Rowan Tree and Red Thread

We're away with the kids for a brief weekend break to Killarney, Co. Kerry. The weekend was conceived primarily to pad out Rowan's Lazytown Live! show, on tomorrow afternoon at the INEC, Killarney. Little did we think that our first meal out in this little Kerry tourist town was going to be so very, very pleasant.

We dined at Kobe, a small, well-hidden Japanese restaurant upstairs in a shopping arcade (remember those?) In the centre of town.

I spotted the sign and got all excited, pointed it out to Sam, who got more excited, and we made our way up the stairs to look at the menu.

There was very nearly a misstep, when Sam started looking at a pretty Thai restaurant across the thoroughfare from Kobe, but sense prevailed and we trooped into the tastefully decorated restaurant.

The staff were pleased to see us, as the place was empty. Admittedly it was only just after 6pm, but business is business and they set about charming us with nice tea recommendations and admiring our daughter's interest in noodles.

We did not have noodles. We had sushi.

A mixed plate of nigiri-zushi each and a plate of vegetarian sushi to share, to be precise, plus miso and some breadcrumbed tofu on skewers. This was accompanied by the lovely Chinese tea, "Remember the King" and a wonderfully fragrant glass of some plum wine.

Yum.

daftnewt will appreciate that Kobe had a tea menu about as long as the food menu.

I'm wondering now if we can get a babysitter in Cork who'd be willing to look after the kids, not while we sneak off to the movies or the pub, but pile into the car and drive to the next county for sushi.