Pretty hard to find place unless you know where it is, down a little sidestreet between the upper…read morenewtownards road and belmont road. They do THE NICEST cinnamon tea bread EVER!

A new branch of The Belfast Baking Company recently opened it's doors in Cherryvalley and I…read morecouldn't wait to get down and grab some goodies. Belfast Baking Company is located on the main Gilnahirk road, near the Maxol station and beside Corries Farm Butchers. Parking is tight in the area but it's worth taking your time and popping by if you can. There's a few tables and chairs outside the branch to site and indulge in some treats and inside you'll find all the things you'd expect from the Northern Ireland Bakery of the year, 2016. The Cherryvalley branch is stylish, well stocked and the staff were very helpful. Samples were provided too of a few items and I'll be heading back soon for some of their pecan pies as a result. I opted for some veda, baps and a few patisserie items but to be honest I couldn't bought one of everything as the presentation was stunning! Items are well packaged for travel too - top points here! If you're in the area, make sure to pop in and have look around, you won't leave empty handed.

The best cupcakes in the world…read more They don't have a huge choice. They add ones here and there during the year at seasonal times. I'm not a big fan of choc cake. So I tend to avoid those cupcakes. They also do mini cupcakes. They bake to order cupcakes and cakes for all occasions. Some of my fave cupcakes are white choc and raspberry,rhubarb and custard and honey bun. The staff are super helpful and nice. If you have not tried here you have not lived !!!

I first tried J Birds little cakes of joy when a box arrived to the office as a gift from a happy…read moreclient, and the staff descended like starving scavengers, the entire box demolished to sounds of mmmmmm in mere seconds. That was a while ago, and when a friend reminded me of it the other day I was compelled to visit the actual shop under the pretence of getting the other half a treat. OK, I wanted a treat, but a good deed is still a good deed. The ladies were lovely and full of chat as I tried to decide what to go for, which considering we are just talking cupcakes not career choices, it was surprisingly difficult. I decided on 3 chocolate ones- a chocolate raspberry, a salted caramel chocolate and a raspberry chocolate. Don't ask me to choose my favourite, as they all were. Moist with a little surprising gooey centre on the caramel and raspberry ones they were flawless. The other half felt the same, leading me to believe that this is a little treat he wants me to repeat, so looks like J Bird will be getting a lot more of my pocket money in the future, not that I'm complaining...

There are no end of hip places opening these days but sometimes you can't go wrong with a good old…read moretraditional bakery, which is what you have at the Valley Crust. You won't find any fancy artisan breads here, the staff are friendly and usually wear a healthy dusting of flour, and it is obvious you aren't paying for the decor, but the the taste and freshness of their scones are enough to drag me from the house on the coldest of days!