Salt lick Ranelagh - Japanese Month

When we heard this months food was going to be Japanese inspired in Salt Lick (which pops up in Hobarts in Ranelagh every Friday and Saturday night) we decided we would go again.

The concept is very simple - there is a vegetarian and a meat option for starter and main and then a choice of two desserts.  Two courses costs €25 while three courses costs €30.  

The restaurant is BYOB (bring your own bottle of wine) and BYOC (which is bring your own liquor which they will add to their cocktails).  What a fun concept!

We popped in to the Wine Buff and picked up bottle of wine before making our way to Salt Lick.  We got an Argentinian Malbec which the Wine Buff Ivor said was similar to the French Malbec.

For started we both chose the chicken tempura with Tofu Tempura and pickled mushrooms.  All were just delicious!  I particularly liked the mushrooms which, although had a slug like appearance to them, tasted divine.

For main we had the pork ramen which was very good.  I asked for a spoon for the broth but I was happy to sup from the bowl when our server invited us to do as is the cultural norm so that we could immerse ourselves in the experience!

For dessert we had huge bowls of lemon posset and cold rice pudding with strawberries and seseame brittle.  I adore rice pudding so I was in heaven but Ciaran was not a fan of his posset as it was too liquid.

Most people hand over a naggin or shoulder of vodka for drinks throughout dinner.  We just have 1 after dinner cocktail so we handed up these little baby vodkas.  They only used about two thirds of each bottle so they returned the rest to us - which I promptly poured in to my coke so I could taste the vodka.  Ciaran had a Moscow Mule which he anounced was delicious. 

When I mentioned the name of the restaurant to friends, they sent me a picture of this.  Lol!

Can't wait to hear what next month's theme will be in Salt Lick!!

Sew Dublin - Jelly Rolls in Rathmines (Fabric shops in Dublin)

I contacted "Sew Dublin" in Rathmines to see if they had Jelly Rolls for sale.  They said they did so I called in to them on Friday on my day off.

They had a few Jelly Rolls and it was hard to make a choice of which one to get.  I looked at a little board that showed every fabric in this roll.  Even still I found it hard to visualise what way the quilt would turn out.

Here is the Jelly Roll opened up.

All you have to do is sew the strips together (on the bias) to make one long strip.  After this you bring the ends together and sew the strip together.  Cut the strip when you get to the end and repeat the above steps.

You eventually end up with this!  Which took me about 3 hours to complete.  All I need to do is put a border and backing on the quilt front along with wadding/batting and then bind it.  It's the biggest quilt I've made so far!

Sew Dublin in Rathmines is worth calling in to if you are looking for fabric and supplies.  They have good stock and lots to choose from.

Bones my dog on a glass stairs

Sharing this video that I put up on YouTube awhile ago.  It's Bones coming down the stairs from our studio at the top of the house.

Searching for Jelly Rolls

Called in to the Craft Hub in Donabate before work today.  I'm looking to get some "Jelly Rolls" for quilting.

They did have one Jelly Roll but it wasn't quite the pattern that I was looking for.  I know Jelly Rolls can be commonly got in USA along with Fat Quarters.  However, in Ireland, Fat Quarters have only recently begun to be sold and Jelly Rolls are slowly coming on stream too.  

It seems that a sewing supplies shop in Rathmines sells Jelly Rolls so I will call in on Friday to see what they have!

I have to say I enjoyed my visit to the Craft Hub - they have an incredible range of fabrics.

Here's what the jelly rolls look like.....I wish I had bought some when I was in Key West recently :-(

Caitlin Moran - Feminist or.....?

A good few weeks ago my cousin had let me know that Caitlin Moran was doing a show in Dublin.  My twin sister, cousin and I were all interested in attending as we had enjoyed hearing her speak at a Literary Festival a little while back. You can read about how much my sister enjoyed it here on her blog.

The way things played out it ended up with just Kasey and I attending.  We met for a drink in the Brazen Head beforehand (good choice Kasey!) got a great little spot at the bar.  We then left at about 7pm thinking the show was on at 7.30pm and having to pick the tickets up at the box office.  On entering the venue we remarked that there was very few people there and then realized that the show wasn't starting til 8.30pm!!  Aaagh!  

Not that we minded much as there was a bar in the venue that we were able to retire to but we were a little sad that we had left our lovely little spot in the men filled(!) Brazen Head to sit in the practically empty Vicar Street bar that was soon to fill up with A LOT of women (many wearing check shirts). 

When we got in to the auditorium we found we had good seats in the Balcony to the left of the stage.  At this point we could see most of the audience and could practically count the low number of men in attendance (poor guys - did they know what they were in for???)

And so Caitlin Moran appears on stage to promote her new book "How to build a girl", wearing the same denim hot pants and doc martin boots that she wore on her last appearance.  Seriously lady??!!  These clothes are not flattering.  I wonder does she wear these clothes out in public in regular life or are they just her stage wardrobe.  Either way if she is going to insist on wearing denim cut off hot pants she should cut the pockets out that she has left hanging down - or if she really needs pockets she could sew them to half their size so that they are not revealing themselves when she is wearing her shorts.  Also is she aware that these pants cut her legs off at the chunkiest part of her leg and possible make her legs look thicker than they are?  Just because you are a feminist does not mean you can't dress well and hide your worst assets and highlight your best assets - for yourself of course to feel your best by looking your best!

So on to the talk itself.  Caitlin got straight down to it.  Personally I think there are certain things including bodily functions that do not need to be talked about in public.  I'm no prude but seriously somethings are just left unsaid or said in private to your doctor.  It was just too much - with talk of "Mooncup Misadventures" having everyone cringing in their seats!!

At one point I turned to Kasey and said "Please tell me she said she will be discussing topics not Tampax after the break"!!  Kasey groaned and said "I don't know".......   Yes it was that type of talk.

Also what is with the salty language peppered with the F Word.  Unnecessary in my opinion and purely thrown in for shock value.

And so after attending this event I have to wonder am I feminist or am I just a STRONG WOMAN?  
I also have to wonder is Caitlin Moran a feminist or just beginning to turn in to a creepy lady - like that inappropriate aunt that you meet at family events?

Key West eats!

Santiago's Bodega in the Bahama Village - my favourite Key West restaurant.

Flaming Buoy on Packer Street

Kelly's on Whitehead Street (Home of Pan Am)

Alonzo's on Front Street

Key West Oddities

Outside the Green Parrot Bar in Key West we found their little free library.  You can take a book and leave a book.  This was a really sweet little collection of books in a very charming little housing unit.  Make sure to visit it if you are in Key West!

On Caroline Street we met this man and his bird.  He even let the bird perch on my shoulder!

In the East Martello tower I met Robert the Doll.  He didn't seem so evil in the flesh!

But I did ask his permission to take this selfie and I thanked him after!!!

And the best Key West oddity of all is the airport beach bar where you can stick your feet in the sand and enjoy your last drink in KW before you board your flight.

You can also sit on this giant chair and look like you lost a pile of weight while on holidays!

Chickens and Roosters are EVERYWHERE in Key West.  This boldie hopped off a police car roof on to this car.

Next to the house we were staying in was a vacant lot.  There was a family of iguanas living in one of the trees.  This was one of the mid-size iguanas.  Look at the strut on him!!