As the summer heats up, there might be many reasons to visit the beach, but there’s also a new, tasty way to cool down with a visit to Shop Street in Galway, as Murphys Ice Cream has launched a new flavour to celebrate the refurbishment of McCambridge’s. That venerable institution has installed a Murphys ice cream scooping cabinet, with twelve delicious flavours, including McCambridge’s Brown Bread ice cream, in the remodelled, gourmet food store.
Speaking about the recent completion of the refurbishment of their Shop Street premises Eoin McCambridge, managing director explained ‘The aim of this project is to expand the variety of locally sourced quality foods, as well as the best of indigenous Irish and International gourmet foods for our customers.
“Carefully selecting in-season from local farms, butchers, bakeries and artisan food producers McCambridge’s mantra is to nurture small owner run businesses where taste and value are paramount. Galway has fast developed its educated palate for yummy goodies and over the last number of years local producers are stepping up to the mark,” he said.
‘Brown bread is a traditional Irish flavour,’ says Sean Murphy, Murphys Ice Cream company director, ‘and it’s not as odd as it might sound. We make it by caramelising dark brown sugar over McCambridge’s brown bread and adding it to our creamy custard base. It’s sweet and crunchy.’
If you’re intrigued, you’re welcome to a free taste of any Murphys ice cream simply by calling in to McCambridge’s. Naturally there are also other flavours, including an award-winning vanilla, a sumptuous caramel, a dark, dark, chocolate, and a dairy-free, vegan Raspberry sorbet. Murphys Ice Cream is based in Dingle, Co. Kerry, and has been making ice creams since 2000.
Undertaking a shop refurbishment is no easy task, especially when you are based on Shop Street, Galway and particularly in an economic down-turn. Emphasising the necessity for businesses to invest locally Eoin McCambridge stated that all the contractors and builders who were involved in the refurbishment were Galway based. While the shop has been upgraded with a great café bar and ice cream counter the much loved atmosphere has not changed.
The third generation of the Galway McCambridge family - Eoin and his two sisters Natalie and Norma work side by side with their team of staff, putting the customer first always. With the completion of the new layout they have forged new partnerships with other well-known Galway food producers - meats from CR Tormey’s master butchers, speciality teas from Solaris Botanicals, pasture fed poultry and pork from The Friendly Farmer in Athenry, rustic breads from Fréderic Gervais of Le Petit Delice as well as relishes and chutneys from Builín Blasta.
The choice of 20 different timber buckets of olives, pesto, hummus and sundried tomatoes gives the ambience of a country market crossed with a continental food emporium. While you take in the aroma of freshly ground coffee brewing at the new barista café-bar, feast your eyes on the sumptuous decadent cakes and breads and mouth watering Murphy’s ice creams.
In the current economic climate this is a courageous move on the part of the McCambridges to invest in their business and adds to the attraction of Shop Street for shoppers. ‘We are delighted with the very positive feedback we have received, we are seeing lots of new faces in the shop as well as long time customers who are thrilled with the new layout and range of choice,’ said Natalie McCambridge.
Upcoming events at McCambridge’s include tastings, demonstrations, and samplings of coffees – see instore for more details. www.mc cambridges.com
