There's lots going on in this week's news round up, from some gorgeous at-home food options to a new business that delivers chocolate-covered strawberry treats right to your door.
Plus there's an impossibly stylish limited-edition gin cocktail kit from Dublin's Westbury Hotel - perfect for a special occasion - and we have all the info on what's happening with this year's Fidelity Beer Festival. See below for more.
Five-star cocktails
The Sidecar Gin Experience at Home from The Westbury Dublin brings serious cocktails-in-a-beautiful-bar vibes right to your door. Priced at €145, the set includes two balloon gin glasses, four 200ml bottles of 1724 tonic and a bottle of The Sidecar Gin, which was created in partnership with Stillgarden Distillery. There’s also a gold measuring jigger and mixing spoon, a gin infusion kit with juniper berries, cinnamon, and star anise – and access to an exclusive playlist on Spotify.
It's available from Friday 30 April for a limited time. Deliveries (€10, within a 10km radius of the hotel) and click and collect are available from 12-6pm on Fridays and Saturdays and for collection any time between 12-7pm from The Westbury, Balfe Street, Dublin 2. You can book here.
Box of delights
The Mill restaurant at Cliff at Lyons in Co Kildare launched at the end of 2020, with chef Sean Smith at the helm. While we all wait for the opportunity to visit in person, we can at least enjoy a taste at home. The Mill Box features six courses focusing on fresh spring ingredients, with a selection of homemade breads and a choice of main course. The menu will change regularly and there is also a weekly changing cocktail menu and a specially curated wine list. Priced at €95 for two people, The Mill Box is available for collection on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings with select delivery areas comprising all of Dublin and parts of Kildare and Meath. cliffatlyons.ie for more.
A seafood feast
Mark your diaries - Roly's Bistro in Dublin is hosting its Irish seafood festival next month. Running from 4 – 8 May, it features some classic dishes and new offerings from chef Paul Cartwright and his team. Starters include Burren Smokehouse organic smoked Irish salmon, Castletownbere Crab & Apple and Dublin Bay Prawns, and Roly’s Fresh Dublin Bay prawn bisque, with mains including grilled Dover sole on the bone, surf ‘n’ turf and Roly’s seafood platter. Fresh local and regional ingredients are used throughout, from the likes of Shellfish de la Mer and Glenmar Seafood in West Cork and Wrights of Marino. There’s also the chance to pair your seafood feasts with wines recommended by Pembroke Wines Pop-Up Shop at Roly's Bistro.
Dishes are available for collection or delivery within 6km of the Ballsbridge restaurant. Order online at rolysbistro.ie or phone 01 6682611.
Sweet things
Lisa Quinlan, of The Rolling Donut fame, has just launched a sister business. Very Berry offers fresh Irish strawberries that have been dipped and drizzled in chocolate ganache and decorated with the likes of pearl chocolates, gold leaf and other edible treats. The ganache is made by an in-house team of confectioners, while the strawberries come from well-known producer Pat Clarke of Co Meath’s Clarkes Fresh Fruit. Very Berry has a sustainability and zero waste plan, so any strawberries that are not used will be made into strawberry jam and sold online and Lisa’s Wildflower Café in Ratoath.
Current offerings include Very Berry LUXE, Pastel Skies (pictured above) and Death by Chocolate. There is also a corporate offering available, as well as customisation for the likes of baby showers and weddings. Prices start from €33 and you can shop online at veryberry.ie
Festival plans
Whiplash and The Big Romance have announced that this year’s Fidelity Beer Festival, due to take place on 16 and 17 July, has been officially postponed. While almost a complete sell-out, the logistics of getting beers and brewers in from around the world, with ongoing uncertainty around restrictions and vaccine rollouts meant the organisers had to make the call.
It's not all bad news, however, as Fidelity 2021 will now take place on 15 and 16 July 2022 at The Mansion House, Dublin. All tickets for this year’s event will remain valid for the new date but refunds are also available until 25 June 2021. To avail of a refund you should contact the organiser via Eventbrite or email [email protected] using the subject Fidelity Festival Refund.
Any subsequent additional tickets will be on sale from 28 June, so you’ll be able to grab one for next year’s event in plenty of time.
