Finding Great Food In Ireland

Most of us have seen the beautiful countryside of Ireland in pictures online or in books before.  We've seen the "rolling green hills", cathedrals, castles and heard the fun loving Irish music.  But what few of us know is how fantastic the food is as well!  Before I went to Ireland I began doing research on how the food is by asking some friends who had been there recently. Their response, "It's pub food, nothing that great, nothing that interesting."  So hearing that I was kind of bummed.  One of the favorite parts about vacationing for me as a foodie, is seeking out the great food spots and enjoying each and every bite in a new country.  When I do that I always come home inspired to recreate my own dishes in a new way. 

So my first thought was "it's ok, I don't need to eat great food, I can make due with pub food for a week."  But after a few, sub par meals with literally the EXACT same menu, I realized I just couldn't give up on the Ireland food scene that quickly. They are an island, surrounded by water, with the most amazing land for grazing animals. Surely, there were chefs somewhere celebrating that. And it turned out I was right!

As we explored the beautiful towns filled with so many shops I began to notice butcher shops. Large cases of grass-fed meat, filled with lamb, chicken, and blood sausages. I found bake shops filled with various pastries, from croissants to sausage filled savory goodies with a crispy pillowy pastry crust. I could see the potential in these storefronts and began to feel strongly that what I was looking for existed, I just needed to find it.

Finally, when we made it to Galway, (which is a city EVERYONE going to Ireland should absolutely explore), I began to take notice of accolades in the form of ceramic plaques on the walls of various restaurants. It seemed to me that there were various awards different restaurants were given locally for the delicious meals they were creating. Using these as guideposts I found my first great dining experience at a restaurant called Oscars Seafood Bistro.

It had a Michelin recommendation as well as various plaques on their wall. They were known from what I read online, for their ability to work directly with the local fisheries when planning their menus each day.

I was hooked before I walked in, and blown away with what I found once inside. We found a simple menu with an early bird option for those who wanted it, and a server who was as knowledgable about the food as the chef who was preparing it. He helped guide my food choices, and I was NOT disappointed. Each course was outstanding and the wines to pair excellent as well. I asked some questions about the Michelin recommendation and was told they in fact DID NOT want a star. This puzzled me, so I inquired further, what I learned was that it was more important to the chef to keep the price point and food accessible to the local population than to earn Michelin stars. They were happy with their recommendation, end of story. Crazy right? In the US Michelin stars are coveted by all of the fine dining chefs I have met, I understood it to be the pinnacle of success....what an interesting spin on that conversation.

Having had one extraordinary meal under my belt I was better educated and more determined than ever to find more memorable meals before our trip ended. That is when I found a local gem called Restaurant 1826 Adare, named appropriately after the year the thatched cottage it's housed in, was built. We were staying locally at Adare Manor, a gorgeous estate in a quaint town with a short street of food options, and complete with a few thatched roof cottages. On our last night before our flight back home, we were the last customers to be seated in the dining room for the evening and our meal could not have been more perfect. 1826 is owned and operated by the husband and wife team, Wade and Elaine Murphy. Together they marry Wade's largely Michelin star, French culinary background together with Elaine management background in a rustic thatched cottage setting serving contemporary spins on traditional Irish cuisine.

Since we were the last few guests of the evening, we were able to meet and chat with both Wade and Elaine about this concept of staying away from the Michelin stars, and instead having the goal of being Michelin recommended or in their case, having achieved the Michelin Bib Gourmand. So for starters, what is Bib Gourmand? Bib Gourmand I found out, is Michelins rating for very good food at a great value. Basically for $40 or less you can get 2 courses plus a glass of wine or a dessert. Now, why would someone not want to get stars and instead want The Bib? Wade explained with a laugh that, "For one thing my life would leave me!" He went onto explain that the pressure and level of stress of having stars was really extreme and simply not fun or worth it for them as a family. Secondly, having Michelin stars would exclude the local community who had largely supported their business throughout the years. They were extremely happy having achieved The Bib and it showed in the feeling in the dining room and in the food on our plates. Our meal that night included, house cured smoked salmon with thinly sliced radishes and an avocado puree that was so light and delicious we ended up ordering a second plate! My husband Jim and my in-laws all ordered that nights special of seafood stew and I ordered a perfectly seasoned slow cooked lamb. Each plate was thoughtfully put together and celebrated Irish traditional food in a new way. We completed our meal with a local cheese plate and I got a selfie with the owners. What an awesome experience and perfect way to end our trip :)

So, in closing, here is what I have to say about Irish cuisine, I found it to be as delicious and well thought out as some of the top places I've been fortunate enough to eat at throughout the world. You simply have to ask the locals, do your research and know where to look. I now will look at the Bib Gourmand and Michelin recommended restaurants much more seriously when I travel abroad as well as locally. Sometimes it's the lesser known places that are truly the hidden gems of an amazing dining experience. I hope this helps you to create your own fun food memories when you travel abroad or at home as well!