A new Asian inspired menu in the Lough Erne Resort

If anyone is looking for a guinea pig to try new food- I’m the perfect person for the job.  When the opportunity came up to meet Noel McMeel and sample his new menu, I jumped at the chance.

Noel is the Executive Chef in Lough Erne Resort and has an excellent reputation for his fantastic, fresh and seasonal food.  

When we met him, his passion was clear to see and he was keen to stress how much he wanted to support and celebrate the local produce right on his doorstep.

TThe resort offers 3 restaurants, The Catalina for fine dining, The Loughside Bar & Grill for flame grilled, steaks, seafood & pub grub classics and the Blaney Bar for all day snacks and light meals with an Asian influence, all created by Noel and Executive Sous Chef, Stephen.  Happily, this was the menu we got to sample.

Noel presented us with a wide selection of dishes to try.  We started with home made wheaten soda and curry spiced breads served with Burren Balsamic, Abernathy Butter and Broightergold Rapeseed oil. Totally delicious and I really had to try not to eat too much of it in case it filled me up. I have to say I was glad I showed some restraint as the rest of the food was just too good to miss.  Some of the dishes we enjoyed were:

• Crispy Fried Chicken Dim Sum served with Ratlin Islander Kelp, Pickled Ginger and Sesame & Soy dressing
• Fermanagh Pork and Prawn Dumplings with Cashew Nuts, Green Shallots and Spicy Red Pepper Sauce
• Fivemiletown Goats Cheese & Spinach Spring Roll with Pickled Ginger, Rocket Salad, Avocado and Mango
• Grilled Thai Beef Salad with Cherry Tomato, Mint, Basil, Cucumber, Lemongrass, Peanuts and Hot & Sour Sauce
• Traditioanl Killybeg Fried Haddock, Baby Salad, Chips and Homemade Gribiche Sauce
• Silver hill Sweet Maple Duck Confit with Shanghai Noodles, Crispy Wontons, Bok Choi and Sweet Coriander Dressing
• Sweet & Sticky Tender Pork Ribs with Rocket Salad, Mango, Peanuts with Sweet & Sour Dressing

The dishes we sampled were beautifully presented and better still, tasted divine, fresh and beautifully flavoured.  If you pressed me for my favourites, I would definitely choose the Goats cheese Spinach Spring Roll and the fragrant Thai Beef Salad.  I’m already looking forward to ordering them on my next visit!