IRISH PUBS OF DISTINCTION

Much of Ireland’s social life revolves around the pub, from traditional ones with open-hearth fires and flagstone flooring to stylishly modern ones filled with chrome and glass. No matter what the style, the pub is where old friends meet new ones, where computer geeks and farmers alike go to unwind after a busy day of work, and where you’re most likely to find an impromptu music session ready to get underway.

Irish Pubs of Distinction is a group of independently owned and operated pubs that offers a kind of quality assurance, which is especially helpful for visitors looking for pubs with warm hospitality and good service and food. Most of the pubs in the group, which is an initiative of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, pride themselves on the food they serve, and some even offer breakfast and sleeping accommodations. The stated mission of the members is to ensure that your Irish pub experience will “linger in your heart and soul for a long time to come.” There are currently seventy-four member pubs in twenty-two counties, many of which have offered recipes for this cookbook. To locate a member, see Resources.