Paul and Sue Carey’s deli and café is a real delight - from the moment you step in the door you are surrounded by delicious baking smells and a host of temptations, both to buy and to eat on site.
The culmination of a long held ambition to open a fine food store and café, The Good Food Gallery opened in 2009 and has added a new dimension to Kilcullen’s growing reputation as a food destination.
It will be hard to resist the good things on display in the shop, but first head through into the Gallery Café to fortify yourself in this pleasant spot. Looking out onto a paved patio area, the light-filled space provides an ideal setting for the constantly changing artwork on sale that gives the café its name and, on sunny days, you can eat out in a stone-walled yard where there is a small herb garden.
Morning menus begin with Irish-roasted Ariosa coffee and fresh bakes including their own house sausage roll, with a meat filling made especially for the Careys by the renowned artisan producer and neighbour, Jane Russell. Another speciality, the gourmet rustic sandwich, is available all day together with a lovely choice of desserts, cakes and pastries.
At lunchtime, as well as browsing the good things on display, you can choose from a menu board offering the day’s freshly made soups and main courses - a seriously tasty tomato and basil soup, perhaps, and main dishes such as shepherds pie and beef casserole, outstanding for their depth of flavour. But, whatever you choose, you can be sure of well-executed home cooking, served by friendly staff.
Next take time to browse the shop, where the wide choice of artisan foods from Ireland and beyond includes a cheese counter offering a tempting selection of Irish and international cheeses supplied by Sheridan cheese mongers, while salmon and other smoked fish, dried meats and salamis are also offered, with larger quantities available to order.
Freshly cooked baked goods are made daily from an early hour - you’ll find a wide choice of breads (sourdough, yeast and soda), scones, muffins, cakes, cookies and pastries - including ever-popular apple tart, which flies off the shelves.
And then there are the grocery shelves, stacked with a host of speciality products both their own label and other respected artisan producers, including country relishes, chutneys, fine sauces, oils and vinegars – and, for the sweet-toothed, honey, jams, chocolate sauces and fruit coulis.
If you’re sometimes too busy to cook at home, take a good look at the freshly prepared dishes, available both fresh and frozen – there’s even a “kitchen to kitchen” take home menu offering a selection of full meals to take home.
All round it’s a place not to miss - and certainly another good reason to take a detour to Kilcullen.
