Tantalising Treats at Eala Bhán

You may think my job is to eat Afternoon Tea - it's not, but I wish it was!

I was recently very kindly invited along to Afternoon Tea with my mum at the gorgeous Eala Bhán restaurant and I was so excited to go. Every meal I've had in Eala Bhán has been fabulous so I knew the Afternoon Tea would be just as good. We were welcomed by Anthony, the owner, and sat at the Seamus Heaney table overlooking the beautiful river. I just love the decor in Eala Bhán with the twinkling lights and the swan adorning the walls.

The gang at Eala Bhán made sure I was well catered for as a vegetarian, and they definitely did a great job! I was served open sandwiches and bagel bites topped with the most divine egg mayonnaise, sundried tomato and goat cheese, Emmental, pesto creme fraiche and normal goat cheese. The sandwiches were so delicious and light, they paired perfectly with the ice cold Prosecco.

Next came the desserts and oh my God is all I can say. Just looking at the picture is making me drool. So beautifully presented and an amazing selection of treats. Eala Bhán team up with Le Fournil bakery in Sligo to create this medley of goodies and it's certainly a dynamic duo. I love the desserts being presented on a slate and I didn't know where to begin. We eventually decided to start on Eala Bhán's homemade chocolate mousse which was heaven in a glass, I was tempted to lick it clean it was that tasty. Also on the plate was homemade meringue, fruit, truffles, chocolate discs with freeze dried raspberries, macarons, scones, and the most amazing mini profiteroles which tasted like Ferrero Rocher. Every bite was like an explosion of flavour. We ate every last bite including Eala Bhán scones with delicious jam and cream.

What I loved about the Afternoon Tea was how delicate and light it was. It truly is a special experience and a brilliant idea if you have a birthday or other celebration coming up. Both Eala Bhán and Le Fournil are award winning establishments and it's easy to see why. There's nothing more relaxing than eating divine treats, sipping bubbly and watching the swans glide by on the river - it really is a treat. Thanks again to Anthony and all at Eala Bhán, you can check out their website here.

If you'd like to see what Eala Bhán offer in terms of their non-veggie Afternoon Tea check out my mum's blog here!

Heavenly Food At Harry's Bar

Sometimes the days that don't go to plan are the best days. Laurence and I had big plans yesterday (I'll go into that in a later blog) which ended up falling to pieces. It was quite disappointing and frustrating, but we decided instead of sitting around moping we'd change our plan for the day instead.

The lovely Eva, head chef at Harry's Bar & Gastropub in Rosses Point, had invited Laurence and I along for dinner a few weeks ago but we hadn't found time to go - until yesterday. I messaged Eva early in the morning (sorry Eva!) asking would it be ok if we came that evening. She booked us in for 7 p.m. so we had that to look forward to.

We spent the rest of the day charity shop shopping which was fun. I love charity shops, I buy 99% of my clothes from them. Not only is it for a good cause but you also know you won't be wearing the same thing as everyone else and it also costs a fraction of the price! I ended up getting a pair of leather leggings and a top for 50c. Bargainer.

We mooched around town for ages until it was time to head out to Rosses Point for our meal. Harry's is decorated very fittingly with a nautical theme - one of the tables also has a well down the middle of it where you can see fish if you look down! Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture as the camera was playing up.

The lovely waitresses were quick to show us to our table and explain the vegan options on the menu for us, which was brilliant. There was a white bean, sage and parsnip soup, asian potato cake with an asparagus & sesame ginger salad, curried chickpea, spinach and lemon salad or a pad Thai. It was such a tough choice as everything sounded delicious! The rest of the menu also had tons of options to suit everyone, including gluten free options. In the end I chose the potato cake and Laurence went for the pad Thai. We also went for a side of onion rings, because, well, I really like onion rings.

Our food came really quick which was great, I hate waiting years for a meal. Everything was presented beautifully and the portions were massive! The vegetable selection in our dishes was really nice, no mushrooms or aubergines like you'd usually get in a vegetarian meal. You could just taste how fresh the food was and it was all piping hot too. My potato cake was so tasty and came with a massive salad with a lovely sesame and (I think) wasabi dressing with some asparagus on the side. Laurence's pad Thai was also scrummy, of course I tried some. The onion rings were those gorgeous crispy type ones that I love, I could've eaten bowl fulls. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Laurence remarked how nice it was to have a nice 'normal' vegan meal, as we've seen a lot of menus offering quinoa salads or stuffed mushrooms and things that we don't really like. We both sat there 'mmm'ing the whole way through. Everything from the service by the pleasant waitresses to the music to the chilled atmosphere and the gorgeous food - perfect.

We also decided to go for a dessert as Eva had made one vegan for us which was so nice! She made a banana coconut cream topping with strawberries, summer berries and a biscuit base in a jar. So, so good, and it actually would be divine as a breakfast too. I definitely got some inspiration for my own cooking from our meal.

When we'd finished, Eva herself came out to chat to us. We chatted for ages. Eva is such a talented chef and she's so passionate about what she does, and so interested in a challenge and using different ingredients rather than your bog standard stuff, which I admire. It was so nice she took the time to come sit with us and ask how our meal was. We told her we'd most definitely be back, and I'm looking forward to it already!

Eva was very kind to give us a voucher towards our meal, so thanks a million to her and all at Harry's for a wonderful experience. It was my first time going to Harry's, so if you haven't tried out this hidden gem yet I can't recommend it enough!

No More Ordinary: The Draft House Strandhill Review

I'm really late doing this blog *slaps wrist* because I recently started college and turned 20 (I'm officially an adult now, I'm scared). A couple of weeks ago my mum and I were invited along to The Draft House pub in Strandhill for a bite to eat. It was the day before my birthday so I treated it as a pre-birthday lunch.

We arrived on a blustery Strandhill afternoon and scoped out the exterior of the place. The building is painted a fitting blue and adorned with quotes (their trademark 'Draft. Craft. Munch' and 'We don't do ordinary' above the door, most notably) and a bicycle that spelled out the word 'food'. When we went round the back of the pub we realised there were dog kennels - yes, you read that right - if you want to drop your pooch off for some downtime while you eat. Walking your dog on the beach is hungry work, after all! If this wasn't enough, The Draft House are also installing showers - in case you've come out of the sea and feel a bit grimy - both really nice touches, I have to say.

When we walked into The Draft House we were quickly seen to by Maya who seated us in a booth and took our drinks order. I requested a Desperados, which they didn't have, but Maya was quick to suggest an alternative and gave me a small taster. She told me all the craft beers were available to be sampled - great for someone indecisive like me.

It was then time for the fun part - to decide what we would get to eat. I was torn between the chicken special - polenta crusted chicken - or the vegetarian special - veggie curry with a toasted tortilla - but in the end went for the veggie option. Curry can be quite difficult to master so I was keen to see how this would turn out! Mum chose the fish and chips, a seaside classic.

Our food came very promptly - thumbs up for that because we were both starving - and after going upstairs to take some photographs (I could only get phone photos so apologies) we started to tuck in to our food. Everything was plentiful, hot and fresh. My veg curry was so big I could only eat half of it - it came with a massive bowl of rice and toasted tortillas dusted with spices. It was absolutely delicious - I'm not usually a curry fan but this was one of the best curries I've ever had. The rice was also cooked beautifully - no boring plain rice at The Draft House! The curry wasn't just your standard fare of vegetarian curry. Rather than the usual unimaginative carrots and mushrooms, this included courgette, cauliflower, sweet potato and an array of other vegetables. I would definitely get this if I went back to visit The Draft House. I'm a bit sad it's only a special and not on the usual lunch menu which has recently been updated for Autumn 2015. It's good to have seasonal fresh food rather than eating the same thing all year round!

Mum said her fish was beautifully crispy and flaky and the chips were just as good. We were well and truly stuffed by the end of our meal but decided we'd have to sample the desserts too to give an honest account. I chose the chocolate and orange mousse which was actually dairy free (woop!) and mum chose the meringue. I scoffed my mousse down in about 0.5 seconds, it was heaven in a bowl - well, jar.

I'm a huge fan of The Draft House's unique touch. In this day and age it can be hard to find a place that isn't the same been there, done that foodie fare - let alone a pub. We're lucky in Sligo that we have some stellar dining options! 

We waddled out with full tummies and smiling faces after a delicious meal. If you find yourself in Strandhill be sure to pop into The Draft House for lunch, dinner or a drink at sunset - you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Maya for being so helpful and friendly and to The Draft House for accommodating us. Check them out here. Read my mum's account of our meal here - her photos are fantastic and so much better than my quick snaps!

P.S I've majorly lost my blogging mojo so most of my latest posts are food reviews - if there's anything you'd like to see on the blog please let me know!

Supper By The Sea

 My family and I recently headed along to Eithna's By The Sea in Mullaghmore to have a late lunch. We don't have family meals out very often so it was a lovely treat as we had a voucher to use. It was a beautiful crisp day down by the beach so we were glad to warm up inside Eithna's. I absolutely love the paintwork on the exterior of the restaurant, it's gorgeous and so appropriate for a seaside eatery.

When we walked in we were greeted by the lovely wait staff and shown to our table upstairs by the window. We had a lovely view of Mullaghmore. Eithna herself greeted us and we had a chat. She explained all the seafood is sourced from just across the road in Mullaghmore - you can't get much more local than that!

The menu is quite extensive and includes non-seafood dishes as well as vegetarian choices - there's something for everyone. I chose the steak sandwich with chunky homemade wedges, my brother Jono went for the fish & chips, and mum and dad shared a seafood platter with some chicken on the side. 

Our food came promptly and we tucked in. My steak sandwich was cooked to perfection and the wedges were crispy and fluffy. I tried some of the crabmeat from the seafood platter which was also tasty. Everyone enjoyed their food immensely - clean plates all around!

I didn't have a dessert as I was stuffed but mum had a meringue which looked beautiful, adorned with edible flowers. Dad went for apple pie with cream. The presentation of all the dishes was so colourful and fun. I love the decor of Eithna's. Everything is seaside themed and I loved the little lighthouses dotted around.

We were all well and truly stuffed by the end of our meal. I'd definitely go back there again, the food was so tasty and fresh and the portion sizes were very generous! Thanks to Eithna for being a good hostess. Find her on Facebook here.

Relax & Rewind @ The Radisson Blu

Recently mum and I got invited to spend a night away in the 4* Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Rosses Point. As we live in Sligo Rosses Point isn't much of a drive from us - so it was like a holiday at home! 

After getting our hair dyed and blowdried (making the most of it), we checked in and met with Berni from the Radisson, who arranged our stay. We had a coffee and a chat and Berni welcomed us to the hotel and told us what our stay would consist of. As well as the overnight stay, we were also being treated to aqua aerobics, dinner at the award winning Classiebawn Restaurant, breakfast, and 2 mini treatments at the spa. A generous package indeed!

As we checked in at 3 and our aqua aerobics class wasn't until 7, we decided to take a spin down to Rosses Point beach and take a few photos. It was such a beautiful sunny day it would've been a shame to waste it! I tried to do some dramatic look-at-me-I'm-moodily-looking-at-the-sea poses but I probably looked demented. 

Our room was Business Class and was lovely and spacious. We were pleasantly surprised by the petit fours left for us - and the Nespresso machine! We had a drink looking over the balcony at the stunning view of the sea and Knocknarea mountain before donning our swimming costumes and heading to the pool for a quick soak in the jacuzzi. Of course the bubbles only started where I was sitting so it looked very dodgy for a minute or so - mum found this hilarious, natch. The pool was quite cold after the warm jacuzzi so we plunged in. I've never tried aqua aerobics before so I was quite apprehensive. The YouTube video I'd watched of it seemed gentle so I thought it'd  be easy - oh how wrong I was! Our instructor, Gillian, was so energetic and fit, I was nearly dying after just the warmup. I never knew you could sweat under water! It was great fun, mum and I were having such a laugh. I swear I have co-ordination issues because there was one move I just could not get the hang of. It was like the water version of pat your head rub your stomach!

My legs were quite jelly-like, and after the 45 minute long workout I'd definitely worked up an appetite for our dinner. We headed down at 8.30 and were promptly served by the friendly wait staff. I don't eat dairy anymore and was happy to see the menu had options, as well as gluten free options if you're a coeliac. 

We were served some bread with a bulb of roasted garlic (and I had an orthodontist appointment the next day - sorry David McConville) to whet our appetites. We were served an amuse bouche of Coopershill venison, beetroot jelly, pistachio dust and chopped walnuts with pea sprouts to prepare us for our meal. I'm used to having soup as an amuse bouche so this was an interesting change. I will assume the venison was cooked blue as it had the texture of raw meat. I wasn't a huge fan of the meat but the rest was delicious - not for the faint hearted though!

I ordered the trio of melon to start and mum had a tian of chicken with mango, coriander and guacamole. Both were absolutely delicious - who knew melon could be a fulfilling starter?! Next was the mains. I chose duck breast with quinoa, broccoli and a mixed berry & orange jus. I've never enjoyed quinoa very much but this was gorgeous, I could've eaten a whole bowl of just the quinoa. The duck was cooked to perfection and so juicy - a quacking dish. Sorry, I had to. 

Dessert is always tricky when you're dairy free so I enquired with the waiter who advised me the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta was made with coconut milk. I was absolutely delighted with this as it's what I would have ordered anyway! Again, it was just perfect. The presentation was beautifully simplistic on all the dishes and the staff were very attentive and friendly.

We were well and truly stuffed after our meal and practically waddled back to our room to nurse our food babies. I had a quick bath, properly making the most of the hotel, and we were off to sleep in no time at all. I had probably the best sleep I've ever had in a hotel - usually I wake up boiling hot and thirsty, but not this time! The beds were so comfortable and the room was very quiet.

In the morning we rushed down to breakfast, as if we hadn't eaten enough the night before. The hotel offers both a fried and continental breakfast. The continental breakfast selection was fab: fruit, cereal, pastries, cold meats, cheese, yoghurt, nuts and seeds...they even had gluten free granola and soya milk, which was a huge plus for me! The fried breakfast had your standard breakfast fare: black & white pudding, eggs, mushrooms, beans, bacon, sausage, etc. I was a bit disappointed there were no hash browns because hash browns make a breakfast in my opinion.

After breakfast it was time to head to the spa. We threw on our robes and slippers and spent around an hour in the thermal suite, enjoying a foot soak and scrub in the foot baths, before chilling in the relaxation room. I actually fell asleep for a few minutes! I've decided I want a relaxation pod in my future house (ha). We were then called in for our treatments. Funny enough, my therapist was also called Lucy! I got a mini manicure and facial. I haven't had a facial in ages and my skin has been acting up a bit lately. My facial was absolutely lovely and my skin has felt great all day - I'd love to have a facial every week! I went for a cool shimmery purple shade for my manicure. The polish used was a Vinylux by CND which I was told would last about a week. Sadly, not even an hour after having them done the polish started to 'shrink' and smudge off, which is a shame. 

Unfortunately it was then time for us to snap back to reality and go home. We were so relaxed it was sad to have to leave. Getting the opportunity to do this more often would be heavenly. A girl can dream!

Thanks again to Berni and all at the Radisson Blu Rosses Point for making us feel so welcome and treating us to a relaxing stay. Check them out here.

Food, Glorious Food: Knox & The Draft House

Do you ever have those days where you feel like all you've done is eat? I had this on Friday. After work I headed along to the newly opened Knox café/restaurant in Sligo to meet my friend AJ for lunch. Usually we go to the Swagman but recently we've decided to switch things up and try different places, which I have to say I enjoy! Change is good.

When we first arrived at Knox we immediately noticed how busy it was and expected to wait for a table. Luckily we managed to nab a seat just as 2 people were leaving. After an awkward moment of having to get AJ to squeeze past the table to sit in at the wall because my booty was not about to attempt to do that, we were quickly brought some menus by the lovely staff. I will admit I got a little bit too excited upon seeing sweet potato fries on the menu - I don't know of anywhere else in Sligo that offers these and they're a favourite of mine.

It didn't take long for AJ and I to decide what we wanted. We both went for the chicken burger, served on a bun with homemade ketchup and guacamole, with sweet potato fries, homemade coleslaw and lettuce on the side. I opted for mine without the ketchup as I'm not about that life but I did try a teeny bit of AJ's and for ketchup it was pretty nice!

After a lengthy discussion about first world problems and everything else under the sun we were pleasantly full from our lunch. The food was absolutely delicious - tasty, fresh and not stodgy like other burgers and chips. I loved how this was a healthier option while still feeling like a treat and I didn't feel uncomfortably full after. 

We took a stroll to Lidl to get dessert (aka a cookie from the bakery) then headed up to the Model for the free food - I mean, to support my mum after her drama play. Tea, coffee, sandwiches, wraps and mini cakes were being served and we all sat together for a chat and (another) bite to eat. It was free, it would've been rude not to.

We said goodbye to AJ and then headed off to Strandhill. My brother and I went to The Draft House while mum had a meal in Trá Bán. I'm delighted I got to try The Draft House after missing it the last time I went to Strandhill (read about that). As I was still full from grazing all day I just chose the soup and Jono went for the chicken wings, a favourite of his. The portions were plentiful and the staff were very pleasant. I also enjoyed the décor and ambience of the place, I bet it's a great place for a few pints. Jono enjoyed his chicken wings and said they were tasty. My soup wasn't the most flavourful if I'm being honest but as it was only soup and the place is new I won't hold it against them! I saw some of the other items on the menu coming out and they looked superb.

After our food it was back into town to pop into Iníon Veigh for their opening. There was a delicious looking array of food and wine on offer but I was beginning to waddle from everything I'd eaten so I politely declined. Iníon Veigh is a craft and jewellery shop in Sligo and they have the most unusual beautiful things. I was so tempted by a leaf ear cuff and an awesome dragon ring with sapphire eyes but I managed to resist!

After a long day we were so happy to get home and relax a bit. Eating all day really takes it out of you!

P.S make sure to check out my friend AJ's great new blog here. How cool is the name?

Hope you enjoyed this blog. Have you eaten anywhere new lately?