Erin go Bragh

      When I first contacted my cousin (who studied abroad in Dublin) for advice on where to eat in Ireland she told me that she thought the cuisine was mediocre at best. Though she recommended Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton Street, the rest of my culinary choices were up to me. Tripadvisor guided me to a few places, but my experienced nose primarily took the lead. 

On our first morning, we followed her suggestion and had a traditional Irish breakfast at Bewley’s with poached eggs, tomatoes, bacon, potatoes, and white and black pudding. Thank goodness I did not google the ingredients of black pudding until AFTER I ate it. We also had Irish soda bread and grainy toast with Kerrygold butter. Butter was an unexpectedly special treat, as I commonly chose olive oil in Italy. 

In America, I probably have something with buffalo/hot sauce at least once a week. By the time I arrived in Ireland, it had been a long two months since my last fix. Because of this, I was determined to try the wings from Elephant and Castle in Temple Bar. I was bummed because the wait was too long, so I regretfully stumbled next door to Gallagher’s Boxty House. We were greeted by a picturesque Irish lad with dreamy blue eyes and dark hair. His warm voice welcomed us and the cozy atmosphere pulled us in. We started with a dark Murphy’s stout and a dunbarra Irish brie cheese encrusted with a golden crumb and drizzled with a honey apricot sauce. 

      I had a filling and flavorful traditional beef stew, but the star of the table was the sautéed portobello mushrooms and boxty potato dumplings. These fluffy Irish potato dumplings were served in a velvety cashel blue cheese sauce. We finished off the meal with a Bailey’s cheesecake with a fruit compote and a shot of Jameson to celebrate my friends 21st birthday. Slainte!

 O’Neill’s Pub was the epitome of a lively, yet hospitable Irish bar. We had huge portions of fish and chips and sang along to the traditional Irish live music.

Unfortunately I did not have any memorable meals in Galway and at the Cliffs of Moher, but the scenic drive through the rolling green-hilled countryside and the views of the breathtaking coastline made up for it. 

On my way out of Ireland, I had another traditional Irish breakfast at the airport. It was only 9 am and a group of 12 rowdy Irish men were already chugging beers around me. Although they charmingly invited me to join, I remained in my booth and savored my whole wheat bread and creamy butter, consciously knowing that I would soon be stuck with white loafs and olive oil.

Slan!