Birthday celebrations

Before I go into my fab birthday celebrations I have to admit I started this post just after my birthday but never finished it and the draft has been mocking me - just sitting there in the Blogger App. Think I must've been feeling a little sore about turning 33 (or just getting lazy!) 

Evening began with a glass of wine in the number 27 bar at the Shelbourne. Really decent size glass!!!

Early birthday dinner booked for Shanahans on the green. It was really quiet when we got there! Here's the view from my seat... How beautiful! 

We ordered from their Pre-Theatre menu which is €50 per person for three courses.

I chose the Caesar salad to begin with. Nice and fresh. The salad was crisp and I loved the big parmesan shavings. 

Sean went for the trio of Irish salmon. 

It's years since I ate here but am delighted to see they still serve their chilli cornbread muffin as part of the bread basket (well, board!)!

For main we both had the petit filet (6oz) and both asked for it medium rare. The steaks came with sides (which I didn't realise) including crispy fried onion strings, mashed potato and creamed spinach. The steaks were perfectly cooked. The sides were delicious but huge and we didn't do them anywhere near the justice they deserved!!

For dessert I chose the cookies and cream cheesecake which was heavenly!!!

 

Sean chose the fruit mousse trio.

Unfortunately I did take photos of it all & only spotted this polite request in the bathroom after dinner...

Do you remember when mobiles did actually look like that??? :)

After dinner we had a v romantic drink in P Macs... I had Sirens broken dreams breakfast stout which they have on draft. Really nice. 

If you think it's a hipster joint and not a romantic spot? Check out this photo ;)

Decided we needed to walk dinner off and it was such a nice evening we had a stroll through Stephen's Green

Finished off the night at Alfie Byrnes where I got to try their Acid Mother (a lime gose) which was FAB!!!

So now that I think about it this birthday turned out pretty alright!!! 

Macnean House

What a place! 

Six of us when for dinner last night to celebrate two big birthdays - Sean and one of his old mates from college are turning 40 in September :) 

We stayed in the house itself, our room was lovely. The fact is we spent very little time there but made time to eat the homemade Madeleines and biscuits that were left in the room - a lovely touch. 

From the moment we walked through the door the service was flawless, all the staff are excellent! I just wish I could remember all their names. 

We had a table booked for 6pm. We went to the bar first for a drink and we had the menu explained to us. We agreed on the prestige menu with wine pairings. If you decide on that just remember it's for the whole table. 

I chose an appletini and while we were looking at the menus they brought out little snacks with our drinks - curried popcorn, spiced nuts, salmon meringue and a little biscuit (can't remember what was on that though!) 

When our table was ready we were brought through. I think we had the best table in the room :) 

The dining room is modern, comfy, intimate and v pretty - comfy chairs and chandeliers. 

The bread selection included pizza, tomato muffin and a cranberry and walnut sourdough.

First up was prawn spring roll and crab salad and a celeriac mousse

I chose the Ham Hock (served with black garlic, Apple sorbet and pork crackling) 

Sean went for the Quail - barbecued breast, ballotine stuffed leg with balsamic lentils and lemon powder.

Then I went for the Scallops served with pork cheek and textures of carrot followed by a little amuse bouche

Sean chose the sea bass 

Next course then was the Duck Breast, cooked medium and served with leg spring roll, cranberry and pine nut quinoa

The cheese course was Coolea cheese was served with baked apple and toasted cranberry and walnut sourdough

The pre dessert was a mini Creme brûlée and some sort of mango / passion fruit mousse 

Dessert for me was the chocolate sensation. The theatre of the chocolate bomb dissolving was just awesome. 

Sean chose the Mango and Yoghurt Semi Freddo 

We had the wine pairings as well which meant five different glasses of wine. The sommelier, Blaithin, is really something. She is so knowledgeable and the wine really accompanied the food perfectly. 

We had told them why we were there and they brought out two plates with happy birthday to the table. Both guys were mortified but it was really lovely and I think they secretly loved it. 

Then it was tea and coffee with petit fours which we had in the bar. We got to meet Neven - night made!!! 

Thankfully that was before a lot more drink. They make really good cocktails. I'd suggest you try the Jameson cider or the Macnean Sunrise. 

The following morning we got up for breakfast (served between 9 and 10:30am) brilliant continental breakfast selection. I chose the porridge for "starters" and then the waffles. 

So how do I begin to tell you how utterly brilliant it all was? I couldn't fault any aspect of it. If you ever get a chance to visit here you're in for an absolute treat! All that is left for me to say is thank you to everyone there, they really made the evening special and on that I will let the photos do the talking!

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 :)