Where To Get Korean Food In Ireland (And Not Just in Dublin)

In honour of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, my upcoming first trip to Seoul (for Fashion Week in March) and my passion for Korean cuisine, I thought it was about time to share my recommendations for places to get excellent Korean food in Ireland.

I think, at this stage, I've been to every Korean restaurant in the country (please, do let me know if I'm wrong on this!), though I know of some market stalls that happen in certain places and on certain days, which I haven't been able to get to yet. However, when it comes to permanent restaurants and cafes, I've tracked 'em down and hit 'em up. One after another. Almost all of them are based in Dublin but there are two that I've managed to track down on this island, outside the capital of the Republic. So, if you're interested in trying something new or you're already a fan of Korean food and looking for some new places to check out, here are some of the best Korean restaurants in Ireland (in no particular order).

Kimbap at Brothers Dosirak

Brothers Dosirak

1. Brothers Dosirak (Korean word for "lunch box"), 27 Capel Street North, Dublin 1, €

I've been a regular at this cheap and cheerful little gem, tucked into Super Asia Foods supermarket on Capel Street, since it opened over a year ago. There isn't a lot of seating - just four or five tables and bar-style seating looking into the kitchen - but I've only had to leave and eat elsewhere once. Peak lunchtime hours during the week might require a wait but, normally, it'll have room for a few more while lively enough. If I'm with a friend, I sit at a table, but when I go there alone, I sit at the counter and chat to the chefs who are happy to tell the weird Irish girl the name of the Korean song from the eighties that she recognises (it was in a television show I watched). Jovial kitchen staff aside, the food is great. There is a selection of some typical dishes from bibimbap to bulgogi and kimchi jjigae to kimbap, served with some banchan (side-dishes) and a free soup of the day, which you can serve yourself from a vat by the cash register. Value for money is great and you'll likely get out the door full and happy for under ten quid. I suggest finishing the whole meal off with a cup of honey lemon tea, which is clearly a gift from the gods. For unpretentious food, lovely plating, friendly (if humble) surrounds and a bargain besides, it is a great option.

Han Sung

2. Han Sung Asian Market, 22 Great Strand St, North City, Dublin 1, €

Another restaurant hidden within a supermarket, this is a less trendy and more traditional-style Korean cafeteria restaurant with quite a range of dishes to choose from and equally great price-points (if slightly less friendly staff, though they're somewhat endearingly uninterested and grumpy). Located at the very back of the store, there is a cluster of ten to fifteen tables and a counter from which you order and collect your meals. You'll eat well for under a tenner and the food is damn good, too. Writing this, I'm given pause to wonder why I don't visit more often, considering how much I like the food. The only reasons I can think of are that I work off Capel Street and I'm lazy enough to favour the locations closer to me and that Han Sung is often busy with big groups, making it a somewhat less comfortable environment in which to dine solo. I must visit again soon, now that I'm reminded!

3. Hailan, several locations (Capel Street, Dame Street, Dundrum), €€

I used to be a bit of a regular in the Capel Street location however, I have come to realise that the branches are quite different from each other. The Capel Street location usually seems to have Chinese staff and customers and, as a result, is less stellar for Korean food. The Dame Street location, meanwhile, has a bigger Korean menu and Korean staff, which makes it preferable if you're there for Korean food (as you'd imagine). I actually order food to be delivered from Dame Street quite a bit and really rate their spicy fried chicken (dakgangjeong), in particular. In fact, it's become my go-to feeling-sorry-for-myself, tired, sick or hungover food. To me, it's a serious treat. Their kimchi jjigae is also pretty damn good and, as a key dish in the cuisine, is always a good bar by which to rate a restaurant. Prices here, meanwhile, are pretty standard Dublin mid-range restaurant prices and not the serious bargains of the first two entries on this list. However, they're still pretty competitive.

Kimbap at Arisu

Kimchi Jjigae at Arisu

4. Arisu, 120 Capel Street, North City, Dublin 1, €€

Arisu is a funny one. There's something a little intimidating about the Capel Street location. I'm not quite sure what it is. The food is great (the banchan are especially good), don't get me wrong, and, when it comes to decor, it's one of the prettiest Korean restaurants in the country. But there's some air to the place that always makes me feel funny and self-conscious when I walk through the door.

When they opened a Rathmines location, it became almost a second home to me, however. I strolled in on a regular basis, knew the staff, got extras of the side-dishes for free sometimes. The whole nine. Sadly, this location seems to be closed now. However, the taste of that one seaweed side-dish and the meat perfectly cooked over the barbecue at each table by the expert staff (if you're having barbecue) will make me brave the weird vibes of Capel Street once more, I think. Of course, said vibes could be more me being weird than the place but I really will mourn being a regular at the Dublin 6 spot and being able to wander in on my way home.

Once again, the prices jump up a little more at this entry but are still not unreasonable and you do get banchan, which is always nice and makes for a more authentic Korean dining experience.

Drunken Fish

5. Drunken Fish, The Excise Building, I.F.S.C., Mayor Street Lower, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1, €€

Drunken Fish is a cafe and takeaway lunch box spot, a restaurant, a pub, a karaoke bar and an event space all in one. Straight off the bat, I will say (and warn) that service can be slow. However, in saying this, I also still can't help but like the place. The staff are always lovely, there are banchan (the way to my heart), Korean beers and liquor (though they can be out of stock) and it's nice that you can also enjoy the bar or karaoke in the one venue. It's also one of the places that my Korean friends all like and recommend and it's where my Korean teacher organises our Christmas parties; so it's got the approval of people who know what they're talking about. Being down in the IFSC makes it a not-so-regular spot for me but if you work or live nearby or are looking for a different spot for a night out, it is a must! I only wish I worked closer to indulge in their lunch boxes.

6. Kimchi Hop House, 160-161 Parnell St, Rotunda, Dublin 1, €€

Kimchi is also a restaurant and bar and is, in fact, the oldest and most lauded Korean restaurant in Dublin. It is pretty well-established and popular and for good reason. A buzzing, lively spot, it is the perfect place for group gatherings and I've even had a very successful party dinner there before. Staffed by Korean waiters and chefs, providing banchan and with Korean liquor on the menu, it's another place where you can get the full (or as close to it as possible) Korean dining experience in Dublin. The food is great and presented beautifully and the whole place is a well-oiled machine.

....and, now, to venture beyond Dublin. Because, believe it or not, there are two (as far as I know) more Korean restaurants in Ireland; one in Sligo and one in Belfast.

Miso, Sligo

7. Miso, Calry Court, Stephen St, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo, €€

The bestie (or one of them, I should say!) and I went to Sligo for a weekend during the summer and after a long day of cycling and exploring, we decided to check out the award-winning Korean restaurant that I was surprised and delighted to find out is located in the town. They serve both Korean and Japanese food but the restaurant is actually owned by the sweetest Korean gentleman, Nae Young Jung, who works as the Head Chef and came out and did the rounds to chat to local regulars and us blow-ins alike. While he is a particular gent, everyone who worked in the place was lovely and incredibly accommodating to my friend, who has several food intolerances. The atmosphere of the restaurant is utterly jovial and friendly and I really can't recommend it enough.

Cafe Arirang

8. Cafe Arirang, 32 Botanic Ave, Belfast BT7 1JQ, UK, ££

This wee cafe was another lovely surprise that I stumbled upon while travelling and visiting my baby brother in Belfast. A small, family-run business, it isn't super stylish but there are some tasty treats that you don't see on many menus in Ireland.

I was quite surprised to see the very divided debate online about the place. Some were saying it was expensive but, to me, it seemed very reasonably priced. The food itself garnered a lot of mixed reviews but I would say that, while it certainly isn't fine dining (more like street food and some of it is very much foods that are considered unhealthy treats in Korea), it was really tasty, though clearly adapted somewhat for local tastes. Don't let the online debate put you off, this sweet little family-run establishment is great. Order a few things and share them and you'll have a real treat. My brother and I got the bulgogi kimbap, tteokbokki, spicy noodles and fried dumplings between us and it was quite the feast.

BONUS: Love Is Art Atelier, 3 Strand Street Great, North City, Dublin 1, €€

This cute cafe, also near my office, is owned by a Korean couple and, while they don't serve Korean food, it is a very Korean-style cafe from the interior to the way things are served. Adorable and very Instagram-friendly, I'm only sad that work prevents me from just hanging out here all day.

So, there you have it, a rather decisive list of where to get yo' hands on Korean food in Ireland and my thoughts on each! 잘 먹겠습니다!

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Love Letters To Dublin: 10 Of The Best Places To Grab A Drink In The City Over Christmas

Okay, up front, my idea of a good place to get a drink might not match everyone's tastes.

First of all, I can't really drink much anymore. I tap out early nowadays and suffer the next day even if I only have a couple.

Because of this, it's majorly about quality over quantity for me and I'm okay with spending a bit more. Therefore, this list features very few inexpensive options but it does boast choices of venues where the drinks are excellent and the atmosphere is second to none (and, in my opinion, that's worth paying for) but the price tag matches the sense of luxury.

That being said, Christmas is the time of year when everyone comes home and you have loads of people to meet up with. If you're looking for a nice place to bring them - especially pals who might now live abroad and not know where to go - then these are some great choices. And, of course, if you are planning on visiting Dublin at all, no matter the time of year, these are locations that I always love.

In no particular order, we have...

1. Dollard & Co., 2-5 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar

Let's get one thing straight, I don't rate the food here. I've been much less than impressed by it in the past. However, I am a fan of browsing the grocery store section for foodie picks (their frozen Vegan foods selection is one of the best in the city and the booze section is pretty on point as well) and it's a nice place to get good gelato, meet a friend for coffee and cake or, better still, grab a quiet drink. Timing is important. A weekday evening is the perfect time, not empty but not too busy and a place to have a polite conversation over a glass of wine, without having to compete with obnoxiously loud music or feel your way around in the dark (I'm aware that I'm a grumpy old man). Drinks aren't cheap (a glass of wine is just under 7 quid) but the setting is nice, well-lit and perfect for a catch-up.

2. Roberta's, 1 Essex St E, Temple Bar

While in the area, if you're more interested in a cocktail, Roberta's is a good option. Again, it isn't cheap (it is in Temple Bar, though, so I wouldn't expect bargains) and I've heard rather mixed things about the food (though the fries we were given on the house to accompany our drinks were pretty damn good - not sure if this always happens) but the cocktails are great. And, once again, the location is super stylish. For seriously elegant cocktail bar vibes, it's one of the better choices in town and the glass ceiling over the bar means that it is a wonderful sunny location during summer evenings, in particular.

3. The Liquor Rooms, 6-8 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar

(I swear to God that this is not sponsored by the company that owns all three of these picks so far, though, if you're interested guys, my rates are very reasonable) The Liquor Rooms are one of my all-time favourite bars in the city. A mixture between a speakeasy and your granny's sitting room, it is located underneath the Clarence Hotel and serves up some of the finest cocktails in the city. I'm obsessed with their menu of drinks named after and inspired by amazing women from Irish history, which is a thing of beauty in its own right and features beautiful illustrations and information about the women in question. In fact, I may have nicked one of the menus while drunk one time...heh...heh. But, for reals, cool-ass vibes and delicious drinks aplenty. Again, again, timing is key (the atmosphere can be weird and it can be way too packed late on a weekend night) but if you pop in and it isn't jammers, stick around and fork out the extra few quid it'll cost you to drink here as it is well worth it. I recommend the Tread Softly, which is inspired by Maude Gonne and is adorably served in a vintage teacup.

4. The Westbury, Balfe St

Okay, so maybe none of my picks are anyway cost effective...oops.

I just really like fancy bars and, really, any part of the Westbury is a lovely place for a drink. Balfe's restaurant downstairs is great for a light bite with some wine (get a charcuterie board and sit outside under the heaters and you may trick yourself into believing you are in warmer climes). Wilde is a stunning dining experience with a wee bar outside it for waiting for your table. The bar itself is a classic Dublin institution. But, for me, it's all about the lobby. Get a table and couch, a truly excellent mulled wine (the best I've had after my mother's) and cosy up with a friend for long chats in the most luxuriously comfortable setting. Just don't expect speedy service. But that's okay, you'll want to loaf around.

Wilde

5. Balfe's, Balfe St

Worth its own mention, separately. Seriously, get the boards to share with a friend and a glass of wine, embrace continental living and forget your responsibilities for a few minutes...you'll thank me later, once you feel like you were on the Costa Azzurra for a couple of hours.

6. Yamamori Izakaya, 12/13 South Great George’s Street

If you want Japanese beer on tap, black and white Japanese films playing on all the screens and Japas (Japanese tapas - or small plates of Japanese dishes), then Izakaya is the one for you. This George's Street bar, located underneath and connected to the restaurant of the same name serves up great food, great beers and some mean lemonades that can be made into alcoholic lemonades. Once again, it is a bit of an escape, transporting you away from Dublin for a while and much as I love the city, we could all do with that from time to time. My personal picks from the menu are the Kirin Ichiban on tap (in the giant glass that makes me feel teeny), the Ginger Lemonade with a shot of whiskey and the gyoza.

7. Library Bar, Exchequer St

A little further down the street and around the corner from Izakaya, in the Central Hotel, you'll find Library Bar. Like the Liquor Rooms, it's a little like your granny's living room but a lot quieter, calmer, less hip but incredibly elegant in a charmingly old fashioned and worn-in kind of way and impossibly cosy. This isn't where you come for innovative drinks or wild selections of craft beers or for the 'gram. This is the type of place to go to if you really want to sit back, relax and enjoy good company in a truly pleasant setting.

8. The Marker, Grand Canal Square, Docklands

Somewhat similar is The Marker, or at least its lobby, in that it is a pleasantly chill place to curl up and catch up with someone. The bestie and I went there a few weeks ago, draped my blanket scarf over our legs and stuffed ourselves with fried food and cocktails. Here you will get those shots for the 'gram (between the architecture and the drinks) but you'll also have a chill evening of it. I've never actually been to the rooftop bar (I don't do queues, if I can help it) but I get the feeling that it's a lot buzzier and busier, by comparison so it's the lobby all the way, for me.

9. Green & Bean, Brown Thomas, Grafton Street

These last two picks are a little unorthodox, I'll admit but they are two of my absolute favourite places to get a drink. The first is Green & Bean, located in Ireland's premier luxury department store, Brown Thomas, it is a pretty So-Cal-inspired cafe. While not a bar, it is a great place to grab an excellent Rosé either over brunch on the weekend or after work on a late-opening Thursday. My personal favourite combo? Wine and cake and a good friend.

10. Lighthouse Cinema, Market Square, Smithfield

I LOVE the Lighthouse Cinema. I'd live there if I could. Not only do they show excellent films and host wonderful film festivals, but its also a great place to grab a drink. Either bring a beer into a film with some freshly-made popcorn or, do like me and Sarah, and go see an arthouse movie that will emotionally devastate you and then have to spend two hours drinking on the seats built into the stairs to recover.

So, if you're catching up with good people over Christmas, keep these ideas for venues to grab a drink in mind and thank me later (your wallet might not do the same, though).

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Love Letters To Dublin: 10 Of The Most Instagrammable Cafés in Dublin

This year, you may have noticed, I've stepped back from the blog a bit. I decided that I wanted to focus more on seeing the people I love or people I want to get to know better and not spend all of my free time at events, where I often feel like a spare part. Don't get me wrong, I've met great people through blogging and events. Events are still often very fun but the process of them can feel soulless, at times.

Instead, I've been penciling in time for my besties, family and people I've always liked that I wanted to get to know better (like Ellie and Emma, of Ol' Green Eyes blog). And to be honest, it's pretty fulfilling.

I've also been setting aside more quality time and breathing room for myself. Moments of calm can be rare, as I hate being idle, but the constant go-go-go of my life can be pretty draining.

One of the easiest and best things to do, whether I'm going on dates with pals, or simply with myself, is to spend time in a café. Dublin doesn't have quite the café culture that has long existed across other parts of Europe - you won't find the same blend of bar and coffeehouse or the long hours. The pub still reigns supreme here and cafés generally don't open past 5pm. However, chains have far from fully taken over and there are plenty of charming and unique little spots across the city.

Ambiance is a big part of why I choose to patronise a place and being "Instagrammable" or aesthetically pleasing is a part of that. While I wouldn't turn down good food for a nice picture, said picture is always a cherry on top and if you're paying inflated prices for tea (because if you don't touch coffee, like me, you at least want to be in nice surroundings, right?

Of course you do! So, here are ten of the most Insta-friendly coffee shops in Dublin.

1. Pot-Bellied Pig, 15 Rathmines Road Upper

You know a place is cute when it is being scouted by magazines as a shoot location: that means it has won out over fancy hotels, manor houses, pretty landscapes or scenic corners of the city. Pot-Bellied Pig is a Pinterest dream, all Millennial pink and cheese plant prints. Their food is pretty excellent too. I've had brunch there twice now - once alone with a good book and a second time with my childhood best friend - and I've since replicated the meals I had, multiple times, at home. I will say that the brunch is a little pricey but if you're hankering for some good food and cute pics, they've got you covered. Oh, and if you want one of their famous blush pink velvet booths, I suggest you bring at least two other people as they've yet to allow me to sit in one. Also oh, be warned: the lighting actually isn't great so getting that perfect shot can be tricky. That booth by the window at the back, with the only decent natural light is my goal one day!

2. Five Points, 288A Harold's Cross Road

From a cutesy place to a minimal gem, this newest branch of the beloved Five Points café was a wonderful addition to Harold's Cross. Particularly for me, as it is about a five minute walk from my place. Admittedly, I've yet to eat a proper meal there but I do love to pop in on a Sunday afternoon, just before closing and once the brunch crowds have dissipated, and spend an hour reading, catching up on work, doing my Korean homework or just chilling with a pastry and a tea. Bright, airy and devoid of too many tables clustered together (a personal pet peeve), it's the perfect spot to get your daily intake of caffeine and a well-lit shot of it, as well.

3. Foam, 24 Strand Street Great

Foam, meanwhile, is one of those rare beauties in Dublin. It stays open until 8 and, as a result, it is a regular after work hang-out spot for me. It's also really cool inside: a quirky, colourful, weird mixture of different wallpaper, works of art, mismatched tableware, lamps, couches and tables. There's plenty to see - from the cute to the truly bizarre - and they have a nice selection of cakes, teas, coffees and a full food menu as well. The downstairs is more formal dining and upstairs is a mixture of tables and chairs and sofas, which makes it the perfect spot to curl up and catch up with people.

4. Oolong Flower Power, 4 Stephens Street Lower

Like Foam, Oolong Flower Power stays open late (until 9 or 10pm each day) and is a perfect spot for tea lovers, with hundreds to choose from. You can also get cakes, lunches and dinners but its the tea that is the big draw for me. While storing it in glass jars isn't great (I'm a bit of a fancy tea snob as I once worked in a high-end tea shop myself), it is great to have that kind of choice; from black to green, herbal to rooibos and all sorts of flavours and varieties of each. Plus, the big windows and marble tables make for some pretty shots.

5. Ladurée, 1-3 South William Street

Speaking of marble and pretty interiors, one can't help but mention Ladurée. While it is a chain and not unique to Dublin, the café is pretty damn adorable. Their hot chocolate is famous, apparently, and they are one of the few places in Dublin that does Madeleines. You can also grab their own blends of tea (the Marie Antoinette is my fave) and, of course, their iconic macarons, as well as alcoholic beverages (wine and cocktails) and full meals. If you have a pastel theme going on on your profile, it is a must.

6. Press Café, National Print Museum, Haddington Road

Located in a pretty conservatory filled with mismatched furniture (for that charmingly eclectic touch) and plants, this café boasts a spacious, bright dining space and wonderful menu. Said menu features breakfast, brunch (Saturday and Sunday) and lunch options as well as plenty of drink (including Prosecco and wine) options. I can personally recommend the banana bread French toast but the entirety of the menu looks and sounds truly delicious. Probably one of the better cafés to choose if you're actually eating and plated so prettily it would be a crime not to 'gram it.

7. Green & Bean, Brown Thomas, Grafton Street

Located in Ireland's premier luxury department store, Brown Thomas, Green & Bean is all So-Cal interiors, excellent Rosé, elegant vibes and an eclectic menu. Some items on the menu are pricey, as one might imagine, but if you pop in for a bit before closing on the late-opening Thursday, it's an excellent place to grab a glass of wine and cake for ultimate relaxation.

8. Bibi's Café, 14A Emorville Avenue

Family friendly, cute and cosy, Bibi's has a limited menu but serves everything on very photogenic tableware and it's all damn tasty classics. The seats outdoors are a must, weather permitting, as you find yourself sitting out in a sunny spot on a quiet Dublin 8 residential street, tucked far from traffic. If you're catching up with a friend, this is a perfect spot to go uninterrupted and to feel utterly unhurried (though inside can be chaotic with groups and families for brunch at the weekend).

9. Isabella's, 268 Rathmines Road Lower

Isabella's is both a café and gelateria, which is an excellent combo. This is where you can get the tastiest vegan Chocolate gelato ever, stacks of pancakes, crepes, Belgian waffles, delicious milkshakes (or so I'm told, I'm not a fan), and a decent selection of tea and coffee. Simply decorated in warm wood and pastel tones, you can 'gram an ice-cream cone fully decked out with sweets, sprinkles, etc or a quiet brunch over crosswords and magazines with your wifey (like me).

10. Two-Fifty Square, Williams Park

Finally, we have the lovely Two-Fifty Square. Tucked down a side-street, located inside a little house, this is seriously cute inside and out. The coffee is raved about, the food is delicious, it is spacious and bright and very cool. Basically, a perfect spot for grabbing coffee with a pal or brunch with a gang. And the food? As photogenic as it is tasty.

So, now that you have these guys at hand as a list, get out and experience Dublin's own unique café culture!

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Brunch With Kilkenny And New Irish Design For AW17

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to brunch at Residence with Kilkenny to view their AW17 collections. As I love brunch and have fond childhood memories of Kilkenny, I was pretty excited. When I realised I was sitting with editors from some of my favourite Irish magazines and a blogger I had interacted with before but had never met IRL, I was even more excited. Our table was completed with one of the brand's buyers who explained all about their choices and ideas during the show, which was excellent, giving us a really insight into where Kilkenny is going.

Kilkenny is known for their occasionwear and has been a stalwart provider of outfits for stylish Irish women in a slightly older age bracket. Moving forward, they are aiming to keep these loyal, and discerning, customers happy, while also targeting a younger audience and more day-to-day needs. Two new casual brands Beaumont and 10 Feet (available in Galway and Swords only) have been introduced and while Kilkenny showed picks from Fossil and Guess, they reaffirmed their constant commitment to Irish design with pieces from the likes of Fee G and Caroline Kilkenny.

When it comes to the actual look that Kilkenny are all about this season, there's good news: it;s cute and cosy. Seventies florals and bold colours from hot pink to bottle green to maroon abounded and layering with stylish jackets, casually tossed scarves and light knits was key. For special events, there was a nice sprinkle of some structured, interesting alternatives to the standard dresses that were also shown, such as the maroon belted jumpsuit that everyone was swooning over. With pieces to appeal to all sorts of age groups, styles and lifestyles, there really is something for everyone now. Would I have liked some slightly bolder and more surprising aesthetic choices thrown in there? Sure. But, for now, Kilkenny is striding into the future in a way that I can totally get behind.

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Create 2017 At Brown Thomas

Create is an annual showcase of Irish designers and Irish design that takes place in Dublin's leading luxury department store, Brown Thomas. In its seventh year, Create has always presented wonderful designers, both upcoming and established, in a beautiful setting but the display this year is particularly lovely; black and white palm leaf wallpaper, sprawling greenery (how trendy), neon signs (how very trendy) and white looping geometric rails.

Showcasing the work of 22 designers this year across ready-to-wear, accessories, scarves, jewellery, millinery and interiors, the display is curated by Brown Thomas Fashion Director Shelly Corkery and features beloved established Irish designers such as Mariad Whisker, Helen Cody and Úna Burke, as well as newcomers such as the recent NCAD grads Colin Burke and Laoise Carey.

My own personal highlights, however, have to be Domino Whisker's cute and tongue-in-cheek embroidered collars, badges and framed images and the beautifully crisp, modernised tradition of 31 Chapel Lane's linen clothing.

The showcase remains on display on the first floor of the Grafton Street store until the 13th of August 2017 and it is well-worth popping in to check it out.

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Having A Snoop At Another Beauty Blogger's Handbag Essentials - Emma of Ol' Green Eyes

Blogging isn't the friendliest scene in Dublin. I've never, personally, had a bad experience and get along with everyone but I have witnessed nastiness and I had never made any close friends that are bloggers. I'm friendly with lots of people but there wasn't anyone that I had clicked with or knew well and that was partly my own fault for being too shy to put myself out there more.

And then, one event, I ended up talking to Emma of Ol' Green Eyes. We had often hung out at events before and I genuinely really liked her and whatever got into me that day, I did put myself out there: I asked her if she wanted to hang out sometime. This doesn't seem like that big a deal but making new friends as an adult isn't easy! She agreed, we went for coffee and I put forward the idea of doing a collab, which is how we ended up in Dublin's trendiest new eatery and bar with both of our makeup bags spilled out across the table.

Both curious about Roberta's, we headed there last week to grab a cocktail and some fries (Lesson learned: they may give you fries to snack on with your drinks so hold off on ordering unless you want to end up with three portions, like us. If you do want that, go ahead.) and compare our handbag essentials. I mean, who doesn't enjoy a creep at what others deem must-haves, right?

Once we had our food and drinks and had chatted a bit, Emma started unpacking her products and spreading them out before us in an aesthetically pleasing manner, much to the amusement of our very friendly waitress. I immediately spotted Escentric's Molecule 01 perfume and had many questions. Did it really smell different on different people? (A little, apparently) Could you really not smell it on yourself? (Only immediately after application for a while) And most importantly: Is it worth the hype? According to Emma, her whole office had it first and she kept asking what they were wearing, loving it. Then she gave in and bought the (much more reasonable/affordable) refillable 30ml bottle, only to be met by others grabbing her wrist and wondering what she, too, was wearing. So, not hype without fire then. While it is one of her go-to scents now, she does admit that it is partially only in her bag atm because of its handy size.

Another non-makeup essential that Emma totes around is Rituals' Indian Rose and Sweet Almond hand cream. Ritual is one of her favourite bodycare brands as it stands but this is an essential. Not only does it smell delicious (and it does) but she swears by its effectiveness. In fact, after flying to New York recently and washing her hands with the harsh soap on the plane multiple times, they were in need of some TLC and her first stop upon landing was the Rituals store.

If we're talking lifesavers and skincare rescues, then YSL's Lip Perfector needs a mention as it is another item Emma swears by. In fact, in the slew of lip products (why does every beauty blogger always have, like, ten lip products on them at any given time - this coming from someone who doesn't wear much makeup very often and who still does the same?), this was the key item. Under matte lip products, it is a lifesaver and as a lip balm, it is perfect. Plus, Emma says she uses it at least twice a day and has been using the same tube since last year - that's some long-lasting product!

Emma is a woman after my own heart in many ways and doesn't like to have to re-do her whole face on the go. Instead, she tries to ease the process of makeup wearing off over the course of the day. As such, many of her must-haves were key to preserving and cleaning up makeup. For sorting out oiliness, she swears by Essence's oil paper that may come in a tatty little cardboard box but does exactly what it needs to and for just over a euro. After stealing it from her sister constantly, she began to carry some around all the time and has yet to be swayed by any more expensive alternatives. A bargain and effective? The dream, right? Finally, Emma has only recently discovered Mac's iconic Fix + and has fallen in love. She uses it to revive her face and makeup throughout the day and says she totally gets the hype now.

There was plenty of other stuff in Emma's makeup bag to rummage through - Mac's Lady Danger and a genius lip brush from Sephora, among other things - but the above items were the ones that seemed really to be her ride or die products. And once we had adequately made a show of ourselves photographing the place and endless beauty products we had covering the table, we finished all of the fries and swanned out of there, a little bit closer for having revealed our deepest, not-so-darkest beauty secrets.

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