January 25, 2017

My friend John, from Hawaii, came to visit us while we were in Dublin. And because he is on a new kick to try and visit Michelin star restaurants in different parts of the world, we made a reservation at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, which is the only two star rated restaurant in Ireland. We were all very excited as none of has had been to a Michelin star restaurant.

Not knowing what to expect, we were a little unclear on how to dress. Grant looked presentable as always, albeit a little underdressed as a lot of the men were wearing a suit and tie. I looked presentable from my knees up. Unfortunately, black winter UGG boots are as fancy as I could get as that is what I had brought with me to Ireland. John arrived with his Asics sneakers and black and yellow Steeler’s jacket. I’m sure we made a “splash” in our entrance. Oh, well. We walked in liked we owned it so no big deal.

We were sat down in a waiting area. The sparkling wine and cheese puffed pastry starter were delicious. And just enough to whet our appetites for the main course.

Next, we were seated at our dinner table.

We started with a foie gras mousse. I don’t normally like foie gras but this was very smooth with a hint of sweetness and was actually very good. You couldn’t even taste the foie gras at all.

Next, I ordered an appetizer, ravioli with blue lobster:

Grant had “Croquettes of Suckling Pig, Fried Quail Egg, Foie Gras, Pancetta, Red Pepper Mostardo”:

John ordered “Half Dozen Carlingford Oysters, Shallots, Ginger, Oriental Style Dressing, Coriander, and Lime Salad”:

And for the main course, I was excited to order the Atlantic Turbot “Meuniere Style” with Cepe Puree, Celeriac, Samphire, and Bonito Butter:

Grant chose the Native Red Deer, with Sweet Onion, Dalkey Mustard, and Beetroot Condiment:

Fillet of Irish Beef and Roast Foie Gras, Madeira and Truffle Jus was John’s choice:

The food was excellent, and in my opinion, worthy of its two stars (although this was my first Michelin star restaurant experience so take it with a grain of salt). The service and atmosphere were impeccable, and if you are in town and in the mood for a fine dining experience, I highly recommend Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. It is located right in the city between Merrion Square and St. Stephen’s Green. And for us, it was definitely a memorable experience and a good lesson in how to present yourself at a fine restaurant.

I was suprised to see such an exotic variety of ingredients that unexpectadly went well together. I generally try to eat healthy, and felt like by eating such exotic fare, I was getting vitamins and nutrients I don’t normally get. So I was happy!

When we went to gather our jackets, the hostess gave us a mini-tour of the entrance. Coat-check is a novelty for people from Hawai’i. Here is a picture of the founders of the restaurant:

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