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

Fifteen years ago, if you were in search of a highly-rated Mexican meal in Dublin, you would have been, without a doubt, disappointed. In my experience, I only had my first burrito in 2016, and even then, “authentic” would not be the word I would use. However, in recent years, there has been an emergence of truly authentic Mexican restaurants that are revered by locals and, most importantly, Mexican expats living in Ireland.

Tacos Lupillo (TL for the remainder of this article) located at 53 Sarsfield Rd, Kilmainham is one of them and also truly a sight to behold as it is situated beside a local Irish pub known as Clearys. As we walked in, we couldn’t help but notice the pink door that stood out amongst a sea of Irish suburban houses and a local pub connected to it, and despite this, it all absolutely works.

Opened less than a year ago by Jose Guadalupe Zamudio, a chef and the owner of TL, there is no doubt of the restaurant’s authenticity as Jose and his family have been making their country’s signature dishes in Mexico for generations.

As we gazed at the menu, we knew that despite wanting to try everything, there was always going to be a level of opportunity cost (you can see the menu below). In the end, Paul and I both agreed that it had to be the food that brought them to the dance (and is literally in their name) – the mouthwatering tacos.

Ultimately, the variety of meat(s) all sounded too good for us to just try one- so we ordered them all, the choices included – Pastor (pork in a house marinade), Chicken (Piri Piri style), Chilli Con Carne, Barbacoa (Steak in a house marinade), and finally, Chorizo sausage.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of, if not the best Mexican food in Ireland. From a personal standpoint, it is the best Mexican I have ever tried. The Tacos all left their presence after a single bite, the ingredients were very clearly top of the range, and the meat(s) were all expertly cooked to a level where they were mouthwatering from start to finish.

I cannot say enough about this humble yet expertly run restaurant. There seems to be crowds at all times of the day and we here at Chalk and Cheese Travels are predicting the inevitable – there will be more locations or at least a move to a more central area. All we are saying is to get down to the original as quickly as you can as there will be lines going down the street in the coming months.

@paul_isitworthit

Tacos Lupillo 🌮 Kilmainham, Co. Dublin 📍 #tacos #foodreview #dublin #isitworthit

♬ original sound – Is it worth it??

The Most Underrated Scuba Diving Destinations in The World

• A new study has found that the Gulf of California is the most underrated scuba diving destination to visit in 2024
• This research compared the popularity of different scuba diving sites with the price of accommodation, restaurants, and local amenities
• The Gulf of California, Dominica in the Caribbean, and Raja Ampat in Indonesia are among the top three underrated scuba diving destinations
• Scuba diving experts share the key things to look out for when booking a dive trip to avoid disappointment

A recent study has revealed the most underappreciated scuba diving destinations this year, with the Gulf of California named the most underrated. Scuba diving experts at DIVEIN.com analysed the popularity of global diving destinations through average monthly Google searches and compared this to the cost and availability of affordable hotels, restaurants, and nearby activities.

This highlights the destinations that offer the best value for money this year. And it turns out that the best spot is the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. The destination doesn’t see much Google interest online, but it has some of the best amenities and value for money. The average cost per night at the area’s 10 cheapest hotels is just $137.60, so a five-night stay could cost as little as $688.

In Baja California, where you can dive the Gulf of California, there are nearly 10,000 restaurants and almost 300 scuba-related activities to partake in. So, no matter where you decide to stay, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Coming in at No. 2 on the list of most underrated scuba diving destinations was Dominica in the Caribbean. This destination boasts stunning coral reefs and over 150 restaurants to choose from on the island. The average price for a night in a cheap hotel was $222.20, so it’s pricier than the Sea of Cortez, but the spectacular dive sites and lush island setting make up for it. The most popular sites are Scott’s Head Marine Reserve to the south, and the Cabrits National Park in the north.

Rounding out the top three scuba destinations is Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Scuba diving in this area of Indonesia generates a high monthly search volume (the second-highest overall), despite there being few restaurants and only a handful of hotels. Raja Ampat’s scuba diving is best between October and April, which encompasses the area’s dry season.

Next on the list is Key Largo in the Florida Keys. This destination ranks fourth due to relatively cheap hotel prices (an average of $349.20 nightly) and its high-quality restaurants, with an average rating of 4.28 across 111 eateries.

Finally, the fifth most underrated scuba diving destination is Viti Levu in Fiji. When broken down, the average cost of a hotel per night is just shy of $130 ($128.40) and has a restaurant count of 343