Family checks out restaurant's menu for RTE programme
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Wednesday February 17 2010
A Sligo restaurant is playing its part in a popular RTE programme's campaign to improve healthy menus for children.
A film crew from the Afternoon Show visited Davis' Restaurant at the Yeats Tavern, Drumcliffe, on Tuesday last, to film a segment which will be broadcast on the show on Friday next.
The Afternoon Show nutritionist, Paula Mee, met with Davis's head chef, Margaret O'Donnell and restaurant manager, Jackie Davis, to find out all about their childrens' menus. She viewed the kitchen area and chatted about how the childrens' food is cooked.
Having examined the menu, Paula will next consult with the Afternoon Show chef, Richie Wilson, about how to adapt the menus to make them nutritional in terms of ingredients, cooking practices and cost issues.
Then, in Dublin, Ritchie will meet with Margaret and chefs from three restaurants from the other Provinces - Davis's was chosen as the Connacht representative - to work out what changes can be made to the menus.
An added twist is that each of the four featured restaurants has been reviewed by a local family. In Sligo, checking out what Davis's had on offer for children, were the Casserly family from North Sligo, parents, John and Caitriona, and children, Grace, aged 9, Ciaran (7) and Maeve (6), and they will give their views on Friday's show.
Once the menus are changed, the Afternoon Show team will return to the restaurant with the Casserly family and nutritionist Paula Mee to sample the new fare. Paula will chat to Margaret and Jackie about the changes and the restaurant will be awarded The Afternoon Show Healthy sticker.
"It's a terrific idea and we were glad to take part," Jackie told THE SLIGO CHAMPION. "We have always taken great care with our childrens menu, so we were naturally thrilled when the Afternoon Show team found there was actually very little that needed to be changed. But, of course, we will willingly take on board whatever they and the family reviewers recommend."
- JIM GRAY
