The Bucks Head review: Beat a path to this Co Down spot with serious Michelin pedigree

I really enjoyed writing this article on the rise of South Indian food for @irishtimes.com. (Subscriber only) #spéirgorm www.irishtimes.com/food/2025/03...

Latest on ‘Ocras’, I review Lena, the latest restaurant from the people behind Etto and Uno Mas. joannecronin.substack.com/p/review-lena

25 of the best food and drink festivals across Ireland in 2025

New on 'Ocras' - I share details of 21 dog-friendly hotels around Ireland where we have stayed with Clara joannecronin.substack.com/p/dog-friend...

Today it is, bafflingly, one year since I started the weekly book column in the @independent.ie ... www.independent.ie/entertainmen...

I listed a few items on Vinted and they sold quickly so I’ve been adding more. Nearly €100 earned so far. However, recent listings aren’t moving. I’m thinking that new sellers get a bit of a boost to get them hooked then they drop down the algorithm

New on 'Ocras' - I share details of 21 dog-friendly hotels around Ireland where we have stayed with Clara joannecronin.substack.com/p/dog-friend...

The yanks better not bring their ‘woke anti-wokeness’ over here.

Well that’s the end of Bond. What a pity

Excited for this. I really enjoyed the Murderbot series of novellas

Hana Izakaya review: Not everything is perfect at Dublin’s new Japanese restaurant, but it’s fun and friendly, with lots to like

Books 21 - 25 of 2025. Loved ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ and found very topical themes in ‘The Constant Rabbit’

“This is nice behaviour, that I write to you again and again, and you pay no attention to me.” This almost 4,000-year-old Babylonian letter in clay is proof that we have been finding ways to say “per my last email” for some time

Well, I got my predictions for Ballyfin and The Morrison Rooms right for the one star awards. Delighted for Lignum also who finally get the recognition they deserve, plus best somm goes to Zsolt Lukas of Daróg in Galway. Onwards to the two and three stars...

So when you’re looking to the new Michelin stars for Ireland on Monday, look for new chefs and look for existing chefs who have made a gear change

Just saw the ad for the new electric Ford Capri. What a pity. The glory of the original and then the mundacity of the new version.

Oh, for the love of God!! I’ve just realised that Friday night is St Valentine’s Day. No going out for dinner as usual this Friday!

New on 'Ocras' - I share a few tips for your holidays in Lanzarote (or any of the Canary Islands) joannecronin.substack.com/p/things-to-...

Books 16-20 of 2025. Let me know if you’ve read any of them and what you thought? I personally love Sebastian Barry’s book. A genuine keeper

And if you haven’t got Mubi it’s the last day to get 3 months for £1. mubi.com/en/gb

Walking through the lava walls at Las Grietas on Lanzarote. Easy to access, but wear closed shoes or boots as the sandy floor can be loose.

I got an invite to a restaurant recently where they offered me a ‘complimentary’ meal in return for review. I replied that this was not complementary, it was an exchange of services and therefore was an ‘ad’, so I declined. But then I see a barrage of influencers who are saying ‘gifted’. Nonsense

So when you’re looking to the new Michelin stars for Ireland on Monday, look for new chefs and look for existing chefs who have made a gear change

This time of year, I love reading Michelin predictions. So many ‘food’ writers get it wrong. They do not understand the gear change that chefs need to make in order to earn a star for their restaurant. All the social media hype does not matter if the chef has not stepped it up

#GIFTED Myself and @paulofdub.bsky.social headed to Spice Village in Terenure recently for their Sunday breakfast, which features South Indian and Punjabi dishes. I particularly loved the chole bhature

When you lie down with fascists, you become fascist. The absolute amount of bootlicking that is going on is shameful

The position is currently taken by JK Rowling. My personal philosophy in life is ‘don’t be a d*ck’ and her views are utterly d*ckish

Books 16-20 of 2025. Let me know if you’ve read any of them and what you thought? I personally love Sebastian Barry’s book. A genuine keeper

We took a hike up Montaña de Timaguache, Lanzarote, yesterday, stunning landscape.

Hardly new info, but BSky should know: Warsaw's water quality is monitored by eight clams with magnets attached to their shells. If contamination in the water causes the clams to close, the magnets trigger an alarm and shut off the city's water supply. Thank you, little guardian molluscs. 🧪🌏🚰

New on 'Ocras' - I share a few tips for your holidays in Lanzarote (or any of the Canary Islands) joannecronin.substack.com/p/things-to-...

Here's something that takes seconds and could have actual positive outcomes. There is an official 'citizen's petition' system in the EU. There's one open at the moment to ban conversion therapy for LGBT+ people in the EU. Ireland can be 1 of the 7 nations needed eci.ec.europa.eu/043/public/#...

‘Upgrading’ a monolithic legacy IT system, in a sector in which you have no prior experience. What could possibly go wrong?

Potentially a data breach (not sure of the law in the US), and a failure to follow processes for granting privileged access to an IT system. Rules might be a pain in the hole but they exist for a reason

Chick-fil-a can f*cl right off. Please don’t support them when they open in Northern Ireland. Shame on Applegreen

I also learned about the blind albino cave crab who walks around at an ‘unhurried’ pace.

Today I learned about lava tubes. That is all

Bank holiday coming so we'll do what we always do at such times and increase the 1% of all revenue we give to @womensaidireland.bsky.social to 10% an all web sales starting from midnight until midnight Monday. imbibe.ie/shop/

Books 11-15 of 2025 completed. Have you read any of these and if so, what did you think?

Who the hell keeps voting for Rónán Mullen?

To date, I genuinely haven’t seen content from an AI that feels human. The language just feels stylised, and not what human would write.

I noticed that my monthly bin charge from Greyhound had gotten quite high, €34 a month. So I rang them up and got a better deal for €23.50. Only €10 a month but it all adds up

Picked up these katsu curry crisps in Aldi at the weekend, and they are delicious!

Over my dead 2008 Celtic Tiger damaged body!

Hoping to see some of you at the book launch for Filthy Queens at Underdog on Thurs. But if you want even more Filthy Queens in your life, I'll be at Hodges Figgis on Tues, Feb 4th from 6pm, chatting with the incredible @alidunworth.bsky.social #skystorians www.waterstones.com/events/book-...

Diary of a retrofit: It cost €60,000 but it is worth every cent

Sell your Tesla. ❌ Sell your Cybertruck. ❌ Get off Twitter. ❌ Don’t sign up for Starlink. ❌ Bankrupt him. It will take while but it’s possible. ✊🏻 #resist

Imagine a world where you never learned or tried anything new, you just kept pushing the button for another pellet like a rat.