Celebrating my Birthday

Chocolate cake from Marks and Spencer's for breakfast thanks to workmates. Check out the Minions Slippers and the Chocolate Salt Caramels from Butlers! Yum :-) 

That evening headed into the city centre. 

First stop was Beer Market, High Street, Christchurch - Beginning to notice a pattern here… Ha!

Couldn't decide what to have so they (I have to say they because even though I think the same barman has served us each time we went I've no idea what his name is!) very kindly let me sample two kind of lambic / fruit beers and I went with a glass of Mikkeller Juicebag for a change. Quite sour, really nice on a sunny July evening!

From there we walked down Dame Street towards College Green and went to The Bank Bar where I had a pint of Macivors Cider.

What a fabulous spot - the interior is just amazing. I think the bar is located where the main banking hall actually was. Beautiful stain glass ceiling, chandeliers, really detailed plasterwork etc. There's also a heritage tour - check out the replica Book of Kells, the busts of the signatories to the 1916 Proclamation before going down into the basement (Where the bathrooms are) to check out the Chatwoods' Safes.  I am actually ashamed to say that this was my first ever visit here. It is a Gastropub with what looks like a fantastic menu. We only had drinks here as we had a reservation for The Pigs Ear on Nassau Street. Will definitely be back for food!

Made our way then to The Pigs Ear on Nassau Street for dinner. 

The restaurant is spread over three floors and we were on the first. I sat with a view of Trinity College. Pretty impressive. The room does look small when you walk in but it certainly doesn't feel so.

The menu...

Placed our order and then the bread arrived. I love how it is presented…

I ordered the Crab Mayonnaise which came with fennel, carrot, trout caviar and orange. Look at how gorgeous it is! I had to spread some of it on the brown bread and it was utterly divine!

Sean ordered the Ham knuckle and pork terrine, burnt apple, pickled vegetables and puffed pork skin.

For main course I ordered the Roast Cod, Lardo, Cod Brandade, Sweetcorn, Hay Smoked Butter, Clams and Samphire. The cod was perfectly cooked and I loved the sweetcorn.

Sean chose the slow cooked Lough Erne Lamb Shepherd's Pie and he said it was probably the nice Shepherd's pie he's ever had :)

The food went so nicely with the bottle of Salice Salentino.

He decided against dessert but I ordered The Pigs Ear Vanilla Cheese Cake, Berry Jam & Hobnob Biscuits and a coffee.. Look at the milk and sugar :) 

Dessert comes out in a paper bag and you open it up to discover a jam jar inside which has a deconstructed cheesecake. It was so light and refreshing. A great way to end a beautiful meal.

Was so full after it and it was such a nice evening that we decided to take the long way back towards Temple Bar so walked up Clare Street, Merrion Square (Quick nod to Oscar!), 

Merrion Row, St Stephen's Green then down Grafton Street and back towards Crow Street...

Last stop of the evening was the Ciroc Lounge at AVenue by Nick Munier - the lounge is in the basement. 

All mood lighting and white seats, really cosy feel to it. Just had a cider there - rather sensible because after all it was still a "school" night! 

They didn't have any of the Cragie's Dalliance but the Savanna Dry was a VERY VERY good way to finish off celebrating my birthday. 

I guess getting a little older wasn't so bad after all :)

Thursday night date night

To stave off the post holiday blues we booked a table at AVenue by Nick Munier.

First stop on the way was Beer Market (http://www.galwaybaybrewery.com/beermarket) which is the new Galway Bay Brewery bar in Christchurch where they're "only" serving beer here. 

The tap and bottle selection is bloody impressive!

Anyhow after checking the list I decided on Founders Blushing Monk.

I just want to say that €6.50 a glass might seem steep but I think that's pretty good considering it's just shy of €22 for a 750ml bottle in most off licences in Dublin!! 

Was quite a nice Dublin evening and we strolled down Dame Street to Temple Bar until we got to AVenue (www.avenue.ie) 

This is the new Nick Munier (of Masterchef Ireland and Hell's Kitchen fame) venture... 

Yes this place is in the centre of touristville but there's just something about the place that as soon as you walk through the door you'll forget that's where you are! 

I got a voucher from the taste.ie so it worked out at just under €50 a three course meal for two plus a bottle of wine. A great deal if you ask me but even without that they do a three course set meal for €25 per person. I thought there was a good selection to choose from and that's bloody brilliant value for a restaurant in Temple Bar by any means.

So to the food..

For starters I had the chicken liver parfait with brioche. Sean chose the tartare of salmon...

For main course I had the butternut squash ravioli and Sean went with the hake.

Dessert (most important!) was apple and cinnamon doughnuts with dips. Sean tried their pear shortcake special (I think!) and Americanos to finish. 

So what can I say? I loved everything about it! Awesome service, the food is great (tastes better than it looks - I don't think my photos does it justice) and v well presented, comfy seats and the tables are also nicely spaced out. I can't actually describe it other than to add there's such a nice buzz about the place! 

By the time we were leaving the place was filling up and I think they turned some walk ins away so book in advance because you have just got to try here!!!

So we left Avenue and went to Vintage Cocktail Club VCC Dublin (www.vintagecocktailclub.com) for a drink

If there's no doorman there ring the doorbell and who knows what you'll discover! 

 

There's a huge selection of cocktails to choose from in that book! I went for a Tiki Peeky and Sean chose the Cuban Rum Cake. 

Candlelight cocktails and I like that they served water with the cocktails - we got this in Berlin last weekend and thought it was a great idea!

Left Temple Bar and went back to where the evening began, Beer Market, for another Blushing Monk!