George

One of the fun things I do when I go to Europe is eat in the restaurants. I'll be in Dublin next weekend. What do I eat in the restaurants? Someone said Chinese food. I probably won't eat beef, but what about milk and milk products. Are they safe? I will be in the museums, not the farmland.

mary

Well I was going to suggest Shepherd's Pie, but you said no beef, so why not try colcannon. It's very traditional, a mixture of cabbage and mashed potatoes. Very good, especially if you're vegetarian.

Cathy

George
Most Irish restaurants will source their beef locally and can tell exactly where they purchased their beef so if you wish to have beef then just ensure that it is Irish.

Otherwise some Wicklow Lamb, Galway Bay Salmon, Dublin Prawns etc. Ireland depends greatly on the food industry and in recent years the organic industry has grown with a tracability ie from farmyard gate to plate system in operation (ie you know exactly where the product came from).

One good restaurant in Dublin to check out is Chapter One Parnell Sq or McGrattans off Baggott St.

Have a great time,

Cathy

Ger

George:

If your objection to eating beef is because of "Mad Cow Disease", I believe that Ireland has taken very agressive action to contain the problem - I think you would be safe and Irish beef is very tasty.

If you want to eat Chinese, then I would recommend the "Good World" on George's Street - the Irish Chinese eat - it is authentic Cantonese (let the staff order for you).

Irish Lamb is excellent but, as with all lamb, you should only eat it in the Spring months; after that it is called "hogget" and later still "mutton" and it is an acquired taste (not mine!).

The very best food in Ireland is seafood. If you have the time, take a trip to Howth and treat yourself to a meal of Dublin Bay Prawns and Galway Oysters. The King Citric in Howth is expensive but the seafood is wonderful. Other areas around Dubin where fresh fish is landed daily are Bray and Greystones. Most good restaurants in Dublin only serve fish landed that morning.

Recommendations for restaurants in the city itself are Browns on Stephen's Green and Jacob's Ladder (Nassau Street, I think)(neither are cheap but the food is world-class).

Traditionally dishes, if you are brave enough - Corned Beef (very different from the North American variety but absolutely delicious), as Mary says, Colcannon (hate the stuff), Coddle (boiled sausages & rashers & dumplings - never acquired the taste), Crubeens (boiled pigs feet - appreciated by only the French & the Irish, I think), boiled tripe and onions (recuring nightmare from my childhood). I have no idea where you might feast on these culinary delights, but perhaps some Dubliners could comment.

Best "Fast Food" experience in Dublin is Burdocks Fish & Chip shop just off Lord Edward Street (take-away only).

For serious foodies, buy the "Bridgestone Food Guide" as soon as you hit Ireland (I believe there is one for all Ireland and one specifically for Dublin - no other guide comes close to this book for food).

Have a lovely time George.

Cathy

George,
I recommend Burdocks - excellent value in contrast to the overpriced in the King Sitric in Howth in my opinion. On additional tip is don't ask for corner beef - that is the non-Irish term for it and as a result anywhere with corned beef on its menu is not offering the real thing. Instead look for signs offering Bacon and Cabbage with mashed potatoe.

Have a good time,

Cathy

Donna

I was in Ireland last year and stayed with an American friend and her Irish family. One of the family owns a large farm and raises beef cattle. They require testing of their animals on a regular basis. Two years ago they found one of his herd infected with the disease and destroyed the entire herd immediately. I was there for two weeks and had no problems with eating beef although they do not know the work "rare" and everything comes very well done and dry. Try the fish though, the salmon is especially delightful.

Andy

I'm probably too late with this reply but it will do others anyway:

It seems a lot of the restaurants here are the usual tourist haunts. Why not try these.

Italian - Little Ceasers, Balfe Street (just off Grafton Street, opposite the Westbury Hotel.) Not expensive.

Thai - The Chili Club, Anne's Lane. (a side street off South Anne's Street which is off Grafton Street). Booking would be recommended. More expensive than Little Ceasers, but worth it.

Japanese - Yamomori, South Great Georges Street.

As for the previously recommended restaurants I don't particularly like Good World Chinese Restaurant, but maybe that's just me.

If you want to check out other restaurants in Dublin or elsewhere check out this website:

www.gohop.com