Get a Taste of the Vales this Summer!
This Summer, take your taste buds on a wild ride by getting a flavour of the great food that is available throughout Munster Vales. The region has a fabulous variety of home grown, locally produced and beautifully presented food.
A unique ‘Taste the Vales’ food trail has been designed to bring together all that’s great about the Munster Vales food provision across the mountain ranges in North Cork, East Limerick, South Tipperary and West Waterford. The trail incorporates the very best food experiences, from dining out in country houses to discovering intimate cafés and even a visit to a farm.
The region has everything you could hope for and more, whether you’re in the mood for some great coffee, delicious pastries, nourishing soups and stews, Michelin starred dishes or some local cheese.
This guide of some of the many foodie highlights aims to help you so that you can plan your way around the food trail and soak up all the sites, sounds and flavours in order to get a real Taste of the Vales.
Breakfast
It’s the most important meal of the day and you’ll need to make sure that you’re fully fuelled ahead of your day of activities and adventures. If you’re in Cork, you need to swing by Café Townhouse Doneraile. Customers are always captivated by the good food along with the ambiance of the café with its old-world charm and its sense of restful elegance. The choice of furnishings, style of décor, discreet lighting and the subtle background music adds greatly to the dining experience so that you can relax in relative privacy while soaking up the lively atmosphere.
Lunch
Dooks Fine Food in Tipperary needs to be on your list of places to stop for some lunch. Whether you’re in the mood for a warming stew or a quirky sausage roll, Dooks is certain to keep you fuelled for the afternoon ahead. Spruce & Willow in Limerick will stock you up on healthy soups, noodles and breads with some great vegan options. Or, if you’re spending time in Waterford, Café Bliss will give you some great options of fresh soup, sandwiches and salads with a mouth-watering twist.
Great coffee and cakes!
If you’re looking for a quick mid-afternoon snack and a good cup of coffee then The Keep Coffee Shop in Tipperary is a real keeper. The shop has some mouth-watering caramel slices, delicious brownies and fantastic muffins to keep your energy levels up. Likewise, if you’re in the mood for some high quality baking make your way over to Mitchelstown to visit Praline Pastry Shop and Café for their first-class range of teacakes, brownies, cookies and homemade chocolates. Ideal to eat immediately or to bring back with you as a gift for someone.
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In the evening
After your day of exploring what can be better than sitting down to a delicious meal? If you’re looking for Michelin starred levels of foodie pleasure, Munster Vales has got you covered. Using locally grown produce from its own garden and the Ballyhoura region, Deebert House Hotel in Limerick will leave you feeling refuelled, recharged and relaxed. Crew’s in Dungarvan is located in a beautifully restored old stone building which has a delightfully modern twist to both its décor and its menu. Crew has a dedicated menu for young adults and a finger food line up, which features tapas style dishes such as hake rillettes, cheddar beignets and savoury bon bons.
Of course Munster Vales is also known for its incredible scenery, meaning that you won’t be short of great locations for a picnic. Many of the country houses, cafés and restaurants around Munster Vales, such as The Vault Café Lismore, will set you up with a picnic or afternoon tea. There are plenty of perfect little spots to spread out a blanket on the ground and get stuck into some delicious food at whatever time suits you. Also, Waterford’s outdoor museum of geological records at the Copper Coast Geopark is the ideal spot to enjoy a quick picnic before exploring its range of trails, which are perfectly suited for everyone from family groups to adventure seekers.
With so much variety and outstanding food producers you definitely won’t be short of great places to visit for a bite to eat in Munster Vales. Make this the Summer that you Taste the Vales!
Tríona O’Mahony is the Destination & Marketing Manager of Munster Vales. Munster Vales’ main objective is to promote the geographical area as a unique brand, linking the counties of Waterford, Tipperary, Cork and Limerick and everything in between.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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My problem with a foodie trip like this is that I always pick-up too much stuff along the way. I’ve learnt that hand-luggage is not an option. I’m always bringing back too many bottles and jars etc.
I worry that this is one of those holidays where I come back half a stone heavier having enjoyed the food far too much.
The food in Munster Vales is so good that is always a possibility :)