Emma-Louise Johnston decides against a trip to the slopes this year and indulges in a different sweet easter treat.
Easter seems to be upon us so quickly this year - I know it is an important time in the Christian calendar, so I don’t mean to sound flippant but I always remember as a kid getting a new dress or new outfit for Easter Sunday, so not to break with tradition, I’ve opted for a fabulous pair of Anita Flavin shoes. Anita, who’s based in Garvagh has attracted a huge amount of interest recently and will be a popular guest during Belfast Fashion Week.
Normally, I’d be forking out for ski-wear this time of year but alas, no - not after a traumatic time in Courcheval 1850 last year. Steep icy slope, end of the day and not being as experienced or as skilled as my friends thought, I ended up with tears, snot and a very wet behind, from having to take my skis off and go down on my butt. The humiliation, not to mention being gripped by total and utter fear, was enough to put me off ‘going on the piste’ this year. My husband however, will be grabbing his board and hitting the slopes in Switzerland. He is sickeningly good at snowboarding and makes it look completely effortless. I know I should be proud and yet I feel jealous and slightly bitter and twisted when I watch him jump and twist and skim at high speeds down the mountains, laughing all the while, while I on the other hand, am struggling with my stupid skis and poles, eyes streaming, nose too, with a grimace more than a grin. Even though it’s my choice, not going skiing rather enrages me - I don’t like being one of those women who can’t do things. I’m normally pretty capable. I can bleed a boiler, change a tyre and re-wire a plug! Anyway, to counteract these feelings of utter uselessness, I am going on a bit of a literary tour round Ireland with some acclaimed American women writers - friends of my relatives out there. Maybe I’ll just pretend to be the brain in our house and he can be the brawn!
Speaking of houses, we’re currently building a house in the country. It’s the whole rage in England at the moment, I’ve been informed. An exciting and overwhelming task. So far my input has been limited. “What slates do we want?” “Dunno”, “What fascia and soffetts do we want?”, “Don't care”, “Where do we want our U.S.B. ports?”, “I’m hungry”. I hate to bring those age-old, outdated ‘difference of the sexes’ arguments out, but if you ask most men, “should I wear sheer tights or opaque, kitten heel or block boots, shoes or shoe-boots?” Most are not going to have a clue and will be totally uninterested. Naturally, I am interested in our house. I just don’t think I can contribute in a useful fashion at this stage. Now, when it gets to the interior, I will be in my element. Gosh that will be fun. In fact ‘Gosh’ Belfast is where I’ve spent a lot of time recently, sorting out our ‘tunnel’ fire for the house. I don’t like to boast…ok, maybe just a little, but these fires make you feel like you’re on the set of a James Bond movie - very cool…well, hot actually!
I don’t often treat myself to massages or spa breaks unless I’m on holiday but when I heard that holistic therapist Elizabeth Murray, formerly of Framar on the Ormeau Road, had set up on her own, I wanted to check her out. I’d never had an Indian head massage before, but I’d been experiencing a few stress headaches, possibly from my short lived detox plan and thought this might help. It is absolutely brilliant - a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable treat and all for the price of a couple of large Easter eggs!
In another effort to slow down the wheels of time in our ‘youth obsessed’ culture, I invested in my first ever expensive eye-cream! I know that healthy diet, exercise, not smoking and staying out of the sun, all help towards reducing the formation of lines round the eyes and those rotten black circles, but as a chronic insomniac, sometimes I need a bit of extra help. I was getting my spray-tan done with the lovely Claire McIntyre in Stranmillis and asked her advice. She recommended Carita, an effective, if fairly expensive line of Parisian beauty products. I invested in their ‘perle de jeunesse yeux’ firming micro-gel and have received quite a few compliments since using it.
Cinemagic’s mega success here, has led Chief Executive Joan Burney-Keating to launch the award winning charity down South. An organisation, with M/S Burney’s contacts, that educates and inspires young people will surely be equally successful in Dublin.
Congrats to Paddy Kielty on his nomination for best Solo Performer in the What’s On Stage West End theatre awards. He had a triumphant return to the Grand Opera House and was brilliant in Marie Jones’ smash hit comedy, A Night in November. That woman is a national treasure!
Monday, 11 February 2008
It's All In The Game
Andrea McVeigh finds some of her favourite food in Hillsborough
While driving along the motorway towards Hillsborough one cold, dark Tuesday night in January, I was beginning to have reservations about our reservation at Bar Retro Bistro.
"You realise that we'll probably be the only people there?" I said to my husband Patric. "Who's going to be going for a meal in the middle of nowhere on a night like this?"
Happily I was wrong on both counts - Hillsborough is probably one of the prettiest towns in Ulster, even on a winter's night and, given that it's only twenty minutes from Belfast, it's certainly not the middle of nowhere!
We got a warm welcome, both from the staff and from the cosiness of the surroundings when we arrived at The Bistro, which is accessed by stairs at the back of the Plough Inn, located on the town's main square.
There were plenty of diners already tucking in just after 7pm, and we were shown to a table for two in the middle of the large L-shaped dining room.
Sitting by the window, I looked out over the magnificent Georgian terraces and dreamed of the day when I could afford to buy one and pop over to Bar Retro and eat good food every night for the rest of my life - oh well, back to reality, I suppose!
The decor is a clever blend of traditional and ultra modern, with wooden panelling complemented by some particularly space-age-looking lighting and there is a nice mix of open tables and more private dining booths in the room.
It wasn't long before the restaurant was almost at capacity, with a real mix of customers ranging from the obviously well-heeled locals of all ages to glamorous young couples and several 'girly' groups.
The menus appeared and our drinks order was taken almost immediately and to say I was pleasantly surprised by the food selection would be something of an under-statement.
'Pheasantly' surprised would be more appropriate, as my favourite food at the moment is game, which, apart from the obligatory duck and occasional venison dishes, I find is something of a rarity on many menus nowadays.
I was actually spoilt for choice for a starter, with Tempura of Tayto Castle Pheasant, a Three-way Game Skewer or Japanese Marinated Venison all featured as first course options.
I eventually selected the skewer, which turned out to be a grilled kebab of pigeon, partridge and duck meat, served with an oriental chilli dip.
Delicious, of course, and my husband had a less-exotic, but no less appetising, dish of melted brie on a slice of lightly toasted bread, served with roasted beetroot and a salad of rocket, walnut and sunflower seeds.
Another dilemma with the main course selection awaited - in addition to the many game dishes, there were plenty of delicious-sounding steaks, fish dishes and vegetarian options, such as Thai Veggie Curry, Spanish Omelette and Tempura of Vegetables.
I almost chose the Fresh Fish Parcel, salmon and sea bream with Asian-style veg and steamed coconut rice, but no - it was either going to be the Venison Cutlet, Larchfield Pheasant or the house special, Chinese Red Duck.
Finally, the decision was made - I had the pheasant, which was plump and very tasty and came served with tender root vegetables and a delicious jus made from cranberry and redcurrants, and my glass of Merlot proved to be an ideal accompaniment to it.
Luckily, my other half chose the duck, which he pronounced to be amongst the best he had eaten for quite some time and I, after having several mouthfuls, was in full agreement.
Two succulent legs were served on a bed of noodles and he reckoned the skin, which he usually discards as it can be flabby and fatty, was divine - crispy and flavoured with honey, ginger and mandarin syrup.
The portions were such that the side order of garlic fries remained almost untouched and the selection of breads, which I always insist on in case I still feel like a nibble after my plate has been cleared, were certainly not required, although the tapanade dip which accompanied them was superb.
There was a short break in proceedings while the dessert menu was produced - true to form, I could barely even look at it but hubby was eager to fill his stomach to the brim.
He's not a fan of chocolate puddings, of which there were several to choose from, but a Trio Of Asian Brulees - mango and ginger, passion fruit and lychee and pear and cardamom and a Warm, Forced-Rhubarb Crumble emerged as front runners.
He decided that something warm was required to set him up for the homeward journey and the crumble, served with a sweet dollop of custard was just the ticket.
THE LOWDOWN
Our meal, with soft drinks and a glass of wine, came to £59.90
FACT FILE
Bar Retro at The Plough Inn
3 The Square
Hillsborough
Co. Down
028 9268 0939
Website: www.barretro.com
RATING
4 out of 5
While driving along the motorway towards Hillsborough one cold, dark Tuesday night in January, I was beginning to have reservations about our reservation at Bar Retro Bistro.
"You realise that we'll probably be the only people there?" I said to my husband Patric. "Who's going to be going for a meal in the middle of nowhere on a night like this?"
Happily I was wrong on both counts - Hillsborough is probably one of the prettiest towns in Ulster, even on a winter's night and, given that it's only twenty minutes from Belfast, it's certainly not the middle of nowhere!
We got a warm welcome, both from the staff and from the cosiness of the surroundings when we arrived at The Bistro, which is accessed by stairs at the back of the Plough Inn, located on the town's main square.
There were plenty of diners already tucking in just after 7pm, and we were shown to a table for two in the middle of the large L-shaped dining room.
Sitting by the window, I looked out over the magnificent Georgian terraces and dreamed of the day when I could afford to buy one and pop over to Bar Retro and eat good food every night for the rest of my life - oh well, back to reality, I suppose!
The decor is a clever blend of traditional and ultra modern, with wooden panelling complemented by some particularly space-age-looking lighting and there is a nice mix of open tables and more private dining booths in the room.
It wasn't long before the restaurant was almost at capacity, with a real mix of customers ranging from the obviously well-heeled locals of all ages to glamorous young couples and several 'girly' groups.
The menus appeared and our drinks order was taken almost immediately and to say I was pleasantly surprised by the food selection would be something of an under-statement.
'Pheasantly' surprised would be more appropriate, as my favourite food at the moment is game, which, apart from the obligatory duck and occasional venison dishes, I find is something of a rarity on many menus nowadays.
I was actually spoilt for choice for a starter, with Tempura of Tayto Castle Pheasant, a Three-way Game Skewer or Japanese Marinated Venison all featured as first course options.
I eventually selected the skewer, which turned out to be a grilled kebab of pigeon, partridge and duck meat, served with an oriental chilli dip.
Delicious, of course, and my husband had a less-exotic, but no less appetising, dish of melted brie on a slice of lightly toasted bread, served with roasted beetroot and a salad of rocket, walnut and sunflower seeds.
Another dilemma with the main course selection awaited - in addition to the many game dishes, there were plenty of delicious-sounding steaks, fish dishes and vegetarian options, such as Thai Veggie Curry, Spanish Omelette and Tempura of Vegetables.
I almost chose the Fresh Fish Parcel, salmon and sea bream with Asian-style veg and steamed coconut rice, but no - it was either going to be the Venison Cutlet, Larchfield Pheasant or the house special, Chinese Red Duck.
Finally, the decision was made - I had the pheasant, which was plump and very tasty and came served with tender root vegetables and a delicious jus made from cranberry and redcurrants, and my glass of Merlot proved to be an ideal accompaniment to it.
Luckily, my other half chose the duck, which he pronounced to be amongst the best he had eaten for quite some time and I, after having several mouthfuls, was in full agreement.
Two succulent legs were served on a bed of noodles and he reckoned the skin, which he usually discards as it can be flabby and fatty, was divine - crispy and flavoured with honey, ginger and mandarin syrup.
The portions were such that the side order of garlic fries remained almost untouched and the selection of breads, which I always insist on in case I still feel like a nibble after my plate has been cleared, were certainly not required, although the tapanade dip which accompanied them was superb.
There was a short break in proceedings while the dessert menu was produced - true to form, I could barely even look at it but hubby was eager to fill his stomach to the brim.
He's not a fan of chocolate puddings, of which there were several to choose from, but a Trio Of Asian Brulees - mango and ginger, passion fruit and lychee and pear and cardamom and a Warm, Forced-Rhubarb Crumble emerged as front runners.
He decided that something warm was required to set him up for the homeward journey and the crumble, served with a sweet dollop of custard was just the ticket.
THE LOWDOWN
Our meal, with soft drinks and a glass of wine, came to £59.90
FACT FILE
Bar Retro at The Plough Inn
3 The Square
Hillsborough
Co. Down
028 9268 0939
Website: www.barretro.com
RATING
4 out of 5
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