26th Aug 2007
Sunday Tribune let down
I am a loyal Sunday Tribune reader. It has done well to survive in the competitive world of the Irish Sunday dominated by O’Reilly titles and a plethora of GB spin offs.
Today I am really not happy with the Baggott Street boys and girls through. Not because of the football analysis - as usual it was excellent. Just a pity the boys in blue could not squeeze another drop out of the tank to put a last minute goal by Kerry. In the end the Kingdom came and the Kingdom conquered leaving us Dubs to ponder until February. If it’s any consolation, and it is not, we served up one of the most dramatic games I have ever witnessed in the caldera of Croke Park.
So no, I don’t blame the Trib for Dublin’s loss. I blame them for serving up a Sunday Tribune Magazine review of the top fifty restaurants in Ireland which does not include a single one in the North. Now I know the paper is not ‘partitionist’ and I know they know there are some outstanding eateries the other side of the border, that huge imaginary line you cross on the new motorway about an hour out of Dublin. Places like James Street South, Restaurant Michael Deane and Cayenne in Belfast. Or the wonderful Mourne Seafood Bar and the Buck’s Head in Dundrum, Co Down. Not to mention the Bushmills Inn which serves wonderful food in the shadow of the famous distillery.
I can only conclude they forgot they had Northern readers. Poor service boys and girls. Or should I say limp, tasteless, unimaginative and well overpriced.
Sorry to disagree, but thanks be to God that they didn’t include any of the Deane eateries or Cayenne- I’ve given them ample opportunity to impress, but alas they failed to step up to the mark. Regular appearances by chefs in Ulster Tatler does not a good restaurant make. As for the Mourne Seafood Bar in Dundrum- it used to be good, but on the last occasion we dined there we had cause to vow never to return on account of the (sub)standard of food and service.
I wouldn’t say they forgot their northern readers- they probably just didn’t want to have to take the blame for encouraging southern food buffs to head up here only to find themselves bitterly disappointed at the overpriced stodge that passes for haute cuisine in this part of Ireland…
The Central Bar in Ballycastle (Upstairs winebar)