Situated in Malin Head Community Centre, this really is a little haven of a coffee shop right here in Inishowen, Co. Donegal.
Company Overview: Wild Strands Caife is the HQ of Wild Strands Ltd. It’s creative eclectic, seasonal, local and organic menu provides customers with a real unique wild taste, all cooked with seaweed in our wood fired oven. The family’s local tradition of Wild Strands is a creative marine and coastal tourism company offering bespoke tours along the spectacular North West coast based around Wild Food and Maritime Adventure.
Wild Strands develops Slow Adventure Food Experiences harnessing the wealth of Maritime Heritage of this area. Offers demonstrations, talks and guided walking tours
Wild Strands focuses on Food and Ocean Literacy Education through Primary Schools through the Heritage in School Programme and the Volvo Ocean Sustainability Programme. Active in delivering youth-based programmes around Ocean Literacy, Recording and protecting our built maritime heritage through building of traditional boats and oral fishing traditions here. Rapidly becoming a must visit along the Wild Atlantic Way. This is Ireland’s most Northerly Caife where a Donegal welcome awaits you. Our Irish language, culture and local food is explored and showcased. Seaweed-Food-Adventure begins here. Wild Strands is a creative marine and coastal tourism company offering bespoke tours along the spectacular North West coast based around Wild Food and Maritime Adventure.
I had visited here a few months ago but having eaten prior to the visit, it was coffee and cake that Sunday afternoon. It was delicious, but I had been eager to return and sample that ‘flatbread’ that was jumping off the menu at me on that first visit. It wasn’t until today that I finally made it back to Wild Strands Caife. And boy, was I glad that I did.
General Information about Wild Strands: Wild Strands Ltd is a Marine Food Eco-tourism company that promotes the wonders of Seaweed /Algae through exploring our sea and landscapes rich Maritime and Food Heritage. Wild Strands was established in Inishowen, Co Donegal, with its HQ in Wild Strands Caife with office in Derry and aims to celebrate the stunning seascapes and landscapes of the North West as a cross border initiative. It develops bespoke tours and events based around Wild Food and Maritime Adventure along the spectacular North West coast enabling clients to experience our shared Maritime and Food heritage.
Wild Strands develops Slow Adventure Food Experiences harnessing the wealth of our rich Maritime Heritage of this area. The tours incorporate gastro topography providing a unique insight into this landscape along with mindfulness through outdoor Tai Chi Qigong. Wild Strands collaborates with a range of creatives from photographers, architects, genealogists, artists, ecologists and artisanal producers to provide one off memorable immersive experiences. With local personnel tours can be conducted in up to ten different languages on request. Wild Strands offers cooking demonstrations, talks and guided walking tours.
Wild Strands also focuses on Food and Ocean Literacy Education through Primary Schools through the Heritage in School Programme and the Volvo Ocean Sustainability Programme. Active in delivering youth based programmes promoting Leave No Trace principles and Ocean Literacy to youth groups. Active in recording and protecting our built maritime heritage through building of traditional boats and oral fishing traditions.
And so on this Father’s Day afternoon himself and myself did stop off on a drive to sample that much anticipated flatbread. On arrival we were unsure if we’d get a seat. It was late afternoon and the place was so busy. Great to see indeed, and yes we got a rather comfy sofa at the window. Looking out over the local landscape was the perfect spot to finally get to try this flatbread. Today I went with the ‘goats cheese and beetroot hummus’, and boy was it good? The best way to describe it was that it was one of those dining experiences where you don’t want to eat the last bite. It’s that last bite you want to savour and make it last longer. Definitely the best flatbread I’ve ever tasted. The coffee was good and the surroundings just right. There’s something rustic with the wild flowers in the jam-jar and the mini milk bottles, but it’s the friendly and warm atmosphere that is just delightful.
It’s everything you want in a coffee shop experience and then some more. Because of it’s infusion of wild Irish seawood you know you’re eating something unique and utterly organic. You see it being cooked on the wood fired oven. It’s artisan, organic and a very rustic experience from arrival. It’s just a really positive feel-good vibe about the food and the service.
Wild Strands Caife is on facebook and you can find further information there. But do take time and pop along one day and see for yourself just what delights await you here. I didn’t have room today for the yummy coffee cake I saw there, so it shall be sampled soon. That’s my excuse to return and I’m sticking with it.
GMcC
North West Culture Gal 