Corned beef and cabbage, the traditional St. Patrick’s Day dinner in the United States, is seldom seen in modern Ireland. I used to eat the iconic boiled dinner every year. The corned beef was boiled for an hour or so, depending on how big it was, and then the cabbage,…
Roast Grouse with blackberries and liver pate at Gregan’s Castle in the Burren was the most spectacular thing we put in our mouths in 2020. Chef Robbie McCauley hits it out of the park so often, we have come to expect a home run at every meal. And as if…
The Seafood Sharing Platter at the Seafood Cafe by Niall Sabongi is a spectaular array of cold seafood including prawns, scallops, oysters and brown crab with sauces and condiments. Though intended to feed a group, I could easily eat the whole thing myself. The cafe also features several exotic Bloody…
The luscious Lobster Salad starter at the Guinea Pig Restaurant features a half lobster split in half and served with an herbal green froth and sprigs of dill. The Guinea Pig is located in the swanky Dalkey neighborhood outside of Dublin, an area blessed with a gorgeous shoreline and picture-perfect…
Scallops in brown butter at Barrtra Seafood in Lahinch are very fresh and gently cooked shellfish in a minimal sauce that lets the succulent flavor shine through. The scallops were preceded by a starter of squid seasoned with chile and lime. This charming little seafood restaurant is perched on a…
The Grilled Monkfish in Tomato Coulis at Out of the Blues Seafood in Dingle is fine plate of fish. The lovely bouillabaisse we had for a starter tipped us off that a French chef was presiding over the pots and pans in the kitchen of this waterfront seafood spot. There…
The Scampi at Julia’s Lobster Truck is a plate of sweet and succulent jumbo shrimp deep-fried in a crispy breading served with chips. Julia Hemingway does all her frying in beef tallow or “beef drippings” as they call them around here which gives her fried foods a wonderful depth of…
The Pizza Royal with ham, mushrooms and caramelized onions from the Chez Louise pizza truck is the best pizza we’ve had this year. Chef Stephan is from Alsace and his amazingly crispy pizzas have a thin crust that might remind you of an Alsatian flammenkuchen. The portable pizza stand is…
The sliced salmon salad served at the bar at Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare is garnished with capers and purple onion bits–the fish is sweet and silky with a mild smoke flavor. The house-smoked salmon is beautifully done by Chef McCreary who gave me a tour of the Lodge’s 25-year…
The Cod & Chips at Quinlan’s Fish Shop in Tralee is a cut above the rest. Quinlan’s is a fishmonger that sells fresh fish from a seafood counter as well as fried fish and chips from the chipper operation is the rear. Their batter is a secret recipe that they’ve…
