So it’s been raining for the past few days, it feels like months but what’s new? We live in Northern Ireland and just because it’s raining doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of the summer months! So this week I have two suggestions for making the most of a rainy June and they come from the adventures I’ve had this week.

How about a BBQ in the rain?

(L-R) Christina Campbell, Jeff Meredith, Elanna McGowan and Emer Dooris, pictured at the SuperValu Summer BBQ Event on 29 May 2019. SuperValu is taking the hassle out of barbeque season, with an extensive new summer range. Featuring 30 new lines, perfect for the summer season, the range is part of a £250k investment from SuperValu into its meat offering. From fresh cut meats to salads, cheeses and picnic favourites, SuperValu has got summer sorted. Photos by Matt Mackey, Press Eye.

The lovely guys from Supervalu NI kindly hosted a Secret Garden Summer BBQ last week and Sod’s law the rain did not stop. But with a fantastic tee-pee, a gorgeous location in the grounds of Belfast castle, one amazing DJ (blasting the summer tunes) and some gourmet burgers – no one cared much about the rain! Neither should you so grab your best friends, a few bottles of wine, grab the burgers, maybe a raincoat and an umbrella and make the most of the weekend.

Here’s a few suggestions from Supervalu:

Fire Up The Grill

Nothing beats firing up the BBQ for the first alfresco meal of the season. This summer, SuperValu ranges will cut down your time in the kitchen, leaving more time to mingle with guests or simply sit back and enjoy the aromatic scents of deliciously marinated meat sizzling on the BBQ.

The Prepared By Our Butcher and Fresh For You ranges include everything from traditional favourites, like burgers and sausages, to Chinese Pork Belly Ribs, Cajun chicken skewers, sizzling steaks and piri piri spatchcock chickens, ready to place straight on the BBQ with zero effort required. What’s more, SuperValu stores have their own in-house butcher, ready to offer handy tips, make recommendations and cater for all your BBQ needs.

Prep-Free Picnics

Whether you are packing up a picnic for the park, or stealing a few moments to dine alfresco, SuperValu’s new summer range has everything you need to pull together a tasty no-fuss basket of treats. With tasty local cheeses, fresh breads, mouth-watering salamis, flavoursome dips and tantalising tapas-style treats to choose from, your picnic will be the envy of your friends. All that’s left is to wait for some sunshine!

Perfect Wine Pairings

Long and balmy summer evenings are the perfect time to enjoy a glass of wine, which is why SuperValu have selected an exclusive wine collection, handpicked to complement their summer range. Relax in the garden with the crisp flavours of a chilled white wine; find the perfect light summer rosé, such as the SuperValu favourite Bendel Cuvee Caroline Rose from Provence France (£8.49), to accompany your fish dish; or opt for rich red wine like the Cantina Tombacco Aglianico (£8), also available at SuperValu, to complement the charred and smoky flavours of barbecued beef or pork.

BBQ and Beer

When it comes to pairing food and drinks, wine seems like the obvious companion, but BBQs and beer also go hand-in-hand to make an excellent summer combination. SuperValu is home to a range of local craft beers and ciders, each boasting their own unique flavours and aroma. Exclusive to SuperValu, The JourneyMan IPA is bursting with fruity hop flavours, balanced hints of malt and biscuit, making the perfect accompaniment to your BBQ favourites. What’s more, did you know that the bubbles in beer cleanse your palate with every sip?

Summer Serves

Feeling the heat? Cool down with a quenching gin and tonic or fruity summer cocktail. Alongside their selection of wines and beers, SuperValu has a fantastic selection of carefully selected spirits, featuring a number of local producers including Jawbox, Shortcross, and Boatyard Gins. From simple summer serves to something more exotic, these spirits are perfect for getting the party started or winding down after a summer feast.

For top tips, recipes and further information about the SuperValu summer range, visit http://www.supervalu.co.uk/summer

How about discovering some myths, legends and viewing some breathtaking Northern Irish landscapes whilst being indoors?

This week W5, the fantastic interactive science museum launched AMAZE and I was one of the first to experience this new immersive experience. AMAZE is the UK and Ireland’s first tourist attraction to combine immersive soundscapes, multi-screen projections, physical props and structures, 360 degree projection and augmented reality (AR) portals.
The first exhibition ‘Land of Legends’ is a visual storytelling extravaganza revealing how Northern Ireland was formed by fire and ice and how its landscape has encouraged mythical tales of giants and dragons.

I loved every minute of it. I downloaded the app and loved the footage from around Northern Ireland (it actually made me want to explore my own surroundings a bit more) but my favourite experience was the storytelling room, where myths and legends are brought to life through illustration and epic soundscapes, it left everyone in my party in awe.

So there you have it two different ways to spend a rainy June weekend, either embrace it and dance in the rain or buy a ticket to sun drenched landscapes and escape the downpours but whatever you do have fun.


Emer D xx