The American culture has always left a level of intrigue to the Western consumer, particularly in the days before social media through movies and television shows. One craze was the art of professional eating. Historically, we (the Irish) were not always fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have the luxury of overeating, however in recent years the craze has swept up on Irish shores, not only that but has hit us with a well crafted bang. 

In recent years there is an ever-growing list of restaurants wanting to challenge the public with their gargantuan feeds or spine-tingling spicy challenges and here it is the Chalk and Cheese top five food challenges in Ireland. 

5. Judge Roy Beans- 64oz Steak Challenge

This is a food challenge that truly separates the men from the boys (or the women from the girls) – this 64oz steak challenge comes in four one-pound portions and comes with mash and vegetables. This delicious but deadly combo costs €59.95 (if you are unable to finish) and has an hour window to do so. If you do finish you get the meal for free and a spot on their wall of fame- The STEAKS are high but the reward is sweet. 

Address: 1 Edward St, Moorfield, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, W12 TD58

 4. Pinheads Pizza- The Notorious 32inch in 32 Minutes Challenge, Dublin

This isn’t just a piece of the pie, it’s the whole thing; and one giant son of a gun at that. If you can eat this gargantuan sized pizza (starting at 35 euros if you cannot finish) along with two milkshakes you come away with it free. 

The exciting part is if you can finish this challenge in under 32 minutes you will receive €500, a few stomach aches and surely a lot of bragging rights with your mates. 

Address: 104 S Circular Rd, Portobello, Dublin, D08 EV80

 3. The Lab- El Capitano Toastie Challenge, Dublin

This is not one for the faint-hearted- the challenge seems so simple, 6 toasties that have to be finished within 30 minutes, so easy right?…WRONG. The sheer amount of bread and cheese within these sandwiches in such a time frame will cause you to get more full than an unattended wheelie bin; not to mention that the cheese hardens after a few minutes. However, if you think you’ve got the stuff to take on this challenge, then you can win yourself some serious bread (pun intended). If finished within 30 minutes you  will recieve €1oo from an entry fee of just ten euro.. serious Stonks (2017 meme, I am old). Get yourself down and give it a go!

Address: Raheny United Football Club

 2. Scotty’s American Diner – 5X5 Challenge, Galway

The burger challenge of all burger challenges, if you can consume 5 half-pound burgers, five slices of cheese, 5 strips of bacon on a toasted bap with onion rings, 1lb of coleslaw, mayo, lettuce tomato and 1lb of chips you get your picture on their illustrious wall of fame and you get the meal free (if you cant its €34.99). Be a part of history and win the key to the city of Galway (this is not true). 

Address: Cúirt Na Coiribe / Hubble, Headford Rd, Galway, Ireland

1.    Tony’s Bistro- The Godfather Full Irish Breakfast Challenge, Cork

The height of madness and what’s more it’s with the the most staple Irish food around. A full Irish can set you up for the day, this might set you up for congestive heart failure; but what a bloody way to go out.

The breakfast consists of  8 Horgans Irish sausages, 6 smoked bacon rashers, a 6oz sirloin steak, 4 hash browns, 4 slices of Clonakilty black and white pudding, 2 fried eggs, 2 scrambled eggs, 2 bowls of chips, 3 whole fried tomatoes, 1 bowl of baked beans, 1 bowl of sauteed mushrooms, 1 bowl of fried onion rings, 6 slices of toast, and 3 slices of soda bread. 

You have 2.5 hours to complete this challenge and if the plates are cleared you get the meal free (if not it will cost you 40 euros) and a spot on their wall of fame, rubbing shoulders alongside the man himself, the king of food challenges Randy Santel.. ATLAS. 

Address: 69 N Main St, Centre, Cork, T12 H61W

Step aboard La Peniche, a hidden gem on Dublin’s historic Grand Canal, where a culinary adventure awaits, as you dine on top-of-the-range food and drink while sailing along the waterfront. French for “The Barge,” La Peniche is a restored classic cargo barge known as the MV Riasc, nestled between locks C4 and C5 on the Grand Canal.

Originally a vital part of Ireland’s transport network, the MV Riasc found new life after being lovingly restored by its current owners following the cessation of commercial canal operations in the 1960s. Today, this historic vessel resides on Mespil Road, just a stone’s throw away from St. Stephen’s Green, serving as Dublin’s premier floating restaurant and event venue.

Guests can savour top-quality lunch and dinner options at La Peniche, with the option to book the entire boat for special occasions such as corporate events, weddings, or stag/hen parties.

The highlight of the experience is undoubtedly the cruising dinners, offering a unique opportunity to witness the barge sailing through locks and under 18th-century bridges, all while enjoying a delicious meal at your table.

The restaurant welcomes walk-ins seven days a week, opening at 12:30 daily and closing at 21:00 on Sundays to Thursdays, and at 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. For those seeking an exclusive dining experience, private parties can be arranged for a memorable evening onboard the MV Riasc – a truly unforgettable setting for any celebration.

Recently, Paul and I dined aboard La Peniche, opting for the €49 dinner special. I was delighted with my starter of Salmon Gravlax followed by a main course of Seabass, while Paul indulged in a cheeseboard to start, followed by a hearty serving of Beef Bourguignon.

The evening concluded with two of our favourite desserts (Chocolate Salted Caramel and New York Cheesecake) paired expertly with their wine counterparts, creating a perfect ending to a memorable dining experience on the Grand Canal.

Experience a restaurant like no other at La Peniche, where history, ambience, and gourmet cuisine converge to create an unforgettable time on the waters of the Grand Canal. For more information click here.

For number three of our Ireland’s Best Activities series, we’re focusing on an activity that doesn’t come with the receipt of the Irish drinking stereotype – the Pinocchio Cooking School. Our culinary journey was a hands-on experience in the art of Italian cuisine. The school offers a world of flavours and techniques in each class, with the opportunity to learn new recipes and master traditional Italian dishes.

Our chosen class, however, was the immersive lesson on crafting authentic Italian Pizza, where participants unravel the secrets behind this beloved culinary delight. The class is usually a 2-hour and 30-minute session complete with a hands-on cooking experience, lunch featuring the pizzas created during the class, and the use of a stylish apron for added flair. Located at the esteemed Italian School of Cooking in Dublin’s Temple Bar, at 1 Pudding Row, Essex Street West, this experience is priced at €68.00, tax included and can be booked here . Immerse yourself in the art of Italian cuisine and unlock the joys of creating delectable pizzas at the Pinocchio Cooking.

Now moving on from the promo part of this article, let’s discuss our own experience. Paul and I with all honesty had a wonderful time. The host ‘Giuseppe’ was not only an excellent chef but a tremendous host, entertainer, comedian, and most importantly, a great teacher. The man of many hats lead the charge for 30 aspiring virtuosic pizza makers.

The first part was learning to make our own dough. This is not as easy as we expected and Kneadless to say (pun intended) two lads in the wrong side of our twenties were humbled by its technical difficulty. Following that it was onto the real big boys, the main eventers if you will – the basic Margherita, Calzone, Pizza twists (sorry, Italy, for the life of me I could not find the official name), White Rosemary Pizza, and the Focaccia bread

To say that we made a dog’s dinner of every single pizza (besides the calzone, miraculously) is an understatement. It should be stated though that the teaching was excellent and informative; however, if you can’t crawl, is there even a chance of bloody walking? We couldn’t cook at all; conversely, every other student did very well, and despite our terrible efforts, we had a tremendous amount of fun.

The lunch was spectacular and gave us all a great chance to get to know one another over breaking bread (literally). A unique and affordable experience in Dublin that I think would suit couples, families, and even a group of mates who are looking for a challenge. Come down to Pinocchio for one of Dublin’s more exciting sober experiences or even dine at their award-winning restaurant.

@chalkncheesetravels

Ireland’s Best Activities – Part 3 🇮🇪 🍕 Pinocchio Italian Restaurant & Winebar 📍 #dublin #templebar #cooking #chalkandcheese

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