GOOD FOOD = GOOD MOOD!
My name is Kaitlyn, and earlier this summer I studied abroad at the University of Limerick in Ireland for 3 weeks. I love to eat, so I was very excited to try authentic Irish cuisine! Here are some of my adventures and observations from eating in Ireland.
When eating in Ireland, you can expect the general food style to consist of meat-heavy dishes with lots of dairy or butter and some form of potato incorporated into almost every meal. And everything comes with a side of chips (AKA French fries)… Seriously. Even my pizza did.
Although traditional Irish dishes are typically relatively heavy, I was able to make healthy choices for most of my meals due to the wide variety of options available on campus and in the city of Limerick. At the University of Limerick, there were several dining options including the Eden cafeteria, Stables pub-style, Paddocks, Scholars Club, Apache Pizza, Starbucks, and convenience stores. Most days, I ate a grilled sandwich with soup, salad, or vegetables.
I was surprised to discover that many areas in Ireland offer a wide range of great international food options. Similarly to the USA, there are significant global influences on cuisine and many different style restaurants from Mediterranean to Indian to Thai.
This was especially represented at Limerick’s famous Saturday Milk Market. Not only were farm-fresh locally grown produce, dairy, meats, pastries, tea, and Irish treats offered, but also French crepes, Greek falafels, and German sausages.
{ See more about the beautiful Limerick Milk Market here: http://www.milkmarketlimerick.ie/ }
From my experience, the best classic Irish dishes to try include:
Beef stew/ cottage pie
Fish & chips
Seafood chowder or pie
Soda bread
Full Irish breakfast (black & white pudding is odd but also oddly good if you’re bold enough to try it)
Breakfast porridge
Tea & scones
Sticky toffee pudding
Irish apple pie: different than the American classic)
Chocolate: Cadbury!
Bakewell pie: honey-glazed with raspberry filling
Local Irish dairy products: Ice cream, butter, etc.
I hope that you enjoy your culinary exploration during your study abroad and that this blog helped you have a taste of what to expect if you travel to Ireland! Happy eating!