Looking to plan something special? Ciara McQuillan has sourced the best food and wine events to book this autumn …
The Shelbourne Champagne Dinner
The Shelbourne Hotel is hosting an exclusive dinner on Wednesday October 11 in The Saddle Room to showcase select champagnes from Laurent Perrier. The evening will begin with a champagne reception in The Adam & Deirdre Suite, where The Shelbourne’s sommelier, Nisea Doddy, will be opening bottles of champagne using the sabrage method, before a five-course dinner in The Saddle Room with champagne pairings. Dishes such as scallop ceviche with fresh almonds, kohlrabi and Laurent Perrier snow and poached black sole with sweetcorn, Laurent Perrier cream and pearl caviar have placed this elegant food event on the top of my wish list this autumn. www.theshelbourne.com
Rare Kinsale Moët & Chandon Dinner
On Friday October 13, guests of Rare Restaurant in Kinsale will be afforded the opportunity to experience an exclusive night featuring a seasonal five-course tasting menu prepared by Chef Meeran Manzoor and his culinary team, while learning about the intricacies of champagne with Moët & Chandon champagne pairings expertly matched by our very own wine editor, Julie Dupouy. Julie is recognised as one of the world’s best sommeliers having previously worked with two-Michelin star restaurants, Patrick Guilbaud and Chapter One, while also being awarded the Best Sommelier in Ireland no less than four times. It’s set to be an exciting event with the menu featuring the flavours of rural cuisine from Tamil Nadu in India, achieved using local Cork produce. rare1784.ie
Airfield Supper Club Series
This autumn, Airfield Estate is hosting a series of supper clubs with some of Ireland’s culinary heavy hitters. Each Supper Club evening will see the chefs showcase their menu in collaboration with the team from Overends Kitchen and Airfield Estate. The first supper club dinner will be hosted by Jordan Bailey and Majken Bech-Bailey on September 28, 29 and 30, while November 9 will see Isobel Farrelly, Head Chef at Overends Kitchen work alongside Surya Davies, Head of Sustainable Food Production at Airfield Estate to create farm-to-fork menu working with produce from the estate. Last but not least, Jess Murphy (pictured above) from Galway’s Kai Restaurant will host a festive Supper Club, ‘An Alternative Christmas’ on December 7. www.airfield.ie
Sheridan’s Cheese Food Festival
The annual food festival from the folk at Sheridan’s takes place this Sunday, September 24 at their HQ at Virginia Road Station, Co Meath. Expect lots of Irish food filled, live music, kids workshops and activities. Kids go free, and the parking is free, while adults entry is €5. And of course there will be cheese, lots and lots of cheese. sheridanscheesemongers.com
Wine Dinner at The River Lee Hotel, Cork
On Wednesday October 11, The River Lee will host an exclusive wine dinner with Warren Gibson from the Trinity Hill Winery in New Zealand. Taking place in the uber glamorous surroundings of The Grill Room at The River Lee, the evening will focus on celebrating organic and sustainable wine, with Warren sharing the ethos and history of Trinity Hill throughout the evening. But of course there is the food too: Dublin Bay prawns with garlic butter and toasted sourdough are followed by roast rump of Irish lamb with thyme and garlic, served with potato fondant. The evening will finish with a plate of local cheese and a dark chocolate slice, all of which shall be expertly paired with exclusive wines by Warren. www.doylecollection.com