The Plough Harborne launches new whisky menu on December 15th.

The neighbourhood pub on the High Street in Harborne The Plough Birmingham is launching a new whiskey menu, showcasing a selection of rare and exclusive award winning Artisan whiskies from all over the world.

Taking in Japan, Australia, India, and America, Ireland, Sweden as well as Scotland the new menu launches on the 15th December 2014

The shots range from £3.30 to £15.00 depending on your budget and bravery.

The list will be home to World Whiskey Award winners as well as hand crafted whiskies produced in micro-distilleries such as Copper Fox in Virginia, Corsair in Nashville, and a few in Illinois and even New York- Hudson Bay Bourbon.

Their will also be three single malts that are no longer available, such as the Edrudour 11 year old Burgundy, cask finish, the Milton Duff batch, only 22 produced and the Millford 15 year old from New Zealand.

The Yamazaki Single malt Sherry Cask 2013 was recently made the world’s best whisky by critic Jim Muray in his Whisky Bible 2015 and the plough is offering 10 varieties of whiskey from Japan.

The new list compliments the existing whiskey and spirits list that showcases a world class product in the comfort of the homely Plough.

Also, for the festive season The Plough has revealed its own Winter wonderland in the form of a new al fresco bar called
‘The Night Jar Winter Bar’ which serves a selection of festive drinks and has an open fire, with blankets and hot water bottles for when the temperatures drop so much that it becomes unberarably cold, and everyone is so close to the open fire their isn’t room for another reveller to feel the heat.

The Plough will serve hot drinks, such as Cinamon Hot chocolate with orange Liquer, spiced pineapple juice with rum, marmalade cider with Bourbon, Festive mulled wine and complimentary roasted chestnuts.

It all sounds fantastic, i’m the one by the fire, and Ruth will be asleep next to it with a glass of mulled in her hand.

You can find all this fun at The Plough, 21 High Street
Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9NT

0121 427 3678

http://www.theploughharborne.co.uk

http://www.opentable.co.uk/the-plough-harborne

-Best 25 places to have Sunday Lunch-The Times 2014
-The best 50 coffee shops-Independent Newspaper
-Open Table readers-Top 50 Beer Gardens.

All photos courtesy of The Plough press office, with thanks.

27Nov2014

#TastyMorsel: New Openings: One Trick Pony Moseley Village

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Moseley, Pubs, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

Moseley’s newest bar opened its doors on November 21st. The South Birmingham suburb is awash with newish bars with a healthy leaning to serving good food in revamped buildings.

Hot on the heals of The Dark Horse and The Village
The One Trick Pony Club replaces O’Neils on the Alcester Road, and brings American style diner food to Moseley Village.

It’s owned by small chain Castle Pubs who own the nearby The Fighting cocks Pub and the Junction in Harborne.

The One Trick Pony’s menu is named Ruby Jean’s with an american diner twist and has a very healthy vegetarian list of options including veggie breakfast and burgers and sharing plates. As you would expect in Moseley and nearby Kings Heath, vegetarians are well catered for and along with a varied meat menu looks a brilliant place for groups and couples.

The focus is thus for meat eaters on ribs, hot dogs, and burgers.

For ale enthusiasts their is a keen menu including my favourite Thwaites Wainwright ale, plus local purity brewery beers and Doom Bar. Plus guest ales.

On Tuesday’s every week, they have announced 2 for 1 on Burgers and roasts on Sunday (unsure as yet on veggie option)

From photographs i’ve seen so far the bar looks posher and more sophisticated and modern than O’Neils which was dated and had had its day. Therefore more like The Dark Horse and The Village in design.

The One Trick Pony Club looks food focused and with a chilled decor looks as if it will become a firm favourite in Moseley and the surrounding areas of Birmingham.

The Veggie food options via their menu on their website http://www.onetrickpony.co.uk are:

Snack and Share: A good looking Veggie board for £11.50.

Includes 4 Hippy Sliders, fried halloumi, Tempura vegetables, Nachos, Chipotle Jam, Guacamole and sour cream dips.

Plus Nachos, Chilli Fries, Chips and dips

On the main part of the menu there is:

–Veggie Burgers–

-Hippy Humous-Spinich, lentil, humous
-A Shroomaloomi- Flat Mushrooms and Halloumi burger
-A Hippy Deluxe- Flat Mushroom and Emmental burger

-A veg Mac and Cheese

-Veggie Sandwich- up to 5pm only

-A veggie Breakfast

Which in my book is a good selection 🙂 Food will be served until 10pm.

I’m Looking forward to reading further reports, and sampling some of the veggie options at Ruby Jean’s Diner.

Look out in the new year for this 🙂

http://www.onetrickpony.co.uk

@1trickponyclub

@rubyjeansdiner
http://www.rubyjeansdiner.com

93a Alcester Road
Moseley
Birmingham
B13 8DD
0121 442 3901

has anyone already tried The One Trick Pony Club? What did you think of the food?

Thanks for reading:)

Follow me on Twitter @andydhare

26Nov2014

#VeggieBurgerWatch: Loco Lounge, Kings Heath

Posted in Bars, Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

The Loco Lounge is a French inspired cafe bar in Kings Heath South Birmingham, and is part of the Lounges group of cafe’s. As well as the Kings Heath bar they have one in Harborne and one in Shirley in Solihull.

As a neighbourhood cafe bar, it showers you with quirky cosiness and is open all day from breakfast, brunch to evening lounging and cocktails. Its a cool place and is popular in Kings Heath for its welcome charm and friendlyness.

At different times of day it caters for differing customers, from parents with small children to students and after work date nights. It provides a softer surburban air to the bustling High Street outside and even has its own terrace area for alfresco drinks in decent weather.

The Loco Lounge is housed in a former bed shop. It has a good food menu and caters with a large Vegan menu and good options for snacks, burgers, full meals and tapas options.

It is the Vegan Menu which makes it unique in Birmingham and a welcome sight to see.

Good for vegans thus good for veggies.

As a local to the cafe, its the kind of place I will return too again and again to try food, coffee and cocktails at different times of day, so look out for more small reviews.

On this occasion Ruth and I chose to try the burgers. I chose the Falafal burger.

A butternut squash and nutmeg burger, grilled halloumi, red pepper, tomato chutney, wood roasted peppers, red onion and rocket in a brioche bun with house slaw and skin on fries.

I really enjoyed the burger, it had a good flavour, with a hint of nutmeg and grilled halloumi providing a contrasting texture. I love falafals, and this burger was well made and with good skin on fries on the side was plentiful and satisfying.

We ordered some onion rings too, which were very cripsy and well made.

Ruth enjoyed her lounge beef burger, and with a couple of glasses of wine and couple of ales was good very good value.

On the night the bar was quite busy for a Wednesday evening, and had a steady in and out of people, from couples, friends, and small groups. The service was attentive, you order your food and drink at the bar and then it is brought to your table.

We didn’t try the cocktails on this occasion, but the menu looked good and varied.

Also the Tapas menu which has an incentive of tapas Tuesday where you can order three tapas for £9.75 plus a glass of house wine.

The Veggie options on the menu are numerous and include a vegan breakfast (their is a veggie one too), paninis, the falafal burger and sandwiches, plus some specials and the afore mentioned tapas menu. For veggies, their is also a veggie kedgeree, pancakes, a risotto, a curry, and a Mac and cheese, plus the above vegan options.

The Loco Lounge is a fun place. Their a board games to play, bookshelves with books to read, vintage furniture, rustic wooden tables, and large front windows that allow a good view of passers by and the busy High Street.

They also do a lot of special events, full details on their website.

The Loco Lounge is everything it aims to be. A French inspired neighbourhood cafe bar which aims to please everyone. For this it is a success, and absorbing place and well recommended.

Now, to make my way through the rest of the menu. 🙂

The Loco Lounge,
32-34 High Street,
Kings Heath
B14 7JT

0121 444-1296
http://www.thelounges.co.uk (for menus)

@locolounge: Twitter

Twitter: @andydhare

Thanks for reading.

We paid for our meal in full and all opinions expressed are my own and honest as always.

Has anyone been to The Loco Lounge? What did you think?

7Nov2014

Bar Opus launch for breakfast, lunch, and after 5pm fun

Posted in Bars, Bars and Pubs, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Coffee, Food, Gin, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

Bar Opus is the newborn child of the Opus family of restaurants that include Opus on Cornwall Street and Cafe Opus at the Ikon Gallery. Both firm favourites of mine 🙂

This week Ruth and I were kindly invited by Ann and David of Opus to attend one of their pre launch evenings to sample the ‘after 5’ sharing plates and some of the drinks.

Bar Opus is at No’ 1 Snow hill, Birmingham City centre, a new complex behind Snowhill Station. That it resides in such a nice location is a positive for the bar with a clutch of through foot traffic, local businesses and the new Midland Metro tram line nearby when it’s complete.

Bar Opus has an inviting terrace area for those Alfresco lazy summer days and evenings which I can imagine will be a real sun trap and will provide the Birmingham with a continental type atmosphere.

On arrival we were greeted with two glasses of Champagne and were straight away impressed with the light and modern decor which is a mix of Cafe Opus decor and a continental inspired light openness.

The bar was busy, with a lovely atmosphere. The bar area is split into a long bar, an open kitchen, some seating in the windows around tables for eating on and some bar stools and tables.

Near the bar is an impressive Musee d’Orsay (art gallery in Paris, if you haven’t been go) clock (see photos above) which gives
Bar Opus a real iconic central image that invites the eye. A real symbol of the bar and its continental leanings.

As a vegetarian I have always loved the Opus food, whether the formal Opus restaurant or the laid back cafe in Brindley Place with its fab terrace and Meat Free Monday menu.

The ‘After 5’ sharing plates were what we had come to sample. The premise is that from the open kitchen the chefs will serve up a variety of dishes from £4.50 onto plates where the colour indicates the price. The waiter will at the end count the plates you’ve had and produce your Bill.
The plates include meat, fish and vegetarian a whole plate is £10.50.

Ruth tried the meat and fish options that were handed round and loved the complex flavours and in some cases simplicity of the dishes, they were presented in a delicious looking way.

My vegetarian options were plentiful. The ones that stand out are the confit tomato & mozzarella croquettes, which were delicious, real Italian creamy mozzarella, which complemented a complex and lovely tomato texture. The other I enjoyed was the Daylesford organic cheddar rarebit which was the best cheese on toast ever.

They reminded me of the type of food that you find in Aperitivo hour in Italy which is a very relaxed thing to do with friends and family..try it with a Aperol or Campari Spritz or Negroni.

The food I tried at Bar Opus in conclusion was made with the same high quality ingredients as at the other two venues and I was impressed with the vegetarian selection on all the menus. The all day menu includes four different options which is superb.

To add I also enjoyed a lovely Negroni Cocktail which was well made and probably the best I’ve had in Birmingham.

Bar Opus has a lengthy cocktail list, a good wine menu and also stocks craft beer and their very own Opus lager. A lot of the menu has local gin makers Langley’s on it, the Negroni was made with Langley’s gin.

Bar Opus is a superb addition to Birmingham’s food and bar scene. As an all day venue from breakfast until evening it’s going to be a very popular and exciting place to go.

I can’t wait to visit properly and try out their all day menu and ‘After 5’ options in full.

Bar Opus is a bar redefined.

Thanks to Ann and David for their invites. The food and first two drinks were on the house and our glasses of wine hereafter were paid in full by me. I was not required to write a post for my blog.

All opinions are honest and my own.

Bar Opus
1 Snowhill piazza
Birmingham
B4 6GH

0121 289 3939

Open from

7am-11pm Monday to Friday
10am-11pm Saturday

@baropus

http://www.baropus.co.uk

19Sep2014

FLETCHERS BAR: KING HEATH BIRMINGHAM

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

Kings Heath has a developing independent food scene that’s well documented on my blog. Of which Fletchers Bar and eatery on York Road is a quirky addition.

Kings Heath is very good at supporting local and diverse businesses. Offering an individual and creative platform for eating and drinking that has now been noticed by
Independent Birmingham and its IB discount card.

Over the road from Fletchers is the Hare and Hounds pub and Cherry Reds, with Byzantium tapas next door.

Fletchers bar and eatery has a strong food menu with good vegetarian options and a good mix of drinks. It is the stay out late sister of The Kitchen Garden cafe where Blue Rabbit bistro is located. See previous review.

Fletchers, Ruth and i found on our midweek visit is a friendly laid bar serving food, bar snacks, cocktails, spirits, and good wines. Including a lovely gin martini and Manhattan.

On our arrival we found a quiet bar that quickly got busier as the evening went on. The wooden tables and floors give it a rustic lived in atmosphere and look.

More of a country bar than traditional pub, more quirky, knowing and independent. Fletchers felt homely, and comforting after a busy day at work, a place to unwind.

Fletchers bar and eatery has a beer garden that is sheltered under trees that have fairy lights in them and surrounded by potted plants in the courtyard which makes the space feel like an oasis, with a chilled vibe.

Fletchers bar has a good selection of food for vegetarians. Including a veggie burger, salads, Aubergine Parmgiana and an interesting small bites tapas and flat bread menu that has a few options. Fletchers also has a changing specials board that includes veggie options. The menus change frequently so this keeps it fresh, interesting and seasonal.

On the night Ruth and I both chose vegetarian. Ruth chose the
Aubergine Parmgiana which she enjoyed. it had a good tomato flavour with the right amount of aubergine.
I ate the Halloumi and Aubegine burger.

The burger was excellent served in a firm bap. It had a good flavour, the combination of the Halloumi which was cooked well contrasted the silky aubergine felt indulgent. Served with some excellent home made chips, it felt a good choice and quite filling.

Fletchers have a few real ales I tried Ringwald Boon Doggle which harmonised with the burger well. They also often have s Purity Beer or two.

Fletchers also have a good cocktail list which we’ve sampled on a weekend and a good wine list that they are proud of and which seems to go down we with customers with their food.

Fletchers provides a relaxing and intimate space, its very quirky, and an interesting place to spend time. The service is very friendly, charming and attentive. It’s a great place to catch up with friends, to dine as a couple, I even saw single diners. It’s perfect for a pre dinner drink when in the area as ruth and i have experienced and even a post one before home. It is open for lunch.

The food is solidly good, it has plenty of choice. The small bites look fun. See website for menus.

I found Fletchers to have the right balance of business and chilled, with a good and varied drinks menu.

Fletchers bar is very Kings Heath and pleasantly addictive.

An eclectic find.

Fletchers Bar
7 York Road
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7SA

http://www.fletchersbarandeatery.co.uk

0121 443 4725
Fletchers@kitchengardencafe.co.uk
@fletchersyork : Twitter.

Ruth and I used our independent Birmingham card to receive 10% off our bill.

http://www.independent-Birmingham.co.uk

Ruth and I paid for our own meal. The opinions are my own and honest.

Have you been to Fletchers what did you think?

What do you think of the food scene in Kings Heath and Moseley for vegetarians and vegans?

Anywhere you would recommend me to visit?

Let me know on the comments part of my blog or via twitter @andydhare

2Sep2014

#TASTY MORSELS: THE HIGHFIELD: NEW GASTRO PUB FOR EDGBASTON BIRMINGHAM OPENING SOON

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Breakfasts, Edgbaston, Gin, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Tasty Morsels, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

Independent pub Company Peach are turning an Art Deco style townshouse in Edgbaston, Birmingham B15
into a 17 Century gastro pub. Which will be the first in Birmingham.

Due to open in late September the company run by Lee Cash and Hamish Stoddart will turn the former home of English architect Francis W B Yorke into a 100 cover pub. 🙂

The Highfield will be in leafy Edgbaston, opposite Michelin starred
Simpsons Restuarant and near
The Edgbaston cocktail bar and boutique hotel (see earlier review). Already a healthy foody location Edgbaston also houses The Blue Piano, and the
deli @ Edgbaston.

The Highfield will have a good mix of food for vegetarians from deli plates, to starters, to main courses and will also serve breakfasts from 8am.

From what I can see the menu will include a deli veggie board, Starters– soup, sauteed wild mushrooms, poached free range egg, toasted brioche, Mains– herb pancakes with squash and sage stuffing, and a Heritage tomato Tarte Tatin.

The food will be free range and sourced locally. See their website for details.

http://www.highfieldedgbaston.co.uk

The Highfield is a boost to the local Edgbaston area, which is fast becoming a foodie destiantion and will soon have a new restaurant run by Pushkar on Broad Street too. See post to come shortly.

For vegetarians it looks a good place to go especially if you have a meat eating partner, friends or family. The drinks will include craft beers, real ale and a good strong wine and spirit list including local Langley’s Gin (not sure about cocktails).

It aims to be modern and quirky and have an art deco leaning with a British charm.

I will post more details of an opening date, bookings and menus when I have them and of course a review.

It sounds a charming opening.

For now, see their website http://www.highfieldedgbaston.co.uk for full details, and menus.

The Highfield
22 Highfield Road
Birmingham
B15 3DP

@_TheHighField

28Aug2014

THE JEKYL AND HYDE: GIN FOOD FUSION MENU IN THE GIN PARLOUR

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Food, Gin, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pubs, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

As I often say, a Gin a day…well maybe not so true, but one or two occasionlly is ok:) Well at The Jekyl and Hyde pub on Steel House Lane in Birmingham City Centre, you can choose from over 90 gins, how decadent, how difficult:)

At the Jekyl and Hyde a drink is not your usual type of drink. It’s a sophisticated spot, one of those places you visit for a quick half and end up staying all night. If you like Gin then it’s the place for you.

As a pub it offers cocktails, real ale and good food in a vibrant atmosphere of decadence with a little Victorian sophistication thrown in.

It is named after author Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Victorian novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde’-double personalities run wild, split into two-the Gin parlour (Dr Jekyl) upstairs and the cosy bar (Mr Hyde) on the ground floor.

The mood of the pub/bar is quite unique in Birmingham, a contrasting space to wile away time. The gin parlour is all dark wood, with blue table cloths laid out for dinner. An atmosphere of decadence and moral ill repute is the norm here 🙂 The downstairs bar is more quirky and cosy with a long bar and an even longer cocktail list.

They have a cute beer garden designed in a themed Alice in Wonderland style that has to be seen to be believed. A really nice courtyard for that summery weather 🙂

Upstairs, in the Gin Parlour on a Thursday night through to Saturday The Jekyl and Hyde serve a gin Food fusion menu (Eat Me, Drink Me).

You can order two courses or more from a changing seasonal menu for £12.50 with vegetarian options that offers good quality food at reasonable prices.

This is why Ruth and I visited (and for the gin) to see whether the infusion is good or evil.

On walking into the parlour you notice that its a relaxed space in contrast to the bar downstairs. The taste of gin requires that, and with its huge menu one needs to be relaxed enough to work you way through it 🙂 Here cocktails and a gin tasting menu are available. As it was a week night I stuck to drinking the Langley’s gin (a local tipple that The Bureau Bar also serve). Langley’s N0 8 is very good indeed, and goes well paired with the food.

I’m looking forward to returning to try the gin tasters one non work night.

For our starter we both ordered the Smoked Mushroom and Tarragon Soup:

The soup had a good smoky mushroom flavour and colour, with the tarragon complimenting the slight gin infusion. It was a good soup, a nice size, but was perhaps not so piping warm as it should have been, that let it down slightly.

For my main course I chose a Asparagus and Savoury Frangipane Tart, which I enjoyed. The tart was well made, nice pastry, with a good flavour of the charred baby gem lettuce and asparagus that accompanied it. It was served with an extra side of boiled potatoes and had a delicate gin infusion that made it a succcesful and enjoyable tart.

Ruth enjoyed her non veggie main course, and we both decided that we would like to sample their deserts. After all a naughty pudding in the Gin Parlour..well why not.

I decided upon the wonderfully named Mr Hydes Raspberry Mess with a Ophir Gin Coulis. As messes go it was a very good one. The Raspberries blended with the cream and the gin hit the right spot and is well recommended.

Ruth chose the Sticky Toffee pudding, which she said was ok, but she’d had better.

For a different bite to eat, then The Jekyl and Hyde is the place to be. The gin parlour is a lovely space to relax after work, the menu is good, the food above average and with friendly, hospitable staff who are happy to advise and recommend gins, and cocktails it can’t be beat for quirky independent charm. In fact it is what makes independent pubs like this so charming in Birmingham.

For vegetarians, though limited in menu choice on the gin infusion menu it is good value and tailored with the gin menu is a fun night out. The pub menu has veggie burgers (which are very good) and need revisiting, veggie pies and such like.
See website for details.

So try the Jekyl and Hyde and be seduced by the gin, the hospitality, the parlour, the cocktails, and then be transported to a bygone era-The Jekyl and Hyde era of good and evil potions.

The Jekyl and Hyde
28 Steelhouse Lane
Birmingham
B4 6BT

wwww.thejekylandhyde.co.uk
@jekyl_n_hyde

Facebook The-Jekyl-Hyde

http://www.independent-birmingham.co.uk

For more Independent bars, pubs and restaurants see The Independent Birmingham website above.

Disclaimer: We paid for our own meal and all of my opinions are usual are honest and true.

17Aug2014

REVIEW: BLUE RABBIT & CO POP UP IN KINGS HEATH AND FLETCHERS BAR

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Kings Heath, Pop up's, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by andydhare

There are a number of fantastic foodie places in Kings Heath in the South Birmingham area, from cafe’s, delis, coffee shops, restaurants and pubs.
Blue Rabbit & Co is one of the most recent to pop up, in fact it is a pop up for the remainder of the year at least.

Blue Rabbit based in the Kitchen Garden Cafe, a lovely oasis of calm on York Road near the Hare and Hounds pub.

In the daytime it has a garden centre, food deli, and cafe in a garden type terrace with outdoor tables. The Kitchen Garden Cafe always have good vegetarian options.

At night time three evenings (thursday, Friday and Saturday 6-9.30pm) a week it becomes the Blue Rabbit & Co pop up restaurant, a bistro, an independent serving home cooked food at reasonable prices.

Blue Rabbit offer a small, but regularly changing menu which includes a vegetarian option for a starter and main course.

For the price 2 courses are £15 and 3 courses are £18 it is exceedingly good value for fresh and seasonal ingredients well served, flavoured and presented.

Chef Dominic Simmonds has worked at a number of Birmingham’s top restaurants and is now cooking his own food.

Ruth and I visited on a Saturday night. The Kitchen Garden Cafe is a lovely venue. Wandering up a narrow path off busy York Road through plants, flowers and into the courtyard, it had a certain mystique about it. On entering we were greeted warmly, but found an almost empty restaurant apart from one other couple. We were advised that as Brum Yum Yum street food market KingshEATh was on earlier in the day they had decided to not go out in the evening as well. Shame.

The Kitchen Garden Cafe looked lovely, flickering candles and with its wooden tables, wide windows, and quirky air the pop up felt right there. Looking out on the courtyard was lovely and felt romantic.

Not deterred as we had come for the food we ordered two glasses of wine and ordered our food.

We were brought some delicious homemade bread to eat before our starter.

For a starter we both ordered the Grilled peach, ricotta, balsamic vinegar. We felt that the flavours were fresh, the peaches and the ricotta working well together, to make a lovely summery salad, that felt light and full of flavour. It was a lovely vegetarian starter.

For a main course I ordered the
Goats cheese ravioli, broad beans, courgettes. The dish was lovely. The quality of the ingredients shone through, the goats cheese ravioli, hand made, with a delicate flavour that with the summery broad beans and courgettes made a stunning fine dining like dish. A real delight.

We also ordered a side dish of roasted Butternut Squash which was full of flavour and bite and went well with the pasta or eaten on its own.

For desert Ruth ordered the selection of sorbets, she felt that they were delicious, with the cherry flavoured one to be recommended especially. She felt that the flavours were original and summery.

I ordered the divine sounding chocolate tort with vanilla cream. It was full of deep chocolate flavour, the pastry was well made, the right thickness and as a desert it was fabulous, a lovely tort.

The Blue Rabbit & Co is a welcome addition to the Kings Heath dining scene. It offers something different to the tapas, curry and pubs/bars already thriving. The ingredients used in the dishes are well sourced and are seasonal. The vegetarian dishes well made, thoughtful and full of seasonal flavour.

The Blue Rabbit edge more towards fine dining or a good quality bistro than cafe and that is shown with the changing weekly menu. Keeping it fresh and challenging.

As a restaurant I loved it. It is good value, and the quality on offer is worthy of paying more. The veggie options are fresh and keenly observed. Fully recommended.

See the website for menus.

Hopefully the Blue Rabbit & Co will go on to achieve great things when its pop up stint ends and is well worth visiting whilst it remains in Kings Heath.

Before and after our meal at Blue Rabbit & co we visited Fletchers Bar next door to the Kitchen Garden Cafe.

We enjoyed two cocktails at Fletchers before our meal a Dry Manhattan, and a Margarita, both well made and good value, plus two glasses of Malbec after our meal.

The bar is quirky, friendly, informal and the cocktails and real ale are excellent.

I have eaten at Fletchers and can recommend the food which is more sophisticated than the traditional pub food offerings with some good vegetarian options and changing specials.

Fletchers is owned by the Kitchen Garden Cafe.

Fletchers is part of the Independent Birmingham card with a discount on food.

Blue Rabbit & co
Kitchen Garden
17 York Road
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7SA

0121 443 4725

@DominicSimmonds
http://www.bluerabbitandco.com
Facebook: Blue Rabbit & co
07580551218
Info@bluerabbitandco.com

http://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk

wwwfletchersbarandeatery.co.uk

Disclaimer: We paid for our own dinner. My review is a true and honest assessment.

Thanks for reading.

If anyone has any thoughts or comments on places to eat in Kings Heath and Moseley that are good for veggies and vegans let me know?

Has anyone else been to Blue Rabbit, what did you think?

12Aug2014

#TASTYMORSELS: VEGETARIAN PIZZA WATCH

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, pizza, Tasty Morsels, vegetarian by andydhare

Pizza has often been the default food option for vegetarians. I’ve always been fond of pizza, from trips to Italy and memories of beautiful Italian squares.

In Birmingham their is a renaissance in pizzas, with many places offering good pizza options and creative toppings for vegetarians. Many now use a sourdough base and wood fired ovens.

Ruth and I didn’t intend to visit Alfie Birds at the Custard factory in Digbeth last weekend, but we were their for the vintage fair and needed some lunch so thought why not.

I had wanted to try their veggie pizzas for awhile.

We shared a chunky vegetable pizza, which was very good. A thin base, lovely fresh vegetable flavours and an added twist of beetroot on it, which enhanced the texture and attitude of the pizza. With a pint of Italian lager and a side salad it was a good example of the improvements in the city with the introduction of more creative thinking to ingredients and toppings.

Alfie Birds use a woodfired oven too so that could be a factor.

They also do a delicious sounding vegan pizza with spinach and a vegan pesto.

I plan to visit again and do a full review soon, when i try some more of their veggie pizzas along with their cocktails which are two for one Monday to Thursday.

Alfie Birds plan to launch a new menu soon. See website for menus and events.

Alfie Birds
Custard Factort
Digbeth
Birmingham
B9 4AA

@alfiebirds

http://www.alfiebirds.co.uk

The Victoria theatre bar on John Bright Street in Birmingham city centre do a deliciously sounding sourdough based
Squash the Goat pizza, goats cheese, butternut squash and chilli jam.

I’m planning to revisit the Victoria to give it a try along with their cocktails.

The Victoria do a two for one offer on all pizzas on a Sunday.

@theVictoria

The Victoria
48 John Bright street
Birmingham
B1 1BN

New to the Pizza scene in Birmingham is street food family run company Bare Bones Pizza Company, who use a wood fired oven to make their Neopolitan style 10 inch pizzas.

They have intriguing veggie names such as:

Barebones- A classic tomato based pizza.
Boneless- A vegetable, mushroom, red onions, sliced green peppers, and Buffalo mozzarella toppings.

They have also introduced a vegan pizza to their repertoire with tofu.

They also do garlic bread and a sweet pizza of Butterscotch sauce and sliced apple with a cinammon mix spice.

They will be creating their pizzas from a van near you:)

See them at

20/08 Victoria Square: Fine Food market
3/9 Kings Heath Brum Yum Yum KingshEATh
13/9 Independent Food fair at Millenium Point
17/9 Fine food fair at Victoria Square
15/11 Kings Heath Brum Yum Yum

They can also be found in Leamington Spa and Sutton Coldfield. See their funky website wwwbarebonespizza.co.uk for details

@barebonespizza
info@barebonespizza.co.uk
07795 1144 26

Also new to the Birmingham scene is the Dark Horse pub in Moseley village on the same site as the Cross Pub and Mo Dough pizza pop up.

They have a wood fired pizza oven and reports say the pizzas are very good.

I am to try one at some point and review it for this blog.

@darkHorseMosele

http://www.independent-birmingham.co.uk/the-dark-horse

Where would you recommend for veggie pizzas?

Is there anywhere I have missed?

Disclaimer: The view expressed in this post are my own and are honest. I paid for my own meal at Alfie Birds.

8Aug2014

POP UP DOSA TAKE-OVER @THE HARE AND HOUNDS KINGS HEATH

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Kings Heath, Pop up's by andydhare

I’ve been looking forward to the Pop Up Dosa pop up take over at The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath for a number of weeks. Pop up Dosa are vegetarian, and make the most delicious dosas, and the Hare and Hounds is a fabulous pub, one of the best and always a favourite for live music and real ale.

The Hare and Hounds is in ‘foodie Mecca’ Kings Heath, in South Birmingham near Moseley. As I’ve mentioned in my previous #Tastymorsel blog post it has been holding a summer food season of pop ups to launch its new back dining room cum bar, which is a very cool and comfortable space for casual dining.

Up to now they’ve held two pop ups, Pika Pika and Clark and Lee, with one left to go next week-Fingy’s takeover.

Last night it was the turn of veggie Pop Up Dosa to serve their freshly made Dosa from Kerala to the Kings Heath public.

Pop up Dosa are based in Kings Heath and make vegetarian Dosa’s from home, at markets, at cafe’s and at street food markets such as Brum Yum Yum in Kings Heath. They also do a regular monthly pop up at The Ort Cafe in Balsall Heath/Moseley in southBirmingham. See their website or twitter for next dates.

Dosa pronounced ‘Dhoe-sha’ is a nutritious sourdough crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Dosa dates back to the 6th century AD and is believed to have originated in Udipi in Karnataka, India.

It’s a staple street food dish in Southern Indian states and known for its simple goodness.

You eat Dosa’s with your finger tips and dip it into the sambar ( a vegetable stew in a lentil broth) and chutneys and pop it into your mouth. You can use cutlery though:)

As Ruth and I were in the Hare and Hounds we felt we had to start in the main bar. A lovely room, with comfy sofas and mixed tables. It’s very ornate, and has a great character about it that you would expect from a building dating 1907.

Ruth ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and me a pint of Purity Gold. The Hare and Hounds have a good selection of real ales, cocktails and wine and promote the brewery Purity well.

So onto the food:)

The price of the food £12.50 in advance included three courses.

Each single course was served at the same time, so every diner was eating the same dish.

The 1st course was a delicious Kerala street food morsel called Parrippu Vada with slices of banana.

The flavours of ginger and the crunch of the savoury deep fried lentil were superb, and taken together with the banana the correct way to be eaten.

The 2nd course was the dosa served with the Sambar, mint sublime and the gunpowder smoke.

The Sambar was tangy, filled with delicious vegetables, like a broth with the lentils adding another wholesome texture to the stew.

The mint like a raita, with the gentle harmonious flavours of coriander and lime chutney.

The Gun powder smoke: a chutney of ground roasted lentils, smoky spices, and with a drizzling of hot coconut oil over. Superb, and taken with the vegetable filled Dosa a lovely concoction of flavour.

I enjoyed a pint of Purity UBU with my dosa.

Pop up Dosa’s dosas are lavish and enjoyable. Superb,

The third course (dessert) was called Aluva. A little known and much loved dessert from Kerala. It was fragrant, sweet and dense, with the flavours of the coconut milk, cashew nuts, nutmeg, cardamom giving it an almost liquorice type flavour and consistency. It was certainly a grower though, I was not sure at first but by the end the knots of subtle flavours won me over. Something very different to what I’ve eaten before 🙂

Chef Hasseen George, served a superb pop up.

The Pop up Dosa cafe is to be recommended. The flavours were good and the food addictive.

I felt the pop up at the Hare and Hounds was superb.

The takeover idea is a lovely idea that gives street food and new foodie concepts a forum. The atmosphere was good, chatty and enhanced the evening.

Keep an eye open for where Pop up Dosa are planning to serve their delicious food.

I can certainly recommend a night or lunch In their company.

Pop up Dosa
07402 806 439
http://www.popupdosa.blogspot.co.uk
@popupdosa

Hare and Hounds
106 high street
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7JZ

@hareandhounds
http://www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

The final summer food season pop up at The Hare and Hounds is to be held on Thursday 14th August at 7.30. Pre booked tickets only via the Hare and Hounds website.

This is Fingy’s food night with Alan ‘Fingy’ Thomson Peruvian and Latin food.

£15 for three courses, veggie options available. See Hare and Hounds website for menu under events.

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed are my own and honest. We paid for our own food and drinks.

Feel free to comment on my blog post with any thoughts re the post.

If anyone has any suggestions as to where I should visit that is good for veggies, and vegans please let me know either here or via twitter @andydhare

Full contact details on vegiefoodie.com

Thanks for reading:)

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Category Archives: Bars and Pubs

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