Must have foodie spots for Ireland...

IRELAND IS ONE OF THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT FOOD DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE, AND TRAVELLERS ARE INCREASINGLY VISITING TO TRY THE ARTISAN CHEESE, FRESH SEAFOOD AND EXCEPTIONAL, LOCALLY-PRODUCED RED MEATS IN THE VERY PLACE IT COMES FROM.

The island’s green pastures, deep valleys and abundant waters have helped create a wealth of flavours available in various foods; flavours visitors can’t find anywhere else.

Natural produce is a top priority across all food suppliers, meaning that whether you’re dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant or a gastropub, homegrown ingredients will dominate the menu.

Plus, visitors can actually go beyond just dining by following the food journey from producer to plate, as Ireland is peppered with opportunities to get more involved in your food.

Visitors can stroll through markets to purchase their own raw ingredients and craft masterpieces, they can taste-test an array of products at world-class food festivals, take part in cookery classes, and join guided foodie tours where locals spill secrets and point out all the hidden gems for the most authentic dining experiences.

And so, for the self-proclaimed foodies, here are the must-visit spots to experience the best of Ireland’s food scene when visiting the island.

St George's Market, Belfast City

St George’s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest attractions with its roots dating back all the way to
1890.

This Victorian beauty hosts a Friday variety market and a Saturday and Sunday food and craft market.

Bound to have something for everyone with over 300 traders, visitors can choose what they fancy and then watch their food freshly cooked in front of them, all while being captivated by the plethora of aromas as it cooks.

Hotlips Curries, Belfast Baps and Ann’s Pantry are just a few stalls visitors should keep an eye out for.

Moran’s Oyster Cottage, County Galway

Located within a 250-year-old cottage at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in County Galway, this restaurant offers a truly memorable experience.

Travellers will be dining where people like Julia Roberts and Roger Moore have before.

Tables in both the cozy antique interiors and outside among the glorious seascapes are equally rewarding.

Not to mention of course the Galway Bay oysters, wild native clams and steamed Galway Bay mussels will simply melt in your mouth.

Belfast Food Tour, Belfast City

Taste and Tour offer the multi-award winning Belfast Food Tour, where travellers can go ‘off the beaten track’ and try over 25 of the best local food and drink products.

Everything is covered, from whiskey to delicious bites, and meeting producers and learning insider knowledge allows travellers to savour every bite of these Irish culinary delights.

The guided walk goes for four hours on Saturdays, and the enthusiastic local foodie guides will happily cater to all dietary requirements.

The Happy Pear, Greystones, County Wicklow

The Happy Pear is a vegetarian mecca run by twins David and Stephen Flynn.

They both switched to a plant-based diet over 14 years ago, and their tasty and creative takes on vegetarian foods are attracting not only vege-lovers, but meat-lovers too.

The lively town of Greystones in County Wicklow, where the café is located, is just a 30-minute DART (train) ride away from Dublin, and also offers a break from the urban buzz.

The English Market, Cork city

The English Market opened in 1788 and is a jewel in Cork city centre.

The market is known for its cornucopia of produce including olives, breads, cheeses, organic meats and poultry, fish, and fruits and vegetables.

This melting pot of foodstuffs was considered the “best-covered market in the UK and Ireland” by English celebrity chef Rick Stein and was also chosen by the Observer Food Magazine among the ten best food markets in Europe.

A mix of traditional Cork fare from family-run stalls and exciting new foods from other regions makes this traditional yet eclectic market a foodie’s heaven.

Pyke ‘N’ Pommes, Derry-Londonderry city

In 2015 Pyke ‘N’ Pommes converted a shipping container into a sleek new food truck and set up permanent residence by the river in Derry-Londonderry.

Since their mission is to serve locally sourced, authentic street food, everything is made from scratch utilising the best local produce from passionate producers.

The legendary Wagyu burger, slow roasted pork, and the range of cuisines on offer are casual yet gourmet, and certainly worth travelling across the island for.

Temple Bar Food Market, Dublin

This foodies paradise is conveniently located in the heart of Dublin city centre, nestled among the streets of the cultural quarter, and runs every Saturday from 10 am until 4.30pm.

Collating all of Dublin’s tastiest dishes in one place, like the heavenly oysters at the Temple Oyster Bar paired with a glass of white wine, it is the perfect place for a bite to eat on the weekend.

For the cheese enthusiasts, Corleggy cheeses offer a selection box of five different kinds of cheese, and their award-winning port jelly is tempting, to say the least.

Dublin Tasting Trail, Dublin

Fab Food Trails offers walking food tours across Dublin and Cork, led by local guides to surprise even those familiar with the cities.

The Dublin Tasting Trail spans around three hours at a gentle pace, covering six to seven independent food and drink outlets.

Travellers have the chance to meet the purveyors to better understand exactly how their food made it to the plate.

The tastings evolve to reflect the current food scene, bringing both traditional and contemporary tastes to the table.

This insider information will set visitors up for the rest of their time in the city, as they stroll through the very local gastronomic gems and neighbourhoods.

Murphy’s Ice Cream, Dingle, County Kerry

The joyous little town of Dingle in County Kerry would be incomplete without the well-loved Murphy’s Ice Cream.

Travellers should expect a bustling queue outside the boutique blue shop on Strand Street, which is simply a testament to the quality of the ice cream.

It’s worth the wait, with all ice cream handmade with the freshest farm milk and local cream derived from the rare, indigenous breed of Kerry cow.

Dingle sea salt, caramelised brown bread, and Irish coffee are just some of the must-try flavours with a unique Irish twist.

On a trip to Ireland, you will discover a world full of authentic experiences. And from the oysters to food trucks to markets, we think it’s pretty clear you’ll discover some amazing food too.

Article provided by ~ Travel Weekly and Ireland Tourism

Cook Islands – a cuisine experience...

Six days at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is not enough time to experience the variety of wholesome eating options around the Island.  My first visit in 1997 it was Trader Jacks that was the main dining place where expats, locals and tourists could enjoy a substantial meal and a refreshing beverage.

Twenty years on and Trader Jacks is still standing, although it has been rebuilt a couple of times due to cyclones.  But, today there is over fifty cafes and restaurants to experience.  My recent visit to Rarotonga, I did experience Tamarind House lunching on a delicious corn fritter with an avocado salsa and on leaving I also got to meet Sue Carruthers the co-owner of Tamarind House, The Rickshaw Café offering Asian cuisine and La Casita Mexican Café.  Her second and more recent recipe book South Seas Cuisine was on display and it got us chatting. 

She was born in Nairobi, lived and studied in London whilst working in hospitality during the sixties.  She’s travelled Europe, India and South East Asia and lived in Cape Town, South Africa where she set up several pizza places with her then husband.  In 1979 with her husband and daughter set sail from Cape Town and sailed and worked their way to Rarotonga arriving in 1984. This is so much more to this woman I could possibly fit within this blog, but Sue did tell and gave me the recipe to one of her favourite recipes.

Fabulous Fish Curry

Ingredients

Fish Curry

750g fish fillets

1 tablespoon garam masala or mild curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

4-5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 cloves crushed garlic

1 teaspoons grated ginger

1 teaspoon crushed bottled chilli or 2-3 fresh red chillies, seeded and chopped

Spice Blend

1 teaspoon turmeric

2 teaspoons ground cumin or cumin seeds

4 teaspoons ground coriander

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch cloves

¼ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Mix the spices together in a small bowl

Sauce

4 large fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped or use 1 x 425g can tomatoes, crushed

2 cups coconut cream

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon garam masala

2 level teaspoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander or basil

Juice of 1 lemon

Method

Cut fish fillets into large cubes.  Stir the 1 tablespoon gram masala and salt together.  Toss fish cubes in the garam masala mix.  Keep aside or refrigerate while preparing sauce.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan and cook mustard seeds until they start to pop.  Remove the seeds and put aside on a plate.  Heat 2 tablespoons oil in the same pot and cook onion and garlic until soft.  Add the ginger and crushed chilli and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Stir in the spice blend and cook until aromatic.  Add chopped tomatoes and popped mustard seeds, and cook 5 minutes.  Stir in 1 cup coconut cream and cook for 5 minutes over a gentle heat or until sauce is reduced.*  In a separate frying pan heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and seal the fish cubes on all sides until golden.

Add the fish cubes to the curry sauce and simmer until just cooked through.  Stir in the 1 teaspoon garam masala, remaining cup of coconut cream, brown sugar, fresh coriander and lemon juice.  Stir only once and then serve immediately.  Serve with rice and/or chapatti and the chutney of your choice.

*Hint

Recipe can be prepared in advance to this stage, cooked and kept refrigerated, ready to finish at serving time. 

Tamarind House - ocean view dining

Fabulous Fish Curry - Sue Carruthers 

Good bye Rarotonga until next time...

Other fun holiday activities:

Storyteller eco cycling tours

Snorkelling

Aitutaki Day Tour

Night SUP

Stroll through Hidden Secret Garden

Raro Safari Tour

Complimentary use of bikes, snorkelling equipment, SUP and kayaks when staying at SeaChange Villas

Exclusive offer:

Book your Cook Island holiday with Travel With A Difference during 2017 and receive a complimentary $50 dining voucher for Tamarind House.

Read on:
Discover more of my time in the Cook Islands on page 142

"On My Bum"

We all have our own reason, as to why we choose to take off and remove ourselves from our regular life routine.   Some like to take a holiday for a week or so, stay in one location and simply relax and enjoy the resort.  Others may choose to travel and utilise different modes of transport and explore several towns and cultures.

I wanted to visit a place that I'd heard of back in 1991 from when I meet an eighteen year old female Canadian traveller in Nepal. She was travelling solo; I was twenty-one and travelling with a friend.  I was intrigued by her and her travels.  The opportunity arose at the end of 2013, when I was going to Bali and then on to Malaysia to explore the destination and view some hotels.  Laos was only a 2 hour 45minute flight away from Kuala Lumpur, that would take me to Vientiane the capital.  I'd then sit at the airport cafe for a few hours before boarding a forty-five minute flight to arrive into Luang Prabang.   Laos was that long awaited destination.

To get to Laos there is no direct path from here, it is bit of a hop-skip and jump either via Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia or Thailand.  But this was an opportunity and it was the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang, that I wanted to experience and that's what I did for ten days.

Sure, I doubled up on visiting the night market, having a g&t at a café or restaurant along the Mekong or Nam Khan Rivers before dinner or walking in and out of stores pondering their wares and where to spend my money.  The expats are prevalent in town, but so are the opportunistic locals.  Designer clothes and home wares to delicious croissants, were all there for purchasing, as well as home-stitched clothing or a serving of sticky rice (eaten with your fingers of course!).

Having the joy and freedom to consume my breakfast, lunch and dinner at any time and at any location, there was only so much aimless gazing I could do.  I started to click photos of all that I was observing.  I was on this journey alone, so I embraced living in the moment and called this moment “On My Bum” as that’s what I was doing, sitting on my bum as I clicked these and other pics during my breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Enjoy!

Vientiane Airport cafe

Sakkaline Road

Sakkaline Road

Kitsalat Road

Kitsalat Road

Ock Pop Tok Textiles - fairtrade village

Elephant Village Sanctuary

Shangri-Loa expedition up the Nam Khan River

Sakkaline Road

a Tad Sae Waterfall cafe

located between Nam Khan River & Sakkaline Road

The owner of the cafe

Ps. Not on my bum, but the sounds they generate

Wanting to escape and experience the unknown?  Travel With A Difference can also coordinate a celebratory, well-being or a bespoke free-spirit holiday. 

group travel cringe or embrace....

Group holidays, do you cringe when you hear the word 'group'? 

Don't worry you're not alone; I still hear people say, "oh, I could not stand that".  But the more diverse these group holiday options are becoming the more people are participating and embracing them. 

There's a variety of 'group holiday' experiences to be had. It may be a small group journey - where you join a small group of up to twelve guests to experience a destination. The more niche is the special interest group getaway - where groups of whatever number will experience a footy game, Gallipoli, trekking, a photograph or writing workshop just to name a few.  Then, there's the small 'like-minded' holidays, where men or women gather with their friends to chill-out, share a laugh and whatever takes their fancy - usually a cooking class or a game of golf.  Yes, they leave their loved-(family and pets)-one’s home.

Also, I question. Does then going on a cruise entail 'group travel'? As you are amongst the masses of thousands, all living the same life for the duration of time it takes to embark and disembark on the cruise.

'Generational-holidays' could also be group holiday, as I have coordinated these Generational-holidays where the grandparents take their children, spouse and grandchildren on a holiday...those number of guests soon add up!

Travelling as group does definitely have its merits. It allows you to travel in the safety and companionship of others. It means your holiday arrangements will be pre-arranged and mostly pre-paid, giving a smoother and more seamless journey.  It takes the pondering and decision making out of it, which can be a time waster when on holidays.  For sure, you still have to take the time to ponder and decide, but is mostly done before you depart on your holiday. The pondering and decision making would be on what destination you are going to go, what is it you want to experience, what the cost you are prepared to pay and so on.

So, for your next holiday you may just ponder...am I travelling in the company of simply a friend or loved one or am I going to cringe or embrace the thought of a 'group holiday'? 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts....

Travel With A Difference CALENDAR has a few 'special interest' group holiday you may be interested in: Uganda - eco and sustainable.  France - history of Julia Child and food. Uganda - charity and sustainable.

trekking Bay of Fires

Bill Peach journeys: Sydney to London

Absolute Sanctuary group yoga retreat

lodging whilst trekking Vietnam

Travel With A Difference through knowledge and experience, can tailor-make a memorable and unique journey for you....

ika mata

This was a real cultural wow factor meal I experienced, over twelve years ago firstly when I was visiting the Cook Islands, then again with friends when we sailed into Hai Pai, Tonga.  Lucky me! Only to experience it again recently at a Cook Island function and it was you, who I thought of, thinking I must share this. So, here is, an amazing local fish dish you can try at home or on holiday when at The Cook Islands....

INGREDIENTS:
3-4 kg Fresh game fish
1 Fresh chili
2 1/2 Medium tomatoes diced
1/2 Large cucumber
1 Red onion
1lt Coconut cream
3 Lemons
White vinegar and salt to taste

WHAT TO DO:
Cut the fish into bite size cube sand place into a bowl. Fill the bowl with salted water with a cup of white vinegar and a couple squeezes of lemon juice.  Let marinate for 2-4 hours.

Dice up the vegetables and place into a bowl. Squeeze three lemons into the salsa mix with a couple of splashes of white vinegar.

Add cococut cream to your salsa mix and stir together.  Make sure you taste it and add more lemon, salt or vinegar if need be.

Once you have the taste acquired, add as much chili as you want or just enough to counter the acidity. 
Let it set for an hour or two and serve chilled.  Serves 4-6 friends.  And whilst there have some fun.....xx