Dining out in November

November saw a nice bit of dining out for me, first off myself and 4 of the lovely ladies I work with took ourselves off to The Old Convent in Clogheen for a night of fine dining, chat and craic.

Here's "the Girls" Kate, Mary, Phil & Sheila.

Dermot's food as usual was superlative and I was so glad that the girls enjoyed it as it was their first visit to The Old Convent. I adored the the course that started our meal - Ummera Smoked Duck Breast with Parmesan toast, and High Bank Orchard Apple Syrup. (So much so that I tracked down said syrup once I got home, managed to get it at the local farmer's market here in Tralee. Superb stuff!) The ladies and I are planning our return visit for 2012!

 Dermot's second dessert - chocolate heaven!

Then Billy and I went to the Tom Doorley event at The Brehon in Killarney, a lovely night where we were regaled with some fun and informative wine related anecdotes by Tom, while sampling the lovely food offered by Danú restaurant at The Brehon. The main was lovely lamb wellington, with roasted shallot, potato fondant, broad beans and a wine jus.

The night was unbelievable value at €45 per person and that included an amuse bouche, a starter, a veloute, the mains, a goats cheese panacotta and then a deliciously chocolately dessert and petit fours and tea/coffee and 3 very generous glasses of wine and a glass of port.Amazing value!

The following night we were off to Killarney again, this time to Treyvaud's restaurant for their annual game night, we were looking forward to this and trying a few new tastes. The Santa-esque gent here in Mr Treyvaud Senior who comes out of retirement for this event every year. The buffet table was laden down with all types of terrines, pates, sausages, salamis, salads etc, and it was from this we helped ourselves to the starter.

Then we had a Wild game consomme.

From the menu for mains Billy chose Roast Breast of Pigeon and I went with the Pheasant, loved my pheasant, Billy's pigeon I could live without but he ate it happily.

The meal ended with Xmas pud with a divine Brandy sauce.

The cost of this was a very reasonable €50 per person.

I saw somewhere that they also do a seafood night, will be checking that out in 2012!

Treyvaud's Restaurant, Killarney

A couple of weeks ago we had tickets for Riverdance at the INEC in Killarney so we decided to have dinner beforehand in Treyvaud'sRestaurant. I had lunch there ages and ages ago and had eaten THE most amazing mushroom soup, really really good.

We arrived early around 6.15p.m. so we'd have time to spend some time over the meal before heading down to the INEC. It's a pretty place from the outside, painted timber panels with an old shop front type of feel. The restaurant decor itself just feels a bit jaded but it was quite busy even for such an early dinner time. We were seated beside the front window which was nice.

I had of course perused the online menu beforehand and had already picked out what I was having, these being Warm salad of duck confit with wild rocket, walnut and beetroot salsa to start and Grilled fresh Ray wings with lemon and caper butter for mains. Neither were on the menu :-( but nonetheless I ploughed on bravely and made second choices!

For starters I had the Deep Fried calamari with a saffron and citrus roille. They came in a lovely stack of calamari rings, beautifully crispy and not greasy, and the roille was really flavoursome - €8.50

Billy had the Treyvaud's fishcakes with wholegrain mustard and chives with garlic aioli - 2 massive fishcakes with a fabulous garliccy aioli. I'd have been happy with the aioli on it's own! - €8.95

To follow I had the duck with a red wine jus, red cabbage and a potato rosti - €25.95
The duck was nicely succulent but the rosti was soggy.

Billy had the  half roast guinea fowl with a wild mushroom cream sauce - €24.75.
It was fabulous!!! Neither of us had eaten Guinea fowl before and we were both quite pleasantly surprised, it tastes like a really chickeny chicken! I had thought it would be quite gamey but not at all. The wild mushroom cream sauce was really earthy and creamy and a perfect complement to the guinea fowl.

All main courses have a choice of salad, vegetables, fries or potatoes - we both opted for the spuds and veg.
I had a glass of house white - a very generous measure for €5.95 and Billy had a bottle of the house red - €21.75.

Because we're greedy piggy's we both decided on dessert, a chocolate fudge cake for me and a pannacotta for Billy - both €6.95, and 2 coffees at €2.50 each.

By the time we had got to main course the restaurant had really filled up as they had a large tour group of American's in but service was excellent, very attentive without being overly so.

I had read on their web site that they do a Wild Game night annually in November and we inquired about it and we hope to be there for it!

Our total bill was €103.25.