Free Date in a Five-Star Michelin Restaurant

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 30

Since it's our sixth year anniversary today as a couple and we didn't have any fancy celebration (hint: we're saving up for a house), let me just reminisce the only romantic date we had this year after Zeya was born. I'm grateful for this date because of three things: 1) it marked the end of a difficult season at work for R; 2) it's our first time to dine in a 5-star Michelin restaurant; and 3) it's FREE! (sponsored).

We found Chapter One tucked in a basement under the Writers Museum on Parnell Square. The interior was minimalist but elegantly decorated. R forbid me to take photos inside using our trusty DSLR, so the rest of the photos were captured via iPhone. :)

It was the 26th of May. I was still deep into the fog of the newborn stage whilst a foreboding fog at work had lifted over R. Having said that, we both needed a little break, and to drink and be merry even for just a night. 

***

The first order of business---menu. We decided to try the tasting menu which consisted of sample portions of many different dishes served in several courses. We loved the idea of satisfying our palette with a little bit of the restaurant's bests and a glass of varying wines after each course. 

However, R was driving. U-huh! Our mistake, we should have taken a taxi. Now that meant I was the only one who indulged in wine! Poor lad went the non-alcoholic way. 

First course: Japanese pear tapioca with St. Tola goat's cheese, organic spinach, mushroom juice and Irish shiitake. Chapter One is known for showcasing the best of Irish produce. So each menu features a local produce. Thumbs up to this cause and to the food.

And in case you're wondering, no, I didn't memorize the menu. It's here. We were googling them away while eating away. :)

And the wine that went with it:

Second Course: Charred cured mackerel and packed Carlington oysters with apple and lovage dressing and oyster cream. Another thumbs up. 

Only my second and I was already tipsy and goofy.

Third Course: Wood pigeon terrine with pickled damsons and mirabelles, foie gras parfait and warm brioche. Whew, these terms here!

My wine glasses. As much as I wanted to remember the beautifully named wines while they were being served, I couldn't. They all sounded French to me. :)

Fourth Course: Pig's tail stuffed with Fingal Ferguson's bacon and lobster, basil puree and mustard fruits with the wine. Of course.

Fifth and Sixth Course: At this point, I couldn't pair the menu names to the actual food anymore so I would just post the photos of the remaining courses we devoured.

But the dessert? This was a piece of heaven!

And I managed to snap a photo of us at the dining table ever so discreetly.

Also, we managed to ask a staff to take a photo of us just before we left.

The best part of this dining experience was being told after that all was taken care of and paid for. The fruit of my husband's hard work and dedication. 

Truly grateful for this experience which just about covered all the other monthsaries and anniversaries we celebrated simply and quietly this year. Grateful for the past six years. Grateful for R. :)

Sunday Graces and Summer Hues

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 28

It was one beautiful Sunday morning in August, the sun was shining bright, the sky a cheerful blue, the breeze a little colder but still summery. Our activities for this particular Sunday had been carefully planned out the night before---we'd go to church in the morning, eat lunch somewhere nice and baby-friendly (breastfeeding-friendly too), and go to Howth, the north side of Dublin Bay for some seaside sight seeing. 

Sunday morning came. We woke up a little late because Zeya woke up late (yes, let's blame it on the baby, shall we? :)) and I didn't have the heart to wake him up because an additional 15 or 30 minutes in my sleep is already a heaven on earth! So I slept some more until our human alarm clock whimpered beside me, a sure call for milk or attention. Or both.

After two hours of frantic preparation, most of it was making sure we had everything for baby's needs, we were finally crammed in the car, all set and ready to go. The only problem was we were running extremely late. How late? Let's just say, church service started at 10 AM, we were just about to leave the house minutes before the clock struck 10. As Rolando turned the ignition on, I gently uttered, "We are so late babe," for which he agreed quietly  "Yes, we are". We both knew we weren't attending church anymore. Rolando keyed in a new destination in our car's GPS. An air of guilt hovered around us.

This was the kind of Sunday when you needed grace more than any other day. Grace not to bicker and blame on who caused the delay, or who did not remember to check the nappy bag's contents, or who did not eat breakfast fast enough.  Grace to get through this season of sleeplessness and messiness. Grace to love each other beyond our parenting hits and misses, including missed Sunday Services. Grace to find our groove as a little family of three.

Grace. Yes, we needed an extra ounce of it that particular Sunday. I'm grateful that my relationship with Him isn't based on the things I do or fail to do but on His grace.

***

So off to Howth we went. A little earlier than planned. We hiked the Howth Cliffs twice in the past when we were still child free. It was surreal stepping back with a baby in tow.

It was sunny but blustery when we stepped out to the Summit so we bundled Zeya up making sure he's protected from the wind and the sun. The Summit was a sight to behold. The sprawling gorses (yellow) and heathers (purple) against the blueness of the sky and the seafoam shade of the sea make up for a lovely summer postcard.

As I forgot to bring the DSLR, I used iPhone 6 to capture memories that day. I seem to keep forgetting things since Zeya's arrival. Yet another reason to practice grace upon myself.

I leave you now with these photos. I have to make a mental note to myself to go back again next year. Same time, same weather (hopefully), to relish and capture these lovely summer hues once more.

More breath-taking views of the cliffs, the gorses and the heathers and the famous Bailey Lighthouse.

Christmas Lights and our Fifth Christmas in Dublin

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 23

My little charming city may not be as magically and extensively adorned with Christmas lights as its other neighbouring capitals in Europe but to my Filipina-living-in-Ireland eyes, Dublin is spectacular in its own glory during the Christmas season. 

Winter in Ireland can give you the coldest, dreariest and darkest of days. The sun sets as early as 4PM during this season; the trees are stripped down to their branches and the sky is pretty much always grey. I'm grateful the city is illuminated and decorated quite nicely creating a festive mood and bringing a cheerful vibe to the dwellers and tourists alike. The lights extravaganza is one of the things which makes me want to pause and say, "Hey, it's not too bad that I live here!"

Here are the photos of these flickering and twinkling Christmas lights, (photo captured through the iPhone and DSLR).

Nollaig Shona Duit, a Gaelic expression for "Happy Christmas to you."

Zeya was wide eye and curious with all the lights.

***

This year's Christmas is our fifth in Ireland, our fifth away from Philippines, our fifth away from families and friends. This means, I've been relishing this show of lights in Dublin for five years now. Sure, I miss every little thing about Paskong Pinoy (Filipino Christmas) and I won't name them one by one lest I'll get homesick. And I will agree with the rest of OFWs' sentiments around the world, that there's nothing quite comparable to Paskong Pinoy, but it's also making the most of where God has brought us and planted us. It's trying to appreciate what lies before us. 

Five years now. I can't say I've gotten used to the quietness and stillness of Christmas in Dublin. But I've grown to appreciate the family exclusivity of Christmas day to the Irish. That Christmas day isn't a "shopping mall day."  That there could be another day for that.

I'm grateful for you Dublin, Ireland. For these lights. For your generosity. And most of all, for treating us well the past five Christmases. :)

An Afternoon High Tea Experience in Westbury Dublin

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE | DAY 12

One of my wishes for my birthday this year was to indulge in a high tea afternoon in one of the five star hotels in the city. You might think of "high tea in a five star hotel" as some kind of extravagant. But sometimes, what you pay for is the experience, not just the food. It isn't cheap but it's also something you won't be doing every week, just on special occasions. I'm truly grateful we celebrated my birthday in style for I don't know when we will be able to do and afford this again. 

We had a superb dining experience in the sumptuous Westbury Hotel last year on our fifth year anniversary so we thought of trying their famous high tea this time. We went on a Saturday afternoon of my 34th birthday in February. We were perched in this window seat with the most comfy chairs, a superb spot for people-watching with beautiful light coming in. 

The usual high tea room was The Gallery but because we booked only a few days ago, we weren't able to secure any spot there. It was the Valentine week too so it was a fairly busy weekend. Nonetheless, the staff were always accommodating and prepared a special spot for us in the restaurant area. Talk about five star experience, the staff in Westbury were impeccable. 

First order of business was the tea selection. We browsed the list but asked for the "most ordered tea" and we went for them. Since I'm writing about this experience months later, I could only remember ordering a decaf tea in a certain fruity flavour.  :)

My handsome date who made this possible. :)

The table was set with white starched table cloth, napkins and adorable Tiffany blue teacups, plates and saucers. It was definitely most pleasing to the eye.

Now here was the multi-tiered sandwiches, scones and cakes which we immediately devoured.

It was, overall, a lovely experience. This is one of those meals that is more about the ritual, the process, more than anything else. We enjoyed this time when we could still sit for hours just sipping the warmth and the goodness of a tea, and then nibbling on delicate treats, plate after plate while having the most awesome time to talk, to watch people around and to just relax. The best part was that I could do this with R. Thank you, my love, for this time and for this gold Kapten & Son watch too. It was a happy birthday. Indeed. :)

In case you asked, high tea costs €45 each, €55 with a glass of champagne (which I hope we could do sometime in the future).