"Everyone Knows It's Windy"

...well, I didn't know that this morning. Holy Jay-suus, but it was windy on the walk on the Salthill Promenade right next to the sea this morning. Hard to really capture that in a picture, but at least here's what the water looked like.

Not exactly "the old swimming hole"

Anyhow, I had a ticket to the Galway International Food and Craft Festival today... or as I would think of it, the Taste of Buffalo if people didn't know how to make Mexican food right here. (hahahaha just kidding... not really).

I'd describe this as fun, tasty, but not worth 10 Euros. For instance, here's a bit of the lovely band playing:

So many of the things looked amazing, like Bubble Cake with Ice Cream, but this effing diet will be the end of me. Instead, I settled for a decent tasting, but meh-looking steak sandwich (no i didnt eat the bread).

It's so windy and cold the cheese got unmelted so fast #teammeltedcheeseonly

Went to apparently a decent Irish Chef JP McMahon's cooking demonstration after, where he talked SOOO much about lobsters. "Did you know the most humane way to kill a lobster is by stabbing it in the head?" "Did you know that it's against the law in Switzerland to boil lobsters alive?" "Did you know Ireland exports almost all of their lobsters to France????" Believe me, I would not have complained about this if I got a piece :(

"Hey kids, I'm about to murder a lobster in front of you!"

But I was intrigued! So after the fest was over, and I checked out a couple of the local "bingo parlors"-- hey, I was bored and they really do love their bingo here!-- I decided to stop by one of his restaurants in town.

Tartar, his wine bar/cafe was about a 5 min walk from my house, so I pretty much had to right? Plus I just got paid today, so even if it was pricey, I'd feel alright about it.

In order, steak tartare, olives and anchovies, and smoked leeks with garlic and toasted hazelnuts. BEST MEAL IN IRELAND SO FAR. Smokey, salty, acidic steak, the anchovies were amazing (and they should be, come on, Galway's on the sea), and those leeks-- I mean, maybe it's lost in translation but they don't look like the leeks at home in the US. Please ignore the glass of wine... I don't know who I am anymore.

After dinner, I needed a good walk, so I walked back through shop street to listen to some of the live music. I'll spare you the stories, and just put some comments in the random thoughts. Gotta get up early tomorrow for a day-long tour/cruise!

Random Thoughts:

Found my Burger Club location!

Not sure this sign would fly in the US...

Turns out, it's really hard to hold yourself up for 100 seconds. I did not submit myself to this... but I challenge you!

Moment of Zen

Ehh, I stole this from yesterday, but still good!