Yong Ho Ji

Um, yeah, so this is the best use I have ever seen of used rubber tires, potters included. 

http://yonghoji.com/db/index.php?/carnivorous/lion/

This is the buffalo.  My personal favorite, but you've got to see them all.

Ireland has good food?

According to my personal experience with Irish food, being Irish and being served my mother's one Irish dish-- stew: Boiled potatoes, carrots, and beef, in MAYBE a beef stock, (sorry, mom) I was not particularly excited about eating on my upcoming trip to visit a friend living in Cork.  Oh, contrairghe.  (See how I made up that word, there? Every Gailic word is spelled some Gailic way that has no foundation in pronunciation, and so reading is nearly impossible- case in point, my invented French-Irish word).  ANYHOO...

Upon being in Cork for merely a day, my monkey (I'll explain later), Laura, told me about, and brought me to the English Market.

Did you see that?  The "Food Capital of Ireland"?  I mean, did it just so happen that Laura moved to Cork, of all places, and just failed to mention that it's the FOOD CAPITAL! Now, I have to admit, even seeing it in big bold letters on that sign didn't remove my skepticism.  I mean, Ireland, really?  But, after meeting some locals, I learned that the influx of international imports (people AND food) in the past 10 years has brought a veritable food revolution to Ireland, and Cork, having a Port, has experienced the best of it!  Now, I'm not trying to outpace Dublin in this review, but, speaking from experience, Cork fit my bill- full.

So, to show you how popular this eatery in the English market is, we waited in this line (if you don't get here before 11:30am, you will wait).

The well-worthwhile wait was for ...... BANOFFI!  "What is Banoffi?" you ask.  Well, allow me to show you, instead.

Oh, yeah, that's right.  Graham cracker crust, dulce de leche caramel, banana  disks, and pudding-like whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate.  Can you taste it?  Here, let me help you envision.

Down the hatch.... I opened nice and wide (gotta get big bites, cuz Laura is a world-class speed eater.

You could say I like it, but that would be a delicious understatement. 

One bite, and I couldn't stand the fork being in the way any longer...

So, with breakfast under our belts, literally, we took off to see the rest of what the city has to offer.  Stay tuned for the next post, to see more art, architecture, food, thrifting, and food, from Cork, Ireland.

Mangia the Emerald Isle!

Caracas: Arepa Bar; 291 Grand Street New York, NY 11211 (718) 218-6050

                            Arepa, who?  Arepa, you!  Me?  Couldn't be! Then, who?  YOU!

That's how much fun I had, seriously.  They literally call this sauce the always enigmatic spicy chimi-churri sauce.  Order by number- A20 - La Sureña as if grilled chicken and chorizo, weren't enough, you get avocado slices, and, of course, the sauce!  Yah, amazing.

Tostones Mochimeros Fried Green Plantains topped with Mojito Mayo, a squeeze of lemon and white cheese

$4.50

These were insanely reasonable, satiating, and just, what?! Mojito Mayo!!!! Yes!!!!!! I will have the rest!  I ate them all before I could even take a picture.

But, literally, the cream of the crop was the guac.  I swear there is crack in it.  Or, perhaps that was the sweet delicious Venezuelan Rum they gave me a dollar shot of with my amazingly delicious beer.  What? I am not an alcoholic, I am just food and drink obsessed! 

But, heck, so is Laura, so all is right with the world.  For me, anyway.  Love to Mangia!