Numbering among the 82,000 or so who filled Croke Park last Sunday to watch Cork take on Dublin in the semi-final of the Football Championship, the 8 of us enjoyed a stellar viewing point as a nail biting match unfolded. Were Dublin robbed? Did Cork not deserve to win? The style in which the match was won is irrelevant now as when the final whistle blew Cork had managed to scrape victory by a couple of inches. This trip to Dublin afforded me the opportunity to take in a couple of foodie stops on the way home on Monday.
In jubilant mood our first detour was to Glasthule, Sandycove to pay a visit to ‘Caviston’s’. One of my eight year old boys is an avid cheese fan and as ‘Caviston’s’ is the only Irish shop listed in ‘The World Encyclopedia of Cheese’ (Juliet Harbutt) he was delighted to finally pay a visit. The selection of foods from sweet to savoury was vast and varied but we tried to keep our focus on the wall of cheese. Denny’s first choice was some Edam, followed by Gubbeen and then I chose some ‘Cratloe Hills’ as well as a tub of ‘Raw sprouted chickpea houmous with basil & black pepper’ by ‘Natasha’s Living Food.’
From there we headed homewards stopping off at ‘Avoca’, Rathcoole for an amazing lunch. With 2 adults and 6 children our bill for dining out (1 course) rarely comes in at under 100 euro but ‘Avoca’ was outstanding value. The kid’s special of pasta Bolognese & smoothie & cookie was ordered by five with the oldest having crossed over to the adult side of the menu, we had three huge portioned meals and all coming in at an incredible 77 euro.
My visit to the food shop at Avoca was akin to a trip around the Food Halls at Harrod’s. All that your baking heart desires would be gratified by a visit here. The security guard informed me that they don’t like photographs being taken of the food displays, which is a pity as words don’t quite do justice. Have you ever seen chocolate spaghetti or boxes of miniature carrots for decorating a carrot cake, edible flowers of all types, gold gilded cupcake cases and candy coloured Kitchen Aids? I picked up some Nairn’s mini oatcakes for our cheese, Avoca brown bread and a deliciously moist and creamily iced carrot cake.
For the food lovers out there I would highly rate both Caviston’s & Avoca and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to pay homage at last.
Til next time,
Sheila