Letters Page

Dear John and Sally

I recently joined your E Mail service. I was wondering if you would give me some advice about eating out in Dublin. My wife and 18 year old daughter are going to Dublin next week for three days and have as usual booked Roly's for a meal. We always book Roly's before we book our hotel! We were wondering where you might recommend - apart from Roly's - bearing in mind that we have an 18 year old with us! Any suggestions? Incidentally we live about a half a mile from Alden's in Belfast. Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Barry Edgar Belfast

*Hi Barry, Hot spots in Dublin which might suit an 18 year old would be Tribeca in Ranelagh (ex-Elephant & Castle and Dish folk: great chicken wings) the Mermaid Café on Dame Street; AYA sushi bar on Clarendon Street, Halo in The Morrison Hotel (expensive, very funky). Dish in Temple Bar is great, so is Eden, for young folk, so is 101 Talbot if you are in that neck of the woods. Have a good trip. We envy you living so close to Alden's!

Dear John and Sally

hi, thanks for the piece on EL BULLI. How can one get there from Barcelona if they cannot drive themselves? thanks.

Nik Sri (Bangkok)

*Hi Nik This is one of many letters concerning El Bulli, and the key detail you have to know about Ferran Adria's extraordinary restaurant is that you simply cannot get a table in it at any time for the rest of the year. It's booked out until it closes in September.

Dear John and Sally

I am contacting you on behalf of Silverado Estate Coffee: http://www.shadeyjava.com

Silverado Estate practices sustainable agricultural methods and feature shade grown quality coffee. Currently we have nearly 1,000 acres (of 5,000 acres) under cultivation and are increasing our production every year. We are interested in marketing our green beans and wonder if this is something that may be of interest to you.

If so, please contact me so I can pass along your name to an estate representative. I would be pleased to send you a sample of our green beans.

Thank you for your time.

Larry Myles, Silverado Estate Coffee

*Any coffee heads, please note Larry's request.

Dear John

I am wondering if you have any knowledge of any McKenna's in the USA? My grandfather William McKenna was born in Canada. His father was John McKenna born Sept. 1852 of Irish parents. John married Katherine Kehoe in Canada, their children were: William, Annie, Mary, Elizabeth, Regina, John, Katherine, Florence, Walter, Charles & George. My grandfather, William, married Mary Doran, daughter of Daniel Doran and Sarah Dunphy. William & Mary's children were: John, William, George, Walter, Theodore, Grace, Ann, Sarah, Florence, Mary and Catherine (my mother). This information was obtained from the 1900 census in Quincy, MA, USA. Otherwise, little is known of the McKenna side of my family. Just curious as to whether you know anything. Thanks.and by the way I am enjoying best of Bridgestones!

*Believe me, all my family on my father's side are doolally, and the very idea of a convocation of those McKennas is unimaginable.