My dream dishes, from smash burgers and beer in Dublin to fish and chips in Co Galway, onion fritters in Co Waterford, Michelin star dining in Co Laois and a vegetarian option in Co Cork …
My Dream Dish: Smash Burgers And Beer
In what can loosely be described as a smash burger festival, Dash Burger’s Barry Wallace will welcome smash burger guru George Motz of Hamburger America fame to Dublin on June 21. For one day only, smash burger aficionados nationwide will gather to enjoy Oklahoma onion burgers, beers, cocktails and music in the CHQ Building in Dublin. Don’t forget to add more burgers to your order, which is a no-brainer. www.dashburger.ie
My Dream Dish: Beetroot Apple, Horseradish, Buttermilk And Lovage
I’ve been lucky enough to have dined in Ballyfin Demesne, but it’s always on my wishlist, and not just because of the recent Michelin success. To me, memorable dining is multi-faceted, and the surroundings are often an important part of the experience. Enjoying Richard Picard Edwards’ excellent food in the stunning surrounds of the dining room at Ballyfin is as close to idyllic as it gets, and I can only assume the flickering candlelight would seal the deal. www.ballyfin.com
SEE MORE: 5 Restaurants To Book For A Fairytale Dining Experience
My Dream Dish: Homemade Onion Fritters (With Any Main)
There’s something about Lismore in Co Waterford that I love so, reading the menus at Farmgate, the urge to hop in the car and hit the road is difficult to ignore. Full of comfort food classics that anyone would be happy with; what’s more, the food tastes as good as the menu reads. Seafood chowder, prawns pil pil, fish pie and garden pea risotto all sound moreish, and that’s just the lunch menu. www.farmgate.ie
SEE MORE: 5 Places To Eat Really Good Irish Food
My Dream Dish: Fish, Chips And Fizzy Wine
An excuse is never needed to head west but, if for some reason an excuse was required, Oifig an Fish is about as good as it gets. Located in a former post office in Co Galway, Oifig an Fish serves up what must be the ultimate in Irish summer food – fresh seafood – in all its piscine glory. There’s fish and chips, crab claws and lobster, plus a selection of wines and craft beers to wash it all down. The fact that it’s located in Clifden is just the icing on the cake. @oifiganfish
SEE MORE: 6 Food Trucks To Track Down This Weekend
My Dream Dish: Artichoke, Cais Na Tire Cappelletti With Lemon And Thyme
My first visit to Paradiso in Co Cork must have been 20 years ago, and I still remember the food to this day. Chef Denis Cotter is a stalwart of the Irish restaurant scene, Paradiso being one of the foremost restaurants in Ireland, and I don’t just mean within the vegetarian realm. So far this year, I’ve seen invigorating dishes such as asparagus with wild garlic velouté, smoked tomato purée and bergamot gel, and carrots in coriander labneh with blood orange escabeche that would tempt the most hardcore carnivore. www.paradiso.restaurant