New chip shop Blasta brings Dutch-style fries to Mayo

A new chip shop offering Dutch-style twice-cooked fries with international flavours and Irish-cut potatoes has opened its doors in Castlebar today.

Blasta, located on Hopkins Road, welcomed its first customers today, bringing what its owners say is the first Dutch fryer of its kind in Mayo, a piece of equipment that had to be imported specially from the Netherlands.

The fryer cooks chips at two different temperatures, creating a fluffy interior and a crunchy exterior. Potatoes are freshly chopped in front of customers before being fried Dutch-style using Irish-cut potatoes.

"I saw the Dutch-fryer online, acquired it in the Netherlands, it took from January until April 17th to get the fryer to Castlebar," the owner told The Connaught Telegraph ahead of the shop's opening.

The menu spans cone and tray options priced from €7 to €11, including Korean BBQ Chicken and Chips, a Blasta Special Spice Bag, Garlic Cheese Chips and BBQ Chips with Parmigiano Cheese, among others.

A range of smoothies at €7 and milkshakes at €5 are also on offer, with protein and creatine add-ons available for the health-conscious customer.

The business has already generated strong social media interest ahead of opening, its first Instagram video drew over 50,000 views and 4,000 likes.

Blasta is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Hopkins Road, Castlebar.