Simply Delicious

Dockland food lovers are about to have their appetites teased by an increasing range of delectables. A new food market along the lines of those already operating in Temple Bar and Leopardstown racecourse is being test marketed in the Mayor Square section of the Docklands on the eastern edge of the IFSC and just north of the National College of Ireland campus.

In addition Marks and Spencer has announced plans to open a Simply Food convenience store at the waterfront Clarion Quay development on Excise Walk in late autumn. This will be its second Simply Food store in Dublin after the opening of its first store in Dun Laoghaire in July. M&S has already built up a considerable reputation for its sandwiches and other convenience foods making it ideal for those wishing to eat out around while enjoying the fresh air of the canal docks at Custom House Quay. This is in addition to the new Vaults Bar and Restaurant which opened under Connolly Station only last year.

EXOTIC FLAVOURS

In contrast to the convenience of the M&S store, many of the stall holders in the Mayor Square Food Market cook their own products offering a choice of everything from home made breads and cakes to unusual  experiments in mixing exotic flavours and ethnic foods.

However this has its limitations as the cook traders may not always have the time to both cook and sell. Consequently some of them may not be able to attend three markets a week or have the production capacity to meet the demand.

On the otherhand, those who have been successful in the Temple Bar and Leopardstown markets could now find that with the new Mayor Square market they have the sales demand to expand their operations and employ either family or staff to increase production. Who knows the Docklands may soon contribute as much to generating jobs in the traditional food industry as it has in the financial services sector.  

A spokesperson for the Dublin Docklands Develop-ment Authority, DDDA said that the first of the food markets was held on Wednesday July 30 and it is hoped to host similar versions every Wednesday.

This would not clash with the Temple Bar market which is held on a Saturday or the Leopardstown market held on Fridays.