Lovely Lunch at Barnabrow Tea Rooms
Afternoon Tea also available
It wasn’t the weather for The Fairy Hide and Seek Walk in Barnabrow House but it was certainly a day to stay close to the fire and to enjoy a light lunch in the Tea Rooms.
Covid 19 hit the East Cork venue as hard as could be but owner Geraldine Kidd pivoted as well as any of her hospitality colleagues when she opened these lovely rooms (which also contain a Poppins Shop) on a sunny day last Autumn.
And she had further plans: “We have many exciting plans to use this unique venue – from poetry readings, hen-parties and outdoor picnics including those for teddy bears!”. The development of The Fairy Hide and Seek Walk is now almost finished at The Tea Rooms. Come and see for yourself.
The facility is open from Wednesday to Sunday 12-4pm with Afternoon Tea served every Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Enjoy the elegance of a bygone age – either indoors by the open fire of the Georgian dining room or outdoors on the terrace savouring the views of East Cork’s gently rolling hills.
Afterwards stroll the grounds and explore the many nooks and crannies of this impressive house that is otherwise normally preserved for private weddings. Greet their donkeys and Pygmy goats - they’ll certainly greet you!
My two companions each picked The Smoked Salmon Sandwich, the salmon on a bed of crushed Avocado and Egg Salad, topped with pickled Radish and Cucumber Ribbons (9.50) and both were very contented indeed.
My choice was the €10.50 Nduja Mozzarella Toasted Sandwich (spicy Nduja sausage, Mozzarella, Tomato salsa, Roasted red pepper strips, Balsamic reduction and Basil Pesto all on Toasted Focaccia). A bit different for sure and one of the better sandwiches eaten this year.
Also available on the occasion (04.06.2022) were Soup of the Day, Chicken Liver Paté, Chicken Caesar salad and Beef and Potato Rosti.
Now the focus was on the sweet side, a blackboard list of tempting cakes: Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, Vanilla Tart, Lemon Tart, Plum and Almond Tart, Lemon Drizzle, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Marquise, and Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Again I was outnumbered with the other two going for the Lemon Tart (5.50) while my pick was the Plum and Almond (5.50). But there were no regrets as each was excellent. The tea was spot on and a treat in those gorgeous china cups.
Soon we had to face the rain again. But no big deal and we waved to the sheltering donkeys as we drove away.
Stay up to date with the Tea Rooms at https://www.barnabrowhouse.ie/The-Tea-Rooms/
Date of visit: 05.06.2022
