Fantastico Rinnucini's!

There was no time for baking last weekend as my gorgeous hubby whisked me down* the country for a couple of days r&r. We were due to go a couple of weeks back but the Big Freeze of 2010 hit and sure don't you know it the whole place ground to a halt. So, we pushed it out by a week and sure wouldn't you know it the feckin' snow decided to hang around and with the salt and grit scarcer than a tan on an Irish farmers belly we had to once again postpone. We had plans for the two weekends that followed meaning last weekend was the earliest we could slip away for some time together. I swear to God, you'd mobilise a military invasion quicker than you'd get the pair of us down the road to Kilkenny! Saturday morning arrived and I jumped (crawled) out of the bed, pulled open the blinds and what did I see outside only a nice thick layer of frickin' frost on the road. Now at this stage someone up above is having a bit of a giraffe with us.

Off we set on our precarious way happily singing along to my hubby's new 'weekend away' play list thinking that we were no longer going to let the weather stand in our way, I mean this time it was just a little bit of frost and the occasional random ice patch, right. Wrong!!! When we hit the M50 it would appear the heavens were falling down around our ears as the thickest fog I can remember engulfed the car, and so we drove from Dublin to Kilkenny in a thick white cloud not able to see 6ft in front of us at any given time. We made it to the hotel in one piece despite the non existent visibility and deposited our bags pronto before heading back out (into the thick fog, fun) to do a spot of shopping and perhaps have a little bite to eat.

Kilkenny is a very lovely place, and with the construction of some new by pass roads is no distance from Dublin making it a good weekend destination. We have been at least a couple of times a year for the past few years and at this stage must have seen everything it has to offer, so you are probably wondering why bother going back now, why not try somewhere new? The answer to this is simple, Rinnucini's restaurant, that's why.

I can't remember when we first dined here but it was a few years ago now. We stumbled across it on one visit coming out of the castle and ever since it is our sole reason for visiting Kilkenny and never overlook it when down there. I think it is probably my favourite restaurant in Ireland for its combination of fantastic service, perfect bustling atmosphere and always faultless food. I have been to many restaurants with stunning decor, Michelin star food, celebrity chefs and waiting lists as long as your arm, none of which tick all of the boxes in the manner that Rinnucini's does. I have never once walked away form the restaurant with a complaint or a but which is more than I can say for any other Irish restaurant I have visited.

Saturday was no different. Instantly on entering the din of animated conversation hit us smack on the face, the glow of the table lamps melted away the cold from the fog outside and the aroma of delicious creations immediately reminded my tummy that I was STARVING. As we left the hotel too late to have a drink we arrived about 5 minutes early and were shown to our table which I wasn't very happy with. Now I know, I know that I just said I have never had a complaint with this place so bare with me. We addressed our problem with our waiter who explained that as we were slightly early our allocated table was not yet ready but if we were happy to wait he would move us asap. He did move us, and to a very nice table in one of the main areas just perfect for soaking up the lovely atmosphere.

The hubby ordered a bottle of bubbles which was only fabilis, lovely and fruity, I think moreish would be the word for this one. Then we munched away on the lovely bread brought to us while we waited for our food. I ordered Antipasto Rinnucini to start and Tortelloni al Gorgonzola for my main, both were gorgeous. Hubby ordered Capesante de Giacomo (scallops) to start and Pasta del Giorno Frutti de Mare (seafood pasta to you and me) as his main, and it pains me to say it but the bugger made better choices. Whilst all of the dishes were delicious his just had the X factor, gorgeous.

Now he may well have won rounds 1 and 2 but round 3 will always be taken by me. Rinnucini's is the place to go if you want expertly made fresh pasta but for me my visits are motivated by one thing and one thing only, dessert. Always on the dessert menu (thankfully) is the most delicious chocolate mousse. It is smooth, rich, dense, chocolatey heaven on a plate, topped off with a scrumptious dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream cradled in a brandy snap basket. I have sampled many a chocolate mousse in my time (my absolute favourite is that served up in Town Bar & Grill in Dublin) but this one is right up there and this alone makes the 3 hour round trip, the cost of a new guna and shoes and the added expense of a hotel for the night sooooooo worth it.

For that reason I think it shall remain that myself and my hubby make an excuse a couple of times a year for that trip to Kilkenny and the obligatory visit to Rinnucini's to stuff ourselves full of the truly delicious offerings of the wonderful chef and kitchen staff. (I would post some nice pics of all of the lovely things we ate but alas we were so busy scoffing and quaffing that I forgot to take some, soz!)