Two Tipp Top Cafés. Stef Hans & French Quarter

Two Tipp Top Cafés

Stef Hans & French Quarter

Mezze

After seeing the venerable buildings, including Hayes Hotel, in the square at Thurles, the Source Arts Centre around the corner is something of a pleasant surprise and even more pleasant when you find yourself in the cheery bright room where Stef Hans serve up delicious food.

The Café supports local suppliers (including the Apple Farm, Toonsbridge Dairy, O’Dwyer Butchers, Irish Piedmontese and Le Caveau wines) and they are listed on the multi-choice menu. There are even more choices on the specials board and the friendly staff will point those out to you as well.

Prices are good here and we started off with a plate to share for just €7.50. This was the Mezze Platter, served with hummus, dips, and olives and home bread comes. And a delicious starter it proved to be.

Chicken

 CL picked the Fish of the Day (15.00), supplied by Daly’s. This was Cod with vegetables (carrot and tender stem broccoli) and salad and served with delicious chorizo potato. The fish was as fresh as you’ll get and cooked to a T.

We were getting quality and quantity here and that was underlined with my choice: The Coronation Chicken open sandwich served with organic leaves, house pickle, chutney and fries, a simple dish, well priced and a well judged mix of great flavours and textures. 

The Source in Thurles

Earlier in the day, we had called to Tipperary Town, smiling at the sign on the way in that said: “Welcome. You've come a long way”. Not that long really as the town is just over an hour from Cork.

Time though for a cuppa and we found the very thing, and a Cork connection, in the French Quarter Café in the Excel Centre. It is run by Loic and Anne Marie (well known in the Cork’s famous Lobby Bar in the years before its closure).

Pear & Almond in French Quarter

 So we had a lovely chat in this busy spot. From the café’s name, you’d be thinking pastries here and you'd be right. We were tempted straight away. From the big line-up, we picked the delicious Pear and Almond Tart and a Rhubarb Tart and they went down well with good coffee (for me) and tea.

And if you come at lunch-time they will cater for you as well: no shortage of savoury dishes including paninis, wraps, sandwiches (with all kinds of fillers), salads and quiches. Indeed, if you are on the road early, you'll find them open from 9.30am on weekdays, 10.00am on Saturdays.

See more details of my Trip to Tipp here, includes visits to Farney Castle and Holycross Abbey.

The Excel (right) in Tipperary Town

2016: Cafes by the side of the road

Cafes by the side of the road
For when you're traveling.

Click on the titles below for more info.
These were the 2016 stops. Any suggestions for 2017? cork.billy@gmail.com


The Gallery Cafe, Gort, Co. Galway

The Cafe at Stephen Pearse Pottery, Shanagarry, Co. Cork

Toons Bridge Dairy Cafe, Toons Bridge, Macroom, Co. Cork

The Coffee Shop, Union Hall, Co. Cork

The Cafe at Millstreet Country Park, Co. Cork

Poff's, Kenmare, County Kerry.

Bakestone Cafe, Cobh Cross, Co. Cork.

See other 2016 summaries:
Best Places to Stay
Best Hotel Dining Rooms
Meals with a difference

Best Steaks & 3 Best non-Cork Restaurants 2016

Best Wine Events

Quarter One: The Restaurant File. Cafes too.

Good start to 2013

Meat Pie at Treyvaud's

It has been a fairly busy start to the New Year (not so new, I suppose!) and I've been able to visit quite a few restaurants and cafes, including some new to me.  Not all made the list below. You may check the reports by clicking on the names and you'll see that fish is a strong thread all the way through. Met Paolo Tullio late last year in Ballymaloe and he commented on the great availability of fish in Cork (as compared to Dublin) and these visits underline his experience. It is also very encouraging to see the trend of using local produce increasing all the time.
The lists, by the way, are in no particular order!

Chowder at Oysters

Restaurants
Fleming's Tivoli
The Barn Mayfield
Rico's Mardyke
The Rising Tide Glounthaune
Raymond's Midleton
Bunnyconnellan's Myrtleville
The Chapel Steps Bandon
Finn's Table Kinsale
Oysters at the Clarion
Mabel Crawford's at Vienna Woods Hotel
Bramley Lodge at Cobh Cross

Cafes
Idaho Caroline Street
Manning's Ballylickey
The Duchess Tea Rooms (Bandon)
The Lemon Leaf Kinsale
Diva Boutique Ballinspittle
Vikki's at Sunday's Well

Gastro-Pubs
Charlie Mac's Fermoy

Dublin
Toscana Dame Street
Brown Thomas The Restaurant Grafton Street

Kerry
La Cascade at Sheen Falls Kenmare
Mulcahy's Kenmare
Treyvaud's Killarney
The Strawberry Field (cafe on Sneem - Moll's Gap Road))