I went home to visit my family in Athlone this weekend, so we decided to go out for dinner on Saturday night to celebrate my parent’s wedding anniversary.
I grew up in Athlone and my family still live there; without being accused of bias I think I can honestly say that Athlone is generously supplied with good restaurants. If you’re looking for Thai food there’s Kin Khao, definitely one of the best Thai restaurants in the country. There’s a number of good Italian restaurants, including Pavarottis, Di Bella, and Pizza Mama. You’ll also find the usual selection of Chinese takeaways and restaurants - one of my favourites is Ken’s in the town centre. For fancier dining there’s Le Chateau or the Olive Grove, or even the Left Bank Bistro.
This evening my mum chose an of the Italian restaurants near the river called Di Bella that is consistently good, and did not disappoint this visit.
10 Mar, 2010
Posted by: rercy in: Food News | Good Value | Healthy Eating | Light Meals | Recipes

Salads are back on the menu!
It was so warm on Monday morning that I had my morning cup of tea in the sun and it was bliss. It has been such a long cold winter, I felt like a cave creature that had just crawled out of the darkness - pasty and squinty-eyed in the bright pure sun. I know it’s still nippy and only the beginning of March but I’ve decided to spring clean my diet.
I’m a big fan of bulgar wheat and quinoa; they are great substitutes for stodgy winter carbs and will keep you going too.
When it comes to bulgar wheat it is important to get the flavour right, otherwise it can taste bland. This is a lovely recipe with spring flavours that’s perfect for lunch or a light evening meal. It is very healthy and simple to put together. Serves two.
Are you ready to ditch the winter comfort food too?
09 Mar, 2010
Posted by: jacqueline in: Healthy Eating | Recipes | Starters, Salads & Soups

Surplus celery for a sweet salad
At the weekend, my partner and I catered for a friend’s christening. We had the camera ready to fondly take pictures of our food, and exclaim over how great it all looked, but we seriously misjudged our timings. We didn’t have time to lift a camera, we barely had time to breathe - the evening before and the day were spent running (literally, running) around the kitchen and garden prepping and serving our fine food.
We made a sort of ‘umbrella’ plan, handing our pregnant and not-rich friend a list of ingredients to buy. She forgot to bring the list while shopping and ‘worked from memory’. Now she did well, but the catering turned into a let’s work with what we’ve got event, as opposed to a precision party. I’ll post up more recipes from the day (we did good!), but for now, here’s a celery salad that the christening crowd loved.
Yesterday’s Liveline was buzzing with angry callers complaining about an offer from petrol station Applegreen.
Since last year, customers who spend €10 in Applegreen get a stamp on their loyalty card. Once they accumulate 50 stamps, they can get a three night stay for two people for €19.99 in a choice of hotels around Ireland. I nonchalantly picked up my loyalty card when it was offered by the cashier last month, but quickly realised it’s a rubbish offer.
09 Mar, 2010
Posted by: peter in: Competitions | Sponsored Posts
Treat your Mum to something Special this Mother’s DayMother’s Day is fast approaching and sometimes it’s hard to know what to get that special lady in your life. Lucky for you, CheapEats.ie and Marks & Spencer are here to help. We’re giving you the chance to win one of three delicious meals for four this Mother’s Day in the Marks & Spencer Rooftop restaurant on Grafton Street.
Mums are always so busy looking after everyone else, so why not let your mum have a day of pampering and relaxation and treat her to a delicious meal this Mother’s Day, compliments of Marks & Spencer and Cheapeats.ie.
Also this weekend, the fantastic M&S dine-in for two offer will be back. It’s perfect for a family dinner this Mother’s Day.
To be in with a chance to win one of these three prizes, simply click into this post and answer the the following question:
Taqueria El MilagroThis Monday, SnackBox tests out the deep south’s Mexican treats.
There are quite a few Mexican food options in Dublin. Round these parts we have Acapulco, Cactus Jack, Mexico to Rome, The Alamo and El Paso, to name but a few in the capital. I’ve only ever eaten in Acapulco and The Alamo and enjoyed both but am always a bit miffed by the price, as Mexican food has to be one of the cheapest cuisines in terms of ingredients used.
In the US, Mexican food is more widespread. It is also unbelievably cheap. In the small town of Oxford, for example, there were at least five Mexican restaurants. We were told by everyone that Taqueria El Milagro was the best. You couldn’t miss it. With a bright orange façade, the only place more colourful in Mississippi is its interior. Greens, blues, reds cover the walls and each table harboured its own individual and beautiful Mexican folklore mural. I’ve always liked the idea of eating a fajita off the chest of a native American Strongman with a load of feathers in his hair, a spear, and a broad in a torn dress by his knee. Finally my chance had come.
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