The gourmet’s guide to Ireland
Varied rural landscapes, the natural
Neagh and blaas (a floury bread roll) from Waterford.
friendliness of the people, the tradition of
You’l want to visit specialist shops and food markets to
hospitality, the unique and superb food
meet farmers, artisan food producers and farmhouse
cheesemakers — all highly skilled people with a
experience – no wonder Ireland is such a
passion for food that has been passed down through
wonderful place for a foodie
generations. Traveling through Ireland, you will quickly
vacation!
come to appreciate the verdant landscape as the
source of these fine food ingredients.
The island is small enough to reach any point within a
few hours, and you’l be surprised how much terrain
Today, Ireland produces and exports grass-fed meat
you can cover in a short time. You’ll also be pleasantly
(beef, lamb, pork, wild boar and venison); dairy is also
surprised at how much there is to see and do.
an important industry, selling milk, butter and
creamery-produced cheese around the world. You
Dublin, for instance, has a multitude of historic
need only stand at the piers in Killybegs, County
buildings, art gal eries and museums, including the
Donegal; Kilkeel, County Down; and Dunmore, County
Guinness Storehouse, where you can learn how the
Waterford, and watch foreign buyers frantical y trying to
country’s world-famous stout is produced. County
outbid each other for the day’s catch to understand the
Antrim boasts the historic Bushmills Distillery, the
excellence of Irish fish and seafoods.
perfect complement to a day of breathtaking seafront
walks and visiting the international y celebrated Giant’s
Irish whiskeys, especial y the famed Bushmil s and
Causeway along the Causeway Coast. Cork, meanwhile,
Jameson, have also traveled wel . Likewise, there are
is a certified food-lover’s destination; be sure to visit
few who wouldn’t instantly recognize an Irish stout in
the fascinating Butter Museum, and immerse yourself
the guise of Guinness, Beamish or Murphy’s, while Irish
in the hustle and bustle of the city’s historic
ciders such as Bulmers (known as Magners outside
English Market, which specializes in regional and artisan
Ireland) and cream liquers such as Baileys Irish Cream
foods and overflows with everything a connoisseur
are as familiar worldwide as they are at home. The
could need, from traditional Irish foodstuffs to
history of Irish whiskey can be traced on guided tours
downright exotic.
through any of the visitor centers at the Irish Whiskey
Corner in Dublin, Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim
The unique food experience in Ireland involves far
and the Jameson Heritage Centre in Midleton, County
more than just tasting regional specialties, such as
Cork, 12 miles east of Cork City.
air-dried hil lamb from Connemara, eels from Lough
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