MPW 2

Foodies: 1. Audrey and Sarah Fitzpatrick; 2. Geraldine O'Neill and Ruth McGurk; 3. Dovica Ferrari Cesena and Pauric Sweeney. (Pix. KH)

Following the already successful collaboration between Marco Pierre White and restaurateurs Fitzers on Dawson Street, a new 130-seater MPW restaurant has opened in one of the most sought after spaces in the heart of Donnybrook, Dublin 4. 

The new restaurant at No 1 Belmont Avenue is casual yet opulent; lux yet understated, the cloistered courtyard leads into a circular dining room. Both spaces are aesthetically enhanced with warm, rich colours and textures, the place perfectly embodies what Marco calls Affordable Glamour.  While the design of Donnybrook is different to its sister restaurant in Dawson Street (opened in 2009), the food and dining experience is untouchable.

Marco’s familiar signature dishes will grace the menu in Donnybrook and the new restaurant will be managed and operated by Fitzers.  Familiar faces are also central to the welcome and experience with Gina Bokin front of house and Head Chef Philip Boyd leading a team of eight in the kitchen.

Yo!

Yo!: 1. Stephen Murphy and Jess O'Sullivan; 2. Ken Gilbride and Laura Conway; 3. Katie and Judy Gilroy. (Pix. LF / Photocall)

That mecca for fresh fish Yo! Sushi is expanding its menu and now offering burgers.  Yes, the

Yo! Burger has arrived and tasty it is too.  Along with the burger, which of course is not as one would expect, there is a new 86 dish menu to whet the appetite at the Clarendon Street restaurant.

Yo! executive chef Jamie Liddell flew in from Scotland to oversee the kitchen and ensure every burger was perfection and guests enjoyed choosing their favourite sushi dishes from the Yo! conveyor belt. Among those spotted were Laura Conway of X Factor fame who is just back in from LA, 2FM DJ Ruth Scott and Ken Sweeney.

Ciao Milano

Ciao: 1. Ciara Crilly and Siobhain O'Connor; 2. Ciaran Salmon and Laura Greer; 3. Brenda McCormack and Anne Keane. (Pix. KH)

Milano is delighted to announce that the Dawson Street restaurant is back and better than ever following a recent make-over. Situated in one of Dublin's most prestigious streets Milano Dawson Street is known for its vibrant upbeat atmosphere. With its extremely spacious and well-designed dining room, the new and improved Milano Dawson Street offers the same fantastic quality food at amazing value in a stylish new environment.

Guests will be wowed with the stunning new interior that was inspired by various Irish writers and poets. On walking through the restaurant it beautifully takes you to the world of their great work and forms the perfect setting for a memorable gourmet experience. With specially designed wallpaper featuring some of Ireland's influential writers including James Joyce diners will be left feeling inspired!

Speaking at the launch restaurant manager Stephen Toolan said, "Guests will instantly recognise the change in our stylish new surroundings in Milano Dawson Street which draws inspiration from the greatest Irish writers and poets.  We are delighted to welcome new and returning customers to come and enjoy our great food in a fantastic atmosphere.”

Three courses

Eat up: 1. John Torode and Elaine Carey; 2. Emma Kenneally. (Pix. RS)

It was anchors away for Three Ireland’s cook-off last night as two of Ireland’s top amateur chef’s battled it out in front of a live audience. Medley venue on Drury Street played host to the food and fish fanatics and on deck to captain the journey for Ireland’s Best Fish Dish was celebrity chef extraordinaire and Masterchef UK star John Torode.

It was all aboard as entrants from all over Ireland submitted their tasty recipes to Three Ireland’s competition; a celebration of the mobile network’s latest All You Can Eat Everything offer for Bill Pay customers, in the weeks leading up to the live cook-off. Submissions were judged on technique, ingredients, creativity and presentation by top Irish food writer Ross Golden-Bannon and celebrity chef Andrew Rudd.

Food-lovers, food stylists and food bloggers joined Manuela Spinelli, Giovanni Trappitoni’s translator and Elaine Carey, CCO of Three mobile and Dragon Niall O’Farrell for the competitive cook-off. 

Only one fish fanatic could take home the title and that was Hugh Sweeney from Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal who cooked up a storm with his winning Smoked Donegal Salmon and Spinach Lasagne with Lemon Cheese Sauce.  Sweeney netted himself the grand prize of the ultimate foodies weekend away for two in The Cliff House Hotel, Waterford, worth €1,000 and a brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 handset.

EngageMint Party

Fresh: 1. Ellie Balfe and Roisin Agnew; 2. Fiona Mullen; 3. Adrian O'Keeffe Flynn and Phillip McNulty. (Pix. KH)

Ben & Jerry’s threw an ‘EngageMint Party’ to celebrate its proposal to equal marriage rights advocate, Marriage Equality, in Fallon & Byrne.  Toasting all things equal, guests were treated to tipples, tunes and scoops of the dairy-liciously renamed Mint Chocolate Chunk flavour, EngageMint
Party.
RTE’s Aenghus Mac Grianna and partner Terry Gill, entertained the crowd with stories of their proposal plus his right to say his vows as Gaeilge.  Dil Wickremasinghe presenter of Newstalk’s Global Village show and her partner Anne Marie Toole were also there to say why they’re with the 79% of the Constitutional Convention.

Bloggers Leanne Woodfull and Ciara O’Doherty joined photographer of the moment Conor Clinch and reigning Alternative Miss Ireland Sinead Burke for a scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ‘EngageMint Party’ flavour.  Disco DJ du jour Rocky T Delgado kept the dance floor full well into the night.

It all started when Marriage Equality said ‘YES!’ to Ben & Jerry’s and now the two have joined hands to encourage the deliberating members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann that it’s time to say yes to marriage equality for same sex couples.

Fans can address the importance of equal rights in Ireland by downloading a handy letter template at www.MarriagEquality.ie/action and sending it on to their local TD or Senator, or by visiting www.BenJerry.ie/EngageMintParty.