Dublin Yummies

I'd like to go on the record and say...

that whoever claims that there is no decent food in Ireland is a damn fool. 

Yeah, I said it, and you want to know why?

Because the few places we dined at while in Dublin served some of the best meals not only during our trip, 

but possibly... ever! 

Bold statement, I know,

but let me offer you exhibit A:

Foie Gras Parfait, Fig Jam & Chutney, Toasted Brioche

Roasted Rabbit Saddle, Braised Leg, Wild Mushroom Gnocchi, Artichoke Puree

Confit of Duck, Cumin Spiced Lentils, Fennel Puree

Goat's Milk Panna Cotta

Vanilla Cheesecake, Mango Jelly, Toasted Granola, Creme Fraiche & Lime Sorbet

One Pico may look a bit inconspicuous from the outside,

but inside is a kitchen that has earned countless awards,

including, but not limited to the Michelin Bib Gourmand (several years in a row) and a title as the Restaurant of the Year according to the Food and Wine Magazine and the Georgina Campbell Guide. 

We kicked off the night with a bottle of Urban Malbec,

clearly a favorite of ours, if you've been keeping up with some of my foodie posts.

Choosing the courses for our pre-set dinner was really tough,

because practically every selection sounded beyond delicious.

Foie Gras is an extravagance that I rarely get to enjoy these days since it was outlawed in California,

and I was delighted to find that it was prepared exceptionally well at this restaurant.

All the dishes were not only delicious, but also beautifully plated,

and the service left us feeling like pure royalty.

If I had to recommend one place to dine in Ireland,

I'm pretty sure One Pico would be it.

Although.... let's take a look at Exhibit B:

Parfait of Foie Gras en Gelee au raisin sec.
Told you I love this stuff..

Cheesin' it!

I fell in love with Marco Pierre White the minute I laid eyes on him through the lens of the TV, 

all whilst he was chatting up my other lover, Anthony Bourdain, during one of the episodes of No Reservations.

We were supposed to dine at one of his restaurants in London,

but after missing our reservation (oops) I was sure my opportunity was gone for good.

Until... I spotted his face on a menu of a chic steakhouse, a few blocks away from Trinity College.

All other plans were immediately cancelled,

as we ducked inside to enjoy two of the most tender cuts of meat our taste buds ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I hope that by this point I've convinced you that there are some extraordinary dining establishments in Dublin,

but just in case, here's another little gem..

The Bank on College Green is located in a historic Belfast Bank Co building. 

Very reasonably priced, the restaurant offers plenty of traditional favorites that left us full and happy for an entire day. 

Definitely a must visit if you're looking for a fun place right in the center of the city. 

So what do you think?

I bet you just can't wait to check out the restaurant scene in the capital of Ireland!

Dublin, Ireland - Part I

This week I realized that I never finished telling you about our latest Euro trip,

so I figured the last week of 2012 would be the perfect time to catch up. 

The flight from Edinburgh to Dublin was so quick, that I barely even had a chance to drink my coffee. 

Upon landing, we set off to find our home for the next few days,

an adorable Georgian apartment from the best host we could have ever asked for.

Karin, the landlord, provided all the essentials,

including breakfast, laundry service, and most importantly, personal recommendations that helped make our trip unforgettable. 

If you ever need a place to stay in Dublin, I highly recommend this one.

After settling in, we grabbed our umbrellas and went exploring. 

Our first stop?

The Guiness Storehouse of course!

Why?

Because it would be a sin to come to Ireland and not have a few pints of the creamy dark liquid,

and where better to start than the birthplace of it all?

We spent a few good hours wandering around the factory,

learning about the brewing process and how it all got started. 

My favorite part of the day was taking the "Guiness pour lesson",

where we were taught how to properly pour a pint, and even recieved a graduation certificate after successfully completing the final exam. 

The views from the top floor of the building were simply amazing,

and although I'm bummed that we don't have any photos, I know that it's something I'll never forget. 

Another landmark that is an absolute must in Dublin, is Trinity College. 

Founded in 1592, it is the oldest university in Ireland,

and holds a prestige title as one of the seven ancient universities of Britain and Ireland, 

(sibling to places like Oxford, Cambridge and St. Andrews). 

The campus, as you might expect, is absolutely gorgeous. 

We blended in with the students for a bit before donning our tourist hats again to check out the famous Book of Kells, 

in the world famous Trinity College Library. 

For those of you who are not familiar with the Book of Kells,

(like, I for example, heard of it, but didn't quite know what it was),

it is an illuminated manuscript gospel book, written in Latin, 

containing the four gospels of the New Testament, together with various prefatory texts and tables. 

It was created by Celtic monks ca. 800 or slightly earlier.

Now can we pause for a second and talk about that date?!

I literally had to look up how to write it because to see something so ancient is just unbelievable to me.

The only downside of the experience is that we were in the library,

and as gorgeous as it was, in libraries there are always rules,

and the main rule here was no pictures. 

Womp. 

Of course the husband decided to be a rebel and sneak a few with his iPhone,

but to my dismay, he's not cut out to be a secret agent because he was immediately spotted by security and was kindly asked to leave. 

Here's our only remaining evidence that we were actually there:

Ha ha,

told you it wasn't much, but hey, it's better than nothing!

Anyway, I could have wandered around the campus for days, it was so beautiful. 

Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in Dublin.

I have one more small post coming up about Dublin,

where I'll tell you about the most amazing restaurants we had the pleasure of visiting. 

Stay tuned!