Stuck for Valentine's ideas? This Dublin chipper might have the answer…
Much-loved northside chipper Macari's - serving the needs of Ballymun, Glasnevin and Drumcondra for 25 years as well as hordes of hungry DCU students - has come up with a novel wheeze for this Valentine's Day.
The chipper is offering punters weary of the restaurant experience a special 'all-in' Valentine's package featuring Italian wine, Italian music and of course - chips.
"With restaurant business on the up you may find it difficult to reserve a table for your loved one this Valentines day in your favourite restaurant," Macari's wrote on their website, in a post somewhat optimistically entitled 'Book a Romantic Evening in Macari's'.
"Macaris to the rescue," they continued.
"Mama will be preparing some of her best kept Italian recipes, wines will be from our family vineyard from the hills of Rome and music will be provided by Italian legend Toto Cotugno.
"Toto Cotugno?" I hear you cry.
"Not Toto Cutugno? 1990 Eurovision winner and best known for his worldwide hit song, 'L'Italiano (The Italian)'?"
Yes, Tony Cutugno.
Here he is in full flight.
Well, we got straight on the blower to Macari's and unfortunately, Toto isn't going to be there in person on the night.
"Well… he'll be coming through the speakers," said Macari's proprietor Fabio Molle, shuffling awkwardly and forever destroying our dreams of catching a genuine Eurovision legend in the flesh in a Glasnevin chipper.
Fabio, for his part, is convinced the night is going to be a roaring success - Toto or no Toto.
"It's a bit of fun," he told breakingnews.ie. "There's a lot of competition out there for Valentine's Day and in Dublin anyway it can be hard to get a restaurant reservation.
"So we thought we'd put on something a little special and see what the response was."
Final arrangements for the night have yet to be finalised, with much to depend on the response from punters.
"We're not sure if we're going to shut down at 9 and put in 10 tables, or keep the takeaway open and just keep four," said Fabio in the breezy tone of a man who is quite clearly winging it.
"The menu will be classic take-away but with an Italian flavour," he added. And yes, there is an actual Mama in the background who will be directing things in the kitchen.
And the kicker?
"We'll be doing it for free," said Fabio.
"It's just a bit of fun so we won't be charging people - we'll see what the response is like and then maybe do a lottery system to see who gets in on the night."
Looks an awful lot more enticing now, doesn't it?
Email valentinesday@macaris.ie for more info.
Now I'm starving.
