Brother Hubbard Brunch

Having heard nothing but rave reviews about Brother Hubbard and the brunch there for some time now, I finally got the chance to sample the delights for myself.

Located on Capel Street, the outside doesn't look like much but fits perfectly for what it is trying to achieve. The inside is decked out in industrial hipster chic from the condiments to the thrifty looking furniture.

The food on the other hand is pure indulgence. I got the Croque Madame myself. While I knew it was a toastie with an egg on top I didn't know what to expect visually. A rustic sandwich chocked full of ham and smothered in a rich cheese is what I was given. It was luscious and gooey all at once. I could just about finish it, purely because I had no breakfast! I had a mimosa to wash it down. Who doesn't love a mimosa?!

Sean had Eggs Menemen. A Turkish style scrambled egg dish With peppers and olive oil. I didn't have any myself but I'm told it was delicious! He also had a Moroccan Iced-Tea to compliment it.

Simple food but expertly prepared. If you enjoy brunch or just eating out in general, I highly recommend it! Do be warned though, it can get quite busy around lunch time so calling in advance to book a table wouldn't be a bad idea to avoid waiting. The service is quick and friendly however at peak times, don't expect to be left alone to chat over an empty table while the queue of people mounts up.

Check out their site here - http://brotherhubbard.ie/

New Venture - Food Blogging

Happy New Year everybody! While I always say I'm going to do new segments on my blog, I always start one and never follow it through, this is evident with my 4 Play Friday which I only did once. I'm terrible I know. However I really want to stick with something and hopefully this is it.

From now on, I'm going to write about restaurants & establishments I've dined at. I know it's done to death but dining out is something I really really enjoy and love doing. My boyfriend and I love going to new places and try not go back to the same place more than once. I do have exceptions, such as Trocadero and Musashi. The food in both is to die for.  If I'm being honest it was my boyfriend who suggested writing about our dining experiences so thanks Sean!

Since we started going out in 2013 I've kept a list of all the places that we've eaten at, there are currently 34 places on the list. That's not too bad if I do say so myself. And I don't include McDonald's or any fast food joint on the list. I'm talking about proper dining establishment and cafés. It only includes places here in Dublin and not abroad which is something I do regret as we've been to some great restaurants in places such as; New York, Rome, Tel Aviv and Milan, but at the time it completely slipped my mind to keep records. From now on I'll include any place at home or overseas.

Anyway, this is my new venture and I am really looking forward to taking it up. It may be once a week, it may be once every two months, whenever we have the money to go out. I've put up the list of all the places we've gone to so far. If I can remember what we ate where I'll write about it (it's not likely) otherwise the fun starts now.

Loving House of DVF

I just watched the first episode of House of DVF and I am living life through these girls.

There are eight girls competing to be the global brand ambassador for DVF and each week one will get booted off until a winner is crowned. 

I would LOVE to have that opportunity and be in their shoes. Not their literal shoes, I couldn't walk in Louboutins tbh but you get what I mean. While I couldn't be global brand ambassador for DVF, you know as it's a women's clothing company and being able to wear the clothes would help, working in communications there would be a dream.  

Now that I'm in 2nd year of my degree (finally) I am really looking into career routes and communications or advertising in a fashion house seems idyllic right now. I'd also like radio or presenting too. Loads of fingers, loads of pies. 

Nonetheless I am hooked on the show which airs on E! Abigail is my favourite so far, her one liners are HILARE

The VM-OK's

The 31st annual MTV Video Music Awards aired last night and it was alright at best, which begs the question: Do artists & the audience care about it anymore?

The show opened with a bang(bang)! The Ariana/Jessie J/Nicki medley was great but not mouth-hit-the-floor amazing I was anticipating. Not even Nicki's wardrobe malfunction left me startled. They were preceded by other lacklustre performances by Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 to name a few. Sam Smith's voice shone as it always does but his performance wasn't a spectacle to behold. Being honest, I didn't think Beyoncé's was all that great either; recycled choreography and nothing new. I mean she put on a good show but I wasn't left wanting more. Just my opinion.

What I'm noticing though, is that artists just aren't there. Where are the people like; One Direction, Rihanna, Britney, Christina, both Justins, Janet Jackson. I know the show isn't as serious as the GRAMMY's but surely people in the music business should to want to be there, otherwise, what is the point?

Someone I know said something recently, where are the, "people who can go out and wow you and make proper VMA moment". And this is very true. I'm not knocking any performance from last night but they were nothing for the history books.

Is it about time the VMA's got revamped? I most certainly don't want to witness it become a parody of itself after giving us so many great moments in the past. We just need to get it back to the level it once was.

Ariana Grande is My Everything

Ariana Grande has released My Everything, the hotly anticipated follow-up album to her freshman triumph Yours Truly.

My Everything sees Grande flourish during the vocal riffs and high notes that she is oh so good at. It also has a more grown up sound compared to it's predecessor although the thematic much the same.

Teaming up with people such as; Childish Gambino, Big Sean and The Weeknd, My Everything isn't short of muscle, not that Ariana needs it to prove herself. Her vocals are unparalleled in her field right now and she can only continue to get better and better.

Top Tracks: My Everything, Love Me Harder, Be My Baby, One Last Time.

My Everything is released in Germany, Ireland & the UK on August 22nd & Worldwide August 25th.

I've Just Finished Reading Pines by Blake Crouch

After desperately trying to hunt it down, I finally found and finished Pines by Blake Crouch.

The first book of the Wayward Pines series came to my attention when I saw FOX had picked it up for a TV adaptation starring Matt Dillon. And it did not disappoint.

The story centres around Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke, who is sent out on a mission to the town of Wayward Pines to find two agents who had previously gone but mysteriously disappeared. Uncomfortable and peculiar circumstances make Agent Burke draw the conclusion that Wayward Pines is no ordinary town, and that he must get out of there ASAP.

The book is well-written and depicts scenarios and settings beautifully without Crouch appearing pompous in his knowledge of the vernacular. An easy read but an intense one at that that has you rooting for the protagonist as if you were him yourself, suffocating and fighting to get out.

While the story didn't go in the direction I thought it would, I was pleased how everything was explained and it piqued my interest as to where the series will go next. I've already started book two.

I highly recommend it if it sounds like it's up your street.

Tel Aviv - The Small Apple

Strolling along the promenade on a Tuesday evening in 30 degree heat was not the time when I expected to hear a loud bang & an air raid siren. But this is all very normal in Tel Aviv according to our carefree host.

So I have just returned home from an 11 day holiday in Tel Aviv, Israel, and I can honestly say it was one of the best, if not THE best, holiday I have ever been on.

Myself and six friends jetted off on June 30th for 11 days which revolved around alcohol, the beach, good weather and of course, some culture.

We were staying in a private 4th floor apartment on Sderot Nordau, five minutes from Hilton Beach (known as the gay beach) and beside as many restaurants, cafés and shops as you would need. We chose Tel Aviv for many factors which included it's vibrant LGBT culture which the city is very proud of. You can walk any direction and within in five minutes, be greeted with a Pride flag.

The view from our apartment

One taxi driver described Tel Aviv as 'The Small Apple' as it's on the go 24 hours a day, and I couldn't have said it better myself. The cosmopolitan city is buzzing with people night & day. The nightlife is one of the best I've experienced. There are bars where you could enjoy a show or an easy drink with your friends without people significantly more drunk than you bothering you. And on the other hand you have parties & clubs that are open until 6am and blare electro-pop hits, or in one particular case Britney tunes, all night long. The people, the atmosphere and the music are all factors which contribute to a brilliant party scene.

View from Old Jaffa looking at Tel Aviv

It wasn't just about the partying though. We went to see some great places such as; Jaffa, Haifa, The Dead Sea and Masada. Within an hour, you can travel from the cosmopolitan and chic Tel Aviv to the towns saturated in history with ease. Such a contrast and such a treat.

Beautiful Haifa

Masada

One thing none of us were expecting to happen, was to be under attack from rockets from Gaza. To say the experience was surreal would be an understatement. The first time it happened panic set in, in my case anyway, but as the days and sirens went on you just got used to it and carried on with your day. We bonded with our neighbours in the stairwell as the siren went off actually.

Walking along the promenade

I would go back in a heartbeat. The high-rise buildings, hot weather, glamorous restaurants and people all add to a wonderful experience with a really great group of friends.

Watching the sunset on our last night