From an award-winning U.S restaurant to a horse box in Cork

IT’S been quite a journey for Bridget McGinty, whose culinary career has taken her from living in a car in McDonalds, where she worked as an 18-year-old, to owning and operating an award-winning restaurant, Tastebuds, in her native Cleveland, Ohio.

“It was a restaurant that ran on love and happiness and an addictive Greek salad!” says Bridget, 52, and mum to her son Ari, 9.

Now, 5,474 kilometres from home, Bridget has opened a new Tastebuds, in a small horse box in Coolbawn, Midleton, with the help of Ari.

“I ran Tastebuds for almost 20 years in Ohio, “says Bridget. 

It was a fast-paced restaurant where myself and a staff of five fed 200 to 300 people a day in three hours from Monday to Friday.

“I loved the restaurant, but things went downhill during the pandemic. I was planning to move to Ireland.”

After the lengthy Covid lockdown restrictions, Bridget eventually made the difficult decision to close the restaurant, running out of both options and money as regulations made it more and more difficult for her to do the job she loved in the place she loved.

The revival of Tastebuds wasn’t in her initial plan when she moved to Ireland.

“I always wanted to be a writer,” says Bridget. “And what better place than in the land of story-telling to start?”

Fate had other plans.

“Tastebuds would have to support me in that endeavour,” says Bridget. “So the writing is on hold for now, but always in the pipeline.”

After two decades of running her beloved restaurant in the U.S, she swore she’d never get into the industry again. But now Tastebuds, still operating on love and happiness and still popular for a Greek salad or a chicken panini, is a staple on Broderick Street, Midleton.

Apart from the story-telling aspect of Ireland, why did Bridget choose Cork, and specifically Midleton to set up shop?

“Why not?” she replies.

“I had always heard so much about Achill and Dublin for instance. The amazing people here are so friendly; the quality of life is so good.

I needed to slow down a bit. I’ve always been rushing around my whole life before I moved here.

Bridget had Cork contacts too.

“A former mayor of Cleveland married a Cork woman who had a cousin in Midleton. She helped me source Educate Together for Ari because her girls go to that school. She gave me good information and good advice.”

There were other reasons why Bridget decided on East Cork for her business.

“In my 20s, I always harboured a desire to do a cookery course in Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry. I was desperate to go there but I had no funds or no way to get there,” says Bridget.

However, full of resilience and determination, she eventually reached her dream destination.

“When Ballymaloe hosted a food and wine festival in 2016, I got to experience that,” she says.

Did Ballymaloe live up to Bridget’s expectations?

“It was absolutely fantastic. I stayed in Youghal, and I visited Galway and Dublin.”

However, Cork had found a place in her hearts.

“I went sightseeing in Cork city and I fell head over heels in love,” says Bridget. “Dublin was too much, and Achill was too little,” she adds, laughing.

Tastebuds, famous for its Mediterranean Salad, its Blue Walnut salad and Chicken Caesar Salad, washed down with home-made lemonade, is proving a hit with customers.

“Tastebuds took off right away,” says Bridget.

Even though I am only open a few weeks, I already have regular customers who come at the same time every day and have the same salad every day.

Bridget can’t believe her luck of the Irish.

“Who would have thought it, having regulars already and only open a couple of weeks!

“Business has been great, the weather’s been good and people are out and about.”

Bridget is a grafter.

“I get pains in my legs, my knees, my feet and my hips, but it’s all worth it,” she says.

“I am building a brand around wonderful people.”

Where did the cute horsebox come from?

“It was advertised on Cloyne Facebook marketplace,” says Bridget.

“It was retrofitted to suit my needs. The friers were taken out and coolers for the salads were installed instead.

“I don’t do a variety of coffees; I do an American-style gourmet blend of coffee that I created myself.”

Bridget’s culinary creations are going down well.

At the first restaurant, I found out what people wanted was some good, proper salads and Greek pasta.

“My food is my passion and everything was hugely popular back home.”

Bridget knows that the business world can be a roller-coaster.

“After the heartbreak of losing Tastebuds, I thought I’d never do anything like this again,” she says.

But she dusted herself off and started again.

“But here I am!” adds Bridget

She makes all of her produce in her own kitchen, with a focus on using high quality ingredients.

How does she transport her goods from her home in Towns Park, Mill Road, Midleton?

“I don’t have a car,” says Bridget.

She has another mode of transport.

“I bought a trike! I load it up and head off downtown to my trailer.”

Bridget is delighted with her life and work in Midleton, where she has made lots of friends.

“I am glad that I made the move,” she says.

I thought maybe I’d just be a writer but then the money ran out.

Tastebuds was meant to be.

“I think it was God’s way, for me to be a chef and feed people,” says Bridget.

“Tastebuds is reborn. I still can’t believe it.

“How it all came together is nothing short of a miracle.”

Bridget quotes Abraham Lincoln.

‘I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so his place will be proud of him.’

She says: “This quote describes perfectly the sentiments I have been feeling and those I hope to convey.”

A seasoned American cook, who has a way with words, Bridget says Tastebuds is her passion.

“I love it here,” she says. “Thank you so much for stopping by.”

Tastebuds in the Coolbawn on Broderick Street, Midleton. Open Mondays to Thursdays, 11.30am to 3pm.