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Just Ask Restaurant of the Month for June - Murphs Tavern

The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for June is Murph's Tavern East Ferry Co Cork

Murphs Tavern Siblings Michael and Laura Cashman took over the lease of this famous waterside pub in 2012 and it’s a really pleasant spot - very well kept, but simple and appropriate.

The welcome note on the front of the menu explains their aims - for Michael, a dedicated chef who trained under Rory O’Connell at nearby Ballymaloe House, it is ‘to provide to the public good local fresh produce’, while Laura leads a very friendly and knowledgeable service team and ‘makes sure everyone who walks into Murph’s feels comfortable and satisfied’.

What a lovely, hospitable goal that is and, thanks to the quality of local foods available to him, Michael is well able to deliver his side of the promise: fish from Ballycotton Seafood, great steaks from the famous Midleton butcher, O’Farrell’s Meats, and the excellent East Ferry Farm free range poultry are singled out for special mention on the menu cover, and there are many more valued suppliers name checked on dishes and detailed on their very informative website (see below).

Murphs Warm Salad Everything from timeless classics like seared Castletownbere scallops with wilted baby spinach, chorizo and beurre blanc sauce to house versions of traditional pub favourites will be made with the highest quality ingredients, and some dishes - a house speciality warm salad with smoked bacon and Clonakilty black pudding, for example - are offered in two sizes.

Unusually, this modern classic is served with caramelised cinnamon apples and parsnip crisps, giving it an original twist. As a vegetarian choice, there might be grilled Ardsallagh goats cheese, which is made just outside Cork, at Carrigtwohill; served on a toasted bruschetta with tomato salsa, basil pesto and balsamic, it is also offered in two sizes.

Seafood stars among the main courses, particularly in summer, but steak is a winner here too and a chargrilled Aberdeen Angus sirloin steak is hard to resist - especially if it comes with a sauce flavoured classically with Jameson whiskey, made just down the road at Midleton.

Murphs Tavern - Interior Everything is homemade - the excellent breads, the hand cut chips, the freshly breaded fish, the handmade lamb burger, the sauces (including custard) all have that special freshness and home cooked flavour and texture, and that’s where the difference lies.

Likewise, although the food offered for children is not especially unusual, it’s freshly made and tasty - and, while not cheap, the value for money for the high quality given is excellent right across the menu.

Simple, wholesome food using local, fresh ingredients - it all comes together brilliantly and people love the local feeling and the way the place is run. Well worth a visit - and, if you want to know anything about provenance that’s not explained on the menu, they really will be pleased if you Just Ask!

SAMPLE MENU:

Starters

Soup De Jour
Served with a selection of Artizan homemade breads
€4.95

Michael’s Homemade Seafood Chowder
Freshly cooked to order
€9.50

Warm Chicken Salad
Served with a homemade Oriental dressing and salted peanuts
€8.50/€12.50

Grilled Ardsallagh Goats Cheese (v)
Served on a toasted bruschetta with tomato salsa, basil pesto and balsamic glaze
€8.50/€12.50

Warm Smoked Bacon and Clonakilty Black Pudding Salad
With caramelised cinnamon apples and parsnip crisps
€7.50/€11.50

Seared Castletownbere Scallops
Served with clonakilty black pudding,wilted baby spinach, stewed bramley apple & a lemon cream
€13.95

Tempura of Tiger Prawns & Baby leaf Salad
With Chilli, Lime & Corriander Dressing
€8.50

Homemade Thai Style Fish Cakes
With seasonal leaves fresh lime & chilli dressing
€8.50

East Ferry Free-Range Chicken Liver & Cognac Pâté
With Cumberland jelly, salad & toast
€8.50

Mains - From The Sea

Grilled fillet of Ballycotton Cod
Served with seasonal vegetables and a herb butter sauce & sundried tomatoes
€16.95

Deep Fried Fillets of Breaded Plaice
Served with Horizon Farm salad & sautéed potatoes
€14.95

Grilled Ballycotton Hake Fillet & Castletownbere Fresh Crab Meat
Served with a parsley, chive potato & tomato avocado chilli salsa
€19.95

Chargrilled Ballycotton Monkfish
With spinach, chickpea & smoked salmon risotto
€23.95

Fresh Crumbed Ballycotton Cod Goujons
With a baby leaf salad, lemon & oriental dressing
€16.95

Ballycotton Seafood Medley
With scallion champ, tomato & lime chilli salsa & lemon butter sauce.
€18.95

Trio Of Seafood
With scallion champ, sundried tomatoes and hollandaise sauce
€17.95

Mains - From the Land

East Ferry Free-Range Supreme of Chicken
With a smoked bacon potato cake & a mushroom, thyme cream sauce
€16.95

Michael’s Char Grilled 10oz Aberdeen Angus Sirloin Steak
With caramelised onion served with Bearnaise sauce or cracked black peppercorn & Jameson whiskey sauce
€24.95

Homemade Lamb Burger
Served on Jack Cuthberts handmade multiseed toasted bap, mature cheddar cheese caramelised onions & mushrooms & sautéed potatoes
€15.95

Roast East Ferry Free Range Duck Breast
With a Bramley apple & apricot stuffing, a raspberry & cranberry jelly, port & orange sauce & pommes alumette
€24.95

Medallions of West Cork Chargrilled 8oz Aberdeen Angus Fillet Steak
Served with a spring onion garden herb potato cake, French fried onion rings & a cracked black peppercorn sauce
€24.95

East Ferry’s Famous Chargrilled 6oz Steak Sandwich
With caramelised onions &mushrooms & a mustard cracked black pepper sauce
€16.50

Tagliatelle Roast Vegetable Curry (v)
With wilted baby spinach & a garlic herb bread
€14.95

Something Sweet
‘Life is Uncertain Eat Dessert First’

Classic Homemade Tunisian Orange Cake
with a butterscotch sauce
€6.50

Michaels Homemade Lemon Tart
with raspberry ripple ice-cream
€6.50

Warm Bramley Apple Crumble
with a vanilla custard & Honeycomb ice-cream
€6.50

Homemade Warm Bread & Butter Pudding
with crème anglaise & a vanilla bean ice-cream
€6.50

Homemade Hot Sticky Toffee Pudding
with toffee sauce & a vanilla bean ice-cream
€6.50

Selection Of Wexford’s Award Winning Paganini ice-cream
served with chocolate or butterscotch
€6.50

Homemade Baby Meringues
with fresh strawberries & cream
€6.50

Homemade Belgian Chocolate & Spiced Rum Tart
with a vanilla bean ice-cream
€6.50

Flourless Chocolate & Orange Butter Icing Cake
with chocolate sauce
€6.50

Side Orders

French Fried Onion Ring’s
€3.50

Homemade Chips
€3.50

Side Salad
€3.00

Spring Onion champ
€3.00

Seasonal Vegetables with herb butter
€3.00

Our Suppliers

LOCAL PRODUCERS

At Murph's Tavern we insist on using the finest ingredients sourced from local food producers in the region to continue leading the way for East Cork restaurants. Fresh, organic ingredients from the leading local food producers allows us to continue to create our artisan cuisine, the hallmark of Murph's Tavern- read on to find out more about our local food producers

Ardsallagh Goats cheese
Carrigtwohill, Cork
The Ardsallagh Goat Farm is located near Carrigtwohill village, close to Cork city, Ireland.
We are a family run business who make high quality, handmade, natural dairy products including bottled goats milk, goats cheese, and goats yogurt. We work tirelessly to ensure that Ardsallagh goats are happy and healthy. We believe in the production of honest, natural, fresh produce.

Ballycotton Seafood
Ballycotton, Midleton, Cork
Established in 1985 Ballycotton Seafood is a family owned and run fish and seafood business. We have developed our business based on providing the freshest fish and quality artisan seafood using the best of fish and natural ingredients.
www.ballycottonseafood.ie

Shellfish del la mer
Danish Island, Castletownbere, Cork
Richard Murphy and Peter O'Sullivan Greene, friends for many years due to both having a keen interest in the local fishing industry, combined their fishing efforts and worked together to catch and supply Irish Brown Crab to local and European seafood buyers. Then in 1987 they incorporated their Company and called it Shellfish De La Mer.
www.shellfishireland.com

O'Farrell Meats
Knockgriffin Co Cork Midleton, Cork
local butcher, only the best Irish meat.

Eastferry Freerange
East Ferry Midleton Co Cork

local producer of Free Range Poultry - Chicken, Geese and Turkeys and Farm Fresh Duck
East Ferry Free Range was registered in June 2009 and is run by Robert and Yvonne Fitzsimmons. It is a family run business and all our poultry is reared on our family farm in the traditional way.
www.eastferryfreerange.com

RESERVATIONS

021-4651013
086-3930422
Email: murphstavern@hotmail.com
OPENING HOURS
SUMMERTIME
May to August 12.30 to 8.30
7 days a week
WINTERTIME
September to April Closed Monday and Tuesday
Open at 5pm Wednesday
Open Thursday to Sunday
12.30 to 8.30pm

Open all bank holidays
12.30 to 8pm

Open Christmas holidays
7 days 12.30 to 8.30

Easter holidays
7 days 12.30 to 8.30

Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

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VIEW ALL JUST ASK RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH WINNERS

“Just Ask!” is a public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers when eating out to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes from, and encourages chefs to provide this information on their menus. The programme supports both large and smaller artisan suppliers, encouraging both Irish diners and visitors from abroad to support restaurants that are in turn supporting their suppliers.

Here at Georgina Campbell Guides we have always been avid supporters of the ‘eat local’ concept, and we always enjoy reading menus that have a real sense of place. The dining experience is greatly enriched by knowing that the food on your plate is inspired by the produce and traditions of the area, and sourced nearby – and we would love to see more chefs sharing that precious information with their guests.

If you are a visitor to the area, learning a little about local food and the people who produce it adds a special extra dimension to the visit – and, for residents, it reinforces a natural pride in the good things of their locality and makes a meal all the more enjoyable.

So, we are delighted by the high standard of menus that continue to be submitted for our ' “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month Competition', menus that really speak of the best of Irish foods – and the dedication of both the people who make them, and the chefs who select them to create wonderful dishes with real Irish flavour for our enjoyment.