This week’s Tuesday Goodie Bag features
🍽 The Mariner
🍽 Slieve Donard Afternoon Tea
And our product of the week:
🔵 Neary Nógs
The Mariner
https://www.facebook.com/themarinernewcastle/
An exciting new Bar & Restaurant in the heart of Newcastle, with superb sea views from the first floor Bistro, ‘The View’ at The Mariner has a great menu celebrating seasonal local produce.
We were shown to our stunning window seat by Cian, who chatted to us about the menu, and was very happy to offer alternative options to meet our dietary requirements.
While we decided what to choose for our meal, we had a couple of great aperitifs; “The Dead Rabbit”-a whiskey cocktail with apricot, lemon, honey & bitters, and “Kraken Punch” with rum, Campari, lime & pineapple.
To start, we had a portion of beautifully meaty mussels in a creamy cider & apple sauce with homemade bread to mop up the juices, and some perfectly pan roasted scallops with apple purée, confit apple, and foraged sea greens.
The main courses of pan-fried hake with broccoli and potatoes, in a light wine sauce, and the pan-seared chicken with fondant potatoes, pickled mushrooms & an absolutely incredible black truffle purée, were both inventive and comfortingly satisfying.
And speaking of comfort food, the dessert of Toffee Apple Crumble with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Sauce Anglais was a lovely, warm bowl of fruity, caramelised deliciousness.
Many thanks to the chef and team at The Mariner for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of quality cuisine, great service and some of the best sea views from any Newcastle restaurant.
Slieve Donard Afternoon Tea
https://www.slievedonardhotel.com/
Dining is exceptional at The Slieve Donard, so when we were invited to sample Afternoon Tea during a recent visit, we jumped at the chance. The wide selection of teas, the amuse bouche & soup starter, the perfectly prepared sandwiches, the freshly baked scones, & the pretty patisserie selection were all absolutely outstanding. Service was faultless. The whole experience from the attention to detail & use of high quality produce, to the stunning mountain & sea views, made this a very special afternoon tea indeed.
Neary Nógs Chocolate Makers
Situated between the stunning Mourne Mountains and the shimmering sea, Neary Nógs is Ireland’s first bean to bar artisan chocolate making studio.
We recently paid a visit to learn about the company’s incredible journey, and sample the simply sublime chocolate (and make a purchase or two!)
What began as a fundraiser to help the Neary family through personal challenges evolved into a passion that led to the establishment of the business in 2011.
Proudly operated by husband-and-wife team Shane and Dot, the business takes its name from stories written and told by Shane’s Dad Johnnie Neary, entitled Neary Nógs.
Integrity, sustainability, & ethically sourced cacao beans from small farms in Central America, South America and the Caribbean islands are key to fostering close partnerships, prioritising direct trade practices, and supporting the rain-forest alliance.
On our tour, we were able to see how the beans are hand sorted, gently roasted, stone ground, aged and then tempered into delicious chocolate bars.
We then enjoyed a feast for the senses with samples specially chosen to showcase the surprising flavours and tasting notes in a variety of products.
Not only can you enjoy a tour of the chocolate making process, but the foyer has recently been transformed into a beautiful and unique modbar coffee area, where customers can relax and enjoy a warm drink or a snack, and of course, some delicious chocolate.
We also sampled an incredible fruit juice available from Neary Nógs which has been extracted from the pulp of the cacao pod called Pacha de Cacao which tasted absolutely delicious. We think it would make an amazing ingredient for a new cocktail. We’ll let you know how we get on!
Tours of Neary Nógs are bookable on the website, and keep an eye out for other collaborations and special events.
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