Hot Flavours: The Leinster, CN Dumpling, Brasileirinho, Ahascragh Distillery, Lineman and more

The chef-owner of the brilliant Goldie’s in Cork, Aisling Moore, shares some of her trade secrets in Whole Catch, the latest must-have tome from the good folk at Blasta Books.

From Fish Trim Nuggets and Buttermilk Fried Tails to Karaage Hake and Mussel Escabeche, it really is all good with Moore determined that we should start eating like a proper island nation.

Aisling Moore and the Goldie team

Also keep your tastebuds peeled for Agak-Agak, Blasta’s upcoming July release which finds Sham Hanifa explaining the origins of the fantastic Malay food he rustles up at The Cottage restaurant in Carrick-On-Shannon.

This month’s big launch is The Leinster, which despite the name is a Manhattan-style boutique hotel with 55 palatial rooms spread across four floors on Mount Street, Dublin 2.

Hot Flavours’ interest primarily lies in the rooftop restaurant presided over by Jean-Georges Vongerichten whose eponymous Central Park West eatery has two Michelin stars and a waiting-list as long as your and several other people’s arms.

He’s promising to “intertwine Irish classics with fresh French and Southeast Asian flavours, using locally sourced ingredients” and continent-hopping cocktails to match.

It was love at first bite when we sank our gnashers into the Shredded Duck Bao Buns in CN Dumpling, the new family-run Chinese joint located at 4 Montague Street, which is fast becoming one of D2’s foodie epicentres.

The Steamed Scallops, Lion’s Head Pork Meatballs and Beef Rendang are also perfectly executed, with three small plates coming in at around €30.

It’s ‘Welcome to the neighbourhood!” to Brasileirinho, a new charcoal grill joint mere metres from Hot Press Central on Capel Street, Dublin 1.

While the décor is contemporary, dishes like Bobó de Camaro, Picanha, Moqueca dos Mares and Beef Stroganoff – originally Russian, we know but now as Brazilian as Neymar and Vinicius Junior – are all of the traditional persuasion and very, very tasty!

Brasileirinho

Exciting news from Galway where the Ahascragh Distillery has just laid down New Born, Ireland’s first zero energy emissions whiskey, which means that no fossil fuels or gas will be involved in its production.

While that’s hubbling and bubbling away for the next three years, their UAIS Triple Blend fusion of 25% Pot Still, 25% Single Malt and 50% Single Grain, aged in ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks, is the best €42 you’re likely to spend this or any other month.

Tipple Of The Month:

Lineman 6% Brown Ale
While ticking all the IPA, stout and Pils boxes, it’s their more unusual styles which have made Hot Flavours grasp this family-owned Rathcoole micro to our beery bosoms. A riot of coffee and biscuit flavours, Lineman’s 5% Schadenfreude Schwarzbier looked like a TOTM shoo-in until we tried a pint of their 6% Big Calm Brown Ale on draught in UnderDog. Redolent of Newcastle Brown and Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale – only better!– it’s another bold brew with chocolate and caramel fans in for a real treat.