Galway all the Way

20 Aug

Wow, if you’d told me the South of the Republic was different from the North I wouldn’t really have believed you! How wrong could I have been. Galway is a mid-sized city with real heart and soul! Its bohemian, Gaelic, and colourful. Gorgeous streets of multi-coloured pubs all thumping with traditional music and punters spilling out onto the streets. It’s a blast!

One reason to mission to Galway was Erin’s love of the place. She lived there for 7 years and she has a very deep and abiding love of the place. And now so do I. The other reason was to chance a meeting with renowned local Irish food hero and Kiwi chef Jess Murphy.

Jess is one of a group of top Irish chefs really promoting real local food. Oh to have the same passion in NZ! Kai Galway her restaurant with partner Dave Murphy. Is a real destination restaurant…only 5 minutes walk from the busy touristy streets of Galway central but another world. Fresh local produce…and when I mean local, I’m talking 320 suppliers! Mostly small and artisan. She knows their names, only gets produce when its at its very best. And so the menu changes daily. It’s a labour of love. We caught up with her after a marathon sausage making session. That’s the kind of dedication she has …everything made from scratch. And its why She, Dave and Kai are recognised with a Michelin sustainable star, A Michelin Bib Gourmand and a plethora of National restaurant awards.

We were pretty lucky! Maybe incredibly lucky! We caught up with Jess for a quick cuppa after lunch service. Then we made plans for a quick drink after one of Jess’s media commitments. Kiwi hospitality never dies! Well as they say one thing led to another and incredibly somehow Opito Bay Salt Company now has its first UK/Ireland Food Ambasador! Cant really believe it but there you go!

Jess Murphy “***We cook with love, we’re not robots, and we put a lot of really good energy into our food, and I think that you can always taste when food’s been made with love and respect.”*** …“I have full control over the food that I buy, so even if you are just having fish fingers, or ice cream and a piece of cake, I bought every single ounce of those ingredients and I know exactly where it’s coming from. I know that you’re getting nourished.”
Source: Image magazine Ireland

We are stoked to be working with Jess. Despite her incredible success on the Irish Food scene, she’s incredibly down to to earth and a straight shooter…Just what you’d expect from someone who hails from Wairoa! My Dad was a chef and great gardener so I also get her commitment to our local food traditions and growing your own. Stand by for updates but I this wont be the last time you hear about this!

Kai is just down the road from Ernies, a back street food emporium known to all the locals. The other secret spot we navigated to was Sheridan’s, known across Ireland as purveyors of fine cheeses (specializing in local Irish of course…. Try Cashel blue)…but did you know about there fine wine bar upstairs….? So Galway was a blast. Not enough time to really explore all the great foods coming from this bountiful place, Next time!