AJLA is basking in the stillness and depth of Autumn and we have to say we are loving it! We think our restaurant is a little haven in the dull evenings and the menus and specials will be spicier and richer as cooler temperatures move in.
We have a lot happening in AJLA for the month of October and lots more in the months after. We are blitzing through wine tastings to update our Wine list with some new hits from the middle of the month. Thank you to Franck Martinaud of the French Market for leading our first wine tasting on the 20th September. It was a lovely evening and a journey through the Loire. Here’s to many more in the months ahead.
October has to be one of the best months of the year. Everything has settled, rhythm restored and now there is a little time and freedom to do something new, have a little fun. Our wines for October hail from beautiful Sicily courtesy of Cabot & Co, Westport. We had a little sneak taste and they are just yum. The white is lovely, rich and interesting with some depth for the cooling temperatures around us. The red, Nero d’Avola, is soft on the palate but brings both fruit and floral tones on the palate. Definite winners!
October leads in with the infamous Clarenbridge Oyster Festival and we are big fans of this weekend in the village. We will be serving Clarenbridge Oysters throughout the week and suggesting you taste them will a wee glass of fizz or a rich Sauvignon Blanc. Why not visit us for a pre-festival bite on Saturday, 6th October from 3pm for some Jazz and a festival menu with wine or beer for only €19.95? For reservations phone 091 485413 or email info@ajla.ie. Our brunch menu will of course be available on Sunday morning from 10.30am!
Next up will be our exciting charity event, “The Restaurant for Rosabel’s Rooms” on Wednesday, 24th October at 8pm. Rosabel’s Rooms is a charity set up by Suzanne McClean and Gary Monroe after the loss of their little girl unexpectedly in April 2017 which will help parents and families in their journey through child loss. We are all looking forward to this evening, the critics are preparing their palates, Ollie Turner, Joanne Murphy and Mandy Maher will eat like champions to test the culinary talent and skill of our mystery chef. The menu is complete and luscious so let the fun begin. Only a few tickets remain, email info@ajla.ie for more information.
October is a time for hearty meals and there is a real boost with all the root vegetables coming into season – pumpkin and squash, parsnips and swede. It’s a bounty of flavour to match the changing leaves. We will be roasting these vegetables, honeying some up for soups and sweetening up for a wee pumpkin pie at the end of the month.
October will round out with a lovely bank holiday weekend, an update to our opening hours is on the horizon too and without a doubt we will be delivering a loaded diary for the festivities coming our way…
We wish you well for October.
