Lunch at Carrickdale Hotel in Newry

On the way to Banbridge, near Belfast, we had to stop for lunch since it was already past 12.  We stopped at the nearest hotel, which happened to be the Carrickdale Hotel.  Lunch was as follows:

This was my order: Roast Irish Sirloin Beef.  I know, it's just roast beef with a fancier name, but the side dishes were different.  There was stuffing, roast potatoes, broccoli and carrots, and of course, the mashed potatoes.  How was it different from the meal I had yesterday?  Aside from the sides, the vegetables were not very well done, which was a good thing.  The broccoli and the carrots were both crunchy.  It was the first time that I had tasted stuffing, and I have to say it was delicious.  The stuffing was made of bread crumbs and herbs, although I'm not sure what herbs it were.  

Both my brother and sister had roast lamb.  I tasted the meat, and I could say the it was quite tasty, although I know I would not be able to distinguish beef from lamb anytime soon.  I guess I would only be able to distinguish the two by texture and aftertaste.  The lamb was softer, even without gravy, and it had a very distinct aftertaste which the beef didn't have.  I should taste veal sometime for future comparisons.

Dessert!  The banoffee we shared was very good!  Unlike the ones I usually taste, the toffee was not very sweet, so you could really finish the entire slice.  The strawberry syrup was a pleasant addition.  It was not too sweet, and it mixed well with the banoffee.  The amount of cream was just enough for me, although others might find it too much.  The chocolate sprinkles on top were also of good amount.

In all, it was a hearty lunch :3

The Station House at Raheny, Dublin

We went to a nearby pub to get some Irish food today.  I was treated to a meal of Roast beef, while my mom ate some fish and dips.  Here are the pics:

What can I say?  The food was good.  The roast beef and the gravy was delicious, the meat wasn't too tough.  The gravy tasted of herbs, but it did not overpower the meat and it blended well together.  The potatoes were 2 different dishes: one was mashed and another garlic.  I preferred the garlic potatoes, but the mashed potatoes were also good.  I guess the tastiness was the deciding factor, since the mashed potatoes were a bit bland when compared to the garlic potatoes.

The only problem for me was the vegetables, which was comprised of lettuce and broccoli.  They were overcooked, and there was almost no taste left to them.  They melted in your mouth, and that was not good for vegetables, at least for me.

I had a taste of the fish with tartar sauce, and it was also good.  I'm not quite sure what fish it was, but it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  The tartar sauce tasted a bit like mayonnaise with some herbs.  It tasted fine when combined, although I still preferred my roast beef.

In all, it was an excellent experience in eating good food.