On The Pigs Back - Café & Deli

On The Pig’s Back has been an essential ingredient of the English Market for years.  The place would be lost without Isabelle’s Sheridan’s epicentre stall, packed with an array of local and French cheeses, charcuterie, special homemade pates cooked meats featuring wonderful artisan produce from both Ireland and France. The amount of produce being created by Isabelle and her team on site at the market has long exceeded the tiny galley kitchen space to the rear of the serving counter.  A move was absolutely essential to increase capacity and extend the range of home made goodies always on offer. Ever a woman of vision, Isabelle found her ideal spot in the heart of an industrial and retail estate next to Douglas Village Shopping Centre, just off the South Ring Road in Cork.  You wouldn’t think the location could quite handle a smart sassy outlet like this in its midst. But handle it most certainly does – with bells on!  The new On The Pig’s Back Café and Deli is the highlight of the area – a diamond in the rough,  the shiny needle in the culinary haystack we all hope to come across once in a while.  Can we rave on more about what a wonderful place this is?  Well yes we can, actually.

The interior has been quirkily designed with a keen eye for the funky.  There are high ceilings, exposed beams, painted stonework and handmade shelving and furniture created by a friend of Isabelle’s, jammers with all the lovely goodies this place is known for.  Informal seating and table sizes mean you may have to share with other diners but you won’t mind because they’ll be just as interested in good food as you are.  This place has a serious food loving feel good factor.  At the front of the shop, the well stocked glass fronted deli counter houses a stunning gourmet array, and covers the serving area behind were the lovely staff here get busy making great sandwiches and lots of other lovely things.  Oh, and did we forget the huge real tree that stands as a centrepiece in the room? It’s almost as tall as the building itself, handpicked and cut by the carpenter who made the shelves from his own sustainable forest. Visually, it’s magic.

Food here is simple, and lets the produce shine.   The daily home made soup always has a vegetable slant. We enjoyed the fresh Carrot and Ginger very much.  Follow it with a local cheese or charcuterie plate with pickles and bread, or a crusty Arbutus baguette stuffed with whatever you fancy.  Hot plate choices include rich home baked quiches and savoury tartlets – we particularly loved the Spinach, Goat’s cheese and Pine Nut – or French Tartine, a version of cheese on toast with or without charcuterie as well, and served on Ryan’s Arbutus sourdough.  All dishes come with house salads and organic local leaves.  Chutneys from the G’s Gourmet Jams range are used here, and you’ll find many other Good  Food Ireland members produce on sale too.  Look out for Burren Smokehouse Smoked Salmon, Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese and charcuterie, McCarthy’s of Kanturk cured meats, and many others.  

For those with a sweet tooth, Isabelle’s pastry chef friend in Cork city knocks up a mean rhubarb or apple tart with proper puff pastry, and there are desserts and cookies from other artisan producers too.  Wines come from France, with a specially good selection from the Loire Valley where Isabelle’s grandparents lived, and Normandy cider.  House wines are available by the glass.  Ballycross juices are also here.  The tea menu is extensive, and includes Cork Barry’s Tea as well as Earl Grey and many exotic examples.  There’s also fresh coffee from Maher’s and Hot Chocolate too.  If you are here in summer, grab a café table outside on the decking.  The small terrace under the awning is a sun trap and a great asset on fine days. 

Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

Unit 26
St Patrick's Mill
Douglas
Co Cork
+353 (021) 4617832
Email: info@onthepigsback.ie
Web: www.onthepigsback.ie

 

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