Gourmet

MARVELLOUS MEAT-FREE MUNCHING!

As you probably know, we don’t include a lot of meat in our diet, and we’re always delighted to find restaurants which push the bar to create interesting, tasty, and healthy pescatarian, veggie, and vegan plates. So here are five restaurants where we’ve enjoyed some excellent meatfree dishes.

Alexander’s & Co, Holywood.

Alexander’s & Co is a traditional gastropub on Holywood’s High Street, serving up a variety of delicious dishes; from small sharing plates and antipasti platters, to classic pub fare and Sunday roasts.

We were invited to try out the Steak Night Menu: Hot Stone Thursdays! Even though we’re not big red meat eaters-we usually prefer seafood and veggie options-Alexander’s were keen for us to come along and try out their meat free alternatives.

We started with a couple of quality cocktails, a Newmarket Fashioned and a Coconut Margarita, and a few appetising nibbles; creamy Burrata Salad with crostini, Fried Calamari with lemon & herb aioli, and marinated Kalamata Olives.

Then the hot stones arrived-what a revelation!! The plant based “steaks” were absolutely incredible; a tasty Vegan Ribeye, and the star of the show, an outstandingly good 5oz Vegan Sirloin, which had the appearance, taste, and texture of its meaty counterpart, especially when smeared with Alexander’s homemade vegan butter resulting in salty, charred edges on the hot stones. Not only that, but the Bearnaise, Peppercorn and Pesto sauces are all plantbased as well!

Served with a side of sautéed carrots, parsnips and mushrooms, the meal was a triumph-we’d challenge any confirmed carnivore not to enjoy this brilliantly executed vegan feast! And for people who prefer a pescatarian option, the juicy King Prawn Skewers were another excellent alternative.

Bank Square Brasserie, Belfast

One of our favourite central Belfast eateries, Bank Square Brasserie, is a little oasis of French Bistrostyle elegance right in the heart of the city.

With excellent cocktails, the BelFashioned made with McConnell’s Sherry Cask and whiskey marmalade, &

Le Bijou with Gin, Vermouth, & Green Chartreuse, were fantastic aperitifs.

Bank Square’s passion for celebrating local ingredients is evident in the menu, and the vegetarian options are probably the best in Belfast.

We shared a delicious Whole Baked Camembert scented with Thyme & Honey, with Sourdough Baguette for dipping, and the Smoked Mackerel with Golden Beetroot, Apple, Radish, & Pommery Mustard Vinaigrette was light and refreshing.

For fish lovers, the Roast Coley on a bed of Creamy Mash, with Cavolo Nero and a Caper & Shrimp Beurre Noisette was an absolute dream, and the Mushroom Seitan Burger with Crispy Vegan Bacon, Mac Sauce, Gherkins, Cheese, Fries, & Salad was an excellent meat-free choice.

With its casual atmosphere, attentive service and European Bistro style menu, Bank Square Brasserie is hard to beat for quality and value in the city centre.

KUBO, Belfast.

Born in the Philippines and with ten years of cooking experience in her hometown of Toronto, Canada, chef Nallaine found herself moving to London where she worked as Head of Food and Head Chef.

Relocating to Belfast, she found her niche in Filipino food where she held monthly Kamayan events cooking her family’s traditional recipes and reconnecting with her Filipino roots.

Kubo means ‘small nipa hut’ in Filipino tagalog and KUBO Belfast is a dedication to the Philippines and the Filipino food she grew up with. Traditional and unaltered, KUBO strives to share her family’s recipes from The Philippines with Ireland.

We had a fabulous Filipino lunch at KUBO in the Great Northern

Mall, next to the Europa Hotel, and enjoyed some deliciously spicy dishes.

Pancit Canton

Spring Rolls, or “Lumpia”; garlic and soy dressed Filipino vegetable noodles encased in crispy spring roll pastry, with crab mayo and banana ketchup, and Ginger Tamarind Aubergine; crispy aubergine tossed in miso ginger and tamarind dressing, served with atchara Filipino pickles. Amazing!

The Dairy, Gleno.

We called in to The Dairy in the pretty village of Gleno on the outskirts of Larne, and we were seriously impressed.

Once a fully functioning creamery and dairy, this farm store, butchers and café champions fresh, locally sourced ingredients; from the meat products in the butchery and the home-baked pastries, to the artisanal products from local sellers and the great food in the café.

We started with an excellent pint of Mourne Mist Pilsner from the Mourne Mountains Brewery. The Dairy also stocks local IPA specials, ciders, and has a great wine and cocktails list.

The food menu featured lots of temptingsounding dishes, and we eventually chose the Seafood Roll with marinated pink prawns, white crab meat, lemon crème fraiche, chives, and shredded gem lettuce, served in a soft bread roll with skin on fries.

And the incredible Roasted Aubergine

The Dairy

Orto: Cathedral Quarter.

Orto is an all-day Pizzabar concept with several locations in Belfast. We visited the Cathedral Quarter venue for a spot of lunch, and received a wonderfully warm welcome.

The restaurant is renowned for its beautiful, wood-fired pizzas straight from the oven, and other all-day offerings such as focaccia, bruschetta, arancini and salads.

We started with some Roasted Stuffed Jalapeños filled with Orto cheese blend, and sprinkled with a parmesan, truffle and honey crumb, accompanied by a perfect Negroni and Italian Margarita.

The pizzas are fabulous: slightly charred, flavourful, and more than enough for two to share, especially accompanied by a fresh Orto Salad Bowl of gem lettuce, couscous, hummus, avocado, tomato, red onion, chipotle mayo, focaccia crouton, and roquito peppers.

problem at all! Orto? Ottimo! Grazie.

Follow @thegourmetboys.com website, also Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok & LinkedIn Email – hello@thegourmetboys.com coated in crispy panko crumbs in a creamy coconut curry sauce, with grilled asparagus, sprinkled with toasted nuts, and served with parmesan fries was a superb vegetarian dish.

If you have any requests for restaurant recommendations send us a message and we’ll get right back to you.

We plumped for the “No 4” Red Pizza with caramelised onion, topped with peppery rocket, pickled roquito peppers,and truffle honey, but we asked for the goats cheese to be replaced with a amazingly tasty, and no

Please note, this column is the opinion of the columinst and not that of GNI or Romeo & Julian Publiccations Ltd.