ONE of Ireland’s most respected DJs and the driving force behind the cult 90s TV show ‘No Disco’, Donal Dineen returns to Tralee this weekend.
‘Backstory’ is a night of dancing tunes and original visuals hosted by the Rathmore native at Croí Restaurant on Princes Street on Friday, June 24, from 9.30pm to 1am. Tickets are free but you must register on eventbrite by clicking here.
Documenting the many shades of soul music and the myriad mysterious ways of the boogie will be the golden thread that runs throughout the night.
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It will be an exploration of the history of the groove with an ear to the present and an eye on the future. The idea is to tell a story using tunes from all decades of dance music from 1930’s West Africa to the present day.
Support on the night from Stephen Horan (Selective Sounds) and Rob Condon (Drumpound). This event is supported by Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Kerry County Council through the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme.
.Noel Keane outside his Croí Restaurant on Princes Street.
IT’S only been open at its current location since April, but Croí Restaurant has been picking up accolades galore since then.
Having moved from Dominick Street to its present home in Princes Street (just up the street from The Brandon Hotel) in April, the restaurant’s chef/owner Noel Keane is continuing the success and high standards they set since setting up in May 2017.
Noel was celebrating again this week when he was received the YesChef Munster and All-Island Sustainability award at a ceremony in Sligo on Tuesday night.
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But over the last couple of weeks, Noel also received word that Croí has made the prestigious McKenna Guide for 2020 of the Top 100 restaurants in Ireland.
Three weeks ago Croí won the Best Customer Service Award and Best Front Of House Award in Ireland for Catriona Foran from RSVP Magazine and it has also been included in the Lucinda O’Sullivan’s Great Places To Eat for the past two years in a row.
The elegant upstairs room in Croí Restaurant.
Since the move in the spring, they have more space, but the restaurant still retains that intimate feel thanks to having separate ground level, mezzanine and private room areas.
“It’s all down to the team here and it’s nice to be recognised with these awards,” said Noel, who was also named as one of the four ‘signature chefs’ on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Noel is very proud of the latest Sustainability Award and he takes looking after the environment seriously.
The downstairs dining area.
“We nearly at 100% recycling here. There’s no plastic coming in here, the ingredients all come in in reusable containers. All our veg peelings go back to our garden as compost and the garden is 100% organic. It became a mission for us over the past year to reduce our carbon footprint,” he said.
Of course Croí wouldn’t be winning awards if the food wasn’t amazing and it sure is as many who have visited the restaurant over the past two years can attest to.
All the meat and fish are locally sourced — a batch of lobsters had just arrived when TraleeToday.ie paid a visit last Friday — as well as the vegetables and herbs and Noel is adventurous when it comes to combing ingredients.
They have just launched their Christmas party menu (see below), but before that they’re hosting a Wild Game Night on Friday, October 25 with special guest chef/lecturer Mike Foley joining Noel to create a unique collection of game dishes for one night only. For bookings call 066-7120685.
Congratulations to all at Croí on their awards and continued success into the future.
.Ieva Breen, Caroline Birch, Jim Breen and Maurice Breen at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE award-winning Croí Restaurant in the Square was the venue on Monday night for a special ‘Celebrity Chef’ night to raise money for Cycle Against Suicide.
Almost €3,000 was raised when Irish rugby team captain, Ciara Griffin, took to the kitchen to cook up an amazing five course dinner for guests who paid €80 a head for the experience and all 40 tickets were sold.
Helped by the chefs in Croí, Ballymac native Ciara served up ‘roast button mushroom stuffed with Annascaul black pudding’ for starters, followed by ‘parsnip and apple soup’.
The main course was ‘ribeye steak, shallot puree, tempura of wild mushroom’. Desserts of ‘lemon meringue pie’ and ‘homemade celebrity brownie, were served with Barry’s tea or coffee.
Everyone agreed it was a great night for an even better cause. Scroll down for photos…
Aidan and Eileen Costello at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Ciara Griffin, captain of the Irish rugby team, with her Croí crew, David Culleton, Noel Keane, Paul Cotter and Dale Houlihan at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot CreanMags O’Halloran and Paul Brennan at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Martina Leen, Brendan O’Connor and Marje Farrell at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot CreanAnn Lowham, Johnny Myers and Mary O’Connor at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.John Tuite and Alanna Maharaj at the ‘Celebrity Chef Gourmet Night’ in aid of Cycle Against Suicide at Croí Restaurant on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
.Launching the ‘Taste Of Christmas’ event in aid of Ardfert NS were Croí Restaurant’s Noel Keane and Kevin O’Connor, Principal of Ardfert NS, Betty McGrath, Paul Cotter of Croí and Marie O’Connell, teacher at Ardfert NS.
ALL roads lead to Ballyroe Heights Hotel on a night in November for Ardfert School’s Third Annual ‘Taste of Christmas’ cookery demonstration.
Taking place on Thursday, November 9, it will be presented by the chefs from the award-winning Croì Restaurant in Tralee and the Tralee Culinary Gangsters.
Kevin O’Connor, one of the school’s parent body and one of the talented chefs on the night has spent the last month planning the evening’s proceedings for your enjoyment.
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MC for the evening will be chef Noel Keane from `Croì’ restaurant. Marcus Eidner (head chef at Nicks , Killorglin) will prepare a Venison Starter while James Mc Carthy (Croì) will cook a Fish Main Course.
Massimo, from ‘Once Upon a Cheese’ will present six of his own Italian Style Cheeses. He will also demonstrate how to make fresh gnocchi. Kevin O’Connor will give great ideas for creating appetising meals using the seasonal left over turkey.
He will also introduce Peter Curran (The Well Bred Butcher, Ardfert), who will talk about the off-cuts of meat and how to make the most of them.
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The evening will begin with a complementary Mulled Wine and Mince Pie reception in the foyer of the hotel. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses there will be a raffle for some fabulous prizes.
Ardfert School wishes to thank all the chefs from Croì and the Culinary Gangsters for giving their services free, for the benefit of the school. Thanks also to Ballyroe Heights Hotel for hosting the evening and providing the Mulled Wine reception, all free of charge.
A great night is assured! Tickets €10/ available from Croì Restaurant, Tralee and Ardfert School. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night. Doors open at 7pm.
.Rita Bonn, Patricia O’Carroll, Tim Leahy and JJ Bonn at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
A MYSTERY chef, helped by the experts at Croí Restaurant, provided a great night for diners on Friday as part of a fundraiser for the Donal Walsh Livelife Foundation.
It was in the style of ‘The Restaurant’ TV show and Radio Kerry’s ‘Kerry’s Full Breakfast’ presenter, Elaine Kinsella, was the newcomer in the kitchen at the eatery in the Square.
According to Noel Keane of Croí, she did a fantastic job and received five stars from the judges Melanie Harty, Fionnbar Walsh and Stephen Wallace.
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Diners tucked into Dingle Bay crab claws, Skeaghanore duck, Blair House Farm pork, smoked haddock and more.
“We were very happy with it, raising €2,500 and we received brilliant feedback. Many were asking when we were doing it again. Elaine was great craic and ran the pass brilliantly, plating and getting stuck in,” said Noel. Scroll down for photos…
Elaine Kinsella of Radio Kerry was the Mystery Guest Chef at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. She is pictured here with the restaurant owners Noel Keane, Kevin O’Connor and Paul Cotter. Photo by Dermot CreanJudges Melanie Harty,, Fionnbar Walsh and Stephen Wallace at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Maura and Tommy Sheehy at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot CreanJema and Elma Walsh at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Martina Leen, Eleanor Collins, Marge Farrell and Emily McCarthy at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot CreanAidan and Eileen Costello, Catherine Wall and Jennifer Wall at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Sarah and Brian Monaghan at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot CreanMarie O’Connell and David Barton at the fundraising evening in aid of the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation at Croí Restaurant on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.
