food columnists

2030231_1_org_Darina_Allen
Tom Hayes: These three dishes helped shaped my career
Joe McNamee.png
Joe McNamee: The traditional restaurant model is irreparably broken
Aishling Moore
Aishling Moore: How to make a lovely lemon sole with verde butter
Michelle Darmody
Michelle Darmody: How to make elderflower panna cotta
Aishling Moore Darina Allen Joe McNamee Leslie Williams Michelle Darmody

FOOD NEWS

Traditional french pie. Quiche lorraine on kitchen table.
Michelle Darmody: How to make a Quiche Lorraine
In the traditional recipe, the filling is simply made of eggs and cream with crispy bacon lardons. Cheese has been added in more recent decades. I use a French cheese in keeping with the recipe’s history, but you can use a different one if you prefer

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Restaurant review: Faux Old-style Irish pub almost seems novel
S Restaurant review: Faux Old-style Irish pub almost seems novel
I should be critical of the fakery, but it is quite well done, so I was happy to block it from my mind and go with the flow.

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Wine bootles from cellar in selective focus
Wine with Leslie: Burgundy has become unaffordable, here are three alternatives
Some French vineyards are reporting up to a 80% damage to the vines due to recent hailstorms

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Where to eat outdoors in Munster: 24 top spots from hidden courtyards to seaside terraces
Where to eat outdoors in Munster: 24 top spots from hidden courtyards to seaside terraces
From hidden courtyards to seaside terraces, these standout Munster venues combine exceptional food with spectacular settings

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Restaurant review: I went to Adare Manor for a €185pp Michelin-starred dinner at The Oak Room
S Restaurant review: I went to Adare Manor for a €185pp Michelin-starred dinner at The Oak Room
The Head Chef Mike Tweedie still has the drive needed to succeed

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

'The health benefits are fantastic': Kate Lawlor-Lyne on how to add more fish to your diet
'The health benefits are fantastic': Kate Lawlor-Lyne on how to add more fish to your diet
The freshest of fish is being cooked by Cork chef Kate Lawlor-Lyne at the K O’Connell Fishmongers counter in Dunnes Stores on Patrick’s Street. She shares her tips on helping people look at fish in a new light

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Close up of young couple toasting with glasses of red wine at restaurant
Wine with Leslie: My favourite wines I tried in Armenia  
Sharing some wines from a trip to Armenia, Leslie Williams tells you what there is to know about 'the oldest newest wine country'

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Restaurant review: Tábla is exactly what you want from a local restaurant
S Restaurant review: Tábla is exactly what you want from a local restaurant
Au contraire, French cuisine is thriving

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Pour wine in a glass
Wine with Leslie: Portuguese wine is great value — here are my top picks
In an ever more expensive world, these wine's show that cheap doesn't have to mean low quality

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Cafe menu restaurant brochure. Food design template
Yes to a starter, but be wary of specials: How to order the perfect meal in a restaurant
Restaurant dining is a terrific and expensive treat, so how can you be sure to get the best from every menu? Experts give their 13 best bits of advice to Sarah Phillips, from looking for the strangest dish to going easy on the booze

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Restaurant review: My Goodness Café's vegan food is both tasty and affordable
S Restaurant review: My Goodness Café's vegan food is both tasty and affordable
This café brings thrilling taste and a fine food philosophy

Sun, 07 Jun, 2026

Top 8: Which of these potato salads are the cream of the crop?
Top 8: Which of these potato salads are the cream of the crop?
Which of these 8 store bought salads will win out?

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

collection of luxury red and white French or Italian wine in bottle and glass
Wine with Leslie: Beer overtakes wine in France, but French wine is not going anywhere 
The Languedoc-Roussillon was once the source of oceans of Vin de Table, feeding the French habit of 120 litres of wine per person per year and a notable contributor to the EU wine lake.

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Popular Cork City restaurant to close its doors after 25 years
Popular Cork City restaurant to close its doors after 25 years
14A on French Church Street in the city centre will take orders from loyal customers for the final time on June 14

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Restaurant review: The Muddlers Club is packed with charm, finesse, and attitude
S Restaurant review: The Muddlers Club is packed with charm, finesse, and attitude
The Muddlers Club's name traces its origins back to the 1798 Rebellion

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Top 100 restaurants in Ireland: Best food, chefs and dining experiences ranked
S Top 100 restaurants in Ireland: Best food, chefs and dining experiences ranked
After months of careful planning and eating out, our food critics Joe McNamee and Leslie Williams reveal our inaugural list of the country’s finest restaurants. First published in April, we are resharing the list to help you decide on a long weekend food experience

Wed, 27 May, 2026

Mexican restaurant Zambrero opens fifth Cork location at the Marina Market
Mexican restaurant Zambrero opens fifth Cork location at the Marina Market
Known for its fresh, Mexican-inspired dishes and modern superfood ingredients, Zambrero offers a healthier alternative to traditional fast food

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Five quick and easy barbecue recipes to cook while the sun shines
Five quick and easy barbecue recipes to cook while the sun shines
The mercury is on the rise this weekend, which means that barbecue for dinner is a real possibility. Here are our favourite speedy BBQ recipes

Mon, 25 May, 2026

SHAMIM DE BRUN
10 of the coolest drinks to try this summer, from iced matcha to live soda
From boba tea to matcha Shamim de Brún rounds up the season’s warm-weather thirst-quenchers

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Chef cooking meat, chicken and vegetables skewers on grill.
Taste of summer: Seven hacks from experts for the best summer barbecue
From two-zone cooking to grilling sweet treats, these hacks will make you a barbecue legend this summer

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Ice cream in a cone with a chocolate flake
Cast your vote: Where can you get the best 99 ice cream in Munster?
The sunny weather has us craving a 99 — but where can you get the best one?

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Restaurant review: Aniar's 24 courses of theatrics should be on your bucket list
S Restaurant review: Aniar's 24 courses of theatrics should be on your bucket list
The special Irish restaurant offers a dining experience few others can claim to

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Summer Rosé
Wine with Leslie: Debunking three rosé myths ahead of summer's arrival
There are common misconceptions about rosé that are worth correcting while we head into the summer sun

Fri, 22 May, 2026

'A proud moment for all of us': Irish snack brand fuelling tennis stars at 2026 Wimbledon Open
'A proud moment for all of us': Irish snack brand fuelling tennis stars at 2026 Wimbledon Open
BiaSol snacks, founded by brother-sister duo Ruairi and Niamh Dooley, are crafted from upcycled grains to deliver high fibre, great taste, and measurable impact

Thu, 21 May, 2026

West Cork chef named best in Ireland as Munster restaurants feature in national awards
West Cork chef named best in Ireland as Munster restaurants feature in national awards
Paul and Máire Flynn also received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Irish Restaurant Awards

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Restaurant review: A talented new chef brings art and value to the table at hip Margadh RHA
S Restaurant review: A talented new chef brings art and value to the table at hip Margadh RHA
Margadh’s wine list is a reason to visit on its own

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Hands, group and toast champagne at party in celebration, goals or connection for success in career at night. Business people, d
Wine with Leslie Williams: Three fresh fizzes to celebrate summer
Champagne once had a terrible reputation for pesticide and herbicide use but thankfully that's been changing

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Restaurant Chestnut
'Our story is rooted in West Cork': Popular Michelin star restaurant announces final dinner season
After eight years of putting Ballydehob on the international dining map, Rob Krawczyk and Elaine Fleming at Restaurant Chestnut have decided to shake things up

Tue, 12 May, 2026

Restaurant review: Oar fails to make a splash — but there's time to right the ship
S Restaurant review: Oar fails to make a splash — but there's time to right the ship
Oar would be a far better restaurant if it could truly embrace simpler cooking of the local larder.

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Take it to the max with a fibre-rich diet: 'Most people do not get enough fibre'
Take it to the max with a fibre-rich diet: 'Most people do not get enough fibre'
 Ali Honour, author of Beans, says beans, peas, and legumes of all kinds are an easy, inexpensive, and nutritious way to incorporate fibre into the diet

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Wine being poured into glass
Wine with Leslie: The Alsace region has the most diverse wines in France, here are my favourites
The best Alsace wines will be found in independents as wine enthusiasts adore it and seek it out, but you will also find a smattering in supermarkets.

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Five unique Cork on a Fork events to book, including black tie supper in a cathedral
Five unique Cork on a Fork events to book, including black tie supper in a cathedral
From chef collaborations to zero-waste dinners in iconic locations, there’s something for everyone across the city

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Restaurant review: I paid over €400 for dinner for two at The Morrison Room — here are my thoughts
S Restaurant review: I paid over €400 for dinner for two at The Morrison Room — here are my thoughts
Learn the Head Chef's name, you will be hearing about him for a long time to come.

Sun, 03 May, 2026

No more hiding from summer rain as Cork on a Fork's shared table has a cover for the first time
No more hiding from summer rain as Cork on a Fork's shared table has a cover for the first time
Last year, rain forced The VQ Shared Table to move indoors. But in 2026, the big ticket event at Cork on a Fork will be weather-proofed with overhead cover. Ahead of the programme launch, Deirdre McArdle has the lowdown on the festival that has put Cork on the global food map

Sun, 03 May, 2026

Joe McNamee: I watched a TikTokker sweat, grunt, stuff his face and call it a food review
Joe McNamee: I watched a TikTokker sweat, grunt, stuff his face and call it a food review
Instead of a new wave of digital food critics or reviewers, we instead got a cadre of self-appointed food ‘influencers’.

Sat, 02 May, 2026

Meet Lewis Barker, the Terre chef putting his stamp on East Cork's two-star Michelin restaurant
S Meet Lewis Barker, the Terre chef putting his stamp on East Cork's two-star Michelin restaurant
A Leeds-born chef’s global journey meets high-stakes pressure as Terre fights to retain Michelin acclaim in Cork

Sat, 02 May, 2026

Three bank holiday recipes to try, including chargrilled lamb chops and a tomato salad
Three bank holiday recipes to try, including chargrilled lamb chops and a tomato salad
Have some extra time over the long weekend and want to try a new recipe?

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Ethnic friends at a bar drinking wine and eating tapas
Wine with Leslie: Young people are drinking less wine — I picked three bottles they should try
We are drinking less as a whole, and younger generations are drinking significantly less, but wine is not dead yet.

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Flat vector illustration of a girl who is transporting land in a wheelbarrow against the background of cabbage beds. Work in the
Joe McNamee: The so called Hungry Gap is worth its 'wait' in gold
I’d imagine there are very few Irish citizens south of their 70s or even 80s who can recall a time when the Hungry Gap ever posed a genuine challenge to feeding themselves

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026

Restaurant review: Bastion in Kinsale is a secret treasure just crying out for discovery
S Restaurant review: Bastion in Kinsale is a secret treasure just crying out for discovery
Noonan and McDonald prefer, as the old cliché goes, to let the food do the talking on the plate

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

Wine being poured into glass
Wine with Leslie: Think white, think Côtes-du-Rhône!
White Rhône wines are great with food and well worth exploring; you’ll find three below.

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

Delicious Déise delights: How Waterford Festival of Food brings fun to Dungarvan
Delicious Déise delights: How Waterford Festival of Food brings fun to Dungarvan
From small beginnings nearly two decades ago, the Waterford Festival of Food has grown to become one of Ireland’s finest festivals, writes Joe McNamee

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Aishling Moore: How to make delicious Sardine rillette with piccalilli
Aishling Moore: How to make delicious Sardine rillette with piccalilli
This method would also work well with tinned mackerel

Sun, 19 Apr, 2026

Choux with cream filling and raspberry. Choux cream puff. Cream puff with custard cream covered with melted raspberry. French de
Michelle Darmody: How to bake beautiful white chocolate choux buns
You can top them with freeze-dried raspberries, or a sprinkling of edible rose petals, and some chopped pistachio nuts work nicely if added before the ganache sets.

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

Joe McNamee: I went on a three-week odyssey to find the best restaurants in Ireland
Joe McNamee: I went on a three-week odyssey to find the best restaurants in Ireland
I went on a three-week odyssey to dine at contenders for our recent and highly successful inaugural Ireland’s 100 Best Places to Eat.

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

Restaurant review: This Laois restaurant is the main reason to leave the M7
S Restaurant review: This Laois restaurant is the main reason to leave the M7
Bramley is the apple of our eye

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

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Darina Allen
Darina Allen

Serving up top food every Saturday

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