The seafoods I have tried in Ireland thus far are cockles, mussels, cod, and fish & chips. By the way, when they say "chips" here, they don't mean the same thing as in the United States. Chips, here, are what you call fries in the U.S. If you want chips, as you know them, you would ask for 'crisps'. I know fries aren't seafood, but you always say "fish AND chips" here. Besides, while potatoes originated in the Americas, they have been a staple in the Irish diet for centuries.
I enjoy a lot of seafood, but I have to say that while I didn't mind the cockels and mussels, they are not my favorite. The fish and chips are a favorite of many people; however these did not agree with me. That's really just because my stomach has a hard time with certain fried foods and the fish (often haddock) in "fish & chips" is always BATTER-FRIED. Also, on the day I tried this food, I was dehydrated from a day of hiking that lasted longer than I had anticipated. I will stress again however that this dish is a favorite by most people who try it. I just wasn't so lucky the day I tried it! There's a good lesson for you: if you're dehydrated and sometimes have difficulty with fried foods, maybe wait before trying a new fried food, no matter how much you want to. Thank goodness my stomach can handle fried okra and fry bread! I love those.
