For anyone who may have missed the heads-up about the Clonakilty ‘Flash Restaurant’ events, it’s time to pay attention. And get grovelling. This is one marketing exercise you’ll want to offer up your word-of-mouth for.
Last Saturday was Night Three of a fortnight’s affair, with this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday completing the six-night installation in one of Dublin’s finest Georgian homes. No doubt the 30 places at each night’s dinner party have been assigned by now, but there are always cancellations for these things by those who sadly know no better – and you should assure your name is on that cancellation list.
Why? Well, ever had bacon and rosemary infused 12-year-old Jameson Special Reserve? No, nor had I, and certainly not after a meal that featured the stalwarts of a carnivore’s fry (bacon, sausages and puddings black and white) throughout each of its four courses. Without giving all the surprises away, I can reveal to you that Clonakilty bacon praline is a killer combo with a dark chocolate tart and vanilla ice cream. Indeed, all the food from Ted Berner (of Wildside Catering) and Gareth Granville was beautifully delivered. So much so that we Dubs won’t take offense to their markedly elegant take on ‘Clonakilty Coddle’ which managed to politely infer that foodies from the People’s Republic of Cork could teach Jackeens a thing or two about elevating peasant food to something of great panache and style. (Imagine!) There was something rather Japanese about the clear broth presented to us, but instead of a dashi base this was a ham consommé, as clear and fine as it was deep and pure in flavour. Below the filigreed julienne of leek and ginger with which the aromatic liquid was dressed, swollen mouthfuls of juicy sausage rose up to meet each dip of the spoon, followed by layers of crispy shreds of bacon. Hats off boys.
Speaking of hats, or head-dresses of any sort, you’d be advised to bring your very best along should you score a place at this unforgettable evening. It was a high glamour affair, as their teaser video gives you a taster of. And you won’t want to be upstaged by your hostesses for the night, the gorgeous Queens of Neon – though these girls set as high a bar in the style stakes as they did in attentive and imaginative hospitality, including dreaming up all sorts of parlour games to make you appreciate how much fun old-school dinner parties of yesteryear must have been.
It’s not often that PR stunts are invested with so much suave soul and sheer style. It’s less often again that they throw open the invite list to a free event (yep, our four-course extravaganza was free, though we were welcome to supply our own fine wine).
Email them today and beg for a place.
(See below for more details on original Events posting.)
WHAT? ‘Clonakilty by Candlelight’, Ireland’s first ‘Flash Restaurant’ brought to you by Clonakilty Blackpudding Co.
WHEN? Thu 3–Sat 5 & Thu 10–Sat 12 February, from 7pm on each night.
WHERE? At a secret location in Dublin city centre.
WHO? Clonakilty Blackpudding were one of Ireland’s first artisan pudding makers, and remain one of the most consistent producers of this national speciality.
WHY? If you have a taste for the unexpected, not to mention an appreciation for old-fashioned style paired with traditional time-honoured flavours, you might like to pitch for a place at the dining table on one of these intimate evenings.
HOW MUCH? Free: just email candlelight@clonakiltyblackpudding.ie by Monday 31st Jan to throw your name in the hat for a place. Name the date you’d like to book for (the first week is almost booked out) and make sure to supply your mobile number so they can confirm the booking.
WEB? www.facebook.com/clonakiltyblackpudding
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