Hot Flavours: Food and Drink Tips for the Fortnight

We are loving Bowls By Kwanghi Chan, which can be found at 56 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 and has the best barbecued Char Siu in town. Deliciously creamy egg tarts and the sharp décor add to the experience. We also have a cupboard full of the Donegal chef’s Chan Chan condiments – his Hong Kong Street Sauce with Fermented Black Garlic is outrageously good!

Also made with much love in Dublin by former Hong Kong resident Katie Sanderson is White Masu, a peanut, sesame, honey, crispy garlic and Korean chilli flake condiment that’s great slathered onto steaks and scrambled eggs, and even better eaten out of the jar after a night drinking responsibly.

Their Walnut Miso, Pickled ‘Shrooms and Chilli Ginger Pickle are equally as awesome.

The inaugural Kinsale Restaurant Week takes place from February 18-24 with Fishy Fishy, The Bulman, The White Lady, Finns Table, The Blue Haven, Actons Hotel, Jim Edwards, The White House, The Trident Hotel, The Supper Club and The Man Friday all offering special €20 two-course menus for the duration.

If it’s the “cataclysmic collision of two uncompromising supernatural forces” you’re after, look no further than the 5.7% Enter Night pilsner that Metallica have produced in conjunction with South California’s Stone Brewing.

Successfully launched last year in the States, this muscular brew is winging its way to Europe as we speak.

Meanwhile, our pals at Black Donkey have created history by brewing what they believe to be Ireland’s first wild brew yeast, which they harvested from a cave in Roscommon. If you spot a bottle of their limited-edition 5.6% Underworld Savage Ale, buy/try on site!

Clerys’ iconic bar and restaurant, The Tea Rooms, is to be refurbished as part of the Clerys’ Quarter development, which will create 400 jobs and also comprises of office and retail space, an events venue, a four-star hotel and a second panoramic rooftop restaurant.

Most importantly, they’re keeping the clock! Having previously popped up all over Galway, Handsome Burger now has a permanent base at Lady Gregory House, 49 Lower Dominic Street, Galway. If like us you have scant regard for your arteries, we’d recommend the Petey Pablo with Cecina Chorizo & Irish Cheddar, a portion of Parmesan & Maple Bacon Fries with Garlic Aioli and, for maximum stuffment, the homemade Slaw.

The Hot Press flags are flying at half-mast in response to the news that after 32 years of wood-fired ovening up a storm on D1’s Chatham Street, Pizza Stop is to close because their landlord is selling the building.

TIPPLE OF THE FORTNIGHT

We’ve always been partial to the wares of this small Wicklow brewery, but recently they’ve been on an especially fine run of form with their limited-editions. Brewed in association with 8th Corner who sourced the coffee beans from Ethiopia’s Guji region, this Double New England IPA is a fruity beast with aromas of blueberry, apricot and papaya. Although pronounced, the coffee flavour doesn’t overpower the juicy hops, making for a perfectly balanced beer available in handsome looking 440ml cans.