Luck of the Irish

Been quite the eventful couple of weeks with one cousin getting married and another getting his PhD in Bioengineering. Congrats to both of them. That being said my achievements all fall into the food discovery realm. Sorry to take your shine cousins but it had to be done. The monumental first step was avenging our previous Irish experience.

A Couple of blogs ago we had hit up an Irish place and the food was at best "just alright". Don't recall but I'm going say this was Karen's idea to try for Irish food again. We went to a place we hadn't been to in a couple of years: Ballydoyle. The weather was pretty terrible I recall as it was pouring rain but on the positive meant the place would be pretty empty. Ballydoyle did not disappoint as it hit the Irish food spot on.

Started off with a new appetizer I've never seen or heard of before: Corned Beef Bites. It's a deep fried breaded corned beef and cream cheese with Parmesan sprinkled on top. I know it said it came with cocktail sauce but I don't recall it tasting like cocktail sauce. Either way these was pretty scrumptious. Yes I went for a word that I don't use to be all hipster about it. I think it worked.

Corned Beef Bites

Karen looked to redeem the previous restaurant's failure at a Boxty. Ballydoyle's Boxty, both in looks and taste, appeared to be freshly made at the restaurant. The rest per their description: "our famous corned beef, Swiss, cabbage, sauerkraut, brown mustard, 1000 island" was also great. Karen is not a fan of mustard but she really like this Boxty. I would say her only "complaint" was there should have been more Swiss cheese.  Having tried it I think I would have asked for more 1000 island dressing but I'm a sucker for more sauce...PAUSE.

Corned Beef Boxty

 Lily went off the kid's menu with chicken tenders and fries. She scarfed those down so I'd have to imagine they were mighty tasty. I would probably have called them Chicken Nuggets or if you want to be like the golden arches- "McNuggets". That sure if that's a racist joke or not upon retrospection. Don't blame me blame going up in the McDonald's heyday.

Chicken Tenders with Fries

 I played it safe with my choice and went with the standard Shepard's Pie. Now I didn't play it safe for my own sake but given the win-loss record with the Boxty someone who doesn't like to be shamed has- I figured worst case if the Boxty failed I could switch meals as I eat anything. Disclaimer- eating anything vs. liking everything are two separate things. Like I hate blue cheese and bacon wrapped dates but I could still eat them if I had to.  Anyway I am a sucker for a good Shepard's pie so this was a "sacrifice" I was willing to make. This Shepard's pie was pretty scrumptious. So much so that ended up going halfsies with She Who Shall Not Be Named.

Shepard's Pie

I think until proven otherwise Ballydoyle's might be the best Irish restaurant in the Aurora area. Will have to research but if you have an suggestions in terms of Irish food in this immediate area I'm willing to give it a shot. Also wouldn't mind scouring the surrounding areas and Chicago for more Irish food.

Got a bunch of items/finds to catch up with yet again but will get them out there. Also got a couple of folks interested in going out on foodie adventures. Hit me up with dates and times and let's make it happen.

#CantStopWontStop
-Reef-