Across the Irish Sea

Laura Kobak  

Being in London itself was fantastic, but having the opportunity to visit and explore other European cities was the cherry on top. My first venture was just across the Irish Sea to Dublin for a weekend. Arriving at night, my friend and I walked to Temple Bar, an area of medieval streets lined with restaurants and pubs. Choosing a bar compatible with our budget, we dined at “The Auld Dubliner.” Since I’m all about trying cultural cuisines, I went for the Irish stew, while my friend ordered the Guinness beef stew. Appearance is not a primary concern when it comes to these dishes, but flavor is. On top is a huge dollop of mashed potatoes and a side of Irish Soda Bread. Top off the night with some Bailey’s and you’ve got yourself a meal.

The following morning before a full day of sightseeing we stopped into “Queen of Tarts,” a café and patisserie ranked #3 on Trip Advisor and earning 4.5 stars on Google Reviews. We ordered eggs and a scone for breakfast, but were so entranced by the display of pies, brownies, cupcakes, and cookies, that we got a blackberry and apple crumble to go. Unfortunately, after a full day of being scrunched in a backpack “crumble” truly was a suitable description. Nevertheless, once we were through there was not a crumb left.

Being in Dublin, a trip to the Guinness Brewery was a must. On a self-guided tour you explore the process of brewing from start to finish, see the evolution of advertising, and learn how to pour the perfect pint.

Fun Fact: Pouring a perfect pint of Guinness must be done in six steps, including waiting for the beer to settle for 119.5 seconds (almost 2 minutes).

Upon completion, complimentary pints are received on the top floor of the complex at the Gravity Bar, offering panoramic views of the city. I personally could not withstand more than a few sips of the stout beer.

A drink I could finish, however, was a latte from “The Bald Barista,” voted best coffee in Dublin.

The Bald Barista serves you himself, decorating your cup with some beautiful latte art.

The final Dublin food stop was lunch at “Avoca Café” atop a crafts store. I ordered butternut squash soup. While not a particularly Irish dish, it is a personal favorite, so I could not resist. The soup was creamy and flavorful and served with a side of Irish soda bread. I must admit, after only having tasted the soda bread occasionally offered at Marketplace in MoJo, I was disillusioned as to what the real thing actually tasted like — sweet, slightly crunchy, and delicious.

While not quite Italy or Spain in terms of sought after cuisines, if you like stews, bread, and alcohol, you won’t have a problem getting by in Ireland. Next stop on the culinary study abroad tour — Brussels in Belgium — home to chocolate, waffles, and…more chocolate.