Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

In praise of Northern Ireland and its traybakes

69 replies

toomuchtooold · 24/08/2019 16:45

A couple of months ago there was a great thread on here about Northern Irish (protestant) traybakes. Well I have just been to Northern Ireland on holiday and I sampled some of the famous traybake and it was flaming brilliant! There was this minty chocolate one, and the millionaire's shortbread, and a thing with marshmallows... seriously you all have to go there, the old lady baked goods are even better than my native Glasgow. And the people were lovely, it was great, everyone was really friendly, and they say "wee" even more than we do. The countryside's gorgeous, you've got the Giant's Causeway and all that dramatic Game of Thrones coastline... it was awesome.

OP posts:
taytosandwich · 24/08/2019 21:19

Portrush Strand has a couple of picnic benches too if you want to go to the chippy (Superfry) and eat chips on the beach

Outsomnia · 24/08/2019 21:24

NI people are the salt of the earth.

All anyone wants is peace, kids education and a good job.

The BR word is not good for anyone.

youngestisapsycho · 24/08/2019 21:31

We’re planning a trip to NI next year.... looking forward to all this lovely food!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Baking
Cocolapew · 25/08/2019 01:13

OverInfestedBadger I still remember my Gran coming home from a church thing and talking about "pav a lovas ". It was the first one seen in her church and it was like an alien had landed. She was totally in awe Grin

ReggaetonLente · 25/08/2019 01:39

We went to NI for a little holiday before DD was born and we loved it. If I could move anywhere in the world it would be there!

Just wanted to get in on the NI loving!

Gingerkittykat · 25/08/2019 01:46

@GiveMyHeadPeaceffs

They have started selling Irish potato bread here, and I'm ashamed to say I now much prefer them to Scottish tattie scones. There is now a divide in my house and I need to buy both when I'm going to make a cooked brekkie.

I'm a traitor to my country.

Gemz1806 · 25/08/2019 01:52

My Scottish kids get tiffin at school and they LOVE it and want me to make it, but it will never be as good as the schools one. So can someone give me an alternative that's mummys tray bake similar to tiffin??

Gemz1806 · 25/08/2019 01:59

allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/7451/chocolate-tiffin.aspx

This is tiffin if anyone is wondering, Maltesers can also be used!

VetOnCall · 25/08/2019 07:15

If you're in Portrush/Portstewart (my hometown), eat at the Ramore/Harbour Bar complex in Portrush, best food in the area. There are 5 restaurants to choose from and I've never had bad food in any of them. Ramore and Tourist are kid-friendly. Harry's Shack does great seafood. 55 North and Ocho Tapas Bar are also pretty good.

If you want home baking, go to Roark's Kitchen at Ballintoy Harbour (aka the Iron Islands from Game of Thrones). It's a stunning location and you can choose from about 20 amazing home-baked cakes, pies, puddings and traybakes. The lemon meringue pie is divine. The café is family-run and the owner must be in her 70s but still bakes everything from scratch every day. It's very small and rustic and gets very busy but the baking is amazing.

Dora's tea house in Portrush (Magheraboy Road) is also a lovely wee place (see what I did there Grin). Great sandwiches and home-made cake and at least 5 or 6 different traybakes!

NI does great bread too, I miss Veda 😄

MadameAlbert · 25/08/2019 09:06

Just here for the mars bar and apple sandwiches

Original poster
toomuchtooold · 25/08/2019 09:09

So many recommendations on here... we definitely have to go back!

OP posts:
GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 25/08/2019 10:35

@Gingerkittykat my Dsis lives in the Highlands and has done for 20+ years and still gets tattie bread brought over when anyone visits her.

@VetOnCall I was surprised it took so long for someone to suggest the Ramore complex. I haven't been in ages but absolutely love their grub.

The Red Door cafe in Ballintoy is fantastic for traybakes and home made food. But I have to give a mention to Tartine restaurant in Bushmills; lovely food and the chef's seafood chowder with homemade wheaten is amazing.

Oh and Ballycastle! The Central Bar has delicious wine bar type food, lovely independently owned shops and bakeries, fantastic beach and stunning scenery.

Bodyonme · 27/08/2019 08:04

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! implants, great tip on the morelli's pizza, that was just the ticket for us after a long day and then we went back the next day for ice cream sundaes Grin We also made it to the griddle for some lunch and took some cakes away with us.

What a beautiful country it is, we will definitely be back for a longer stay!

implantsandaDyson · 27/08/2019 12:09

Bodyonme no bother- glad you enjoyed it Grin

exLtEveDallas · 27/08/2019 12:26

Oh God, Fifteens. I bloody lived on it when I was in NI (Armagh, Portadown and Holywood). That and Bacon Sodas (and an Ulster Fry on Saturdays...

DuggeesWoggle · 27/08/2019 13:22

Ahh the classics thread on traybakes, so many good things on there! I tried an awesome malteser slice recipe from a photo someone had added from an old recipe book. I don't think I even used as much chocolate as it said but it was immense - a thick mighty slab of sweet goodness (even better kept in the fridge).

And then I got gestational diabetes 😭. Apparently not linked to overconsumption of sugar during pregnancy but I do wonder...

Such things are now in the realm of fantasy, at least for the next couple of weeks until this sprog decides to make an appearance.

Maybe next year should be a NI holiday, sounds like a great place to go.

Thistimetomorrow · 27/08/2019 14:20

@DuggeesWaddle, all the best for your new arrival. Sending you Flowers and a virtual big chocolaty Malteser slice from NI

Thistimetomorrow · 27/08/2019 14:22

Sorry DuggeesWoggle Blush

hotchocdrinker · 27/08/2019 16:24

I'm coming over to NI for a week next month and am aiming to try a different scone and traybake each day. Can't wait!

hotchocdrinker · 27/08/2019 16:24

I'm also taking an empty cabin suitcase on the way over so I can fill it with bread when I come back! (Nutty Krust and apple pancakes for me, Veda for my brother, and various wheaten products for my daughter!) If there's room for some Tayto cheese and onion crisps, that will be great!

NowhereNearTheHighSt · 27/08/2019 16:26

Not technically a traybake but Fifteens are amazing

postmanwatcher · 04/09/2019 17:01

15's are AMAZEBALLS!! My go to Starbucks order is Caramel Latte and A 15! Was in Liverpool in the summer and when I asked for a 15 the poor wee lad thought I wanted 15 Lattes😃😃

Tadiefarl · 04/09/2019 18:02

What do you think of these scones?
—not trying to tempt you or anything—
www.facebook.com/346204578794534/posts/2232533796828260/?substory_index=0
Toffee apple, lemon and coconut, raspberry. Had a toffee apple one today - delicious 😋

Ffsnosexallowed · 04/09/2019 18:06

Oh you've made me want tobacco onions from the harbour bar! The other thing n Ireland does better than anywhere else is garlic fries - wee cubes of fried potato swimming in garlic butter - yum.

Ffsnosexallowed · 04/09/2019 18:08

And treacle scones!