Daniel Island Irish is Back...
It started out as an authentic Irish bar.
Owned and built by Guinness and shipped over here 3-4 years ago.
But it just didn't catch on.
Begorrah. (That's Irish for Yikes).
The place reopened as Two Rivers, though scaled back quite a bit on Olde Sod authenticy.
Well, I pegged it as just slightly
"Irish-ish"
January 1, three new owners took it over to create
Dublin Down. In just 19 days they improved on the original concept by adding cozy private little booths called
"snugs" with a table and low stools and other touches - like 12 church pews - that set a nice mood.
As far as I know, it's the only Irish bar around here offering traditional
Boxties.
Part pancake, part hash brown, this Irish staple COULD be had for breakfast but works well at teatime or supper as a side with a meat dish.
New owner Brian Mahoney said "
You have to make a boxty right and we do."The beers on tap are right on the mark too. They'll layer the draughts to form a Black & Tan or a Half and Half or try a Black Bee. Slainte!
(Years ago while touring some Irish bars in New York, I saw a sign outside one that said
"Soup of the Day" and a picture of a pint of Guinness. That would work here too. Click on images for detail and enjoy responsibly.)
Labels: Boxty, church pews, Daniel Island Grille, Dublin Down, fish and chips, Guinness, Mahoney Dowling and Cronin, Slainte, snugs, Soup of the day
Post -Trip Diet
They say that "travel is broadening." If they mean all the food you sample, that's a TRUE statement.
It started innocently enough - an
English Breakfast. In London. However, I was NOT expecting pork & beans on the plate!?
At least the
"Fish & Chips" looked like I thought it should. I once had had it served wrapped in a newspaper but that was years ago. I don't remember small green peas with that one.
Looking over a menu for an
English dinner, I naturally chose the
Bubble & Squeak" with my Shepherd's Pie.
I am pretty sure I would remember if I had ever had "Squeak" before.
A
Belgian waffle, I discovered at breakfast, is light and airy and really is eaten as a snack throughout the day. Colorful but not very filling.
In Bruges, Belgium, seated on the Market below the looming bell tower, the waiter amused himself by bringing us EACH a bucket of
Mussels from Brussels. Looking around, we quickly realized diners usually shared a single bucket.
We did share a plate of "frits" as we pried out the tasty mussels using one of the shells as a tweezer tool.
The
Amsterdam pancake was a thin crepe covered with fruit, whipped cream and even a scoop of ice cream.
You certainly did NOT have to add maple syrup even though each table had a large vat with a ladle at hand.
One night, after wandering in and out various "coffee shops" and mushroom bars, we had a sudden urge to eat some Mideastern fare and a
pita bread stuffed with lamb looked - and tasted - great.
This was after a huge slice of
pepperoni pizza
Wonder why the sudden munchies attack?
(Click on pictures for make-you-hungry details)
Labels: Belgium pancake, bubble and squeak, coffee shops, fish and chips, frits, lamb, Mideastern, munchies, mushroom bar, Mussels from Brussels. waffle, pita bread
When Irish Blogs Are Smiling ....
Actually Jared was still smiling because his
San Diego Chargers had not yet lost in the final seconds.
The rest of the happy crowd of bloggers gathered at
Madra Rua in North Charleston was conversing, drinking pints of Guiness and Boddingtons and even some American brews while sampling crunchy Fish & Chips, Shepherd's Pie and Irish Stew at the 4th "official" Lowcountry Blogroll party - the
Pub Blog.
The game was on the telly, a young lass was fiddling Irish tunes on a violin as you entered and the NO SMOKING edict was in effect on this side of the bar..at least until the kitchen closed in several hours. Smiling and connecting faces with blog names was in full force.
Notorious Nice Mike (left foreground) chatted with Vera of Vera's Crafty Blog (right foreground) as English Geoff talks about his recent jet lag to British bike builder Dave Moulton. Neither has a very pronounced Lowcountry accent. Yet.
It was a good turnout and the staff worked extra hard to please as the bloggers filled The Soccer Room. As usual camera appeared often and there will be other photos posted to show that a good time was had by all.
Well, Jared was not too happy with the Chargers.
Labels: cameras, fish and chips, Irish stew, SD Chargers, shepherd's pie
It started out as an authentic Irish bar. 
As far as I know, it's the only Irish bar around here offering traditional Boxties.
