Get back to porridge, New York-style, in downtown Belfast… PAULA GRACEY discovers a friendly Neighbourhood cafe with a Manhattan vibe in her own city centre… and picks four wines for Springtime
BREAKFAST is my favourite meal of the day. I am a loud and proud creature of habit and every day, after my daily flow yoga session lasting around 50 minutes, I dive head first into a big bow of porridge.
I absolutely love it. It doesn’t matter where I am – Spain, NYC, you name it, I have porridge. It has the ability to keep me fuller than any other breakfast choice.
I jazz it up of course with a variety of honey, chopped dates, nuts and seeds, stewed fruit, and can make it different each time but it has to be porridge.
Porridge is one of the most nutritious foods available. It is an excellent source of carbohydrates for energy and fibre to aid digestion. In fact, one bowl of porridge provides more fibre than a slice of wholemeal bread.
Try swapping your morning toast for some porridge and I guarantee you won’t be hungry until lunchtime. It’s also rich in minerals including iron, copper, and manganese, with iron benefiting your metabolism and as a soluble fibre, it can help to lower cholesterol re-absorption.
Outside my own breakfast bar, the best I have been served up was on a birthday treat visit to New York. Breakfast in America, especially NYC, is an awesome experience.
So imagine my delight to discover a real life Manhattan-style Neighbourhood cafe with the New York vibe in our own downtown Belfast.
I never noticed this gem before when it was tucked down an entry further along Donegall Street but you can’t miss it now it has relocated right next to St Anne’s Cathedral.
Neighbourhood’s Classic Porridge
Big, busy and bathed in natural light, the Neighbourhood lives up to its name with a community of diners made up of local office workers and students from the nearby Ulster University, giving it a real buzz.
The menu is small but unique with some amazing creations like Banana Bread French Toast (custard soaked brioche served with brûléed banana, miso caramel cream and a white chocolate and macadamia nut crumb). Or Chorizo Hash (confit chorizo, crispy potatoes, roasted peppers, black beans, spinach and fried egg with chipotle ketchup and parmesan).
The Class Porridge of Irish oats topped with Banana, nut butter and local honey got my seal of approval while himself loved the Breakfast Bap consisting of brioche, smoked bacon, pork sausage, fried egg with smoked cheese & housemade tomato relish, both supremely filling.
A bit closer to NY prices than regular Belfast at £20-£25 for two but well worth it to taste the difference.
The proof of the pudding, so to speak, is the sight of hungry diners queuing down the street outside on Saturday and Sunday mornings!
It’s open from 7.00am to 4.00pm, so get back to porridge, NY-style.
Neighbourhood’s Breakfast Bap and, below, the vibe inside
Raise your glass to Springtime
Spring is on the way (we hope) and here are some bright and shiny wines to welcome the better weather:
Errazuriz Reserve Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (below) – 13% Abv. from Chile (Tesco – £9.00 – £7 with Clubcard). Lots of citrus aromas and hints of herb on the nose and on the palate delicious tropical fruits, with those herbal notes also making an appearance. This is a lovely fresh, crisp and smooth wine, ideal with spring dishes like seafood, salads, grilled fish and feta or goats cheese.
Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages Combes Aux Jacques 2023 (RRP £14.25 VINVM Ships to Northern Ireland) A lovey fresh and fruity red this Beaujolais-Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’ should be drunk quite cool in order to protect the delicious aromas of fruits and the delicate freshness which is the signature of this wine.
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2024 – New Vintage (RRP: £13.90 and widely available, including Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys)
Well known as a benchmark for quality, Villa Maria boasts ripe notes of gooseberry, lime and tropical fruit. Fresh acidity and a dry, refreshing finish mean it’ll make a fantastic partner for white-fish dishes.
Champagne Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé NV ( Sainsburys £48) Why not treat your mum this Mother’s Day to some fabulous rosé from Champagne Taittinger. Uniquely packaged in clear glass to show off its pretty pink hues. Delicate salmon pink in colour. Its aromas are fresh with wild strawberries and a hint of spice. The perfect aperitif and delicious with light, fruity puddings.
