Our monthly 9 giveaways for November are now live! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and we're looking forward to sending those joy-giving emails. As always thank you for supporting what we do, we literally couldn't do it without you.
Everyone subscribed by midnight on Wednesday 17th November will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Thursday 18th November. Here's what's coming up...
1) Sunday Tasting Menu For Two With Wine Pairings At Circa
Michelin-recommended Circa restaurant in Terenure recently introduced a six-course, Sunday evening tasting menu for €55, with weekly changing dishes. Head chef Darryl Haynes and sous chef Conor Morrissey are sending out dishes like monkfish with black trumpets and mussels; boar, crab apple, kale and chanterelle; and a Teelings whiskey soaked sponge with custard, and Circa are treating one of our lucky Insiders to a Sunday tasting menu for two with wine pairings. Can you think of a better way to end the week? See more about Circa here.
2) Dinner And An Overnight Stay In O'Donoghue's, Killarney
There's a new place to eat in Killarney and we're sending one of you on an overnight stay to check it out. The newly renovated O'Donoghue Public House has just reopened with the next generation in charge, and seafood chowder, braised beef pie and Mai’s trifle on the menu (the matriach of the family). The signature cocktail list is based on historical classics, like the Killarney Mountain Dew with Bán Poitín, Boatyard Old Tom Gin and clarified milk, and the hand-carved timber bar or one of their many snugs are the perfect place to drink them at.
They'll also put you up for the night in one of their three O'Donoghue Ring Hotels in Killarney, with breakfast the next morning. If you're currently swimming in a sea of sickness like the rest of the country this would be the ideal date in the diary to look forward to. (Subject to availability, non-transferable, not valid Bank Holidays, Christmas & NYE. Valid for 12 months)
3) A Christmas Bundle From Dublin Cocktail Lab
Dublin Cocktail Lab are all about using unique, high-quality ingredients and methods, and creating products to make the home bartender look like a professional - this is always welcome. Fresh from collaborating on the new Library Street drinks menu, they've given us a Christmas bundle to give away. Whoever wins it will get their Hot Whiskey Syrup, Fig and Cranberry Mulled wine mix, Amabuki Tea (a matcha based gin cocktail), and their limited edition (only 100 made) Dublin Cocktail Lab X Conor Merriman collaboration 'Stout & Chaser' - a collaborative signed, embossed & numbered print by Conor Merriman, and and a 500ml cocktail of Powers Gold, coconut, Guinness, Pedro Ximinez and a balsamic reduction.
4) Dinner And Drinks For Two At The Purty Kitchen
The Purty Kitchen, in Dun Laoghaire's oldest surviving premises, has reopened with a new look, new menu and new owners. Friends and hospitality professionals Mark Heather and James Burgess have fully refurbished the iconic building close to Dun Laoghaire DART station, adding a weatherproof outdoor space with heating that will open later this year. They describe the new menu as "comforting, homely and delicious", with dishes including ham hock with black pudding and thyme croquettes, Galway Bay rope mussels in a white wine cream, and the Purty Kitchen fish pie, and because they're a pub too you won't be kicked out once the kitchen closes. They're giving one of you a three-course meal for two including wine pairings as recommended by manager Amanda Gill to accompany your starter and main course, and an after-dinner cocktail.
5) Regal Rogue
Australia’s first native vermouth, Regal Rogue was established in 2011 and celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. The award-winning brand has had a major move to increase sustainability over the past year, with the packaging now 99.5% recycled, using bespoke recycled glass and paper bearing the Forest Stewardship Council stamp of approval. They've also moved to 100% organic Australian wine, and 80% organic native Aboriginal herbs, farmed under biodynamic practices. They're available from select Supervalu stores and lots of the city's wine and spirit shops, but we've got one of each to give away to one of you - Lively White, Daring Dry, Bold Red and Wild Rosé - promising a Negroni, Martini and Manhattan filled Christmas.
6) A Monthly Jaru Meal Kit For Four
Now that restaurants have given up on meal kits in favour of opening their doors to customers again, we constantly find ourselves recommending South Dublin based Korean food producers Jaru, for their DIY boxes, hot food to heat at home, and Korean pantry items. Their latest creation is their monthly meal kits, focused on a different region of Korea each month, and they've given us two kits to feed four people to give to one of you on a month that suits you - we'd be earmarking a stress free New Year's Eve get-together. They deliver in Dublin on Wednesdays and Fridays, or any of their food can be ordered for collection from their base in Rathfarnham.
7) G'wan Ireland Hamper
Brilliant and beautiful Dublin 8 lifestyle store Hen's Teeth recently launched their G'Wan Ireland Hamper, featuring Irish goodies and treats for the food lover in your life (or a payday gift to yourself). It includes, Blanco Nino Chips, Henzo Mix, Chimac Sauce, Harry's Nut Butter, Mella's Fudge, White Mausu, Bean & Goose Chocolate, Nobu Chocolate, Conbini Sunday Sauce and Assassination Custard's Piccalilli. If something in the line up isn't right they'll let you swap it out, and you can add a gift note at the checkout - they also do custom and corporate hampers for those looking to treat the crew this Christmas. The G'wan Ireland Hamper is usually €90 (ex-delivery) but they've given us one to give away to you lot this month, and they deliver to anywhere in Ireland.
8) Ginger Beer, Poitín And Mixers From Poachers
Award-winning Irish mixers Poachers, made in Wexford, come in seven, low sugar flavours, like Classic With Thyme, Citrus with Irish Rosemary, and Ginger Ale with Irish Apple, using native ingredients. Their ginger beer, made with organic ginger, lime, Irish apples and Irish grown chilli from Galway goes particularly well with award-winning Bán Poitín, distilled from potato, barley and wheat, so they've given us a Ginger Beer and Poitín Box to give away so you can see what all the fuss is about. They've also given us a Poachers Mixers Gift Box, and some socks from the Irish Sock Society, because it's getting cold.
9) A Deluxe Dessert Hamper From Cream Of The Crop
For a Christmassy finish this month, Cream Of The Crop, the innovative zero waste gelato brand based in Dublin 8, have just released their Deluxe Dessert Christmas Hampers, and they had us at "rum and raisin gelato-stuffed panettone cake". It's a collaboration with other Dublin food producers, so the four gelatos included are Banoffee Pie; Almond Harry's Nut Butter; Sea Salt Caramel & Rua Food Brownie; and a Katie's Kombucha raspberry sorbet. You'll also find the inspiration for the flavours in there with some Rua Food brownies, Harry's Nutbutter and Katie's Kombucha included. They're also throwing in some of their zero waste chocolate covered banana bites, and a €50 voucher for Cream Of The Crop, because once you taste this stuff you're going to want more.
Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for November will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond.
