Love Food, Will Travel

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well -Virginia Woolf

GOOD  food, a fine restaurant, reliable pub grub, impressive hotel feasts make all the difference don't 
they?
Many travel the length and breath of Ireland but can only recall a specific location by the restaurant there, the great fry up or nice cup of coffee. A superb restaurant can transform ordinary, non special places into tourist hot spots by just getting one thing right – good food.

Recently I was honoured to be part of the Connaught Judging Panel for the Irish Restaurant Awards. I had never done anything like this before, I didn't quite know what to expect but I do like food and in the end that was all that really mattered.

The choice of locations was phenomenal and although the top five were quite quickly whittled down by the industry experts within minutes, it was the small detail sometimes more than the obvious stand out opinions that distinguished the true winners.

Many of the winning venues come from small villages, rural areas and places that are bypassed or are just not worth going to ... except for that small venue creating delicious dinners. Many of the food experts said they will travel long distances to experience fine food and while there they will of course take a look around the area, sure why not build up an apatite!

I know friends who travel the world based on food, select their holiday destinations based on fine wines, beer festivals or to try out exotic food.

Although internationally Ireland certainly doesn't top the list for food experiences, within the country we know that home grown and cooked products are some of the best in the world.

So we should promote that – fine food destinations. There are plenty of food festivals, event events around the country but they don't get the same publicity as music festivals or art and culture events achieve.

Neven Maguire's Cook Book
Neven Cooks

Has anybody ever heard or been to Blacklion in Co Cavan? If you have, you probably only know the place for one reason (unless you are from there, have friends or relations there ...) because Celebrity Chef Neven Maguire runs MacNean Guest house and restaurant there.

I was speaking to him last year and he said his restaurant was booked out for every weekend for the next year – what an achievement in the middle of Ireland's toughest recession, what a boost to the Blacklion area. He has plans to open a cookery school there, Ballymaloe style.

Will people travel to that small irrelevant village in West Cavan ... yes you will, as you would travel to any part of the country to experience something special.

Have you traveled just for food?

Man made inspiration

My creative angle of the Eiffel Tower, Paris (© Fiona Heavey)

We all have different reasons for choosing our holiday/ trip destinations, but for many we want to see world famous icons, landscapes, buildings and stand in awe, as thousands have before us and of course get the perfect picture to show off to friends back home!

Lonely Planet posted their “most iconic human-made structures” this week, and the geek that I am this made me very excited as I drooled over the places I have yet to set my eyes on.

Out of the ten named, I have only actually seen and touched three of them, which is sort of pathetic for someone who loves travelling and thinks about it 24/7!

These include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Chrylser Building in NYC and Big Ben, London.

All three are super impressive. The Eiffel Tower is really not all that amazing when seen during the day, but it has become a world wide icon for romance and viwed at night all lit up or dangling over the edgewith a loved one really does make it special. (Must be why I have visited it twice)

Big Ben symbolizes London, it also is a symbol of democracy as it stands high over the Palace of Westminster and although it is not really tall or large or impressive it certainly strikes a cord and is a must for history fans.

The Chrylser for me was exciting because of the movie King Kong (remember the big ape at the end?). It is more modern that the other three and so although it dominates the New York skyline didn't impress me as much. (Although I do have a nifty photo from there.)

The remaining seven icons listed by lonely Planet are all structures I really want to see in the next 5-10 years.

Big Ben at 4.12pm (© Fiona Heavey) 

These include:

• Angkor Wat, Cambodia
• Taj Mahal, India
• Great Pyramids, Egypt
• The Great Wall of China
• Machu Pichu, Peru,
• Mount Rushmore, USA
• Stonehenge, England

None of them need an explanation from me on how amazing they are, I will leave that until the day I actually get to touch their exterior.

 I do think that the Lonely Planet did miss out on The Colosseum and The Pantheon in Rome, as well as the Acropolis of Athens amongst many more. And we should not forget out own Newgrange which is one of the most impressive man made structures in the world.

But this list is certainly a starting point of an impressive photo collection and with a sale on with aerlingus at the mo, three of Lonely Planet's top ten could be viewed, touched and photographed on a budget!

Forced to travel

Travelling is one of the greatest experiences in the world: the colours, smells, touch and sound of foreign lands is thrilling and invigorating, socialising with the locals is curious and exciting and the memories are unforgettable.

But for some people these things are scary, unnecessary and upsetting.

Last week I had to go through something that I suppose was inevitable in Ireland's current climate: I had to say goodbye to my best friend as she set off to find work abroad.

Many of my friends, old school/ college friends, neighbours and acquaintances have had to emigrate to find work, but up until this week my close circle of friends had stayed intact.

As she excitedly spoke about her travel plans, where she would live, who she knows living close by and the popular attractions in their new world, the rest of us that must stay behind could only smile through our tears.

She was made redundant from her job late last year, one of the hardest workers I know she threw herself into applying for jobs, going on interviews and doing everything she could to find a job, but it was not to be. After spending time in Australia a few years ago and knowing a lot of people over there it became the best option and really only option for her.

As the months wore on, she became more excited about leaving and more bitter about her own country,in the end she was only too happy to wave goodbye to this Emerald Isle.

Although it will never be the same again, we will not see her (aside from on skype, facebook photos ...) , know her feelings, opinions and hear her laughter regularly, we know she really wanted to go.

How difficult must it be to wave goodbye to someone who really doesn't want to go?

How heartbreaking to lose the grasp of a friend, a sibling, a cousin ... who would do anything to stay here but can't?

A lot of people can answer those questions because according to the news it is happening every week.

During the boom years many of us left to travel the world and experience different cultures, now that prospect is being forced upon us, like it or not.

We can only hope that these bright young sparks will live, learn and love their new homes and in a few years bring their enthusiasm and talent back to this recovering island.

Until that time we must calculate the time difference of 10 or 12 hours to try and talk and see the people we love in foreign lands all over the world.

Travel can be exciting, but it can also be very sad.

A little bit of Hollywood at home

The Stlye Icons Museum at Newbridge Silverware, Co Kildare was exactly the glamour I was looking for.

Upstairs in the Newbridge Jewelery showroom you can glare at the dresses, photos and memorabilia of Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly while also take interest in Michael Jackson's famous glove and clothes, Michael Flately's colourful and jewel encrusted dancing costumes and a wardrobe of Beatles stage suits amongst others.

Well designed, great info, headphones to listen to stories and sparkling glamour accompany your journey around the museum. Amusingly they have Tipi Hedren 's costume from the scary as hell Hitchcok's The Birds (you can even see drops of blood and tears on the unforgettable green two piece).

You could spend at least an hour upstairs (I would advise to leave your male companion at home) before you even wander downstairs to ogle at the beautiful jewelery, silverware and ornaments. I especially enjoyed the antiques collection when I visited last month.

What is the best thing about the museum and showroom at Newbridge? It is entirely free. Hollywood in Ireland for free – it is simply fabulous!

Downstairs I would recommend spending a few Euro in the cafe or indeed indulging in some pieces of silver to remember your visit. I am again delighted to mention that when I visited I felt no obligation to purchase anything, the sales people were friendly and delightful but never over achieving.

Newbridge itself is quite an up and coming town with shops and boutiques galore. With Mother's Day fast approaching this would make an ideal day away with mum, sister or the girls, but probably not the boys as are sure to ruin the fantasy Newbridge have worked so hard to achieve.

I stayed at the Westgrove Hotel, Clane when I visited Newbridge Jewelery. It is a wonderfully spacious hotel with large comfortable and modern rooms, a delightful spa and a nice pool.

I also dined here and really enjoyed the funky restaurant, while the food was certainly tasty and creative.

Celebrating 'Irishness' on March 17

St Patrick's Day for me is one of the most ironic days of the year.

The day of full on Irishness, where listening to Diddly Eye music becomes the cool, drinking Guinness a must and a full suit of green totally acceptable- is the best day of the year NOT to be in Ireland!

You actually have not truly celebrated this island's patron saint in style if you have not done so in a foreign country. Even leaving the country to celebrate the day (weekend/ week) is not quite enough I estimate that you need to be about three months out of this Emerald Isle to truly appreciate and therefore enjoy March 17 in full.

This year Paddy's Day falls on a Saturday (2012) so we have the next day off and the one after that too (we need it - recession and all) and because of the weekend date it means all around the world we can party together (aside from some time challenges!)

When in Ireland, being Irish is so ... well ... common, right now even a little sad, but on foreign soil being Irish is well the most darn important thing in the world (even if the natives are truly sick of you and your kind!)

I am sure emigration has touched about everyone at this stage, a brothers, a sister, a best friend, cousin and it is terrible, horrible to watch them have to leave, heart breaking not to know when they will return, if they get a job, settle down, like it there ... but on the major plus side they get to celebrate St Patrick's Day in real Irish abroad style.

While we sup our pints and watch the parade, they will be flying high, dancing a jig, singing a song, flying a flag and really meaning it.

GAA jerseys from every county will combine and chat and drink and be merry, it doesn't matter if they know each other, if they will never see each other again, because for just one day, March 17 Irish people all over the world will unite.

On St Patrick's Day Irishness isn't a stamp on the front of your passport, it isn't a green white and gold flag, it isn't even an accent or a story, it is a state of mind, a piece of your heart and large proportion of your soul.

I believe St Patrick's Day was invented for Irish emigrants, because no matter how much they despise this country that has made them leave their homes, on March 17 they will only recall fond memories, funny antidotes and hazy pictures.

We can only hope that those left behind can do the same.

To the Irish at home and abroad – Happy St Patrick's Day!

High cross at the Rock of Cashel, co Tipperary
(C) fifiheavey

When things don't go toasty

When reviewing a hotel it is of course important to analysis every aspect of it's facilities, location, the staff, service, atmosphere and value but sometimes just one aspect of your visit can sway your feelings and there is nothing you can do about it.

In pubs, bars and discos my radar goes straight to the bathroom – if I don't like the set up, cleanliness, or style of the ladies powder room, the venue goes down in my estimation. For fairness I always either take a sneak peek (just a look in the door) or ask a male counterpart to also comment on the gent's side of things. Mean or not that is the way I do things – I almost ALWAYS visit the toilets in any establishment I visit – it has been a tradition for me since I was a little child!

I would like to think that I have quite a bit of experience with accommodation providers hostels, B&Bs, hotels, airport lounges, a friend's couch ... and the one thing that stands out in my list of things to ticked is the breakfast service.

I have only ever missed breakfast once while staying on a hotel B&B package in my life – and I did it just to prove I could, but I certainly wasn't happy about it.

I don't like to miss out on something I have paid for, but more importantly I feel it is an integral experience of staying in a hotel.

You would think that the service you receive depends on the money you pay – the quality of the provider, but I have often found this not to be always the case.

My main gruff is the toast.

I don't mind whether my order is taken or if I have to serve myself, both have their merits BUT it is the toast situation that gets me riled up.

I cannot stand the bog standard toast grill which you must (as a paying customer) place the toast in and stand for two minutes before it pops out, barely warm. You then must proceed (and probably holding up a queue of toast hungry people) to place the luke warm slice back into the grill and wait another custom two minutes before it pops out: black.

Burned toast – the smell, the taste, the wasted time, the indecency. Breakfast is ruined, the most important meal of the day is ruined ... why do hotels let this happen??

At a B&B (and at a fraction of the price) you are asked what you would like for breakfast and you are served the breakfast, plus tea/ coffee and toast to your table and quite often asked if you want more.

Hotels often grumble about how they have been hit my the recession, but when you can't get breakfast right – when the hospitality is replaced by a grill 'do it your self' toaster – is it any wonder?

All I would like is some nice golden toast to enjoy with my breakfast, it isn't that difficult, it stops the ugly line of people trying to balance plates and bowls and juice while deciphering who owns what slice of toast at the end of the queue.

“Sir/ Madam would you like tea or coffee and some toast?” - what a perfect way to start the day!

Romantic, relaxing, hectic weekend planned

I spent Valentine's evening hovering the house, putting a washing on and sitting down to watch the Irish election leaders debate. But don't feel sorry for me because I am heading away this weekend for a romantic break with my boyfriend.

Well we are not so sure if it is going to be a romantic weekend, we haven't decided on the category of weekend it is yet.

He wants a “relaxing” weekend, you know lie in on Saturday and Sunday, hit the breakfast just before it stops, maybe head for a back massage, a lazy swim and just chill out in the room, making a time for a bit of … before dinner and few drinks.

As usual I want to go see and do. I really want to have a gawk at the Newbridge Museum of Icons (we are staying near by) maybe drop into Kildare Village for a quick look and maybe a spin around to Naas, stopping off for a bite to eat there.

But we are not only celebrating Valentine's Day but also our anniversary (we are not married) – so it has to be romantic.

Problem: the weekend cannot be relaxing, include sightseeing and shopping and also be romantic.
So you see predicament. It is actually a re-occurring situation we seem to find ourselves in.
I love going away for weekend breaks around the country, it is a fun way of discovering the island in small segments, it gets us away from the routine of weekends at home and we actually spend quality time together. But once we get there my lover and I often quarrel over how exactly we should spend the time away!

“Relax and unwind” he tells me as he lies on the massive bed in his boxers flicking through the channels. But I don't want to waste my time sitting around doing nothing, if we are going to relax let's do it at the spa, let's give it a time slot so then at least I know that come a certain time “relaxing” is over with and we can move onto something else … like romancing or eating or sightseeing!
I know loads of couples who go away for a weekend to a hotel and barely step outside the bedroom for the three days, and they come back glowing but I would see that as a wasted opportunity to get out and see what is around.

You may be able to tell but 'Spontaneous' doesn't work for me, I am an organised person I like to know what is going to happen, because leaving it to chance usually means sitting looking at each other doing nothing! The problem with this weekend is that I have way too much to jigsaw together, each of them are fine by themselves, I could even successfully manage two of the above categories – but three, three is a challenge.

Of course I have done out a rough draft of the weekend:
Friday – travel to hotel, have dinner, romance
Saturday – Breakfast, spa/ relaxing time, shopping, eating out, romancing
Sunday – Breakfast, romance, sightseeing, lunch, home

Keeping my boyfriend to my invisible schedule of events could prove difficult though, and if one category runs a lot over time I may have to sing out load to drown out the alarm bells in my head …

You know sometimes it is less stressful to just stay at home!!