When you think of eating in Ireland you probably think about fish & chips, a hearty stew, potatoes (in many forms), and a pint of Guinness. And all of these are so, so good.But Irish food goes beyond the traditional items you see on St. Patrick's Day menus or featured in Irish pubs across the world.According to Irish Food Champion, chef Padraic Og Gallagher, Irish cuisine is simply food made with Irish ingredients.This is a rather meaty article (if you'll pardon the pun) so let me tell you what you'll find – and offer a few quick links to get to the parts you want, if you don't want to ‘digest' the entire tome.‘Taste of the Wild Atlantic Way' at Eala Bhan



This article is also available as a podcast. To listen please scroll to the player at the bottom of the page.Eating in IrelandOne of the best parts of travel, at least in my opinion, is eating local. Ireland, because it is an island, has been practicing ‘farm to table' as a way of life. Sure, you will find some imported items, but the very best Irish food is local – from just down the road, right out of the ocean, or even the chef's backyard polytunnel.Forget what you've heard about bland Irish food. Chefs across Ireland – from pubs to top dollar restaurants – are creating meals that will delight all of your senses.Traditional Irish Foods to Try in IrelandI'm a firm believer that you should try everything at least once if it's local. Even if it's something you have tried multiple times before in other places. (I can't tell you how many times I've tried salmon hoping that, one day, I will like it.)Full Irish BreakfastFull Irish BreakfastKnown as the ‘Full Irish' in the Republic and the ‘Ulster Fry' in the North, this is a breakfast that will see you through a full morning – and much of the afternoon – of touring. The traditional Irish breakfast includes eggs, bacon rashers, bangers, black & white pudding (sausage slices), broiled tomato, fried potato or potato cake, beans, brown bread and toast (the Ulster Fry has soda bread and potato bread aka boxty) and plenty of strong black tea or coffee to wash it all down.The ‘scariest' piece on this plate is the black pudding, ‘aka blood sausage'. Don't let the name put you off – it's delicious!Smoked salmon on brown bread at Kinnitty CastleSeafoodFishing villages dot the Irish coast. And every morning those fishing boats go out you know they are returning with a fresh catch that will appear in the local markets and on restaurant menus that afternoon.Galway and Sligo are known for their oysters. Dublin Bay is famous for prawns. Smoked Atlantic salmon from the North and west. Clams are raised in Connemara. And you'll find mussels on pub menus in every coastal village. Trout, monkfish, cod… And you really can't visit Ireland without at least one meal of fish & chips.All the potatoesHow many ways can you use a potato? The humble spud was the staple of Irish diets in the mid 19th century (the potato blight leading to the Great Hunger), and you'll still find it served with every meal in multiple forms (often multiple times in a single meal), across Ireland.A simple mashed potato becomes more complex Colcannon (mashed potatoes with chopped cabbage or kale) or Champ (mashed potatoes with chopped nettle or scallions). Roasted potatoes appear with breakfast or dinner. Cut into chips (fries) or crisps (potato chips). Baked into farls (potato bread).A ‘Tayto sandwich' is a top snack in Ireland.BoxtyYet another way to us the potato. Boxty is a potato pancake that uses both raw shredded potatoes and mashed potatoes. Pan fried boxty can be served beside meats or stews at dinner, with eggs & sausage for breakfast, and even makes a lovely afternoon snack when topped with fresh jam.