The Scrumptious 6... for €6 or less

By: Laura EdgertonAs we start holiday shopping and prepping for exams, fuel yourself up at these local businesses where you can get in and out for €6 or less.The Bookshelf has two locations in Cork, one at the Elysium and the other on the South Mall.  Offering rich artisan coffee and a variety of homemade takeaway items like sausage rolls and scones. If you have time to dine, try the over the top “Pimped Coconut Porridge” for €5.00. As soon as you taste a spoonful, your mouth will be treated to a creamy coconut flavored porridge mingling with crunchy peanut butter, berry compote and fresh bananas and strawberries.Arthur Mayne’s Pharmacy is a favorite for artisan cocktails, but they also serve a budget friendly weekday lunch menu. Their soup special changes daily.  Watch out for the staff favorite, creamy coconut curry sweet potato soup, served with brown bread for €4.50. If you’re looking for something a little more filling, order up the Coronation Chicken sandwich. Served on fresh, crusty white bread, this curry chicken salad comes with mixed greens and mango chutney. Served with a side salad and crisps for €5.90.The Crawford Café is in the back of Crawford Art Gallery, and offers up locally sourced food in a refined but not stuffy setting. Head in for breakfast before exploring the free museum. In the morning you can get anything from a simple scone, to a full Irish and for just €5.50 the creamy O’Brien’s free-range scrambled eggs on buttered Arbutus toast is a great protein packed way to fuel up for a few hours of art appreciation.The Sandwich Stall in the English Market offers up a variety of fresh sandwiches and paninis between €5.00-€6.00, with a focus on keeping their offerings local, fresh and affordable. There’s limited counter seating at lunch, and daily soup and salad offerings. Vegetarians will have plenty of options, although there are plenty of meat filled sandwiches as well. A best bet is the €5.50 grilled Toonsbridge mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwich that oozes with locally made melted cheese.The Idaho Café is centrally located and #vocalaboutlocal. They offer any type of coffee to go for just €2.10 when you bring your own reusable mug (€2.60 without). And if you can snag a brownie warm out of the oven, it may be the best use of €3.50 in Cork – a truly exceptional offerings for you chocoholics. At lunch time go for the soup, which is €4.95 if you eat in, or €4.00 take away, like the potato and leek pictured, which comes with white or brown bread.The Liberty Grill always tops lists as one of the best restaurants in Cork but doesn’t mean it’s out of reach for the budget conscious as they offer more than a few brunch options under €6. There’s a pan-fried brioche French toast for €4.50 served with maple syrup, homemade granola for €3.90 and the €5.50 breakfast sundae. Arriving in an elongated dessert glass with a sundae spoon, the breakfast sundae features layers of natural yogurt, nuts, berry compote and homemade granola that makes for a filling, fun and healthy meal.