:30, along with their famous cock-a-leekie pie, if you haven't had enough poultry yet. Dudley's Pub, Dublin 8 Relatively new opening Dudley's in the Liberties is a welcome addition to the area. They have a small bar bites menu for the moment, mainly consisting of croquettes (no complaints here), but are adding larger plates as they go. These guys are barely taking their foot off the gas as they’re back open on Stephen’s Day so pop in here to support the new arrival. The Pig's Ear, Dublin 2 Can't take another mouthful of turkey and ham? Escape to The Pig's Ear on Nassau Street for Parker House rolls with whipped St. Tola; slow-cooked lamb shepherd's pie, and a s trawberry & 'Birds' custard sandwich for dessert. La Maison, Dublin 2 If you can nab a heated table outside French restaurant La Maison , you'll have one of the most coveted people watching perches in Dublin. Relax with a glass of wine and some Coquilles Saint-Jacques and watch the world go by again from the 28th. The Wine Cellar @ Fallon & Byrne The cosy wine cellar hidden beneath Fallon & Byrne ’s food hall on Exchequer Street serves up a menu of charcuterie boards and Mediterranean small plates alongside heartier pizzas and pasta, so you can pop in for a quick bite with a glass of wine or make a full meal of it. Pro tip: they have €1 corkage on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays which you can take advantage of when they re-open on Tuesday 28th. Big Fan, Dublin 2 If you’ve followed us for any period of time you’ll know how much we love Big Fan , we even held two ATF Insiders events here earlier this year. We’re clearly not the only ones as the Michelin Guide endorsed them in the last week, announcing them as one of the latest additions to their guide, and they're back serving their sharing plates from December 29th. See our once over for a full run down on what to order. Chimac, Dublin 2 We have been big fans of Chimac since they opened in 2019 and the love has never really wavered. There were a lot of takeaway orders over the lockdowns (sidenote: it travels very well) and we’ll take any chance we can get to get our hands on their signature KimCheese chicken burger. This is fast food at its best – excellent ingredients and all made in-house so you know you’re getting the freshest of the fresh. They’re back open on December 28th for you to quench your Korean fried chicken cravings. And A Couple Of Options To Ring In The New Year Circa in Terenure are not letting an 8pm curfew get them down. They're pushing ahead with their New Year's Eve event with The Boatyard Distillery, and a six-course tasting menu with an optional cocktail pairing. Dishes include trout with coriander, olive and grapefruit, and turbot with hen of the woods and cavolo nero. There's now only one sitting at 18:00, and spaces are available in the restaurant or in the heated garden area. See the menu here , and book by emailing info@restaurantcirca.com or phoning them on 01 5342644. And firm favourite Note are holding a grower Champagne tasting on New Year's Day from 16:00 - 20:00. Tickets are €40 and include a French 75 cocktail and three champagnes, and they'll have a specialised snack menu paired on the day. They'll also have more champagnes by the glass and bottle. Get tickets here .

We're got a serious case of the green-eyed monster for anyone living in Stoneybatter. Grano, Hakkahan, L Mulligan Grocer, The Belfry, Love Supreme - it hits well above the average suburb - and now it's getting another feather in its cap, as Bahay are moving in until March. The Filipino food truck is taking over the back of The Glimmerman pub, while Vietnom (ironically the food truck that inspired them to do their own) take some extended holidays, and they're soft-launching this Friday 17th and Saturday 18th from 17:30. After that they'll be back from the start of January until mid-March, from Thursday - Saturday. Their menu this time is focused on locally grown, seasonal Irish produce, with Filipino flavours and cooking styles. They'll have street food options, small plates and weekly specials, all depending on what comes in that week. They're promising everything from hearty Filipino stews to brussel sprout slaw with calamansi dressing, and occasional "filthy" items, like longanisa hot dogs and pork buns. Bahay kick off in The Glimmerman at 17:30 this Friday, and the space at the back is fully outdoors, so wrap up well and go hungry. Bahay The Glimmerman, 14 Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 www.instagram.com/bahay_dub

In the final part of our ATF Christmas gift guide, we've rounded up some of the gadgets and kitchen stocking fillers that we'd most like to get this year, from sourdough starter kits to recipe journals, one-time purchase wine openers to bento boxes... An Enrich & Endure Apron We found the perfect pressie for your fashionable friend who also loves to get their hands dirty in the kitchen. Enrich & Endure 's aprons are 100% Irish linen and handcrafted in Ireland, and they have loads of fun colours, but we especially love the one that they’ve created in collaboration with cookbook author Molly Yeh. Check it out here . A Pasta Maker The perfect gift for a friend who likes to show off their prowess in the kitchen, a pasta maker is great to add a little oomph to their dishes. And hopefully they’ll do the polite thing and have you over to sample the finished goods. We found a good option here but most good kitchen stores should have them. Bannetons and Blades Know someone who used the pandemic to develop their sourdough skills, or has been looking enviously at everyone who has? Apart from flour and water, they'll need a banneton, liner and a blade. Start them off with a set like this , or buy individual bits here , or in most good kitchen shops. Toast Tongs Okay, bear with us on this. This very simple gadget was a gift to us and what we initially thought was the most random thing we’d ever received swiftly became the most used tool in our kitchen. No longer will you have to risk burnt hands (or electrocution if you’re like us and often fish a broken piece of bread from the toaster with a fork). This is the handiest little device to have around and great for the toast lover in your life. If you can find one with a magnet to secure it to the side of the toaster that’s even better. We found ours here . Meater Wireless Meat Thermometer No home cook's kitchen is complete without a meat thermometer, but having to open the oven every time you want to check a temperature is a major pain. Meater's wireless meat thermometer connects to your smartphone, and you can set the app to any type or cut of meat you might have in the oven, to ensure it's perfect every time. Find it in Harvey Norman . Raclette Set We are very fond of a bit … okay, a lot, of raclette when we hit the slopes, and now you can bring that Alpine feast to the Emerald Isle with a raclette set. This isn’t too spenny so go all out and pair it with some raclette cheese which most decent cheese shops will have to top off a great gift. We sourced a good one here . An Instant Pot A pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker and yoghurt maker, this is the multi-function pot every kitchen needs. Chefs love it , it can make a meal out of anything, and it's perfect for anyone who's short on time during the week but still wants to eat well - just dump everything in and it'll be ready when you get home. Find it here . An ATF x Badly Made Books Notebook We've teamed up with Cork-based Badly Made Books to put together a collection of gorgeous notebooks, with covers made from food waste and pages made from recycled coffee cups. A lovely gift for anyone still in the habit of using pen and paper, and your food-loving friend will appreciate the quirky covers. Check them out here . A Recipe Journal We’ve all had the notion of taking our most loved recipes and collating them in our very own recipe book for handy referencing, but have never quite gotten around to it. This lovely recipe book would be a great gift for anyone you know who loves to get creative in the kitchen, and will give them a nudge to record those delicious creations. Bento Box This could be one for your office-mate who consistently brings in droolworthy leftovers for their lunch. An aesthetically pleasing lunchbox can take their lunches to the next level, and bring them a little bit of joy each day as they tuck into their food. We love this minimalistic bento box , and as a plus it’s dishwasher safe. Le Creuset Wine Opener You will probably balk at the price of this, we definitely did, but having seen this wine opener in action we think it could be worth every penny. It makes light work of any cork and will keep going for years and years. Take a look here for more detail. A Barista-Level Coffee Machine One thing the pandemic brought to light was just how much we all spent on coffee as part of our daily commutes. Tonnes of you seemed to invest in a professional coffee machine over the past year, with none more popular than the Sage Bean to Cup range . Irish roasters Velo are currently having a sale on their four models, from €525 to €1999, and if you're feeling generous towards the coffee lover in your life this year you can check them out here . You can find our other gift guides here: Part 1 - Cookbooks, memoirs and classes Part 2 - Experiences and subscriptions Part 3 - Edibles and Drinkables

It’s that time of year when there is truly nothing we rather do than curl up in front of a fire with a juicy book and a scalding hot whiskey, alas, it’s Christmas, and there are places to go and presents to buy. Fear no more. We’re here to heat your mittens and feed your bellies with a selection of Dublin’s best winter warmers. Most have added booze but we've included a few non-alcoholic ones (marked NA) in case you need to keep a clear head. Mulled Wine & Cider Mulled Apple Juice At The Cake Café The Cake Café is a little haven, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Camden Street with indoor and outdoor seating. Along with mince pies, gingerbread men, and the peanut butter cup , their mulled apple juice is the perfect complement to a Saturday brunch or a weekday lunch. Mulled Wine at Provider Fine Foods, Harold’s Cross Provider Fine Foods is the kind of establishment where you go in for a pint of milk and end up coming home with an assortment of nut butter, a selection of pastries, and a trendy condiment or two. You might as well pick up a mulled wine while you’re there - it is the season after all. Mulled Wine at Bestseller, Dawson Street You've shopped until you're ready to drop and now you need sustinance. Bestseller is a few minutes walk away from the chaos of Grafton Street, and the perfect place to warm your bones with a cinnamon-infused mulled wine. Red and White Mulled Wine at Margadh, Howth Experience some of the best views in Dublin by throwing on your winter woollies, hopping in the car and travelling to Howth for a scenic walk. Once you’re finished pop down to Margadh for a mulled house wine (available in white and red) because you deserve it. Mulled Wine at The Orange Goat, Killester & Ballsbridge Based on either side of the Liffey in Ballsbridge and Killester, The Orange Goat have put together a festive menu with plenty of baked goods and citrusy mulled wine. And if that’s not to your liking, they do an After Eight hot chocolate. Mulled Wine at Old Street, Malahide Old Street has officially been decked out for Christmas with Jean Holland’s Christmas puddings and hampers that make the perfect gift to impress your in-laws. They also serve up one of our favourite mulled wines, chock full of amaretto and spices. Mulled Chardonnay at Soup, Smithfield Soup in Smithfield is one of our go-to spots for a casual dinner and a drink. The ramen is the best around, they make a mean Bánh mì, and the mulled Chardonnay is a nice alternative to the conventional mulled red. Whiskey The Fancy Frankie at Vice Coffee, Wigwam, Dublin 1 The Irish coffee at Vice is so damn good that owner Tom Stafford won an award for the World’s Best Irish Coffee in 2015. The aforementioned signature cocktail, the “Fancy Frankie” contains Teeling Small Batch and 3fe espresso, and it's the crème de la crème of the category. Hot penicillin at Urbanity, Smithfield “I promise it’s not COVID”, she exclaims as she mops her face with a Kleenex. This winter is particularly rife with sniffles, but keep nasty bugs at bay by enjoying an immune-boosting Jameson and ginger mixed with lemon and honey from Urbanity . Please note: we are not health professionals. Please get tested if you present any signs of COVID-19, and don't just depend on hot alcohol for the cure. Hot Chocolate & Coffee Chilli Hot Chocolate At Roe & Co, Dublin 8 Roe & Co. Distillery has teamed up with Crepes in the City for a festive feast for those with a sweet tooth. For €15 per person, diners will enjoy a sweet or savoury crepe, along with a hot chilli chocolate with toasted marshmallows and chilli Chantilly cream, from the distillery's creative bartenders. Marshmallow Bomb at Three Twenty Ice-Cream Lab, Drury Street (NA) Feeling indulgent? Head to Three Twenty Ice-Cream Lab for melted hot chocolate with a fluffy, blow-torched marshmallow crown. Feeling extra indulgent? Order the waffle and dip it into the oozing melted marshmallow. Hey, it's been a rough year. Boozy Hot Chocolate at L. Mulligan Grocer, Stoneybatter Step into L. Mulligan Grocer and feel your winter blues fade away. The menu is laden with ultra-comforting foods (like scotch eggs and Kievs), and the boozy hot chocolate is spiked with Power’s whiskey and topped with scorched meringue to ensure you leave merry and snug. Peppermint Mocha from Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street (NA) Fallon & Byrne is the perfect place for the annual Christmas shop, from their extensive cheese counter and wine cellar to their fresh chestnuts and homemade cranberry sauce. It will take some serious willpower to be able to ignore the adorable gingerbread men and Christmas cake squares, but the peppermint mocha overflowing with cream and candy cane pieces is a non-negotiable. Spiced Boozy Hot Chocolate at Stillgarden Distillery, Inchicore, Dublin 8 The Stillgarden Distillery in Inchicore has mixed its very own Christmas cake gin with hot chocolate and marshmallows to make a sweet and spicy edition of a classic. They’re also serving “gince pies” if you want to do it properly. Hot Chocolate from the Fat Fox’s Festive Christmas Truck, Greystones (NA) The Fat Fox is not technically in Dublin, but it is only a stone’s throw away and is well worth mentioning. Based in Delgany and Greystones, the Fat Fox Christmas Truck has popped up with outdoor seating, seasonal treats, mulled wine and creamy hot chocolate complete with a toasted marshmallow and a gingerbread man. Something Different The Picantea at The Fourth Corner, Dublin 8 The Fourth Corner has prepared an extensive winter drinks menu with mulled wine, hot port, hot whiskey, Irish coffee, Bailey’s coffee, Bailey’s hot chocolate, and the real bombshell: the Picantea. This flaming cocktail pairs tequila with lemon-peel syrup and ginger-lemon tea - the perfect airway cleanser.