Cork foodies Trawler Boyz up for best chowder award

The Trawler Boyz food truck in Ballycotton is truly a family affair.

At the helm of this successful business is Fiona McNamara, along with her sons Patrick and Ronan, their father, Brian, and three exceptional chefs.

And now the business has been nominated for an award as the best chowder in all of Ireland!

The enterprise began with an idea and a food truck selling the freshest of fish.

Throw in the gorgeous surrounds of Ardnahinch and Shanagarry, and the food truck business took off.

From 2019 to February, 2023, Trawler Boyz served their customers the freshest of fish, chips and sides, prepared with their own secret recipes, and accepted graciously the compliments that came flooding in.

Fiona says that during the Covid period, they provided a wonderful opportunity for people to park their cars, look at the stunning views, and have the food brought to them, or to sit at the beach enjoying delicious food prepared to order.

The gardaí were wonderful, she points out. “We followed their guidance with regard to parking and cones, etc, and they were always available if we had any questions.”

Their customers have included no less than the famed culinary duo Cully and Sully, along with Gordon Ramsey’s top chef Anna Haugh, who was happy to admit that the chowder made by the Trawler Boyz was better than her own!

Throw in the likes of TV presenter Vanessa Feltz and Neven Maguire’s seafood trails in 2022, among others, and you see why this food truck has become much-loved and a thriving business.

So, when an opportunity to ‘settle down’ presented itself, in February 2023, the McNamaras decided as a family that it was an opportunity that they wanted to explore.

The Blackbird Bar on the Main Street in Ballycotton is a much loved and popular charming old-style pub with a large seating area at the back, a homely lounge with open fire, and an inviting glass-fronted reception room for events.

Famed for its welcoming staff and relaxed atmosphere, it was a marriage made in heaven for both enterprises to link up.

With an already strong customer base, and word of mouth doing the rest, they are thronged every weekend with locals, visitors to East Cork, and the many that have travelled to taste the delectable delights for themselves.

The Trawler Boyz still do all the cooking in their famed and much-loved trailer, so customers can see their food being prepared while enjoying a chat and maybe a pint from the pub counter.

Seating is both indoors and outdoors, and this has proved very popular with those making their nuptials. They can seat up to 50 guests in the function room with up to 120 accommodated for the ‘afters’ events.

They already have 20 weddings booked for 2025 so business is thriving.

As for the most popular dish? That is currently the spice box.

Do people ask for their recipes? Yes, even students from the nearby cookery school are eager to know! Fiona says they are happy to give hints, but that the full recipes are a secret.

The Trawlers Boyz and crew are happy to work 14-hour days, as they love their job. The aim, they say, is to make sure every customer leaves happy, their reputation depends on it, they say.

The artwork on their food truck carries on in the design of the Blackbird set up, and it is truly beautiful work by Cork artist Adam Dust O’Connor.

Would they ever consider expanding?

“Yes, we’re always open to new challenges and adventures,” says Fiona.

Although it must be pointed out that the VAT rate of 13.5% is always on the back of their minds. It’s the reason a lot of businesses are struggling to stay open, Fiona says.

“It’s always a worry for small or medium enterprises like ours.”

This summer, Trawlers Boyz have been nominated in the McKennas’ Guides SOUPerb awards campaign, to find the best chowder in Ireland.

With nearly 400 nominees, the most voted-for locations will go through to the finals in September, to be judged personally by the soup experts themselves, and their partners John and Sally McKenna.

With their delicious white wine cream sauce, along with garlic butter and chunks of the freshest of fish, it is hardly surprising that Neven Maguire called it “seriously good!”

The Trawler Boys are open at the Blackbird, Ballycotton and The Field Kitchen - Thursdays and Fridays from 4.30pm to 8.30pm; Saturdays from 1pm to 8.30pm; Sundays from 1pm to 7.30pm.

They also do takeaways. Check out their Facebook page to see what’s on offer.