I have tried a few of these dishes when my mom cooked them for me as a child. So when I tried them here years later in Ireland, it reminded me of home. It brought me back to the rainy days when I would come home from school and walk into the house with the smell of shepherds pie on the stove. Eating these foods also helps me to connect with my family from home when I miss them while I am here!
Potatoes are a big part of the food in Ireland, so many dishes are prepared and served with potatoes. Meat is also a big part of the culture here and the majority of the dishes have meat included in them. However, there is also a significant vegetarian population so the vegetarian dishes are plentiful as well!
Many dishes are hot food, due to the frequent cold weather, prepared using the stove or oven. However, there are also cold dishes including foods like salads, or soda bread and irish butter.
Much of the food has dairy in it. Whether it is milk, butter or cheese, almost all dishes have at least one of those. Additionally, coffee is a large part of the culture everyday here, and most people you pass in the mornings will be holding a coffee. This is connected to the local environment because there is a huge cow population here. There is so much grassland and farmland, with many cows to occupy that land. Many families own farms to produce milk and dairy products. This means that much of the local environment directly impacts the food we eat here and the products are often locally sourced!
