Loving local abroad

Sometimes it’s tough to turn your brain off on vacation, but I argue that when it’s something you’re passionate about, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While my family did veto my request to bring a laptop, or even printouts of the latest FunnelCake drafts I needed to edit, (yup, sometimes you need people in your life to force better balance!), it turns out even that couldn’t make me shut it all off while soaking up (literally) the rain, the sunshine, and greenery of Ireland.

So which FunnelCake love did I obsess over the entire time? Local small businesses! Thankfully, being present in the moment on this Ireland adventure allowed me to fully take in a culture steeped in tradition and what appeared to be Ireland’s own love for local. Now, it could have just been where our journey took us, but I got the general sense that it’s pretty commonplace from the many restaurants we refueled at with locally-sourced menu items, local handicraft shops that contributed to our overweight bags and overall tradition exploration (so about that intimate moment with the Blarney Stone…). From Granda Charlie’s Auld Sweet Shop in Killarney that boasts Ireland’s largest bon-bon menu (a proud accomplishment he’ll personally tell you about), to the family-run B&Bs we stayed at in the countryside and the accidental boxty potato buffet, there were some pretty great local moments.

Admittedly, I was probably hyper aware of the local small business factor because there was the element of exploration and that everything was shiny and new. Which leads me to one last parting thought: Don’t forget to explore your own community from a new angle. Take a different turn on your usual lunchtime walk route, try out a new coffee shop, go to events that support local businesses so you can discover local small businesses and meet them. The possibilities are endless and it doesn’t take a big change to stumble upon something or someone awesome.

Just last week on a drive into my old work neighborhood in Central Phoenix I was reminded of all of the local awesomeness that was right outside my office door then. Even though I’m lucky to spend my time in some pretty cool neighborhoods presently, it was a reminder that there’s always room to expand for new favorites and rediscover the oldies outside your typical route.

So, get out there and explore locally and abroad.

Thanks for keeping it fresh 8 years in, Phoenix, and thanks for making me fall in love with my new “local” favorites abroad, Ireland!

– Anna

And in case my family reads this: You were right to impose the veto! Let’s be honest…my laptop would have been soaked and I probably would have fallen off the Cliffs of Moher from having my mind in a million other places at the same time!

For our FunnelCake family: If you find yourself in Ireland and want to sample some of my local loves, here are a few to get you started:

• Belfast: The Barking Dog
• Galway: The Arches B&B & The Pie Maker
• Cork: Inveraray Farm Guesthouse
• Kilarney: Granda Charlie’s Auld Sweet Shop
• Dublin: Gallaghers Boxty House, Brick Alley Cafe & Harvey’s Guest House
• Pretty much any main street of the small towns you drive through!