Food of Ireland

The Irish palate seemed precisely tailored for my particular tastes. I eagerly dined on Irish stew (a homestyle chunky stew of potatoes, lamb and tons of flavor), soda bread, beef and Guinness stew, and a host of traditional meats and pastries. I'm big on hearty comfort foods, which the Irish have mastered to an extent not seen in my travels. I did end up gaining a bit of weight on the trip, but it was worth it to sample every delicious dish!

After our delightful stay in Kenmare at Virginia's Guesthouse, we ventured further up the coast to Glin, to spend the evening of our first wedding anniversary at Glin Castle. To say that it's a 5 star hotel is a gross understatement. We were showered with luxury from the instant our tired, traveled feet crossed the front stoop to the moment our stuffed stomachs plopped back into our rental car.

We decided to have dinner at the castle, which was a very good idea. We feasted on our 5 course dinner in the gorgeous dining room for almost 2 and a half hours. The castle was extremely romantic, and we'd recommend it to any couple venturing around the west coast. From a foodie standpoint, it's also a really neat place to visit. Much of the food is grown or raised on the estate. Our expansive and delicious meals prove the philosophy that good food comes from good ingredients.

Based on a tip from Sam at Becks and Posh, Jenny and I made a stop to the funky Avoca Cafe. Located near the Temple Bar in Dublin, the flagship store of Avoca Handweavers had a seriously busy, and seriously good cafe. I expected more Irish food, but in reality, the fare was more French-inspired Irish grub. Not that I'm complaining!

My panini, filled with cheese and bacon, was absolutely sublime - especially when dipped in the sweet homemade ketchup on the side. Jenny's arugula salad (with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes) really hit the spot, and we split both entrees. We capped off our meal with a soft luscious scone, complete with jam and clotted cream, which is infinitely better on sweet baked goods than plain old butter. Every plate we saw in the cafe was gorgeous, and I'm sure they tasted as good as they looked.

From a food standpoint, our trip abroad was a smashing success. Jenny and I sampled lots of bits of local cuisine in both London and Ireland, without completely breaking the bank. I feel like we really got the grand tour, culinarily speaking, of the British Isles, and we look forward to our inevitable return trip!