Tapas and Wine

If you looking for something different to do in Dublin this month then might I suggest the Campo Viejo Tapas Trail ?
This is my third year to go on the trail and it just keeps getting better. The Chief Taster loves Spanish food but he was missing on a golf trip so I ‘persuaded’ my good friend Siobhan to come along instead.

In a nutshell the trail involves a selection of tapas and a glass of Campo Viejo Reserva in 4 different restaurants around the Drury Street/South William Street area with lots of interesting facts and some theatrics en route. Oh and  you also get a very tasty glass of Campo Viejo Cava at the start. Sure what else would you do on a Sunday afternoon? 😉

This year we started our trail in Drury Buildings with as I mentioned a refreshing glass of cava which helped us imagine that we were in sunny Spain rather than showery Dublin. This year’s trail is featuring street art and  some fab art by Steve Simpson illustrating aspects of Spanish life. I’d love a copy of this poster for my kitchen but for the moment  I’m happy with the illustrated recipe cards from the trail 🙂

After an introduction to the wines  by our entertaining guide Paul the tapas eating began in earnest  – my favourite from the first platter had to be the lamb and pistachio meatballs.

Then it was on to our second stop in The Market Bar, by a rather circuitous route I have to say! Once again it was the Patatas Bravas that stood out here. The Spanish guitar playing added a lovely ambience – the holiday mood was definitely growing…

Thankfully the rain held off as we moved between restaurants though I don’t think anything could have dampened Paul’s anecdotes en route.

Our third stop was in Zaragoza where the star of the show was the pork cheek burger . This restaurant is firmly on my list to revisit at my leisure.

Another walk and some more street art before our final destination , Baggots Hutton, for dessert – a choice of pannacotta or bannoffee.

Then sated and dreaming of Spanish sunshine I made my way back to the station and reality.

Thanks so much to Nigel and Jenny from Conway Communications for looking after myself and Siobhan so well.

The tour costs €25 and includes all the food and wine mentioned above. The trail runs in Dublin until the end of June and then moves to Cork for July.  You’d be mad to miss it 😉

Happy Cooking !