ATF Insider's last 9 Giveaways of 2023 are here! We've got a food and culture filled hotel stay in Dublin, vouchers to try the city's hottest new openings, food and drink-filled Christmas hampers and more. Our ATF Insider service is how we remain ad free, pay our writers, pay for our meals, and operate independently to give you the only advice you need about eating out in Dublin. If you enjoy our content and haven't signed up, maybe this will be the month you cave...
Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on the 17th December will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on the 18th December. Here's what we've got lined up for you this month...
1) A stay in The Croke Park Hotel for their 15-minute Dublin experience, worth over €300
The Croke Park hotel (part of family-owned Irish luxury hotel group, The Doyle Collection) will be putting up one ATF Insider (and guest) overnight in a luxury guest room on Thursday 11th January, for their 15-minute Dublin: Peter Pan at The Gate experience, with breakfast the following morning, and a pre-theatre dinner in the Hawthorn restaurant. The Croke Park Hotel is the official accommodation partner of The Gate Theatre, and the new city escape packages are aimed at giving guests an insider’s track to the city, changing throughout the year to highlight the cultural richness of the local area, including the Gate Theatre. To find out more click here.
2) Saturday lunch for two at Tom Foster's residency at Mamó
Howth's Mamó is one of our favourite places to spend a few hours in the capital, and from January 12th - February 4th, Australia's best young chef, Tom Foster, is taking over the kitchen and dining room. At 29 Tom’s career has spanned restaurants including The Ledbury in London and Cirrus Dining in Sydney, and most recently he was head chef at ELE By Federico And Karl. He and his team will be cooking a seven-course menu over four weekends, with a wine pairing also available, and we're sending one of you there for a long Saturday lunch to see what all the fuss is about. Tickets are available here.
3) A €200 voucher for Bootleg
The guys behind Big Fan, Sprezzatura and Bow Lane have come together to create a new wine bar, Bootleg, in a former Starbucks on Drury Street, and with Big Fan chef Alex Zhang in charge of the Mediterranean-ish food, you know this is going to be good. Wines are natural leaning with a vintage "back catalogue" list for the serious drinkers, and there's an Apertivo cocktail list. Recyling is big on the agenda, with the bar and high tables made from sheet material removed from the walls, and from the New Year they'll be doing wine nights, live music and more. We've got a €200 voucher to give away for Bootleg this month, that can be spent on food, drinks or events (excludes their vintage wine selection). Book a table here.
4) Lunch for two with wine at Cellar 22
A new wine destination has opened at St. Stephen’s Green, and we're most interested in the fact that they're making 80% of their charcuterie in house. Cellar 22 is a cosy, downstairs space with a wide-ranging wine list and an all-day dining menu featuring that charcuterie, breads, cheeses, tartare, crudo and more. Chris Maguire (ex-Frank's and Delahunt) is in charge of the kitchen, while sommelier Victor Nedelea (ex-Sole) is in charge of wine, and this month we're sending one of you for lunch in Cellar 22 to be spoilt by both.
5) A €150 voucher for Mani on Drury Street
There's no danger of anything to do with Christmas over-shadowing the buzz about Mani opening at breakneck speed on Drury Street. Since opening for business last weekend there's been a constant queue down the street, and we've officially lost count of the amount of people we've seen saying their carbonara slice is the best pizza in the city. Ex-Pala Pizza owner/chef Rory Shannon has joined Mani creator Ciaran McGonagle in the kitchen, and if that ain't a dream team what is. We've got a €150 voucher for Mani to give away this month so one of you will be seriously splurging on slices, suppli and deep-fried lasagne.
6) A Premium Irish Hamper from Lotts & Co worth €125
Premium grocer Lotts & Co specialises in the best Irish and international food, craft beers and wine, and every visit there unearths something we absolutely must have in our fridge/press/drinks cabinet. As well as their in-store stock and monthly food and drink subscriptions, they also do a keen line in hampers, and this month we've got one of their premium Irish hampers worth €125 to give away, with products like Cloud Picker coffee, Crossogue preserves, and Skelligs chocolate. Check out their hampers and gifts here.
7) Bar food & cocktails for two worth €100 at Kinara Kitchen Ranelagh
Ranelagh's Kinara Kitchen has recently done a revamp of its bar space, so customers can now enjoy their award-winning cocktails and Pakistani nibbles in an even more intimate setting. From date nights to friend meet-ups this festive season, they've also announced extended operating hours, with all three restaurants open from 12 pm-7 pm on Christmas Eve, and reopening on the 27th - keep up to date by following @kinara_group on social. To celebrate its new cocktail space, Kinara Kitchen is giving one lucky ATF Insider a bar bites & cocktails experience for two worth €100.
8) A Roe & Co Distillery experience and hamper
Roe & Co Whiskey is made from hand-selected stocks of Irish malt and grain whiskys and aged in bourbon casks, with flavours of vanilla, toffee and spiced orchard fruits. The Dublin 8 Distillery and Visitor Experience opened in June 2019 focused on cocktails, and they won 'Best Distillery Tour 2020' at the International Spirits Challenge. We're sending one of you off to Roe & Co on a blending or flavours experience, and you'll also be sent a bottle of Roe & Co Whiskey, glassware, a box of Tara Gartlan chocolates, a Christmas decoration and a tote bag. Check out their experiences here.
9) i-Stil Vodka and Ballymaloe Vodka Cranberry sauce
Ballymaloe Foods have partnered with i-Stil 38 Premium Irish Vodka to use their pink berry vodka in a more grown up take on cranberry sauce. Â i-Stil 38 is produced in West Cork and is the number one selling premium vodka in Ireland. Their 'pink berry' is made with distilled Irish grains and Irish berries, and they recommend enjoying the resulting vodka cranberry sauce with roast turkey, nut loaf, brie cheese or even mixed into a festive cocktail. We've got three bottles of i-Stil 38Â vodka and three jars of the cranberry sauce winging its way to one ATF Insider this month, and we won't tell anyone if you pass the other two off as last minute Christmas presents.
Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for December (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here before midnight on the 17th December to be in with a chance of winning. You'll be supporting independent content in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.
