(由 Google 翻译)如今,很难找到平衡。我们常常被猛烈地拉向极端,而不是安然地处于中间地带,漂浮在那个神奇的、世间最美好的境界。
McMunn’s 找到了这种平衡。员工热情好客,却不居高临下。房间简洁舒适。至于食物……这绝对是我在爱尔兰吃过的最棒的一餐,我会久久难忘。你可能花上好几年都找不到这样的美食。而这正是你想要的。
牡蛎是我吃过的最好吃的。这道菜作为开胃菜非常出色,因为牡蛎本身就预示着接下来食材的品质。牡蛎无处藏身,我们本来可以再吃20个。它们就是那么美味。
吃完牡蛎后,我们又点了一份羊肉。羊肉在爱尔兰很受欢迎,我们几乎每顿饭都会搭配羊肉,而且至今仍然没有失望。但麦克芒餐厅的肉汤……简单却又令人沉醉,奶油、白葡萄酒、云朵、希望、梦想、大蒜,那种坠入爱河的感觉,再加上红葱头和一小撮欧芹,足以洗去你所有的烦恼。如果浪费一滴汤汁不算什么罪过,我甚至想泡在里面。简单的食材,却以远超高级餐厅的水平烹制。真正的平衡。
我们问服务员推荐什么主菜。她说她不太喜欢海鲜,所以不能代表菜单上的海鲜(可以理解),然后她很快告诉我们,羊肉是她的最爱。虽然我们可能不同意她不喜欢海鲜,但她推荐的羊肉是我们永远感激的。我们还点了一些扇贝,这也是当日的特色菜。
我在哪里?我是谁?生活是什么?在这之前,一切又有什么意义呢?扇贝的烹饪堪称完美。如此精致的扇贝并非难寻,但在温馨的小镇酒吧/餐厅里,它们通常不会作为每日特色菜出现。我不会细说,因为它们不在主菜单上,大概只有在能买到的时候才会有,但它们确实令人惊艳。搭配的美味酱汁为扇贝的完美口感锦上添花(但丝毫没有影响它的美味)。
此刻,我们都为自己一生为追求如此美味的食物而花费的金钱而感到愤怒。没有华而不实的食材,没有夸张的摆盘,也没有厨师用五分钟解释他如今“烹饪”背后的灵感。只有一句礼貌而懂事的“享用”,一盘令人心旷神怡的羊肉摆在你面前。
低调却完美地摆盘。神秘莫测,却让你不知何故总能察觉到它的踪影。滋味复杂而浓郁,却汇聚成一个简单的“哇”字。我们异口同声地说了这句话,脸上却挂着同样傻乎乎的表情。那表情既有欣喜若狂,因为那只羊肉和它完美搭配的配菜在我们惊呆的味蕾间流淌;又有愤怒,因为我们花了这么长时间才在任何地方找到这么好吃的东西。不仅仅是在爱尔兰,在任何地方都是如此。
我们将在这里过夜,第二天早上享用早餐,然后继续度过剩下的假期。我们已经在考虑取消一两晚的预订,回来尝试菜单上的其他菜品……或者再点四次羊肉。
如果你足够幸运,有机会来这里,品尝你很久以来吃过的最好的一餐,喝几品脱啤酒,然后住在麦克芒餐厅。你一定会被震撼的。
(原文)
It’s rare to find balance today. Too often we find ourselves being pulled violently toward an extreme as opposed to being pleasantly placed in the middle, floating in that magical place that is the best of all worlds.
McMunn’s has found that balance. The staff are welcoming without being patronizing. The rooms are straightforward yet comfortable. And the food… the food is simply the best meal thus far in Ireland and one I will remember for a long time. You can hunt for a meal like this for years and never find it. This is exactly what you’re looking for.
The oysters were the best I’ve had. This was an excellent introduction to the meal as oysters are an indication of the quality of ingredients to come. Oysters have no where to hide and we could have eaten another 20 of them. They are that good.
We followed the oysters with an order of muscles. Muscles are great across Ireland, we have them with most meals and haven’t been let down yet. But the broth at McMunn’s… A simple yet heavenly decadent solution of cream, white wine, clouds, hopes, dreams, garlic, that feeling you get when you know you’ve fallen in love, shallots and a sprinkle of parsley wash away any troubles you could possibly have. I would say I could bathe in it if it wouldn’t be a crime to waste even a drop. Simple ingredients executed at a level far above what is commonly found in fine dining. True balance.
We asked our server what she recommended for mains. She mentioned she was not a huge seafood fan and therefore couldn’t speak for that side of the menu (understandable) and promptly let us know the lamb was her favourite. While we may disagree with her distaste for seafood, her recommendation of the lamb is something we will forever be grateful for. We ordered some scallops which were a special of the day as well.
Where am I. Who am I. What is life. What was the point of anything before this. The scallops were cooked to absolute perfection. Scallops cooked this well are not impossible to find, but they are generally not found in a cozy small town pub/restaurant as a daily special. I won’t go in to too much detail as they are not on the main menu and are presumably only available when they are able to be procured but they are amazing. The delicious sauce they were served in acted as a wonderful addition to (but in no way distracted from) the perfection of those scallops.
At this point we are both furious how much money we’ve spent in our lives chasing food this good. No pretentious ingredients, no ridiculous plating, no 5 minute explanation about the chef’s inspiration behind his current “expression”. Just a polite, knowing, “enjoy,” as a plate of mind altering lamb is placed in front of you.
Unassuming, yet perfectly plated. Mysterious, yet you somehow always knew it existed somewhere. The flavours are complex and robust, but combine into one simple expression, “Wow”. We said it in unison with the same stupid expression on our faces. The expression was a combination of ecstasy as the lamb and its perfectly paired accoutrements flowed through our stunned pallets, and rage that it had taken us this long to find something this good anywhere. Not just in Ireland, anywhere.
We are staying here overnight and are being served breakfast in the morning before continuing on for the remainder of our holiday. We’re already considering cancelling a night or two elsewhere to come back and try the rest of the menu… or order the lamb 4 more times.
If you are lucky enough to have the chance to do so; come here, have the best meal you’ll have in a long time, have a couple pints and stay at McMunn’s. You will be blown away.