The internet told me that the best way to deal with jet lag is to stay hydrated. What a good idea, thought I. I know just what to do.

(Warning: My photos often appear cropped in the galleries below. Clicking on them will reveal the entire image.)

First up – dinner at the famous Crown Liquor Saloon, conveniently located across the street from my hotel. Lest you think I chose this establishment simply by name, I am quick to point out that it is housed within a grade A listed building, and is a “Victorian gem.” Ambience is everything.

And the Irish lamb stew with two glasses of wine – must stay hydrated! – was delicious!

Next up – the following day – a Secret Food Tour with Paul, an outstanding guide. Three young people, two from Boston and one from Belfast, were also part of my tour group. We started with dessert at Chocolate and Cannoli, a stone’s throw from our meeting place at Belfast City Hall. (The tattoos and piercings were optional.) Their hot chocolate is rated within the top 10 hot chocolates in the world, and in 2020 took GOLD in an international competition. Their secret – the beverage is made up of 60% chocolate instead of the typical 8-12%. The cannolis were to die for, and finishing up with a chocolate ball filled with liquer set us up for the rest of the tour.

Following dessert we munched on appetizers at Sawers which has provided Belfast with great cheese and artisan products since 1897. Our selection of smoked salmon, slices of dried ham, two kinds of cheese and a little white wine hit the spot. I considered the wall of teas, and while the caviar was tempting I decided to leave it for another day (or life!).

On to the fish course at Belfast’s best restaurant, Mourne Seafood Bar where we feasted on just opened oysters in the half shell complete with a dab of Tabasco sauce. Mourne’s oysters come from the restaurant’s own oyster beds. They’re smaller than BC coast oysters, but larger than the New Brunswick versions and mine was very tasty but sadly pearl free.

Finally it was time for the main course which we enjoyed at Kelly’s Cellars. This old Irish pub has been serving victuals to Belfast since 1720. Much of the building is original – dark and low – and the food and drink was excellent. We started with a glass of Guinness (finally!) and two varieties of whiskey – Bushmill and Macallan. I prefer the Bushmill as it is smoother than the Macallan. The Irish stew, this time made with beef, was tasty.

The cheese course came from Mike’s Fancy Cheese, a shop that makes its own cheese from raw milk. We tasted the Ballylisk which is like a brie but creamier as cream is added to milk in the making, and the Young Buck which is a mild blue cheese. I have never been a blue cheese lover, but I did enjoy this one. Our guide is educating us about cheese in the photo below.

The Sunflower Public House is the only establishmnent in Belfast with its security cage still protecting the door. This is a leftover from the time of the Troubles when militants would occasionally toss bombs into partisan bars. (Click on the photo to see the cage.) We stopped in to enjoy a glass of Beamish stout which has been brewed in Ireland since the 1790s. It’s similar to Guiness, but lighter in colour and seemingly less dense and with a lovely foamy top. We neeeded it, of course, to wash down the cheese we just enjoyed. (Click on the photo of the bar to read the wifi password. Belfast humour!)

Our final stop was The Dark Horse, a restaurant known for its fine coffees and the fact that its decor includes a door from The Game of Thrones. After ordering our Bailey’s we wandered out to an amazing courtyard completely muralled with images of Belfast. I would have loved to drink my coffee out there, but we instead sat in the rather formal looking dining room. Feeling quite hydrated and perhaps a little tipsy, it made for a relaxing end to a wonderful tour of Belfast and food.

A restorative nap and some blogging brought me to my dinner reservation at Ora Wine and Tapas, keeping with the need to stay hydrated. The scorched greens and jumbo tempura scampi were delicious but I found the skinny fries a little over weight, nothing that two glasses of sauvignon blanc couldn’t remedy.

I can feel that my jet lag has been fully bested, and the almost 12,000 steps readied me for a timely night’s sleep. I hope you have enjoyed my food tour. There was so much to see that I haven’t included, perhaps I shall in a future post. Meanwhile, feicfidh mé amárach thú.