Masterchef makes peace

THE SOCIAL NETWORK:MasterChef Ireland judge Dylan McGrath presided over the final "soft opening" of his new Dublin restaurant, Fade Street Social, on Wednesday evening, before it opened to the public on Thursday.

Jay Bourke arrived to sample the food and drink. He was one of four objectors to the Circuit Civil Court’s granting of a full public-house drinks licence to McGrath’s new €1.4 million restaurant, which allows the sale of pints and shorts as well as wine.

McGrath took advantage of Bourke’s presence.

“I just put down two plates of food for free – two little tapas portions – and I said, ‘Here, eat this even though you don’t deserve it,’ but I was only joking,” he told me.

Objections had also been lodged by restaurateurs and bar owners John Reynolds, Paul Keaveney and Frank Gleeson.

According to McGrath, John Reynolds is a good friend. “I respect him a lot. He has been very encouraging over the years and has always been there for me. It was strictly a business thing. We texted each other the whole way through the case.”

Who we spottedThe 12 contestants in this year's MasterChef Ireland; Trevor White; Abie Philbin Bowman.