ATF Insiders - January's Monthly 9 Giveaway

Our monthly 9 giveaways for January are now live with a definite January theme! At home kits, meal prep deliveries and veganism. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will be automatically entered into the draw, and we're looking forward to brightening up these dark days for nine of you. As always thank you for supporting what we do. You literally keep the lights on around here.

Everyone subscribed by midnight on Monday 17th January will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Tuesday 18th January. Here's what's coming up this month...

1) Tasting Menu With Cocktails & Wine At Ukiyo

Ukiyo aren't letting no 8pm lockdown get them down. Their covered, heated terrace off Exchequer Street is serving small plates, sliders and sushi from 12:00 - 20:00 seven days a week, and there's indoor seating too in case you've got the January chills. They've given us a prize for one of our lucky Insiders of a tasting menu for two with a selection of small plates, sushi, otoshi snacks and bento box specials, as well as cocktails on arrival and a bottle of house wine. Could there be a better way to beat the January, how-is-Covid-still-a-thing, blues? Check out Ukiyo here.

2) A Chinese New Year Prize Package From Asia Market

The year of the tiger is fast approaching, and who better to show us how to celebrate Chinese New Year on the 1st February than our favourite source of noodles, kimchi and all the frozen dumplings - Asia Market. They're hosting loads of cultural food events across their Drury Street and Ballymount stores (and online) in January and February, including a free Chinese New Year Night Market on Thursday 3rd February, featuring Bites By Kwanghi, Ginger's BBQ, Man Street Kitchen and more. As part of the celebrations Asia Market have given us an AMAZING prize package to give away to one of you, including:

- A 'Journey To The East' box for two full of Asia Market goodies, and a ticket to their 'Explore Cook Eat' after-hours online tour and live, interactive cook-along with Malaysian chef Sham Hanifa of The Cottage restaurant on Sunday 30th January

- A Chinese New Year-themed banquet feast for two from their Fade Street restaurant Duck

- A €50 voucher to spend in-store or online at www.asiamarket.ie

Happy new year or what!

3) Dinner For Two With Drinks From V-Face

V-Face have been bringing their 'animal burgers made with plants' to the Dublin market since 2019, and opened their permanent restaurant in Smithfield in 2020. We were immediately struck by the amount of feedback they were getting from non-vegans saying how shockingly good their burgers were, and they seem to have gone from strength to strength. They've just launched a new salad and milkshake range for Veganuary, featuring the 'Bravo Chicky Avocado' and the 'Asian Equation', as well as Tiramisu, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes. To celebrate they've given us a meal for two to give away, with mains, sides, dessert, milkshakes and wine included. Check them out here.

4) Dinner For Four With Wine From Elm Epicurean

The residents of Dublin 4 were spinning with excitement last year when the owners of Howth based Mamó opened their third specialty food store Elm Epicurean on the Merrion Road (with dine in options for breakfast and lunch), to join Margadh in Howth and Barrow Market near Grand Canal Dock. Their Margadh heat at home range, which is available across all stores, has kept us going through many a lockdown, with highlights including their mushroom gnocchi, pithiviers and chocolate mousse with blackberries. They've given us a brilliant prize of dinner for four from their weekly chef-prepared menu, with starters, mains, sides, desserts and a paired bottle of organic wine. It will be available for collection, and there's a vegetarian option if preferred. Check out Elm Epicurean here.

5) €200 Worth Of Meals From Parallel Nutrition

Earlier this week we reviewed four meal prep companies, and were really impressed with Parallel Nutrition and their clear nutritional information, environmentally-friendly packaging, and most importantly how good their food tasted. It was launched by chef/nutritionist Diarmaid Healy in 2018, who was disillusioned by corporate life & trying to maintain some sort of work/life balance. From initially stocking some gym fridges to now having customers across Dublin, they cater for every meal of the day and deliver twice a week for freshness, you just need to subscribe to a meal plan. They've given us an amazing €200 worth of meals for one of our Insiders this month in whatever form you'd like, whether that's three meals a day plus snacks, or five mains over the week. Check them out here.

6) A Poke Picnic For Six From Shaka Poke

We loved Shaka Poke from our first bite of raw, marinated fish, and the Blackrock stall (also on Deliveroo) has been upping the ante when it comes to sourcing from Irish waters. Their 'Big Island Citrus' bowl features Donegal citrus-cured hake with heirloom tomatoes, edamame, avocado and mango, while the 'Togaraski Crab' contains Irish crab meat, wakame, kiwi, carrot, Granny Smith apple, pickled onion, and togarashi Mayo. They also have three vegan bowls (earning them a spot in our 'best places to eat vegan guide'), or you can build your own, and it's all served alongside their nitro coffee - a nitrogen infused coldbrew that they compare to Guinness. Shaka poke have given us a poke picnic for six to give away this month, with a bowl and drink of your choice for you plus five of your nearest and dearest. An excellent excuse for an outdoor catch up.

7) A €100 Voucher For 777

777 are like the reliable, always up for a laugh, margarita in hand friend that we all need in our lives right now. From their €7.77 menu on Sundays to Margarita Mondays (two for €16), taco Tuesdays (two for €7) to their amazing outdoor Afuera area, they're here for us through all weathers, curfews and budgets, and they've given us a €100 voucher this month so one of you can go and let loose on them. Tostadas, taquitos and margaritas = ideal winter's evening content. Check out 777 here.

8) A €100 Voucher For Smokin' Bones

Smokin' Bones have been keeping lots of you going through January with their American BBQ in a box meal kits that can be shipped anywhere in the country. The Temple Bar restaurant (now with sites in Walkinstown and Swords) is known for dishes like their Hickory wood-smoked baby back ribs, 16-hour brisket, and Applewood smoked pulled pork amongst others, and they've given us a €100 to dine or or try one of their boxes at home. The veggies are taken care of too with the Vegetarian burger in a box featuring Beyond Meat patties. Check it all out on their website.

9) A Month's Supply Of Leamhain Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Leamhain's ice-cream sandwiches have redefined vegan ice-cream, with customers hardly able to believe there's not even a trace of a cow in there. Made with raw coconut oil and free from gluten, nuts, artificial ingredients, eggs and dairy, it's the brainchild of chef and entrepreneur Conor Sweeny, who's followed a plant-based diet since 2015. Demand has been fierce, and to celebrate their nationwide expansion they've given us a month's supply of ice-cream sandwiches and pint-sized tubs to give away, including Butterscotch Blondie, Double Chocolate Brownie, Lemon Curd Meringue and Mint Stracciatella sandwiches, and Chocolate, Vanilla Irish Sea Salt, and Cocoa Crumb & Caramel ice cream tubs. Check out stockists here or buy online.

Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for January will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you're not signed up yet join here and support independent content in Dublin and beyond, and get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out.