Vasco Dine Wine Deli & Eco Adventure

Contemporary café serving an eclectic menu of specials made up from quality local ingredients

Ross and Karen Quinn took time out from their working lives to travel the world. They came back with a wealth of ideas, especially in the food department.  Both are keen food lovers and enthusiastic cooks – even though they weren’t involved in the industry till now.  These days Ross is a self taught chef. He is at the helm of their new business venture together. Vasco is named after the great explorer Vasco de Gama – because of the influence of travel which inspired their café and its menu.  Yes it’s an eclectic mix of dishes – but all made with locally sourced produce.  It’s quite a quirky spot too.  We think you’ll love it here.

Find Vasco on the winding coast road from the village of Doolin on the Clare coast.  Just follow the signs for Fanore, which is the local area and village you need to get to – and you might just take a while getting there because the scenery is stunning and the pace of life on the road can be slow.  This road is the main thoroughfare to Ballyvaughan, it’s a twisty little number which follows the sea, bounded by hills and rolling greenery.  Be prepared to end up behind a tractor for part of the way.  But we say don’t rush, just go with the slow flow – and enjoy it. If you really want to taste an Ireland of yesteryear – this part of the country is the place to do just that, and enjoy every moment. It’s a step off the busy planet and into your own world. And we assure you - Vasco is well worth getting to - when you do arrive!

Located on a small terrace of buildings which also has a shop and a post office – Vasco is easy enough to find in this sleepy spot.  The café is set back off the road on the coast side – so great views of the sea from the rear of the café. Though Ross says the best view in the house is at the large communal table at the entrance, which has high stools. He reckons you just sit up here with a coffee and look over the sea to the Cliffs of Moher in the far distance, and the Aran islands in front if it’s clear.  So we tried his recommendation and we thought he was probably correct!  But actually we also liked the rear of the café.  It’s set down a couple of stairs from the entrance and service counter, and has big windows, individual tables with bank seating running the length of the room either side, loaded with big colourful cushions.  This café has a thoroughly arty, minimalist contemporary style – it reflects also the couple’s taste for modern continental design.  Great big windows down one wall and the back of the dining space let in all that natural seaside light and the seaviews too.  To the rear is a sun terrace with garden tables,  where you can eat out during the good days or evenings, or have a glass of wine as an aperitif before coming inside to your table.  On the moist days, of which there might be a few in this unpredictable part of the world! – the open sided chimney has a roaring log and peat fire to add a real touch of homely comfort and warmth.  Best of both worlds really – the fire to one side of you, and the sea to the other.  We think it’s hard to beat anyway!

We also think the food is hard to beat.  Self taught Ross maybe, but he lacks none of the skills of the professionally trained chef. In opening this café with his wife, the pair decided they would major on local produce – some of which they have to collect themselves due to the quiet location here where deliveries aren’t always possible.  That’s dedication for you! Ross’s focus is on lamb and beef from the limestoney Burren area, which he sources from a local butcher in Ennis town. For fish lovers, Ross chooses only wild fish from local boats fishing off the Clare coast.  Organic free range pork comes from a farmer in Inagh, just a few miles inland. Ross also buys kid goat meat from a farm in nearby Carron, speciality smoked produce from the Burren Smokehouse, local St. Tola Goat’s cheese and Kilshanny cheeses and  Linalla Ice Cream from New Quay along the coast from Ballyvaughan.  Fresh salads and herbs come from Donnacha Fahey, the brother of the Linalla Ice Cream maker. It’s a tight selection of produce from a dedicated selection of producers - and it’s used to great effect here. 

Menus are kept simple, and written on the blackboard above the fireplace. Karen looks after front of house in charming style, and knows her husband’s menus back to front.  Her wealth of local food knowledge is inspiring and she’ll talk you through exactly what’s on offer here and how it’s been cooked.  There is always a fresh home made soup with home made bread as a warming starter. Crostini are based on house sourdough and toppings are a daily selection – just ask.  Specialities here include the ‘Almost Square’ flatbreads – with Lebanese style Burren Lamb, cooked with fragrant cumin, mint and lemon, or gently Caramelised Onion with St Tola goat’s cheese, basil and rocket.  For bigger munches, try the house special Tangier style Burren Lamb with toasted almonds, honey and coriander, in a ginger and tomato sauce – we loved it for its melting tenderness which comes from five hours of slow cooking. It depends on season for other hot dishes, but you might find a Peppered Burren Beef Hotpot of meat slowly braised in Thyme with Irish black stout, and local vegetables.  There will always be a fish of the day served ‘a la plancha’ – a reference to the Spanish way of cooking fish on the grill – and its drizzled with oil and lemon in true Spanish style.  Ours was a first course plate of fresh sardines, newly in season and caught a few miles off the coast – you don’t often see sardines on a menu in an Irish café and we must admit we licked our fingers clean after them. You might also find that kid goat – slow baked in the oven in Spanish or Portuguese style – or some slow roasted organic free range pork treated to unusual flavourings in the kitchen.

After the mains, indulge in the house desserts, again these are on the menu board. Some favourites include Ross’s Toblerone Cheesecake and the warm home baked chocolate and banana bread with melting Linalla Ice Cream. Very nice too! If you have coffee at the table with the best view in the house – it will be a fine cup of freshly made coffee from the small Irish artisan roasterie Ariosa.  Vasco even commission the company to make their own roast so you can enjoy that after pud.  In keeping with the ethical food sourcing here – the wine list is also sourced directly from small and often organic suppliers – with the focus on Old World wines from Spain, Italy and France, those locations closest to Ireland in terms of food miles. You’ll find some Irish artisan beers too – Helvick Blonde, Galway Hooker, Black Rock Stout, and Copper Coast Red Ale, with good old Bulmers Cider,  Guinness,  and a selection of world lagers too.  Non alcoholic choices include a smoothie of the day, home made lemonade - and a Coke Float!  Yes we know, we haven’t had one since the 80’s either but here in Vasco its made a comeback and wow do the locals love it! The ‘float’ is a scoop of farmhouse made Burren Linalla Ice Cream, bobbing in a glass of the world’s most famous soft drink!

Next door to the café is the deli and shop. The deli revives many a hungry and thirsty passer-by, with a hot bowl of soup, freshly made sandwiches, tea, coffee, drinks and house pastries. Food and cooking enthusiasts will find some great gourmet knick knacks to purchase.  And those looking for action can avail of the facilities at the Vasco Eco Adventure centre here, where tourists and locals meet to explore the Burren area and into the Galway coast, by walking or cycling.  Walkers, cyclists, Surfers and campers can shower or avail of changing facilities or a storage locker. Route maps and weather advice also provided, as well as hand made and hand packed picnics from the café. What more could you be wanting from a very enterprising location? We think its got the lot!   
 

Contact Details

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

Coast Road Doolin to Ballyvaughan
Fanore
Co Clare
+353 (0) 65 7076020
Email: karen@vasco.ie
Web: www.vasco.ie

 

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