Gourmet

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TASTES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

THE SUMMER WEATHER MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT OF A WASHOUT THIS YEAR, BUT IF YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO JET OFF TO SUNNIER CLIMES DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, YOU MIGHT LIKE TO REDISCOVER SOME OF THE TASTES YOU ENJOYED ON YOUR TRIP ABROAD BY VISITING THESE TERRIFIC, LOCAL RESTAURANTS SPECIALISING IN MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOURS. AND FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T MANAGE TO ESCAPE FROM THE GREY SKIES, WHY NOT GIVE THESE EATERIES A GO FOR A SLICE OF CULINARY SUNSHINE.

VILLA OREGANO, BANGOR.

Villa Oregano is a delightful Mediterranean-influenced restaurant on Abbey Street in Bangor. Using fresh local ingredients, chef Hakan has created a menu featuring dishes reminiscent of those we’ve enjoyed on holidays to Spain, Italy, Turkey, or Greece.

The welcome from hostess Renata is warm and friendly, and the restaurant decor is cleverly summery and nostalgic; azure blue walls, festooned with bougainvillea and vines, and a quirky mural of Mediterranean hotspots.

The menu features small plates, tapas, mezes, kebabs, grills, seafoods, pastas, pizzas, and some European dishes with a Mediterranean twist. We decided to order a selection of the lighter dishes to enjoy with a lovely bottle of Sicilian red-a snip at under £20.

To start, a juicy, tomatoey Prawn Saganaki sprinkled with feta, and some Crispy Squid, fried in salt & chilli with burnt lemon and aioli, followed by a Greek Meze with Hummus, Tzatziki, Marinated Olives, Halloumi and chargrilled Flatbreads, and a large bowl of Horiatiki-a fresh, zingy Greek Salad.

And if you have room, don’t miss out on the Tiramisu; a creamy, cheesy, chocolatey delight with a good coffee hit and the perfect texture. One of the best we’ve ever tasted, and made in-house using Renata’s own recipe.

IL PIRATA, BALLYHACKAMORE.

Il Pirata on the Upper Newtownards Rd is one of our favourite Ballyhack eateries, renowned for its authentic, rustic, Italian-style dishes, and we recently called in with family to try out the Pasta Night menu.

We always choose a few Cichetti to share; Rosemary & Seasalt Focaccia with Black Olive Tapenade, Truffled Mushroom

Mousse with Pickled Walnuts and Crispbread, Crispy Whitebait with a Spicy Mayo, Melon Carpaccio with Coppa, and a creamy Caprese Burrata with a Marinated Tomato Salad.

Featuring four authentic fresh pasta dishes, the Pasta Night menu is available TuesdayThursday from 5pm, and each plate is a snip at just £12. They were all delicious, but the standout dishes for us were the Seafood Linguine packed with prawns and mussels, and the Gigli Verde-a creamy, vibrant green dish of deliciousness.

There are also some excellent cocktails on the menu, and a great value wine list.

2TAPS, BELFAST.

One of the best city centre spots for al fresco dining has to be 2Taps Wine Bar in

Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. With a selection of delicious Mediterranean inspired tapas dishes, a fabulous heated outdoor terrace and a summery menu, 2Taps is the ideal venue to enjoy a sharing-style meal with friends & family.

The menu features small plates, traditionally Spanish in style with a contemporary twist.

We started with a gorgeous toasted Bakari Bread Board with Balsamic, Olive Oil, Tapenade, Olives, Sun Blushed Tomatoes & Pickled Fennel.

The seafood choices are superb; Prawns Pil Pil with Sourdough, Gin Cured Salmon with fennel, rhubarb, frisée and ginger, and a beautifully rich and tomatoey Cod Veracruz.

There are some great meat-free choices too; Baked Aubergine on a bed of Houmous with wild garlic, sumac, pumpkin seeds and almonds, hazelnutty Truffled Oyster Mushrooms on Brioche, Baby Potatoes with harissa and preserved lemon yogurt-a refreshing alternative to Patatas Bravas, and of course the ubiquitous Padron Peppers without which no self-respecting Tapas menu would be complete.

To finish, 2Taps Dessert and Dessert Cocktail Lists are not to be missed; the Honey Badger, and Crème Brûlée cocktails are irresistible, and the Rhubarb Meringue Pie is a pretty, summery treat.

And of course we enjoyed a jug of 2 Taps’ infamous Sangria to wash it all down with! Salud!!

AMICI RISTORANTE, PORTSTEWART.

Using only the best local produce, in combination with authentic Italian ingredients and cooking methods, Portstewart’s Amici creates rustic, homely Mediterranean style dishes.

To start, we shared some Antipasti; Bufala Mozzarella Balls with a zingy tomato and balsamic salad, Arancini, Gamberone Pil Pil, & Salt & Chilli Prawns.

We then ordered some of the mains specials from the menu. The pasta dishes are always excellent; creamy Porcini Mushroom Panzerotti, and Fillet Steak in a truffled sauce with Molisana Paccheri. And as seafood fans, we were spoilt for choice, with a delicious Fillet of Cod Special on local Clams & Mussels in a white wine cream sauce, and “Branzino”: fillets of seabass perfectly cooked, with roasted vegetables & a drizzle of lemon oil.

Desserts were also totally tempting -we particularly loved the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake, and the Key Lime Pie. Irresistible!

NOVA, BELFAST.

The aptly named “Nova”, a new eatery

Pressed Potato Terrine in a cheesy Cacio e Pepe Sauce.

The fresh pasta dishes are authentically Italian, and we enjoyed the Pea & Mint Pesto Tagliatelle with Broad Beans & Pangrattato.

Street, offers contemporary Italian-style menus for brunch, lunch and evening meals.

We started with a warm bag of Fera Breads, with Butter & Dipping Oil, a smooth White Bean ‘Hummus’ with Chilli Oil, Confit Tomato & Garlic, Roquito peppers, & Focaccia, and an amazing

From the NOVA Lemon & Ricotta Pancakes with Crispy Kennedy’s Bacon, Maple Syrup and Candied Lemon Zest, to the signature NOVA Baked Eggs in a spicy Tomato Sauce with Salsa Verde, Young Buck & Fera Focaccia, these Brunch dishes were fantastic, and can be ordered up until 3pm.

And for those with a sweet tooth, the Peachy Brioche French Toast with Spiced Caramelised Peaches, Custard, Vanilla Mascarpone, and sprinklings of Homemade Oat Crumble, was a delicious dish.

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