Page 307 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  305

Fish and Chips and
regional to nouvelle cuisine. Other Fast Foods picnics, and there are often
Locations vary as widely as the places to pull off the road in
cuisine, from hotel dining rooms, The Irish, from peasant to scenic spots.
town-house basements and city parliamentarian, love their
mansions to castle hotels and “chippers”, immortalized in Recommended
village cafés. The small County Roddy Doyle’s novel The Van, Restaurants
Cork town of Kinsale has and any good pub night will
established itself as the end with a visit to the Ireland offers a wealth of styles
“Gourmet Capital of nearest fast-food of cooking and a great spread of
Ireland”. Outstanding shop. At any time international flavours – from
chefs also reign of day, however, if Italian and Moroccan to Asian
over the gracious you pass by Leo street food (often Chinese and
houses listed in Burdock’s in Dublin, Thai fresh noodle or rice dishes,
Ireland’s Blue Book of there will be a long plus skewers of marinated meats
Country Houses and queue for this and spring rolls). Modern Irish
Restaurants, inter national cooking extends far beyond meat
available from institution and potatoes and takes on a
tourist offices. (see p309). With variety of influences to create a
Ireland’s long fresh and often imaginative use
Budget Dining coastline, wher- of classic local ingredients, such
Sign at Leo Burdock’s ever you choose, as salmon, lamb, oysters and beef.
It is quite possible to (see p309) the fish will usually The restaurants are divided
eat well on a small be the freshest into eight geographical areas:
budget wherever you are in catch of the day – plaice, cod, Dublin, Southeast Ireland, Cork
Ireland. In both city and rural haddock, whiting or ray. The and Kerry, The Lower Shannon,
locations, there are small cafés, many other fast-food outlets the West of Ireland, Northwest
tea rooms and family-style include a host of familiar Ireland, the Midlands and
restaurants with inexpensive international chains, as well as a Northern Ireland. They are
meals. Even if a café or tea room wide variety of burger and then subsequently organized
is at a main tourist attraction, kebab shops. There are several by town. The restau rants have
such as Bantry House, you can good pasta and pizza chains, been chosen based on a variety
still expect good, home-made such as Pizza Express, which is of factors, such as fantastic Irish
food and freshly baked bread called Milano in the Republic. cuisine, hearty food suitable for
and cakes. Sandwiches are made families in an informal, friendly
with thick slices of cheese or Picnics setting, an unrivalled ambience
meat (not processed); salad or excellent ethnic fare.
plates feature smoked salmon Ireland is a glorious picnic Throughout the listings,
and cold meats; and hot meals country. Farmhouse cheeses restau rants that stand out from
usually come with large helpings and thick pâtés are picnic treats. the rest are marked as DK
of vegetables and potatoes Many small delis and shops sell Choice. These have been
cooked every which way. freshly made sandwiches. The highlighted because they offer
coast is ringed with sandy a special experience – either
Pub Food beaches and more than for outstanding cuisine,
400 forest areas, many with authentic Irish food and
Ireland’s pubs have moved into picnic tables; great views add to atmosphere, excellent value
the food field with a vengeance. the pleasure of mountainside or a combination of these.
In addition to bar snacks (soup,
sandwiches and so on), available
from noon until late, salads and
hot meals are served from
midday to 2:30pm. Hot plates
all come heaped with mounds
of fresh vegetables, potatoes
in one or more versions, and
good portions of local fish or
meat. Particularly good bargains
are the pub carveries that offer
a choice of joints, sliced to
your preference. International
staples such as spaghetti,
lasagne and quiche also
appear on pub menus. For a
list of recommended pubs,
see pages 326–31. One of several bars at the Left Bank pub, Kilkenny (see p326)

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