Every once and a while it’s nice to have a splurge and armed with some vouchers gifted by very sweet former coworkers the Muddlers club was the chosen venue.
The restaurant has a Michelin star and is hidden in a quiet side in the city’s Cathedral Quarter, and is named after a secret society of United Irishmen dedicated to overthrowing British rule who used to meet on the site 200 years ago.
As expected the Muddlers club is not cheap. When trying to book for lunch the only option we could choose was for the tasting menu at £95 per head (which I thought was quite cheeky) plus an additional £70 if you wanted to par wines with each course. We decided against this, but the cheapest bottle of wine is still over £50, lunch can turn into quite an expensive affair.
The food and service however were both excellent.
Like most tasting menus portions are tiny but extremely rich and unfortunately I didn’t take photos of each of the 6 courss. The trio of amuse bouches were probably the best I’ve ever tasted and nothing disappointed.
Who knew that my wee corner of the world had our very own witch trials back in 1711 in Islandmagee, Co, Antrim which echoed the Salem trials.
Attending another fantastic Wild Women of Woods NI event we were treated to the tale of supernatural occurrences, with gender and class politics all coming into the mix, all brilliantly brought to life by Vicky, a local storyteller at the Witch’s Rock. If you ever want to see it for yourself, its a short hike along the coast from Brown’s Bay.
There’s also a good book by Andrew Sneddon on the subject if you’re interested in finding out more.
We then decamped a few miles to Portmuck, for a swim in the sea and have a BBQ. I know the name isn’t particularly inviting, but it’s a very pretty little bay where kids jump of the dock, paddle boarders can practice in the sheltered bay and its safe to swim.
It’s also the first time I’ve ever came across “The Wee Sauna” a super cute mobile sauna that’s perfect to pop into after a dip in the sea. It’s there most weekends (season and weather permitting) and can also be hired for private events.
Another visit to a gorgeous spot with some great women, and always very well fed with delicious food. If you’re interested in attending a Wild Women event you can find them on Facebook
I had never heard of this stunningly beautiful place before, but had been telling a couple of friends about Wild Women of Woods for ages, and when this event came up we decided to go for it.
Dunseverick is about 90 minutes from Belfast. Close to the Giant’s Causeway and the Dark Hedges (famous location from Game of Thrones).
Wild Women events are always great fun, and this was a one day event (ideal for us “Mild Women” who aren’t up for the longer camping events just yet). But if camping is your thing and you feel better/safer doing it with a group of like minded, friendly women I guarantee you’ll have great craic.
If you’re visiting Dunseverick, you’ll need to navigate a narrow windy road to get to the Harbour. Once there you’ll find a decent sized car park, bathrooms and even a cute little shack were you can buy hot drinks and snacks and take in the views.
Being wild women, we hiked along the shoreline, and were treated to more breathtaking scenery than you could shake a big stick at. The hike was fairly physical with lots of stiles to climb over, this was fine but might be worth remembering if you have bad knees etc.
After trekking back, the group decided to go for a dip in the deeper sheltered rock pools (I’ve gotten quite into sea swiming recently, and even if you just prefer to go for a dip its meant to be great for boosting your immune system).
All dried off and snuggled up in oodies (best invention ever). Rachel who runs Wild Women of the Woods NI and her fantastic volunteers treated us to a super tasty barbecue. Which was no easy task to feed over 40 ravenous ladies, on an uncharacteristically sunny almost tropical Summer evening. Afterwards everyone just rested, hung out, chatted, laughed and got to know people, some of us just enjoyed soaking up beautiful surroundings that we would have never thought to visit before.
If you’ve seen Wild Women events before but were maybe a bit unsure about trying one, I promise you’ll see gorgeous places, enjoy fabulous food and meet lots of really lovely people.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog you’ll know I love mushrooms of any type.
I had the chance to attend one of Hearty Growers mushroom events and for nerdie foodies like me it was perfect (and even normal people too). https://www.heartygrowers.com
Hearty Growers is based in the Banana Block in East Belfast. If you haven’t been there before it’s well worth a visit. It has great cafes, and local traders selling everything from tropical plants, vintage records, a micro brewery and runs events like comedy nights, monthly artisans market and pop up food events.
Hearty Growers have been running their workshops for the last 12 weeks and have had great interest. Terry, the owner is really passionate and interesting in explaining how an interest in funghi and their place in the ecosystem developed from a hobby during lock down into a thriving business.
I was really lucky to be in with a lovely group who were also very interesting. Other guests included people who were involved in product development, traditional Chinese medicine, a pharmacist, and people like myself who just love food.
Mushrooms/funghi are fascinating and really underrated, both for their medicinal qualities, and performance enhancing properties, as well as being yummy. Terry and his staff were great, letting us taste samples of different teas (which I promise don’t taste weired or mushroomy, but have great health properties). We also tried mushroom jerky, mushroom beer, mushroom chocolate etc, as well as locally made pies.
Mushrooms are grown on site and it was interesting to learn what the process is, and how they’re trying to get involved in circular farming. Hearty Growers sell a range of products, they produce themselves, and I had to stop myself buying more than I could carry. I left with shitake mushroom powder (which smells amazing and I know is going to be brilliant in stocks), a grow your own oyster mushroom kit, and a lion’s mane mushroom kit on order. They will also be launching a subscription service soon, so if you have a foodie in your life the kits and other products are brilliant gift ideas.
I had been trying to arrange a meet up with a friend for ages and she invited me to a forest bathing event in Montalto estate about 30-40 minutes outside Belfast.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was assured there would be no naked running through woodlands beating each other with birch twigs (I have to say I was a little disappointed by this, but went anyway).
Forest bathing is based on the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku. This a mindfulness practice, were you immerse yourself in nature. Exercises can include lying down the forest and allowing all your senses to take in what is going on around you. Other exercises can help you connect with others, while some are completed in silence to help you be present in the moment and contemplate your surroundings. We were led in this by the brilliant Gillian Calhoun, gillian@kindlings.green, who made the entire experience accessible for everyone including people in our group who admitted they had previously found it difficult to switch off and rest. I finished the morning feeling a tremendous sense of peace, and one my favourite things I took away from it is that rest is a verb, sometimes our minds and our bodies need to be allowed to rest and rest is an activity in itself.
I had driven past the Montalto estate many times before and but never visited. The original demesne dates back to the 1600s. Patrick McCartan one of the earliest owners had his lands confiscated due his involvement in the 1641 rebellion by the United Irishmen against the crown forces. The site was eventually passed down to the Earl of Moira in 1765 who built the grand mansion house and who’s grandson developed the impressive gardens.
Today the estate is privately owned by the Wilson family and the mansion house as well as other buildings can be rented out as wedding and events venues. Entrance to the grounds (not the house) is £7.50 for adults, but annual membership is £37.50. The estate also has a café, serving delicious lunches, pastries or even afternoon tea if you feel like really treating yourself.
The estate has beautiful paths and walks with a small lake, mature trees and some really interesting and exotic planting and was the perfect location for our forest bathing as we could take in different elements the estate had to offer. They also run events like kids bush craft, floristry and gardening events and yoga.
Go get out into some nature, and then just chill out and let it all wash over you. We’re all in too much of a hurry these days to appreciate the little miracles we are surrounded by. Your physical health will improve, and your mental health will benefit, so get your lazy arse of the sofa and go commune with nature.
Who doesn’t love sometime away with your besties. It was one of my oldest friend’s birthday, so we decided to get out of the city and treat ourselves.
About a 30 minute drive from Belfast, we stayed at Dolly’s Farm, just outside the village of Seafordepq. The farm has beautifully converted old farm buildings into luxurious self catering accommodation. The Hay Loft sleeps up to four and the Farm House sleeps up to seven people.
Both have their own wood fired hot tubs and sitting relaxing looking over gorgeous lush farmland listening to the cows moo was heaven.
William, the owner was great and arrived with snacks just after we arrived and the package we booked also included a fantastic 3 course dinner from a French’s restaurant in Clough that evening. We also had breakfast delivered to us the next morning including hot croissants, breads and fresh fruit and juice. If you want to get away from it all and not have to worry about a thing this the break for you.
The next day we drove about another 20 minutes to the seaside town of Newcastle at the foot of the Mourne mountains. Tollymore Forest Park can be accessed here to and if you haven’t visited before, you’ll be a convert.
We decided to treat ourselves to a little bit of self care at Soak. They specialise in seaweed baths but also offer beauty treatments and self-catering accommodation.
The ritual for the baths starts with a good 10 minute steam to open your pores. You can opt for the original Victoria steam boxes, or other rooms have more modern steam rooms. You can choose to have rooms with 2 baths (popular with couples) or single rooms.
Victorian Steam Box
After steaming, you step into an original Victorian roll top bath with local seaweed and soak for around 40 minutes. If you haven’t done it before, lying down in a bath full of seaweed might feel a bit strange at first, but you’ll soon realise it actually feels great. The seaweed has all manner of health benefits and helps detox your skin and leaves it incredibly soft.
The seaweed baths are one of my guilt free pleasures. A great way to just bliss out, the staff even let you pick an album you want to listen too and pipe the music into your room.
I love getting out in nature at this time of year and a bit of foraging. An old friend suggested us doing the Wild Women of the Woods NI day retreat and I loved it.
The Wild Women are a brilliant social enterprise, who’s aim is to encourage women to get out and enjoy nature, but just as important is the social element. Women attending their events come from all walks of life with ages ranges from early 20’s to early 70’s.
They offer day retreats and camping experiences, (and can even lend some camping equipment if you don’t have it). Other events will be held at locations where bedrooms are available) I had a particularly busy and frenetic couple of weeks with work, and this day retreat was the perfect antidote.
Outdoor yoga was fantastic
The event I attended was held at the Red Barn Log Cabin at the foot of Belfast’s Cave Hill Forest Park. (It’s also a available to rent on AirB&B, and is gorgeous). The day was facilitated by the very lovely Rachel and Cathy, who will feed you to within an inch of your life.
When we arrived we were welcomed with coffee and homemade banana bread, and had a chance to meet and chat with the other woman taking part around the cabin’s fire pit. Cathy from Sunflower Massage and Yoga then led us in a really relaxing gentle yoga session before we were fed once again with homemade muffins and mushroom tea (it didn’t taste of mushrooms and was packed with antioxidants).
Mushroom tea with honey and lemon
We then walked up through the Cave Hill led by one of the rangers, Cormac. He was great at showing edible plants and describing the history of the area and was loads of fun.
Cormac, dropping knowledge
When we returned to the cabin, Rachel had made dough and we all fashioned our own flat breads and cooked them over an open fire (to much hilarity, turns out cooking with fire isn’t as easy as it looks). After our flatbreads were ready we enjoyed them with nettle soup, followed by chick pea and butternut squash stew. Dessert was fantastic, we toasted marshmallows and made s’mores, had bananas with chocolate wrapped in foil and cooked on the fire and then pineapple grilled and served with coconut yogurt.
Cooking flat breads over the fire
Did I mention the prosecco and homemade elderflower cordial too?
These women really know how to throw a retreat. After trekking around the Cave Hill you’ll be starving, and Rachel and Cathy really looked after us. The other women were great craic and groups are small enough that you don’t feel lost in a crowd and you get a chance to actually get to know each other.
Nettle soup with creme fraich and tabasco
Some women came with friends and others came on their own. The Wild Women is a great way to meet new people and by the end of the day phone numbers were being exchanged and people were following each other on social media etc. Some of the group had recently moved to Belfast and others liked getting out into nature but none of their existing friends were into it, and the Wild Women provides a chance to do this.
Chickpea and butternut squash stew with feta
I don’t know if I’m ready for a night under canvas just yet, but it was one of the most enjoyable days I’ve spent in a long time. Check out Wlid Women of the Woods NI on Facebook to to learn more about what they do and future events.
Well the pandemic wasn’t a big pile of craic was it?
Now that things have hopefully calmed down a bit, the supper club is back.
If you haven’t been to one before, we have a max of 8-9 diners and past guests have been a mix of couples, friends catching up on “mate dates” and solo diners who love food but who’s friends just aren’t into eating out. It’s all very laid back and a chance to have dinner people from different walks of life while enjoying some great food (After lock down aren’t you fed up looking at the same people) .
Previous Supper Club
You’ll be greeted with a welcome drink (people are welcome to bring their own beer or wine, with no corkage), and then everyone eats the same 3 courses (we’re happy to cater for vegans/vegetarians, just let us know in advance).
The theme of the supper club scheduled just as lock down hit was decided by a vote. So, I’m putting it to the vote again (in case our taste buds have changed over lockdown). I’m sticking with French Vs Italian.
So check out the menus and vote for your favourite, and we’ll maybe see you at the next supper club.
Main – Chicken Marsala, chicken thighs cooked in a creamy mushroom and Marsala sauce, (vegetarian option-Aubergine Parmesan), Italian Salad, Homemade Italian Bread
The very lovely Debbie from D Rum Pot (check out her delicious Caribbean food on Facebook) dropped off some amazing treats with a Trinidadian flare. Debbie also runs a great Caribbean supper club, and like me can’t wait for restrictions to lift to get back to it.
Yummy spiced sweetbread, rum punch, homemade raspberry sauce, and Caribbean sweets. The diet can start tomorrow!
If you’ve followed this blog you’ll know I’m a bit of a foraging nerd. I was really lucky to go on an amazing herb walk with 2 fantastic and highly qualified herbalists (Sarah and Luke) down at Helen’s Bay Organic farm.
The weather was bracing to say the least, but Luke and Sarah were so passionate about their subject that you almost didn’t mind the rain showers and wind.
In my part of the world we’re fortunate to have a brilliant variety of wild plants that are delicious and amazingly good for you. To make things even better, they’re free!
Rose hips
When picking wild food it’s advisable to not pick from roadsides (because of all pollution from passing cars). If you’re picking herbs at low level it’s also worth remembering that dogs might have pee’d on them (so give them a quick wash if you’re not sure).
Rose hips from wild roses
The first wild food we were shown were rosehips, the seedpods of wild roses. It’s not advisable to eat the whole thing as the seeds are an irritant. They make a tasty syrup packed full of vitamin C. In fact only 3 rose hips, has the same amount of vitamin C as a large orange.
Raw dandelion roots produce latex that can be used to treat warts
Dandelions are seen as a scourge by most gardeners’ but has a range of uses. The young leaves can used in salads, the roots make a decent coffee substitute, and it makes a very good diuretic, that removes sodium but not potassium from your body.
Chick weed
Chick weed (so called because chickens go mad for it) is good in salads and tastes quite like spinach and packed full of vitamins. This herb is also great for your skin and can be used in baths as a little treat for your skin
Speed well
Speed well was apparently used as far back as ancient Greece, and helps with muscle injuries and fatigue.
Red Dead Nettle
Red dead nettle (even though the flowers are pink) is a member of the mint family. A powerful anti spasmodic, it’s useful in the treatment of IBS and period cramps.
Shepherd’s Purse
Shepherd’s Purse, can be used to reduce inflammation and can help treat heavy periods and intestinal issues.
Stinging Nettles
Stinging nettles are a pain if you brush up against them, but are an almost perfect super food. Packed with vitamins, minerals and trace elements the young leaves can be picked all year round and eaten in soups and stews. Medicinally they are high in iron, and has proved effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and kidney problems.
Dock Leaf
As a kid I was always told if I was stung by nettles to rub my skin with a dock leaf, which proved to be absolutely no use. But it turns out there was something in the old wive’s tale that obviously got jumbled over time. If you ignore the big leaves and look towards the root there are little new almost spiky leaves. If you pick these leaves they release a gel similar to aloe vera, which as it turns out can sooth skin irritation. The roots can also be dried and used to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Plantain
My favourite herb of the day was plantain, which tastes a little bit like dried mushroom, but in a good way. This was traditionally made into a poultice to help wounds heal more quickly. If drunk as a tea about 20 minutes before taking certain antibiotics it can boost their effectivness by 3-4 times.
Ivy
Ivy is also seen as a pest by most gardeners’ but can also be used to make a tea. The tea helps treat lung problems like hooping cough and bronchitis.
Just part of our yummy lunch
We were also treated to a tasty lunch of home made nettle soup and nibbles. Sarah and Luke run these walks several time a year based on the seasons. I’m not including a quarter of the fascinating stuff they told us. If you like to geek out a little bit about foraging, this is the experience for you. I would definitely recommend it.
Seaneen's Sunnyside Kitchen 