Two days in Dublin with no kids and, more importantly, no need to drive meant time for bookshops and nice beer.
It has been a long time since I was able to sit in the pub on a Friday afternoon and start the weekend with nice beer. The weekend, having left the kids with their Gran, we headed off to Dublin, and, after several pleasent hours spent between Hodgis Figgis and Waterstones, we ended up in the Porterhouse Central. I remember it as Judge Roy Beans, and I don’t think I’ve had time to wet my whistle there since the last century. Theresa had a pint of their Oyster Stout, which is nice but a bit fancy for me. I would have liked to try the XXXX but it was off, so I had a pint of plain. It is nicer than any other stout that comes out of Dublin, but I wouldn’t give up Beamish for it. The food was good too – nice garlic bread and good thin crust pizza.
Later that evening, we picked up a Fusty Ferret and a Witchwood in the good off-licencce opposite Tesco in Rathmines to go with the Chinese take out. I’d never had the Ferret before, but I will again, and the Witchwood is saved for another day.
Saturday, looking for lunch in Smithfield near Feile Draiochta, I passed over the obvious attractions of Subway and went down Duck Lane to Christophes for a sandwich withreal french cheese and a tasty french artisan yoghurt. Christophes was strangely quiet for such a nice place, but hopefully they do a good business in the evenings – the resteraunt next door to them was in the process of closing down. Duck Lane is hidden behind the old Jameson distillery chimney, and off the beaten track. If Smithfield was living up to expectations as a cultural centre, Christophes would do a strong trade, but the area has an empty and incomplete feel to it.
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