Stuff I've eaten in the last week

First mention is Beeftro on Balfe Street. Came here for lunch last Friday. I had the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich which is served with sweet potato fries. Had some white wine to kick off happy Friday! The staff are lovely and the food is fab. Will definitely be back to try beef :)

I stopped at The Cupcake Bloke on my way to Beeftro and picked up some of their Halloween cupcakes. Inchose spiced pumpkin, tombstone and ghostly chocolate - which clearly disappeared and a brack. The brack is delicious and made even nicer with just a little bit of butter. 

On Sunday we were in town for some Christmas presents shopping (I know!) and stopped at Coffee Angel on South Anne Street. I thought the coffee was only ok and to be honest we were kind of made to feel like we were disturbing the staff's Sunday. The macaroon was dry and far too flaky but the chocolate brownie was fab!!

This week I've been on jury duty. Thankfully I wasn't picked but I realised something. I'm very glad I don't work too close to the city centre - there's far too much temptation around! I don't think my waist or purse would be too healthy in the long run. 

On Monday I visited Love Supreme in Stonybatter for lunch before getting back to work. 

I had a lovely Americano and a pork, celery and fennel sausage roll. The sausage roll was still warm and just so tasty.

I got a second Americano to take away to enjoy in the November sunshine. 

When we were released on Tuesday I visited a Slice of Cake on Manor Place. I chose a dark chocolate orange slice - shortbread with chocolate orange. It was like eating a Terry's chocolate orange biscuit. I had a coffee here - they serve 3fe. Lovely spot but tends to get crowded.

I didn't get a coffee to take away. Instead I brought home slices of cake - coconut jam and a pomegranate and almond. 

After being let go early on Wednesday I made my way to Aungier Street to the new doughnut (donut) place, Aungier Danger. 

There's been a lot of hype around this spot and I wanted to check out the fuss. Luckily when I got there it was open (they're only open while they have stock) there wasn't much of a queue and they had plenty to choose from. Which caused an issue. I could decide so ended up getting a box of four to bring home - crime scene (red velvet with cream cheese), Banoffee autopsy, cherry gunshot and a jam five o. I think they use banana flavouring in the Banoffee. They were OK if a little denser than I'd like.

As I've a very sweet tooth my favourite was the very sugary crime scene. 

It's only takeaway so from there I walked to Krust bakery on Georges Street. Here I had an Oreo Cronut and a coffee. The Cronut was really fresh and the coffee was perfectly warming. 

On the last day of jury duty I visited The Pepperpot in Powerscourt Centre. 

As you can see I had a great seat overlooking the centre and it was really nice to sit back and listen to the piano - I think it's part of a lunchtime thing going on in Powerscourt. 

Here are the menus 

I ordered the roast pear, bacon and Montgomery cheese sandwich and an Americano. 

The sandwich - OMG! It was utterly delicious. I wouldn't have put bacon, cheese and pear together but wow does it work. The bread is thick but really fresh.  Amaze balls and I can see why that particular sandwich is a really popular menu item. 

The china wouldn't be out of place in my nanna's kitchen or on display on her dresser which I also really liked. Such a nice feel to this place and the staff are all so nice. Am only disappointed I didn't try here sooner!

So there's my highlights of my week. What about you?! 

Food filled Saturday

Sean's little brother came to stay with us this weekend. Sean and I done some wandering while he was getting his hair cut at The Butcher Barber. 

First stop was Fallon & Byrne. We got some venison haunch steaks, sweet potato and Irish rainbow carrots for our dinner on Sunday evening. We also picked up some Llewellyn's Apple cider vinegar. We had to because the bottle we got at the People's Park market met an unfortunate end :(? 

Then we had our usual stop at The Cupcake Bloke. 

Picked up some cupcakes for us - Oreo, Caramel Macchiato & a gluten free Banoffee.

Also got some lemon and carrot cake cupcakes and one of the Earl Grey, cranberry & orange tea bracks for Sean's parents.

After he was finished getting his hair did I brought him to try out Ugly Duckling in the Epicurean Food Hall. He ordered the Pittsburgh (BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, tomato and fries on a bun) and I ordered my usual no tomato Prawn Po'Boy... Delicious as always. Sean's little brother had considered keeping some for Sean but he enjoyed it so much there was no left!! I think he was a fan :) 

Got home. Spent some time with the dog then got ready to head out for the evening.

First stop of the night was Oktoberfest Dublin. We got there early enough so thankfully we didn't have to queue too long to get in - about a 20 minute wait. 

The place was pretty busy. Queued about 10 minutes for drinks. Got 2L of erdinger and a German white wine. 

Total cost including the deposits for the glass steins was something like €40. As long as you keep hold of your token and the stein though you get your €5 per stein deposit back.

Not a bad atmosphere but am not entirely sure how traditional Love is in the air as music goes??? 

Like I say we got there early enough but it was already starting to get a bit messy. We didn't stay long and then headed to Brew Dock.  The signs that are upstairs gave me a giggle. 

Here I had a Founders Breakfast stout. Lovely strong coffee flavour. 

By the way to the lads playing Jenga near us I think we've only just recovered from the fright ;)

We had a table booked for Bull & Castle and, as it was a nice October evening, we decided to walk it. Certainly walked up an appetite!! Have been here before but didn't enjoy the experience. What a transformation since our last visit. 

The last time we we're here was on a cold & miserably wet evening. I found the restaurant to be very cold and the seats were hard. I'm so so glad we decided to come back. The restaurant has had a make over. We were seated in a booth. It felt so so cosy and the leather covered seats were so comfortable!! 

 

Here's the food menu... 

I ordered a half bottle of Sangiovese / Merlot red wine. 

We shared the breads n dips and the charcuterie board for starters. That hummus is immense!!! The pesto was really nice but for me the star was the white soda bread. 

For my main course I ordered the steak and seafood - a 6oz fillet steak cooked medium rare with some prawns. Lovely char on the steak from the type oven they use. Perfectly cooked and the prawns were delicious too. Fab Bearnaise sauce to dip them all in too! 

I am not a potato fan and I asked if I could swap the spring onion mash for the Mac n cheese. This was done without issue although the waiter wasn't sure it could be done. Very impressed! 

Sean and his brother ordered the porterhouse for two. This is a double cut t bone steak served up with chips, mashed potato, sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, maple roasted carrots and a selection of sauces. 

The Mac n cheese was creamy and had a lovely crust on top. Am sure it was calorific but so so worth it.

For dessert I ordered a French Martini cocktail. Lovely way to finish. 

Brilliant choice of whiskey, craft beer and cocktails. They're serving up great food that is well worth the price tag. Really loved the feel of the place this time. 

After there we walked to Beer Market as Sean was in search of a particular sour beer - Gods Speed. To my delight they had Founders' Rubaeus on tap but not the beer he was after so we only stayed for one and then headed to our last stop of the evening, Against the Grain. 

They had the beer Sean was looking for so they had two glasses of that each while I finished off my evening with a Macivors cider :) 

A sweet Saturday morning

Parked at Arnotts to get some walking in the sunshine :)

Sean went to get his hair cut... 

First stop was Abercrombie & Fitch to get my future brother in law's birthday present (He wanted Fierce because he unfortunately smashed the last bottle he got!) 

Then I visited The Cupcake Bloke to pick up some of their 4th of July cupcakes. I chose Boston Creme and Peanut Butter & Jelly / Jam. 

From there I went to Kaph on Drury Street to get some new beans. 

I got myself an iced Americano and a Madeleine and sat down the back which is a great spot for people watching. Iced Americano was so nice I ended up getting a second one to take away!!!! 

Met Sean and we stopped in at Fallon and Byrne to get food for dinner that evening. 

Then we went to Parfumarija where I spent quite a while choosing my birthday present (an incredible place!) before going to Krust Bakery. 

I managed not to give in to getting a cronut or donur and tried their Nitro Cold Brew which they launched last week - really v good but might be considered a bit of an acquired taste! 

Just a v sweet sunny July Saturday morning! I'll leave you with this street art I spotted on Abbey Street.