I’m Claire, owner and of Lennox Street Grocer in Portobello, Dublin. Ex-chef, ex food-tour guide, still always on the hunt for delicious things to eat and drink for work and pleasure.
West Cork has a special place in my heart from magical summers spent in Bantry between our great-aunt and uncle’s respective shops. Over the past couple of years I’ve had new excuses to get down to that part of the world and will drive down at the drop of a hat if work allows it.
Stock up on bread at Pike Deli in Clonakilty, and I challenge you to not try at least one of their gorgeous laminated pastries
I love to stop at Rosscarbery Fish & Chips to get the ball rolling (they do scampi at the weekend! ). I then head towards Unionhall to stop off in Glenmar Seafoods to see what is plentiful and buy a treat of some fresher-than-fresh produce to pair up with veggies from the market or other lovely bits from Field’s in Skibbereen.
You can make up a fab beach picnic and splash about in the protected bay of Tralispean; or go indoors-y for lunch and get out for a wild stroll or run around Toe Head, depending on the weather. Even driving around this part of the world is slow-down-and-take-it-all-in-beautiful.
For a really special treat book yourself into Dede in Baltimore and experience the most elegant and refined cooking. Turkish flavours matched with local West Cork produce served in a warm and welcoming 2 Michelin Star setting will transport you and provide a whole evening’s entertainment. (But don’t forget to pop into Bushe’s for a pint before or after dinner and see who has landed in from the boats.)
My weekends tend to end on a Monday so I like to keep the dream alive with a stop in Hayes’, Glandore so I can get one last seafood fix for lunch while soaking in views of that lush, magical West-Cork green rolling into blue waters.
It’s hard to beat this magical part of the world, once you’ve discovered it, you’re hooked. X
