From Goa To Google

The Sun & Sand gang THURS4JAN24

here a suspiciously sunny and happy lot today over at the appropriately-named Sun & Sand.

Maybe it’s the surprisingly sweet January weather, or perhaps it’s just something in that fine Kilcoole air…

Then again, it might just all be down to the simple fact that head chef Manjunath Naik is pretty much a global legend in culinary circles.

Here’s a man who first came to notice in the early 1990s, working as head chef at the Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort in Goa, India, before moving on up to Dubai’s even fancier Intercontinental Hotel in 1995 as Demi Chef De Partie. Winning a Gold Medal in the Emirates Salon Culinary in 1999 saw our man Manjunath being invited over to sunny Ireland, landing at The Merrion Hotel before Google lured the foodie fave to their Dublin HQ.

Along the way, Manjunath has been the subject of awards aplenty, along with glowing pieces in the press from such noted Irish food critics as Lucinda O’Sullivan and the late, great Paolo Tullio.

Raju, Savita & Manjunath

It was somewhat inevitable then that the man would open his own restaurant one day, and Manjunath is clearly proud of what he has created at Sun & Sand, situated above Lee’s Of Kilcoole.

“Having my own kitchen was always something I wanted to do some day,” he explains when we met up earlier today. “I had so much experience in Ireland over the past 30 years, learning what worked and what didn’t work, discovering what people here really liked. I needed to bring all that experience and great food together in one place.

“Taste is king, of course, but the healthiness of our food is also incredibly important to me. We source every ingredient ourselves, we are meticulous in the preparation process, and we pride ourselves on doing everything just right. No shortcuts, no cheap alternatives...”

It’s an approach that might just explain Sun & Sand scoring an incredible 98% on their latest Basic Food Hygiene Certificate, an accomplishment Manjunath had previously achieved back in Dubai.

“People seem to love our food,” he finishes, “which is what drives my passion for cooking. There are few finer things in life than good food, and on top of all the takeaways, we love it when people eat-in here at Lee’s too.

“That way, we get to see their satisfied faces firsthand…”

Open Tuesday to Saturday 4.30pm to 10pm and Sundays 12.30pm to 9pm, you can find out more about Sun & Sand on their website here, order online here, and keep up with their seasonal new menus and special events on Facebook here or Instagram here. You can also call here or email here about bookings.