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PROUDLY SPONSORED BY BITESIZE Martina Murray 1. Y
uletide Fare December sees us tramping around the city’s Yuletide markets, indulging our grá for mulled wine and sustainable local produce. Our plans include checking out Gifted (Dec 4-8), a pop-up celebration of artisan food and design at the RDS, which showcases the work of Irish food producers alongside eco toys and crafts from sustainable producers such as Jiminy. Meanwhile our old pals The Fumbally host three days of creative food and design featuring the wares of 20 independent Irish businesses. Food stalls include their own brand of gut-loving kimchi goodness, as well as sourdough starters, mince pies and puddings from Scéal Bakery. Dec 13-15 thefumbally.ie 2. 3. Sharing at Allta Observers of Dublin’s dining scene will be aware that chefs and diners alike have been gradually eschewing threecourse dining staples for more convivial sharing plates of late. Niall Davidson’s innovative menu at Allta on Setanta Place reveals more on this theme, with handmade charcuterie and pasta offerings based on sustainable Irish ingredients. Dishes such as Dexter beef tartar, chicken liver scarpinocc and spider crab bigoli meet their match in the sensational wine selection chosen by sommelier Ian Fitzpatrick. The newcomer’s complementarity flows through to the music, powered by Toby Hatchett’s beautifully designed speakers. Full menu Tues-Sat 5-10pm, with snacks available until midnight. allta.ie Christmas Trimmings at Airfield Those adopting an environmentally-friendly approach to the annual mid-winter festivities are guaranteed rich pickings at Airfield Estate, where a bumper selection of seasonal fare includes a generous Christmas hamper range. Sourced from local producers and suppliers, Airfield’s hampers feature a choice of sweet, scented and savoury goods including fine biscuits from Lismore Food Company, Intelligent tea, Superbee wax wraps and Leinster Honey Airfield Estate blend. Their gift cards also make for great stocking fillers, and can be used for eats at Overends Kitchen or to book tickets to events throughout the year. Click and collect via Airfield.ie 4. Festive Tipples We’re rarely disappointed by the range of drinks available this time of year, and on the gin front we’re increasingly partial to the elegant elixirs supplied by Blackwater Distillery. They’ve just released a limited edition of Boyle’s Old Tom, a gin with extra juniper character based on the hooch that formed part of the original Tom Collins cocktail recipe. It comes gift-boxed with a selection of recipes to practice over the festive season. Those who prefer their gin warm and mellow are well catered for too, with Boyle’s Slow and Damson Gin, crammed with delicious fruit from the West Waterford harvest. Aldi 5. Seasonal Celebrations at Asador Over on Haddington Road, barbecue maestros Asador are gearing up for the month that’s in it with a decidedly tempting selection of festive seasonal fare. Throughout December the Iberian-inspired eatery will be serving up set lunch and dinner menus featuring charred butternut squash, Roaring Water Bay mussels and Wicklow venison haunch cooked over their signature wood fire. New Year’s Eve sees them ushering in the ‘20s with a flavoursome six course Barbecue Tasting Menu. The generous dishes on offer include wood fired fillet of beef, and monkfish accompanied by pearl barley and smoked gubbeen risotto with artichoke velouté. Yum! Asador.ie Pssst – Got some food ’n’ drink nuggets you’d like to share with Totally Dublin readers? Feed them to us for consideration… Email: MM@hkm.ie 62