This tiny tearoom on Dame Street serves some of the sweetest treats in the capital.

The counter groans under a dazzling array of confections . . . crumbles, cheesecakes, tarts, pastries, cookies, scones and chocolate cakes . . . all of which have been lovingly baked on site. There's good lunch food too . . .wholesome salads, quiches, sambos . . . and excellent coffee.

But eat light . . . you don't want to miss out on those heavenly home bakes.

4 Cork Hill, Dame Street and City Hall, Dame Street. Tel: 01 670 7499

Dress to impress

Aside from the simplicity of making your own salad dressings from a selection of oils, vinegars and mustards, shop-bought varieties are often loaded with preservatives and nasty dried herbs that leave a cloying taste. We're surprised then to discover Virginia Harvest's new Omega 3.6.9 dressing which tastes really good while managing to sneak a rake of essential fatty acids into your diet. The dressing is blended from hemp seed oil, flax oil, pumpkin seed oil and balsamic vinegar to produce a light, nutty vinaigrette rich in omegas 3,6 and 9 in the ratios 3:2:1.

From select supermarkets and healthfood shops, /5.85 (250ml). www. virginiafoods. net