Black Cat Traditional Restaurant revives seasonal cooking in a charming lakeside setting

By Eleanor McGillie

FOOD lovers don’t have long to wait before a much loved lodge will open up its doors offering a traditional dining experience in one of the most beautiful rural settings in Tyrone.

Black Cat Traditional Restaurant, at the old Ardbeg Lodge in Ballygawley, is opening on July 12, providing diners with a place full of warmth and charm where they can enjoy clean and simple dishes lovingly prepared by the award winning chef, James Devine.

James, 27, is meticulous in everything he does and prides himself on providing an exquisite dining experience, with previous experience in New York’s  3 star Michelin Perse Restaurant, London’s  2 star Michelin, Pied a Terre and the formally 1 Star Michelin Deans Restaurant in Belfast.

With his extensive culinary skills and desire to please every customer Black Cat Traditional Restaurant diners are in for a real treat and, with the doors opening on July 12, the restaurant is already taking bookings for the opening night and beyond.

One of the restaurant owners of Black Cat said: “We are overwhelmed by the amount of support local people are already showing us. The old Ardbeg Lodge was a fantastic dining option for locals mostly and when it closed it left a huge void. This is a stunning building in a beautiful location. It’s the perfect setting for a restaurant. We are really looking forward to July 12 so we can share all of our hard work with the community.

“We are completely enthused by the number of people who are engaging with us on Facebook and Twitter where we share our news and events with customers.”

Black Cat Traditional Restaurant will be sourcing food from producers from the North and the South. The menu boasts a mouth-watering blend of flavours which combined will provide people with a dining experience which will make them want to return.

The restaurant will also cater for family functions and the team will do their utmost to cater for special requests be that flowers on the tables, cakes or even a flat screen TV for family photographs.

The owners, James Devine and the staff at Black Cat Traditional Restaurant are looking forward to offering customers an experience packed with flavour,  which will be complimented with a friendly and professional service.

To book a table call Black Cat Traditional Restaurant on 028 8556 7040. You can also visit the restaurant’s website on www.blackcatrestaurant.com or follow Black Cat on Facebook and Twitter.

Launch Menu for the opening weekend
Available 12-14 July 2013 –  5 course Tasting Menu £25

Canapés

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Pea and Asparagus Soup, Crème Fraiche, Black Olive Crumb
Prawn & Crab Salad, Ginger Bisque, Parmesan Cracker
Salt n’ Chili Chicken, Spiced Mayo, Soft Noodle Salad
Duck & Hoi Sin Spring Roll, Celeriac Ramoulade, Tomato Jam
Crispy Fivemiletown Brie, Iberico Ham, Candied Walnuts, Blueberry Compote

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Coconut Sorbet

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Slowed Cooked Pork Belly, Colcannon, Bourguignon Sauce
5oz Irish Sirloin Steak, Caramelised Onions, Garlic Butter, Gratin Potato
Honey Roast Salmon, Potato Fondant, Green Bean & Tomato Ragout and Hollandaise
Free Range Chicken Supreme, Tagliatelle Pasta, Carbonara Garnish
Spiced Chick Pea Fritters, Tomato & Bean Stew, Dressed Rocket

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Chocolate Brownie, Candied Hazelnuts Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream
Orange and Passion Fruit Cake, Ginger Bread Ice Cream, Honeycomb
Rhubarb & Frangipane Tart, Pistachio Crumble, Custard, Ice Cream
Selection of Irish Cheeses, Crackers and Chutney

ENDS:

NOTES TO EDITOR:

• Overlooking Martray Lake, in the old Ardbeg Lodge a young chef will be reviving local and seasonal cooking for an audience of diners, who now will have a new (old) favorite place to go to. Chef James Devine – who never focuses on style or trends above substance – will be combining his methods of creating clean and simple dishes with his expertise gained while working in 3Michelin star restaurants in London and New York. To book a table call Black Cat Traditional Restaurant on 028 8556 7040. You can also visit the restaurant’s website on www.blackcatrestaurant.com or follow Black Cat on Facebook and Twitter.
• For further information contact Eleanor McGillie of MGMPR Ltd (McGillie Media & PR Ltd) on 028 3756 9569 | 07709805379 Food and Drink PR | Public Relations Northern Ireland | Public Relations UK | Public Relations Belfast | Brand Journalism Northern Ireland | Brand Journalism UK | Brand Journalism Experts