It's a great mix of good news and sweet treats in this week's round-up of food and drink news - with a side of rugby, no less!
Co Meath's Boann Distillery has picked up a bundle of accolades at prestigious whiskey awards and one of Ireland's artisan chocolatiers is aiming to make this Easter all the sweeter. Plus there are two great new dining at home options launching too. Read on to find out more.
Winning Ways
A family-owned distillery in Co Meath has bagged six national awards in the World Whiskies Awards, with the international awards results due on 25 March. Boann Distillery’s Whistler range picked up six prizes including Best Single Pot Still New Make 2021. The Whistler Bodega Single Malt (12 years and under), and its Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (Blended Whiskey) took gold, Single Malt Whistler PX I Love You took silver and Whistler Calvados Cask Finished Blend and Whistler Mosaic (Single Grain) each bagged bronze.
The wins followed the announcement that Boann has recreated a number of vintage mashbills (recipes) from long-lost distilleries. You can read more about that here.
Green to go
Dublin’s Glas Restaurant has launched a new collection and delivery service. Specialising in vegetarian and vegan food, it’s offering three-course meals with nibbles and a side. For the inaugural weekend, 27 February, the menu is all vegan. It features a meal for one (€35) or two (€70) which includes a starter of squash rillettes, smoked almond emulsion, Brussel kraut, and brown bread cracker with a main of hispi cabbage, fennel gratin, preserved lemon vinaigrette and sunflower seed praline, and a cherry, almond and chocolate entremets. You can collect from the restaurant on Chatham Street, Dublin 2 or delivery (inside the M50) take place on Saturday. To order go to glas.clickandcollection.com.
Sweet Things
Limerick-based artisan chocolatier Anna Coffey Lynch of Braw is launching two limited-edition handcrafted Easter eggs. First up is a hand-painted vegan friendly and gluten free Valrhona Manjari Madagascan dark chocolate egg (above). It’s studded with crushed pistachios and contains a pistachio surprise inside. Then there’s a Luker Noche milk chocolate egg made with sustainably produced 40% Columbian cacao. It has an outer layer of crumbled salted caramel pieces (made using Achill Island Sea Salt) and contains a salted caramel treat. Priced at €25 each, plus P&P where appropriate, you can pre-order online now (for local collection and delivery to Co Limerick and Co Clare only). The eggs will also be available in leading independent food stores in the coming weeks.
Game On
A new home dining meu from Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is themed around Ireland’s remaining Six Nations rugby matches. Head chef Adam Medcalf has designed special menus for the Italian (27 Feb), Scottish (14 March) and English (20 March) matches. Each menu costs €45 and includes two starters, mains and desserts. Dishes on the Italian menu include antipasti, cacciatore and panna cotta, while the Scottish menu features cock-a-leekie soup, baked salmon and cranachan, a traditional dessert. Finally, the Taste of England menu includes bangers and mash, fish and chips and Eaton mess. Customers can book their collection slot in advance on (023) 8821116 and the food will be delivered to their car. inchydoneyisland.com
