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!

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? 

Seaweed Baths, Sand & Shells

I'm a bit (2 weeks) delayed in writing this blog but better late than never as they say.

For my best friend Bethany's birthday we decided to head to Strandhill for a relaxing night away. Last year for her 21st we went to Spain so this was a bit of a contrast but still involved the beach! I see a theme here...

Recently I was lucky enough to win a brilliant prize from Rude Health magazine consisting of an overnight stay in the 4* Strandhill Lodge & Suites, dinner in Trá Bán, a soak in Voya seaweed baths and lunch in Shells for 2 people. It came at such an opportune moment what with Bethany's birthday coming up.

After a brief bit of panic when the bus from town to Strandhill was 20 minutes late we arrived with about 20 minutes to spare as we booked our dinner for 6.30. We sat at the beachfront looking out onto the sea and then headed up to Trá Bán for our meal. I've eaten at Trá Bán before (read my previous blog here) but it was Bethany's first time doing any of the things in the Strandhill package so she was excited to see what all the fuss was about.

She chose the lamb pie, beef medallions and then apple crumble for dessert whilst I chose the fishcakes, cod and chips and chocolate chilli brownie. The food was amazing, all cooked to perfection and couldn't be faulted, as usual. Bethany said hers was cooked to perfection (and if she says that you know it's good) and went down well with a lovely glass of rosé each. Unfortunately the little compact camera I brought with me isn't great in low light so I didn't get any photos of our food but I can assure you it looked great! Trá Bán is such a gem, we don't know how lucky we are having places like this in Sligo. 

After a few minutes to let our food babies develop a bit we trekked up the hill to the suites. Let me tell you, it felt like walking the Camino Trail after having such a feast, but we made it in the end after a bit of groaning and complaining. I had been up earlier to drop my bag off and scatter a few balloons around to surprise Bethany so I knew how gorgeous the place was. The reception is so inviting and warm - not to mention how friendly the staff are. David, the owner, was so obliging and even found me some candles and matches to stick in a birthday muffin I got for Bethany! I lit the candle and set out a bottle of wine before Bethany came into the room so it would be a bit of a surprise for her.

We got a suite - the Atlantic Suite - which was incredible. The bedroom looked out onto the sea and Strandhill golf club and the views were beautiful. I don't know how many times I said to Bethany 'I want this bedroom' but it was probably way too many. The whole suite was so bright and airy. Huge velux skylights in the bedroom, a bright shiny bathroom, an impressive kitchenette with a Nespresso machine, a Bose sound system and 2 big wall mounted TVs with built-in DVD players.

After gawking at the room for a bit we pondered whether to check out The Draft House or just relax with some wine and a movie. The wine and movie option won because we were both already in our robes and pyjamas! I headed down to the lounge to pick a DVD from the extensive collection and also picked up a couple of hot chocolates from the free hot drinks machine, just about managing to resist the pain au chocolat. Little touches like these make a stay so much nicer!

After an amazing sleep (the place was so quiet and comfortable) it was time for breakfast. I didn't know breakfast was included in the stay until I booked so it was a pleasant surprise. For a continental breakfast the selection was great - cold cuts, cheeses, yoghurt, fruit, pancakes, eggs, cereals, loads of different teas, not to mention a huge range of gluten free cereals and bread. You really couldn't fault the breakfast.

After a massive breakfast we walked down to the main street for our seaweed baths. I've been to Voya before but again, Bethany hadn't, so I was excited to see her reaction. I know some people feel a bit funny about lying in a bath full of slimy seaweed but she found it so relaxing. I'm sure it would've been even more relaxing if we weren't being eejits and pretending to be mermaids shoving piles of seaweed on our heads. Regardless, when we left we were so chilled we nearly fell asleep.

 As we were still a bit full from breakfast we were debating skipping the lunch at Shells but decided we would take it on. As Shells is so popular we had to wait 15 minutes to get a table so we had a dander about the Little Shop. When we eventually got seated and had a look at the menu Bethany decided on a burger and I got a chicken salad as I wasn't that hungry. I also decided to try a matcha latte for the first time to see what the hype was about. It tasted a bit like the seaweed from that morning's seaweed bath mixed with some milk but it was surprisingly nice! 10/10 for Shells food as always.

Sadly it was then time to go home. After such a lovely relaxing holiday we truly felt like we'd had a holiday and didn't really want to go back home! If you're after a similar experience check out the Thrill of Strandhill package which offers all this and more - it's perfect for a weekend getaway.

Too Much Wisdom Is A Dangerous Thing

I should get a slap on the wrist for being a bad blogger. In my defense though, I was couped up in bed with tonsillitis (just before Easter break, natch). To add insult to injury - and to explain the title - I have an impacted wisdom tooth that is making my life a misery. Because our healthcare system in Ireland is so wonderful (!) I'm being refused help for the time being and am having to put up with the usual 'Ah sure we'll prescribe you painkillers, be grand'. I'm tempted to give someone a bread knife and a pliers and do the job DIY style. I may end up looking like the Joker but at least I wouldn't be in agony anymore!

In more exciting news, if you live in Sligo you may have seen me on the front page of the Sligo Weekender (no, I didn't kill anyone). I always thought my media debut would be headlined 'Face Transplants: Before & After' or something like that, but thankfully this was for something exciting. I absolutely love cooking - if you followed my Instagram before I revamped it you may have seen my foodie posts. I was so excited when a talented chef, Liam, gave me the opportunity to feature some of my recipes on his up-and-coming food website, BiaMaith. The website is great if you want to find out how to cook quick, easy meals on a budget so definitely check it out!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and didn't feel too guilty about inhaling Easter eggs (if you had them). Personally, I never want to see chocolate again for as long as I live. (This is a lie, I literally just ate some chocolate mini eggs and they were amazing). Over the Easter break I  mainly relaxed, got my hair balayaged (ooh get me) by my best friend Bethany - blog to follow, probably - and went to Strandhill a couple of times as the weather was actually pretty nice. Of course, it has now gone back to being baltic, but that's okay because I'm back to work. Thanks, weather gods. 

We also adopted another rescue dog so now we have 2 smelly dogs in the house. He appears to be a cross between a pug and a terrier and he's so ugly it's adorable. I loves him. Even when he does fart and it smells so bad it could knock you out.

So that was just a quick update to redeem myself after not posting for so long. I have a few exciting things coming up so expect more regular posting from now on! *slap on the wrist*

Did you do anything exciting over Easter? Let me know!

Sunny Days & Seaside Markets

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but I love markets. They're such a nice day out and a wonderful way to find unusual trinkets and gifts - not to mention the great atmosphere.

I've been to Strandhill People's Market quite a few times in the past but haven't been in a while. As I've spent all weekend bumming around the house in my pyjamas (standard) my mum dragged me out of the house and took me along with her. I didn't plan on buying anything but ended up buying too much...oops.

As well as the usual suspects (we had great banter with the ladies from Trimilawn Farm and Talentui Organics - they reassured me I wouldn't have to send off an application for a nunnery just yet) there were some faces I hadn't seen before such as Clo's Chocolates from Le Fournil bakery in Sligo and The Blue Room, who sell quirky signs and home décor - very seaside chic.

After I stole my mum's camera (sorry mum) and snapped away we got down to the nitty gritty and had a proper look. If I had a hefty bank balance and no self restraint you can bet I'd buy something from every stall! I managed to control myself quite well. I was very pleased I found a birthday present for my best friend Bethany - her birthday isn't until May but I'd like to think I'm well prepared now. 

I've heard a lot of good things about bee pollen as a superfood so I was delighted to see a stall selling jars of it, as well as every type of honey you could think of. I also stopped by the Trimilawn Farm stall and asked Ellie what she would recommend to make a chickpea curry. She suggested their Rogan Josh spice mix so I'm looking forward to giving that a go. I love Trimilawn Farm because not only do they have a huge selection of herbs and spices, they are also more than happy to recommend seasonings based on your needs. Mum got some potatoes to plant as she has a bit of a green finger (when she feels like it and doesn't forget plants need nurturing) so we'll see how that goes. Last time we tried to grow potatoes they came out the size of peas.

I also bought a cookie the size of my head from Clo's Chocolates stand which is very naughty of me but I gave half to my brother so I think it's justifiable. I was tempted by all the cakes, paella and the yummy sushi from the Sushi Sisters but I managed to resist!

That was just about everything I bought - as I said, I behaved myself for once. I was extremely tempted by these beautiful cake stands (below) and the elephant mug - elephants are my favourite animal, in case you didn't know this supah interesting fact.

The market has such a buzz about it every time - the sun was shining, the conversation was flowing, stalls were wafting delicious food smells all around and local singers were there to set the mood for the day.

When (if!) I ever get married I want to get one of these lovely wedding prints by Dreaming on a Star. Also, how cute are those badges?! I love their range of personalised prints and kitsch stationery. The unusual necklaces also caught my eye, I love the idea of the key necklace. Very Zoey 101 (remember that show? It was my childhood. I had a key necklace just like hers and I thought I was the bomb).

After inhaling a nacho tray from Streetcart - I smelled very onion-y and sexy all day after that - we headed home and said goodbye to the beauty and the buzz of the market.

If you haven't been to Strandhill People's Market yet - what are you waiting for?!

Festive Fun at Strandhill People's Market

In an attempt to be organised and get into the Christmas spirit, last week I went to Dublin for the Stephen's Green Christmas markets. However, I was sorely disappointed - it felt like a mass exodus and was poorly organised. Imagine crowds and crowds of pushy, miserable looking people mowing shoppers down with pushchairs, add to that a lack of atmosphere and about 40 overpriced hot dog/burger stalls. Not very Christmassy.

I absolutely love Strandhill People's Market and today I got to visit it for the first time since it's moved indoors to Sligo Airport. I think the indoor venue is a fantastic idea especially as we're now well and truly into winter. 

Because buying local is so important I did a bit of shopping (for myself). I was drooling over all the goodies at Marshall Made It as usual but decided I'd be good. I did, however, buy a jar of Christmas craft supplies from them for a blog post idea so watch this space.

Fabulous gift ideas from Marshall Made It.

As well as some lovely gift ideas there were also some divine food stalls: Green Warrior offered some delicious vegan and natural food choices - the vegan chili looked amazing. I chose a bag of healthy granola and a cacao cashew nut chocolate milk (yes, guilt free chocolate milk!) and I'm looking forward to trying them both. I also got a slice of Rocky Road and an adorable snowman cake pop - how amazing are the Christmassy cake pops?! After shopping I was quite peckish so I decided to mix it up and sample some sushi. The Sushi Sisters had a stall and they were so accommodating - I'm picky and don't like salmon so they endeavoured to make me a sushi selection without salmon. The sushi was so fresh and tasty and the noodles were amazing, I could eat like that every day.

The atmosphere was just delightful and the service as always was brilliant. It really goes to show buying local is the way forward. All the stallholders have such unique products and ideas at reasonable prices and they're so friendly and accommodating. By the end of the market I felt really Christmassy - I was actually sad to leave! If you're looking to get a bit of Christmas spirit definitely head to Strandhill People's Market in Strandhill Airport (runs Saturdays and Sundays leading up to Christmas). Check them out on Facebook here and go for a browse - you won't be disappointed.

Scrumptious Seaside Dining at Trá Bán

I've mentioned Strandhill before in my blog - whether it's for a coffee and a cake at Shells quirky café, watching the sunset with a pint from The Strand or just for a stroll along the beach, Strandhill never disappoints. For fine dining, however, it has to be Trá Bán.

Last week me and my mum decided to head along to Trá Bán for a midweek meal. We'd never been before but had heard great things about it - not to mention all the impressive awards the restaurant (and its sister restaurant in Sligo, Eala Bhán) has won. I was initially a bit worried it would be all seafood - I'm not a fish fan - but I was thrilled to see the menu offered extensive choice for seafood lovers, meat eaters and vegetarians alike. All of the ingredients, meat and seafood are locally sourced so you really know what you're eating. As well as the usual foodie fare, Trá Bán also offers a range of wines and craft ales to compliment your meal. 

When we first went up to the restaurant (situated above The Strand bar in Strandhill) we were impressed by the décor - soft lighting was offset by sheer curtains and projected onto the wall was a light effect to look like waves. It was a very intimate and romantic setting - I can imagine this would be perfect for a romantic meal or something special. 

To start we were served a slate of bread with a seaweed and sweet chilli pesto - it may sound a little bizarre but it was divine and really whet our appetities. For the main course, as I rarely eat steak at home as I find it a treat to get when I go out for a meal, I ordered the sirloin steak. I'm not lying when I say it was the best steak I've ever had. It was cooked to perfection (I like mine bloody but the chef will endeavour to fulfill your request however you like your steak cooked), beautifully seasoned and juicy and served with pesto mash, mushrooms and onions. I don't like mushrooms so mum ate those but she said they were perfect also. Everything on the plate was so tasty and fresh - it made shop-bought steak taste like a McDonald's hamburger! Mum ordered the chicken linguini which I also had to sample of course. It was beautifully rich and creamy and again, fresh and cooked to perfection.

As I had a starter (the chefs in Eala Bhán and Trá Bán make some of the nicest soup ever in my opinion) I couldn't eat another thing until we noticed the chocolate fondue on the dessert menu. Chocolate fondue is one of my absolute favourite things in the world so me and mum decided to share one. The Belgian chocolate fondue is served in a mini saucepan and was absolutely incredible. It was rich, sweet and creamy without being too cloying or sickly - by the end I was tempted to just eat the chocolate with a spoon. The fondue came with diced fruit and marshmallows for dipping - there's nothing like soft fluffy marshmallows and sweet strawberries dipped in warm melted chocolate to finish off a perfect meal. Mmm...

If you're looking for somewhere to enjoy a nice meal for a special occasion look no further than Trá Bán. Beautiful food followed by a leisurely stroll along the shore - what more could you want?!

Trá Bán also offer Early Bird and Christmas menus for the upcoming Holiday season (it's creeping up on us!) here or you can enjoy a meal as part of the Thrill Of Strandhill package - be sure to check out the Facebook page to keep up to date on offers.

Thanks to Anthony and all at Trá Bán for a wonderful evening.