Sisters’ Night

My sister and I recently organised a long overdue girls night and to make the most of the occasion we thought we would try two new(ish) spots to open in south Belfast: Bull and Ram, and House Belfast.

BULL AND RAM

The sister restaurant of the award winning Bull and Ram in Ballynahinch, Bull and Ram Belfast is located in the Queen’s Quarter of the city. We’ve both wanted to try this restaurant since it opened its doors at the end of last year but we only managed to get a date locked down for Friday night.

Our table was booked for 6pm and from the minute we arrived the service we received was exceptional. We were shown to a table by the window (perfect for people watching) and presented with two menus – an à la carte menu and a pre theatre menu (which runs Monday – Saturday 5-6.30 pm). The pre theatre menu had a varied choice and was great value for money (2 courses £17.50; 3 courses £21; or 3 courses and a cocktail £27) so we both opted for that option.

To start I ordered the braised chorizo with toasted sourdough whilst Gail went for the braised short rib and young buck blue cheese arancini. Both dishes were delivered promptly and smelt and looked divine. Whilst Gail enjoyed her arancini she said the chorizo had the edge which I whole heartedly agreed with; the wonderful combination of flavours really was a treat.

Braised chorizo and sourdough

For mains we both gave into temptation and ordered the dry-aged Himalayan salt chamber steak (for which there was a £3 supplement), served with beef dripping chips, onion rings and pepper sauce. Unequivocally this was the best steak I’ve had; it was cooked to perfection. My granda used to have an expression that when a bit of meat was cooked nice and tender you could ‘cut it with your nose’, I now fully appreciate what that means – it felt like the knife simply melted through the meat.

Dry-aged Himalayan salt chamber steak

After our mains we were too stuffed to get dessert so we opted for a cocktail to finish off our meal. We both enjoy an espresso martini and whilst they didn’t have any on the cocktail menu, Patrick, our fantastic server for the evening, said they would still be able to make them for us. When they arrived, they were chilled and smooth and the perfect conclusion to our experience.

From start to finish I loved everything about Bull and Ram. The staff were professional, attentive and dedicated to ensuring that you enjoy every aspect of your visit. The atmosphere is intimate and welcoming whilst caliber of the food and drinks is truly remarkable. I really have fallen for this restaurant and will definitely be back.

HOUSE BELFAST

A sisters’ night would not be complete without a nightcap (or three) and so we headed to House Belfast, the new kid on Botanic Avenue. Formerly Madison’s, this new venue, which offers food, drinks and accommodation, is unlike anywhere else in Belfast. When we arrived we were met at the door by a lovely member of staff who enquired if we were there for food (if you do fancy trying a bite to eat I would recommend booking a table in advance as it was absolutely buzzing when we visited). When we said we just fancied a drink however, he showed us to a table at one of the three bars in the downstairs area.

The vibe at House is eclectic and cool with fab accessories, cosy nooks, colourful bars and the pièce de résistance, an indoor cherry blossom tree; this really is one photogenic hot spot!

Rose Spritz (left) and Mariposa cocktails

Once we had a look over the drinks menu, we thought we would continue the cocktail theme with a Rose Spritz for Gail and a Mariposa for me. Both cocktails were colourful, fabulously presented and absolutely delicious. As the bar we were seated at specialised in whiskeys we thought this would be the ideal nightcap. With bottles on display ranging from Writer’s Tears to a classy Midleton 2017 this is pure heaven for any whiskey fan. Kyle, who was tending the bar, was an absolute legend; not only was he attentive throughout our visit but he was knowledgeable and professional and when it came to selecting a whiskey he gave us more of an insight into the ones we were interested in trying. In the end we sampled the Jameson The Distiller’s Safe and the Teeling Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey; both were beautiful.

As our evening came to a close I can honestly say it was a successful sisters’ night; not only did I get to catch up with my bestie, we also got to discover two outstanding gems in Belfast’s ever developing hospitality scene. With both boasting a superb product and faultless customer service, I would not hesitate to recommend Bull and Ram or House if you have yet to try them.

Posted: 11/02/2018

Girls’ Night

Cheers: Suzan, Gail, Heather, Helen and Kellie.

Anyone who reads the blog regularly may know about the ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ afternoons that I enjoy with my sister Gail and my oldest friends Heather, Helen and Suzan. Whilst our lunchtime dates are often in the company of three little ladies (Lucy, Rachel and Ruby), who are the newest members to the group, mummies and aunties alike thought we were long overdue for an adult only catch up.

I first came across Yum, on Stranmillis Road, Belfast, when enjoying the pre-theatre menu before a trip to the Lyric Theatre with my culture buddies Andy and Mark. The cosy atmosphere, fab food and special offers made it the perfect spot for a catch up with the girls and so we booked a table for last Friday night. When we arrived we were shown to our table by the lovely Louise, who, although clearly swamped as the restaurant was busy, was welcoming, friendly and professional. After looking over the menu it was hard to ignore the exceptional offer of a 3 course meal for 2 plus bottle of house wine or 4 beers for £42. As there was five of us, we had a slight predicament, however this was quickly remedied by the quick thinking of Heather: both Heather and Helen and Gail and myself ordered the three courses and a bottle of wine, whilst Suzan ordered two courses for £15.95. As Helen and Suzan didn’t want three courses each, they split a starter and we shared the two bottles of wine between the five of us – simples!

The menu is bursting with delicious sounding options and we were spoilt for choice. I opted for the Crispy Asian Sesame Chicken, Sticky Asian Sauce & Napa Salad to start, which was colourful, flavoursome and had a lovely spicy kick. For mains I wasn’t alone in thinking the Daube of Beef, Garlic & Rosemary Dauphinoise Potato, Crispy Root Vegetables & Guinness Jus sounded amazing as four of the five of us ordered it! The beef was tender and melt in the mouth whilst the potato was moreish and I simply could not get enough of the Guinness jus. Although after two courses I was starting full, I could not say no to the cheesecake of the day, which on Friday was one of my all time favourites, Oreo. Served with a luscious dollop of ice cream in a brandy snap basket, this really was the perfect sugar rush to end the meal.

It was too early to call it a night and so we headed to House bar, which is about a five minute walk from Yum, for a night cap.  As we reminisced about the nostalgia of our youth as well as swapped stories about the shennanigans the little ladies get up to, I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of our first full throttle girls night in two years. There is nothing like fine food, good drink and the best friends in the world to put a glow in your heart and a smile on you face. Here’s to the next one!

Posted: 22/08/2017

Nailed It

I love nail polish; I never get bored of changing the colour of my nails. From midnight black to graffiti glitter they have been every shade of the rainbow at one point or another. The only thing that I hate about polish is that I can spend an hour painting my nails and then chip them mere hours later. And so I was delighted when what seemed like perfect solution landed on my doorstep: the imPRESS Press On Manicure. 

I have never experimented with false nails before and so wasn’t sure what to expect. However these nails, which consisted of vibrant red and complementing black and white polka dot shades, that I instantly fell in love with, could not have been easier to apply. All you have to do us wash your hands, wipe your nails with the prep pad, which removes substances such as oil that can prevent the false nails from adhering properly, then pull off the backing from each nail and stick them over your natural nails. Within minutes you are left with a stunning manicure. After leaving them the recommended hour to ensure they were completely stuck on, I then filed them slightly to ensure there were no rough edges. 

Before 

After

I imagined wearing false nails would feel quite odd and that I would be constantly aware of them, however this particular set is incredibly comfortable and I soon forgot they weren’t my natural nails. Whilst the packaging doesn’t recommend wearing longer than seven days, I would definitely use the ImPRESS Press On Manicure again as it is a quick, easy and durable solution for bold and beautiful, long lasting chip free nails. I am three days in and they look just as good as when I put them on – I’m absolutely delighted.

ImPRESS Nails will be launched exclusively into Superdrug from 26 July. 

Posted: 09/07/2017

In Conversation: The Unmumsy Mum Diary

Blogger and author Sarah Turner in conversation with BBC Radio Ulster’s Kerry McLean at the Belfast Book Festival. 

The Belfast Book Festival is jam packed with a fantastic mix of events and last night my sister and I were excited to get to experience one of them first hand: In Conversation with Sarah Turner, author of The Unmumsy Mum Diary at the Crescent Arts Centre. 

Sarah, whose blog The Unmumsy Mum has gone from strength to strength, has just published her second book: The Unmumsy Mum Diary. She was joined on stage by BBC Radio Ulster’s Kerry McLean to discuss what inspired her to start the blog, how she moved into the world of writing books and what’s next for The Unmumsy Mum. 

From the start it was very clear that Sarah Turner is naturally warm, funny and engaging; it’s not a surprise so many readers have been entertained by her musings, whether on paper or online, or that so many mothers have found her relatable. 

One theme that ran throughout the evening was, as Sarah coins them, ‘glossy mums’, who seem to have the perfect life, versus ‘truthful mums’, who admit that having a child is wonderful but they also come with many moments that will try you on every level. Of her inspiration to start the blog, Sarah said: “For me it was an outlet to venture the frustration of motherhood. I felt I was massively screwing it up.” Although I don’t have kids myself, when my neice was born I got a glimpse of how competitive fellow mothers can be and how that can have a detrimental effect, especially on new mothers. I think for a long time the ‘glossy mum’ blogs, which Sarah admits she does enjoy, ruled the online world, and so when The Unmumsy Mum came along it was a refreshing and comforting read that showed women that there is no one right way to parent, instead it’s best to follow your own gut, do what works for you and if you make mistakes, learn from them and move on. Women, especially those in the public eye, are constantly being judged whether it’s their looks, their lifestyle or their parenting skills and so it is restorative to find someone who doesn’t use their very public platform to do that to others, instead Sarah Turner says things most mothers can relate to but felt they couldn’t admit to. 

Another subject that Sarah and Kerry touched upon was the inequality in the perception between mothers and fathers. Whilst Sarah remarked that when she has a work engagement, people wouldn’t think twice of asking what she had done with her children, whereas the thought of asking a male in the workplace the same question seems rather absurd. Likewise both Sarah and Kerry touched upon how their other halves at times feel people who see them on their own with their children treat them like glorified babysitters, asking if they are giving mummy a break, rather than treating them as an equal parent who is doing their part to raise their children. 

Although my perception of raising children is from an auntie’s perspective, I found Sarah Turner, both the woman and the author, inspirational. Whilst many people like to edit their lives online, Sarah is brutally honest, which is incredibly brave. She has faced backlash from critics, such as from tabloid stories, as well as in comments from people who read those stories. However that doesn’t deter Sarah from sharing her life with her readers, and I distinctly got the impression that many women at this event were delighted for that. As a trying-to-be blogger myself it was also inspirational to hear Sarah’s story of how her blog went viral leading to a book offer from her publishers, as well as how she has remained steadfast on not doing sponsored posts so she can keep the blog true to her and her style of blogging. 

As the event came to a close, I had a smile on my face. The rapport between Sarah and Kerry was captivating; both are fascinating women who come across as very open and honest and as a result it seriously felt like spending an evening with friends. If you have tiny humans of your own, are thinking about having some down the line or just enjoy a giggle, I can’t recommend Sarah Turner’s The Unmumsy Mum blog or books enough! 

The Belfast Book Festival runs until 17 June. Check out the rest of the programme at: https://www.belfastbookfestival.com

Visit The Unmumsy Mum blog at: http://theunmumsymum.blogspot.co.uk

Posted: 15/06/2017

The Reunion

Bronagh and Kellie – we got back together.

Sometimes it’s not always easy to make true friends in the work place; making the transition from colleagues to friends can be tricky. However when I joined Ulster Tatler many years ago, I didn’t have that problem when I met Bronagh. We bonded over Green Day, a love of books and Jared Leto. Over the years Friday night cocktails became a regular occurrence. More thought went into birthday and Christmas presents. And we eventually took the final step into establishing a fully fledged friendship: travelling to a different country together (you know you must really like someone when you get to that point!).
After over a decade working together, Bronagh started a new job two months ago. Whilst I was devastated to lose my ‘work wife’, I was delighted she found a new challenge she wanted to explore. And although we no longer see each other every work day, we have vowed to ensure we get a ‘cocktail night’ in the diary at least once a month. 

Friday was our most recent catch up and so the mission was set to find somewhere amazing for dinner as well as an epic spot for some dancing afterwards. For food we went to the French Village Cafe & Bistro on Botanic Avenue. The family run business, which also runs a wholesale bakery and patisserie on Montgomery Road as well as French Village Patisserie & Brasserie on Lisburn Road, Belfast, has made a name for themselves for producing homemade baked goods, and so when we visited we knew dessert was on the cards, even before we were seated. 

After a look at the menu it was clear that French Village offer a selection of main dishes that sound just as tantalising as the desserts. I was tempted by the Dexter beef burger, however after a guilt trip from Bronagh about how cute Dexter cows were, I opted for the chicken and chorizo hash served with peppers, onions, spinach and sautéed potatoes. After it arrived, I appreciated the guilt trip because the chicken and chorizo hash was not only beautifully presented but it was bursting with an amazing array of flavours. To be honest, my mouth is watering now just thinking about it again. 

Chicken and chorizo hash.

After cleaning my plate it was time for the hard task of picking a dessert. They all sounded delicious, but there was no way I could resist the warm salted caramel brownie. It was gorgeous; the combination of flavours and textures worked superbly well together to create a dish that was rich, decadent and completely satisfied my sweet tooth. 

Warm salted caramel brownie.

If you haven’t been to French Village Cafe & Bistro before, I would whole heartedly recommend it. As well as a quality selection of dishes and professional service, the venue, which exudes a rustic charm and eye-catching decor, is also BYO making is the ideal spot for a catch up over a bottle of wine.

French Village Cafe & Bistro.

Once our stomachs were fit to burst, it was time to find a destination to dance off some of the delectable calories. We decided to go to Howl, the Friday club night at Love and Death on Ann Street. It was £5 entry, and the door staff had me thinking we made the right call, because not only very welcoming but one of them had on a t shirt of the legend that is Ron Burgundy – he’s kind of a big deal don’t you know! Our first impressions were confirmed when we got into the club. The club opens from 10pm – 3am and whilst some DJs wait until later in the night to play the good songs, we danced from the minute we arrived until it was time to go home. From the Chemical Brothers to Prince and Black Box to Paul Simon, there was a real mix of music but I loved it all! 

As well as good tunes, the staff were friendly and the venue also offers a range of drinks offers making it the perfect spot, especially during those periods when pay day seems like a long time away! 
From start to finish I had the best time. With good food on the menu, the opportunity to dance until I could dance no more and especially getting back together with my ex work wife, this is what Friday nights were made for. 

Posted: 29/05/2017

Review: The Nativity – What The Donkey Saw

When I was a kid, I remember being selected to play an angel in a Nativity play. Then I got sick, and no matter how determined I was to rock my halo, I was instead relegated to watching it from the sidelines. However, I recently decided to set aside my feelings of jealousy to all Nativity performers to check out the latest offering at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast: The Nativity – What The Donkey Saw.

My partners in crime for this Lyric adventure were culture buddies Andy and Mark. When we got to the Lyric Theatre, the place was abuzz with people getting into the Christmas spirit. I even spotted a few Christmas jumpers and festive headpieces. As the lights dimmed and the voice of God spoke to the audience (God in this instance being a very feisty and sassy Pamela Ballantine), the tone was set for the rest of the show. In this version of The Nativity, written by comic duo Grimes and McKee, Mary (played by Kerri Quinn) and Joseph (played by Terry Keeley) meet at the local Centra where Mary works at the deli counter. Before Joseph can put a wedding ring on it however, Mary is told by the archangel Gabriel, in a super creative costume, that she is carrying God’s child and so she, and a very understanding Joseph, get their nuptials out of the way before packing up the Hyonki (a budget donkey from Korea) and making the long journey to Bethlemhem to participate in the census called for by Caesar J Trumpius who is insistent on enforcing taxes on all, except himself of course. This is just one of the current cultural references in the script that ensures that The Nativity is bang up to date.

The Nativity – What The Donkey Saw is festive entertainment at its finest. The cast of five, which included Conor Grimes, Alan McKee and Tara Lynne O’Neill supporting Quinn and Keeley’s Mary and Joseph in an exquisite array of roles, from angels, shepherds, wise men, carpenters and Roman Centurions, all give stellar performances. As well as each performer showcasing exceptional comic timing, they also all seriously hold their own throughout the play’s numerous musical numbers. The play has adapted a number of well know songs to tell the tale of this modern day Mary and Joseph. ‘When a Child is Born’ for example was one of my stand out moments for me. The lyrics had mums and dads nodding along knowingly whilst the fabulously choreographed routine was a fun parody of any boyband music video ever. 

From start to finish The Nativity – What The Donkey Saw had me howling with laughter and for a performance that clocked in at over 2 hours, the time just flew by. Whilst Christmas is often a time for the children, it was lovely to attend a performance that is as much for the adults as the kids. This was my first festive outing at the Lyric Theatre, however I enjoyed it so much I think it a new Christmas tradition had been born. 

The Nativity: What the Donkey Saw runs at the Lyric Theatre until 14 January 2017.

http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

Posted: 19/12/2016