Cookies & Shortbread from Dublin and Scotland

Shortbread cookies from Edinburgh

The brand at the top is Campbells (which I haven't seen in Canada) and the brand below is Walkers (which I see in Canada - but I thought I'd try in Scotland to see if there's a difference). 

Both were good shortbread cookies - but they weren't exceptional (and I was hoping to find some amazing shortbread in Scotland). 

Another amazing find from Marks and Spencer in Dublin

I love pistachio and almond - so these are like my dream cookies. The only downside was that these were hard cookies rather than soft cookies. Otherwise, these cookies were delicious! 

Garden Terrace & Butlers Chocolate Cafe - Dublin Airport

Farewell Dublin!

Full Irish Breakfast

I bought this to compare it between the Scottish breakfasts I had before to the Irish Breakfast. 

I have to say, I liked the Scottish breakfast much better with haggis - the Irish breakfast had black pudding (ew) and beans (also not a fan). However, it usually comes with soda bread (and I love soda bread) - the version at the Garden Terrace didn't have soda bread. Otherwise it was okay. 

 

Hot chocolate and a chocolate! Yummy!

Marks and Spencer - Dublin

I have great memories of Marks and Spencer and I was pretty excited when I saw that they had a prepared food section in Dublin - so I went and bought a few items. 

Broccoli and Cheese Bake

I had high expectations for this and unfortunately it failed. The bake was more gooey than I expected. 

Mixed Game Casserole

Very interesting - I'm not too sure how I felt about it. 

Macaroni and Cheese

Grilled Chicken

Vegetable Kievs

Surprisingly of all the items we bought, I really liked this one the best. I would definitely recommend this. 

Website: https://www.marksandspencer.com/

Skinflint - Dublin

Update: Skinflint has closed. 

Dublin at Night

Irish Bar with Irish Music! :) (not where I had dinner though)

Skinflint had a really cool kind of hip vibe and it was really busy. 

Top pizza: Suzi+ with harissa, chorizo, pink peppercorns and cheese

Bottom pizza: Lucy with rocket (arugula), onions and cheese

The pizza was on this amazing crispy thin crust flatbread and it was really yummy. 

Edelwise - Dublin

After exploring the Dublin Christmas Market, my friend and I went for dinner at a Swiss Fondue place. 

So Festive!

Edelwise was nicely decorated - it's a small intimate restaurant. 

Amuse Bouche of Bruschetta

Cheese Fondue!

The seven Swiss cheese Fondue, (Gruyère AOP Corsé, Gruyère AOP Primeur, Vacherin Frib. AOP Classic, Vacherin Frib. AOP Extra,  Appenzeller Classic, Appenzeller Surchoix, Toggenburger Rustico) served with fresh bread. 

Bread, pearl onions, pickles and meat platter. 

The cheese fondue was delicious - it was a great mixture of melted cheese and every bite was really yummy!

Website: http://www.swiss-edelwise.com/

Queen of Tarts (Temple Bar) - Dublin

Exploring Dublin!

Cows Lane has some really cute shops and I couldn't resist stopping into Queen of Tarts for some tasty desserts!

Tea and a slice of Carrot Cake and Victorian Sponge Cake

They're known for their Victorian Sponge cake and I could totally see why when I took a bite - the cake is airy, fluffy and not too sweet and it is really nice with fresh berries and cream. I also really like the carrot cake - the best part was that there were no raisins! It was so decadent and delicious and serving it with tea in the cute tea cups and teapot made the experience so indulgent. Yummy! 

Website: http://www.queenoftarts.ie/

Metro Cafe - Dublin

On the search for an authentic Dubliner breakfast...

 

Breakfast Buttie

Sausage, egg, bacon in a Waterford Blaa (an Irish floury crust white bread) with Ballymaloe relish (Irish tomato relish). The whole thing was really good! The doughy bread and tangy flavourful relish were really good together with the fried egg, bacon and sausage. Delish!

Website: http://www.metrocafe.ie/menu/

Las Tapas de Lola - Dublin

Las Tapas de Lola came recommended by a foodie! 

 

Albondigas (meatballs)

They didn't look very meatball like, but they tasted very meaty. 

Patatas brava and Croquetas de jamon

Potatoes and ham croquettes

Super yummy! It was a lot of really delicious potato done in different ways. 

Pulpa a la gallega

Octopus, paprika and potatoes

An interesting combination; as much as I like paprika, I'm not sure the paprika saved this dish. 

Mussels with marinara sauce

Yummy! 

Website: http://lastapasdelola.com/

Guinness Storehouse - Dublin

Starting Dublin off right with tour of the Guinness Storehouse.

It's all brewed here!

Free pint of Guinness at the end of the tour (and it's delicious!)

Guinness in Dublin tastes a lot different than the Guinness I've tried in Canada. However, our tour did mention that Guinness is all created the same in Dublin. It might be due to the time to import it to North America.

You definitely have to check it out here!

Website: https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en

Old Storehouse - Dublin

So pretty!

 

 

We came for the Chowder!

West of Ireland Seafood Chowder

So delicious! There was so much seafood in this chowder and it was really flavourful and hearty. 

Website: https://theoldstorehouse.ie/