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The Grand Tourist team recently jetted off to Cork and headed to Kinsale to enjoy a meal at the “Fishy Fishy Café” and it certainly lived up to our (already high) expectations! Kinsale in County Cork is an acclaimed gastro-hub of Ireland.

The fisherman we met on the quayside was a wonderful character and we spotted the harbour’s resident seal and learned he’s known as the “gourmet seal” only taking the finest pickings from the returning fishermen – rejecting pollock for monkfish!

Martin – the owner and chef at "Fishy Fishy Café" was fascinating and talked about the rich variety of seafood chowders and his simple yet wonderful approach to cooking working with the finest, freshest fish. Everything is prepared to order and served fantastically quickly… and the proof was in the tasting, which was quite delicious.

Needless to say "Fishy Fishy Café" is firmly established on the map as one of the best fish restaurants in Europe. When it comes to cooking fish, Martin's mantra is “no skin, no bones, no fear” and he has built up a brilliant reputation as a restauranteur in the esteemed Kinsale's Good Food Circle. He's also reached a wider audience especially with published cookery books and recent TV series.

The restaurant and food was even better than I’d remembered from my previous visit (Summer '97) when I devoured an incredible seafood platter under the parasol looking out across the harbour – yet another seriously fantastic and memorable meal!

Please contact catherine@grand-tourist.com for further information – for foodie fun in Ireland and beyond.