Bitesize April 2015
To: Drink
Great Irish Beverages – Dublin Wine Fest
Over 20 of the city’s best restaurants, bars and hotels are gearing up for the inaugural Dublin Wine Fest, which takes place from Monday 20th to Saturday 25th April. Festival-goers will have an opportunity to engage in self-guided wine trails encouraging them to experience different venues in a new way. Complementary events such as ‘aperitivo hours’ and food and wine pairings have been organized by participating venues in a bid to secure the title of ‘Best Dublin Wine Experience’, with the winner being selected by festival-goers via online vote. Wristbands entitling the wearer to 30% discounts on at least two festival wines cost €5 from participating venues or entertainment.ie. See facebook.com/GreatIrishBeverages for details. –MM
To Eat:
Doughboys
You can never have enough options along your daily route for good lunchtime sambos, so we were delighted to visit Doughboys in recent months at their spot on Charlotte Way.
There’s a delicious sandwich on the menu for every taste from the hearty meatball number (a particular favourite) to the delectable broccoli sambo with lychee and feta. Just between Camden Street and Harcourt Street (opposite the Bleeding Horse), Doughboys is in the perfect spot to pick-up something quick for lunch, or to sit and take a break with a coffee from Irish roasters Cloud Picker. –RD
To Try:
Cocu
Or perhaps you’ve had enough of sandwiches? Emilia Rowan’s thoughtfully designed menu at newly opened Cocu offers fast, over-the-counter food using seasonal, local ingredients. Breakfast includes porridge with super-charged toppings and ‘grab-and-go’ energy pots such as baked egg with smoked salmon or Gubbeen Farmhouse chorizo. Lunch is a brave, sambo-free zone. Build-your-own ‘Cocu Box’ on a baby spinach, brown rice or roasted sweet potato base and add your choice of exotic Middle Eastern chicken or charred beef flank with pickled vegetables. Beverages include coffee from Roasted Brown and cold pressed juices from Green Beards. Drop in at 9 Upper Baggot St. or see cocu.ie for the full menu. –MM
To Visit:
New Carluccio’s
After their success in city centre, Carluccio’s is set to open a new restaurant in the (sunny) south east County Dublin. The new location at Glasthule launches on Thursday 9th April. In South County Dublin, looks like a decent spot to escape the noise of the city, maybe even a decent spot for a date to sample Carluccio’s delicious, authentic Italian food and vibrant atmosphere. Bon viveur and chef Antonio Carluccio himself will be over from London for the launch of the new restaurant named after him. –RD
Words:
MM: Martina Murray
RD: Rachel Drachman
Images: Great Irish Beverages, Cocu
