Spur Nachos, Wings, Ribs, Steak & Miley Cyrus Riding a Giant Hot Dog.

Last night Ms. Miley Cyrus played Belfast, Northern Ireland, and we had been lucky enough to win a pair of tickets for the spectacle. First though, keeping in with Miley's country roots, we headed to Victoria Square to have a big feed at the Spur Steak & Grill.

Local readers, a great tip for attending Odyssey concerts is to park closer to the city centre, and grab something to eat first. This way you avoid queuing for the couple of restaurants there are left in the Odyssey Pavillion, and even better once the gig is over you just walk across the Lagan foot bridge & avoid the bumper to bumper traffic trying to escape the carpark. 

We got to Spur at 6pm & already it was pleasantly buzzing. They have an extensive menu and it's definitely a kid-friendly eatery, with a soft play area for them to enjoy while you have a coffee or cocktail after your meal. If you visit Spur on a Friday, children eat free.

Our waiter, Havier was very attentive and friendly. Our starter was a a delicious plate of nachos & Jack Daniels buffalo wings. 

The menu includes combo meals, like ribs and chicken, surf and turf, ribs and steak, which is handy as it's all so tempting you might not be able to decide on just one meat.

My husband went for the rack of ribs, with two sides included, cone and chips. The ribs were drop-off-the-bone tender. 

I had rump steak with blue cheese sauce. I always ask for rare steak and look how perfectly it came out.

I'm still losing weight, so for my two included sides I chose side salad and the corn.

Overall opinion? If you love your meat, you'll love Spur. We are going to call back with our son next time so he can enjoy the atmosphere too. 

Time to dander over to The Odyssey for Miley! We had great seats, especially for the acoustic set she does mid-way through. I shall let the (far away, pretty blurry) photos speak for themselves. I tried not to have my phone camera out too much, as there's always the risk you end up watching a show through a tiny screen instead of soaking up what's going on; and a lot was going on.

Glorious Mid-Century Art Work by Bangor's Neal McCullough

Hello readers, I've not been able to blog too much recently, so I've invited my favourite local artist who I've featured regularly before on The World of Kitsch, Neal McCullough, to guest post about his current exhibition. Thank you, Neal!

Hey Hey, World of Kitsch Regulars. I’m Neal McCullough from Bangor’s Hand Drawn Creative Illustration. Claire has graciously allowed me to write about my latest illustrated Exhibition currently on in Belfast’s Atelier Design Interiors showroom.

You’ll know my illustration work already, because I designed the The World of Kitsch logo right above this post. Like a lot of World of Kitsch fans, I’m obsessed with vintage illustration and mid-century furniture, so I’ve put together a collection of ten new illustrations showcasing my mid-century obsession called “Asseyez-Vous”

The Asseyez-Vous illustrations were created following meetings with Victor & James at Atelier Design’s hyper-chic showroom in Belfast’s Refound Building, and a lot of the finished illustrations feature little hidden gems from their range of kitsch, retro furniture and textiles.

“Asseyez-Vous” was due to wrap up on 3 May, but has now been been extended for another month, so if you’re in Belfast in May, call in. The showroom is open Wednesday-Saturday. I really hope you like the pretty pictures. Prints range from £10 to £80. If you aren’t in Northern Ireland you can also order prints through my Etsy store too. 

Thanks for having me! 

Cheers, Neal

www.handdrawncreative.co.uk

The Big Beef Taste Test at St. George's Bar & Grill, Belfast

On Saturday evening we were invited to a Beef Masterclass at St. George's Bar & Grill. The beef in question was a selection of high quality cuts straight from Hilltown Farm. One of the farmers called in to tell us all about the free range style their cattle are raised, including the eight pints of stout each beast delights in each day! The beef is aged on location, meaning your steak has a tiny mileage from farm to plate.

Head chef James then gave us a short Masterclass on the cuts and techniques we can use at home. From beef heart, to cuts of rump, we all learned a little something new. 

Beef heart, tastes a little like liver or kidney

Slow roasted beef with rice

The kitchen was hot, so we took our drinks out on the terrace which overlooks the famous St. George's Market area. The Bar & Grill serves brunch on market mornings, and I really want to call back for that, over looking the pretty cupcake stalls and craft vendors. Most of the produce St. George's Bar & Grill comes from the market downstairs, from local vendors, making it super fresh.

Our tasting platter consisted of a tender rump steak, a deconstructed lasagne and a posh version of cottage pie. We had been out all day Saturday, so we had our son with us, but they really looked after him. While we were having the Masterclass they allowed him to draw on their menu chalkboard, and knowing the food was a little bit too picky for a six year old, they offered him chips to feast on. He really felt special. 

Michael enjoying an ale made on Hilltown Farm

So tender

The restaurant has pre-theatre or concert menus, so we have already planned to come back the evening before we see Miley Cyrus next month. Showing a theatre ticket, or even an ice hockey ticket will get you a free glass of wine with your meal.

Thank you for having us, St. George's, I have you down as one of Belfast's best kept secret foodie stops now. 

Belfast's First Man vs Food - Bubbacue's Hot Wings Challenge

Belfast's best BBQ joint, Bubbacue, launched its first chicken wing challenge last week.  

Bubba’s chefs served up wings laced with habanero powder, homemade naga chilli sauce plus a few other surprise chillies for good measure.  Forty brave souls stepped up to show what they were made of, with five making it all the way through the five excruciating rounds to be crowned the winners. 

Contestants were given five of the burning wings at a time, to be completed in five minutes, with a three minute break between each of the five rounds.  Chefs prepared the wings wearing gas masks, as naga chillies have been used in biological warfare, before serving the wings, which got hotter and hotter as the rounds went on.

Head Chef, Colin McSherry, said: “The skin on my face was burning as we were making the sauce, so I can’t even imagine what the guy’s mouths felt like.  A lot of people dropped out after round 3, partly because the wings were getting hotter but also because the heat of the naga chilli intensifies as time goes on.  This is why we had a 3 minute break in between rounds as well, it was pretty evil but that was the plan!”

The next Bubbacue wing challenge is due to take place in April.  For more information on how to enter email info@bubbacue.com or for updates please visitwww.facebook.com/bubbacuebelfast or follow @bubbacuebelfast on Twitter. 

Moe's Donuts *Homer Drool Noise*

We don't have Krispy Kreme in Northern Ireland. Maybe thats the reason we are always fighting each other. It certainly is the reason I always leave Stansted Airport with a dozen box stuffed into my already full hand luggage.

I love a dirty, great big, American style doughnut, or 'donut' as they spell it. Any flavour, all flavours, and the weirder the better. Apple cinnamon, lemon meringue, strawberry shortcake or caramel.

To fill the American Doughnut shaped hole in Norn Iron, www.MoesDonuts.com have stepped up to the plate, with that authentic sugary sweet baking we are missing from our lives.

Located in Belfast, they currently take commission orders, but will soon be stocking cafes across the city. To keep up to date where you can try Moe's out first, add their Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/MoesDonuts

What surely will become their 'signature donut' is a mash-up of the traditional glazed finger, with crispy bacon topping, straight from a good, old Ulster Fry. Absolutely bloody delicious. Thanks, fellas.

You can also get in touch with Moe's kitchen by following them on www.Twitter.com/MoesDonuts

The World of Kitsch Visits Jumping Clay

I'm pretty contented with being born in 1980 & being an eighties' kid with the best cartoons and toys, but every so often something makes me wish I was born in the 2000s.

My visit to Jumping Clay today was one of those moments when I found myself jealous of my five year old, and wishing it was something that had been around when I was little.

www.JumpingClay.co.uk

Jumping Clay is a unique workshop & hobby course venue, with academies through out Northern Ireland. There are two venues in England, one in Galway & one in Glasgow, for my readers further afield.

As well as one off visit workshops, they offer parties where children can all make & take home a creation. There is also a weekly class where kids can advance their modelling techniques and learn about the world around them through play.

Jumping Clay also goes on the road, holding classes at Children's Hospices & workshops with the elderly. The creative process is so simple, but truly relaxing & therapeutic. We visited the bright, fresh & clean Belfast Jumping Clay, very aptly located right opposite the Ulster Museum, as who knows where encouraging your child with sculpting could end up!

Caroline showed us around, the shop where you can buy take home kits, or ready made models as gifts. Upstairs is the workshop room where parties are also held, with room for party food & cake too.

My five year old son perused the dozens of model ideas, and picked a penguin to make himself.
Nicola was his guide to his first ever Jumping Clay session. I say first as we've already had to promise we will be back, he's a big fan!

For his first time, he was pretty good. He made the penguin totally himself, under the expert guidance of Nicola who is one of the specially trained instructors. The clay itself isn't like any other modelling putty I've come across, it's different to Playdough & Plastercine, it's more springy and light. It's not messy either, and smells like jasmine. It doesn't need fired, it simply dries out overnight and becomes a lightweight, sturdy model.

We are already planning a return visit, and my son has started teaching Dad how to make a penguin, now he's the expert!

Plan your own visit at
www.JumpingClay.co.uk

Shark Cakes- Eat them Before They Eat You

Local readers, I'm including this list of restaurants encouraging us to get out and reclaim our city from the rioting we've seen in recent weeks. Enjoy!

Five Pop Culture Reasons Why Northern Ireland Kicks Ass

Northern Ireland has made worldwide news for the wrong reasons the past month, so local bloggers are posting their #10thingsILoveaboutNI to show the positive side. 

An idea from Gemma-Louise over at Champagne Lifestyle Student Budget.

http://www.champagnelifestylestudentbudget.com/2013/01/10-things-i-love-about-northern-ireland.html

I've picked five more unusual, pop culture picks that our province has given the world.

1. The Delorean

 

The Delorean car was manufactured in Dunmurry, just outside Belfast. The coolest car to ever flop, it plays the vital role in Back to the Future of being the funkiest time machine on the silver screen.

2. We Make Game of Thrones

Northern Ireland has stunning landscapes, which attracted the Game of Thrones producers to shoot a large proportion of the outside scenes here in our countryside.

As you drive around in filming season, you can spot little 'GOT' arrows on lampposts, directing crew transport to the locations.

We also have the largest indoor sound stage, which in a former life was a ship building paint hall. 

3. Rihanna Got Her Boobs Out in a Field

Rihanna filmed her video for We Found Love here in Belfast & North Down. The field where she famously got a good, old fashioned dressing down from a farmer, for baring her wares, is just up the road from me.

She must have been Baltic.

4. Liam Neeson

He's a Jedi with a very particular set of skills. Which makes you wonder is it worth hauling him in to sort this Flag business out.

5. My Lovely Horse

Perhaps Derry-born Neil Hannon's finest penmanship? The Divine Comedy frontman also wrote the Father Ted theme tune.