Month: July 2024

The Four Winds – Charleville, Ireland

With all of the activities and walking that we did earlier in the day, we really worked up an appetite for dinner. We thought we would check out The Four Winds that was recommended to us. Our waitress was very nice and very patient with our large group.

I ordered the Chicken & Mushroom Vol-au-Vent. This was a creamy check and mushroom dish, similar to a pot pie filling, just with a few less ingredients. They served it on top of puff pastry. And like almost all Irish dishes they served thick cut fries on the side (they call them chips).

This dish was so savory. The chicken was extremely tender. It looked like a lot of food, but it was easy to finish both puff pastries. I would highly recommend this dish.

They offered a cream vegetable soup with soda bread on the side.

A turkey dinner was offered on the special’s menu. This was a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The turkey was moist, and the gravy had a rich flavor that was perfect on the stuffing and vegetables.

There was a steak on the menu as well. Beef I popular in Ireland and there is cattle everywhere, so it’s only natural that their beef would taste great. They served onions and mushrooms on top. The salad on the side offered so freshness. The chips were the potato element to pair with the beef.

The curry chicken on the menu was a surprise. It was tender pieces if breast meat served with a lot of sauce that allowed it to be eaten with the jasmine rice.

We did get a side of mashed potatoes that everyone could share. They were great with the “brown sauce” packets that were located with the other condiments. It was similar to steak sauce and acted like a salty beef gravy. This was also good drizzled over the chips.

It was time for dessert. I ordered an Irish coffee.

This one was different than the others I had enjoyed so far in the trip. This was a little more coffee forward. The coffee beans on the top of the cream was a nice touch. They served a homemade piece of chocolate on the side to enjoy with the coffee.

There was also ice cream & jelly ordered. We were curious what this dessert actually was. When it came to the table, we realized it was ice cream and Jello. The ice cream was creamy and the vanilla flavor paired well with the cherry flavor of the Jello.

Our entire meal was fantastic at The Four Winds. If you are in Charleville then you should check them out.

www.facebook.com/TheFourWindsCharleville/

Enjoy!

T

Day 3 (continued) – Blarney Castle – Cork, Ireland

The Blarney Castle is one of the most famous spots in Ireland. It was built in 1446.

I was very excited to get to visit during my trip. Since we were there in the off-season we were able to spend more time wandering the grounds and inside the castle.

The flowers were starting to bloom on the walk up to the castle. It was so beautiful.

When I entered into the doorway of the castle, I felt like I was transported back in time.

As you slowly start going up the narrow staircases, there are small windows that you can peer out of to see the countryside that the castle looks over.

Since this castle has been around for centuries, some of the structures (like the wooden floors) have actually disintegrated. However, they do a great job describing each of the rooms to help you understand what you are looking at. They provide drawings on signs to help you imagine what the room would have looked like.

There were rooms from a cellar, a great hall, ladies rooms, kids rooms, and even a medieval bathroom.

As you work your way to the top of the castle, this is where the view became amazing.  You are able to see the whole countryside.

At the top is also where you will find the world-famous Blarney Stone. You can kiss the stone for luck (legend says if you kiss the stone, you will be given the gift of gab). Make sure you remove anything that can fall off because you must lean back really far.

As you work your way down the staircase, you are able to check out additional rooms. The popular stop was the “Murder Hole”. This was a spot (hole) that was above the doorway. In ancient times if the castle was under attack, this hole could be used to drop things like hot coals, tar, or boiling water onto the enemies.

If you are visiting Ireland, you must put the Blarney Castle on your list of things to do.

blarneycastle.ie/

Enjoy!

T

Greenwich – Cork City, Ireland

We wanted to check out the food scene in Cork City, so we checked out a little café called Greenwich.

This cafe was very small inside. It was packed and they squeezed as many people as they could inside.

One of the sandwiches that we heard was famous in Cork was the spiced beef. So we ordered the Spiced Beef Reuban.  The beef had melted cheddar cheese, homemade Russian dressing, and sauerkraut on toasted pana white yest bread.

The sandwich was large and good for sharing, especially since they gave a large side salad on the side. The sandwich could have used a little more of the spiced beef because it was extremely flavorful.

I also got the Parsnip Soup. It was pureed like other soups I had enjoyed so far. This soup also had a creamy texture. Naturally they served homemade soda bread on the side.

This was a good stop for lunch. Check them out at greenwichcafe.ie/

Enjoy!

T

Day 3 (continued) – Cork City, Ireland

Our next stop on the tour was Cork City.

Cork City has become known as the culinary capital of Ireland. There is a famous food market that is a must to check out called English Market.

This market has everything you could want from fresh bread, pastries, meats, cheeses, and even fresh, yummy chocolates.

It can be really overwhelming to go in there without a plan of what to look for. There are many places where you can get sandwiches, soups, etc.

After grabbing something to eat for lunch, it was time to get back on the bus and head to Blarney Castle.

Enjoy!

T

Day 3 – Cobh, Ireland

After a nice Irish breakfast at the hotel, it was time to start our new adventure.

We headed south towards the town of Cobh. This cute, seaside town is located on an island in Cork City’s Harbor.  The colorful buildings made it so charming.

What makes this town so famous is this was the last port that the Titanic stopped at in 1912. They have a wonderful museum that is dedicated to the Titanic.

We took a walk around the town. There are some pretty steep hills so make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes.

Our walk brought us to St. Colman’s Cathedral. This beautiful place of worship sat at the top of the hill and had a spectacular view of the water.

The details on the outside of the cathedral were detailed.

Inside was even more spectacular. The tall ceilings, carved stone, stained glass windows were breathtaking.

It was wonderful to walk around and see all the statues and places to pray. I was glad I got to light a candle and say a prayer for my family and friends.

Enjoy!

T

Geary’s Pub – Charleville, Ireland

If you want to have a traditional Irish pub experience, then visit Geary’s Pub.

As soon as we walked through the doors, we felt welcomed. The locals where were at the bar smiled at our group as we walked to a table by the fireplace.

We wanted to warm up so Irish coffees were ordered all around. They were made with such care. The whipped cream used on top was freshly made. And it was accented with a shamrock on top. A little biscotti cookie was served on the side, which was a nice treat. It was the perfect ratio of coffee to whisky.

We got to meet the owner of the pub, Claude. He’s the 5th generation owner. The back room of the pub is full of his family’s history.

Claude was extremely friendly. We were all talking about travel, American football, and whisky. We did a few tastings while we were there too.

Claude was so nice he took tons of pictures with us. Plus he allowed our whole group  behind his bar to get  group photo.

If you want a fun experience, definitely head to Geary’s Pub.

www.facebook.com/goughspub/

Enjoy!

T

Park Bar & Grill – Charleville, Ireland

Inside the Charleville Park Hotel is the Park Bar & Grill. The bistro style menu offered a little bit of everything.

Since I had just visited Smithwick’s, I got a pint of their Red Ale to enjoy while I looked at the menu.

I was not extremely hungry, so I ordered their soup of the day. It was a Root Vegetable soup. It came out pureed, so it was creamy. I noticed that this is a common thing for soups in Ireland. I was expecting this to be a chunky soup with pieces of potato, carrot, and parsnips. But it was still very good, and I finished the whole bowl.

A Steak Sandwich was ordered. It came out on top of a garlic Ciabatta roll. There was a pepper gravy on the side as well as French fries and a side salad. It was a lot of food. The beef was flavorful and tender.

Another dish that was ordered was the 24 hr Feather Blades of Beef. This was a tender cut of beef that fell apart with a fork. It was extremely savory. They served it with creamy mashed potatoes. There was a red wine au jus that was on top. Plus there were roasted vegetables and parsnip puree.

If you want a huge dish with leftovers, then order the Chicken and Bacon Penne Pasta. There was a generous amount of shaved parmesan, carbonara sauce, and a big slice of garlic bread. It was very creamy and filling.

If you like chowders the North Atlantic Seafood Chowder will hit the spot. It was extremely creamy and loaded with fresh seafood that ranged from shrimp, fish, muscles, and potatoes to add a chucky texture.

Check out their complete menu at  www.charlevilleparkhotel.com/the-park-bar-grill/

Enjoy!

T

Charleville Park – Charleville, Ireland

This beautiful, quaint hotel is just on the outskirts of town. It’s only about a mile walk to get into town.

The rooms are a great size, perfect for spreading out. The downside is there were not USB charging ports, so make sure you have a converter plug.

The entire staff is friendly and very helpful. They helped with restaurant / pub suggestions as well as helped get taxis for guests who did not want to walk.

The hotel offers a large Irish breakfast each morning. There is an assortment of cereals, fruits, eggs, sausages, and juices.

Enjoy!

T

Day 2 (continued) – Charleville, Ireland

Our next stop was Charleville. We would be spending 2 nights in town. After checking into the hotel, it was time to get some dinner. We ate at the Park Bar & Grill that was located inside the hotel.

After dinner it was time to start exploring Charleville. It was a small Irish town, exactly what I was hoping for. The shops were closed for the evening, but the pubs were open.

We stopped at a local pub that was recommended to us by the staff at the hotel. It was Geary’s Pub.

This pub was extremely cozy inside. We made sure to grab a table by the fireplace to warm up. We ordered Irish coffees and got the meet the owner of the pub.  It was the exact experience that I wanted to enjoy in Ireland, and the perfect way to end the day.

Enjoy!

T

Smithwick’s Brewery – Kilkenny, Ireland

Since 1710, Smithwick’s Brewery has been making beer for Ireland and eventually the world.

After you take the brewery tour, stop on over to the tasting room. You have the option of getting a pint of one of their many beers or you can take a flight.

I went for the Smithwick’s Red Ale flight. The flight included:

  • Smithwick’s Red Ale
  • Smithwick’s Pale Ale
  • Kilkenny Draught (which is similar to Guiness)

I really enjoyed the red ale. They did not have that strong hoppy taste. They were somewhat sweet, smooth, and they felt light.

Make sure you take time to visit the brewery. And if you have enough time check out their gift shop.

Check them out at www.smithwicksexperience.com

Enjoy!

T