Currently working on Book #4 of the "Moss Reid" series (no title yet). Dublin is in yet another property bubble, landlords have upped rents to record levels and Moss has just lost his office in Stoneybatter. So I can see him spending a lot more time in the likes of the Cowtown Cafe.
It only opened last Thursday on the corner of Manor Street and Manor Place and is probably best described as nouveau greasy spoon, in the nicest possible sense.
For starters the fare includes a Full Irish (two sausages, two rashers, an egg, black pudding, white pudding, tomato, scrummy homemade potato cakes, toast or brown bread and tea or coffee), veggie options, breakfast baps, porridge, omelettes, French toast, freshly baked scones, large croissants, beans and chips.
From midday they also do burgers, fish and chips, cottage pie, soups, salads, mixed grills, pasta and even coddle. Coddle! There's also a freezer full of ice cream for the kids.
Also among the framed pictures - including one signed by Bohemians legend Glen Crowe - are a huge version of my "Republic of Cowtown" passport and the cover of the first Moss Reid book, Another Case in Cowtown.
The cafe is a new venture by Sinead Byrne and Niall Kavanagh from the Cinnamon Cafe in Smithfield, currently celebrating its tenth birthday. Niall is the big Bohs fan.
The building used to be a newsagents (Manor News) and then had many reincarnations as restaurants - for example as the pizzeria Evelyn's, then Seven, then Cucina2. But the cafe idea seems perfect.
When Sinead asked if I'd be interested in having my Republic of Cowtown and Another Case pics on the walls, I was over the moon to say the least. I've also donated some browsing copies for customers of the first three books in the Moss Reid series. Ask for one at the counter.
But I know what you're thinking: it's a postmodern conundrum. Picture Moss Reid, our Cowtown PI, in Book #4, sitting in the Cowtown Cafe with a new client and a Full Irish, and the client can't help but notice all these customers reading day-glo yellow novels about Moss's previous exploits...