You may have noticed a small change in Sandymount in recent times– the vegetable shop on Sandymount Road has changed hands and is now run by Michael Byrne, proprietor of the craft butcher’s across the road.

Although it is still a vegetable shop, there have been many improvements made for the benefit of customers, in fact you should now be able to find all those more elusive products without having to search outside Sandymount.

The vegetables are stored on refrigerated shelving which keeps them fresher for longer. In addition to the usual vegetables there are the unusual ones such as the shitake mushrooms, baby carrots and courgettes and they also stock organic produce in the fresh vegetable section. If you are looking for anything they don’t have, then they will do their best to source the product.

The shop now stocks a large variety of olives, sun dried tomatoes, fresh herbs including fresh lemongrass. The cheese selection is extensive and includes goat’s cheese, Roquefort, buffalo and cow’s mozzarella, camembert, Danish blue, Irish cheddars, parmesan and brie.

If you are becoming adventurous with cooking, which many people are these days, you will also appreciate the variety of flavoured oils, sauces of all kinds and the new gourmet African ones arriving soon.

This shop stocks delicious patés such as lobster, wild boar, pheasant and a vegetarian one too. If you are a vegetarian or are trying to eat healthily, the section of dried nuts, fruits and different beans will truly appeal. There is also brown and white basmati and other rices including wild rice.

Over the Christmas period they are also stocking speciality mince pies, brandy butter, cranberry sauce and chocolates, yule logs. They will have some Christmas baskets made up too but they can also make a basket of whichever products you like.

With such a large choice inside and more products being included all the time according to customers’ requests, you can be sure to make a special culinary gift basket.