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PROUDLY SPONSORED BY BITESIZE Martina Murray 1. T
he Old Post Office Blackrock We’re reliably informed that Chinese cooking can be categorised into eight major cuisines, one of which is Sichuan, the regional style favoured at the recently opened Old Post Office in Blackrock. Designed by Chef Yu Shuchen, the menu is firmly focused on authentic Sichuan specialties made from Irish ingredients. Offerings include Sichuan spiced steamed whole black sole with ginger and scallion, cornfed Manor Farm chicken and Skeganhore Peking duck. The surroundings look as tasty as the menu, with a floor to ceiling glass wall and terraces making the most of the enviable views over Dublin Bay. oldpostofficeblackrock.ie 2. Alcohol-Free Gin Demand for booze-free alternatives is clearly on the up, as evidenced by the recent opening of alcohol-free boozer The Virgin Mary Bar on Capel Street and the increasing range of non-alcoholic beverages to be found across Dublin’s clubs and hostelries. We spied another addition to the 2019 trend recently, in the form of Ceder’s Crisp, a handcrafted Swedish gin that combines juniper with citrus, cucumber and chamomile. Word is that it makes for a delicious vegan friendly summer bevvie, while the refreshing flavours are best appreciated served with premium tonic, sliced cucumber and a fresh mint garnish. €25 from Supervalu. 3. Summer Dining With the arrival of the Irish summer many of Dublin’s restaurants are overhauling menus and second-guessing the weather with a variety of weekend dining options to match all seasons. Charlotte Quay have announced the return of their Supper Series, featuring a variety of summer inspired afternoon cocktails and canapés on the waterside terrace, followed by supper at 6pm. Meanwhile over at The Eddison in the Dylan they’ve introduced a set menu which includes a seasonal roast lamb sharing platter accompanied by a selection of sides as unexpected as our summer weather. Check out the grilled summer cabbage, pomme berny and tomato and courgette gratin with summer peas. charlottequay.ie; dylan.ie 4. Endings and Beginnings While we were sorry to hear about the recent closure of Luna, one of our favourite citycentre dining spots, we’ve also been struck by the sheer volume of new restaurant and café openings across the city of late. From Leon in the spot formerly occupied by the iconic Eager Beaver, to As One on George’s Quay and cash-free Bear Market Coffee on George’s Street, there’s been no shortage of new arrivals. We’re particularly excited about the prospect of wines and small plates around the communal high table at Frank’s, the bijou sister restaurant of Delahunt on Camden Street. Walk-ins only. Insta/@franksdublin 5. Sustaining Body and Soul With concerns around climate change and its impact very much to the fore, it’s heartening to see efforts being made around sustainability. Ten years on independent festival Body and Soul continues striving to ‘Leave No Trace’, with the addition of a ‘Food On Board’ area, where meals come served on a wooden board, which is then washed and recycled. Meanwhile Takeaway Camile Thai recently announced that 95% of their food packaging is now fully compostable, alongside plans to introduce plastic-free single use products by the end of the year. @bodyandsoul/@camilethai thebernardshaw.com 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