Up at crack o’dawn on Wednesday morning to catch the 7.30am train to Dublin. Had breakfast on board, sausage, hash, mushrooms, a rasher and a pot of coffee and toast at a cost of €14.50. The rasher was good, but otherwise not very exiting.
Returning on the 8.00pm train the following night, I was uncertain about IrishRail’s capacity for dining. Having spent the much of the last 36 hours in three of The Butler’s Pantry shops, Clontarf, Sandymount and Mount Merrion Avenue, and seeing so many people buy their lunches and dinners ready prepared and cooked in The Butler’s Pantry Kitchen in Bray, I decided that I would dine à la Butler’s Pantry on the way back to Cork and here was my menu:
Starter: Asparagus, Cherry Tomato and St. Tola Goats Cheese Tart
Main Course: Ham Quiche with a Mediterranean Salad
Desert: Lemon Soufflé.
Drinks: Crinnaghtaun Pure Apple Juice
Ok, so the total cost was €21.50, but compared to the €15.00 for the breakfast the previous day, it was worth every penny, and I can see why Eileen Bergin’s creation of The Butler’s Pantry 20 years ago has survived and indeed has gone from strength to strength. Perhaps The Butler’s Pantry might plan their next shop at Heuston Station, or better still take over the catering concession on Iarnrod Eireann!
[tags]The Butler’s Pantry, St Tola, Iarnrod Eireann, Crinnaghtaun Pure Apple Juice[/tags]