Noms

It's been a while but I'm going to attempt to start this thing up again.

So to start with, what better than a mouth watering picture of the tastiest food there is?

Pizza = noms.

Noms is also one of my favourite words.

Enjoying food is about eating with your eyes, allowing the sight of the food to compel your senses, drawing you closer. The waft of delishiness physically engages you, mouths watering, only to be satiated by diving straight in. Chefs can go on about the length of preparation, the importance of plating up well and presentation. But if it doesn't have that nom factor, forget about it.

Noms decribes everything there is to know about tasty, satisfying food.

Foodie stroll through Ranelagh

Known more for its up market housing than it's outwardly up market dining. With the exception of Mint - which is now gone. What is it that people in Ranelagh are after?

For an area more known for its highty tighty crowd, big SUVs taking up all the on street parking or running you over on the narrow little roads behind the main street. Or simply for the mocca frappa chino (yeah you get it?), I'm always surprised what little Ranelagh has for good eateries. I know I'm being picky - but aren't we told to be in 'these times' - how annoying that phrase is now!

It was cold last night - extremely. Fingers were about to fall off. But we still managed to walk the length and breadth of this village looking for something a little special or unusual.

Mario's is the place you bring the in-laws for lunch, good pizza but a heavy price on it - especially to listen to all those kids!

Cafe bar barf (it sounds better than when writen) - yes it makes me very ill after each visit - coming from both ends - not very nice to say I know but I think these things are important to share. Before you ask the one in town has the same effect.

Tribeca stole the chicken wing recipe from the Elephant and Castle - and anybody who knows me will know where my loyalty lies.

Ochos was closed.

So was eatery 120. But we're sick of there anyway. Downstairs is too tight, upstairs... There's just something I can't pin-point about the place that never makes me feel very comfortable. Maybe it's the company?!

The wild Goose was closed.

So was Diep le Shaker. But we wouldn't have gone there anyway. Not for a big pile of noodles that's slopped onto your plate and charged a fortune for the privilege. We learnt the hard way and have not been back since.

So we arrive at Pinnochio's.

Not much to look at but really it's the last stop - or the first if your arriving from the Luas as it is situated just underneath. It is more comfortable inside than it looks from outside. The warmth of the Italian staff make up for this immediately.

To start we shared the cheese and asparagus tart. Délicieux! Or delizioso! As this place allows you to feel you may be in Italy! The flavors were beautifully balanced with a hint of nutmeg in the cheese sauce with the asparagus bringing it to life. The puff pastry was a perfect accomplement just the way it should be - light and flavorsome. For mains we have pasta. Hubby had the ferrari pasta - not hot but a big bowl of perfectly cooked uncomplicated and light tomato and basil pesto sauce. Mhh. I had the lasagna with a twist. Actually a few. Diced lamb within folds of very light pasta sheets, no Roma brand here, these were notably homemade, wrapped in a light and almost zingy white sauce and served with a perfectly cooked lamb chop. The dish was garneshed with mint leaves and dark chocolate and although not big it was definitely worth it. All this washed down with the best Valpolicella. And what better to follow with a fresh slice of delicious tirimisu!

This is a place run by Italian's to serve Italians and is recommended!

Nouveau cuisine

Who ever thought that this was going to cut it?















Now this is what I'm talkin' about. Nothing quite like a big sausage - and a toulouse one from Borough Market, London to boot!

Tasty Lebanese

Tasty Lebanese

Hidden away in the heart of Rathmines is Little Jerusalem, a newly opened Lebanese and Palestinian cuisine restaurant. It is the perfect little eatery that you can also get take away from with a chilled out, cosy atmosphere. Service is extremely welcoming, friendly and warm, and good attempts have been made with the décor to improve the seating area with decorative cushions to liven up the space. However, they do need to dim the lighting.

But it is really the food you come here for. It is surprisingly good, healthy food that has the ability to suit the mood perfectly. You can dive in for something fast, perfect if you need some soakage after a few pints in Slattery’s. Or if you are so tired you can’t think and just need grub, you are also in the right place. However, if you are in the humour for something more special you can bring your own bottle (no corkage) sit back and relax.

After several visits now it has never failed to impress and with the help of the owner and food enthusiast, Abraham, we have never been let down by his recommendations.
This place spoils you for its variety of eastern delights. Toasted seeds in soya, freshly baked naan and delicious, mouth-watering chicken and not forgetting the rose and pistachio eastern sweets for afters. The falafel is a million times better than any you have tasted so far in Ireland - unless it's in the sister restaurant, Silk Road Café. Also recommended was the mixed meat platter with all the trimmings – hummus, naan and salads. The meat was extremely succulent. On the last visit we went for their shawarma kebabs. One lamb, the other chicken both delicious and not resembling anything processed at all. You don’t even get this quality lamb in Jo’burger up the road where their lamb looks like it’s been beaten to a plup. The first kebab I’ve had where you can see the meat.

And after all that, it surprisingly does not make you feel like you have eaten a lead meal. It’ll be a new regular.

Some of the best restaurants

For me that is.
Up at the very top of the list has to be Mini Bar, Washington DC. I am lucky enough to have a friend who works at the restaurant where this six-barstool delight is located – quite literally in the main dining area of the restaurant, Café Atlantico.
This place covered all aspects of a successful and fun dining experience. Perhaps it was that my friend knew all the barmen, serving us the most exquisite cocktails before dinner, or that she already knew our waiter or that she was having a thing with one of Minibars chefs. Who knows but it was out of this world.
So if it wasn’t enough that you feel like royalty been lead through the restaurant, with all and sundry excited for you that you are eating in Minibar, you are literally placed on a pedestal over this fancy yet down to earth restaurant. At this stage you know that all the Atlantico regulars are excited for you knowing what is too come. Perfect American hype, but not without reason. There was no prepping me for what we were about to experience.
To begin with our wine was carefully selected. A fine Riesling to start followed by Pinot and finished by the finest 5 puttonyos Hungarian Tokaj (Chateau Patjzos, Esszencia, 1993). Amazing. Then the food. I don’t think there will ever be anything like it again. Thankfully they give you a memorable print out. But its still not enough – no matter how good your memory is you would need a book to explain the 28 courses. Each is a mouthful, or maybe two that is so carefully planning that they have you marvelling at it one minute, the next you are giggling! Each rolls perfectly into the next and you are never disappointed. A sugar coated olive oil bon bon that melts then explodes in your mouth. Deconstructed Ceasar salad. Sea Urchin with hibiscus foam. It will forever me my favourite!

Food

So here I go again. I like the idea of blogging and think it has a place. Blah blah we've all heard the pros and cons. In this space I'm just going to write for myself. It's my online diary, but instead of lots of interesting personal insights or stories on my life, I will be posting for myself. And if you read it, I'll be boring you about food that I've eaten.

I feel I should explain. I eat out quite often. Thanks to my Fakey husband. And I fear one day when I'm really fat (from all of the good food) and poor (from paying for it) that I'll look back and not be able to remember how I got there.

So here we go Ro's blurb about food and such.