Baristas cafe, Sandyford... #brunchclub

I was up in the Beacon Hospital recently with a pal who was poorly... The Beacon is one of the nicest hospitals and honestly in reception you would think it was a luxury hotel but when your there for the not so fun stuff, and you need to get out of the building, it's nice to find a cafe to deflect any conversation of illness... So step up Barista's Cafe in Sandyford... this is just behind the Microsoft building and you could see a busy stream of various employees getting coffee and goodies but the morning we were there there were just a few sitting down... which was kinda nice because once the rush was over there was a nice lull to the place... 

All the usual suspects... 

Plenty of seating, I'm pretty sure they're very busy at lunch hours!

If you're on your own waiting there's a cute book stand with lots of variety... 

Sometimes the waiting part about hospitals is the worst bit... 

so it was perfect for me to stick around and read for a hour whilst she was busy...

Tangent: GLITTER LOO SEAT!!! I know! 

The coffee is excellent... and the juice cold... 

The tea drinkers get the cutest little pot and a top up of hot water isn't a problem... 

Herself had the small grill, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, tomato and bacon... 

I'm told it filled the hunger perfectly! 

I went for the eggs on bagels with bacon... 

all gooey like I like em... and everything was piping hot! 

If you're just passing or breakfast was over... 

they have a fab selection of teas, coffees and cakes... 

Paleo friendly cake... 

and they tempt you at the till to try a bit! 

This is a lovely little cafe in the middle of an industrial estates and lots of offices... 

Its comfy, the staff are lovely and it's a short stroll to the hospital or the luas

and if you had to wait for a service on your car it's very close to all the car garages too!

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Brunch club does 'Brunch Club' ...

So.. Brunch club.. went to... um... Brunch Club... and OH MY!

Lovin Dublin run #LovinBrunch and it was ALL the yums... Tickets were €20...

This was the second Brunch Club they have run and honestly well worth the money! 

First up.. cocktail and beer vouchers at the door! I mean I ask ya! It's like they know me!

 

 Not only was it a 6 Nations weekend

but it was Paddies Weekend and Mothers day so it was all go!

Lots of cupcakes bedecked in the tricolour on every table...

  

Once the drinks were in... it was off to the 'smorgasbord' as my mother would say...

this was NO buffet I tell ya... 

from pastries to smoked salmon and some the nicest brown bread EVER... 

to fruit and cheese for those being... ahem... 'good' 

as well as danish pastries and cinnamon swirls...

there were cream cheese and bacon mini bagels..

   

and of course there were the usuals for a fry... clonakilty pudding and sausages,

bacon, roasted baby tomatoes and mushrooms all for the pick'n'mix fans!

There was also a 'pancake station' that I never even got to see!!! 

So clearly I HAVE to go back again!

   

and if you haven't been to House on Leeson St.. make a visit.. 

and try to sit out the back at the long bar... it's a perfect spot after work for a drink... 

   

Check out Lovin Dublin online >>HERE<< about future events or just to find new haunts in town to hang out in! You'll find everything about House Dublin >> HERE << 

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Curry in a hurry!

A quick recipe as requested by some of my instagram followers after last nights 'curry in a hurry' pic ... 

I came home quite late and was STARVING... I mean 'call Bob Geldof..' kinda hungry... My bread was in the freezer because I can't be trusted with the toaster whilst I loiter in the kitchen... so after a large glass of water... I stood at the fridge and thought right... curry! 

I had plenty in the fridge to make enough for two nights, so the total Propoints of the recipe is 14PP, which I just ate without carbs on the first night cause it was too late... but you'd have to ProPoint your rice or nan breads... which is 1PP per 30g ... weigh it out! 

What in it?!

2 Chicken breasts - 8PP

2 Knorr Curry Flavour pots - 1PP

100g of Half fat Creme Fraiche - 5PP

You could also use natural yoghurt but you'll need to ProPoint individual brands... 

and the ZERO HEROS

Red Peppers

Onion

Mushrooms

Sweet Peppers

Chilli Salt

Curry Powder

Left over cherry tomatoes...


How? 

Chop the chicken, smaller the better it will cook faster, spray your pan and cook it through... do this first whilst you're chopping the veggies... 

Throw the onions in first... they take a few mins longer to soften, then add the rest... feel free to use any veggies you like... I had a few baby tomatoes left over, it bulks up it up... Now to season, I add these all pretty much one after the other and mix it all well...  first up, Simplee Chilli Sea Salt for a bit of heat... 

A tablespoon of curry powder... this is all down to personal preference... I don't like my curries too hot, so the 'Medium' version from Sharwoods is perfick for me! 

then I add a Knorr Flavour pot... these add LOADS of flavour without all the points! 

They look like this... 

To that I add 100g of Half Fat Creme Fraiche from Tesco... for the PP of other brands check  >>> HERE <<< but this one is really nice and just adds that creaminess that you want from a curry... and leave it simmer for a few minutes so all the favours infuse...

Get your bowl ready... grab a fork... divide it in two and inhale... it's all very quick once you've got your chicken cooked through...

Anyone got any twists they add? 

Enjoy x

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A funny thing happened on the way to the office...

I was sent for the coffee run and whilst standing in the queue in Starbucks I spotted the word 'Slimbo' ... 'Ooooh' says I... 'that might be a good option for lunch if I get stuck.. I wonder how many ProPoints are in that??' I mumbled ... so whilst waiting for the Mocha/latte/skinny 'NO SUGAR'/'will-you-get-me-a-bar-of-chocolate?' list to be filled... I snapped all the sandwiches that were there and pointed them back at my desk... BRACE yourselves... 

Ham & Cheese Slimbo - 7PP (SEVEN!)

It's tiny... two mouthfuls at best... well maybe my mouthfuls but still!

Smoked Salmon and Rocket Slimbo - 6PP

Ham Salad Bap - 11PP

ELEVEN and look at the size of it in my hand!!! 

Veggie Good Houmous wrap - 10PP

BBQ pulled pork tortilla - 13PP

Sweet Chilli Chicken Ciabatta - 11PP

Ham and Cheese Please - 14PP 

FOURTEEN!!!! 

Goats cheese and moroccan styled veg tasca - 12PP

Smoked cheddar and spinach tasca - 13PP

Ham sambo - 8PP

Sure as eggs is eggs - 11PP ELEVEN!!! 

I'll stop shouting now... seriously though, there are many days when I would have happily picked one up and thought 'I'm not doing much harm with a 'slimbo'!' 

One thing to note, there's no fibre posted on their packaging... I have contacted them and am waiting for a reply but till then... be careful out there!! 

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