Tucked behind a cute thatched cottage frontage at the Dove Hill Irish Design Centre just outside Carrick on Suir, and with parking just outside the door, Ardkeen Artisan Food & Coffee is a delight.
A miniature outpost of the Jephson family's incomparable Ardkeen Quality Food Store in Waterford city, this small but perfectly formed shop is crammed to the rafters with all the good things that the Ardkeen brand stands for - and, loyal as they are to their proud Waterford heritage when operating on the other side of the county border, a thoughtfully stocked 'made in Tipperary' stand takes pride of place at Dove Hill.
While compact, you could lose an hour or two browsing the many temptations that are laid out so beguilingly here - and nobody should leave without taking one of the half dozen or so high stools to enjoy some of their Barista coffee from the excellent Tipperary company Ponaire Roastery, and something from the counter... One of those huge meringues piled up so innocently to catch the eye, perhaps, or maybe a healthy treat like a slice of the famous fruit brack from the legendary Tipperary baker Hickey's of Clonmel?
Whatever you choose, it will be good - and a stop at this little place is always memorable. At the back it opens into the Meadows & Byrne store - and the main shopping centre - but Ardkeen Artisan Food & Coffee is in its own little world. Magic.
