To Do: The Fitzwilliam Hotel’s Tea Trail
This month sees the launch of The Fitzwilliam Hotel’s Tea Trail, where tea expert Richard McDermott will take enthusiasts on a tasting tour of some of Dublin’s finest tea shops where you’ll be given a lesson in our town’s most delicious tea leaves. Open to everybody, the Tea Trail also includes the indulgent Fitzwilliam Hotel Afternoon Tea (€20 per person or €25 with a tea-infused cocktail) which boasts three tiers of treats including savoury cheese puffs and truffle arancini, mandarin macaroons and chocolate covered turkish delights and, of course, scones with fresh cream.
You could even take it to the next level by booking yourself and your favourite person for an overnight stay as part of the hotel’s Tea’s Company package. This includes an overnight stay, the Tea Trail tour, Afternoon Tea and breakfast in the hotel’s Citron restaurant for €215 per person. We enjoyed a complimentary stay with them recently (for research purposes, you understand) and, take it from us, their pillows are like marshmallows. Find out full details at www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com or give them a call at 01-4787000.
To Taste: Madeleines from Kaph
We come to Kaph for their brilliantly brewed coffee but we can’t leave without one of their delicately plump madeleines. Made for Kaph by Opera Patisserie, these little beauties add a single euro to your bill but bring a whole lot more to your day. Find out more at www.kaph.ie
To Drink: Ness Juice
A pop-up shop appropriate for the New Year has appeared in the ground floor of Fumbally Exchange on Dame Lane, with Ness Juicery holding healthy court until the end of February. Offering blends, juices and shots, you can find out more about the juice evangelists (Jim and Daniel) behind Ness Drinks at www.nessdrinks.ie
To Buy: Valentine Wine from Ely Wine Bar
There have been whispers at wine tastings for the last while about the effect on a global shortage in wine production will have on the price of our plonk. A greater pressure on suppliers means that prices start to go up while quality either stays the same or starts to slip. The team at Ely Wine Bar have always been a trusted haven for wine lovers looking for value and they’ve promised to restructure their approach to keep their commitment to quality and value. So if you’re looking for a special bottle to celebrate (or commiserate) Valentine’s Day, Ely Wine Bar would be a good place to start. For more information, see www.elywinebar.com.
To Visit: The Open Door Supper Club
Aoife Coughlan’s Portobello supper club is back for another year of dinner parties with strangers and though you’ve missed out on this month’s My Bloody Valentine supper for single people, she already has a delicious year mapped out for 2014. Keep an eye on theopendoorsupperclub.blogspot.ie for the details of suppers to come.
To Read: Is Artisanal Toast the next food trend?
You would be hard pressed to find a dafter question but according to John Gravois of Pacific Standard (www.psmag.com), artisanal toast is the next big food trend to come out of San Francisco where $4 slices of toast are being served up as the next big thing. Gravois started his article to investigate the root of this potential new trend and what he discovered (apart from the fact that toast is the best) was a startling story of one woman’s strategies against her mental illness. Find the full story online at bit.ly/artisanaltoast.
Words: Aoife McElwain
