So I am going to be completely real…When I was planning our trip to Ireland I was a bit skeptical about the food. In my mind, I thought it was going to be a ton of hearty meat pies and doughy fried goodness; which don’t get me wrong is delicious but a bit difficult to sustain a foodie palette for a week, and not come out feeling like a meat pie yourself.
Well, I am happy to say that the food in Ireland BLEW US AWAY!!! From Rosé flights in Dublin to the best mussels, we have ever consumed in Dingle to fresh oysters all around the country. Ireland truly is a foodie haven. I will be taking you through our foodie journey along the Emerald Coast.
DUBLIN
Wilde at the Westbury Hotel $$$
This place is phenomenal. The atmosphere and decor are literal perfection. We started off with their special: A Rosé flight; which included my favorite Rosé: Whispering Angel. Also included in the flight was the winery’s top brands: Rock Angel…My new favorite rosé.
Drink: The Amazing flight of rosé
Starter: Rock oysters (of course) and Beef carpaccio.
Main: The local market catch. I highly recommend any of their mains.
EAST at The Spencer Hotel $$
Asian-fusion restaurant located inside the hip Spencer hotel. We stayed at The Spencer our last night in Ireland and it could not have been more perfect. As you know we have an obsession with Thai food since our adventure to Thailand so this was a perfect way to end our trip. We opted for the Early Bird Special 3 courses for 29, feel free to take any leftover to the room to finish in your robe overlooking the river…Highly recommend.
Starters:
vegetable spring rolls: Cabbage, carrot & herbs wrapped in crispy pastry served with sweet chili sauce.
Tom Yum Soup: This traditional hot and sour broth is
flavored with lemongrass, coriander, galangal, chili, mushrooms & spring onion. Let me just say this is probably one of the BEST soups I have ever had. The perfect amount of spice and savory! We added this on to our 3 courses.
Main:
Vegetarian Stir-Fry
Stir-Fried Asian style vegetables in a soy-oyster sauce with tofu.
Chicken Chow Mein
Crispy turmeric chicken breast on a bed of egg noodles with Asian vegetables, red chili, soy and oyster sauce. I STILL fantasize about this dish. Maybe in my top 10 of all time!
CORK
What I learned about Cork is that its a foodie haven! So much deliciousness for every taste! Here are a couple of our favs….
LUNCH: The Rocket man ($) This place is phenomenal for healthy lunch options. I opted to build my own salad bowl and Jerome opted for one of their incredible sandwiches. Menu changes seasonally but it will NEVER disappoint!
THE RIVER CLUB at The River Lee Hotel $$$
We stayed at The River Lee during our time in Cork, and we could not have been happier with this hotel. The atmosphere is incredibly chic with a mid century modern twist. The food and drinks were top notch! We could not recommend this place more. It is located right on the river in the heart of Cork!
Starters: Half dozen oysters, shallot vinaigrette
Main: Superfood salad, quinoa, broccoli, beetroot, pomegranate, feta, toasted pumpkin seed, apple cider dressing
Grilled giant prawns, café de Paris butter
Sweet potato fries, paprika aioli
THE ENGLISH MARKET: ($-$$)
The English Market is an incredible place to get literally anything and everything for your culinary taste. So famous, the Queen paid a visit when she came to Cork. Jerome and I picked up some great snacks including some amazing meats, Cheeses and fresh bread for our journey up the coast.
KINSALE
Kinsale was one of my favorite little towns along our journey. It’s a quaint seaside town filled with magical colorful shops and restaurants. This is an instagrammers and a foodies dream. A place you must check out is :
If the weather permits grab a table outside on the cute little patio and enjoy some fresh seafood. Their menu is ever changing and always fresh!
STARTERS: The seafood chowder is incredible and of course we order some oysters on the half shell.
MAIN: Fishy Fish Pie: Whitefish, salmon, and shellfish cooked in a cream sauce topped with herb breadcrumbs and house mash.
Dessert: Summer Berry Trifle: Served with boudoirs biscuit & Tia Maria scented mascarpone.
DINGLE
Dingle is a little hidden gem of a town that has some incredible restaurants. We started at Ashe’s Seafood ($$) which is a quaint and legendary seafood restaurant in the heart on downtown Dingle. We started with some oysters and then had some of their infamous Mussels…and can I just say these were the BEST mussels we have ever had. TIP: an order is PLENTY to share!
After your meal it is a MUST to grab an ice cream at Murphys. ($) I went with the baileys and Jerome had the sea salt. It’s like your eating ice cream from the sea…as strange as that sounds it’s delicious! They have such unique flavors!
GALWAY
Galway is a walkable little town in West Ireland filled with trad (traditional) Irish music, unique pubs, and great food! We stayed two nights here and got to partake in some great dishes.
Located on the corner of the river in a pristine location you will find this incredible Italian restaurant, and let me tell you it is not to be missed. 2019 Michelin, and 2018 winner of the Best Italian Establishment by The Food Awards Ireland. The menu consists of contemporary Italian with a mix of seasonal Cicchetti, pasta, risotto, fish, and meat. They use the best of Irish produce, local producers and the best exports the Italian peninsula has to offer. All of the wine on their menu is 100% Italian and have over 75 different wines. We enjoyed a beautiful bottle of Sauvignon Blanc outside on the patio overlooking the river with some new friends we met along the way. The perfect way to spend a sunny day in Galway
THE QUAY STREET KITCHEN ($)
Quay Street Kitchen is a small, cozy restaurant located in the heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter. A great place to sit outside, people watch, and have some delicious eats.
GOOD FOOD FOR EVERY BODY’ IS OUR MOTTO. WHETHER YOU ARE VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN, A CARNIVORE OR GLUTEN FREE, ASK SERVES UP QUALITY DISHES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
The Quay Street Kitchen
ARD BIA at NIMMOS ($$$)
Inside a small stone building adorned with a red door you will find this special little gem known as Ard Bia. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner it is an absolute must when you visit Galway
The Dough Bros
Great Pizza located in the heart of O’Connell’s pub. A great place to gather, make some new friends, and eat some delicious pizza
KAI RESTAURANT ($$)
This is one of our favorite places we went in Ireland. Not only was the food delicious but the atmosphere is phenomenal! Such a cute quaint space with beautiful natural lighting and rustic design.
the menu is listed on a giant chalkboard in the main dining area and changes constantly to what is in season. I opted for the goat’s curd, summer squash with rice pilaf and quinoa salad served with a miso herb focaccia; which was unbelievably flavorful and delicious. I wanted to lick the bowl when I finished. Jerome ordered a Doonbey crab and new potato dish with fresh parsley and greens salad drizzled with a brown butter sauce that was fresh and seasoned perfectly. Each dish is served with a fresh piece of bread paired to the flavors of the dish. And of course, we recommend a bottle of rose to wash it all down.
BON APPETIT!
Yummy! I’m ready to go back and take this tour of Ireland!
Its soooo good!! The food was phenomenal!! my bags are packed! Lets go!