Just Ask Restaurant of the Month for November - Hatch & Sons Irish Kitchen, Dublin 2

The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for November is Hatch & Sons Irish Kitchen, Dublin

Run by the famous catering sisters Domini and Peaches Kemp Irish Kitchen is an unusual café in the basement of Trevor White’s much-loved Little Museum of Dublin.

It’s in what would originally have been the kitchen of this fine town house, a coincidence that suited their plan very well: “We wanted to be a kitchen from the start,” they state on the menu. “Heart of the house, source of sustenance, warmth and hospitality. A kitchen table is what we sat around discussing what evolved into Hatch and Sons and it remains central to what we do.”  

No Victorian ‘big house’ kitchen, however - it’s much more like stepping into a friendly country kitchen in the midst of the city. A simple place promising to restore you with honest-to-goodness home cooking and traditional baking, it’s not surprising that local sourcing is at the heart of everything here.

A large island counter groans under the weight of artfully arranged baking, fresh fruit and old style, Irish made sweets - and also a small but thoughtfully selected collection of Irish artisan products for sale: “If it isn’t Irish we don’t sell it”.

Serving an all-day menu that includes fried breakfasts served in a pan, complete with homemade soda bread and pats of Glenilen butter, there’s bottles of old school YR sauce on the side if you’re so inclined. Loose leaf Barry’s tea is served in generous silver pots with dainty strainers while a wine list offers 8 wines by glass and bottle as well as a few carefully chosen Irish craft beers and cider.

Although there isn’t a formal supplier list, the commitment to Irish foods is very evident on the menu where rustic sandwiches are served in blaas, Waterford’s famous floury baps, and items like Coolea cheese, Burren Smokehouse fish and Michael Bermingham’s spiced beef (and many more of similar quality) are all name checked and all meats are Irish, supplied from M&K meats.

Organic Kilbeggan porridge and Killowen yoghurt feature among the all day breakfast treats, and hot mains (including a traditional beef and Guinness stew) are offered alongside sandwiches, cold deli boards, salads and daily specials.

While mainly serving breakfast, lunch and cakes on most days they do open late on a couple of evenings and host occasional evening supper clubs based around talks by visiting food producers.

A wonderful city centre flagship for Ireland’s artisan produce.

SAMPLE MENUS

Irish Kitchen
HATCH & SONS
The Little Museum of Dublin 15 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
(01) 661 0075

ALL DAY

Poached seasonal fruit, granola, Killowen yoghurt............. 3.50
Organic Kilbeggan porridge, toasted seeds, milk, honey............ 3.80
Two slices toasted brown soda bread...................... 2.40
Baker’s basket: scone, soda bread, & a slice of brack.................... 4.90
Scone with butter & jam or marmalade.. 3.50
Double Baked eggs, brown soda bread, bacon, sausage, roast tomato.......... 9.50
Soup, brown soda bread, butter....... 5.70
 

BLAAS (A SOFT WHITE ROLL FROM WATERFORD)

Dry-cured Bacon.... 5.80
Sausage.... 5.50
Michael Bermingham’s spiced beef, Coolea, onion relish, rapeseed mayo... 5.90
Fivemiletown goat’s cheese, roasted roots, beetroot relish, toasted Seeds, rapeseed mayo.......... 5.80 Wicklow Cheddar, Roast Irish ham, relish, tomato, rapeseed mayo....... 5.90
Irish free-range Chicken, tomato, rapeseed mayo...................... 5.90

MAINS

Beef & Guinness Stew...................... 9.90
Today’s Hot Dish...................... Daily
Fishcakes, salad...................... 11.50
Burren Smoked Salmon Plate......... 12.00

SALADS

Irish free-range chicken, soda bread croutons, St.Gall, buttermilk dressing............ 11.60
Fivemiletown goat’s cheese, roast pear, , candied walnuts,vinaigrette..................... 10.80
Smoked mackerel, roasted root vegetables, mustard dressing.... 10.90
Green salad................... 3.50

BOARDS

Cheese: Coolea, St. Gall, Fivemiletown, chutney, crackers...... 12.00
Smoked fish: Burren Smokehouse salmon & mackerel,pickled cucumber, brown soda bread, cream cheese.......................... 12.00
Mixed: Burren Smokehouse Salmon, Spiced Beef, Coolea, Brown Soda Bread, Cream Cheese, Pickle................ 14.00

CAKES AND BAKING

Fruit crumble and cream............ 5.50
Lemon-Raspberry Coconut Slice........ 3.80
Espresso-Walnut Slice................ 3.00
Flourless Orange-almond Cake..........4.50
Brownie.............................. 3.50
Carrot Cake.................... ...... 4.50
Farmhouse Cookie..................... 2.20
Murphy’s Ice Cream, 125 ml tub........ 3.80 (Vanilla, Caramel, Chocolate)

SUPPER CLUB

On the third Thursday of each month we host an evening devoted in one form or another to Irish food. Its a celebration really, of all that is good about Irish artisan food. We've tasted smoked salmon, looked at Irish cheeses and learned about the history and making of the Waterford blaa. The evening kicks off at 7pm and includes wine and a three-course supper. If interested please let us know and we will tell you more. Information on the next event will be on the blackboard. The cost is €35.

LATE OPENING

Hatch and Sons is open until 9pm on Wednesday and Thursday evenings when we offer a simple menu with a choice of three starters, three main courses and three baked items. No need to book, we'd love to see you even if for a glass of wine and perhaps one of our boards to share. We also have a range of bottled Irish beers for those who might be tempted by the pub.

We put a lot of time and effort into our coffee. And while the beans are obviously crucial what has been more of a challenge is building a culture around the whole coffee experience. Which is why we only use organic milk for example. It’s why our coffee beans are delivered weekly. It’s why we don't feed the coffee hoppers in the grinders the night before, like, er some do. Freshness is all when it comes to coffee. We train and train and go on training. And if occasionally you see one of us sipping a few coffees at the one time its because we are always looking to see how we might improve. Its a constant journey but one with great rewards.

Looking for somewhere a little unusual for your office party? We can host this event for you and have a number of options we can discuss. This is a wonderful Georgian building and is made for parties. Please let us know what you have in mind and we can revert with some ideas depending on numbers and budget.

SELECTION OF DRINKS

COFFEE

Flat white 16cl 2.70
Americano 20cl 2.40
Cappuccino 20cl 2.70
Latte 35cl 3.20
Espresso 2.5cl 2.00
Mug of coffee 30cl 2.40
Pot of Coffee 90cl (For 2) 5.00
We believe in small cup culture. It enables us to make better coffee. Less can be more. At least we think so. Small cup culture? Please ask, we have lots to tell you.

TEA

Mug of Barry’s Tea 2.20
Pot of Barry’s Tea (For 2) 4.70
Solaris Organic teas 2.60 (berry fruity, jasmine green, camomile Darjeeling, earl grey,peppermint)

OTHER DRINKS

Fior Uisce still/ sparkling water 75cl 4.00
Fresh lemonade By fresh we mean made by us, from lemons 3.00
Fresh orange juice Not made by us, but not pasteurised either 2.50
Earl Grey iced tea We make this here every day. Tea, lemon, boiling water, sugar. Refreshing 2.60

Soft drinks

DP Connelly: elderflower & Raspberry pink lemonade, apple & Pear, Apple & Raspberry) 3.60
Wholearth Organic Mineral s (Cola, ginger, elderflower) 2.50

WHITE WINE Glass Pichet Bottle

Horgelus 2011 (11.5% abv) Colombard, Sauvignon Cotes de Gascogne, France 6.60 18.40 26.60
Torre del Falasco 2012 (13% abv) Garganega Veneto, Italy 6.90 19.20 27.80
Badajo 2011 (12.5% abv) Verdejo, Viura Reuda, Spain 29.00
Domaine des Corbillieres 2011(13% abv) Sauvignon Blanc Touraine, France 34.60
CHECK OUT BLACKBOARD FOR WINE OF THE MONTH

RED WINE

Vina Albizu 2011 (13% abv) Tempranillo Rioja, Spain 6.60 18.40 26.60
Primitivo di Salento 2011(13.5% abv) Primitivo Puglia, Italy 7.50 21.20 30.50
Caves de Tain 2009 (12.5% abv) Syrah Northern Rhone, France 31.30
El Castro de Valtuille 2009 (14% abv) Mencia Bierzo, Spain 34.80

IRISH CRAFT CIDER & BEERS

Orpens Cider 5.5% ABV 50cl 6.50
Howling Gale Ale (ABV 5%) 33cl 5.50
Headless Dog (4.3%) 50cl 6.50
Sunburnt Irish Red (ABV 5%) 33cl 5.50
Barefoot Bohemian Pilsner (ABV 4%) 33cl 5.50
Knockmealdown Porter 5.50 (ABV 5%) 33cl
Dublin Kombucha 100% organic, ‘live’ Kombucha Brewed with love in Stoneybatter 3.90