As film buffs await the release, on November 6th, of the new Murder on the Orient Express movie, what better way to get in the mood than to dine in one of the carriages that featured in Sidney Lumet’s 1974 version, starring Sean Connery?
The Pullman Restaurant at Glenlo Abbey hotel, in Galway, comprises two dining carriages, one of which, the Leona, was used in the film, and on September 29th and 30th you can book it for a special dinner that takes its inspiration from the cities the train passes through, including London, Calais, Paris, Zurich, Innsbruck, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Athens.
Head chef Michael Safarik’s tasting menu is €75 per person on those two evenings, and a night’s B&B with the dinner is €429 for two people. Until the end of the year you can also book an Orient Express package that includes a screening of the original film, in the hotel’s movie theatre.
Chefs at home
What do chefs serve their family and friends? This is the theme Trevis L Gleason explores in Dingle Dinners, his new cookbook featuring three-course menus for six people, with recipes contributed by chefs working in the town's many restaurants.
Rachael Boyle of the Charthouse takes In Lieu of a Takeaway as her theme, with recipes for coconut lime prawn and tofu skewers; sweet-potato curry with nan bread; and chocolate tart with creme-fraiche ice cream.
Jean-Marie Vaireaux from Out of the Blue goes with Coastal Comfort Food, and shares his recipes for scallop parcels in Martini sauce; Mother's baked cod Provençal with aioli; and baked lemon tart.
This clever concept from a town steeped in food tradition is being launched on Friday, September 29th, during the town's annual food festival. The event, in Dingle Distillery, takes place at 7pm and is open to all.
Dingle Dinners is published by Collins Press, €24.99.
Sligo food festival
Airports aren't normally where you go for great food, but on Saturday, October 7th, Sligo Airport will be the setting for Strandhill Food Festival. The event is being run by the team behind Strandhill People's Market and will feature cookery demonstrations, stalls selling good things to eat, a craft-beer bar, live music and children's entertainment.
The Connacht Gold demo stage will feature appearances from well-known chefs and food writers, including the surfer and marine scientist Finn Ní Fhaoláin, the seaweed expert Prannie Rhatigan, the cafe owner and chef Carolanne Rushe and consultant cook Ali Dunworth.
Nobody will go hungry on the day, with 30 stalls selling a huge variety of options, from Ploughman's Daughter's raclette and cheese plates to Shaka Poké bowls. The local cafes Shells, Sweet Beat and Pudding Row will also be feeding the masses.
Freestyle cognac
Hennessy has released its 2017 limited-edition bottle, featuring a colourful design by the urban artist JonOne. Born in Harlem, New York, but living in Paris since he arrived there on a one-way ticket in 1987, JonOne visited Cognac for the first time to find inspiration for this design, and settled on freestyle splashes of colour that he says mimic the layers created in the blending process. The limited-edition boxed bottle is on sale in branches of O'Briens off-licences and Dunnes Stores, €36.
