Spilling the beans

PAMPERED PADDY’S

St Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday this year, so it’s a perfect opportunity to drown the shamrock. Why not do it in style at the five-star Hayfield Manor, above, in Cork, with a two-night stay which includes live traditional Irish music, and a four-course dinner in either their Orchids Restaurant or Perrotts Garden Bistro? You’ll receive a special St Patrick’s Day cocktail on arrival and, on the second day, a Green Tea afternoon tea special, where you can enjoy some porter cake, whiskey cheesecake and tricolour cupcakes, accompanied by the subtle tones of a classical piano. From €307per person sharing. See hayfieldmanor.ie

KITCHEN TO KITCHEN

Vinod Parary’s Masala in Killiney Shopping Centre, where you can see chefs prepare restaurant-quality Indian food in its open kitchen, is celebrating its first birthday with new dishes such as malvani jhinga — tiger prawns with garlic, onion and ginger; whole tandoori sea bass; and my favourite, pumpkin chicken. See masala.ie

CHEFFY SHUFFLES

Chef Graeme Dodrill, ex-Suesey Street, is on his way to the sunny shores of Dubai. There, he’ll head up the kitchens of the flagship Great British Restaurant at the new Dukes Dubai Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. Meanwhile, Gareth ‘Gaz’ Smith, who wowed people with his superb gastro grub at Clonskeagh House in Milltown, tells me he’s no longer there, but has taken over Michael’s in Mount Merrion with his wife, Rita.