Well, I took a long weekend in Ireland this weekend, in honour of St. Patrick's Day. And after Mass this morning, we headed to Ennis to buy some things, and, feeling like eating, we decided that The Grove was easiest, as they do a carvery lunch.
There was plenty of parking anyhow, and we went in, where we could see that they were setting up for the carvery; however, they told us that it wouldn't be until 12.15, that they were still serving breakfast until then. They certainly do like to feed you! It was easier to wait than to do anything else, so we popped into the Costcutter supermarket next door, and then took a seat back in The Grove and waited until we could see a queue forming.
The carvery had a choice of turkey, bacon, chicken breast, salmon, and a vegetarian risotto whose details I can't remember, with sides of stuffing, gravy, pepper sauce, white sauce, carrots, cabbage, mash, and unusually large potato croquettes. And you could have any combination of the above, for a flat price of €9.95. I went for the chicken, with pepper sauce, my mother went for the salmon. And we both had wine, which was nice, considering that the licensing laws don't allow alcohol to be sold in off-licences until 12.30 on public holidays.
The food was generally excellent - the chicken was succulent, the salmon was highly praised. The pepper sauce was highly peppery - approach with caution! The stuffing was tasty, the carrots a bit watery, the mash a bit nondescript. My mother thought the croquettes, being so large, lost some flavour - but I thought they were delicious. The wine was brought down to our table separately - and I must mention the consideration of the server who brought it, who, upon hearing that I had meant to ask for some stuffing but had forgotten, went up and brought down a large dish of it.
As we ate, the place started to fill, obviously with families that had been to the parade, which must have been finishing around then. And what a sea of green they presented! Not just those wrapped in tricolours and wearing oversized leprechaun hats - almost everyone seemed to have made an effort to wear something in green. Kudos to the family where father and son wore green trousers, daughters wore green stripy jumpers, and mother wore a green polo-neck with matching skirt! Only one small girl left out, who hadn't a trace of green on her. Kudos also to the chef, who kept the food coming, and served a never-ending line. I think word must have got out about good quality at a low price..
The only complaint I have to make is in relation to dessert. We decided we'd like one, I went to order and pay, and she was to bring them to us. And we waited.. and waited.. and had to ask about three times. I do get that they were busy, but when the only choice is for them to go to the kitchen and get the dessert, and they do advertise dessert, well, you'd think they'd have it a bit better organised. I had profiteroles, my mother had cheesecake - which had a strong green colour, but was tasteless, she proclaimed. Desserts may not be worth waiting for, here.
Anyway, here's to the most Irish day I've had in a long while, with Darby O' Gill and the Little People on telly this afternoon. Oh, it's years since I saw that - I'd forgotten it was a Disney production. Stars Jimmy O' Dea as the king of the leprechauns, and I'd also forgotten the appearance of a very young Sean Connery. And you know, it's still worth watching, after all these years. Especially in the company of a large Easter egg. Well, you know, St. Patrick's Day is the day you can abstain from abstaining! ;-) A day's holiday from Lent. And whose idea was it, anyway, to put the national holiday in the middle of Lent?!
Change in plans for Wednesday - I was checking film ratings last night, and Under the Skin has shot up in ratings. Well, from 7 to 7.2, which, at this level, pretty much counts as a meteoric rise. And particularly when most films are headed in the opposite direction. This is the new sci-fi horror starring Scarlett Johansson, pretty unrecognisable with black hair, as an alien that trails around Scotland eating people. My, isn't she going for unconventional roles lately? The last thing I - well, heard rather than saw her in - was Her, where she played a stroppy computer operating system! Anyway, this sounds very unusual, and has quite a surreal trailer. Apparently, she really did drive around Glasgow picking up strange men, who were filmed and were then asked for permission to use the footage. And what with it now having joint top billing on my film list for Wednesday, well, it does sound like fun! So, with the nearest cinema showing it being a Cineworld, I've booked it, as they give a discount for booking.
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