– AUGUST 01, 2015
We have arrived in Ireland! After getting through customs (which was 5 seconds of them looking at our passport and then 10 minutes of them telling us where the best places in Ireland to drink Guinness are) we went straight to the pub! Jill had told me that the Guinness we drink in Canada is garbage and the Guinness in Ireland is the sweetest nectar in existence. I always thought that was rubbish, as how could it really be that different (and for the record I detest Guinness in Canada).
We entered a pub and I explained to the bar proprietor that this was about to be my first official taste of Guinness. She was excited and instantly poured me a pint. The pouring technique is pretty cool (and demanded by Guinness when you sign up to sell their product). You tilt the glass at 45 degrees, hit the beer on the golden symbol above the Guinness wording, fill it to about 3/4 full, set it on the bar for two minutes until it settles into a amber red hue, then they top it off to fill the glass and serve.
My first sip….it was the closest thing to liquid gold that I have ever tasted. I sincerely doubt that I can ever drink another beer again. No comparison…this is pure heaven.
My first Guinness. Cheers people!
Guinness
Guinness
Guinness
Guinness
Guinness
When the head sticks to the inside of the glass then you know you have a great Guinness.
Guinness
I am on a mission to drink a minimum of one Guinness a day while in Ireland. That’s probably more alcohol than I have had in the past year! When enjoying this paradise of a malted beverage, you need some food to keep you going. Fortunately, the food here has been nothing short of great comfort food (necessary after all that rice and noodle nasi-somethingoranotherstuff).
Beef and Guinness Pie
Lamb Irish Stew
Lamb Irish Stew
Fresh Cod Fish n’ Chips with mushy peas
Fresh Cod Fish n’ Chips
Fresh Cod Fish n’ Chips
Lamb Roast Dinner
Lamb Shepherds Pie
Salmon dinner
Salmon dinner
Breaded Oysters (enjoyed on our 9 year wedding anniversary)
Fresh seafood chowder and soda bread
Pea and Carrot Soup with soda bread
The breakfast wasn’t special here (we bought cereal, milk, yogurt, jam, soda bread and fruit) but the view was breathtaking.
Dublin has a restaurant named “Captain Americas” that has been here for around 15 years or so. Mike will certainly appreciate this.
Dublin has a restaurant named “Captain Americas” that has been here for around 15 years or so. Mike will certainly appreciate this.
At Captain Americas I had the cheesesteak. The food was average at best, but the ambiance was cool.
The Liquor Saloon is the oldest pub in Belfast. We stopped by there for lunch.
The Liquor Saloon is the oldest pub in Belfast. We stopped by there for lunch. This booth was our private seating area (complete with a small door to close off the other people). I am told this is the exact same booth Jill, Judy and Shannon sat when they went through Ireland a few years ago.
Almost all of the pubs have live entertainment after 9pm. This guy in particular could play (one man band) anything from George Michael to Nirvana to Celtic folk music. It was a pleasure to drink a few pints and listen to him.
But if any of you know Jill then you know she always has room for desert. Her only pick was the Sticky Toffee Pudding….so here we go!
Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice cream
Sticky Toffee Pudding with custard & ice cream
Sticky Toffee Pudding with whipped cream
Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice cream
Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice cream and extra toffee
Sticky Toffee Pudding with banana ice cream at Farm Restaurant in Dublin.
We will of course go through the various places and sights we have seen in the future posts, but starting off with the food and Guinness was the best way to show respect to Ireland.
<><><><><><><><>
For more photos of our adventure go to our flickr account here.
A Leaf on the Wind 