For the past few weeks I have been experimenting with my meals. Twice I made a stir fry and once I made a soup with Japanese noodles. A few times I tried tofu, once it was good when Mike made it and then another time, when I did – not so much. That being said, as much as I try to be adventurous food-wise, it becomes more and more apparent that I am anything but, a foodie.
When I first arrived in Ireland back in 2004 to study for the semester at University College Cork, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Strolling through the Tesco, confused at the tiny portions with my naive, American eyes, I was at a loss. One time I bought pasta and when I thought the traditional jar of ragu would be safe – alas, it was the sickest thing I had ever tasted.
I know what you are thinking, why was I trying to go Italian when I could just play it safe and buy a potato? I was in Ireland for crying out loud! The truth was, I had no idea how to cook one. My Irish mom put a plain potato, in some form or another, on almost every one of my dinner plates since I could remember and I didn’t know how to cook one – the shame!
In the beginning of the semester, I entered UCC’s cafeteria, strolled through the buffet about five times, staring curiously at the various offerings, but I always ended up with a cup of soup and some brown bread. I had such a hard time finding the right food that I thought I would starve and my health-nut habits went down the drain as I spread heaps of butter on my brown bread for sustenance. Don’t think I am not embarrassed about this, I am. But I thought I would be honest. I was in fact human, young and naive, it was the first time I had left the country (aside from the random road trips to the rinks of Canada for my little brother’s hockey tournaments when I was a kid) and the fact that I chose to get out of my comfort zone in an effort to learn a new culture must redeem me…right?
Anyway, I ended up building a routine, slowly diving in to try new things and believe it or not, I started eating three, square meals a day – with a lot of Murphy’s stout in between – my health-nut habits were long gone by then.
When most think of the food Ireland, they think of potatoes. But when I think of the food in Ireland, I think of the minute details that I didn’t get to enjoy almost every single day growing up in the States. I think of the fact that tuna sandwiches come with a touch of corn (which I love!), the fact that you can find curry fries almost anywhere on the streets after the pubs close, the fact that no matter what kind of soup you order, it will come pureed and almost identical to the other flavors on the menu, but no matter what kind you choose, it will be the best soup you’ve ever had. I think about the fact that it is normal to put milk in tea (just like my mom taught me how to drink it) and the time that Lisa, who was studying there with me, and I would make a simple pasta sauce from scratch because we couldn’t stand the stuff in the jar.
It is funny how you take what you have grown up with for granted to explore what was not readily available. For example, I eat so much pasta as an adult, sometimes even two nights in a row despite the appalled looks from my mom, simply because it was rarely put in front of me growing up. But now that I am struggling through my pitiful efforts to be experimental with food, I am coming to realize that I am longing for the simple solution that has always been available to me no matter where I have lived – the potato.
Potatoes are inexpensive, you can do so many things with them and they are delicious. I have since learned how to cook them. Last night when I was making baked potatoes I had to call my mom to double check one thing because I trust her more than the recipes online, but they turned out great.
Hey thats a cute article and it’s made me miss late night curried chips more than you know! I remember when you guys where in Cork how much roadworks there were – you never got to see it properly – therefore you should come back and visit
Haha, this was funny.
I’m such a picky eater that I’m nervous about what I’m going to eat when I’m in Italy…I’m allergic to cheese which is obviously one of their favorite ingredients. I’m hoping to open my mind up a bit more when there though
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Yay for tofu! Keep trying it!
i think literally out 6 months irish menu:
tomato soup in the ucc cafeteria with brown bread,
tuna sandwiches and taytos anytime travel was involved,
toasties and soup at the bar,
tesco brand frozen french fries and pizza,
chicken with that awesome pre-made sauce in asian flavors–what the hell was that stuff..we need to find it
murphy’s, beamish, coors light (ha), lukozade, powerade, lilt
that’s it.
I’m so bad at baking potatoes. I have no problem baking a pie, but give me starchy vegetable and I’ll ruin it. I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland, it sounds lovely. Any place with curry fries is my kind of country.
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I absolutely ADORE potatoes.
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Aaah the culinary joys of Ireland and the culinary joys of youth. I eat so much spicy food these days just because we never had it growing up. There have been a slew of new restaurants that have opened up in the past 2 years so now Irish food is better than ever before. I especially love the inclusion of goat’s cheese everywhere. Come on back to Ireland and stay with me!
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I’ve never been to Ireland, but the cuisine sounds lovely. Really.
Before Italy, I wasn’t really an adenturous eater. But there, we were served family style every night and not told what we were eating. It was all delicious! And I really want to go back…
Hey! Not sure how I came about you…I think from Turquise Ribbon!
So..do you Live in Ireland…it has always been my dream to go there..and I will, someday
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Yes! The corn in the tuna is key!
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