EXCITING TIMES AT 5* HOTEL EUROPE!

Killarney’s finest Hotel Europe and the biggest 5*outside of the greater Dublin area will shortly open after undertaking a very ambitious project costing around €40 million euro. Renovation of the conference centre to include the demolition of the interior of the Auditorium and the transformation of this room into a 350 seat multi-purpose function room, the alteration of the Innisfallen & Mangerton rooms into four breakout rooms and the change of the Ballroom into three breakout rooms. All these rooms will have double doors leading to the gardens with decking or patios outside the rooms.

The Tyrolian Restaurant is being demolished and instead they will have storage rooms, administration office and kitchens in this area. In addition they will have a 16 person boardroom, a coffee dock, a business touchdown area and an internal relaxation garden. This will necessitate the complete reorganization of the access points and will mean the addition of a lift and new stairway. Complete refurbishment and re-development of the Ground Floor of the hotel to include the extension of the Pavillion, the Brasserie restaurant and the Green Lounge, the addition of a bar in the Front Lobby attached to the Brasserie, the transformation of the Upper Lounge into a library, a billiard room, a business touchdown area and a boutique.

The addition of a 50,000 square foot spa to incorporate 21 treatment rooms, separate Ladies and Men’s heat experiences, Gymnasium, Pilates and Tai Chi area, Relaxation Room with Lake view, indoor 20 meter pool and outdoor heated pool and the addition of a lifestyle restaurant. We all at Caterassist wish them the very best. This company was the first to set high standards in Kerry & Ireland with the introduction of their luxury hotels.

CATERASSIST FOOD SAFETY DIVISION WINS IT CONTRACT

Caterassist Food Safety Division has won the Contract for Food Safety Consultancy, Training, HACCP at IT Tralee. After a tender process Caterassist were successfully chosen as the new Food Safety Consultants to the new College Campus at Dromtacker in Tralee. Operating State of the Art Production, Class, Pastry and Demo Kitchens, Caterassist has just recent finished this large and comprehensive project.

Jerry O'Sullivan, MD of Caterassist said, “We Installed a brand New HACCP system that also acts as a training tool for the chefs and hospitality students of tomorrow. All Staff to include students, lectures, Head of Various Departments were involved in this comprehensive Food Safety Management System. The It Tralee is now totally safeguarded in relation to Food Safety and full traceability is now active”.

MARRIOTT ARRIVES IN LIMERICK

The Limerick Marriott has 94 guest rooms comprising of 8 suites, 4 junior suites, 39 Concierge level guest rooms and 43 deluxe guest rooms. For dining and entertainment, the Limerick Marriott, features a luxurious lounge on the first floor providing light menu offerings throughout the day.

The Savoy Bar located on the ground floor reflects the history of the areas former life whilst the Savoy Restaurant also located on the ground floor offers fine cuisine in a contemporary classic setting. For conferences and social events, the Limerick Marriott has 510 sq meter of space comprising of 10 conference, banqueting and private dining suites with a capacity to accommodate 2 to 180 guests.

To relax, unwind and rejuvenate the hotel offers an indoor swimming pool, 250 sq meter gym and four treatment rooms. Other amenities include a Concierge Lounge, Business Centre and terraced gardens with views of Limerick City and the Shannon River.

CATERERS REQUIRED TO DISPLAY ORIGIN OF BEEF

New Leaflet Detailing New Beef Labeling Requirements Available

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published a new leaflet to assist caterers understand and implement the recent beef labeling requirements. The Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations, 2006 requires all caterers to provide information on the country of origin of beef, in certain circumstances, that they sell on their premises to customers. Caterers must provide information on where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered in a clearly visible and legible manner. It can be displayed on menus, or on a sign in the premises or in the window of a food establishment.

The FSAI stated that the leaflet will act as a resource to the catering industry to assist compliance with the Regulations. The new labeling initiative will help consumers make informed decisions on the beef they select in hotels, restaurants, public houses and canteens. The FSAI has been preparing for the enforcement of these Regulations, and has consulted widely on the interpretation and practicalities of enforcement. A guidance document on enforcement of these Regulations has already been issued to environmental health officers.

Copies of the leaflet for caterers and the guidelines for environmental health officers and further information on the country of origin of beef labelling requirements are available here, or by calling the FSAI advice-line on 1890 336677, where trained advice-line assistants and qualified food scientists will be happy to answer your questions.

WATER DECLARED SAFE IN PARTS OF GALWAY

The Health Service Executive (HSE) and Galway County Council today announced that the water-boil notice has been lifted in the area of the county supplied by the Luimnagh plant.

The Luimnagh water treatment plant serves the area of the county to the east of Lough Corrib. However, over 70,000 people in the area supplied by the Terryland plant, which includes Galway City, Barna, Moycullen and Castlegar should continue to boil water for drinking and food preparation until further notice to guard against infection from the cryptosporidium bacteria.

The HSE West has recommended that those with low immune systems should continue to boil drinking water as a precautionary measure, and said it would contact businesses in the area about the safe use of ice and drink machines. Improvements to the facilities at the Luimnagh plant have eradicated the cryptosporidium bacteria that was in the water. The water from the plant has been tested, and a report from Galway County Council declared it clean and safe for human consumption.

"The number of new cases of cryptosporidiosis notified in the last month has declined to the levels expected to be seen at this time of year", the report added. Galway citizens have been forced to boil their drinking and cooking water for the past four months due to water contamination.