Review
Ennis Gourmet Store is a cosy spot, situated on the pretty marketplace in Ennis town. Owner Anne Leyden has been curating this Aladdin’s Cave of foody treasures for so long now, jars and bottles make up the walls and entice food lovers into an ingredients wonderland.. This is a Willy Wonka for grown ups with every ingredient for the budding gourmand and some foods I’d never even heard of.
They stock the finest teas, Cuban coffees, the best of Irish food from the Burren Smokehouse, St.Tola Cheese and other fine foods from the local area. Anne, and her partner David’s mantra is local, local and with a fridge full of specialty beers and excellent wines I can tell this is a spot where impromptu parties happen and regulars come back for their lovely welcome and genuine love of the food and the people they serve.
Evening offers are tapas, quiches and tarts. David’s French origins ensure that good charcuterie and cheese are top of the charts and a delicious chicken liver paté, served with pickled onions and crumbly oatcakes was smooth and buttery, rich and indulgent, like paté should be. The plate of smoked salmon and dressed prawns was a treat with the prawns cooked lightly and dressed in a lively Marie Rose, served with that perfect accompaniment of avocado, with salad and brown bread, a simple and perfect lunch.
The berry tart was unctuous and sweet, the roulade full of fruit and fluffy fresh cream. One of the most important features of any café if its coffee and Gourmet get it spot on, perfectly made, perfectly served, a warming and punchy pick-me-up. Regulars popped in for bowls of Minestrone with their kids, everybody knows each other. Some pop in for a tin of Moroccan spices, some for some of Mellas Fudge or a bag of pasta flour, or just a chat. This place is a gem, and with a dotey terrace outside under a shady tree, it’s just the place for a sneaky glass of wine and a plate of goodies on a warm summer evening.
