What has been going on...

Exciting news!

A film about Pigsy (my brother in law!) has been selected for screening at the Galway film festival,  How amazing is that.  I am very happy for Pigsy and for film maker Mike Andrews.  Congratulations Mike, I am very excited to see the documentary short.

On Friday night I met with Gina who is a friend of my friend from Florida, Catherine.  Gina was visiting from Jacksonville, Florida with her family and was looking forward to meeting up with some locals.  Enid and I were happy to oblige and it was nice to connect with one of Catherine's friends.

On Saturday I was in college all day.  It was tough work because it was such a nice sunny day in Dublin.  But in some good college related news I go the results of my last module (assignment and exam) and I did well in that.  So I was delighted with that.  I have just two modules to go - with two exams and two assignments and finite!

After the results of the module came through I thought I deserved a treat of some wine, prawns and scallops in Urchin.  Urchin is one of my favourite places in Dublin these days and it was a divine as ever.

Then today I did a little bit of a clean up in my apartment and put together a bag to bring to the charity shop. I do love seeing stuff going to a new home rather than in landfill.

 

And finally today, I started getting my clothes ready for my next little holiday break - woohoo I fly to Chicago on Wednesday for a long weekend!

 

Who moved my cheese?

After my lovely visit to the National Gallery I strolled up Naussau Street and popped into the Kilkenny Shop.

 

This adorable little thing from Newbridge Silver caught my eye!

 

It's a set of cheese picks made up of mice poking out of a silver cheese on a little wooden cheese plate.

 

 

It's the pure whimsy of it all that I love

Seriously how cute is the detail! 

And useful too!  Could be used for cheese or also for olives?  Actually, even cocktail sausages too!

 

And then, a complete spur of the moment decision...

 

...I went to Urchin for a little vodka and diet coke

And beautiful gambas a la plancha.

 

Urchin never fails with it's great quality little plates.  I recommend it heartily if you are looking for a light bite in a good location in Dublin city

 

 

My big fat fabulous seafood weekend

This weekend it was all about the Irish seafood!

 

On Thursday night we went to Urchin on Stephen's Green (it's part of the Cliff Townhouse) where we had a selection of prawns (pil pil and gambas) and also a portion of beef cheek.

It was so  nice that we actually went back on Friday night (after drinks in Kennedy's bar on Tara Street) and ordered just the prawns gambas to share.

Recognising us from the night before the lovely staff sent us over 2 little shrimp croquettes which while interesting didn't taste of very much.

And then the finale!

A seafood platter for two from the Bloody Stream in Howth,

Which we actually shared between three (Enid came along for the train ride), accompanied by two sides of sweet potato fries and onion rings it worked perfectly.

 

Can you see everything that is packed on there? Mussels in a lovely hot creamy broth, garlic bread for dipping into said broth, oysters, prawns, crab meat, smoked salmon, and poached salmon. It was excellent! It was my first time in the Bloody Stream and it will not be my last.