| The Irish don't have
a great reputation in world culinary circles. However, that's all
changing -- the traditional boiled cabbage and corned beef is making
way for culinary treats made with traditional, fresh ingredients
in new, innovative styles.
Dining in Ireland now offers a wide range of choices. Irish and
European restaurateurs have opened high-class establishments, adding
to a diverse range of restaurants that already includes Italian,
Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese and vegetarian establishments.
Lunch costs approximately:
In a pub: $8 - $12
In a brassiere: $12 - $25
In a restaurant: $25 - $100
To save money when traveling, I usually recommend a heavy breakfast,
light lunch out someplace nice (for the feel of luxury) and then
a picnic or pub dinner.
Irish Cuisine
Irish cuisine can be divided into two main categories - traditional,
mainly simple dishes, and more modern dishes, as served by hotels
etc. for tourists.
There are many Irish dishes involving potatoes. Colcannon is a
dish made of potato and one of wild garlic (the earliest form),
cabbage or curly kale, (compare bubble and squeak). Champ is a combination
of mashed potato and egg, into which chopped scallions (spring onions)
are mixed.
Other examples of simple Irish meals are Irish stew, and also bacon
and cabbage (boiled together in water). Boxty is another traditional
dish. A dish mostly particular to Dublin is coddle, which involves
boiled pork sausages. Ireland is famous for the Irish breakfast,
consisting mainly of pork, and, particularly in Ulster, fried potato
farls.
Seafood has never been a mainstay of the Irish diet, despite the
country being an island, but many dishes have developed nonetheless.
Salmon and cod are perhaps the two most common types of fish used.
Hotels might also serve oysters and mussels.
Traditional Irish breads include soda bread, wheaten bread, soda
farls and blaa, a doughy white bread roll particular to Waterford.
In the 20th century the usual modern selection of foods common
to Western culture has been adopted in Ireland. Both US fast-food
culture and mainland Europe's dishes have influenced the country,
along with other world dishes introduced in a similar fashion to
the rest of the western world. Common meals include pizza, curry,
Chinese food, and lately, some west African dishes have been making
an appearance. Supermarket shelves now contain ingredients for traditional,
European, American (Mexican/Tex-Mex), Indian, Chinese and other
dishes.
In tandem with these developments, the last quarter of the 20th
century saw the emergence of a new Irish cuisine based on traditional
ingredients handled in new ways. This cuisine is based on fresh
vegetables, fish, especially salmon and trout, oysters and other
shellfish, traditional soda bread, the wide range of hand-made cheeses
that are now being made across the country, and, of course, the
potato. Traditional dishes, such as the Irish stew, Dublin coddle,
the Irish breakfast and potato bread, have enjoyed a resurgence.
Schools like the Ballymaloe Cookery School have emerged to cater
for the associated increased interest in cooking with traditional
ingredients.
As Irish cuisine is certainly available in our own country, you
are probably familiar with some of the basics of Irish food. However,
Irish food is more than corned beef and cabbage, or the occasional
Guinness. Try some fish and chips (they're much better than in the
US), and be sure to try the balsamic vinegar on it!
In Ireland there are several types of restaurants to choose from.
Pubs and cafés offer the most informal type of setting, are
friendly and inexpensive. Remember that typically, table service
is non-existent, and you should belly up to the bar for ordering
food and drink. Send only one person with all the orders, and order
the Guinness first, as that takes a while to pour and settle.
Typical Irish dishes include:
* - Bacon and cabbage: a stew made of (not surprisingly) bacon and
cabbage
* - Barm brack: a cake-like bread
* - Dublin coddle: a thick stew made from sausages, bacon, onions,
and potatoes
* - Guinness cake: a fruitcake made with Guinness beer
* - Irish stew: basic Irish dish, made from mutton, potatoes, and
onions and flavored with parsley and thyme
* - Irish scones: A type of slightly sweet biscuit (great with jam
and clotted cream on them!)
* - Irish potato pie: a layer casserole made from potatoes, bacon,
and cheese
* - Soda bread: a type of bread made with baking soda and buttermilk
* - Potato cakes: fried mashed potato patties
Then of course there are restaurants for all budgets and tastes
and if you need a break from Irish cuisine, practically every other
cuisine you know of is represented.
For travel information and advice, please choose
from the following:
ACCOMODATION
DINING
DRIVING
FINANCE
HISTORY
GEOGRAPHY
LANGUAGE
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
PEOPLE
PHOTO GALLERY
PUBS/DRINKING
TRIVIA
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