Starbucks

We made our first trip to an Ulster Starbucks, popping in at the one in Bangor after working out Saturday morning. There's a lot of "popping" here. For instance, when I joined Aurora, the membership person said she would pop my membership off when I left for America on May 23 and pop it back on when I return. We "pop" in a lot more ways than you might think.

How is Starbucks different in Bangor? I had a mature Irish cheddar and mushroom croissant followed by a rhubarb and custard muffin. And they were both very good.

While I'm on the topic of food, I should mention our dinner at the Salty Dog on the harbor in Bangor. Here is the cheeseboard listed on the menu:
IRISH CHEESES: Leggygowan Goats cheese, Oak smoked Gubbeen, Cooleeney, Durrus, Served with Frozen grapes, Celery sticks, Pear & Date Chutney.

All were made within 15 miles of the restaurant and all were excellent. The night we visited, a Kearney blue, made by our waiter's father, replaced the goat cheese. It was creamy and not too strong, just how I like it. My friend Blake (graduate of Culinary Institute in Hyde Park) said Ireland has developed a strong foodie culture. Here's a blog post on the Salty Dog and another post on Kearney that show how far we've come since the boiled turnips and fish sticks of my youth.