Category Archives: beer

Bar Opus beer is a real Peaky Blinder. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, City Centre, Independent Birmingham, Real ale, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

   

Bar Opus at One Snowhill is raising a glass to the Peaky Blinders by being the first ever bar to sell Peaky Blinders Gold, a soft and fruity ale created by Stourbridge based Sadler’s Brewery.
City-centre Bar Opus at One Snowhill, is to give punters a taste of the hit, period-gangster TV show, Peaky Blinders, by selling the beer on draught for the first time ever at the contemporary bar. 

Created and brewed by Black Country-based Sadler’s Brewery, the 4.3% ABV golden beer is a more modern, crisp version of the first beer Sadler’s created at Steven Knight’s request, ‘Peaky Blinders Black IPA’, which launched in April 2014 and recreated the taste the real Blinders would drink in the 1920s. 

The Peaky Blinders Gold Is also Vegetarian friendly. 

Sam Cross, manager at Bar Opus, said: “As a huge fan of Peaky Blinders, and with it currently being filmed at the Black Country Living Museum, what better way to celebrate than by being the first bar to ever sell Peaky Blinders Gold on draught. 

A flavoursome craft beer, its lighter taste is the perfect partner to dishes on our autumn menu. 

When I tried the beer I unfortunately didn’t try it with the food menu, but suffice to say it works on its own too. It’s golden and crisp and is quite easy drinking but very subtle in its fruity flavours. I loved the beer and it also looks the part in the glass. 

Here’s hoping that Tommy Shelby and the gang have a night off from The Garrison and pop down here to give it a try. 

Peaky Blinders Gold draught craft beer is now available at Bar Opus at One Snowhill. 

For more information, please visit http://www.baropus.co.uk. 

   
  

   

   
Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

  

Veggie dish of the day: Halloumi Wrap @ Loco Lounge, Kings Heath. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Kings Heath, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

Sometimes walking past a cafe can be a temptation too far. I like the coffee tick, free wi Fi (I can do some blog work) tick, hungry, tick. Look in the door, quiet, tick.

Hey ho. 

The humble wrap can be as dull as ditchwater or be as bright and cheerful as sunny Autumn day. A lot of this is dependent on ingredients or the freshness of the bread. In all honesty I was expecting the former, having not had great experiences and often shying away from such a lunch time bread option. In fact I got the latter. 

The Loco Lounge in Kings Heath is the kind of friendly neighbourhood place that all areas need to provide a hungry community food all day. Mixing it with cocktails, decent tapas and a superb veggie breakfast it ticks a lot of boxes, good for children, good for coffee and good all round. Whilst dishes sometimes miss the beat slightly (usually dependent on how busy the place is, and it can get busy!) most of the time they are just fine. 

The Halloumi wrap with Red Cabbage, Carrot, Spring Onion, Corriander and Harissa Yogurt for£5.50 was good, nicely cooked Halloumi, a sprinkling of crunchy red cabbage, carrot and spring onion and mixed with spray of Corriander and the cooling Harissa Yogurt made for a filling and delicious wrap. Is Halloumi one of the foodie wonders of the world? 

Well worth exploring for lunch. 

You can add fries for £1.45. 

 

  
  
 
 Flat White at Loco Lounge. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

Disclaimer: I paid for my own wrap. My post is honest as always. 

http://thelounges.co.uk/lounges/loco-lounge/

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

   
 Veggie breakfast at Loco Lounge. 
My review of the veggie breakfast. 

http://t.co/WXzd8EAfQv 

You can find Loco Lounge on Kings Heath High Street. 

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Good Food guide 2016 announces Cafe Opus as a Birmingham’s ‘local gem’. 

Posted in Afternoon Tea, Bars, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

  
Cafe Opus at Ikon has been named Birmingham’s ‘local gem’ by The Good Food Guide 2016 a superb achievement for the Ikon Gallery based cafe. 

The contemporary cafe was given the seal of approval by The Good Food Guide 2016 earlier this month (Friday 4th September), stating that the food was “fabulous and excellent value for money” whilst the setting was “the ideal opportunity to watch the world go by”. 

The Good Food Guide, which was set up in 1951, reviews restaurants, pubs and cafes across the UK, to highlight the best eating establishments in Britain. Reviews are compiled by feedback sent in from readers, as well as anonymous inspections to ensure every entry is assessed afresh. It does not accept advertising so readers can be rest assured that every review is authentic and honest. 

Irene Allan, director at Cafe Opus, said: “We opened our local gem two years ago on the ground floor of the magnificent Ikon gallery and to have this accolade from the UK’s best food guide is fantastic news. The fact that these entries are based on anonymous inspections is an even greater achievement, and is proof of the commitment and passion of our manager Greg, chef Zack and the team to provide quality and value to our customers. We are very proud.”

The entry is not the first time Cafe Opus has received attention from top food guides, as it was recently described as “one of the country’s top 18 venues for al fresco dining” by Stylist magazine and one of the “top 10 inspirational indies to eat for well under £10” by The Guardian Travel Guide 2015. 

   
    
 
Opus at Cornwall Street, the flagship restaurant of the Opus family, was also entered into the food guide and received high praise for its “vibrant modern British dishes based on fresh, seasonal produce, delivered by confident staff”. 

I’ve enjoyed numerous good meals and drinks at Cafe Opus, and the terrace is certainly one of the best outdoor eating and drinking areas in Birmingham. 

For my most recent review, see here: http://t.co/he503QGrWu

For more information on Cafe Opus at Ikon, please visit:
http://www.cafeopus.co.uk/

  
Manager Gregg and chef Zac. 

Photo courtesy of Clive James PR. 

   
   
   
 
Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

All other photos are my own. 

The Bluebell in Henley in Arden nominated for two prestigious regional awards 

Posted in Afternoon Tea, Bars and Pubs, beer, Cafés and Restaurants, Henley in Arden, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Warwickshire by

 

The Bluebell in Henley-in-Arden, the two AA rosette awarded gastropub, has been nominated in the ‘best pub’ and ‘best restaurant’ categories in the Coventry & Warwickshire Tourism & Culture Awards 2015.

The 14th century gastropub, which has two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, offers diners a simple, European cuisine with an indulgent twist, while its traditional bar plays host to craft beers, local cask ales and fine wines. 

Celebrating a decade in business this year, The Bluebell has become one of Henley-in-Arden’s most desirable drinking and dining destinations, with its emphasis on quality and provenance of food not going unnoticed by the judges.

The awards, which have been organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and media company Quidem, have been designed to showcase the diverse range of attractions, venues and experiences that Warwickshire has to offer, and will take place on Thursday 24th September at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Winners in some categories will then automatically be entered into the 2016 Visit England Awards.

Leigh Taylor, owner of The Bluebell, said: “To be a finalist in two of the categories is a huge achievement. We aim to deliver top-quality food that is sourced locally, as well as provide a welcoming and traditional bar for our drinkers, and it’s fantastic to be recognised for our hard work – especially in our 10th year. We’re looking forward to the ceremony and hope that we can bring back an award.”

  
The Bluebell’s philosophy is that they work with local chosen producers to develop a seasonal menu with the produce that’s available. 

I’ve never been to The Bluebell, and though their vegetarian options are limited they sound tempting and seasonal (which is great) and they are willing to be flexible on request which is even better. 

On their current sample menu on their website they list: 

Starters: 

Roast vine tomato and red pepper soup, rosemary focaccia, basil pesto. 

Deep fried Halloumi, baba ganoush, Cotswold tomatoes, pomegranate molasses, basil oil. 

Mains: sadly only one choice, 

Pomme Anna, broccoli and black pepper purée, pickled red peppers, goats cheese. 

They also offer Afternoon Tea and provide various menus from £18 PP for te seasonal to £40 PP for the Duval LeRoy Rose Tea. 

  
In particular The Bluebell looks a good place for a mixed party of veggies and non veggies. 

For more information about The Bluebell visit: 

http://www.bluebellhenley.co.uk/

http://www.bluebellhenley.co.uk/menu/

http://www.bluebellhenley.co.uk/afternoon-tea/

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

  
Photos/images courtesy of Clive Reeves PR and The Bluebell Henley. 

Review: Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Birmingham.

Posted in Bars, beer, Birmingham, Craft beer, Digbeth, Food, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 

Anyone who went to Big Papas at The Sunflower lounge will know the work that Anthony and Craig put into their businesses. What’s always impressed me is their flexibility and nuance in understanding veggie diners and dishes, and what’s put out onto the table. They are open to experiment, your ideas and opinions. 

The vegetarian menu at their new venture The Mockingbird, Bar, Bistro and Theatre is evolving. It’s early days, it’s short at present, a bit too short, needs a couple of additions, maybe the Big Papas Mac and cheese, (please) veggie burger, sweet potato fries? why not? Plus think seasonal specials, be imaginative. 

We had the three dishes on the nights menu: Starters: Nachos with cherry tomatoes, salsa lemon and chive cheese, chunky guacamole, garlic and cheese ciabatta, and Main: Cauliflower and Brocolli fritters. 

   

 The Nachos, which we shared. A good Tex-Mex dish. The tortilla chips were crisp, though maybe on reflection the dish could have done with a few more to get the balance right with a delicious salsa lemon and chive cheese sauce and nice guacamole, which slightly overpowered the tortillas for that reason. The flavours were there though and the size was ok for a starter. Could do a larger plate to share as a larger starter. Enjoyed. 

   

 Garlic bread and cheese  

Well made garlic bread, with a nice balance in flavours. Thin, crusty. Very nice. Not too cheesy or greasy which I liked. Presented on a black slate which I liked. (shared) 

  
 Cauliflower and Broccoli fritters. 

My fritters had a good and plentiful filling of cauliflower and broccoli and a nice crisp fried outer breading.  

I enjoyed the fritters, the filling was different but had good flavours and filled the batter to leave a satisfying main dish. Again, the sauce that accompanied could have been reduced in quantity in order to get the balance right. I liked the tomato garnish though.

 Maybe introduce seasonal fillings, courgettes, mushrooms in autumn. 

I also ate a few of Ruths chips which were ok. 

Ruth also enjoyed the Buttermilk fried chicken with fries. She said it was fantastic. Perfectly cooked chicken. She knows, trust me!

The Brunch menu has a decent range of dishes, all of which can be adapted for the vegan diner. 
  

Brunch menu. 

  
   
   
   
    
   

Both Ruth and I loved the music played in The Mockingbird. A mixture, of soul, funk and a bit in between. It made for a good atmosphere and on a Wednesday night a steady flow of people were coming in, eating and having a drink before the film that was showing that night at the cinema that The Mockingbird has (Jaws in that case). The menu we had was the cinema/film menu and enabled you to take a desert with you into the film. 

   
   

The industrial feel of the decor and seating make The Mockingbird a chilled and relaxing place to visit for food or just drinks. The bar includes craft beers, including vegan beers (marked clearly) wine, and cocktails. 

I enjoyed two craft beers, the Goose Island IPA: 5.5% ABV, from Chicago, which has a fruity aroma with a dry malt middle and long hop finish. A very nice beer that went well with the informal food. A hop lovers dream. 

   
 
Plus, Meantime London Lager (suitable for vegans) from the award winning brewery based in Greenwich, London. It has the perfect balance of bitterness and hopiness, and is 4.5% ABV. If you like hoppy, malty beers this is for you. A really nice modern English lager, a quality beer. 

On a weekend they have DJ’s which we both agreed would be a great time to visit as well as comedy nights, a theatre and of course the cinema. 

The food at The Mockingbird is well executed, and though the options for vegetarians are limited at the moment, they are happy and excited to develop the menu further and ease the vegetarian and vegan diner. I liked The Mockingbird, in fact loved it. The vibe, the music, the concept. The hard work ethos pays off. I’m excited to see how those veggie dishes evolve and though not perfect at the moment you can see the potential and possibilities. It’s a place to visit at any time of day and livens up the Custard Factory somewhat in the day and for that it is achieving its aims well. 

The owners Anthony and Craig have the heart and soul for The Mockingbird, and yes this bird can sing. 

http://mockingbirdtheatre.com

        

Every Monday is Meat Free Monday at The Mockingbird with The Vegan Grindhouse taking over the kitchen. From Brunch/lunch to dinner keep an eye on social media for menus and guest chefs/Streetfood traders. 

See Mex it Up on Monday August 31st. Vegan Mexican street food. Guest kitchen. 

See below: re Vegan Grindhouse Meat Free Monday’s. 

http://t.co/dNpqBJ6b5Y

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

Disclosure: Ruth and I were invited to visit The Mockingbird. Our food was complimentary but we paid for all drinks drank in full. In no way did this make my views biased which are honest as always. 

Thanks for the invite. 👍

The Mockingbird, the Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B 9 4AA. 

021-224-7456. 

  

  

The Plough Harborne reveals extension plans launching ‘Upstairs at The Plough’.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Craft beer, Harborne, Independent Birmingham, Real ale, Sunday lunch, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 
I have to say that I was happy to receive an email from The The Plough Harborne’s PR team about their revamp in November. 

Because if you asked me where the best place to get a whisky in Birmingham is I may say The Plough, if you ask me where’s the best Vegetarian Sunday lunch (so far) then tick the Plough. The best veggie burger, maybe the Plough though not tried it yet. The best veggie pizza maybe the Plough too, especially as their redevelopment includes a pizza oven, which gives it a good start in my book. The Plough cover all basis, from coffee, brunch and dinner. 

See my review of the Veggie Sunday lunch: 

#VeggieSundayLunch: The Plough Harborne

   Veggie Sunday lunch at The Plough. 

 Okra and Sweet Potato Hash Brunch
   
Veggie Roast. 

 
  
The Plough in Harborne is set to launch ‘Upstairs at The Plough’ this November. Work has started on the £750k project which will see the popular neighbourhood pub on Harborne High Street add a new first floor extension which will be home to two new private dining and meeting rooms whilst extending its ground floor by 40 covers. 
‘Upstairs at The Plough’ will be home to two flexible private dining rooms with 30 covers combined. The rooms have been designed to accommodate meetings or conferences with both boasting wi-fi, large flat TV screens and private audio systems. The entire space can also be opened up and cater for up to 40 people standing. 

The ground floor renovations will see the arrival of a new bar dedicated to showcasing The Plough’s global selection of rare, award-winning and artisan whiskies alongside a carefully curated collection of craft beers. 

The make-over will also see the arrival of a new pizza kitchen and oven and coffee bar. 

They are also introducing a family style sharing menu in the private rooms. 

The team have re-ignited their long term partnership with interior design expert Melony Spencer of Spencer Swinden to create the new spaces which have been designed to complement The Plough’s trademark eclectic design.

Adam Johnson, Director at The Plough, said, “At The Plough we pride ourselves on the close relationships we enjoy with our regular customers and we take their feedback really seriously. The idea for ‘Upstairs at The Plough’ was born as a result of the regular requests we received to host private events whilst the additional covers and kitchen space downstairs will allow us to develop our menu and product range, enhancingThe Plough experience further. We’re also introducing a family style sharing menu in the private rooms which will further enable us to cater for growing demand. We’re really excited about the next phase in the business.” 
Launched in 2003 The Plough has built a reputation for its menu of fresh home-cooked food and its imitable design whilst clocking up awards for its Sunday lunch, coffee and interior.
The project will create 10 jobs and is set for completion in November. 
  
Plans for The Plough. 

The Plough, Harborne has been serving fresh home-cooked food and the best coffee and Sunday lunch in the neighbourhood for 11 years. Established in 2003 The Plough has undergone extensive renovation since its launch boasting a quirky and eclectic interior and an ‘outdoor lounge’ that is airy, light and unrestricted by season. With a focus on quality and provenance, ingredients are carefully sourced locally to minimise the environmental ‘tread’ of the business where possible. No stranger to accolades The Plough has been recognised for its coffee, Sunday lunch and interior – named by the Independent as ‘best coffee shop’, celebrated by The Times for the best Sunday Lunch in the region and awarded the ‘Best Restaurant / Bar Design’ at the Northern Design Awards. 

Follow The Plough story here: 

Instagram : @ploughstagram 
Twitter : @PloughHarborne 

Facebook : The Plough Harborne 

Home

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊 
   Veggie Sunday roast Lunch  

  

   

   

Japanese Whisky at The Plough. 

 
   
   
Whisky at The Plough. 

Some of the photos courtesy of The Plough Harborne. 

Brum Vegan Beer and Food festival @Two Towers Brewery, 15th August 

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Coventry, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

This Saturday 15th August sees The Brum Vegan Beer Festival arrive at Two Towers Brewery, which is based just outside The Jewellery Quarter on Mott Street in Birmingham. Its a double Unit warehouse with a Two Towers/JRR Tolkien inspired signage outside. 

They craft their own beer on site some Birmingham inspired and some suitable for Vegans. 

The festival will showcase 12 beers that are all suitable for vegans and for £5 entry you can try 2 beers from the range of 12. 

The breweries at the festival include:

-Two Towers Ale- Hockley Birmingham. @TwoTowersAle http://twotowersbrewery.co.uk/ 

serving there Chamberlain Pale Ale 4.5%.

-Beowulf brewery: independent Birmingham brewery @BeowulfBrewing 

serving there Gold Wing 5.1%.

-Fixed Wheel Brewery @FixedWheelBrew

-Little Valley Ale-West Yorkshire @LittleValleyAle

-Green Duck Brewing Co’- Stourbridge @greenduckbrew

-Twist barrel Ale- Coventry brewery and tap house open at Far Go Village. @TwistBarrelAle

-Rock N’Roll Brewhouse- Birmingham’s only roof top brewery. @RocknRollBrew 

serving GoldenStroud organic Ale 4%.

-Stroud brewery- Cotswolds @StroudBrewery

-Angel Ales- Halesowen brewery. @AngelAlesLtd

 Including their Ginger Stout. 4.8%. 

  

  
There will also be food available from 

Vegan food providers and Birmingham’s esteemed Change Kitchen and Warehouse Cafe. 

Change Kitchen will be serving some delicious oniony Homity Pie and a veggie Thai Curry plus veggie samosas and cooked salads. 

http://www.changekitchen.co.uk/

http://www.thewarehousecafe.com/

More details can be found at 

And tickets can be reserved at 

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brum-vegan-beer-festival-tickets-17951131317 with £5 payment per person on the day at the door. 

It should be a good day and though vegan friendly beers are on the increase, they are still a rarety. 

This festival should provide enough choice to satisfy veggies, vegans and beer drinkers everywhere. Plus some great food. 

Thanks for reading.

Andy 😊

Brum Vegan Beer Fest full Beer list:

Angel Ales, Ginger Stout 4.8% 
Beowulf Brewery, Gold Work 5.1% 

Fixed Wheel Brewery, Carbon Black IPA 6%

Green Duck Brew Co, Duck Blonde 4.2% 

Little Valley Brewery, Ginger Pale Ale 4.0% 

Rock n Roll Brewhouse, Meat is Murder 4.1% 

Rock n Roll Brewhouse, Telstar 4% 

Stroud Brewery, Stroud Organic Ale 4.0% 

Twisted Barrel Ale, Inspired Pale Ale 5% 

Two Towers Brewery, Chamberlain Pale Ale 4.5% 

Two Towers Brewery, Complete Muppetry 4.3% 

Two Towers Brewery, Electric Ale 4.1% 

Two Towers Brewery, Hockley Gold 4.1% 

Two Towers Brewery, Smith and Pepper 4.1%

Two Towers Brewery, Mott Street, Birmingham. 

 

   

 


Ciderfest at Bitters N’Twisted and Meat Free Monday’s at Marmalade. 

Posted in beer, Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

   Meat free Monday: 

Paneer Tika and Pea Samosas with Homemade pineapple marmalade. With Blind Pig Cider 

 

Meat Free Monday: 

Edaname  hummus, shiitake mushrooms, coconut crisps and grissini bread.  

  

Meat Free Monday: 

Beetroot, feta croustade with wilted spinach buerre blanc 

Marmalade at The Birmingham Rep has introduced Meat Free Monday food specials to its menu every Monday. Above are examples of previous dishes with a different dish (s) every week. 

Meat free Monday’s are a national initiate to help people have one meat free day a week to highlight the impact that eating meat has on the planet and our carbon footprint. 

Home

Marmalade has always offered a good selection of Vegetarian dishes, so this addition is to be welcomed. Keep an eye on social media for the Meat Free Monday dishes every week. 

   
    
 Vegetarian dishes at Marmalade. 
Previous review of Marmalade. 

Review: Marmalade: Bistro at The Birmingham Rep Theatre

  
   
   
Cider fest is back for its 5th year. 

 After previous successful summer festivals, independent Bitters ‘n Twisted Venues are on a mission to unite even more cider drinkers as its fifth annual Ciderfest runs throughout its venues throughout August. 
 The Victoria on John Bright St, The Jekyl and Hyde based on Steelhouse Lane, both located in the city centre, have been joined by Jewellery Quarter based The Rose Villa Tavern and Harborne’s The New Inn for a month long celebration of all things cider. 

New to the Birmingham bar scene, Marmalade , will be taking part too from their home in Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre.

 Ciders on offer range from traditional apple based scrumpy’s to lighter fruity modern ones, served straight up or over ice creating the perfect drink for when the sun comes out. Expected favourites include Maeloc Dry Cider, made in Spain using traditional methods for a crisp flavoursome taste. 

Also Blind Pig, a new cider to the market offering a mix of cider and rum in their not-for-the-fight-hearted Rum and Poached Pear Cider.

 The month long celebration will come to an end with the free Ciderfest Closing Party – an afternoon of cider drinking, live music and BBQ food hosted in the beautiful New Inn’s beer garden from 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st.

Ciderfest kicks off at the start of August and will carry on until the end of the month at the Victoria, The Jekyll & Hyde, Marmalade, The Rose Villa Tavern and The New Inn.
   
    
 Garden at The New Inn
Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

Pika Pika Pop up: Cherry Reds Kings Heath. 8th June. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pop up's, Real ale, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

    

One of the best pop ups to attend In Birmingham for Vegetarians is at intimate Cherry Reds in Kings Heath. 

Pika Pika ( a catering group specialising in home cooked traditional Japanese food) will be in their monthly residence again on Monday 8th June. 

On the menu this month: 

Pika Pika are going to collaborate with Ramen JUNKO. 

  

Not necessarily veggie version of ramen noodle soup😊

According to Pika Pika,  Ramen JUNKO was formed by a Japanese couple based in Birmingham, they produce 100% homemade ramen noodle from the soup base to char shu pork and even handmake their own fresh noodles. 

There are many different styles of ramen noodle soup in Japan, but Pika Pika are going to serve the  Sho-yu Ramen (soya sauce soup base). Sho-yu soup base is one of the most traditional and popular soup bases for ramen in Japan. It is a clear brown broth with plenty of soya sauce added and cooked for at least half day, resulting in a soup that is tangy, salty, and savoury yet still fairly light on the palate. 

Ramen JUNKO has specially worked very hard on the Vegetarian version of Sho-yu soup. It has a very complex flavour clear brown vegetarian broth made with Konbu and mixed vegetable, cooked with soya sauce for a very long time, it is full of Umami.

All the Ramen are served with 100% homemade medium thick noodles, we made our noodles with some special water called Kansui water from Japan, which is the distinguishing ingredient in ramen noodles, it leads the noodles a yellowish hue as well as a firm texture.

What is Ramen JUNKO? 

http://wearepikapika.tumblr.com/post/120448036406/what-is-ramen-junko

Menu For Vegetarians: 

Vegetable Sho-yu Ramen £10
Home made medium thick noodles served in a complex vegetable soup, topped with seasoned boiled egg, bamboo shoots, beansprouts, spring onion, kikurage mushrooms, fried veggies with sesame oil and seaweed.

Additionally you can choose the following small dishes to accompany your Ramen. 

Onigiri £2.50

Rice balls with Nori seaweed and Takuan (Japanese pickle) x 2.

Boiled rice. 

It’s sounds a truly authentic experience, 100% Japanese Ramen Noodles are serving in Kings Heath! 

Reserve your table now, call 0121 441 3155. 

Pika Pika are not serving their ramen as a takeaway this month. 

They start serving from 6pm, little people are welcome. 

   

   

Last month Ruth and I attended the Pika Pika pop up. Cherry Reds is an intimate venue but carries pop ups really well. The space seems made for the low key, intriguing food that Pika Pika provide. 

Ruth and I shared a small dish between us: it had four pieces so was easy to share and made a good appetiser. 

The Vegetarian Makizushi was a Japanese rice roll with sweet potato, egg omelette, spinach, avocado, Takuan (Japanese pickles) and Mayo wrapped in Nori. 

The flavours were subtle, which made for good bite size pieces and had sweet but slightly spicy kick that were delightfully delicious. I could have eaten more. 

For the main course I ate the vegetarian kitsune-Don, 

Donburi means bowl abbreviated as ‘Don’ which is a traditional Japanese rice dish served in a big bowl with topped vegetables, boiled rice. 

The dish was a portion of boiled rice topped with deep fried bean curd and scrambled egg sauce with onion sprinkle, finely sliced spring onion and served with Takuan and spaghetti salad. 

It was a lovely dish, again a good spicy punch but without the hit of a fire. The flavours of egg, and the fried bean curd made for a contrasting textures and I enjoyed the spaghetti salad which gave it an extra dimension a lovely vegetarian dish. 

Pika Pika provide thoughtful vegetarian variations on the main menu. Beautifully made and washed down with the delightful Cherry reds craft beer selection it makes for a good value evening in a delightfully friendly and relaxed space. It’s like home from home with the best Japanese food. 

There were also 3 other vegetarian small dishes, so offering plenty of choice on the night. 

Pika Pika are at Cherry Reds in Kings Heath on the second Monday of the month from 6pm. 

   
     

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

We paid for our own meal. My opinions are honest as always, I wasn’t requested to write any post I just wanted to. 

For my previous review of Pika Pika from 2014 see here: 

Pika Pika Pop up @Cherry Reds Kings Heath

@wearepikapika 

Colmore Food Festival: Friday 3rd July and Saturday 4th July. Birmingham City Centre. 

Posted in Bakery, Bars, Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Cocktails, Coffee, Craft beer, Curry restaurants, Food Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pubs, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

    

The fifth annual Colmore Food Festival is back in July and will showcase the superb food and drink offering in Birmingham’s business quarter, Colmore Business District (CBD).

25 venues, the majority of which are independent businesses, will be serving taster options priced at just £3 in Birmingham’s Victoria Square on Friday 3rd July and Saturday 4th July  11am-19.00 and is free of charge. 

This year sees three new independent CBD venues taking part in the festival, as well as the return of some of the district’s finest eating and drinking establishments, where visitors can sample an array of mouth-watering internationally inspired cuisines as well as traditional British options including many Vegetarian choices. Alongside the varied food offering will be artisan coffees, real ales, champagne and delicious cocktails. 

There will be a programme of live cooking demonstrations from top chefs in the District, as well as live jazz music, outdoor theatre, and other entertainment during the festival’s two day run. 

Confirmed participants: 

All Bar One, Ashas, Bar Opus, Chung Ying Central, Costa Coffee, Edmunds Bar, Edwardian Tea Rooms, Hindley’s Bakery, Hotel Du Vin, JoJolapa, Metro Bar and Grill, Old Joint Stock, Opus at Cornwall Street, Pure Bar and Kitchen, Purnell’s, Purnell’s Bisro and Ginger’s Bar, Refreshments by Centenary Lounge, The Bureau, The Old Contemptibles, The Square Peg, The Wellington Real ale, Urban Coffee Company, Nosh and Quaff, Yorks Bakery Cafe. 

For further information visit: 

http://colmorebusinessdistrict.com/

The Colmore Food Festival is always one of my favourite festivals of the year, it’s good fun and with good vegetarian food options on offer, plus a lively atmosphere it is a good family day out. Look out for further updates on Veggie Foodie as I have them plus more details on the vegetarian food options. 

Keep fingers crossed for a weekend of sunshine. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy😊

Note the first two pictures are courtesy of Clive Reeves PR team who brought the event to my attention.