Look for Local – Shop Filipino and Irish delicacies at Dasco Deli

Dasco Deli – Pictured on High Street are Carlos and Gwen Dasco with Daniel Butler, Mayor of Limerick and Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick. Picture: Farhan Saeed/ilovelimerick

Look for Local – Shop Filipino and Irish delicacies at Dasco Deli

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

Carlos and Gwen Dasco inside Dasco Deli. Picture: Farhan Saeed/ilovelimerick.

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A new campaign run by I Love Limerick asks Limerick consumers to look for local when shopping for products, services and experiences.

Dasco Deli is a Filipino-Irish cafe and grocery store on High Street, Limerick City. The cafe was opened by husband-and-wife Carlos and Gwen Dasco in April 2019, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The couple, originally from the Philippines, decided to open a cafe that served both Filipino and Irish food as many of their friends are in multicultural relationships.

“Our menu is half Irish and half Filipino. Many of our Filipino friends and customers are in relationships with Irish people, so when they come in to eat, their partner wants Irish food. We do a full Irish breakfast and breakfast sandwiches, as well as our own Filipino delicacies,” Gwen tells I Love Limerick. 

Despite opening their doors just two years ago, the Dasco’s are far from inexperienced.

“Carlos and I worked in a fast-food restaurant for 25 years. My husband was the head chef,” says Gwen.

“We have worked in the food industry all our lives and have lots of experience, so that’s why we took a leap of faith and decided to open a coffee shop of our own.”

The cafe has become a firm favourite in the area, known for warm customer service and spectacular Philipino delicacies. Dasco Deli has a broad menu that ranges from savoury dishes to beautiful cakes and sweet treats. ‘Halo-Halo’, a traditional Philipino iced drink, is one of the cafe’s most popular items. 

After a disastrous two years for the hospitality industry, the Dasco’s are delighted to be back serving the people of Limerick. 

“We were closed for over a year in total during the pandemic,” states Gwen. 

“The business survived because of the financial support of Limerick City Council. With their help, we opened a Philipino grocery store.”

The grocery is located inside Dasco Deli and sells exclusively Filipino goods, imported by the Dasco’s from the Philippines. The shop is Limerick’s first Filipino grocery store. 

Gwen and Carlos are proud of the unique experience they provide at Dasco Deli.

“People like to explore with food, so they should come in and try our culture,” encourages Gwen. 

They are grateful for the support they receive from local people and other businesses on High Street. 

“The locals here are so supportive. Especially during the pandemic, we were very thankful to have them come in,” acknowledges Carlos.

Gwen adds, “We love the Irish people, and we love Limerick. We don’t regret opening up here at all.”  

Speaking outside the store, Mayor of Limerick City and County, Daniel Butler says, “This is what shopping local is all about. This business provides us with amazing food, by coming in here you get to taste something unique and exciting. We have to support these businesses.”

To learn more about what is available at Dasco Deli go HERE

For more Look for Local stories go HERE 

#LookforLocalLimerick #LookforLocal #ShopLimerick

About LEO Limerick:

Limerick Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is a first stop shop to provide support and services to help start, grow and develop micro and small businesses. LEO Limerick offers a range of support for local businesses including training, trading online vouchers, financial support, mentoring and business advice. Limerick LEO provides a range of services directly to the small and microenterprise sector as well as helping to create a beneficial environment in which the sector can flourish. For more info go HERE