Author Archives: andydhare

Win two tickets to Foodies Festival, Canon Hill Park, Birmingham, June 3-5.

Posted in Birmingham, Food Festivals, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian by

A few weeks ago I mentioned in my blog that the Foodies Festival was coming to Birmingham Canon Hill Park from the 3rd-5th June.

   

 The Foodies Festival has a host of exciting foodie related things to do and a lot for Vegetarians including celebrity chefs, demos, street food, artisan food stalls and cocktails/wine and real ale and is good family day out in one of Birmingham’s most beautiful parks. 

For one lucky reader there is an opportunity to win a pair of tickets for any of the three days. Friday through to Sunday. 

All you have to do to win the tickets for the Foodies Festival at Canon Hill Park is: 

Follow me on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/andydhare

And 

Retweet any of my tweets about the competition and festival. 

(If you already follow me you only have to Retweet) 

Or on Facebook, 

http://b-m.facebook.com/Veggie-Foodie-1488625224714229/

like the status and follow Veggie Foodie facebook page.

Terms and Conditions:

The competition will end on Monday 30th May at 12pm and no entries received after that date and time will be accepted.

One winner will receive two tickets that can be used on any day of the festival you wish and are valid for one day’s entry.

The winners contact details will be passed on by myself to Lanyard Media who will be dispatching the tickets to them.

I’ve been selected as one of Birmingham’s Foodies Festival official bloggers by Lanyard Media.

Good luck with the competition. 
Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

You can still get 2-1 tickets via the code below available on the Foodies Festival website.

   
 

Review: Star and Garter: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, Leamington Spa, vegetarian, Warwickshire by

   Leamington Spa is a place I didn’t know very well, having never been there before our visit to the Star and Garter. Because our reservation was on a Saturday evening we decided to make a weekend of it, and had a lovely stay. Leamington Spa  is a nice town, pretty buildings interspersed with a lovely parks and river with a good independent streak running through its shops, cafes and restaurants. Well worth a visit for the day, or weekend stopover. 

The Star and Garter recently refurbished in a very tasteful way is tucked slightly off the main High Street shopping area, nestled away from the main traffic bustle, but is easy to find. It’s location I think benefits it and also doesn’t hinder its popularity with the locals and visitors, for when we visited it was packed and full of great atmosphere. 

The Star and Garter is part of the independent Peach Group of pubs that also own The Highfield in Birmingham and The Rose and Crown in Warwick, both of which I’ve reviewed on my blog before and The Almanack, in Kenilworth which I haven’t. 

It’s impressive from the outside, lit beautifully in the fading evening light. It’s smart interior provides a Gastro pub kind of feel and is a subtle hybrid of a cosy pub, restaurant and cool bar which makes for a contrasting mix of folk eating, drinking and meeting up before moving on elsewhere. It’s a go anytime kind of place it feels, open all day it felt an important part of the town. 

The food element of the pub is the trump card in the armour. The menus are seasonal, providing a variation for all tastes and diets, with a good choice for Vegetarians. 

With a keen relationship built up with local farmers and producers. Vegetables are from Evesham and when we visited Asparagus was just on the menu with their popular ‘dip your own’ Asparagus dish. Prices are sensible and you feel you are getting good value. 

We sat in a cosy booth like seat near the bar so was able to feel an indulge in the full pub atmosphere which was ideal. 

We ordered two Negroni’s to drink initially. It was dry and zingy, everything a Negroni should be. It packed a punch with the divine bitterness of the Italian spirit Campari but had a mellowness from the Vermouth that was spot on. Perfecto.   

 Negroni: A super-modish choice.

  
   

The choice for Vegetarians at The Star and Garter is a good one, but from experience of their previous pub visits the so called, Veggie Board (Well by me) is a delicious choice. Called here Major or minor orders (prefer deli board or tapas maybe) you can choose any 3 dishes off the menu for £9.50. They come in their own pots and the menu is above. It’s a fun way to start the meal and gives a flavour of what they do well. 

The Red Lentil Falafels with spicy yogurt, was a good falafel with the added dipping quality of some gently spiced yogurt which gave them another dimension.

The Stuffed Artichoke Hearts and Pesto Mayo: again with added dipping deliciousness, lovely artichokes full of Spring flavour with again a full flavoured Mayo. 

The Sesame Crusted Halloumi with peanut salad and Oriental Dressing  though was my favourite, and a real complimentary contrast to the other dishes offering a real stir fry like texture and crunch to the softer Halloumi and stuffed artichoke and falafels. A lovely complete dish. I love this kind of eating, and The Star and Garter’s version is a real winner. 
  
    

Ruth chose the seasonal special and tempting Dip Your Own Asparagus.  

Fresh seasonal Asparagus with its own pot of Hollandaise and Parmesan, presented beautifully and set up for a dipping frenzy. Ruth loved it. I tried a spear with the hollandaise and could concur to its simplicity and celebration of a beautiful British vegetable. With both starters taken together to share between two you’d have near perfection this Spring.

For veggies that don’t eat Parmesan it can be ignored as it comes seperate in its own pot. 

  
 Dip your own Asparagus.

  

For my main course I ordered the delicious sounding Spring Vegetable and Puy Lentil Pie, Quicke’s Mature Chedder mash, Veg gravy. 

In fact it was delicious. Deep flavoured put lentil filling, chedder mash with a really mature kick, soft but firm tenderstalk Broccoli. Indulgent, rich, comforting. It was delicious and full of deep flavour and well seasoned. A tasty Vegetarian option served with hot veggie gravy. 

We ordered a side order of Spring Greens and Peas with a thyme dressing, which complimented and boosted my dish well. 

  
    

For dessets Ruth ordered the Treacle Tart, Chantilly cream. Which she said was nice, but didn’t wow and could have done with a zingy lift. 

I ordered The Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was a good pud. Very sticky, a deep toffee flavour and plenty of toffee sauce. Lovely.

Treacle Tart, Chantilly cream.    Sticky toffee pudding.

  

We also ordered a nice bottle of White Rioja which complimented the food well.

The Star and Garter is a lovely old town centre pub. It’s cosy, quirky, with a good atmosphere that adds to our experience and made for a lovely evening. With its low lighting and modern but old feel it a recommended try when in Leamington Spa. For Vegetarians dining out the food is superb. A good mix of dishes that could possibly do with another main course on it (maybe a special) for added choice or maybe to utilise more of the seasonal veg that is around in different more adventurous ways, but for informal eating with a cosy, Gastro feel it’s a joy and with its genuine welcome and relaxed service its a fab choice to eat, drink and be merry in Leamington Spa.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Thanks to General Manager Colin for his time and taking us through the menu and to Sarah for the organisation.

The review was written after a kind invitation from the Star and Garter to review their Spring menu. Our food and drink was complimentary on the night. All opinions are my own, honest and without bias. I was not required to write a positive review.

 Ruth’s Fish main course special which she enjoyed.

  

    
 

   
   

The last three photos plus the first two courtesy of The Star and Garter. The rest of the photos are my own. 

Star and Garter, 4-6 Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV 32 5LL.

http://www.starandgarterleamington.co.uk/

Click to access Star-Garter-Spring-16-MAIN-MENU-Toast-1.pdf

https://twitter.com/star_leamington?lang=en-gb

https://m.facebook.com/TheStarGarter

KingshEATh goes Veggie: All Vegetarian Street Food day. Sunday 22nd May, Kings Heath.

Posted in Food Festivals, Independent, Kings Heath, pizza, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

This month, Brum Yum Yum are serving up a double helping of their hugely popular KingshEATh Street Food Market, in Kings Heath, Burmingham.

As well as their regular monthly market on Saturday 14th (always the second Saturday of the month) the pioneers of Birmingham’s street food renaissance are collaborating with leading Midlands street food company, The Vegan Grindhouse to host an all Vegetarian street food ‘special edition’ on Sunday 22nd May from 12-5pm, at Kings Heath Village Square, High St B14 7RA.

KingshEATh goes veggie the only 100% meat-free street food event in the region, will feature dishes freshly cooked by leading street food chefs, showcasing entirely Vegetarian menus with Vegan options available at every stall. 

As a big supporter of Brum Yum Yum KingshEATh I was flattered to be asked for a quote by organiser Duncan Stanley for the event: I said, 

“For flesh-dodgers of a foodie nature, KingshEATh Goes Veggie ticks the meat-free box and proves that you don’t need to eat meat to enjoy fantastic street food!”

As well as all the street food, the event will feature live music from local musicians, a bar from local all-vegan brewery Twisted Barrel Ales along with organic fruit and vegetables, animal-friendly clothing and cosmetics, a fermented drinks bar, and a range of vegan and gluten-free cakes and desserts.

The event is supporting Gracie’s Rest a not-for-profit organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes animals in crisis. 

http://www.gracesrest.co.uk/

Lisa Burbidge-Brown, Co-owner of The Vegan Grindhouse said,

“Following on from the huge success of last July’s event, we are thrilled to be co-hosting this, the first of two KingshEATh Goes Veggie specials this year. It’s a great way to showcase quality meat-free street food and raise money for a good cause at the same time.”

There’s some amazing vegan and vegetarian street food in Birmingham, from some of the most popular street food chefs. More people are looking to reduce or eliminate their meat intake due to health, environmental or ethical reasons and this is a great opportunity for people to try exciting new vegan and vegetarian food and see why going meat-free is a viable alternative diet and lifestyle.”

   
 Brum Yum Yum founder, Duncan Stanley added,

“Here at Brum Yum Yum we’ve always set out to prove that street food isn’t just about the meat-in-a-bun classics and I firmly believe that a lot of the best street foods out there are the vegan and veggie dishes. What better way to spend a Sunday than stuffing your face with some of the tastiest and most interesting meat-free meals in town?! Add in the vegan bar, the live music and the great vibes, and this is the animal-friendly street party that Kings Heath deserves!”

Throughout the time that vibe been writing this blog I’ve always believed that some of the best vegetarian and Vegan food in Birminghamcan be found on street food markets  with an abundance of different cuisines and styles available. Brum Yum Yum is the biggest supporter of Vegetarian friendly traders for me and this day should prove that you can still enjoy cutting edge street food in a meat free zone. 

Unfortunately I’m not able to make it on the day myself, but look forward to the next veggie one hopefully later this year.

So get down to Kings Heath Village Square on Saturday 14th May for KingshEATh Streetfood Market and Sunday 22nd May for the KingshEATh Goes Veggie special from 12-5pm.

For up to date information in the run up to the events and for the full streetfood lineups follow  @brumyumyum and @vegangrindhouse and myself @andydhare.

Enjoy, 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Hot off the press:

So here it is…the moment you have been waiting for…the hot food line up for Sunday’s KingshEATh Goes Veggie…the only place to be in King’s Heath this Sunday 😉 with BRUM YUM YUM!!

The Vegan Grindhouse by Vegan Vox (Americana)
Pietanic (Pies and Mash)

Bare Bones Pizza (Pizza)

Sri-Licious (Sri Lankan)

Michael’s Caribbean Storehouse (Caribbean)

Greens Vegan Catering (Thai/Moroccan)

9 Tea Cups (Iranian)

and the long awaited return of…
The Mexican Bean (Mexican)

Also vegan beer from Twisted Barrel Ale Brewery and Tap House, vegan/gluten free cakes from Rachel’s Cake Delights – Vegan & No Gluten Containing Ingredients, Organic veggies/fruit from Vegetropolis, Clothing & Books from V Active, Kombucha from The Happy Gut Hut, and percentage of proceeds going to Grace’s Rest.
Plus live music, entertainment and a warm fuzzy feeling!
From Sunday 12 noon – 5pm!

Please bring the sunshine!!
☀️😊

Restaurant Review: Vanilla Black London revisited. 

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, London, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

I still can remember the first time is saw Michaelangelo’s Ceiling in The Sistine Chapel in Rome, the wonder that something so beautiful had been created and that Art has now evolved over centuries, but still the perfection of a ceiling could rewrite my vision and seduce the poet in me to gasp and be silent. 

Then the other week in London I had the luxury of seeing Claude Monet’s lily pond paintings at The Royal Academy. The simplistic but oh so sure images of a scene that was so precious to him that he recreated it so many times in order to demonstrate its beauty. 

So what’s this got to do with food, or with London’s Vegetarian restaurant Vanilla Black? 

Well it’s with the élan of the cooking and the presentation of the dishes. An artists eye for colour. Art you see can be precise, intricate, and flamboyant, Or it can be dark and light, shades of grime amongst the surface, with Vanilla Black the beauty on the plate of so much of the food presented to us was nuanced with compelling flavours and spoke to me of my morning gallery visit. The design to get it right, the light, the lush, the technicolor of shouting through the spectrum of brightness. 

That is to me Vanilla Black. To be the best, to be thoughtful with every bite the customer takes. The wow factor, the surprise (by meat eating punters) that vegetarian food can be so good. 

So I guess that sounds like a conclusion before I begin. Well in truth it is. Vanilla Black makes you want to mix up the rules, you won’t find burgers, risotto, curry or pasta bake here. Though I guess if you did it would be the best you’d had.

When I first visited Vanilla Black a couple of years ago I was enthralled by it’s heartbeat. Feeling that Nothing could prepare you for the pleasure of eating there. Set in an elegant townhouse in Tooks Court, the legal area of East London, the dining room is a mellow sophisticated hush of understatement. Muted colours, a calming air of relaxation. It feels right before you even begin the food. 

Ruth and I visited on a Saturday evening. Its popularity was visible and it was noticeable that their was a fair bit of smiling when people’s food arrived. That wow factor I mentioned. 

An amuse bouche, sorbet like. A cleansing begining. Followed by some stunning homemade bread, always a good sign of things to come.    Amuse Bouche. Fresh homemade bread.

So to the food. My starter Dried Yeast Pumpkin Terrine with Orange Purée -Seeded Cinder toffee, mulled pumpkin and oil. A beautifully constructed dish of subtle but cooling flavours. The terrine with hints of toffee running through against the bright fruity orange that dances upon the tongue. Layers of unorthodox flavous, sharper with every mouthful. Lovely. 

  

  

Ruth’s Yorkshire Blue Cheese Toastie, Crisp Rye, Grapes, Puffed Wheat: Light, cheesy, no bread, constructed and flavoured beautifully. She loved it. 

  

It’s when the creative imagination of the chef (Andrew Dargue) consumes a dish that you know that you are in elegant surroundings. Take my main course: Salted and Ash baked Celeriac & Kale-Whey poached celeriac, Broccoli, Yoghurt Curd: A dish with layers and layers of differing textures and flavours. 

The earthy, crisp, bright coloured  kale, the subtle but soft whey poached celeriac of oozy decadence. Then the ash baked celeriac, the charred crust of the charcoal baked with a riveting harmonious result that’s lifts the root vegetable to another level entirely. Clever enlightened cooking, every ingredient put together perfectly. A supreme dish. 

 Salted and Ash Baked celeriac and Kale-Whey poached celeriac, Broccoli, yoghurt curd.

  

 Ruth’s main course 

 

Desserts follow a similar creative line as the first two courses. Mine, Poached Rhubarb with Salted Orange Yoghurt and Rhubarb Toffee: Crispy Porridge and Moscatel Syrup: The shocking pink of rhubarb beautifully poached, a depth of tart flavour set off by the dash of explosively crispy porridge as a contrast. Plated like a painting of subtle brush strokes that is playfully mastered and cleverly executed. I loved the complete flavours of this dessert. 

Ruth’s Chocolate Brownie crumble with Marmalade parfait and crispy milk: Dark Chocolate, contreau, candied kumquat which she enjoyed especially the harmonious flavours of the chocolate and the orange. 

All of this is done with effortless and charming service from front of house Donna and her team, who are passionate about their dishes and the experience you may discover. 

  

The dark cooking clouds have lifted. Visiting Vanilla Black will certainly banish those over cooked risottos and death by pasta bake. Food consumed with big brash bold flavours

Vanilla Black is an upmarket treat that offers thoughtful indulgences of veggie decadance. It’s a remarkable experience of creative, beautifully presented and exciting food that is art on the plate and a brushstroke on the palette. Even non veggies would love the sophistication, the cleverness, the fun and the delight of this bright canvas of  vegetables. Food executed perfectly, the fact that it’s all Vegetarian is a bonus. 

And then there’s Michaelangelo’s ceiling, well that’s one of the wonders of the world. An idea from a seed of inspiration, much like vegetables, and then it’s what you do with them that matters, that is what makes art. For the food you are unlikely to have tried anything like it before. 

  

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Disclaimer: Our food and drinks were complimentary. This doesn’t affect my honest opinion of our meal. 

With thanks to Andrew and Donna for their hospitality and conversation. 

Vanilla Black, 17-18 Tooks Court, CT London EC4A 1LB. 

Subway: Chancery Lane

020-7242 2622.

http://www.vanillablack.co.uk/

http://www.vanillablack.co.uk/menus/vegan-menu

https://twitter.com/vanillablack1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

New Bar launch: Be At One Cocktail Bar, Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, City Centre, Cocktails, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

  
  
Be at One is a new underground cocktail bar that’s just opened in the lower part of Piccadilly Arcade, opposite New Street Station in Birmingham City Centre.

Be at One has 150 cocktails available on its menu. They fall in four types, classic, signature, modern and virtuous and Virgin. 

Be at One is located in the former Churchills basement snooker club in Stephenson Street at the back of Piccadilly Arcade, and will open on Friday May 13th.

The bar is part of a chain which currently has 31 venues across the UK including Bath, Bristol and Cardiff and 19 in London.

Be At One’s original bar was opened in 1998 in Battersea Rise, London.

The bar will be open until 3am every day except Sundays (12am close).
   

you can expect great service, an unbeatable party atmosphere and a pretension-free attitude! 

On the menu you will find concoctions such as Banana banchee, Brazilian monk, Japanese slipper, Russian spring punch, devil in disguise and flame haired vixen. 

Be At One will be the only bar in the arcade which also houses Faculty Coffee and 16 Bakery. 

Ruth and I visited for their press launch on the 11th May. Here are some of the photos. Apologies for the darkness of them. 

It was an impressive evening. 

   Margarita and Negroni.

 A Perfect Negroni. Probably the best I’ve had in Birmingham. Full of Campari depth. Perfection and deeply Italian, just needed some Aperitivo snacks.

I also tried a top notch and my new favourite cocktail a Rob Roy.
Made from Beautiful Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, and Dash of angostura Bitters. Well recommended, whisky lovers try it. 

   
The Interior, dark but cool and funky style with a large island style bar and lots of red. 

It has Bustling but fab service and bar staff that know their way round their drinks. 

One of the bar’s quirks is a slightly sloping ceiling, from the days 100 years ago when The Picture House cinema was above.

The 34-page menu has 150 cocktails in it. Roughly £8.50 a cocktail. Some less expensive, some more. 

 Ruth’s  Vesper cocktail. 

Originally in the James Bond book Casino Royale  and became his signature cocktail. Gin, Vodka and Kina Lillet. Top notch, she said and her new favourite cocktail. Ruth enjoying her Vesper cocktail.

Photos above from the press launch on May 11th.

There is a Happy Hour enables you to buy one cocktail and get one free for a partner.

The hours are from 4.30pm til 1.30am Monday to Wednesday, 4.30pm till 3.00am Thursday to Saturday and Sunday 4.30-Midnight. 

For a list of their cocktails 

http://www.beatone.co.uk/cocktails

You can find Bar At One on the New Street Station side of The Piccadilly Arcade B2 4BJ.

http://www.beatone.co.uk/cocktail-bar/birmingham

https://www.facebook.com/BeAtOneBirmingham

https://twitter.com/beatone_brum

http://www.beatone.co.uk/media/images/AWBe-At-One-WEB-No-Prices_1876.pdf

Drink Photos courtesy of Be At One. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

All drinks in the photos and mentioned were complimentary from the press night. 

   
 Be At One Bar at the foot of the arcade, near the station and next to Cafe Nero.

   
 

Opus launch new 2 course for £25 Market menu every Friday evening with added wine. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Farm producers, Food, Fruit and Veg, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
  
Friday evenings at Opus is a new concept menu that celebrates local and sustainable produce. 

Now you know what they say. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, or eat 5 a day: Either way, Opus has this sorted. 

Opus is one of the best restaurants if not the best for vegetarians in Birmingham that isn’t purely veggie. So if you have meat eating mates or partner, then this bargain Friday indulgence maybe for you. 

Every Friday you can enjoy two courses from their British market menu including Vegetarian options, home baked bread and half a bottle of house wine for £25.00 per person. The perfect way to kickstart your weekend! 

All dishes reflect produce from their family of farmers and fishermen around the British Isles, including   Worcester Produce, Caroll’s Heritage potatoes, M&J Seafood, Brixham Seafish, and award winning butchers Aubrey Allen.

Available Every Friday from 6pm for £25 per person. 

Join in an celebrate the beauty of British produce. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/

http://www.worcesterproduce.co.uk/

http://heritage-potatoes.co.uk/

Opus has recently launched a new vegetarian menu. For my review see here: 

https://t.co/AIpppfvenl

   
    
 Photos from Opus’ recent vegetarian menu.

   
 

Birmingham Viva Vegan Festival: Saturday 30th April, Birmingham Council House. 

Posted in Birmingham, City Centre, Festivals, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

  
Viva! Europe’s largest Vegan campaigning group is visiting Birmingham this weekend, Saturday 30th April.

 Aimed at not just vegan and veggies, but meat eaters and meat reducers too, the festival’s have visited 37 towns and cities in the last 9 years and attracted over 60,000 visitors. 

From 10-30-4pm at Birmingham City Council House, Victoria Square, B1 1BB. 

For Free Entry there are hot and cold food tastings, free advice, vegan products, cookery demos, hot and cold food, chocolates. Information, beauty products, fashion, books, campaign news and talks by top speakers. 

Local and national producers are taking part. 

The tastings are free, as is the advice on all veggie subjects, including health and nutrition. 

Viva will also be producing a comprehensive listing of local places to stay and eat as well as local health food shops for visitors to take away with them. 

Remember entry is free so if you are in or around Birmingham City Centre, just pop in. You’ll never know what you’ll find. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

http://www.viva.org.uk/festivals/birmingham-2016

  

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Veggie Foodie. 

Posted in vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
Today marks the 2nd Anniversary since I began my blog Veggie Foodie.

I can’t quite believe that it’s two years since I had the crazy idea to write a Vegetarian Blog that focused on eating out and I wished to become a resource for vegetarians and vegans in Birmingham and beyond. 

Since I began it, my blog has become like my right hand. Constantly with me, always in the back of my mind, and with the next post or six in mind. 

I wouldn’t have been able to write it without the support of my readers. So thank you to those who’ve liked, commented, retweeted, shared and encouraged me over the last two years. In particular my wife Ruth who plays the calm to my storm in my thoughts, writings and my blogs evolvement. 

Thanks also to my fellow food bloggers, (both locally and far and wide) as reading your blogs inspires me to keep writing and celebrate this great foodie city and the wonderful world of food.

   
   
So here’s to another year of eating out, sharing and encouraging. 

The dining scene is changing, in most cases for the better, in others not so. But hey, that’s life. 

I have some great reviews and posts to come. So keep an eye out and if you write, keep writing or if not, then maybe you could do it too.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

   
   

   
 

The Warehouse Cafe, now with added Vegan friendly beer and wine. 

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Wine by

  

  
The Warehouse Cafe has always had a special place in my heart. For many years not long after I first became Vegetarian (27 years ago) I used to frequent it often with veggie friends. The veggie burger was a huge favourite as was the potato wedges and desserts which were back then vegan friendly. There weren’t many places to go, in the city centre it was the one and only! Over the years it’s changed hands a few times but has always stayed similar and offered deliciosly good value vegetarian and vegan food. Now things have changed, but for the better. 

Vegan friendly beers and wine are now more popular than ever. Look in the supermarket or good wine shop and you’ll see more available than ever before. 

This summer marks three years since The Warehouse Cafe reopened the doors to Birmingham’s original Vegetarian restaurant and cafe. 

After a successful application for an alcohol license a new drinks menu will be introduced over the next few weeks. 

In order to stick to a completely Vegan friendly range and keep the environmental impact to a minimum the real ale and craft beer will be supplied by local Birmingham brewers Two Towers. 

The beers on offer at The Warehouse are Complete Muppetry, Electric Ale, Hockley Gold, Bhacker Adams, and a special craft beer Come on Feel the Noize- in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham band Slade. 

The wines will be supplied from independent merchants Underwood Wines who are based in nearby Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Try the drinks with dishes such as Digbeth Daal, The Warehouse Burger, Refried Bean Quesadilla, Halloumi Fish and Chips or ancient grain risotto. 

I’m looking forward to giving the beers a run for their money and walking down memory lane again as i always do when I visit. 

   
   
   
    
    
   
 http://www.thewarehousecafe.com

http://www.underwoodwines.co.uk

http://twotowersbrewery.co.uk/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy😊

Thanks to Darren at Two Towers for the beer images and info re beers. 

What is Vegan Friendly? 

It is during the filtering process of wine or beer that the non-vegan and vegetarian part usually occurs. For beer this part of the process is usually only reserved for cask ales, where Brewers use finings to clear away excess yeast suspended in the beer. Finings are also used in the production of wine. Animal derived products include most commonly islinglass. A form of collagen obtained from raw fish bladders. Finings don’t remain in the finished product, but by using finings that are not animal derived, such as Irish miss it adheres to the core principles of veganism and vegetarianism. 

Is Nomad The Wilderness or just the best Vegetarian food experience in Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

What’s in a name? Does it matter what a restaurants called? Nomad was or is (until 7th May when it becomes The Wildernes and reopens on the 25th May) the best Vegetarian food experience in Birmingham. 

Ruth and I’s final experience of its current incarnation came a couple of weeks ago. We’ve enjoyed and got immersed in the food on three occasions, twice in Kings Heath and once in its new Birmingham City Centre location. Their is something immersive, something involving about eating here. You feel you become the ingredients, you can smell the earth, feel the sweat of the producers, sense the innovative ideas that come from the kitchen that lead you on your food journey, that’s your own journey, your own personal experience, a connection to the ingredients. 

Spring is abundant with renewal. Blossoming trees signal newness, freshness and fine ingredients, the dawn of asparagus season, Jerusalem artichokes, rhubarb, radish, celeriac, beetroot, the list is a vegetarians friend, a long lingering hug of the senses, the light at the end of a long winter.  

  

Dishes come thick and fast. Beautifully and sublimely presented  echoing the natural world that nourished the ingredients, and inspires the chefs of which Alex Claridge is turning into a master worker of delicate innovation.

There’s a savoury Apple and Chedder morsel of such delicacy and flavour that leaves the mouth tingling with further anticipation. 

Then the simple Baby Radish, crunchy, light paired with Seaweed Hollandaise becomes a thing of beauty within its own simplicity. Like it had just been picked from the ground with its vivid and perky peppery crispness that when dipped into the hollandaise snuggles with proof that good things come in small packages. 
  Apple and Chedder. 

  Baby Radish, seaweed hollandaise.

  

A 64 Degree Yolk, Asparagus is a dose of sunlight, crisp yet tender asparagus, so fresh it hadn’t been named yet is the perfect foil to the yolk that is a masterclass of well…yolk with a luxurious after taste. 
  

Followed by Beetroot, Apple, quail egg: Where earthy beetroot meets sweeter Apple with the delicate and runny quail egg lapping at the sides. Unusual combinations bump up against one another to create a sunny sunlight of spring. An elegant dish. 

Then a Jerusalem artichoke, vinegar gel, cauliflower is a cauliflower lovers dream, coming with the chunky artichoke with masses of flavour. A sweet surprising marriage, of textural contrasts that worked perfectly. 

  Jerusalem Artichoke, vinegar gel, cauliflower

  

A main course of sorts was the best of all Celeriac Three Ways, Dill, white sprouting broccoli: A complex dish of galactic cooking. The ingredients felt elegant and restrained with nutty slightly cheesy overtones from the celeriac presented beautifully with the unusual white sprouting broccoli. It exudes gentle charm and is a culinary garden of attention to detail. 

Then there were desserts. Buttermilk sponge, fennel, meadowsweet: Nostalgically soothing and full of gentle harmonies of flavour, beautifully comforting. 

Followed by Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, celebrated 3 ways: parfait, meringue and foam. A sharp and light dessert, delicious and full of the love of spring, and in fact food. We chased the last morsel from the plate. (So good I forgot to take a photo).

  Buttermilk Sponge, Fennel, meadowsweet. 

Maybe it’s a sign of even better things to come that Nomad is to be renamed and rebranded as The Widerness. Vegetables are placed at the centre of the dishes, and through the crucible of the imagination a journey of flavours and textures takes place. The cooking is masterful, complex and consistent as dishes flow and twinkle with playful creativity. The food stands up to its own beauty.

Yes Spring is abundant with joys for Vegetarians yet it’s the expectation of the unexpected that makes Nomad a beautifully immersing experience. With added charming and informative service its a game changer and makes you look at Spring ingredients anew.

So whatever the restaurant is called Just try it for its beauty and celebration of vegetables and then when you’ve tried it go again, tell your friends, grow your own and please if the Wilderness is this good, then take me, as I desire to be lost in its immersive culinary garden world. 

    
  

  
    
   

  

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

You can find Nomad/The Wilderness on Dudley Street, Birmingham City Centre. (By New Street Station/Grand Central) 

http://foodbynomad.com/

https://m.facebook.com/nomadbirmingham/

https://www.resdiary.com/Restaurant/Nomad

https://twitter.com/nomadbirmingham?lang=en-gb

We both ate the vegetarian menu. Our food was complimentary, we paid for drinks only on the night. My opinions are honest as always. 

Look out for my future blog post about The Wilderness next month.