Mini Cakes at Gourmet Tart Co.

A late review.  Am already at the Philippines and yet I haven't posted quite a number of my tastings in Ireland.  I've been busy on other things as well, but I will try to post as much as I can before I forget about them.

We were in Galway City Centre when I saw these cute mini cakes.  Here's the pic:

Why did I pic four cakes?  It was only because my mom and I couldn't agree on the flavors :D 

I can't remember the exact names of the ones in the upper right and bottom left, but all I can say is that they were the fruity ones.  The mini cake with the strawberry was berry flavored, and the full flavor was quite intense.  It was a mix of tangy berry flavors and just a hint of sweetness.  As for the rectangular cake, it was also fruity, but as far as I can remember it had a milder taste than the berry cake.  It also was not that sweet, which accentuates the taste of fruit more.

Side note:  I checked the website, and I think the rectangular cake might have been Passion Fruit and Cassis Mousse and the  Strawberry cake might have been the Red Berry Mouss.  I'm not that certain though.

The one on the upper left is the Triple Chocolate mousse.  Everyone's verdict: utterly divine.  It was just the right amount for anyone wanting a bit of that decadent chocolate cake.  It was also quite soft that it melted in your mouth.  The amount of each layer was just fine, it blended well into that creamy chocolate taste in your mouth.  Phew!

The last cake is the Black forest.  Quite a surprise, isn't it?  I was also intrigued by this cake since it was all white, and not a hint of chocolate in it.  When I tasted it, viola!  It was the black forest taste I have always known.  The secret?  It was the bottom layer that housed all the nuances of the black forest cake.  It was a different take on the cake I thought I already knew.

Gourmet Tart Co., Co. Galway
http://www.gourmettartco.com/index.php

Brambles: Another Cake Affair

A week or so ago, I took home 2 pieces of cake from Brambles, a cafe (or so I think) in the ground floor of the Jervis shopping center in Dublin.  They had a lot of cakes to choose from, but these were my choices:

The cake with the strawberry is the Victoria Cake and the other is Fruit of the Season Cheesecake.  I hope I'm right about their names xD

For the Victoria Cake, it was a 3 layered sponge cake with cream and strawberries between each layer as well as on top.  Chocolate bits cover the side of the cake.  I think it's a fresh cream cake, but I'm not sure.  In any case, it was very good.  It was just the right amount of sweetness, and I know I could eat more than a slice of it.  The cream did not overpower the strawberry but they mixed with every bite.  The chocolate on the side was just an extra, you could hardly taste it except if you're just taking the side part.

The other cake was a cheesecake topped with a gelatine layer of a berry mix.  I found the top too sweet to eat with or without the cream.  The flavor totally overpowers the entire cake.  It was still good, you can taste a bit of strawberry and blueberries, and a hint of raspberry, perfect for someone who would like to try a berry cheesecake.

Recommended to Dubliners if you haven't tried it yet :3

Brambles @ Jervis Shopping Center
Dublin, Ireland

Edit: The Victoria Cake is a Strawberry Gateaux.  Here's a better pic of it:

Drinks for Everyone

We went to a debs party in one of my mom's friend's house and we had some drinks.  Here are some drinks we tried:

I just tasted Bacardi Breezer Orange and it tasted just like orange juice.  I finished it for my sister who was unable to finish it since she didn't like the taste very much.  Since the cocktail tasted sweet I think I would have no trouble drinking a few bottles of it.

Now this was a cocktail I really wanted to taste since the last time.  I really liked this, and I would have wanted another bottle if I wasn't so determined to taste a lot of different drinks.  It tasted sweet, and I can honestly say it can't compare to any of the cocktails I've had before (except maybe Smirnoff Ice) :3

 

My last drink was supposedly apple cider, but it tasted a lot like San Mig Lights.  Nothing more I can say about it.

Since I'd probably be going to another party tomorrow, I'm having more drinks.  Tough luck I missed the free drinks on Arthur's Day.  Tsk!

A Fast Lunch

Before my siblings and I went on our Trim Castle and Keep tour (trivia: It's where they shot the movie Brave Heart), we had a quick lunch at one of the nearby places.  I can't remember the name, but we had Beef Taco Chips and Lasagne with Salad.   

The Lasagne with Salad was what my sister ordered.  I tasted both the pasta and the salad and they both tasted divine.  The serving was just right for me, but when I think of it, it was kinda expensive for its 8 euro price, since the serving was not as big as it usually was.

The beef taco chips were what I ordered.  Honestly speaking, I really should have thought that since it said "chips", they meant potato wedges, but I thought they were just potato chips in the literal sense.  So, I ended up having to eat a lot of potatoes topped with salsa, beef and cheese.  It was good, although I wish there were some lettuce like in a real taco.  I found it quite hard to finish my meal since it quite very heavy and the chips were a lot.  In any case, for a person with a big hearty appetite, it is a good deal.

In all, we were stuffed when we went running back to Trim Castle to catch up with the tour.

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

Guinness! Guinness!

I drank Irish beer!  It was the first time I've tried it, and I have to say it was different from what I expected.  First, it was quite heavy, and after finishing the tall can I know I can't drink another.  Unlike beer from the Philippines it wasn't that bitter, but it wasn't tasteless.  It's quite hard to describe since I really haven't tasted anything like it.  I also drank a bunch of ciders (see the picture at the end of this post), but I preferred the beer's taste.  I now believe it when they say Irish beer is different :D  Cheers! I can't wait for Arthur's Day :D

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.