Yapoo Market 13

Yapoo Market 13

Yapoo Market 13

It may come as a surprise to learn that in Cork, Ireland’s second city, the principal food market is The English Market, located at the top of Patrick Street, the city’s principal shopping street. Inside the covered market is a wide variety of stalls selling meat; fresh and smoked fish; bacon, black and white puddings; tripe and drisheen. There are a couple of wonderful stalls stocking Irish soda and brown bread, as well as the best cheese market in County Cork (according to my sister, who lives there). These sit comfortably alongside sophisticated displays of olive oils, adjacent to the fresh vegetables and of course the pride of Irish cooking, the potato.

Whenever I am in Cork, I try to have lunch at the English Market. On the balcony, overlooking part of the market, near the entrance from Grand Parade, is the Farmgate Cafe and Restaurant. The café has seats on one side of the balcony, where you queue to place your order; on the other side, is an enclosed restaurant, with waiter service, where you should either arrive early or book.