Category Archives: Birmingham

Veggie lunch watch: Asha’s restaurant, Birmingham.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Curry restaurants, Lunch, Lunch deals, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Some restaurants will always hold a special place in your heart. The type of place that you go back to because it conjures those memories that make us who we are. 

That is certainly the role that Asha’s in Birmingham City Centre fills. It was here that Ruth and I ate on our first proper date, where we talked and ate for what felt like ages. On that night I can remember talking about singer Nick Drake and the place his music fills in both our lives, laughing and feeling happy that I’d met someone like Ruth who I could talk to at length and who shared my love of food. 

Then on another occasion I remember celebrating our engagement here with friends, of eating there with my brother a few weeks before I got married to Ruth, a little celebration, a toast to the future.

So for my Birthday lunch on this occasion it seemed the right place to go. 

What is it about some places that have this resonance, have this pull? Is it the food, the atmosphere, or does the memory fuel the desire to revisit? In Asha’s case it’s all of those. 

     
  

Asha’s is located on Newhall Street, in what is known as the Colmore Business District of the City Centre. Approximately 5 minutes from the shops, the restaurant offers a large bar area that serves cocktails (recommended) and is a good venue for private parties and celebrations. 

Rated in the Michelin Guide, Asha’s has a stylish, but cosy and warm feel about it with a sophisticated note that stems from the clientele and delicious cocktails that it serves. Decor is exotic (a bit Bollywood) and the menu is extensive with good and varied choices for vegetarians.

  

Asha’s offer an Executive Lunch. 

For £16.95 you get 2 courses, with pulao rice, vegetable raita, Popadoms and a selection of bread. The price also includes either a glass of red or white wine, beer, soft drink or mineral water. There is one Vegetarian choice on the starters and main courses (which may deter some) with four non vegetarian main courses including a fish curry. 

The vegetarian options were a Vegetarian Kebab Platter (Paneer Ka Soola, Aloo Tikka, Papdi Chat) and the main course of Kadhai Paneer. 

  
  Crisp Popadoms with varied dips, some of the best I’ve eaten. 

  
    
  Starter: Comprised of Paneer Ka Soola: A delicious marinated, firm paneer piece, juicy, served with a green pepper that had a nice deep spice flavour. This contrasted the Aloo tikka or spiced potato patties. The perfect Northern indian street food. Asha’s were hot, spicy, with a crisp outside and soft inside with a good savoury flavour. and perfect with the creamy Papdi Chaat. 

For me one of the best dishes in Birmingham. A lovely street food dish. With a Creamy and crunchy texture, a melt in the mouth fusion of chick peas, potatoes and yogurt. Sweet, sour, tangy and spicy flavours. This dish had me in Mumbai. A Delicious and varied vegetarian starter platter.

  Rice and breads with a glass of Red wine.

 

   Kadhai Paneer:

My main course was the Kadhai Paneer and came with the pulao rice, vegetable raita and selection of breads, including Naan and Roti.

A mouthwatering dish, delicious gravy like consistency, paneer  blended with tomatoes onion, with a good spicy lift that served with the Naan made for an exotic taste. Lovely. 

   Nice vegetable raita.

  
  

Kadhai paneer served in a nice bowl.

 

Asha’s is stylish and exotic with a keen eye on the business surroundings outside. The vegetarian options on the Executive Lunch Menu are cooked with aplomb and are plentiful.  Asha’s is a sophisticated spot, with a warm feel and atmosphere especially on the weekend. 

Birmingham has many curry houses but if you want a superior meal in Birmingham City Centre then you won’t go far wrong with Asha’s. For value and quality the Asha’s Executive Lunch is a steal and a lovely way of spending that hour of the day which is so precious and for a celebration it’s well worth revisiting. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

We paid for our lunch in full. All opinions expressed are mine and honest as always. 

Ruth enjoyed a glass of house white with her meaty curry and myself a glass of house red with our lunch. Both went well with the dishes. 

Birmingham Vegan Beer festival returning on the 15-16th July 2016.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Beer festivals, Birmingham, City Centre, Festivals, Food, Independent, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 This July The Birmingham Vegan Beer Festival will be returning after the much deserved success of last years event. 

The event which will be this year held at The Gunmakers Arms in Bath Street in the Jewellery Quarter and not at Two Towers Brewery in Hockley like last year. 

The Gunmakers Arms which is owned by Two Towers Brewery and has recently opened will run the event over two days, 15th and 16th July which is the beginning of the Birmingham Beer week. 

Last year I attended the event with Ruth and loved trying and ticking off the different beers and the food that was on offer from ChangeKitchen and last year The Warehouse Cafe. 

The event will be bigger than last year, and include roughly 20 mainly locally brewed Vegan friendly beers. 

The beers taking part in the festival haven’t been confirmed yet, but last year selection included from Two Towers, the excellent Chamberlain Pale Ale,  Complete Muppetry, Hockley Gold, and Electric Ale.

  
Plus there were beers from Rock and Roll Brewhouse (Meat is Murder) named after The Smiths seminal album, and their full bodied mild called Telstar,  Ginger Stout from Angel Ales brewed with fresh ginger, and the lovely Duck Blonde from Green Duck Brewing Company, with its fruity peachy then citrus, refreshing flavour and Gold Work from the fantastic Beowulf Brewing Company.

   
   
The Food will be provided by ChangeKitchen and Vegan Grindhouse. 

 ChangeKitchen food. 

Keep an eye on my blog for the full list of beers and food closer to July. 

See you there. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

  
http://twotowersbrewery.co.uk/

http://gunmakersarms.com/

The Gunmakers Arms holds frequent kitchen street food takeovers. See their website for details and Twitter. 

The Gunmakers Arms, 93 Bath Street, Birmingham B4 6HQ. 

Two Towers Brewery, unit 1 Mott Street, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3HE. 

Review: Vegetarian menu at Opus Restaurant, Birmingham. 

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

   

It seems quite an obvious thing to have. A Vegetarian menu can demonstrate your commitment to vegetarians, but also to the produce you use and to the producers. You’re giving them a helping hand and saying here you go this is your time to showcase your wares. Little things help, not that I’m particular about restaurants of a certain Ilk not having a menu for me to peruse. Some of the best meals I’ve had have come off the cuff or from a limited menu of veggie goodness. 

For Opus Restaurant on Cornwall Street I  guess it makes sense to have a vegetarian menu, it allows their producers Worcester Produce scope to be given a platform to grow and perform and the chefs an opportunity to create menus that reflect seasonality like it should. 

That’s an excellent philosophy from the field to the plate. Its one they own and do if you’ll allow me the indulgence, oh so well. 

The Vegetarian menu was launced in January, initially to be changed every month, this has now been amended to a change every season. There is a market menu that changes more frequently also available. 

  

Ruth and i visited on a Saturday evening, and from experience Opus tends to be busier on a Friday and Saturday evening and had a nice chatty atmosphere throughout the evening. Opus is an excellent choice for a celebration, but is relaxed enough for a chilled lunch or evening out. 

We began in the large bar area at the rear of the restaurant in order to have a cocktail and look through the menus. We ordered an exemplary Dry Gin Martini, classily made by Thomas the bar manager with Hereford Chase Gin, who deserves a special mention for his hospitality and cocktail. 

Dry and soothingly beautiful it was a mighty fine thing. 

We both chose to eat from the Vegetarian menu which offers two Vegan dishes also. 

  

Both Ruth and I chose to order the Roasted Butternut Squash Tortellini, Squash velouté, Toasted Seeds.  Dish Before the velouté was poured over the tortellini. 

  

We both thought the dish was stunning. A real taste of the winter season, where a gentle natural heat came through and demonstrated the versatility of the squash with Perfectly cooked tortellini, a luxurious dish of real quality and elegance. 
    

We also both tried a second starter off the menu, as a pre-main course dish. The Asiette of Beetroot, textures of goats cheese. 

This was a fine starter, that though wasn’t as stunning as the velouté before was full of the earthyness of the beetroot which woked well against the creamy goats cheese. An impressive starter which used the fantastic thinly sliced and striped sweet candy beet (from Worcester Produce) against the creamy soft goats cheese. 

For her main course Ruth chose the wintry sounding Porcini mushroom risotto, crispy hens egg, sherry vinegar reduction.

  

A twist on the traditional Northern Italian dish was certainly a winner with Ruth. She loved the earthy intense nuttyness of the porcini (piglets).

She said it was perfectly executed, the risotto the right texture and the strong depth of flavour showed off the so called king of mushrooms well. The added hens egg on top gave it a creamy addition when broken into. A delicious rich dish, which on trying i concurred with. The ruling class of risottos.

I chose the beautifully sounding Celeriac, red onion and feta pithivier, baby spinach confit tomato and pearl barley sauce.

  
  

A pithivier is a classic French savoury pastry dish (I love pastry dishes) with a distinctive round shape and sunbeam pattern scored on top.

Beautifully presented, the contrasting ingredients worked well  with the feta holding it all together to make a stunning winter pie that though large in size wasn’t heavy but had a light finish.

A real centrepiece dish which showed off the subtle but slightly nutty celeriac and confit tomatoes well.

A special mention to the Pearl barley sauce which gave the dish an extra wow factor.

We also ate some top notch chips as a side extra. Naturally they went perfectly with the pithivier.

  

We chose not to have a desert (but recommended) as we had enjoyed a pre main course, but chose to have two excellent double espressos and petit fours. These were ok, though not the best we’d had and were slightly underwhelming considering they were on the desert menu as a dish to buy. Could be improved. 
  

After visiting Opus last year for their Vegetarian Source dinner with Worcester Produce i noted how much more the kitchen were becoming in creating interestingly different and creative Vegetarian dishes. How by using the great fresh seasonal produce you are able to get the best extracted from the season.

 The chefs now seem more adept and positive in creating a menu that gives a permanent showcase for this produce and vegetarians a better and richer dining experience. The vegetarian menu at Opus is a natural progression from the Source dinner and one that makes Opus one of the best dining experiences in Birmingham for Vegetarians, and with a couple of Vegan options (though could be more) a restaurant for them to visit too. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Spring will bring to the plate and long may we enjoy the fruits of the producers such as Worcester Produce and Caroll’s Heritage Potatoes in Northumberland. 

Opus is indeed a special restaurant in Birmingham and now for vegetarians maybe just essential dining. 

  
    
   

Thanks for reading,

Andy😊

Disclaimer: our meal at Opus was complimentary. This does not affect my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

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

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

http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/dinner-series/

Opus Restaurant, 54 Cornwall Street, Bitmingham,  B3 2DE.

0121 200 2323

The next Vegetarian Source Dinner is on Friday 19th August 7pm with Worcester Produce. For my previous  review, see the below link:

http://t.co/WkopBcpQ9P

   
 

Previous reviews of Opus from Veggie Foodie: 

http://t.co/WkopBcpQ9P

https://t.co/3tmU7L7Y2V

Henry Wong restaurant in Harborne announces Military Home Fisher House as their chosen charity. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cantonese, Charities, Chinese, Harborne, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 It’s always nice to report on something slightly different than the direct food related news and reviews. Henry Wong a lovely Cantonese restaurant in Harborne in Birmingham which is fabulous for Vegetarians, has always been involved in local charity work. 

They are still involved with The Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer charity which raises money directly for the cancer unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, but have now added Fisher House also at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.  

The  QE’s Fisher House is Touted as a ‘Home away from Home’, Fisher House is intended for injured military personnel – many of whom have suffered life changing injuries in service – and their immediate families and is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is the receiving hospital for all the UK’s military patients who are injured or fall ill anywhere around the world during active service. These military patients are treated by both NHS and military medical staff. Over 400 serving military personnel form the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine are based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Fisher House opened its doors in April 2013, and has already provided medical assistance and respite for almost 1,700 people, including patients, parents, partners and children. This adds up to more than 9,500 nights of accommodation provided for people ranging in age from one month to 94 years!

Help from businesses like Henry Wong of Harborne is integral to the running of Fisher House, as it solely relies on funds from charitable donations. Mike Hammond, the Chief Executive of QEHB Charity, which runs Fisher House explains “We are extremely grateful to everyone at Henry Wong of Harborne for choosing to support Fisher House. It costs the charity £250,000 a year to run the facility and we rely entirely on the generous support of individuals and companies, like Henry Wong, to raise this. More fundraising means we can offer more free accommodation and support to more military patients and their families. We very much look forward to working with Henry Wong of Harborne in 2016”.

It was a perfect fit for Henry Wong of Harborne owner, Parm Rai, who has a long history in supporting Birmingham-based charities. Commenting; “First and foremost I wanted to support a charity local to the restaurant in Harborne. Mike Hammond from Fisher House regularly visits Henry Wong and has, on occasion, brought along some of his patients to dine with us, as part of their reintegration to society. I, like many, feel indebted to these military personnel who have literally laid their lives on the line for our us, so I could think of no worthier charity to support in 2016”.
Henry Wong of Harborne will be organizing a calendar of exciting events both on and off-site that will raise awareness and funds for Fisher House.  

Henry Wong Harborne was opened just over 30 years ago and saw a relaunch by businessman Parm Rai in 2008. They introduced a new cocktail bar, outdoor terrace dining area and a private dining room to host events.

   

    

Henry Wong restaurant is also celebrating the Chinese New Year with this year is the year of the Monkey.

2016 (on the Chinese calendar) is a year of the Monkey, starting from February 8 (Chinese New Year), and ending on January 27, 2017 (Chinese New Year’s Eve).

The Monkey is ninth of the 12 animals in the recurring 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Every 12 years there is a Monkey year. (Interestingly, Monkey years are all multiples of 12 — from 12 AD, through 1200 AD, to now in 2016.)
   

For details of Henry Wong you can find them at:

http://henrywongharborne.co.uk/

For more information on Fisher House: 

http://www.fisherhouseuk.org/

http://www.fisherhouseuk.org/about/

For more information onLadies Fighting Breast Cancer: 

http://www.lfbc.org.uk/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Thanks also to Henry Wong and FU Media for the information on Fisher House. 

All photos apart from the food pics courtesy of Henry Wong. 

For previous vegetarian food reviews of Henry Wong see the links below: 

https://t.co/8wgJpC8N9R

http://t.co/9artBxAlv7

Veggie Burger Watch: One Trick Pony Club, Moseley, Birmingham. 

Posted in American, Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Moseley, Real ale, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers by

  
  

One Trick Pony Club opened in 2014 in Moseley, replacing the tired and quite frankly dull O’Neil’s on the Alcester Road. Though it’s a chain owned by the same parent company as its predecessor, Mitchells and Butlers ( it’s part of the Castle Pubs Group) its revamp resulted in a rustically lit, richer and a more hipster cool venue that’s introduced an American diner-style food menu for the Moseley (or London) wanna be’s. 

Though I’m not one to shout out too loud about chains, the One Trick Pony Club offers a cosy warm feeling space with a mixture of bar stool seating set around tall tables, brown leather booth style seating and a keen real ale list that includes Doom Bar, a Wychwood Beer and local Purity UBU as well as Thwaites Wainright. 

   
 
  
On a Tuesday 2-1 burgers are served and this is the deal that Ruth and I enjoyed, when we visited. 

The vegetarian burger is a Spicy chickpea, cous cous,and coriander burger with crispy onion and sweet potato fries costing £8.95. 

  
Spicy chick pea, couscous and Corriander burger with sweet potato fries. 

The element of spicy chickpea gave the burger a nice flavour, and with a good texture worked well with the cous cous to provide a veggie burger that didn’t fall away when bit into, (always a good sign) and with the addition of the crispy onion it was a satisfying eat. 

The sweet potato fries I enjoyed. They were good looking fries with a good flavour and bite to them. Nice. 

I’d recommend the veggie burger at One Trick Pony Club, especially on burger nights  2-1 deal. Though not the best in town by any means it was a cut above many and was good value even without the deal. For a drink it’s spacious and offers varied wine and beer options with some good real ales on tap. Though not offering a great and original choice of food for vegetarians, it’s satisfactory with a group of mates who may eat meat or with your partner for a relaxed evening. 

I liked the One Trick Pony Club’s cool funk feel it’s a nice place to chill and be fed and watered but, disappointingly not a horse in sight. 

Well not on the night we went. They were all in the Prince of Wales. Probably. 

  

  
 Sweet potato fries. 

One Trick Pony Club also have a brunch menu on a Saturday and Sunday which includes a vegetarian breakfast but no defined Vegan breakfast. 
They also offer what’s called a shoomhalloumi, (under burger menu) which is a grilled flat mushroom and Halloumi and you can build your own veggie burger with a base of Spinach and lentil, with extra toppings, extra patty and dips if you wish. Each topping is £1, and the basic burger is £6.95. I think this is good particularly for those with particular dietary requirements. 

The Toppings include avocado, crispy onions, Halloumi, flat mushroom, jalapeños, fried egg and Mac and cheese. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

We paid for our burgers and drinks in full. My opinions are my own and honest as they can be on a one off visit. 

https://www.onetrickponyclub.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/1trickponyclub?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

One Trick Pony Club, 93a Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DD. 

The Vegan Grindhouse Diner: Crowdfunding campaign launched. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, healthy, Independent, Kings Heath, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie, Warwick by

   

 Veggie Foodie favourites The Vegan Grindhouse have launched a crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo to raise funds to open the first all vegan diner in The West Midlands. See below: 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-vegan-grindhouse-diner

After the success of their weekly Pop up at The Mockingbird in Birmingham for Meat free Monday’s showed the demand in the city for unique vegan food that captures the street food vibe inside, a retro diner to showcase their popular Americana food is a great logical step. Helping to offer more food, more often and spread the Vegan message further through quality and locally sourced and ethical healthy food. 

They currently run a Plant-Based Vegan food truck and can be seen around Birmingham and the Midlands at street food events such as Brum Yum Yum, Digbeth Diner and the monthly MAC food market. They’ve been trading for two years via the truck and are hugely popular with Vegan’s Vegetarian’s and meat eaters. 

They also want to help a local animal sanctuary – Rogue’s Place in Aldridge, West Midlands which was given notice at the end of January 2016 that they have to close down and relocate all of the animals as they don’t own the land. They have done some amazing work rescuing and housing injured, abandoned and rescued animals and The Vegan Grindhouse have been proud supporters of them over the last 12 months. They hope that a donation from the funds raised can help them to find new premises or homes for their residents during this time of crisis for them.

There is a selection of great rewards for contributing to the campaign and other goals if they do not reach their target of £25.000 to open their diner, including a vegan take away shop and new street food van and trailer. 

They plan to open 6 months after the Crowdfunding closes and when premises are identified. 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-vegan-grindhouse-diner/contributions/new

So pledge to help them, Rogue’s Place and Birmingham/West Midlands in getting its first all vegan restaurant.

Please click this link to go to their campaign and share this with everyone you know via social media.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-vegan-grindhouse-diner

It’s a good cause and helps support a local family business that is a leader in driving the Vegan and meat free message forward in the Midlands. 

The crowdfunder runs until the 27th February. 

http://www.thevegangrindhouse.co.uk

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

   
 Photos from The Vegan Grindhouse. 

Vegetarian and Vegan ChangeKitchen now serving at refurbished Stirchley Baths, Stirchley, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Brunch, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, Coffee, healthy, Independent, Stirchley, Tea Shops, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 

ChangeKitchen CIC cafe at Stirchley Baths is open Tuesday Wednesday Thursday AND Friday 10-3. 

Serving hot drinks & cake, full lunches or snacks . The food is ethical, locally sourced and organic. It is fully vegetarian and vegan (with gluten free options available) 

They do cappuccino & latte (made with organic fairtrade coffee grown by women’s cooperatives) , lots of herbal infusions – and proper tea. 

Their food is home made and fresh, and includes Homity pie, (potato pie with caramelised onions and cheese), mushroom and spinach lasagne, and includes Vegan versions. 

  Photo taken by myself at Vegan Beer Festival last year. 

Run by Birgit Kehrer and her team ChangeKitchen is an award winning event caterer and thriving social enterprise. 

They’ve catered for corporate events, weddings, community gatherings and have run hugely popular pop up cafes since 2010. They have participated at The Vegan Beer festival last year at Two Towers Brewery and at Vegan fairs. As well as the Kings Heath Food Assembly. 

ChangeKitchen Offer innovative vegetarian and vegan menus, all carefully put together using the finest local, organic and seasonal ingredients. 
The ChangeKitchen food philosophy is a simple one. They create and serve delicious, nutritious and ethical dishes that can be shared and enjoyed by all. ”

At Stirchley Baths there is free In-house WIFI too. 

The building at Stirchley Baths has recently been renovated, and is lovely to browse around and look at the beauty the new/old Stirchley Baths is/has become. 

It has taken many months to convert the old baths into the new community centre. They’ve managed to pair modern facilities with the heritage of the building to preserve memories but in a space that enables them and you to also create new ones. 

These baths are a grade ii listed building. Open initially in 1911 (Edwardian) the site has been derelict for three decades and cost £4 million to restore. 

  

   
 There are regular clubs, activities and rooms to hire (see website for details) with plans to develop a community cinema over the next few months. 

On the 20th February Stirchley Baths will be the site for the first Stirchley Vegan Fair. 

And ChangeKitchen will be selling its tasty ware in the cafe and the hall alongside tasty other vegan food. 

  
http://www.changekitchen.co.uk/

https://m.facebook.com/ChangeKitchen/

Home

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

http://stirchleybaths.org/heritage-culture-and-arts/heritage-2/the-project/

You can find Stirchley Baths at 

2-4 Bournville Lane, Birmingham B30 2JT. 

0121-464 9072.

  
   
 

Photos courtesy of ChangeKitchen and Stirchley Baths. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Digbeth Dining Club returns: Opening Party, Street Closure on Friday 29th January.

Posted in Birmingham, Digbeth, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Street Food, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

Today sees the return of Digbeth Dining Club after a Christmas break. Back with an opening street closure party, it promises to be a feast of Street food by some of the best street food traders in town. 

Some as a vegetarian may feel that this  is not for them, but with 15 traders showcasing their grub on the night, there must be something for Veggies to enjoy. 

Well looking at the list I can spot Buddha Belly, one of the best street food traders for Vegetarians, winners of 2014 best street food traders serving delicious Thai food. 

   
Menu for Buddha Belly tonight. 

 I can see Becky’s Bhajis, who can resist freshly cooked Bhaji’s or maybe Bournville Waffle Company. 
Try crepes from Victoria Creperie or Pizza from Baked in Brick. Or The jabberwocky’s toasties. 

That looks like a feast to me! 

If you can’t make it tomorrow I’ve attached the line up for the whole of February for some serious foodie perusal with plenty of Vegetarian possibilities.

This includes Pietanic and Indian Rasoi on the 5th and Barebones Pizza, Bournville Waffle Company and Buddha Belly on the 12th. 

The street takeover is £1.50 entry from 5-late. Address on the poster. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

   
 

Jan-Feb Food Pop Ups at Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham.

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

    
If you live in Birmingham it can’t of escaped your notice how popular Streetfood has become over the last few years. Events such as Brum Yum Yum and Digbeth Diner have taken the art of street food and made it a core part of the Birmingham foodie week and month. 

Twice a year the lovely Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath have a months worth of food pop ups where their kitchens are handed over to small independent places to showcase their food in a more formal setting. 

This month sees the above luminaries test out their grub on the hungry Kings Heath masses, (with some good beer on the side). 

In particular Pietanic’s this week will be offering a veg scotch egg served with real ale chutney and a winter vegetables and wild mushroom pie. Plus a homemade salted caramel brownie for £15. 

   

   
 

Also on the menu are Canadian Gourmet Street Food peeps Caribou Poutine who have Vegetarian gravy options.

Original Don-Hand cut fries, cheese curd and homemade gravy. 

The big veggie Liz- creamy cabbage, English Stilton

Say cheese- Swiss Gruyere and English Stilton. 

Plus a Canadian butter Tarts and maple crunch ice cream 

Two courses for £10.

Please note the pop up change for Thursday 25th February is not now Buddha Belly but Yogiyo Korean kitchen who have a vegetarian option though details are not up on the Hare and Hounds website. 

  

Tickets and details for Pietanic takeover on January 28th:

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=12614525

Tickets and details for Grub London and Crazy P on February 11th.

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=12612484

Tickets and details for Caribou Poutine on February 18th.

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=12612487

Tickets and details for Yogiyo Korean Food on February 25th.

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=12612487

Please note that the Baked in Brick pop up on the 9th February is sold out, but didn’t include veggie options anyway. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

You can find Hare and Hounds on High Street, Kings Heath (corner of York Road) Birmingham B14 7JZ.

Opus Restaurant launches new Vegetarian menu. 

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

   
 
During the last few years I’ve visited Opus Restaurant numerous times and have always been impressed by their passion and belief in the locally sourced produce they obtain from the area surrounding the restaurant. The Source Dinner series held over the course of the year highlights this. In particular for Vegetarians the Vegetarian Source Dinner in July is a real highlight and a must do on my foodie calendar. 

Worcester Produce from Pershore, Worcestershire provide the vegetables, fruit and produce for that dinner and the link is now deepened with the new introduction this month of a seasonally changing Vegetarian menu which uses their produce all year round. 

Opus’ vegetarian dishes have always been stunningly  made, taking seasonal produce and making accessible and tasty dishes that showcase this ethos off to its maximum. 

See below for examples from their last Source vegetarian dinner.

   
 

The new Opus Restaurant vegetarian menu replaces for veggies the A La Carte menu, by offering a dedicated menu that changes monthly to reflect the produce on offer from the farmers. 

There is also a Vegan option on each course.

It is available for lunch and dinner.

The A’La Carte is still available for non vegetarians who can now choose from both menus. 

The winter Vegetarian Menu is listed below. 

 

For the A’La Carte menu and Market Menu which is retained see below:

Click to access A-LA-CARTE-MARKET.pdf

The Market Menu is also available offering two courses for £20 including a Vegetarian Starter and Main Course (price includes home baked bread and tea or filter- coffee) see above link for details. 

I’m looking forward to trying the new Vegetarian menu soon and for me this cements Opus as one of the best places for vegetarians to visit in Birmingham. 

Review of Vegetarian Source Dinner with Worcester Produce:

http://t.co/WkopBcpQ9P

Opus leads the way on sustainability:

https://t.co/3tmU7L7Y2V

  

   

    
    
 Four photos above courtesy of Opus.

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

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

Opus Restaurant, 54 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 2DE.

0121-200-2323.

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

The next vegetarian source dinner with Worcester Produce is on Friday 19th August 7pm costing £65 for five courses.