Meet the Chef: Brian McCarthy of Tom’s Table at the Red Cow Moran Hotel

By Mary Dennehy

WITH nearly 30 years’ experience in the kitchen, Brian McCarthy is the new executive head chef at Tom’s Table, a new restaurant at the Red Cow Moran Hotel, which centres its menu around seasonal, locally produced, fresh produce.

Originally from Skibbereen in West Cork, Brian is now leading the team at Tom’s Table, a new 180-seat restaurant that is named after the head of the Moran family, Tom. 

Brian, who has been a head chef for more than two decades, told The Echo that the inspiration behind the dishes at Tom’s Table is ‘farm to fork’, with the team sourcing local, fresh produce from small, family and artisan producers.

“We have a big emphasis on steaks, which, all Irish and sourced from Burkes Butchers in Limerick, are cooked in a charcoal oven”, Brian said.

“We also have a lovely Irish double-boned pork chop and we have fish delivered into us fresh every day… we also try to buy only sustainable fish.”

He said: “It’s important to us to source local, in-season, produce and support smaller food producers, with 99 per cent of our cheeses also Irish.

“Irish is important to us and that theme runs through the menu.

“For us the starting point of any dish is a seasonal ingredient and we build the dish from there.

“I think the word that would describe us is rustic and we try to not overcomplicate food, our dishes pick up on the seasonality of the food… lets the ingredients speak for themselves.”

Tom’s Table also boasts a craft beer menu, which can be married with the dishes, and an extensive wine list – both bottles and by the glass.

The new restaurant’s interior’s also compliments the food and picks up on the countryside origins of hotel owner, Tom Moran.
Simple painted brick, classic terracotta and mosaic tiles, all combine to create a very comfortable, welcoming and stylish dining experience.

Tom daughter Tracey Moran, Communications Director at Red Cow Moran Hotel, said: “My dad, Tom Moran, has always said that the kitchen table is the heart of the family home, with Tom’s Table now the heart of our hotel too.

Representing family, tradition, comfort, community and the pleasures of sharing, at Tom’s Table great food, great company and good times, like in all the happiest families, go hand in hand.”

Tom’s Table, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is now open. For more information visit www.redcowmoranhotel.com, email tomstable@moranshotels.com or call 4593650.