Five foodie hot spots in Ireland inspired by Dermot O'Leary's new TV show
Broadcaster Dermot O’Leary is embarking on a gastronomic tour across the island of Ireland for a new TV show. Here’s how the destinations he visits could inspire a trip for your clients.
From traditional Irish stew to soda bread, fresh seafood and boxty potato pancakes, Dermot O’Leary will sample and cook some of the island of Ireland’s most delicious dishes for his new five-part TV series for ITV1 and ITVX, Dermot’s Taste of Ireland.
The series will follow Dermot as he tastes his way across the island, meeting the chefs and locals that champion and celebrate the island of Ireland’s gastronomic heritage.
Dermot says: “The food scene in Ireland is so exciting and to meet the people and try the produce will be a real treat. It’s exciting to see modern Ireland through second generation eyes – and to show that Ireland’s food is more than cabbage and stews... although all their cabbage and stews are also great!”
Here are five foodie destinations where your clients can sample some of Ireland’s best kept delicious secrets, each inspired by an episode in the new series, airing from 2pm on 23 September on ITV1. Plus, you can read our interview with Dermot, to discover why he’s the perfect ambassador for Tourism Ireland.
Episode 1: Wexford
Dermot’s parents emigrated from Wexford in the south east of Ireland to the UK, so the town is the obvious first port of call on his culinary adventure. His Wexford experience will feature strawberry picking, making butter and cooking crab, and your clients can sample the freshest catch at Mary Barry’s seafood restaurant, which sources its produce every day from the nearby Kilmore Quay.
Afterwards, recommend a visit to the beautiful stretch of white sand at Curracloe beach, which is particularly safe for bathing, and is surrounded by hilly sand dunes.
Episode 2: Dublin
Heading north, Dermot will discover the city’s street food and delicious traditional recipes. It’s easy to take a self-guided tour of the city’s top foodie hotspots, so recommend clients start by picking up a slice of NYC-style pizza at one of the two Bambino pizza shops, saving room to try some Korean fried chicken from Chimac’s store on Aungier Street.
Like Dermot, visitors can get a taste of authentic Ethiopian cuisine at Gursha, and discover how traditional recipes and ingredients receive a contemporary spin at Mae, which is inspired by the culinary talents of chef Grainne O’Keefe’s grandmother.
Dermot will meet famed Irish chef Richard Corrigan, and visitors can sample some of the Michelin-starred chef’s dishes by heading out of Dublin to Virginia Park Lodge in Co Cavan. Its Deerpark Inn pub and restaurant exclusively serves produce grown in the historic estate’s four acres of gardens.
Episode 3: Kinsale
Visitors can follow Dermot’s adventure by heading to Kinsale in Co Cork, which is often described as the culinary capital of Ireland. Kinsale Food Tours invites guests to “taste the town with us” by either joining a walking town food tour to visit different eateries; a foraging and coastal tour, which includes a gourmet picnic; or a half-day private yacht charter picnic.
Just like Dermot, visitors can pick up some handmade artisan chocolates at Koko Kinsale, and enjoy the tasting menu at the Michelin-starred Bastion restaurant, led by chef Paul McDonald.
Episode 4: Cork
Heading to Cork, Dermot explores the iconic English Market, where visitors can wander between the stalls selling fish, vegetables and baked goods. Advise clients to pop in to the Farmgate Cafe within the covered market, which sources the freshest ingredients from the surrounding food stalls.
Dermot then heads to the coast to sample some native Irish oysters, which are farmed sustainably before being served at Rupert Hugh-Jones’s Rossmore Oyster Farm. And suggest finishing a Cork adventure with a distillery tour at Rebel City Distillery, located in a renovated factory in the city’s historic docklands. Guests enjoy a guided tasting of its range of unique spirits, including the only absinthe distilled on the island of Ireland.
Episode 5: Belfast
Dermot concludes his tour of the island of Ireland in Belfast, where he visits Great British Menu star Gemma Austin’s Mamo Patisserie. Visitors should ensure they try the macaroons inspired by one of Northern Ireland’s favourite treats, the deliciously sweet Fifteens.
They can learn about the history of Irish whiskey at the Friend At Hand, a unique whiskey off-licence and mini museum in the city’s trendy Cathedral Quarter. Whiskey also takes centre stage at Belfast’s newest distillery, McConnell’s, located in what used to be the A-Wing of Crumlin Road Gaol.
And if clients want to learn some new culinary skills to take home with them, suggest a course or workshop at chef Niall McKenna’s Waterman Cookery School, or simply enjoy a meal at the Waterman restaurant. Finally, no visit to Belfast is complete without a trip to Titanic Belfast, an award-winning interactive museum that tells the story of Titanic and its connection to Belfast, the city that built it.
With so much to taste across the island, now is the perfect time to encourage clients to fill their heart with Ireland. A warm welcome awaits them, as reflecting on his tour, Dermot says: “I know it’s a cliche, but everyone we met across the island was so warm and friendly and their warmth and passion for the local produce really shone through.”
Read more in our interview with Dermot, and discover why he's the perfect ambassador for Tourism Ireland.
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