This week’s Tuesday Goodie Bag features

👉 No 1 Belfast

👉 Il Pirata

And our product of the week:

👉 Taste Joy

No.1 Belfast

This unpretentious little restaurant, serving cantina-style Mexican street food, certainly lives up to its name. The menu is small but flexible, with many options for individual dietary requirements. To start, we shared Feta & Chilli Fritters with hot honey, & a tray of the best nachos we’ve tasted in a long time. We then ordered a selection of Tacos; beef brisket, fried halloumi, shrimp & chorizo, & the gloriously titled “Quacko” with confit duck, apricot, ginger, & pomegranate salsa-all cooked to order & totally delicious. The veggie Quesadilla with sweet potato, black beans, & spicy marinara sauce was also terrific. Although there are no desserts on the menu, we were presented with a refreshing lime & chilli granita palate cleanser. 

Il Pirata 

There’s a good reason we return time and time again to this terrific Ballyhackamore institution: the food never fails to surprise & delight. Rustic, Italian-style dishes, skilfully prepared, right on our own doorstep. We always choose a few Cichetti to share, & there are some fantastic new additions to the menu; the Truffled Cauliflower Tartlets & Polenta Stuffed Peppers are both stunningly good, as was the Grilled Sea Bass. The freshly made pasta here is always a winner, & we also loved the Gnocchi Al Forno with caponata & creamy goats cheese, & the wild mushroom Risotto Milanese. Ciao! 

Taste Joy 

Taste Joy Artisan Peanut Butter is produced on the North Coast by husband & wife team Callum & Tara. All of their products are free from artificial flavours & preservatives, are gluten free, & have no palm oil. They are also working to be free of single-use plastics by using recyclable glass jars & paper labels. We’re hooked on their incredible Dark Chocolate & Orange Peanut Butter. So moreish, & definitely too good to keep a lid on