The spotlight is firmly on Yellow Door’s latest box office success – the Native eatery at the MAC, Belfast’s iconic arts venue in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter.
Simon Dougan, founder of Yellow Door deli and outside catering, has teamed up with Phil Rodgers, a fellow chef and consultant with the Yellow Door Group, to stage this exciting new restaurant and bar.
“We chose the name ‘Native’ because it embodies our whole philosophy at Yellow Door – we have a passion for fabulous, locally produced food, and a desire to get the very best out of it,” explained Phil.
Promoting sustainability is at the heart of this philosophy, and to this end Simon and the team have created their own roof garden at the MAC building to grow herbs for the restaurant kitchen.
“At Yellow Door, it’s all about low food miles, lowering our carbon foot print, recycling, urban gardening – and of course freshness and food quality,” added Simon.
While championing the cause of quality local artisan food and drink producers, Native restaurant and bar also puts a keen emphasis on affordability and relaxed dining options.
Taking centre stage on the menu is ‘Native Bites’ – yet another exciting innovation from the ever inventive kitchen team, featuring a selection of scrummy snacks, like Leggygowan goats’ cheese and sun blushed tomato fritters with Armagh honey and thyme, or Gracehill black pudding fritters with apple purée – prefect for theatre-goers or those preferring a light bite as part of a relaxing social get together.
Firmly setting the scene as a ‘must visit’ venue, Native attracts an eclectic mix of diners – MAC visitors, shoppers, tourists, students, office workers, arty folk, business people…… a melting pot of diverse diners, untied by a desire for delicious tasting food and drink at a reasonable price.
The style of food during the day is informal, starting with breakfast and moving on to lunch, with hot deli-style sandwiches using Yellow Door’s own bakery sour dough and other classic artisan breads, as well as salads from the Yellow Door kitchen garden.
Evenings are different, with a choice of smaller ‘bites’ and more hearty meals, all complemented with an extensive local, artisan beer and cider list served at the bar.
Open from 9am until late, seven days a week, Native by Yellow Door has a fully licensed bar and serves everything from breakfast, coffee and Sunday brunch, to take-away lunch and pre-theatre dining.
For more information, contact Native, the MAC, 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast BT1 2NJ, t: 028 9023 5053, e: native@themaclive.com, www.themaclive.com/food-and-drink or follow on Twitter: @yellowdoordeli
