Hotel Reviews Ireland



Share THE FARMGATE CAFÉ THE ENGLISH MARKET CORK CITY. www.farmgate.ie For many years now my favourite place for lunch when in Cork has been The Farmgate Café situated upstairs from the English Market. The food is always fabulous, the ambiance unique and the service is both friendly and efficient. The one thing you can always be sure of when visiting The Farmgate Café is that whatever you choose to eat will be as fresh as you would find anywhere. This is because the wonderful English Market is their larder, and each day proprietor Kay Harte always visits the various stalls in the market to select the very freshest fish, meat and vegetables for her lunch-time fare. However The Farmgate has become so busy that these days you may have to wait for a table if you come during the lunch-time rush. It is always worth the wait though. I generally try to visit outside the 1 – 2 popular time as it is usually quieter then. So what to eat? Well I always choose something with salad, as the leaves are of the highest organic standard and the dressings are divinely sweet. Tripe and Drisheen is a house speciality and as popular as ever with the locals. There is always a quiche or pie, usually with some farmhouse cheese in it; the roast chicken is my daughter's favourite, and I usually go for the fish of the day. But do keep room for dessert, as these are really special, and a fruit crumble is generally my first choice. With the visit of Queen Elizabeth 11 earlier this year, The English Market in Cork enjoyed something of a make-over and images of this iconic Cork landmark were sent all over the world. It certainly did wonders for Cork tourism. But I am proud to say that I am a long-term fan of both the market and Farmgate as I first visited some fifteen years ago and have returned as often as I can since then. It is great for morning coffee or afternoon tea, and enjoys an ambiance that you will not find anywhere else. You can visit on your own or with friends and you will be equally as welcome and comfortable. There is a Farmgate in Middleton which is run by Kay's sister Marog, and this wonderful restaurant was the inspiration for the one at the English Market. Both venues are now being taken over by Kay and Marog's respective daughters and it is great to see great cooking, fresh with a flair, is being carried on down the generations. It is families such as Kay and Marog and their daughters who are proof that we have a great food culture and tradition. I expect they will be around for generations to come, and continue to be appreciated by all who eat there. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites | More...