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ADVENTURES IN IRELAND Here's
a helpful resource for Home At First
It’s a clich้ in the US to stop at places where truckers congregate to find the best road food. In pre-war France, LES ROUTIERS was founded on the same principal as a network of hotels and restaurants offering French truckers home cooking and comfortable accommodation. Over the years the network has expanded to include other parts of the Continent and the British Isles. Restaurant recommendations for the British Isles from a group with a name like LES ROUTIERS may be off-putting on several levels. Politically, at the moment, many Americans have, as we say, "a problem" with the French. What do the French know about British and Irish restaurants that the British and Irish themselves don’t know? First of all, the French know road food. French fries and French toast are staples of the US road food menu. In Ireland, LES ROUTIERS has sniffed out the best of the local cuisine without being snooty. Their reviews are neither vicious nor Vichy. In fact, they are imaginative, clever, homey, personal, and sensible—the right set of adjectives also to apply to any cuisine that travels well. We’ve
become so taken with the consistent quality and surprising individuality of the
establishments that feature the red, white, and blue LES ROUTIERS shield that we
now look for it when we are on the road in Ireland. Click the link to see the complete info at the very good web site: LES ROUTIERS IRELAND
1. COUNTY TIPPERARY —
CENTRAL IRELAND: Country Choice, 25 Kenyon Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
2. COUNTY CORK — SOUTHWESTERN
IRELAND: O'Connor's Seafood Restaurant, The Square, Bantry, Co. Cork. HOME AT FIRST guests to southwestern Ireland stay just minutes away from downtown Bantry, home of the best mussels in Ireland and a mussels festival every May. To learn how to plan a great vacation in Southwestern Ireland, see: COUNTY CORK
Directions: Fifteen minutes west of Donegal town, direction: Killybegs. One mile off the main road for St John’s Point. For more info, see this Les Routiers, Ireland, web page: http://www.routiersireland.com/castle-murray-house-hotel.html HOME AT FIRST’s Donegal area cottages are just a few minutes away from the Castle Murray House Hotel restaurant. Want to visit scenic northwestern Ireland? Here are the details: NORTHWESTERN IRELAND
While this location is some distance from HOME AT FIRST’s Northern Ireland cottages along the Antrim coast, it makes an ideal lunch stop on a day’s excursion to the delightful Ulster American Folk Park north of Omagh (see: http://www.folkpark.com/). Yearn to visit Northern Ireland? HOME AT FIRST can make all the arrangements. See: NORTHERN IRELAND Watch for more excellent eating along
Irish waysides
HOME AT FIRST offers travel to four regions of Ireland, six regions of England, — YOUR DREAM TRIP BEGINS BY CONTACTING HOME AT FIRST —
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"A
veritable landmark for foodies from all over Ireland, Peter and Mary Ward’s unique
delicatessen/caf้ reflects its owners’ passion for the finest regional farm produce,
artisan food products and wholesome home-cooked meals. Painted a festive wine colour, with
pots of magenta petunias adding a cheery touch to its exterior, the shop is chock-a-block
with farmhouse cheeses, sausages, pates, eggs and meats; seasonal vegetables; home-baked
breads; preserves and honeys; wines, teas, coffees and chocolate. Regulars usually head
straight for the homely caf้ at the rear of the shop first, where a typical menu might
feature braised chicken and ham pie served with creamed colcannon potato; black olive,
roast aubergine, spinach and Abbey Brie savoury tart; and homemade lasagne. Desserts
include homemade bread and butter pudding, mixed berry compote, and chocolate cake.
Don’t leave here empty-handed; the cheeses are particularly notable, and the
Christmas puddings are so good that ordering in advance is essential."
"West Cork boasts
some of Irelands finest scenery: sparkling bays, pastoral fields and charming villages. In
Bantry town don’t miss the friendly, unpretentious, and consistently value-wise
O’Connor’s. After over 30 years in the O’Connor family, the business was
taken over by Peter and Anne O’Brien in 2003, and they have maintained standards. The
nautical-themed restaurant has a lobster and fish tank near the entrance, a cosy bar and
comfortable booths. All fish and seafood is local. Try the house specialty – mussels
– prepared 3 ways: grilled in the half-shell with garlic butter and breadcrumbs;
marinara with wine and cream; or steamed in Murphy’s stout. You can splurge on a
lobster; and non-seafood specialties include Irish sirloin steak, roast local lamb, and
roast Skeaghanore duck breast. The Early Bird menu served between 6-7PM is a great value,
and the reasonably priced wine list offers a global selection."
"The magnificent location of Marguerite and
Martin Howley’s ten-roomed hotel and restaurant – set against the Donegal
mountains and overlooking McSwyne’s Bay – makes dining here a special
experience. Chef R้my Dupuis menu makes the most of fresh, local fish and seafood in
simply conceived, imaginative dishes. McSwyne’s bay blue lobster – from the tank
– with spicy lobster cream is a particular highlight on the dinner menu. Either side
of this, there are fresh or grilled oysters with beurre blanc sauce and a satisfyingly
indulgent warm chocolate cake with white chocolate ice cream. Sunday lunch might begin
with tartar of trout with balsamic vinegar and chive on blinis and proceed with roast leg
of spring lamb stuffed with sage. Desserts such as honey cr่me br๛l้e or strawberry
souffl้ are elegantly simple. The extensive wine list is dominated by French examples,
with a good choice of half bottles."
"The focus at Robert and Helen Ditty’s
family-run local bakery is on traditional, handmade breads from Northern Ireland. Fluffy,
griddle-baked soda and potato farls, delicious wheaten bread and pastries, freshly made
sandwiches and a diverting range of ‘wee buns’ are a huge draw for customers of
Ditty’s. The lunch menu includes homemade soups, burgers, pasta and toasted
sandwiches, as well as traditional hot dishes such as baked gammon with parsley sauce. All
ingredients are sourced locally, and bespoke hampers and special occasion cakes are also
part of the service."