Food Is Love And Connection: Rob Walsh On Food And Travel
Welcome back to Around the World in 80 Flavors food travel interview series. An avid traveler and good food connoisseur, Rob Walsh, MSc, has savored countless local flavors on several continents. Born and raised on the West Coast of Ireland and having called Holland, UK and the US home, he always finds himself coming back to home style cooking of the Emerald Isle.
Here’s what Rob has to say about the role food and travel play in his life, ice fishing with the Inuits, his Nan’s fruitcake, Anthony Bourdain’s legacy, Bali street food, and more.
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Hi Rob, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Tell us briefly what you do
I’m a Human Performance Specialist, working with Olympic and professional teams to optimize performance and unlock winning potential. After two Olympic cycles in European winter sports, I’ve just relocated to the US to dive into the world of IndyCar auto racing.
What’s your childhood food memory, growing up in Ireland?
Growing up in Ireland, food meant family, love, and warmth. My Nan was a cook, and her kitchen was the heart of it all—turf fires blazing, cousins running around, the table always full. She could turn the simplest ingredients into incredible meals, and that magic has stayed with me ever since. Love was expressed through food.
What are some must-try dishes for first time visitors to Ireland? And where can we find them?
Ireland’s real treasure is its produce—local shops, artisanal delis, fresh seafood. I’m biased toward the West Coast, especially Clare, where I grew up surfing and kayaking. You can’t miss seafood such as Moyasta oysters, razor clams, lobster and crab claws.
Beef and game are world class, too. Nothing beats a rainy day, sitting by a turf fire with a creamy pint of Guinness and a bowl of seafood chowder or a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.
Growing up in Ireland, food meant family, love, and warmth. Love was expressed through food.
Where to go:
- The Long Dock, Carrigaholt for pints and oysters.
- Homestead Cottage, Doolin is a Michelin-starred, 200-year-old cottage focused on local produce.
- Pints.
- O’Loclainn’s Whiskey Ballyvaughan.
- Lynch’s, Miltown Malbay.
- Murphy’s and Scott’s, Kilkee.
- T. O’Brien’s (when he opens or lets you in) and Evan’s, Liscannor.
And if you want to experience a truly Irish city, skip Dublin and head to Cork. The English Market there is a must. Also, the baking across Ireland is next level!
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What are your favorite food travel memories and culinary destinations?
Ice fishing with Inuit locals in Greenland on a snowboarding expedition—eating halibut as sashimi straight from the sea and cooking the rest with the community that night.
Backcountry camping in northern Iceland—roasting a leg of lamb wrapped in straw over a campfire, under the northern lights.
On the warmer side: Bali has a piece of my heart. Incredible street food, surf, sunsets, and a simple joy that’s hard to beat.
Food is love. Food is connection. Sharing a meal is one of the oldest, purest ways humans bond. When you eat locally, you don’t just taste the culture—you feel it.
You love the late Anthony Bourdain as much as we do, do you have a favorite quote?
“Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.”
This resonates with me deeply—it’s about the transient nature of life, embracing the moment, and finding the extraordinary in everyday experiences.
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You’re a recent transplant to the US. What are your first impressions of American food? Best thing you’ve eaten so far?
Honestly? I was shocked by how hard it is to find quality, fresh, unprocessed food compared to Europe. We tend to shop more often, eat fresher, and consume far less junk at home. That said, tacos in America absolutely blow European tacos out of the water—and don’t get me started on BBQ and king crab legs. Unreal.
As a former expat in Holland, how would you describe Dutch cuisine? Any favorite dishes?
Dutch food? Honestly… very beige! Despite once controlling the spice trade, they didn’t embrace it in their own cooking. Just kidding – kind of! Amsterdam has some great cuisine. They do a fantastic fried fish at local markets called kibbeling. And, thanks to their Indonesian connection, you can find brilliant Indonesian food everywhere.
Why do you think it’s important to eat local when traveling?
Food is love. Food is connection. Sharing a meal is one of the oldest, purest ways humans bond. When you eat locally, you don’t just taste the culture—you feel it. You become a part of it.
Do you cook? Do you have any favorite dishes to make?
I love cooking. I worked in a restaurant during university and, in another life, that might have been my career. Every time I travel, I try to pick up local techniques and dishes. Right now? I’m on a major taco kick!
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Next travel destination on your wish list?
San Sebastián, Spain, for a full-on foodie pilgrimage. Alps for climbing and some simple rustic food. Alaska for an expedition.
Travel—whether it’s across the world or just down the street. Talk to strangers. Smile. Say please and thank you. Live this life fully.
What would be on your Last Supper menu, including drinks?
This was surprisingly easy. Where I would have it is very hard. Here goes:
- Starters: A dozen oysters from Ireland, France and New Zealand, plus scallops with Irish black pudding.
- Main Course: Fish stew from The Cow in Notting Hill, with a pint of Guinness from Tom Collins pub in Limerick.
- Dessert: My Nan’s fruitcake with a nip of Redbreast 26 year old Single Cask whiskey from Temple Bar in Dublin.
- Cheese board, featuring cheeses from around the world, paired with a 30-year Kopke Port.
- Nightcap: A perfect Negroni to close the evening.
Any last words?
Travel—whether it’s across the world or just down the street. Talk to strangers. Smile. Say please and thank you. Live this life fully.
Images: Courtesy of Robert Walsh
Have you been to Ireland or any other destinations mentioned by Rob? What did you think of the food? Let us know in the comments or tag @eightyflavors on socials!
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