PICTURED: Temple Gate co-owner John Gavin, Gate 96 Head Chef Stephen Higgins, and hotel co-owner Dermot Kelly. Photo by Tom Micks
ENNIS town’s newest culinary experience will be unveiled this weekend – just in time to help loved-up couples celebrate St Valentine’s Day in style.
Gate 96 is the newly-refurbished restaurant at Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis Town centre which is headed up by head chef Stephen Higgins, who plans to bring a contemporary dining experience to the town which will set it apart as a fresh and distinctive foodie destination.
Formerly known as Legends Restaurant, the stylish restaurant refurbishment and introduction of new head chef will usher a new era at Gate 96. The new name references The Temple Gate along with the year the hotel was established, some 30 years ago.
With 23 years of experience as a head chef, Stephen Higgins has worked and created dishes at various restaurants including Royal Dublin Hotel, Cassidys Hotel and Patrick Guilbauds Restaurant, a two star Michelin restaurant in Dublin.
The menu at Gate 96 will reflect Stephen’s experience, flair and passion for food while using local suppliers in Clare for the freshest ingredients.
Speaking about plans for Gate 96, he tells The Clare Echo that his ambitions include securing a Michelin Groumet Bib for the restaurant within 18 months.
“We want to give a different twist to what’s in the town,” explains Stephen.
“The team we’ve assembled is really good and we are using local suppliers, local produce, and keeping it in season. Each month, we’ll provide a different menu. It will be fresh local seafood, using the best meat, such as Wagu beef from Falkirk, Scotland.”
Stephen credits The Temple Gate co-owners John Gavin and Dermot Kelly for their enthusiasm in delivering something unique for the town of Ennis.
He notes that people eat with their eyes and that his team want to create “a bit of theatre” on the menu.
This weekend’s menu will offer dishes including hand-dived scallops presented with brush seaweed, mussels, clams and dry ice covering the table on presentation. Another dish will see Wagu beef cheeks served on wood chip smoke, with smoked parsnip puree and rainbow carrots, an indication of the ambition and enthusiasm diners can expect at Gate 96.
Co-owner John Gavin tells The Clare Echo ahead of Gate 96’s launch this weekend that they are aiming to achieve a ‘from field to fork’ experience for local diners in a tasteful, modern restaurant which preserves the charm of the historic building.
“We’re really looking forward to it now,” says John.
“When we took over the Temple Gate, the restaurant itself was only open to in-house residents. We thought there was an opening for an upper scale restaurant offering fresh produce.
“Our new head chef Stephen came on board before Christmas, and he shares the same vision as us that there is an opening in Ennis for exciting something like this. We did a trial run on New Year’s Eve and it went down really, really well.”
Gate 96 will be open for dinner every Friday and Saturday while a Carvery offering will continue to be available on Sundays.
Gate 96 is currently taking bookings for Valentine’s weekend. To secure your place, call on 065 686 9472.
