November Dinearounds - Wednesday, 19 November 2025

Jan 15
3 min read

On 19 November last three of our members kindly hosted dinearounds in their homes; Paula Kilbane, Cathy McCaul and Orlaith Blaney. In all 22 members had a fabulous evening across the three homes! Thank you to everyone.

For those who are thinking of hosting a dinearound Orlaith kindly sent the following update on her first dinearound experience!!

"I had a gorgeous evening hosting the IWF Dinearound. I am a member of IWF since 2011 and that’s 14 years and I never hosted a Dinearound. Always felt I should but just never got around to it.

I do remember attending a Dinearound in New York once, on a IWF trip I remember it was so fancy, I was in fear of ever doing one. So I put my hand up for small gathering of 6, and Fiona Tierney kindly gave me all the tips!

One recommendation was the option of getting a caterer and I goggled that straight away and found one online. I booked weeks in advance and as the day got closer and I hadn’t heard about Brian‘s arrival time, I panicked. What would I do if he was a no show. My husband said Butlers Pantry or Avoca could fill the gap in an emergency! Thankfully I didn’t need that option.

My five wonderful guests arrived for 7pm and it was so relaxed and enjoyable. Karen Erwin, a long time IWF member said afterwards it was a “classic IWF dinearound - great food and wine and better again, great chat”. That is high praise from Karen who knows IWF so well and I was relieved, as it’s not easy to host these amazing women who experience many fantastic dinner parties. Along with Karen, Imelda Reynolds, Aileen O'Toole, Gary Joyce and Fiona Ross, we discussed things we aren’t supposed to. Fiona alerted me that politics, sex and religion weren’t allowed but I’m afraid we broke the rules on the politics one. Too much happening politically to keep us off the subject.

We discussed so many things after lovely introductions including the new RTE schedule, recent happenings at the DAA, Board Governance and the infrastructure challenges ahead for Ireland. One of the things we chatted about was nice restaurants and I promised I’d circulate the key ones we chatted about.

So here’s the list and if you are thinking of doing a Dinearound next time, honestly, give it a go. It was such a nice way to meet members.

Top restaurant tips

Amuri Restaurant, 4, Chatham Street. Apparently amazing and a winner of the 2024 Innovator of the Year at the Irish Restaurant Awards.
COMET, 3 Joshua Lane in Dublin 2 with food inspired by modern French and European culinary traditions.
A particular favourite of Gary’s was Lotties in Rathmines, awarded the Michelin Bib Gormand.
The Dunmore in Rathmines, and is best described as welcoming, stylish, vibrant and creative (that’s according to their website)
Bresson Fine Dining Restaurant in Monkstown led by chef, Temple Garber.
Craft, In Harold’s Cross, Bastible, and Green Man wines in Terenure (a former IWF night out was held there once) were recommended by Imelda.
Ebb and Flow in Camden Street for a Saturday brunch. I can vouch for this one if you like a full Irish or Smoked Salmon and brown bread with poached eggs and hollandaise.

We had a wonderful evening and it was lovely to finally do it after 14 years in the IWF. Thank you to my guests for a wonderful evening. And to my Chef, Brian Meehan".