Is your bus tour of East Cork, Ireland complete with a stop at Jameson Whiskey? If you could take the time in this unpretentious town of Midleton you’d soon experience what is on everyone’s radar these days. Food Traceabilty. This up and coming awareness to the Food Industry in Ireland is affected by two close by influences. The first being in the nearby vicinity of Cork, known as the Gastronomy capital of Ireland, with its world famous English Market. Here is where local sellers offer organic and locally grown produce in this beautiful 18th century market building.
Another influence to this area of Ireland is southeast of Midleton, the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School. This 100 acre organic farm and cooking school trains top chefs in the culinary arts of fresh food preparation and is notably one of the best in the world.
So it is not quite by accident the town of Midleton is an undiscovered gem of restaurants that follow their high standards knowing where their food came from but also the names of the farmers they buy from. The chef and owner of the restaurant Sage in Midleton lives up to his claim of only serving ingredients grown within a 12 mile radius of his restaurant. The Irish food industry has set a remarkable standard and chefs such as these should be applauded. The towns Craft Butcher, Jim Crowley’s is an immaculately clean establishment with only the freshest and local cuts of meat. The climate in Ireland means the ground never freezes. The cattle only ever eat grass all year round. Even a poor choice of meat in this country is going to be healthier than any version in the U.S. based on that fact alone! You may have come here to explore whiskey making but my zeal for amazing foodie options in this area necessitates I tempt you with a list of our favorite choices hoping you will be able to come early for lunch or stay for dinner and explore this region.
One of my favorite choices in the village of Midleton, that we’ve been to again and again, is Farmgate of Midleton. The sister restaurant is located in the English Market of Cork and both locations are searched out by visitors worldwide and locals. The menu claims only fresh and only local. The food is fabulous and the restaurant pleasingly set with a retractable roof for the sunny summer days of Southern Ireland. The location at the English Market, you can imagine at its fingertips only the finest of what is available at the market and well worth a visit as well. 
Our next spot to try is called Bite Size. Along the main street of Midleton are quite a lot of what we are missing in America. Family run shops and restaurants but this bakery stood out to us. The scones and a pot of tea were the best we’d had. The salads and lunchtime items all freshly prepared and generous. This was a shop we couldn’t help enjoying again and again.
If you’re looking into a great Pub option the Mill Wheel Bar is exceptional. The manager Karen was fantastic helping all of us Americans with our orders and no one was left disappointed or without a smile. Whether you want a more traditional fish and chips, a sirloin or Thai Curry (yes this is a standard dish in most Irish Pubs) everything is prepared fresh and delicious all to enjoy with your pint.
Just a little south of Midleton is a local establishment we first came into contact with on our first trip to this area named The Pepperstack. Sitting on the bay with beautiful views overlooking Cork Harbor this family style establishment quickly became a favorite. The menu was all freshly made with whatever was locally caught or locally grown for that week. Before your meal arrives you are each served tiny mugs and spoons of the soup of the day. The entire staff is personable and accommodating even remembering our name each time we came in! There was a radio sponsored hamburger competition for the area between the 4 chefs of the restaurant. The manager invited my husband to join in as a judge of the competing burgers for one of the finals. Hmmm let me think. uh.. yes please!!! Can a burger be any more amazing than it already is? A huge and resounding yes when in Ireland with all their amazing grass fed Irish beef! (My apologies to the vegetarians in the room!)
This area of Ireland and it’s people deserve a shout out for a much deserved hospitality award and honorable mention for their gastronomy skills. The true origin of the becoming well known term Gastropub. Personally, I went to Ireland not expecting to find what is easily what the rest of the world is trying to attain to. A healthier lifestyle based on neighbors and community making our choices more plentiful and affordable for your family. Midleton is truly not just about the whiskey. It is a hidden gem.
