Over the Summer, we launched a very special product, Seasoning: An illustrated journey through the seasons with twelve gorgeous brunch recipes. Inside a beautiful keepsake box, you will find twelve illustrated prints by Sally Caulwell, twelve corresponding brunch recipes by Sally's sister, chef Laura Caulwell, and a handcrafted wooden stand by Coolree Design to prop up your recipe card in the kitchen. The emphasis on these delicious recipes is on seasonal eating and home-grown Irish produce.

To better demonstrate these mouth-watering recipes, we recently organised a photo shoot in a friend's beautiful kitchen, so Laura could cook and serve six of her dishes from the boxset. Over the coming months, we will share images from this shoot including recipe notes to give you a better insight into this gorgeous set. 

November: Pumpkin with Dukkah, tahini yoghurt and fried eggs. 

Not only do pumpkins make beautiful Halloween decorations, but they're also delicious and versatile. Crown Prince, hokkaido and spaghetti squash are all grown in Ireland. Dukkah is an Egyptian spiced nut mixture, and it is good on everything! Make it in large batches and keep it for emergencies. Pink pickled onions accompany this dish. Really easy to make, these would be delicious with cold meats, in sandwiches and of course with eggs any which way. 

You can purchase the full Seasoning boxset here. 

We're incredibly lucky here at Irish Design Shop to have so many restaurants on our doorstep on Drury St, here's just a few of our favourites.

A hub for food lovers, Fallon and Byrne boasts a sizeable market, cafe, deli, restaurant, and basement wine bar. As they have such a range downstairs, the focus is on fresh ingredients which makes for some seriously good dishes. Ideal for solo diners or large groups looking for wine and nibbles, call in Mondays and Tuesdays for €1 corkage on their retail wines.

Sister to well known gem Etto, Uno Mas is aptly named "one more". Unlike its Italian sibling, the focus here is on more Spanish tapas. Some seriously good small plates, not to mention a fantastic wine menu.

Meters from our doorstep, Market Bar is a gastrobar that offers up tapas, cheeseboards and small plates. A large space means you're rarely stuck for a table, but check out The Black Market upstairs for a cosier vibe. A great whiskey range, but more importantly they serve house made sangria by the litre. No further information is required.

Previously a bakery, La Maison's head chef has worked all his life in Michelin star restaurants - and it shows. They serve up simple but confident traditional French cuisine, with excellent seafood and vegetarian options to choose from also. Their breads and pastries available during the day are worth the trip alone, but consider yourself remarkably lucky if you spot the tarte tatin for two on the menu (the second person to help you finish it is entirely optional, we found).

As the name suggests, Sole is a restaurant that really gives fresh seafood pride of pla(i)ce. Decked out with a suitably nautical themed room, they even serve towers of seafood to share until 4.30pm, akin to an alternative afternoon tea. We particularly like the locally sourced items on the menu, such as the fresh oysters from Carlingford.

A matter of steps from our door, Blazing Salads offers a huge range of vegan and vegetarian dishes as well as desserts that are honestly dangerous to have at such a close proximity to us on our lunchbreaks. With a hot and cold salad bar as well as menu items such as pizza, burgers and quiche, its a gem of a spot to grab lunch on the go. Our favourites include the rice balls as well as the halloumi wraps. The also offer vegetarian and vegan cookery books and lessons, which make great gifts. 

A late night spot, Ukiyo serves up cocktails, karaoke and sushi until 2am. All their breads and desserts are made in house, as well as a menu with lots of local, sustainable and line caught fare. Great for groups and partiers for drinks as well as speedier diners grabbing an express bento box at lunch.

Named after the Yeats poem, The Winding Stair have a genuine love and passion for locally sourced food and modern Irish cuisine. Produce is sourced from artisans around Ireland, including most cheese, meat, and seafood. A dedicated beer menu showcases local and international micro breweries, and even suggests matches to dishes. The wine list is extensive and also aims to showcase some of the new and emerging stellar boutique wine makers from the new and old worlds. Below, the bookshop has been retained since the 70s and 80s as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. Still in place are old girders, which give a nod to its past as a tweed loom.

A younger sibling to the Winding Stair, The Woolen Mills refer to themselves as a relaxed "eating house". Rather than a more formal restaurant, this all rounder spot is ideal for for a scone, coffee, glass of wine, salad to takeaway for lunch, or indeed a full four course meal overlooking the Liffey. The Woollen Mills stacks over four floors featuring a deli, its very own bakery, restaurant, as well as a beautiful roof terrance. This historic riverside mill is one of the most iconic buildings in Dublin, and impressively lists James Joyce as a past employee, selling tweed back when it was a fabric wholesaler and haberdashery.

It's hard to believe Fish Shop started out life at Blackrock Market, dealing out batches of fresh fish and chips from a converted shed. Now hailed as the best fish and chip shop in Ireland, they are more settled on Queen St. This gem is ran by a husband and wife team, produce is sourced by stellar supplier Kish Fish, meaning they can tell you the source of each dish.

It is a true testament to a restaurant when they receive a Michelin Bib Gourmand in less than a year of opening, not to mention every year since. Delahunt produce every element of their dishes in house, from Guinness bread to their signature home smoked salmon. They offer simply four starters, four mains, and four desserts, allowing them to produce high-quality food, fresh on site. Its also worth noting for both Delahunt and their in house cocktail bar, The Sitting Room, they use only seasonal, local spirits in the bar, featuring a local producer for vodka, gin, and whiskey.

‘But wait till I tell you, he said. Delahunt of Camden Street had the catering and yours truly was chief bottle washer.’ So goes the passage in Ulysses about the Delahunt grocers of Camden Street in the 1920s. Turns out Joyce isn't wrong nearly a century later either. 

A late night, greasy spoon eatery in a past life, The Richmond have lovingly repaired and refurbished this Portobello building to create a Michelin Guide worthy restaurant. The head chef has previous stars on his belt such as the infamous and much missed La Mere Zou. Among their signature dishes are rotating steak specials as well as a suitably jaw dropping short rib eggs benedict if you're lucky enough to visit for brunch.

Coppinger Row serves up mediterranean cuisine, with everything from lamb flatbread to yellowfin tuna on the menu. Tucked away on the ever-busy South William St, this makes it the ideal spot to hide out for a mid afternoon lunch any time of year, be it halfway through Christmas Shopping or a summer stroll. The cocktails are the real heroes here - made with gin, basil and agave, the Flo and Basy tops the list for us.

"Duck is one of my favourite Dublin spots. Duck is known for authentic Hong Kong duck and fresh dumplings. Supplied by the famous Irish Silver Hill Farm and cooked in a traditional bullet oven, expect intense flavour and a full belly. I highly recommend the boneless duck with pak choi and rice. Go heavy on the plum sauce!” - Grace's Staff Pick

“Cornucopia is always my go-to. Honestly my favourite breakfast in Dublin, whether you’re vegetarian or not. Their take on a full Irish is indulgent without clogging your arteries (too much!). The veggie sausages, hash browns and scrambled tofu are a must. If you’re not feeling the five items, the blueberry pancakes are amazing and the millet porridge with banana and passion fruit will fuel you for the day. The lunch and dinner menu are also full of choice and reasonably priced.” - Kate's Staff Pick

"I rave about The Chameleon to everyone, it's been going for over twenty years for a reason. They're known for Indonesian food and asian tapas, serving up lots of seafood as well as veggie and vegan dishes. Definitely go all out and order the set menus. They have a meat, fish and vegan one so it suits everyone, which makes it ideal for larger groups. They bring out plate after plate of the most delicious curries, salads, bao, and seasonal veg. If you can, ask to sit upstairs where they have the cosiest room full of couches and cushions. Not just for comfort, but for the impending food coma after." - Hannah's Staff Pick

We are lucky to be here on Drury Street, with a huge selection of amazing pubs and bars on our doorstep. We’ve compiled a list of our favourites to share with you, whether you’re visiting Dublin or just looking to try something new!

First up is The Stags Head, A cosy traditional pub with live music/comedy most nights.The Stags Head serves a mighty pint of Guinness and is good for bigger groups. Situated on Dame Court, their outdoor area is the perfect place to have a pint and chat in the summertime.

Next up is the always-bustling Grogan’s castle lounge, just around the corner from the shop. Grogan’s is no doubt one of the best people watching spots in Dublin, where you can always find a friendly face and a delicious toastie!

Around the (other) corner is Fade Street, which boasts a number of great bars. There’s L’Gueuleton, a french restaurant and bar with excellent people-watching seats outside. Next door is The Bar With No Name serving amazing cocktails and chill atmosphere - try the ‘Gin Daisy’. This bar has no name outside (obviously) but is marked with a wooden snail suspended above the door.

Hogans, also on Fade Street is a spacious bar, great for big groups. Hogans has been known to have some good tunes playing downstairs on a Saturday night too.

For a cosier, chill vibe we absolutely love The Library Bar on Exchequer Street. Filled with open fireplaces, plush embroidered armchairs and leather sofas, this relaxed bar is the perfect place for a quiet drink. It’s also great for families and a lovely festive spot at Christmas.

For a totally different atmosphere, try Bruxelles rock bar. Located next to the famous Phil Lynott statue off Grafton Street, this busy joint has an Irish heavy rock heritage and 3 bars. This is a great place for big groups of friends and watching a match. The food served here is also delicious; an all rounder!

Next we are looking closer to home, just across the street to Loose Canon cheese and wine. The brainchild of Gruel Gorilla’s Kevin Powell and Brian O’Keefe of Meet Me in The Morning, this place is the go-to for artisan cheeses and wine. This is definitely the perfect place for a glass of wine in the summer; with standing room only, you can always find the pavement outside Loose Canon dotted with wine and cheese lovers enjoying the sunshine.

Further afield is The Cobblestone, traditional Irish music bar and venue. Truly authentic, this laid back and friendly pub is built on family tradition – respect for music and culture.

Some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians lead traditional Irish music sessions in the bar seven days a week. The music is not put on for show. Musicians and singers hand on songs, tunes and skills that keep the tradition alive. Everyone is welcome. The Cobblestone is in one of Dublin’s oldest neighbourhoods, Smithfield, one minute from the Luas stop and fifteen minutes walk from the city centre.

Another older pub with a rich heritage is The Swan - This Victorian pub is one of the oldest licensed premises in the city centre, having operated as a bar since 1661. Great selection “of craft beers and whiskey. Live music at weekends, one of our favourite Dublin pubs, the staff are brilliant too. 

Finally, we will wrap it up with one of the coolest bars in Dublin; Lucky’s. Located in the heart of the Liberties, Lucky's is a bar which successfully combines a laid back day time feel with a more raucous nighttime buzz with its busy schedule of dj's. Excellent beer menu and their cocktails are top notch. The jewel in the Lucky's crown is the presence of a wood-fired pizza truck in the sunny yard, drop in before 7pm daily to avail of the pizza, pint offer.

I make a range of 100% wool felt animals call Flock. They’re not toys or sculptures, something in-between. Something people just seem to like to have around the house or on a desk at work, just to look at or feel. I’ve been making them since 2006 and they’ve evolved and grown up a good bit over the years. I try to use mainly natural un-dyed wool from different breeds of sheep, I love all the varying browns and greys and the textures.

Could you describe your studio to us? What is your favourite thing about the space?

I work in an old Grocers shop on Benburb Street, Dublin 7. It’s part of the ground floor of a 4 storey red brick apartment block along the Luas track near Smithfield. It’s got a great big heavy door and a large window letting in plenty of natural light. My favourite thing about the space is that most of the shelving, display furniture, sink unit, work benches were made from whatever building materials had been left there when I moved in - it was cheaper and easier to reuse it than to get rid of it but also gives it an authentic and natural aesthetic. I also like that customers can just wander in and buy stuff while I’m working. I don't really miss the whole events based selling thing. 

 What is your favourite tool and why?

 I don’t so much have one favourite tool but I do have a favourite scissors for each task. I have a lot of scissors. Some are cheap awful ones that still seem to perform one particular job better than any other. I don't even know where most of them have come from, I’m sure I've only deliberately bought scissors a few times. My first son could say scissors before he could say Mammy and Daddy.

What is your inspiration?

I’ve just always liked making things. As a child, I would make toys (bows and arrows, lightsabers etc.) and instead of playing with them when they were finished I’d just try and make another one better than the last. And I always liked making money for myself. At school, I would sell drawings of animals at the craft fair, design t-shirts or paint peoples Doc Martins and through university I put on band nights and did some DJing. 

What led you to choose this craft as a profession? What do you love most about it?

My mother got into felt making when I was a teenager so there was always wool around. While at Art College I started making wallets and record bags from it, just for myself. It was easy enough to do at home at first as there weren’t any special tools I needed. Eventually I started taking them to markets and then left my job and it grew from there. There were a lot of different products along the way and it really took years before I was doing what I am now with the felt animals. 

I love being my own boss, being able to decide how important everything is and like all creatives, I love when I get to work on new things.

 How do your surroundings affect your work?

Having an area of my studio set up as a shop space means work is displayed all the time so it makes me time to think about creating a coherent range. So I think my studio surroundings give me a sense of direction. But it can be a battle to stop making items you know don't sit right and you’ve moved on from but still sell well. 

Usually whatever is the newest or the latest to have a redesign. I’m really liking the rust coloured Merino crabs right now. (which are available to purchase here.)

Our recent photo shoot, inspired by citric tones and (occasional) warm Summer evenings, led us to post our tried and tested favourite lemonade recipe. Serve with a few sprigs of fresh mint, and wedges of oranges and lemons. Also ideal with vodka for the Summer party by the paddling pool! 

To make the lemonade, dissolve 400g of sugar in 1.6 litres of water. Add the zest of three lemons. Bring to the boil and then remove from the heat.

When the liquid is cool, remove the lemon zest and add 300ml of lemon juice. This is about 6-8 lemons, depending on size. Taste the lemonade and make sure the balance between sweet and sour is right for you.

Bottle the lemonade and keep it in the fridge. It’s best to leave it a day or two before you drink it, as it definitely gets better with a little time!