Blog Of Good Cheer

This is the view from one of the window seats in the Bookshop Café above Restaurant Ten Fourteen.

This particular window seat is where I relaxed at around 11:30 on Saturday as I waited the arrival of a fruit scone (with compote and cream, yum-yum) and a damn fine cup of coffee. I like scones, and these scones are good, very good in fact.

The Bookshop Café and Tea Rooms above the restaurant has not been open long, but it’s quickly become a favourite relaxing spot for me after a Saturday morning walk along the sea front or around St Anne’s Park.

To some extent I’m spoiled for choice when it comes to scones. Bay is just down the road and if the weather is good I could also buy some scones from Pauline at The Red Stables Food Market, get a take-away coffee and then sit on a bench watching dogs running around and having a ball – not a bad way to enjoy a Saturday morning.

But if I want to sit inside and read the paper, or if the weather is not great for staying outdoors then Ten Fourteen’s Bookshop is my current favourite.

On Saturday I had already been in the restaurant itself for a cookery demonstration by George Smith Master Chef and the restaurant’s own Head Chef Juris. In the space of an hour I was shown how to make their signature brown bread, I was let in on the secrets of 1014′s Award Winning Slow Roast Pork Belly and I was shown how to make a Tarte Tatin using a method that seemed possible even for me.

When it the demonstration was over, the full-house of eager students were delighted to hear that Ten Fourteen plan to have more demonstrations in the coming months. I think it’s a great restaurant. I’ve eaten there three maybe four times and I’ve always enjoyed the experience. Unusually the restaurant is wholly owned by CASA (Caring and Sharing Association) which is an Irish Charity. CASA was founded in 1981 and is active throughout the country, providing social outlets, friendship and one to one care for people with disabilities.

Leaving Ten Fourteen, feeling that the morning had started well I gave a little thought to the afternoon.

Rugby!

Suttonians V Sligo – an important game for both teams as they’re each fighting for survival in the AIL Division 2B. Going into the game the teams were within 3 points of each other with Suttonians having a game in hand. With Sligo 12^th and Suttonians 14^th a win at the expense of Sligo would be a tremendous boost for the Sutton Club.

I paid my €8 at the gate and headed over to the far side of the pitch to try to avoid having sun in my eyes.

It’s been years since I’ve been to a rugby match. I like the game and I’ll go out of my way to watch it on TV, but since I don’t know all the rules or understand the technicalities, the subtleties of the game can be lost on me.  Yes I used the word “subtleties” and rugby in the same sentence.

A few spectators said hello and asked if I was for Sligo. I wasn’t. I wanted Suttonians to win and start their final run in with a victory that could propel them to retaining their senior status. With four matches to play against Sligo 12^th (H), Armagh 10^th (A), Connemara 7^th (H) and finally Highfield 4^th (A), the opposition gets progressively tougher based on current league standings – so this home game against Sligo had to go their way.

It did. The final score was Suttonians 33 Sligo 20. To my untrained eye it looked as though Suttonians did all the hard work in the first half building up a 27-15 lead. Sligo fought back in the second half but two penalties ensured that Suttonians weren’t going to be caught.

With the win plus the bonus point Suttonians are now 11^th. But it’s tight in the bottom half of the table with Naas, Sligo and Sundays Well only 1, 2 and 3 points behind, respectively.

I can see myself being back to support them again at 14:30 on Sat 31^st March against Connemara.