Hello dear friends, thank you for your patience with this weekends newsletter! We have been in Ireland this week and I wanted to squeeze this beautiful country of every last culture and food morsel before giving you the lowdown.
My darling husband started a new job (round of applause for him please) and this meant a week in Ireland for us both. I admit being a lady of leasure has suited me quite nicely. Mooching around boutiques, coffee shops or simply the hotel bath till the husband is finished up and ready to treat me to dinner has planted seeds of an early retirement. Alas, the rat race awaits.
We spent the week in Drogheda which was a quaint town, one hour north of Dublin. Although it’s not a place best know for its food, that being said, I’m grateful for the opportunity it gave me to get to know Ireland.
Here are somethings I learnt about the Irish culture along the way:
✨ They love potatoes - not chips… potatoes! You can pretty much guarantee a roasted, perfectly seasoned, hunk of potato whether it’s breakfast lunch or dinner. I assume this is why potatoes best pals; aioli and siracha, are found so readily - I’m delighted about this!
✨ Ireland is the land of hot lunches- Yas queen! If you’re not yet caught up with the fact I point blank refuse to grace my lips with a dull, old sandwich then you can read more about that here…
✨ According to a young man called Oisín a chicken fillet sandwich (more internationally known as the McDonald’s chicken legend) is traditionally Irish, I let him off as the flat white he made me was crafted into a beautiful foam swan, bless.
We saved up our pennies for the culinary delights of Dublin and oh my, what a food scene! I came to Dublin a few years ago for a day with my family, yes, you read correctly - a day (instert tired emoji here). Although it was a short glance into this beautiful city, the food imprinted itself onto my heart, forever. I remember fresh off the ferry finding a SPAR. I’d like to point out that I normally wouldn’t touch the fresh produce of an off-licence SPAR anywhere in the UK. The meat alone looks like something that’s been scraped up and cling filmed off the side of the M4 - enough to make one vegan. But *this* SPAR complete with fresh bakery and cafe, might have we’ll have been an M&S food hall. My eyes fell out of my head. We finished off the day with unforgettable food, tours of various alcohol companies and arrived back on the ferry stuffed, content and ready for bed.
It was with this experience in mind, that I could not wait to return, this time with my husband, who’s not only well acquainted with the little hand that reaches over to steal half his meal but who’s eyes also pop out of his head at the act of devouring something delicious. I love him.
LAS TAPAS DE LOLA.
I have this terrible habit of not eating for the sake of it, rather only eating if I really truly fancy something - typical trait of a ‘live to eat’ character - so by the time we arrived in Dublin on Friday night I was at a life-passing-before-my-eyes level of starving. Thankfully, a little tapas place caught our attention, dazzling with fairly lights and the only place bustling at 5pm, all good signs in my book. We were greeted instantly with Valencian almonds and patatas bravas, both of which my blood sugar was grateful for. We ordered plate after plate of croquets, pig cheeks (practically dribbling at remembering them) garlic prawns and such. Everything was inhaled at lightning speed velocity so no photographic evidence unfortunately. We highly recommend, especially if severely malnourished.
BROTHER HUBBARD.
If you take just one of my recommendations seriously, this is the one. Opened by two guys who simply wanted a bit more to life than the 9-5 (in solidarity with myself and Dolly Parton). Inside you are enveloped by a wide open space, ambient lighting, the joyous sight of sticky pastries and flourishing monsteras. The menu is brunch with a Middle Eastern twist, a place we are yet to explore but were simultaneously exported to with each mouthful. The harissa and yogurt lamb and patatas bravas in a romesco sauce are wonders I have already dedicated myself to recreating.
MASA.
As a teenager I spent my summers in California where the Mexican food is nothing short of ridiculous - probably something to do with the fact it was once part of Mexico (but let’s not get political). Incoming bold statement: I have never had a good Mexican since. I thought such a thing didn’t exist and concluded sunshine had something to do with the Mexican experience - something this side of the the globe couldn’t offer. But then I went to Masa. The carne asada tacos transported me to sunnier days, so much so, I ordered another plate. Order them and I’m sure you’ll do the same.
FALLON & BYRNE.
Between my previous visit to Dublin and this one, I’ve held a precious memory of an indoor food market close to my heart. I couldn’t remember the name, but I vividly remember what it made me feel - joy. The chances of finding it again felt slim, and perhaps some memories are not to be recreated, or so I told myself. When we stumbled upon Fallon & Byrne, I cried, when we visited the next day, I cried some more. A true treasure trove where food doesn’t exist for the sake of being food, but for the sake of being sensational. We savoured the time spent perusing preserves, spices and all sorts of ingredients I had never heard of.
Fallon & Byrne has stolen the top spot as my favourite shop in the whole world. It’s also single handedly responsible for the fact that next time we visit Dublin, we will be booking an Air bnb solely so I can enjoy the full satisfaction of handpicking each ingredient to cook a never-to-be-forgotten meal for my beloved, something I seldom like to do on holiday. I simply cannot wait.
KITCHEN DISCO
Music and travel go hand in hand for me. It was only this week that I realised I don’t particularly like listening to my classic favourites whilst travelling (unless it’s a stressful flight then kingdom melodies are on full blast). Rather, I like to introduce myself to new songs to forever park them in my mind in association with that place. Here are some songs I’ve listened to this week:
All Too Well - Taylor Swift (still recovering)
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