Ivory Tower to reopen after closure order is lifted

THE Food Safety Authority has lifted a closure order on a famous city restaurant owned by a celebrity chef.

Seamus O’Connell, who has appeared in a number of culinary TV programmes, has welcomed the lifting of the order on his Cork restaurant Ivory Tower.

The chef, who owns several eateries, said he would hope to re-open the Ivory Tower, near the English Market, as soon as possible.

The lifting of the order, which was served on November 24, followed a meeting of the restaurant’s management with the HSE’s environmental health officers last Thursday.

Mr O’Connell, who opened the Ivory Tower in 1993, said he would invite anybody who had any doubts about the kitchen to come in and inspect it themselves.

He said that while restaurant management still have personal reservations about some of the Food Safety Authority’s inspection criteria, and the heavy burden of paperwork it puts on small food businesses, the restaurant is now fully compliant with all regulations.

“I’m glad to have the whole business behind us, so I can back to inventing dishes and get on with what’s left of the Christmas and new year trade,” the flame-haired chef said.

“In early January we’ll be closed for some renovations, and then it will be onwards and upwards in 2012.”