food
As I mentioned previously in my student friendly restaurant guide, there's nothing that makes me happier than dining out. I genuinely spend more money on eating out than clothes and love trying out new restaurants in Dublin. When the team at Balfes* restaurant in The Westbury hotel invited me down for a complimentary meal, I accepted immediately. I may not be a food critic but I can definitely appreciate a good three course meal!
Balfes restaurant, The Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2
The food;
The menu was quite an extensive one making it hard to choose! I went for the grilled chicken, peppers and guacamole salad for starters, as did my mam. We both chose steak for mains- I had an 8oz fillet steak and she had the 10oz rib-eye- served with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and hand-cut fries. For dessert, I went for the chocolate fondant and almond ice cream, whilst my mam had grilled peppered pineapple and cardamom ice-cream. One thing I loved about the food was the portion sizes. I was worried the salad would be huge and that I'd be full before the mains came out, but that wasn't the case at all! The steak was one of the nicest I've had in months, and the chocolate fondant was near heaven.
The service;
The starters arrived 10 minutes after serving and every dish after that was almost just as quick. The staff were so lovely and really made the whole dining experience extremely enjoyable.
The prices;
Slightly on the pricier side, I'll be honest. Considering The Westbury is a five star hotel though, I'd expect nothing less for the quality of the meal. The food was so delicious though and I'm still thinking about that steak...
Overall;
Myself and mam had such a fantastic evening and it's easy to see why Balfes is such a popular venue in Dublin. With it's New York style brasserie vibe and luxurious feel, Balfes is the perfect place to treat yourself to a delicious meal in the heart of Dublin city. I'll definitely be back!
You can find out more about Balfes over on their website here. Let me know what your favourite luxury restaurants are in Dublin!
*disclaimer; I was treated to a complimentary 3 course meal & drink by the team at Balfes restaurant in exchange for social media coverage, but as usual, all opinions are completely my own!
Dublin Dining: Balfes Review
1.14.2017
As I mentioned previously in my student friendly restaurant guide, there's nothing that makes me happier than dining out. I genuinely spend more money on eating out than clothes and love trying out new restaurants in Dublin. When the team at Balfes* restaurant in The Westbury hotel invited me down for a complimentary meal, I accepted immediately. I may not be a food critic but I can definitely appreciate a good three course meal!
Balfes restaurant, The Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2
The food;
The menu was quite an extensive one making it hard to choose! I went for the grilled chicken, peppers and guacamole salad for starters, as did my mam. We both chose steak for mains- I had an 8oz fillet steak and she had the 10oz rib-eye- served with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and hand-cut fries. For dessert, I went for the chocolate fondant and almond ice cream, whilst my mam had grilled peppered pineapple and cardamom ice-cream. One thing I loved about the food was the portion sizes. I was worried the salad would be huge and that I'd be full before the mains came out, but that wasn't the case at all! The steak was one of the nicest I've had in months, and the chocolate fondant was near heaven.
The service;
The starters arrived 10 minutes after serving and every dish after that was almost just as quick. The staff were so lovely and really made the whole dining experience extremely enjoyable.
The prices;
Slightly on the pricier side, I'll be honest. Considering The Westbury is a five star hotel though, I'd expect nothing less for the quality of the meal. The food was so delicious though and I'm still thinking about that steak...
Overall;
Myself and mam had such a fantastic evening and it's easy to see why Balfes is such a popular venue in Dublin. With it's New York style brasserie vibe and luxurious feel, Balfes is the perfect place to treat yourself to a delicious meal in the heart of Dublin city. I'll definitely be back!
You can find out more about Balfes over on their website here. Let me know what your favourite luxury restaurants are in Dublin!
*disclaimer; I was treated to a complimentary 3 course meal & drink by the team at Balfes restaurant in exchange for social media coverage, but as usual, all opinions are completely my own!
5 Student-Friendly Restaurants In Dublin
11.30.2016
153 Capel Street, Dublin 1
On the North side of the city, just a short walk from the back of Jervis Street shopping centre.
Best Of Dublin: Brother Hubbard Café
1.10.2016
153 Capel Street, Dublin 1
On the North side of the city, just a short walk from the back of Jervis Street shopping centre.
Website Review: just-eat.ie
6.22.2014
Bonjour Bloggers!
Today I thought I'd post something different to my usual cliche. For a change. I believe in being optimistic, although we all have our pessimistic times, including me! We're 'only human' as they say. There are times when I can feel a bit down in the dumps, or under the weather. Typical teenage moods probably! But it's almost impossible to feel upbeat and bright 24/7.
So, today I'm posting exactly what the title and above picture state- 10 things that make me happy [and why!]
1. Music- Music is everywhere- it's beauty to our ears. I go everywhere with my ipod and earphones, and you'll constantly find me listening to music! I listen to different music depending on my mood. If I'm angry or annoyed, I'll pop on a bit of Paramore, or The Pretty Reckless. If things are a bit gloomy, I'll pour my heart out to some angsty Marina & the Diamonds or husky Lana Del Rey. Listen to your favorites [mine, Lady Gaga!] to real amp up your mood!
2. Reading my favorite book- Yes, I may have read it 3 times, but to me, there's nothing better than reading or reminiscing about my favorite book! Even just an extract, a page, or a paragraph can get me excited. At the moment, it's definitely got to be Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy- [Finnick Odair is just too perfect of a fictional character ok!]
3. A hot cup of tea- Sounds SO cheesy and stereotypical Irish, but hey! I'm a big tea drinker- I swear I have at least 3 a day! [that's almost 21 a week.. woah]. I love coming home from school, getting out of my uniform and sitting down in front of the tea with a cuppa.
4. Blogging- of course! I thoroughly enjoy coming online and making posts like this. Reading people's responses to my hard work, and even taking pictures to adorn my posts- I'm proud to say blogging is a hobby of mine, and it really does makes me smile!
5. Dancing- I've been dancing for years now, and its not just the classes I take pleasure in- simply fooling around or practicing dance moves in my kitchen really gets my blood pumping and energy levels up. A hyper person is a happy person!
6. Family & Friends- Surrounding myself with people I love in calm, relaxed situations is always a favorite of mine. Whether it's watching a movie at a friends, or sitting down for dinner with the family, I always have a good laugh.
7. Shopping- Ah, shopping. A bit of 'retail therapy' as I like to call it. Simply window shopping, browsing between rails, trying on outrageous outfits I can't afford nor would ever dare to buy, shopping is a firm favorite of mine to put me in a good mood.
8. Going to concerts- Although I don't often go, attending gigs is something I have a weakness for. What's not to love about seeing your favorite artist in a big [or small!] arena? The electric atmosphere, the people, the shouting, that elated feeling when it's over and you're feet feel like they're going to fall off.. LOVE IT!
9. Dogs- Ok, I think this is a firm favorite of everyone [unless you're scared of dogs?]. I adore my springer spaniel x collie, Misty. She's 3 years old and so naughty, but terribly affectionate and just so.. cuddly! I also admit I have a guilty pleasure of looking at cute puppies on the internet. Come on, how can you NOT like those pug puppies?
10. Food- Quite embarrassing to say, makes me feel like a bit of a fatty! But eating your favorite food, to me, is just unbeatable. It's only after do I sometimes feel a pang of guilt!
_____________
So that's it! One long post later. That is what makes me happy. What makes YOU happy? I'd love to know!
- Rachel x
10 things that make me happy ☺
3.09.2013
Bonjour Bloggers!
Today I thought I'd post something different to my usual cliche. For a change. I believe in being optimistic, although we all have our pessimistic times, including me! We're 'only human' as they say. There are times when I can feel a bit down in the dumps, or under the weather. Typical teenage moods probably! But it's almost impossible to feel upbeat and bright 24/7.
So, today I'm posting exactly what the title and above picture state- 10 things that make me happy [and why!]
1. Music- Music is everywhere- it's beauty to our ears. I go everywhere with my ipod and earphones, and you'll constantly find me listening to music! I listen to different music depending on my mood. If I'm angry or annoyed, I'll pop on a bit of Paramore, or The Pretty Reckless. If things are a bit gloomy, I'll pour my heart out to some angsty Marina & the Diamonds or husky Lana Del Rey. Listen to your favorites [mine, Lady Gaga!] to real amp up your mood!
2. Reading my favorite book- Yes, I may have read it 3 times, but to me, there's nothing better than reading or reminiscing about my favorite book! Even just an extract, a page, or a paragraph can get me excited. At the moment, it's definitely got to be Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy- [Finnick Odair is just too perfect of a fictional character ok!]
3. A hot cup of tea- Sounds SO cheesy and stereotypical Irish, but hey! I'm a big tea drinker- I swear I have at least 3 a day! [that's almost 21 a week.. woah]. I love coming home from school, getting out of my uniform and sitting down in front of the tea with a cuppa.
4. Blogging- of course! I thoroughly enjoy coming online and making posts like this. Reading people's responses to my hard work, and even taking pictures to adorn my posts- I'm proud to say blogging is a hobby of mine, and it really does makes me smile!
5. Dancing- I've been dancing for years now, and its not just the classes I take pleasure in- simply fooling around or practicing dance moves in my kitchen really gets my blood pumping and energy levels up. A hyper person is a happy person!
6. Family & Friends- Surrounding myself with people I love in calm, relaxed situations is always a favorite of mine. Whether it's watching a movie at a friends, or sitting down for dinner with the family, I always have a good laugh.
7. Shopping- Ah, shopping. A bit of 'retail therapy' as I like to call it. Simply window shopping, browsing between rails, trying on outrageous outfits I can't afford nor would ever dare to buy, shopping is a firm favorite of mine to put me in a good mood.
8. Going to concerts- Although I don't often go, attending gigs is something I have a weakness for. What's not to love about seeing your favorite artist in a big [or small!] arena? The electric atmosphere, the people, the shouting, that elated feeling when it's over and you're feet feel like they're going to fall off.. LOVE IT!
9. Dogs- Ok, I think this is a firm favorite of everyone [unless you're scared of dogs?]. I adore my springer spaniel x collie, Misty. She's 3 years old and so naughty, but terribly affectionate and just so.. cuddly! I also admit I have a guilty pleasure of looking at cute puppies on the internet. Come on, how can you NOT like those pug puppies?
10. Food- Quite embarrassing to say, makes me feel like a bit of a fatty! But eating your favorite food, to me, is just unbeatable. It's only after do I sometimes feel a pang of guilt!
_____________
So that's it! One long post later. That is what makes me happy. What makes YOU happy? I'd love to know!
- Rachel x
Hello everyone!
With Valentines Day soon approaching [one month peeps! might I mention it's also my birthday then...?] I thought I'd post a recipe to inspire you on a different type of gift this year. Why not home bake some cupcakes for your lover? Everyone loves cupcakes!
I baked these for my Christmas exam at school- the task was to create cupcakes and icing for a special occasion. I got the recipe from a cupcake book, 'Best Baking: Delicious Cupcakes (1) Made Easy'. To be quite honest, they're just chocolate cupcakes accompanied by vanilla icing, but that's what makes them so great. They're melt in the mouth, tasty AND easy to bake!
With Valentines Day soon approaching [one month peeps! might I mention it's also my birthday then...?] I thought I'd post a recipe to inspire you on a different type of gift this year. Why not home bake some cupcakes for your lover? Everyone loves cupcakes!
I baked these for my Christmas exam at school- the task was to create cupcakes and icing for a special occasion. I got the recipe from a cupcake book, 'Best Baking: Delicious Cupcakes (1) Made Easy'. To be quite honest, they're just chocolate cupcakes accompanied by vanilla icing, but that's what makes them so great. They're melt in the mouth, tasty AND easy to bake!
me looking ridiculously cheesy in a cupcake apron
Makes: 12 | Preparation: 30 mins [and cooling] | Cooking: 20 mins
Ingredients:
Cupcakes
125g soft butter
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
150g self-raising flour
75g cocoa powder
4 tbsp milk
Icing
125g soft butter
200g icing sugar
a drop of vanilla essence
red food colouring
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 350°F/ gas 4. Beat together the butter and caster sugar until its pale and fluffy. I used an electric whisk on a low/medium speed. Beat the eggs in one by one. You can add a small bit f flour to prevent curdling if you want, but I didn't bother and it turned out fine! Sift in the flour and cocoa together, so there's no lumps, and gently fold it all together. Mix in the milk, as much as you need, to make it moist.
- Place paper cases into muffin tins- you can use cupcake tins but I prefer muffin as it gives them a better shape. Divide the mixture between the cases, about a heap tablespoon full. Bake for about 20 minutes [give a little, I usually find 30 minutes is best] and leave to cool on a wire rack when done.
- For the buttercream icing: Beat together the butter and icing sugar with a small drop of red food colouring- so it is a pale pink- until you get a smooth but firm consistency. Use a piping bag [I used one that had a hole in the middle of the nozzle] to decorate the cupcakes with the icing. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE SOME ICING IN THE BOWL! This is to make the middle part of the cupcake. Just add some more red food colouring to make it darker and pipe in the middle, so it looks like flowers. I also sprinkled pink edible glitter on them!
Bon appetit!
- Rachel x
St. Valentine's Cupcakes
1.14.2013
Hello everyone!
With Valentines Day soon approaching [one month peeps! might I mention it's also my birthday then...?] I thought I'd post a recipe to inspire you on a different type of gift this year. Why not home bake some cupcakes for your lover? Everyone loves cupcakes!
I baked these for my Christmas exam at school- the task was to create cupcakes and icing for a special occasion. I got the recipe from a cupcake book, 'Best Baking: Delicious Cupcakes (1) Made Easy'. To be quite honest, they're just chocolate cupcakes accompanied by vanilla icing, but that's what makes them so great. They're melt in the mouth, tasty AND easy to bake!
With Valentines Day soon approaching [one month peeps! might I mention it's also my birthday then...?] I thought I'd post a recipe to inspire you on a different type of gift this year. Why not home bake some cupcakes for your lover? Everyone loves cupcakes!
I baked these for my Christmas exam at school- the task was to create cupcakes and icing for a special occasion. I got the recipe from a cupcake book, 'Best Baking: Delicious Cupcakes (1) Made Easy'. To be quite honest, they're just chocolate cupcakes accompanied by vanilla icing, but that's what makes them so great. They're melt in the mouth, tasty AND easy to bake!
me looking ridiculously cheesy in a cupcake apron
Makes: 12 | Preparation: 30 mins [and cooling] | Cooking: 20 mins
Ingredients:
Cupcakes
125g soft butter
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
150g self-raising flour
75g cocoa powder
4 tbsp milk
Icing
125g soft butter
200g icing sugar
a drop of vanilla essence
red food colouring
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 350°F/ gas 4. Beat together the butter and caster sugar until its pale and fluffy. I used an electric whisk on a low/medium speed. Beat the eggs in one by one. You can add a small bit f flour to prevent curdling if you want, but I didn't bother and it turned out fine! Sift in the flour and cocoa together, so there's no lumps, and gently fold it all together. Mix in the milk, as much as you need, to make it moist.
- Place paper cases into muffin tins- you can use cupcake tins but I prefer muffin as it gives them a better shape. Divide the mixture between the cases, about a heap tablespoon full. Bake for about 20 minutes [give a little, I usually find 30 minutes is best] and leave to cool on a wire rack when done.
- For the buttercream icing: Beat together the butter and icing sugar with a small drop of red food colouring- so it is a pale pink- until you get a smooth but firm consistency. Use a piping bag [I used one that had a hole in the middle of the nozzle] to decorate the cupcakes with the icing. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE SOME ICING IN THE BOWL! This is to make the middle part of the cupcake. Just add some more red food colouring to make it darker and pipe in the middle, so it looks like flowers. I also sprinkled pink edible glitter on them!
Bon appetit!
- Rachel x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
