StevieHolland

If you can find it then try Almocabar. We had a superb lunch of broad beans with black pudding, a truffled egg with chorizo & truffled squid. All excellent. It's on a square just outside the main town gates. Let me know if you get any more recommendations - we are off again later in the month Thanks Steve

Hi I am also planning a trip to China and would love to spend a week or so learning to cook authentic chinese. This would actually influence where I decide to go. I have not been able to find anything obvious through Google searches. This thread seems to be going in the right direction - but there are no specific answers. Can anyone help? Regards Steve Holland

Hi Off on a Business trip next week to Clomnel (home of Magners/Bullmers cider). Does anyone have any recmmendations for a craic (ing) Irish restaurant in Clomenl or Tipperary in general. Thanks Steve

Hi all So I've finished working in Belfast after about a year. I am quite a saddo and keep a record of all my meals out (1867 and counting) - so below is an extract of all the meals in Belfast that I recorded in my dB. Sorry for the formating - but I've just pasted it from Excel - not sure how to attach a file to this entry. Steve (the originator of the post) PS: Molly's Yard. By far and away the best place. Food superb and not overpriced (Mr Rankin take note) and the service exceptional...we ended up staying and drinking with the staff until 1am on my Birthday Restaurant Type Address City Starters Main Main Rating Cost Est Overall Rating Archana Indian Belfast Road Belfast Chicken Chilli Balti OK 20 OK but wouldn't recommend Archana Indian Belfast Road Belfast Lamb Dhanzak Good 20 Fine Beatrice Kennedy Irish 44 University Road Belfast Celeriac Soup Filler of Beef Very Good 35 Very Good Beatrice Kennedy Irish 44 University Road Belfast Carpaccio of Scallops with crab meat Roast Duck Breast with cabbage mash and parsnip puree Superb 40 Very Good Bourbon American 60 Great Victoria Street Belfast Rib-eye steak Bad 30 Fine Bourbon American 60 Great Victoria Street Belfast Chicken Wings Pork Ribs Good 20 Fine Cafe India Indian 42 Malone Road Belfast Lamb Madras OK 25 Fine Cayenne Asian Shaftesbury Square Belfast Chick Pea Soup Fillet of Cod on Goan Curry Sauce Superb 30 Very Good Cayenne Asian Shaftesbury Square Belfast Rare Beef hot 'n' sour soup Korean Spiced Lamb with Kimchee Very Good 30 Very Good Cayenne Asian Shaftesbury Square Belfast Potato Dumplings Fillet of Beef Very Good 30 Very Good Cayenne Asian Shaftesbury Square Belfast Black Bean Dumplings Fillet of Beef OK 30 Fine Clandeboye Hotel Hotel Bangor Fillet of Beef OK 20 Fine Clandeboye Hotel Hotel Bangor Monkfish Tempura Fillet of Beef OK 20 OK but wouldn't recommend Deane's Brassiere Irish 36-40 Howard Street Belfast Foie Gras Rib-eye steak Very Good 30 Very Good Deane's Brassiere Irish 36-40 Howard Street Belfast Mussels in cider cream Pork Belly with mustard white beans and black pudding OK 30 Very Good Deane's Brassiere Irish 36-40 Howard Street Belfast Haddock and Chips Very Good 30 Very Good Deane's Deli Modern British 44 Bedford Street Belfast Fillet of Beef Very Good 30 Very Good Deane's Deli Modern British 44 Bedford Street Belfast Smoked Roast Cod Very Good 30 Very Good Deane's Deli Modern British 44 Bedford Street Belfast Filler of Beef Very Good 30 Very Good Deane's Deli Modern British 44 Bedford Street Belfast Fillet of Beef Very Good 30 Very Good Falls Road Community Centre Irish Falls Road Belfast Irish Stew Superb 3 Exceptional Fontana's Irish Holywood Wild Mushroom Soup Pan fried Sole Very Good 30 Very Good Gerry's Golf Club British Belfast Garlic Mushrooms Fillet of Beef Very Good 20 Very Good Harbour View Japanese 1 Lanyon Quay Belfast Sushi Tepenyaki Very Good 35 Very Good Harbour View Japanese 1 Lanyon Quay Belfast Sushi Tepenyaki Very Good 35 Very Good James Street South Modern British 21 James Street South Belfast White Onion Soup Saddle of Rabbit with wild mushrooms Superb 30 Exceptional Lee Garden Chinese 14 Botanic Avenue Belfast Crispy Beef OK 25 OK but wouldn't recommend Lee Garden Chinese 14 Botanic Avenue Belfast Won Ton Soup Banquet for 6 Superb 30 Very Good Malmaison Modern British Belfast Filler of Beef OK 20 Fine Moghul Indian 62A Botanic Avenue Belfast Chicken Dupiaza Very Good 15 Very Good Moghul Indian 62A Botantic Avenue Belfast Dhal Makhini Very Good 30 Very Good Moghul Indian 62A Botantic Avenue Belfast Dhal Makhini Very Good 30 Fine Moghul Indian 62A Botantic Avenue Belfast Chicken Vindaloo Very Good 15 Very Good Moghul Indian 62A Botantic Avenue Belfast Chicken Dupiaza Very Good 15 Very Good Molly's Yard Modern British 1a College Yard Belfast Penne with Confit Duck Beef Sausage and Champ Superb 30 Exceptional Molly's Yard Modern British 1a College Yard Belfast Wild mushrooms on toast Beef Sausage and Champ Very Good 25 Very Good Molly's Yard Modern British 1a College Yard Belfast Leek Soup Carbonarra and Chicken Pasta Very Good 25 Exceptional Molly's Yard Modern British 1a College Yard Belfast Penne with Confit Duck Cod and Potato stew OK 30 Very Good Nick's Warehouse Modern British 35 Hill Street Belfast Saddle of Rabbit Sausage and Beef Bolognese Superb 35 Very Good Pizza Express Pizza Belfast American Hot Very Good 20 Very Good Pizza Express Pizza Belfast American Hot Very Good 20 Very Good Roscoff Brassiere Irish Belfast Fish Chowder Pork Belly and Lentils OK 25 Fine Scalini Italian Belfast Lamb Steak with Beans Very Good 25 Fine Serai Asian University Street Belfast Thai Beef Salad Rendang OK 20 Fine Serai Asian Belfast Rendang Very Good 25 Very Good Serai Asian Belfast Singapore Noodles Very Good 25 Very Good Serai Asian Belfast Chicken Yakatori Singapore Noodles Very Good 25 Fine Tedfords Modern British 5 Donegall Quay Belfast Smoked Cod Chowder Roasted Bass with Lite Curry Sauce Very Good 30 Very Good Ten Square British 10 Donegall Square South Belfast Tomato Soup Rib-eye steak Very Good 25 Fine Ten Square British 10 Donegall Square South Belfast Rib-eye steak OK 25 Fine Thai Village Thai 50 Dublin Road Belfast Green Chicken Curry Very Good 10 Fine Thai Village Thai 50 Dublin Road Belfast Grilled Mussels with chilie sauce Green Chicken Curry Very Good 20 Fine Thai Village Thai 50 Dublin Road Belfast BBQ Ribs Green Chicken Curry Very Good 20 Fine The Beaten Docket Pub Food Belfast Filler of Beef Good 10 Fine The Crescent Townhouse Hotel Belfast Penne Pasta with smoked chicken Very Good 15 Fine The Crescent Townhouse Hotel Belfast Smoked Mussels with Chorizo OK 20 Fine The Crescent Townhouse Hotel Belfast Rib-eye steak OK 20 Fine The Crescent Townhouse Hotel Belfast Rib-eye steak Very Good 20 Fine The Ginger Root Indian Belfast Chicken Jalfreizi OK 20 OK but wouldn't recommend The Ginger Tree Japanese Belfast Sushi Sukiyaki Very Good 40 Fine The Wok Chinese 126 Gret Victoria Street Belfast Five Spice Lamb Sezuan Beef Very Good 30 Fine Tony Romas American Belfast Fillet of Beef Bad 25 Fine Tony Romas American Belfast Rack of Ribs Very Good 20 Very Good Tony Romas American Belfast Rack of Ribs Very Good 25 Very Good Tony Romas American Belfast Rack of Ribs Superb 25 Very Good Villa Italia Italian University Road Belfast Lasagne Very Bad 30 OK but wouldn't recommend Zen Japanese 55 Adelaide Street Belfast Sushi Platter Zen Banquet OK 35 Very Good Zen Japanese 55 Adelaide Street Belfast Sushi Platter Beef with Enoiki Mushrooms Very Good 25 Very Good Zen Japanese 55 Adelaide Street Belfast Sushi Platter Chicken with Kimichi Sauce OK 25 Very Good Zen Japanese 55 Adelaide Street Belfast Sushi Platter Chicken with Kimichi Sauce OK 25 Very Good

Hi Just checked my records. I've had 'superb' examples in La Boheme - Chester - no idea if it's still there - this was years ago Montmartre - Islington Quaglinos - West End Steve

So...spent the weekend and found a great Irish Stew. We did indeed find the Whites Tavern - as part of the Historic Pubs of Belfast tour. Worth the money just to get the leaftet of the pubs. However, we ended up having a fantastic stew in the Falls Road Community Centre - of all places! We did the politcal tour of West Belfast, and was recommended this place by the guy that took us around. Suppose it depends on your politcal persuassions as to wether you'll find yourself in this place - but it was quite fabulous. Steve PS: Finally found a decent Dhal Makhini in the The Moghual Tandoori. Been looking for ages since overdosing on a recent tour of India. A Very good rendition..even tough we waited almost an hour for it....

Emma, Thanks for the tip. Damn shame - I'l just got back from this weeks trip - and turns out I was staying a couple of streets away (Malmaison - nice hotel - shame about the food - could have played football with the salmon fish cakes) I've only just read the post - but it looks great - I'll be posting a review when I've been. Thanks Steve

Hi, Many years ago I worked for a time in Limerick. I remember fondly walking into numerous pubs and being able to get a steaming hot bowl of Irish Stew. These were most definately pubs and not psuedo restaurants - much Guinness and craic went along with the stew. I've been to Dublin on many occations since - and have failed to find anything quite so authentic - moreover the pubs are very touristy and serve very expensive bowls of, in my opinion, not very authentic stew. I'm now working for a few months in Belfast. I've read all the interesting debates on the state - or not - of Belfast food (Cayenne last week - great menu - but where was the wham factor in the taste...a bit weak given it was suposed to be Asian based). So, given Belfast is 'less touristy' than Dublin - is it possible to get a good authentic Irish Stew - to be chased down by some excellent Guinness?? Or am I being terribly naive and should only be expecting this South of the Border. Any tips would be appreciated. Steve

STOP PRESS. Forget what I was saying about 'going to London/New York for posh restaurants'...it seems like they've come to Jamaica. EAST - at the far end of Constant Spring Road - a new Japanese/Sushi restaurant that is superb....fresh tasting - interesting rolls and great staff.. I will be back. Often.

Hi All, Having been incredible lucky and spent the last six months working in Jamaica, I find I am now in sever Jerk Chicken withdrawal. For anyone who likes hot and/or BBQ style food I urge you to get the first possible flight to Kingston and simply drive along the road until you see the smoke billowing from the first 'pan' you find. You will not be disappointed with the hot, succulent chicken that you'll get served. Coming from the UK where the tendency is to fast grill when BBQ'ing, I was amazed at how tender and juicy a chicken can remain even after (or because it's has?) been cooking for several hours. So, I'm in the process of building prototype one of my Jamaican pan. I have the oil drum cut in half and the red/yellow/green paint ready. Now I'm stuck. I'm not 100% sure what the best design should be. Having read lots since I've been back I'm realising that it's all about indirect heat and smoke. I've seen all the fancy designs for smokers where the firebox sits to one side, and so one - but I'm keen to try and be as authentic as possible, and those guys did not seem to have all the fancy stuff. Thus, if I just put charcoal at the bottom and chicken on top, even with the lid down I'm just gonna grill. Anyone have any other ideas? Fire to one side? Chimneys to draw smoke? Raise the fire? Cover the fire? I've had a good look around the www and to my amazement I can't find anything. You are my last hope. Cheers Steve

Wow. What a fantastic six months. Back in the UK now and getting Jerk withdrawal symptoms. I had a great time in Jamaica - whilst it's a bit rough at the edges I truely believe that makes it what it is, and I'm sure I had a better time than I could ever imagine in one of the more 'polished' islands. In terms of places to eat I have a few highlights that I feel I must share. None of them are the 'posh' restaurants in Kingston (go to London or New York if you want top notch restaurant food), and if you must go to the hotels, then be prepared for a sub-standard, expensive 'tourist' experience. However, if you want real Jamaica - try the following: Kingston: Our Place: (On the Hope Road near Sovereign Centre). This place became my firm favourite, and the place I went for my leaving do. It's a real Jerk pit in the middle of the city, outside a local's bar, serving great Jerk Pork and Chicken and the wickedest pepper saucee. Eat, listen to the reggie and play dominos......what more do you need. Hellshire Beach: Go on a Sunday, watch the Kingstonians at play, and then negotiate your platter of Garlic Lobsters, Fish Escovitch and Festivals. Then sit at one of the 30?? bar shack restaurants and wash it all down with a Red Stripe or three as the sun sets Woody's - Just outside Port Antonio. Don't forget to go and order the day before, as the lovely couple who own it need some time to prepare. I took my girlfriend for her first Curry Goat - she's now addicted. The place is a fantastic little bar, full of random quotes posted on the wall, and Woody will keep you entertained with stories of local characters.....before his wife pulls out a fantastic homemade dessert to top you up. What fun. Cheers Jamaice for an Irie time. Me soon come back a yard... (or something like that ) Steve

Not yet - been trying to find a local cookery school though...Any ideas ??? I'm planning on getting an Red/Yellow/Green oil drum and having a 'Jerk Party'.....I've certainly got the taste for it...Boston Bay here I come.... I was lucky enough to get invited to an all day Party in a local house in Mandeville. They had local cooks in, which was fantastic. Started with a bowl of Mannish water - which I really enjoyed - despite watching it being prepared > Mannish Water and then followed with Goat Curry, Jerk everything, breadfruit, Rice and Peas and so on and so on. A great experience - and I honed my domino skills also

Been here for a couple of months...and easily the best meal was the Roadside Jerk Chicken in Faith's Penn - on the road between Ocho Rios and Spanish Town....a specially contructed set of 30 or so stalls to feed travellers....A Jamaican version of the motoway service station... ...and for something posher - just along the road (co-incidentally) is Restaurant L'Aubergine - which is a hybrid Jamaican European restaurant in a wonderful 18th century house with delighful gardens and interior decor...Try the 'Limed Conche'...

Hi Folks, I'm in the envious position of going to work in Jamaica for several months I'd appreciate if anyone has got any good recommendations for places to eat that I can get a real taste of Jamaica and the Carribean. I'm assuming there will be loads of resorts with 'Carribean' food - but as I'll actually be living there (Kingston environs), I really want to hunt out some authentic places. I've seen the posts re 3 dives - which sounds fantastic. Any others? In return I'll keep my finds posted here... Regards Steve

Wow - all good - nothing bad! What a place - and thanks for the recommendations. I'm afraid I can't add any new jewels to the list - but only to say that if you do go - prop yourself at the bar in La Cuchara de San Telmo - and simply start at the top of the blackboard list and work your way down. Fantastic. I don't speak Spanish - but it's not a problem - everything was sublime.....Still dreaming of the Braised Pork with Crust...and melt in your mouth beef.....and stuffed peppers....and pan fried foie gras........