Sage Café

Town Centre Café & Deli

Joan Collins always wanted to run her own café. This one time fashion business entrepreneur always longed for the day she could throw open the doors to her own premises and serve the kind of food she wanted to make. Having done the three month full time cookery course at Ballymaloe Cookery School and several of the short courses to boot, her repertoire and cookery skills were as solid as anyone’s could be with such prestige under their belts. She just needed a place to show it all off and Sage is that place.

This little café with its sage green painted shop front is right by the majestic clock tower in the seaside town of Youghal. The bright modern interior is decorated in neutral colours with pale oak flooring to compliment the functional furnishings of wooden topped café tables with traditional chairs and cream painted kitchen bench seating along with modern art that adorns the walls. Big café windows look out on the bustle of the main street and let in loads of light also. Inside the door a big display cabinet is full of home baking and the deli counter stocks a selection of home made salads, home cooked ham, beef and various other bits to make delicious sandwiches to either eat in or take out. Wooden bookshelves hold an array of house chutneys, jams and preserves too which are for sale and a small but select choice of wines. 

The menu changes regularly according to availability and seasonality and is written up on the big blackboard behind the counter. Breakfast of homemade scones and pastries are served alongside other light snacks and egg dishes which use farm fresh free range eggs at all times. At lunch expect to find at least two soups on offer – one traditional and veggie based and the other with a touch of the ethnic in flavour.  We particularly loved the Thai Chicken Noodle with home made brown bread – it was a meal in itself! Being right by the sea you’d expect to find plenty of fresh fish here too. Main courses like goujons of Fresh Hake or wholesome Fish Cakes are made with the best of the catch from the small fishing boats from nearby Ballycotton. Meat eaters will enjoy Chilli Con Carne with Crème Fraiche and grated cheddar or perhaps a Lamb and Red Wine or Beef and Ale Stew made with meats sourced from local butchers and fresh veggies from The Village Greengrocer. During the summer you may find fresh Ballycotton Scampi with Tartare Sauce on offer – a dish always popular and quickly snapped up.

Chef Aisling Dunne is also Ballymaloe trained so she and Joan share a common ethos in devising exciting menus that reflect the tastes of County Cork in order to provide newcomers and tourists with a local gourmet experience. And naturally being a proud member of Good Food Ireland, much of Joan's fellow Good Food Ireland artisan produce is also used here. Try the Ardsallagh Goat’s Cheese Open Sandwich with Roasted Vegetables and Pesto or enjoy a plate of Shanagarry Smoked Salmon Sandwiches.  Gubbeen Smokehouse chorizo and award winning cheese feature together and separately in soups, sandwiches and quiches.

Dessert is also a speciality here – whether you choose a pretty butterfly bun with a cup of tea or a generous cloud light cupcake. Wines are served by the glass here and there is a good variety of teas including Barry’s’ Tea, herbal and speciality teas, plus artisan hand roasted coffees from Cork Coffee Roasters, with Hot Chocolate and lovely French lemonades. Sage is all about great café food cooked beautifully and presented simply – no frills or fuss – just the use of ingredients, which sing the praises of dedication and commitment in production, and skill in the kitchen.   

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Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

86 Noth Main Street
Youghal
Co Cork
+353 (0)24 85844
Email: joancollins@live.ie
Web: www.goodfoodireland.ie/sagecafe

 

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