Buying local produce – Formula for success

Meath-born Richard Corrigan — who made a name for himself in the restaurant business in London by trading on the pride that native customers took in good English food — is bringing the formula for his business success to Dublin.

The opening this evening of Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill on St Stephen’s Green, promises to be a gala affair, with a champagne reception, followed by a five-course meal. All proceeds from the event will go to Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin.

Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill promises to source all its food in Ireland. The crabs will come from Kilmore Quay, the clams from west Cork, the fresh fish from Donegal, and the lobsters from Louth.

We pride ourselves on our fish, meat and vegetables, and it is important that we should support local produce. Moreover, it is absurd that we should think that others would buy Irish, if we are not prepared to endorse the food ourselves.

This is not necessarily a plug for people to support any particular restaurant, but they should support those promoting Irish produce. This would be the best way to encourage other restaurants to adopt the same formula. We should both support and be proud of Irish produce.