Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

About The Restaurant

As a part time resident of Kinsale, let me tell you that the first thing I think of when I wake up in the mornings, is the Eggs Benedict and Mocha at Ursula Roncken’s ice cool Cucina Café on Market Street, and how fast I can get around there. The tall elegant Ursula Roncken, who is half Irish and half Dutch graduated from Cork Insitute of Technology and, having gained experience in a couple of top Cork restaurants, headed for the bright lights of London where she worked for a considerable period under Celebrity Chef Anthony Worral Thompson in both 190 Queensgate and Drones of Pont Street. Ursula then went to see Australia where she gained further experience before returning to London as Head of Catering for Associated Newspapers Ltd where she had the joy of feeding some 2500 people – imagine keeping all those journos happy!! Ursula’s motto is “pay attention to what you pay attention to….” and this attention to detail can be seen in everything she does at Cucina. Ursula will be the first one in at 6 a.m. making scones – no one else can do it as well as her. Cucina is where you will see all of the locals coming in for their coffee and their lunches. The interior is very sleek and smart. Cucina means Kitchin in Italin and this is a designer kitchen created by a local designer, a lovely blend of fine craftsmanship and stainless steel. There is of course far more to choose from than Eggs Benedict. You might fancy “The Works” which are a brace of eggs cooked anyway you like with crispy bacon, sausages, roast tomato and sourdough, or maybe your breakfast is roasted Portobello mushrooms on a toasted English muffin with herbed scrambled eggs and roasted tomato. Baked eggs are with chorizo and spinach; mixed berries are with honeyed yogurt and house made granola. Breakfast runs up to 11.30 and then switches over at noon to really beautiful lunch offerings. Like the aforementioned Eggs Benedict, we all tend to have our favourites in a particular establishment, and when it comes to lunch I love the Coronation chicken with mango chutney, spring onions, and mayo on toasted ciabatta. I also love Chicken Schnitzel on a toasted bap with avocado salsa, garlic cream, cheddar and tomato. I like the combos that Ursula uses; Ardsallagh goat’s cheese is with roasted tomato, crispy bacon, baby spinach and red onion compote on focaccia; smoked salmon bruschetta has avocado, capers, red onion, cucumber and dill crème fraiche, whilst prawns and avocado are with a grapefruit salad. Leave room too for the desserts – chocolate fudge cake, blueberry cheese cake and apple crumble. There are always daily specials on the board. Oh yes, and she has four special rooms upstairs where you can have great B & B. Prices at Cucina are very good for the standard of food you will receive. You can’t visit Kinsale without going to Cucina.

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