Ex-Leinster rugby star opens restaurant in Tullamore
Local foodies are rejoicing this week following the opening of Mexican restaurant Zambrero in Tullamore with the creation of ten new jobs.
Mexican food has firmly established as one of Ireland's most popular ethnic cuisines and Zambrero's menu features all of your favourite dishes including burritos, tacos, nachos and quesadillas.
There are a few things that make Zambrero stand out from the competition, however. The first is the quality of their ingredients. For carnivores, this starts with their mouthwatering meats which are slow-cooked for 18 hours using the gourmet sous vide method, which locks in both the goodness and taste. All of the dishes are made to order to ensure that they are as freshly prepared as possible, as well as giving diners the opportunity to design their meals just as they like them, whether they are a meat-eater, vegetarian, vegan, or are following a gluten or dairy-free diet.
The second is that a trip to Zambrero is not only good for your taste buds but also good for your soul.
Every time someone purchases a burrito or bowl at any of their restaurants, Zambrero sends a nutritious meal to someone in need in the developing world through its distribution partner, the international hunger relief agency, Rise Against Hunger, and its Plate 4 Plate initiative.
To date, Zambrero restaurants in Ireland and across the globe have donated over 41 million meals to disadvantaged communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Speaking to the Offaly Independent, the general manager of Zambrero Ireland, ex Leinster rugby player Darragh Fanning, said that the opening of the restaurant on Bridge Street had to be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but he is delighted to be finally up and running.
“The restaurant is in a great location, right in the heart of the town, and should be something different for people. When things start to reopen a little more, it will be a great place for people to go on a Friday evening for a bit of food and a few drinks before heading on somewhere else.”
As a former professional athlete, who opened the first Zambrero in Ireland a few weeks after he retired in 2016, Fanning knows all about the importance and benefits of a good diet.
The beauty of Zambrero's menu and Mexican food in general is that caters for people who are trying to be good and also those who are looking to treat themselves.
“People can have one of our bowls before they go to the gym or are looking for a healthy and filling lunch. If they are coming in later in the day they can have a burrito or nachos with a beer or glass of wine. We also have a great kids menu that is proving very popular in our other restaurants."