[Review] Mr Fox, Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

It's not often you walk into a restaurant to be greeted by a magnificent taxidermied fox, standing upright, holding a perplexed looking pheasant with a jaunty looking shotgun broke open over his shoulder. I never figured that Mr Fox was the kind who needed to resort to weaponry to catch his prey.

This fine fellow is part of the foxy decor at the smart Mr Fox, a basement restaurant located on Dublin's Northside. Previously occupied by Joy Beattie's Hot Stove Restaurant, this location is just a stone's throw away from the illustrious Chapter One. The closure of Hot Stove however tells us that adjacency to Irish cooking royalty is not enough. Will Mr Fox be smarter?

Mr Fox interior design

[Travel] 3 new Amsterdam hotspots

Amsterdam can be so cold during the winter months. But it's also a city that's never quiet. Tourists and weekenders are always thronging the streets, especially in the middle of town. There are always new bars and restaurants to check out, so here are three of my latest finds for you to enjoy.

Bar de Vlieg

Bar de Vlieg is a four month pop-up collaboration running until the end of March 2017 between the famous and historic d'Vijff Vlieghen restaurant and the Nolet Distillery from Schiedam which is run and staffed by bartenders from the Fabulous Shaker Boys. You may not immediately recognise the name of the Nolet Distillery, but you will know their range of Ketel One vodkas and Ketel 1 jenevers (Dutch gin).

The location is what makes Bar de Vlieg really special. It's located upstairs in a small, warm cosy room in a  complex of 5 17th century townhouses on Spuistraat that make up the d'Vijff Vlieghen restaurant. Every single inch of the room, from the brown wooden panelling to Dutch wall tiles and the original windows literally screams history. The bar staff are immediately welcoming and most importantly the drinks are exceptionally good, served in beautifully delicate glassware. Try the jenever martini for a blast of rocket fuel and feast on the Dutch bar snacks in order to prevent any consequences.

Cocktails at the Ketel One pop-up at Bar de Klieg

[Review] Kyoto Asian Street Food, High Street, Waterford

It's great to see the food scene in Waterford being reinvigorated, as some form of recovery finally takes hold in the Crystal City. Mr and Mrs H had recently been praising a new Japanese restaurant that had opened in the former Johnny Fan's premise on High Street, and so it was duly put on the list for our next visit. 

Kyoto Asian Street Food is firmly in the vein of many recent openings in Dublin. A light interior with solid wooden tables and benches reflect the Japanese heritage, while the menu also offers curries and dishes from other Asian cuisines. A series of hand-painted wall murals add colour to the sleek design. One of the most interesting things I noticed was the steady trade from younger customers, a sure sign that this restaurant has the right food for success.

Interior at Kyoto Asian Street Food