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.