lookie here!
Jan 12, 2011 
Look at these muffin cups I found in Ireland. They’re from a Scandanavian company called Vestli House that makes paper products for baking and cooking from biodegradable greaseproof paper.
I found them at Avoca in Ireland, which is my favorite store in the whole country. It feels like it could have been the inspiration for Anthropologie, with its sweet, old-fashioned-yet-modern aesthetic. Avoca sells everything from pitchers to sweater coats that all feel very Irish countryside in a romantic and slightly wild way. Not to mention the original handwoven blankets the company has been weaving at their mill in Ireland since 1723 (and I’m now the proud owner of one for our bedroom – thanks mom!).
Avoca also has cafes with the most delicious food served on all the gorgeous plates you’ve been coveting at the store (are you listening, Anthropologie?). So let’s say you’ve been eating mashed potatoes every single day without a green vegetable in sight. Clearly, the antidote is to find your way to an Avoca café and wolf down some fresh carrot salad. Followed by a slice of chocolate and pear tart. It’s even better if your parents are with you and it’s their 40th engagement anniversary, and you can clink mugs of tea to celebrate with this view in the background.
Reader Comments (10)
I'd love to see the blanket!!! I'm in the market for one... as much as one CAN be in the market from the USA. I'm eyeing the Suzani designs (for now at least!).
wow- all this at a store? sounds like you had a magical time. Congratulations to your parents!
I totally know what you mean about finding carrot salad happiness in a sea of potatoes! Had the same experience while visiting family in Sweden two summers ago - lots of white and brown foods, not much green. One magically warm, sunny day we went to Rosendals garden cafe and ate the most delicious summer salad followed by cookies and cake. I think we took as many pictures of that salad as we did of ourselves grinning over that plate of goodness.
Courtney: I'll post a photo of the blanket as soon as all our bags are unpacked and the laundry covering the bed (and the new blanket) is put away!
Kate: yes! so much white and brown food. Tasty and comforting for all the cold dark weather, but I just felt so SLOW after a while. Funny those little food memories of places we all have.
Oh I miss Avoca! I think it might be my favorite store in the whole world. They opened one in Maryland which is drivable for me, but it's really mostly blankets and a few clothing items, no cafe and not very much of the fun STUFF they have. Sigh. When I saw that you had gone to Ireland for the New Year it sent me off to Daft to dream about holiday homes in Clare. Someday.....
Thanks for sharing this! What an awesome find! Which location did you visit? My husband and I travel to Ireland to visit his family once a year, and I can't wait to go to this place.
Jess: My in-laws are near the Moll's Gap store in Kerry. But I've also been to the store and cafe in Dublin. We have good friends with your same last name there -- I'm sure you must be related somewhere along the line!
Gillian: Daft is my newest procrastination destination!
Did you know there is a daft iphone app. It's soooo dangerous.
Oh I love Avoca! Unfortunately, we reached that store at the end of our trip, when we were already out of money. I also know what you mean about not finding any green vegetables! Ahh!
Ahh, Avoca. One of the few treasures I bought before I left Ireland was the Avoca Cafe Cookbook and it's my trusty refuge when I'm missing my days there. I ate so many pick-me-up lunches there when I was working a dreadful office job in Dublin...