Eating out in Ireland
Ireland is more culturally diverse now
L’Ecrivain in Dublin – one of a number of Michelin-
than at any other time in its history –
starred restaurants in the country – is where Derry
and the culinary landscape reflects this.
Clarke and his gifted team have a singular cooking
style: modern Irish cooking with flair, using careful y
Talented chefs have made their mark
sourced ingredients from a network of artisan suppliers.
and take great care in sourcing authentic
artisan and organic Irish food, offering
Café and wine bars are plentiful and popular for
innovative menus at reasonable prices.
informal meals and long opening hours, and most offer
an all-day menu or occasional lunch menus, with
delicious vegetarian options listed as standard. Talking
At the award winning Cayenne Restaurant in Belfast,
of which, some of the country’s most lively restaurants
Paul Rankin serves contemporary food in a serene
have waved their culinary wand across a wide variety of
urban setting; Rick Stein Food Hero, Paul Flynn, of The
vegetarian and vegan dishes. Pubs traverse a spectrum
Tannery Restaurant in Dungarvan, County Waterford, is
of tastes: some have restaurants with full lunch and
known for his inspired cooking influenced by global
dinner menus; others offer simple, but wholesome
trends and Mediterranean cuisine. Equal y renowned
‘bar food’; while some pubs specialise in carvery
is The Strawberry Tree Restaurant at Brooklodge in
lunches – very generous portions at inexpensive prices;
Aughrim, County Wicklow – Ireland’s only certified
visit selected coastal pubs, meanwhile, and you’ll be
organic restaurant and bio-hotel; here, al the food is
rewarded with succulent fresh seafood as the house
wild or organic, produced by slow food methods and
speciality.
cooked in the modern Irish style.
Other interesting dining options include Country House
If good food is what you seek, value and diversity
restaurants – these have a deservedly fine reputation
can be had at all levels – from cafés and pubs offering
for their cuisine, often sourcing local produce,
casual, inexpensive dining options to elegant
vegetables, fruit and herbs from their own gardens.
Michelin-starred restaurants. In Belfast, Michael Deane’s
skill in blending classic cooking with fusion themes
For details of seasonal and daily opening times, visit
makes a visit to Deane’s Restaurant a memorable
your local tourist office. For more information on eating
must-do.
out in Ireland visit www.discoverireland.com
9