Gourmet

THREE FARTHER-FLUNG FOODIE FINDS.

FIRSTLY, APOLOGIES IF OUR FOODIE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFTEN RATHER “CITYCENTRIC”, BUT YOU CAN TAKE THE GOURMET BOYS OUT OF BELFAST, BUT…… YOU KNOW THE REST! SO, TO HELP REDRESS THE BALANCE, HERE ARE SOME OF THE VERY BEST OUTOF-TOWN VENUES AND RESTAURANTS WHICH WE’VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ENJOYING OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

LIR, COLERAINE

We were always huge fans of Rebekah and Stevie McCarry’s fabulous Native Seafood and Scran at “The Pool” in Portstewart , offering an ever changing menu of sustainably sourced, wild Irish seafood, and winning multiple awards and accolades.

This legacy continues at the incredible ‘Lir’ at Coleraine Marina, featuring a state of the art kitchen, stunning restaurant, al fresco bar, fish mongers and deli.

We called in for a celebratory lunch, and we absolutely loved the whole experience; from the beautiful views over the river, to the wonderful menu, attentive service, and sophisticated surroundings, it really was very special indeed.

Starting with a couple of excellent aperitifs, a Native Sour with Outwalker Whiskey, and a Tomato & Sweet Basil non alcoholic cocktail, we then enjoyed a couple of wonderful Small Plates to start the meal; a Smoked Mackerel Pate with gherkin ketchup, pickled shallots and croutes, and a Haddock Fishcake on a warm tartar sauce.

Our main courses were also delightful; a towering bowlful of Cider Moules swimming in a broth packed with barley, leeks and fennel, accompanied by some delicious sourdough; and a Crab Linguine with hints of chilli, fennel, courgette, dill and a seashorefresh flavour.

There is also a selection of great organic and natural wines to choose from to complement the superb food.

Lir offers an alternative seafood experience like no other, where fresh, local, quality produce is consistently at the forefront .

HOLYWOOD WINE BAR, HOLYWOOD

A fabulous new addition to Holywood’s High Street, Holywood Wine Bar has a cool, vibe and a menu to match, with a modern wine list, creative cocktails, and delicious plates to enjoy with the drinks.

We had a fantastic seat overlooking the street, and in the summer the doors are flung open giving the venue an air of continental café-style sophistication.

We began with a couple of cocktails, one of the best Old Fashioneds we’d tasted in quite a while, and a theatrical Bellini, in all its dramatic, bubble-domed glory.

Nibbles are a must with cocktails, and the Scorched Padron Peppers with Parmesan Aioli, and Beetroot Hummus with Roasted Root Vegetable Crisps were the perfect accompaniment.

by a Caprese Salad as good as any on the Italian Riviera, and a bottle of crisp and fruity Trementi Viognier.

We finished our meal with a Five Spiced Panna Cotta with hints of Morello Cherry, and a wonderful Cheese Plate with a lovely selection of European cheeses.

This new Wine Bar is sure to be a top foodie destination in Holywood.

THE CUAN, STRANGFORD

What a gorgeous evening of delicious food and drink we had at The Cuan in the heart of Strangford village. The glimmer of sunshine and hint of heat heralded not only the first proper spring day of 2024, but also the launch of The Cuan’s fantastic new menu.

The Cuan’s casual yet sophisticated restaurant interior, with a beautiful open fireplace, and French café-art style prints on the walls, suggests a chic dining experience, and with a wonderful menu specialising in Northern Irish seafood dishes, we knew we were in for a treat.

To begin, in keeping with the stylish ambiance, we had a French Martini while we made our food choices.

The Sharing Seafood Platter was simply irresistible, and this fabulous starter board included Hot & Cold Smoked Salmon, Ardglass Pickled Herring, Prawns, Smoked Mackerel Pate, & Salmon Pate with Homemade Guinness Wheaten Bread and Crackers.

We then continued the seafood theme with a subtly spiced Asian Blackened Salmon with Greens, Lime, and a Soy & Honey Dressing, and Pan-Fried Seabass-beautifully filleted and cooked, served on Caponata.

The side dishes of Tempura Broccoli with BBQ Korean Sauce, and golden Triple Cooked Chips were perfect accompaniments.

To finish, the honey-scented Panna Cotta with a Chocolate Cookie, and the Irish Cheese Board, of Ballylisk Brie, Cashel Blue, & Irish Vintage Cheddar with Sourdough Crackers and a Homemade Plum Marmalade were the perfect finale to a wonderful meal.

With excellent service, and delicious, freshly prepared and locally sourced food, our meal at The Cuan was a delight from start to finish.

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Please note, this column is the opinion of the columinst and not that of GNI or Romeo & Julian Publiccations Ltd.

To follow, we had an incredible Fish Board, absolutely ideal on a warm spring evening to create a sense of the seashore, with an abundance of local seafood; meaty crab claws in confit garlic butter, trout caviar with horseradish creme & blinis, smoked mackerel pâté, Atlantic prawns, lemon arancini, crostini and burnt lemon aioli. Sensational simplicity, especially accompanied

If you have any requests for restaurant recommendations send us a message and we’ll get right back to you.