Hot Flavours: Jalfrezi Little Thing Called Love

The culinary star of many an Electric Picnic, Kinara Kitchen has just introduced its new Thali Sunday brunch menu out in Ranelagh Village. Mutton Biryani with Poached Plum, Lobster Jalfrezi and the Pakastani Roast Chicken with naan, pilau rice and veg trimmings top the must-try list. Add in the coolest of hot tunes from DJ BazzaRanks, and they’re onto a winner. kinarakitchen.ie.

From the makers of Blazing Salads comes Flip, a new veggie ‘n’ vegan burger joint in D2’s George’s Arcade, which won us over the moment we sunk our gnashers into their Sweet Corn & Feta Fritter. @flipvburger.
Killarney’s burgeoning reputation as a food capital turns out to be fully deserved with Hot Flavours encountering some serious deliciousness when we were there last week.

While the Bombay Palace on Main Street deserves a special commendation – as we’ve said before not all curry houses are created equal – the pick of some very fine grub was had at the much-garlanded Yew Tree Restaurant.
Managing to exude both warmth and sophistication (we love the gold wallpaper!) they had us purring with delight from the off with the Roasted Scallop, Suckling Pork & Pickle Cauliflower, and Toasted Spelt Berries, Winter Roots & Salted Baked Celeriac, an alt. risotto, which is easily the best thing we’ve tasted so far in 2020.

The Seasbass, Baby Turnip, Goatsbridge Caviar, Fried Polenta & Confit also packs a serious flavour punch, although the Lamb Loin, Mushroom, Samphire, Pearl Onions & Confit Potato narrowly shaded it in the mains department. Incidentally, whoever decided to add Miso roasted spuds to the accompanying mixed veg deserves an immediate pay rise.

Although amply full by this stage, we selflessly forced the ‘70s Chocolate Tart, Lime Butterscotch, Hazelnut Praline & Vanilla Ice Cream and Coconut Panna Cotta, Coriander & Passion Fruit Gel down in order to tell you how nibblesomely good they are too.

The €57 three-course menu is incredible value for cooking of this calibre. It’s also great to be looked after by smiley waitpersons who know the menu inside out.

The Yew Tree is housed in Muckross Park, a five-star hotel and spa located over the road from the Killarney National Park and its famous jaunting cars. Whether you want a Vitamin C & Papaya Enzyme Facial Peel (who doesn’t) or just to prop up its cool cocktail bar, it’s a gem. muckrosspark.com.