Neven Maguire, our favourite Cavan chef has been combing the coast for Ireland's best seafood on the latest installment of his Food Trails series.
So far he's sampled the very best of Mayo, Cork, Donegal, Sligo and Kerry, learning how artisanal practices meld with traditional fishing to create a cuisine that is both familiar and irresistibly modern.
This week, the celebrity chef is in gorgeous Galway City, diving right into the city's culinary scene with a "Lobster Safari". Setting off from Claddagh Quay, in the heart of the city, Neven gets a rare and stunning glimpse at the vibrant city, passing the historic Claddagh District, joining Ciaran Oliver of Galway Bay Tours for a spot of lobster hauling.
With fresh lobsters caught, Neven gets back to dry land where he meets Dave Carroll of Rouge restaurant. Dave teaches Neven how to make the most of the delicate and celebrated crustacean, whipping up a simple recipe of Lobster with Garlic and Herb Butter.
Next stop is Gannet Fishmongers in Galway City, Ireland's largest online fishmonger. He meets Stefan Griesbach, the owner of the business, who shares his passion for promoting Irish seafood. Stefan also amuses Neven with some of the more unusual species on sale, such as 'Sweaty Betty', Black Pollack and Red Gurnard.
Finally, to showcase the versatility of such incredible produce, Neven heads to Oscar's Seafood Bistro in the city centre where Head Chef Michael O'Meara prepares a healthy Red Gurnard dish.
It wouldn't be a food trail without a succulent dish inspired by Neven's travels, so he whips up Crispy Fried Whiting with Mango and Apple Salad. Get the recipe here.
Watch Neven's Irish Seafood Trails on RTÉ One tonight, February 13th, at 8:30pm.
