2025: Our Year of Soul Food

Heartwarming dishes from every corner of Ireland and a Soul Christmas Playlist

We had wonderful travels ranging across the four green fields in 2025, and everywhere we went we found soulful cooking, produced by people who care deeply about their work. Some of these dishes were cooked and served in restaurants, others in shops, one on a beach, one in a pub. One of the restaurants had two tables, another had four tables. Regardless of the circumstances, all of these dishes are plates of Irish soul food, the real thing.

January - Cultura Coffee Belfast

Thai tempura broccoli, spiced butternut squash puree, coriander salsa, crispy fried egg, crispy chili rayu and sourdough

February – Assassination Custard Dublin

pig’s ear, cabbage & sesame

March – Fish Shop Dublin

pan fried fillet of gurnard with chips, slaw and tartare

April – Up There The Last West Cork

cockles, collected, cooked and eaten on a West Cork beach

May – Bayou Cork

fried okra, eggs, biscuit, fried potatoes, ranch

June – McNally Family Farm Balrickard

farm tomato pizza, fresh scone, cinnamon roll

July – Platito by Mangan Belfast

Dinakdakan, an Ilocano delicacy of grilled pork and pork ears with ginger garlic sauce

August – Ernie’s @ Shackleton Experience Athy

Irish coffee cake

September – Savoir Fare Westport

chicken & ham chowder with organic veg and crispy chicken skin (Photo Joleen Cronin)

October – Gannet HQ Fish Shop, Galway

sardines

November – The Wilder Townhouse Dublin

breakfast

December – Pickle Restaurant Dublin

The Dal Bukhara plate: 36 hours black lentil, tomato, cream, white butter, chilli, garlic paratha

Have a Cool Yule! And please enjoy John’s Soul Christmas playlist…