Ireland
Ireland is third largest Island in Europe. It is located in the north-west of Europe.
It is separated from islands of Great Britain by Irish Sea and North Channel.
Dublin is the capital of Ireland. In Ireland approximately 20 percent of land is devoted to farming;
among it less than 10 percent of land is devoted to grow crops the other land is used as grazing land for livestock.
Anglo-Normans arrived in Ireland in 1169. Their food habits in form of diet and farming
was highly adopted by Irish people. Wheat, beans and peas became necessary food.
Upper-class cuisine is also influenced by Italian and French cooking.
In last 200 years, potato has replaced its traditional dairy products and oats.
And thus potato became mainstay of Irish diet. In 1840 Ireland faced a shortage of potatoes.
One particular variety of potatoes became highly sensitive to some disease.
Million of people died in potato blight. Even they suffered a lot due to potato they did not stop to love potato.
Farmers started taking special care in growing potato
and in 2001 Ireland became country of the most consuming potatoes in the world.
Irish Food
Irish food is famous for freshness and quality of its ingredients.
They use very less herbs and spices. Common spices are only salt and paper.
Most of their preparations are dry means without any sauce or gravy. Oat is their main grain.
Other than potatoes they use dairy products in very good amount.
They are very good cheese makers and they make more than 50 types of home made
and farmhouse type of finger liking cheese.
Soups, seafood and meat are also in their main course food.
Irish soups are thick and filling, they use seafood and meat to prepare it.
Being an island there is very good scope of variety in seafood like salmon,
scallops, lobster, mussels, and oysters. The common meat used is beef, lamb, and pork.
Bread has also an important role in their food. They prepare variety of soda bread,
whole wheat bread, crusty brown bread and many types of cakes. Tea is very common everyday drink.
They do take whisky, bear and ale. Coffee with whisky and whipped cream is world wide famous as Irish coffee.
Irish stew is also their common preparation. Stew is generally made of potato,
onion, carrot, bacon, lamb meat, parsley salt and paper.
They like to prepare oatcakes, pancakes, potato pudding, blackberry pies, apple cake,
and specie beef on festivals like Christmas.
Irish people are gentle and well-known for their hospitality.
In rural Ireland, They take large breakfast containing soda bread, cakes,
porridge, eggs and various meat preparations. They also take fruits, its juices or milk and milk products.
Previously they took a heavy meal in mid – day but now days they have their
main meal later in the day when they back from work or school.
Supper in Ireland means late night snack. Typical supper is a slice of bread with butter and a glass of milk.
Irish Restaurants
To enjoy traditional food you can visit restaurants in Dublin.
Different restaurants serve different type of cuisine.
So one should acquire full knowledge about Irish food and drink while selecting the restaurant in Dublin.
Even visit to 4 Star hotels in Dublin, serve your purpose of having traditional food in a state of art interiors.
