HannaBanana

My Best Friends Wedding?

A cunning plan. tbh, I'm too attached to it to have thrown it away. I might consider framing it!

My much beloved wooden spoon (pine) has now been so used, that the spoon-y bit is becoming transparent in the middle. I worry about the day when it makes the transformation from spoon to strainer, and is consigned to the dustbin.

I think I'd have to take issue with that comment! ← I apologize - edited! ← If you tell me "you're a roight little corker Shannon", I might forgive you! It certainly was! Top of the morning, my hat!

I think I'd have to take issue with that comment!

I think some people feel that a meal isn't a meal unless it's accompanied by spuds/chips and overcooked carrots and broccoli.......

I don't want to give up eating, it's just that every dinner conversation seems to revolve around either a: an in depth discussion and break down of each course; b: a comparison with Mint; c: A discussion about who will write it up for eGullet; or d: A combination of all the above. It'd be nice to go out for a pizza and discuss, oh, I don't know, people, places, art (!) or even Rugby!!!

Hi Balis, I totally agree with your post! The whole "food is fuel" thing perplexes me sometimes.....and restaurants rarely seem to be about the food, and more about the lining before the real drinkin' starts.. Having said that, after Throntons last Sat, I woke on Sunday morning and said to Simon, "You know what would be nice? Going to a restaurant where we DON'T talk about the food - like, have a real conversation"..... I think I've been eating out too much lately!! (Don't let Corinna overhear that! )

I think as well you have to remember that restaurants go in and out of fashion, on totally non-food related basis. Fire is booked out all the time. Diep Le Shaker beats people away from the door. Look at Roly's...These places all have heavily cultivated images which attract certain clientele. People aren't visiting for the food, or the craic, but because they believe that these are the places they should eat....Whether that's due to a celebrity owner, á lá Jean Christophe Novelli in La Stampa, Location (again, Roly's in d4) or agressive marketing campaigns telling them it's the place to be (Rhodes D7, Venu). People who know nothing about/don't care about/aren't interested in food may be led by choices which illustrate their lifestyles choices.

Is No. 50 "A diablo sandwich and a dr. pepper" from Smokey & the Bandit?

It certainly does....Spain, France, Italy, etc... I wouldn't necessarily agree with you, I there there is/are better chefs in Dublin at the moment.... Now, I certainly agree with this! There are one or two other "must visits" I'd recommend. Mint is a must, and I'd put it over either of these two. That's my two cent, anyway!

They're about what you'd expect in a 14 course taster Menu. Some are larger than others - the meat courses were fairly substantial, as was one of the desserts. Some are much smaller, eg, one king scallop, with a huge amount of truffle shavings. There are certainly no complaints to be made about portion sizes. They are. Very well balanced indeed. Very well. The sommellier is excellent. TBH, and if you see above, the restaurant used to have 2* and is now 1*. I'd expect the second star to be reclaimed next year. Prices and cooking are probably at 2* level. Problem is, (and I don't know where you're from), prices in Dublin are outrageous generally. It one of the most expensive places in not just Europe, but the world, to live at the moment - eg, a steak sandwich in the city centre in a mediocre restaurant/bar could easily cost €20 - €25....So.....

I haven't known a single one (except for the Other L.A. Story one)

A very easy one: Customer #1: "I'll have a decaf coffee." Customer #2: "I'll have a decaf espresso." Customer #3: "I'll have a double decaf cappuccino." Customer #4: "Do you have any decaffeinated ice cream?" Customer #5: "I'll have a double decaffeinated, half caf, with a twist of lemon." Customer #4: "I'll have a twist of lemon." Customer #3: "I'll have a twist of lemon." Customer #2: "I'll have a twist of lemon." Customer #1: "I'll have a twist of lemon."

I totally agree!

We don’t know exactly what you get – we never saw any of the offerings. The bar area had two people in it when we arrived, and no one in it as we left. I don’t think people know about it yet. The bar didn’t appear to fill up at all over the course of the evening…perhaps we can help him out with that!!! No, but only just not worth it. Yes, I felt it was a little expensive, and he is charging 2* prices. The dining room was full. However, it’s my fifth (?) time and he has never come around any evening I’ve been there. Now, Garrett has always been more than happy to talk to us for prolonged periods of time, but I would really like it if Kevin Thornton came over for a quick “Hi Howareya.” I preferred Mint, tbh. The cooking is, I feel, more adventurous/exciting and has a certain generosity of spirit, if that makes sense. The quality of ingredients in both places on a par – that is, fabulous. Quality of service in both also excellent. Thornton’s has the better, more comfortable, “don’t have to shift the table to go to the bathroom” room, and is probably a better overall “experience”. But I'd take Mint. (If you're offering! )

And now, to add my two cent: He also remember what type of water we liked! Stylish. Apparantly, they are still working on the lighting. The theme of the colour scheme seems to be coffee/chocolate and caramel. The curtains are a bit....neon - might just be the light. One word for the artwork - it's fab....Really well chosen. I was more than slightly underwhelmed. The prawns I could have eaten without thinking/noticing at all. There was nothing remarkable about them. In fact, there was nothing noteworthy about them at all, IMHO. The cabbage in the terrible was some of the cabbagey-est ever and was excellent. The bacon was a bit....humdrum. I didn't think it balanced with the rest of the terrine. More bacon, methinks! (Or maybe I'm just a rabid carnivore) Absolutely. I'm a service freak - I'm hyper sensitive about it and poor/mediocre service is nearly reason enough for me to boycott a place. Service in Thorntons was great - seamless, friendly, well informed and enthusiastic. All in all, a great experience, and the best meal I've had in Thorntons ever. I must mention again the Sorbet. It was nettle and thyme sorbet with Bombay Sappire Gin. It took two months to decide on the best liquid to complement the nettle and thyme - all forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were tried. The chosen combination is......perfection itself.

I was lucky enough to eat in El Bulli last year (Brilliant). The following night, I ate in Roses, at a restaurant I won't mention and had (amongst other dishes), Clams. One of our party felt they weren't at their finest, and refrained. The rest of us tucked in.... Woke at 1am to the fiercest dose of tummy-ness ever. After a sleepless night, there then followed a three-hour drive to Barcelona. Followed by a three-hour flight. Followed by the hour drive home. Followed by the surprise birthday for my boyfriend. Some of the longest hours of my life. I shudder to recall the experience.... ...Anyhow, back to OP. You'll have a job proving it, particularly given the prevalence of tummy bugs at the moment. Here in Ireland, medical community and the media alike have dubbed it, the self explanatory "winter vomiting bug".

That's me on St. Patricks day in Chicago in 2006. The delectable leprechaun hat belongs to Simon who clearly has a much bigger head than me.....physically AND metaphorically!

Omigod! I'm starting to get embarassed....

Incredible! Only last night was I scolded for tarnishing my cookbooks by my boyfriend, and asked why I didn't take better care of them. My favourite cookbooks are like my favourite jeans - sure they're a little worn, maybe they're a little stained, but each spot, and every tear means something to me! Or maybe I'm just a bit messy....Great thread!

"Jamie's Chef, made by Oliver's own production company Fresh One" ... To misquote AA Gill: Mr Oliver's is a difficult man to hate but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. ← Ahhhh. And there I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Subtitle the Irish? Way to alienate a market....

Still, I guess it's not Jamies' fault, but the producers'..... Perhaps I should consider getting a translator for eGullet, to ensure all all the non-Irish here can fully understand me. Craic = fun. Not your bottom. Or drugs Pegging = Running. Not throwing clothes pegs at people. Bailing = opting out of a difficult decision/situation. Not the action undertaken in a sinking boat.

You're kidding me!! Glad I missed it so...Was it supposed to be funny, or was it just impossible to hear her over the sounds of the fiddles and leprechauns? God, I'm so Jamie-d out.

Food and Price Point? Sure, you know money's no object! Nah, never got round to asking - It was more of a discussion about restaurants in Dublin in general.