The beautiful town of Clonakilty, Ireland, has a hidden gem only steps away from the town center…read more(where the Battle of The Big Cross monument is). So I guess most visitors will go to the pubs to try out traditional Irish food and we've done that. But I said to myself, these pubs and restaurants get their meat and perhaps pasties and pies from the butcher, so why not cut the middle man? It turned out to be one of the best decisions on our trip. Scully and his staff cheerfully greeted us the moment we walked in and later chatted about life in the fast-paced US metropolitan vs. Ireland countryside (we both agree that the Ireland version contributes better to your mental and physical health). We selected the delicious fish pie, a freshly baked steak and kidney pie, the best chicken & mushroom pie I've ever tasted, along with a beef pastie and quiche for a quick lunch. I usually do not enjoy food that taste and smell too gamey, but the steak and kidney pie actually pleasantly surprised me with its full flavors. Realizing that we're going to have a quick lunch by the small park by the monument outside, Scully provided the utensils and everything else to make our meal enjoyable. We absolutely love the graciousness and hospitality on this nevertheless short visit to this picturesque small town. I can't recommend this joint enough!

I bought pork sausages and chicken to roast for a potluck-dinner-party-debrief for 10, the last…read morenight of the HearSay17 Festival, in Kilfanane, Ireland. We were a bunch of tired and starving international radio/audio makers and I wanted create a solid, comforting and satisfying main dish that held cross-cultural appeal. After an in-depth conversation with the proprietress, Deirdre, I bought my meat and several giant carrots and parsnips as well. I was happy to learn that all of the fresh foodstuff they carry are sourced from local farmers. I made something like a butterflied chicken and sausage tray bake with the meats layered upon a pile of chopped onions, carrots, parsnips, whole garlic, dried apples, liberally doused with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. My spice choices were a bit limited as I hadn't thought to bring any from Brooklyn, and was staying at the Ballyhoura Mountain Lodges (review to come) which while perfect, super comfortable, and packed with every single eco-certified modern convenience possible, didn't have a spice rack. Next time, I'll know what else to pack! Still, the product from Hennessy's was so fresh and gorgeous that I shouldn't have worried at all. The roast/tray bake earned top points from all who helped themselves to seconds and thirds. I also made a couple of frittatas with farm eggs given to me as a gift (!!! OMG !!!) local mushrooms, tinned Cerignola olives (from Malta!) and my housemate's handmade stale, crumbled, savory brown soda bread (WTF SO GOOD), with loads of chopped, crisped Irish bacon and teeny cubes of local seaweed cheddar; and a massive, four-heads-of-butter-leaf-lettuce-salad with a quick pickled onion and fried tomato, cider and olive oil dressing. Folks brought tins of pate (France); crunchy South East Asian rice cracker-based snacks (Vietnam and Malaysia); some tinned headcheese-in-aspic-with-leeks-and-celery (Wales); a cold prawn salad with apples and prosciutto (Australia); a savory green onion and stinky cheese custard (Brussels); and a couple of ice-cream-flake-cakes (purchased by an Italian at the local Amber gas station grocery store); plus candied persimmons (Iran) and dates (Saudi Arabia); and whiskey and maryjane (Los Angeles--LOLOLOLOL)--guys, it was interNATIONAL. We hung. We ate and drank a ton. We laughed our faces off. Maybe there was some dancing and a rap-off? And as the evening wore on and the wine and beer bottles piled up, I tossed the chicken carcasses into a pot with lots of cold water to make a quick and simple stock for congee in the morning with random leftovers for my cabin mates and those who crashed on our couches.. Can you say #favorite #HearSayFestival #attendee? :) I think you can!

Purchased Beef on the bone for Christmas instead of Turkey . Cost much the same but beef so tasty…read moreand succulent . Hennessy's have a long tradition of sourcing their meat locally over generations of butchers Service so courteous, friendly and fast.