Taste the World at The Lodge in Myrtleville
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| Open wide for the Bao! |
Not too long ago, to get a flavour of cuisines around the world, you had to travel—maybe a ferry to France, a flight to Spain, or, if you were very lucky, a multi-port cruise. Now, it is so much easier. Just take the short drive to Myrtleville and The Lodge Restaurant and join a culinary adventure.
Under owner Paul and Chef Vikrant, the venue has been transformed into a global gastronomic haven. The Indian-born culinary maestro brings a special knowledge, gleaned in his native land and across Europe, along with excellent local produce, to create a menu with delicious surprises on every plate.
Not just dishes from his native India and surrounding countries but from Europe (in Switzerland, where he specialised in Italian and modern European cuisine). He has a wealth of experience and has been encouraged in recent years by Lodge owner Paul O’Brien.
With summertime having just kicked in, we were keen to get out and about and venture a little further from the city, delighted to be able to drive home in daylight. Last Wednesday, we headed off in the Crosshaven direction, and we whetted the appetite on a windy but sunny Fountainstown beach before heading across the short and narrow coast road to Myrtleville and the Lodge.
Some were dining outside, but our reservation was for indoors. As we settled into our seats, we glanced out the large windows, and there was the Brittany Ferries vessel motoring past Roches Point on its way to France.
Back to the menu to check on the starters on offer. The small plates option makes for a lighter dining experience, and we decided to share the Gochujang Pork Bao. Those little buns aren't much in themselves, but when loaded by the kitchen here, they are transformed into a delicious blend of texture, colour, and flavour. Two bao buns (14.50), packed with spicy Korean pork belly, pickled daikon, Asian slaw, and soy mayo, were quite a treat.
They also offer a range of pizzas here. A few days earlier, I saw the online menu and had put my eye on the Santorini, one flavoured with Greek toppings. However, it was a limited run and not available on our visit.
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| A ferry bound for France passes Roches Point, as seen from our table. |
But no problem. Vikrant, as you might expect, is a master of curry, and on previous visits, we enjoyed his Butter Chicken Curry and his Goan Prawn Curry. This time, it was the Kerala Beef Curry, an authentic spicy beef curry with onion, tomato and masala, that caught my eye. It also turned out to be a winner, with the spicy (not over-the-top spicy) beef falling off the bone into a delicious sauce, mopped up with a side of perfectly cooked rice (22.40).
CL opted for the Mad Cow Burger—a 6-oz Beef patty topped with Sautéed Onions, Mushrooms, Black Pepper and Chive Cheddar Cheese, Beef Tomato, Gherkins, and 1000 Island Dressing—which kept her quietly concentrating for some time. Served with superb fries, this satisfying combination cost €20.50.
Two very well-fed punters skipped the desserts and headed off to the hills on a sunny evening, planning to make more dinner trips around the county in the months ahead. Including a return to the Lodge, of course!
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