Category Archives: Cake

6/8 Kafe Craft Beer festival 10/11/12th November, plus discount.

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Coffee, Coffee Time, Craft beer, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian by

Scaffolding is a necessary pest, a bit like slugs eating my veg or wasps in the summer. 

I once went to Florence and the great cathedral was covered in the stuff. How annoyed was I. The same happened in Rome with The Trevi Fountain. I was not amused. 

But then it comes off, as if by magic the structure below appears, more beautiful, brighter and and all is well. 

This is what 6/8 Kafe hope now their monstrous outdoor cover has been taken down and to celebrate they are having a craft beer festival. Well why not, they deserve it. Let’s toast progress! 

Sitting at the back of House of Fraser on Temple Row 6/8 Kafe is an independent coffee shop of some repute in the city and a innovator of the fine art of the Barista.

Festival organiser and proprietor Dav said:

”Our festival is about enjoying local beer with the amazing people that make them.

”It’s about tasting, learning and enjoying everything about craft beer. 

The line up includes: 

On Thursday ‘meet the brewers’. 

Burning Soul Brewing:

Bringing OCT IPA 6.7%

Mount Olympus Pale Ale 5.2%

Insert [Blanc] Single Hop Ale 5.2%

On Friday there is a ‘meet the brewer’ session with Twisted Barrel Ale who are launching their annual winter special ”Dark Knight Rises” and a Belgian Dubbel at Six Eight.

http://www.twistedbarrelale.co.uk/


On Saturday two Black Country brewers Sacre Brew at 6pm and Fixed Wheel are at the festival. 

Fixed Wheel will bring ‘Carbon Black IPA 6.8%, ‘Coffee Fix ‘6.1% and ‘Single Speed Equinox’ 4.5%.

Sacre Brew will bring  3 beers: Sloe Loris, Wendigo, & Donkey’s Years! 

Throughout the festival they will have live acoustic musicians appearing and playing to their hearts content. 

Tracks like down with the scaffolding should be popular on the playlist. 

Sacre Brew Microbrewery

http://www.fixedwheelbrewery.co.uk/

Tickets are £3.66 or £2.66 using my discount   ANDY_H at the checkout which will get you your first pint and access at the event. Enter the promotional code at the link. Andy_H.

Here: 

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=JuO6H&m=gcE2TaB8ITvENEE&b=VsnXDFvrrJivKpZnMQMmMQ

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618496268450152/

Also present will be Digbeth Dining Club favourites Stufo providing the food. 
http://www.stufo.co.uk/

http://www.sixeightkafe.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618496268450152/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊


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Coffee time @ Vegan and Vegetarian 3 Three’s Coffee Lounge, Birmingham City Centre.

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Brunch, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Coffee Time, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

3 Three’s Coffee Lounge is a new Vegan and Vegetarian coffee shop in Martineu Place, Birmingham City Centre. 

Recently opened it offers a mixture of hot ( soup, vegan hot dogs)  and cold food (Sandwiches, cakes, ice cream- 12 flavours, 4 vegan friendly) and of course coffee. All cakes are also Vegan friendly and dairy free. 

Most of the menu it seems is suitable for Vegans and offers mock meat style options (sandwiches, wraps) as well non meat style options such as hummus, avocados and roasted peppers and the soup and hot dog (Frankfurter) is dairy free. 

 

3 Three’s has an informal and comfortabl feel with good reliable Wi Fi and sturdy wooden tables, ideal for working on. 

It’s quite a large space with plenty of seating and art work on the walls. 3 Three’s also had a nice atmosphere, with good background music. 

On the two occasions that I’ve been it was busy considering it had only been open a few days and word of mouth seems to be getting round.  

On my first visit I enjoyed  a Chocolate Brownie (£2.20) that had an excellent chocolatey flavour, was nice and gooey in the middle, a good flat shape and had a homemade feel about it. It was a pleasure to eat and very tempting to repeat. 

My Flat White had a good espresso coffee flavour, though lacked the micro foam swirl of others in the city that makes it so distinctive, it was a bit of a disappointment though had a decent full flavour. I’m sure this will improve. 

Mine was made with semi skimmed milk, there are non dairy versions available with Soya or Almond milk. 

  
  Chocolate Brownie. All cakes are vegan friendly. 

  
    
  

On my second visit I tried the Vegan friendly Frankfurter Hot Dog £3.00. 

  

Served in a 8.5 inch white roll, the Frankfurter hot dog made out of tofu? I think, came with a choice of toppings, jalapeños, mustard, ketchup, and onion with salsa to be launched soon. It looked stunning and tasted exceptionally good. The Frankfurter was full of tofu flavour, and set off by the spicy jalapeños and soft silky onions and bright and vividly flavoured mustard was one of the nicest of it’s kind I’ve tasted for ages. 

I also enjoyed a semi skimmed Cappuccino ( £2.50) that had a nice strong coffee flavour and had a lovely arty chocolate 3 Three’s logo on top. A great coffee. 

  
    
  

Before now the brilliant Warehouse Cafe was the only informal veggie and vegan eating place in the city centre, but not a coffee lounge in any form. 3 Three’s is going in a different direction. It’s very much needed and in a decent central location with lots of foot traffic.

As a first look, I was very impressed with 3 Three’s Coffee Lounge. It’s a very friendly shop, wih staff that are enthusiastic and keen to please. The food I’ve eaten is of a high standard and the menu though limited so far, is nice and catering to an informal laid back crowd who want something different and find the indulgence of a Vegan/Veggie or Gluten Free friendly atmosphere to their liking. 

I’d like to see more risks in time with some of the food. I know this is in hand and the menu is constantly under development. A few salads, raw maybe using seasonal vegetables, breakfast items,  a bit more simple hot food, perhaps burrito’s, even a burger. 

These though are only my perceptions of an informal vegan/veggie space, from ones I’ve visited in London for example, not the definitive, but for now 3 Three’s is an improvement and an asset to Birmingham’s developing independent cafe and coffee scene and offers something different with quality for us non meat and fish (and dairy) eaters, (in fact the whole of Birmingham.) it’s a place I’ve warmed to and a place I will frequent often. 

Any new venture of this kind deserves support and is a positive start in creating a more defined informal Vegetarian and Vegan lunch stop in central Birmingham and this is most welcome. 

https://m.facebook.com/3threescoffee/

http://www.3threescoffee.com/

3 Three’s Coffee Lounge, Martineau Place, City Centre, B2 4UW.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

  
  

I paid for all my food and drink in full, my opinions are my own and honest as always. 

New menu launched at Cafe Opus At Ikon with Vegetarian options. 

Posted in Afternoon Tea, Birmingham, Brunch, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Cafe Opus is a lovely light flooded restaurant for a relaxing brunch or lunch. Part of the Opus family, with Well regarded Opus Restaurant and Bar Opus, the cafe sits comfortably and temptingly in the Beautiful building that is the internationally acclaimed contemporary Ikon Gallery, which is surely one of the best places to visit in Birmingham. 

Again like its other siblings, the cafe focuses on local seasonal produce, ethically sourced and informally put together to make a high quality cafe in its own right.

   

Ikon Gallery
  
 

Cafe Opus have now launched a new seasonal menu (See above) that has a number of tempting Vegetarian and Some vegan dishes on it. 

Try Slow Baked Aubergine, rich tomato and Quorn ragu. (Not vegan) 

Penne Pasta tossed in basil pesto, Wilted rocket and sun blushed tomatoes (vegan) see photo below.

Photo courtesy of Cafe Opus/Clive Reeves PR.  

Spaghetti with homemade rich tomato and Quorn bolognaise sauce. (Not vegan) 

Note: for vegans the menu says vegan friendly for a number of dishes, but only certain quorn products are vegan friendly. This after discussion with Opus is under review. 

Plus light bites: 

Buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, basil pesto salad

Homemade Soup (Vegan soup option available daily).

Goats Cheese, roasted beetroot salad dressed leaves, red onion marmalade. 

Cafe Opus also serve a daily all day Brunch menu that includes mushrooms on toast, and fluffy pancakes- maple syrup and banana. 

And for £10.50 you can enjoy soup and another dish off the menu. 

Cafe open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5. 

Cafe Opus also serve Afternoon Tea every day for £10 per person. This includes finger sandwiches, fancy cakes, scones, clotted cream, fresh fruit conserves and tea. (See photo below) 

Spoil Mum this #MothersDay with their  #AfternoonTea package. Afternoon Tea with prosecco for two, just £30. 

Call 0121 200 2323 for a gift card – the perfect present!
   
 2 Photos above courtesy of Cafe Opus. 

Janet Mendelsohn: Varna Road exhibition: 

At the moment until April 3rd The Ikon Gallery hosts the largest exhibition to date of photographs by American academic and documentary filmmaker Janet Mendelsohn. 

Part of a ‘photo-essay’ Mendelsohn made as a student at the University of Birmingham during 1967–69, the photographs depict everyday life in the inner-city district of Balsall Heath, focusing in particular on a young woman referred to as Kathleen, with whom Mendelsohn formed a close relationship.

Balsall Heath during the 1960’s was Birmingham largest Red light district. A place of work for 200 prostitutes. This included Varna Road which the exhibition is named after. 

Mendelsohn photographs show a working class distinct in flux prior to the so called slum clearance that followed within 2 years. 

This challenging exhibition of photographs is on until the 3rd April 2016.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

  Summer at Cafe Opus. 

Cafe Opus, 1 Oozells Street, Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2HS.

http://www.cafeopus.co.uk/

https://ikon-gallery.org/event/janet-mendelsohn/

https://ikon-gallery.org/


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/

http://stirchleybaths.org/

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 😊

#Coffeetime: Waterstone’s independent cafe Birmingham.

Posted in Birmingham, Books, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Coffee, Coffee hour, Coffee Time, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Now books, that’s another story. I’m always to be found with a book in my hand, whether fiction, poetry, gardening or art, I’m never far from one. In fact I’ve been known to spend a few hours in book shops and thus if in Birmingham Waterstone’s is the main and largest book shop in town to visit. 

  
The new impressive Waterstone’s Birmingham on High Street on the Bull Ring intersection is huge. 

Covering five floors, it covers every type of book and has a lovely floor for its Children’s section which also has its own cafe and cup cake making sessions (plus children’s play area).

Created as a ‘flagship bookshop for the Midlands’. The fiction section has its own floor (basement) and there are oak bookcases fitted throughout. Topped with this there’s also a varied events programme (see in store or on the website) and the shop itself feels more engaging, more user friendly with a new shop front and enhanced book range (though the poetry section is still a bit small for me). It’s a joy to walk around and another step on the revolutionisation of Birmingham as a cultural city merging with an impressive and vibrant city centre. 

  

Now it appears that me and Mrs Mills’ cakes have a thing going on, but just keep it a secret, but then I’m bound by been a blogger and all food consumed is ‘for the blog’ and the blog alone. Ruth my wife disputes this, and feels that I just consume food, well because I like it. It’s probably one of the reasons why I began my blog. As, what’s the point in being a food blogger if you don’t like food, and cake is food…right. 

The cafe is run independently and this shows in its free and easy layout and atmosphere with comfortable seating throughout. It’s a peaceful spot, but there is a surprise that you can sit on any floor with your drink and food if you wish (as long as you don’t mind carrying it up flights of stairs).

The aim is as much as possible to use local producers for cakes and bakes such as Mrs Mills. 

  Cheesecake and Flat White. 

  Yummy 😊

  Mrs Mills’ Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake: 

Creamy chocolatey layers of delight. Cheese cake base well made, a good bake. Rich Vanilla pod infused with a thick swirl of dark chocolate running through each slice, chocolate chip pieces. Melt in the mouth deliciousness. Indeed the best cheese cake in Birmingham no doubt.

Eaten with a lovely flat white. In fact everything one should be. Velvet micro foam and a powerful double shot of coffee.

   
 Flat white 

  Mrs Mills’ Chocolate Brownie (with Pips Hot chilli sauce).

The second cake I’ve eaten at Waterstone’s cafe is the Chocolate Brownie made with Pips Hot Chilli Sauce and sea salt. A luxurious brownie, with a definite chilli hit, which though quite powerful compliments the gooey chocolate well and makes for an indulgent treat at any time of the day. A very beautiful brownie that deserves repeated trials. A treat. 

Eaten with a disappointing cappuccino which wasn’t intensive enough in coffee for me and felt quite flat next to the brownie. Shame.

Waterstone’s cafe also serve sandwiches and biscuits. Bread is provided by local artisan baker Peel and Stone from the Jewellery Quarter. Other local producers are Anderson and Hill and Too busy to bake. 

It’s a delight in every way and a place to wile away the time, but beware if you fancy working there, their wifi is erratic and tempermental, in fact much like writers.  

A match made in bookish heaven. 

   Cakes and sandwiches at Waterstone’s. 

  Christmas time 

  

   
   Cafe seating.

 The view from the cafe of Birmingham’s German Market in the distance. 

   
   
  

 Children’s floor with plenty of activities. 

 

   
    Books and coffee, whatever next?

    Cafe seating amongst the books. 

 Waterstone’s Birmingham, High Street, 24-26 High Street, B4 7SL.

0121-633-4353.

Disclosure: I paid in full for my coffees and cakes. My opinions are honest as always. 

Mrs Mills Cakes makes celebration cakes, on the go granola bars, indulgent deserts and cheesecakes, biscuits for mail order and at food festivals, fairs and Brum Yum Yum Streetfood events. 

All cakes baked using free range eggs. 

At Brum Yum Yum Kings Heath on the 12th Decenber. 

https://m.facebook.com/MrsMillsMakesCakes/
  

http://mrsmillsmakescakes.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/mrsmillscakes

Christmas orders: 

http://mrsmillsmakescakes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/pdf-flyer.pdf

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

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. 


Spring is here, long live Spring: The Spring Market @ The Bond, Digbeth, Birmingham 

Posted in Bars, Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cake, Catering, Cocktails, Craft beer, Digbeth, Events, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, pizza, Real ale, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  This Saturday 18th April, The Bond in Fazeley Street Digbeth will be home to a fun packed Spring Seasonal market. 

Jam packed with Street Food, DJ’s, music,  artisan food producers, local arts and artists, a cocktail caravan and the Routemaster bus bar there will be more going on than any one person can manage without the aid of good grub and top drinks. 

Street traders already confirmed include a few Digbeth Dining Club regulars. It should be a feast and yes even for vegetarians, and vegans there is enough food to fill us up for a coue of days at least. 

On the podium are:

Award winning Top veggie dogs, Fresh Rootz, bringing there veggie, vegan world street food (Pakoras anyone)  

 from their converted caravan. British root vegetables turned into contemporary world fusion dishes, inspired by travelling and yes the sunshine. 

Also good for veggies are Delize Italiane, arancini balls, and tiramisu, (not at the same time mind) 

Buddha Belly- Thai heaven with plenty of veggie and vegan options. 

Fire and Slice: pizza including both veggie and vegan. 

Pietanic: pies and pies, including veggie. Try Sweet Potato, Goats cheese and Spinach. 

Cake Doctor: cakes by the cake load and yes good for your health, a doctor no less, gluten free and vegan cakes too. 

Bournville Waffle Company: waffles of loveliness. 

Plus original patty men, Gamekeeper, and Hungry Toad. 

Regulars on the street food scene in Brum. 

I’m sure there is more, so I will add when I’ve found them or they’ve told me they are veggie friendly. 

Artisan Food producers will include Pips Hot Sauce. 

For a standard entry of £1.50, children go free. 

Plus if you are Independent Birmingham card holders you get 50p off entry. 

So that’s a whole solid £1 entry. 

The Bond is on Fazeley Street off Heath Mill Lane near the Custard Factory. 

Be there or be stuck…well in Winter. 

   

      Marino Adrift, above creates beautiful and unique alternatives to the standard house plant, will have a stall at the Spring Market. @marimoadrift

The Cake Doctor (below) 

      

The Bond 180 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, B5 5SE. 

Seasonalmarkets.co.uk

@seasonalmarkets

Facebook: birminghamspringmarket

Freshrootz.co.uk

Fresh Rootz, also have a cafe at Ryton Organic Gardens near Coventry open from Wednesday- Sunday serving veggie and vegan food. 

 

Veg Out Cafe: Vegetarian and Vegan dinner in kings Heath Birmingham

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, Coffee, Food, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by



Veg Out Cafe is an Independently owned cafe and restaurant on popular Poplar Road in Kings Heath, in the South of Birmingham. 

As with many Vegetarian places it covers all bases and is open all day Monday-Friday, Friday and Saturday evenings and for Sunday brunch. 

Veg Out is a smallish, minimal and friendly in the community kind of place with colourful walls adorned with art work. It has large windows bringing in lots of natural light, apart from after dark when we visited of course, but that’s stating the obvious. 

The furniture and floors are wooden, sturdy and won’t rock and roll as you eat your soup or tuck into a vegetarian breakfast (there Arn’t many things worse). There are potted plants, community information on the walls and a gaiety of spirit that only a thoughtful independent business beholds. The care and attention to its customers, that bellies the Kings Heath vibe. 

Positively, there is a Bring your own on alcohol which keeps the price down and makes Veg Out Cafe one of the best value places around. 

Veg Out Cafe do a set price menu which includes vegan options. 3 courses for £ 17.95 and 2 courses for £17.95. 

On the Saturday evening that Ruth and I visited the restaurant was busy and had a good buzzy atmosphere. 

After a quick drink en route from home at Fletchers Bar on York Road we decided on looking at the menu to go for the 3 course menu. 




We both chose the Ravioli set on a cauliflower and Tarragon puréed mushroom and cream sauce to start. 


Our Ravioli was excellent. Though it felt quite small in size (though that was probably because we were hungry) the Ravioli was hand made, had a good flavour and was cooked perfectly, and with the complimentary flavours of the cauliflower, tarragon and cream lifted it into a fine starter, one demonstrating a touch of quality in the cooking and presentation. 

For my main course I chose the Cannelini Al gratin with fennel, garlic served with wilted spinach. 



The Cannelini Al Gratin was also very good, warming, filling and hearty. Packed with a subtle garlic and fennel flavour it was a good size and a really tasty main. The Spinach gave it a contrasting texture and made for a good main course. 

Ruth chose the Kale salad with artichoke, garlic potatoes, chilli and white wine. A pretty dish that she commended for its healthy, filling and flavoursome potatoes, which she enjoyed a lot. 


For pudding Ruth had the sorbet which she found refreshing and a healthier choice. Sorry no photo as Ruth had started before I could get one taken. 

I went for The Sticky Toffee Pudding with Double Cream. 

A sticky toffee pudding is one of my favourite puddings, it is for me one of my taste tests along with tiramisu, fresh bread and chips. (To name a few)  having eaten Sticky Toffee Pudding in the Lake District and North Yorkshire I’ve had it where it was created. 

I was very impressed with Veg Out Cafe’s sticky toffee pudding. It was superbly toffee flavoured, a good size, perfectly cooked, not burnt or overlooked but moist, and with the right amount of cream to give it the contrast in flavour. A super job, well worth having if on the menu.  


The menu at Veg Out changes weekly usually so what Ruth and I ate may not be what you will find. I like the fact that the menu changes, it keeps it seasonal and fresh for both the chef and the customer who visits frequently. 

Check Twitter and Facebook for their menus and their website. 

I would have liked to have had some fresh bread when we arrived especially as exquisite independent bakery Maison Mayci is on the same road. Maybe to nibble on arrival or over the menu. I know how good the bread is there. 

Throughout the service was friendly, enthusiastic and prompt and with a buzzy feel to the atmosphere made for a very engaging evening. 

Veg Out Cafe is a brilliant Vegetarian place to go for an informal weekend evening. It’s casual, fun and the food is delicious, well made and shows a creative touch that is well executed and presented well. 

Veggies, Vegans  and meat eaters alike will enjoy the ambience and welcome and the price. As the hashtag on their website says #wecarewhatyoueat. 

Who can dispute that. 

Veg Out Cafe, 46 Poplar Road, Birmingham, B14 7AG. 

Twitter.com/cafevegout 

Facebook.com/CafeVegOut

http://vegoutcafe.co.uk/
https://vegoutcafekh.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/cafe-menu1.pdf
https://vegoutcafekh.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/veg-out-march-menu.pdf
We paid for our own meal all opinions in the view are my own, honest at all times. 

Thanks for reading 😊

Andy 

Has anyone been to Veg Out Cafe? What did you think, what’s your favourite time to visit? 

In my previous review I reviewed Veg Out Cafe’s lunch and daytime menu: 

see my review here: 

https://vegiefoodie.com/2014/09/16/veg-out-cafe-a-vegetarian-lunch-in-kings-heath-birmingham/

You can now receive 10% off your bill with the Independent Birmingham Card so this makes the evening weekend deal even better value. 

Unfortunately the deal became live a day or so after we visited. But another time😊

See what they say here:

http://independent-birmingham.co.uk/veg-out-cafe/

#CoffeeTime: New independent coffee shop openings. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cake, Coffee, Coffee Time, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

It seems that Birmingham City Centre is going independent coffee shop crazy this month with four new openings in and around the centre in the last few weeks. 

I’ve already mentioned the  Six Eight Kafe which has opened at Millenium Point  recently which if as popular as their original on Temple Row should do very well indeed and bring a coffee boost to Millenium Point and its eclectic mix. 





Flat white at Six Eight Kafe 

Also open is the new Urban Coffee Emporium at 1 Dudley Street near New Street Station (back entrance near the yet to be opened John Lewis entrance) 

Urban’s new emporium is a smaller affair, but will still be serving brunch, coffee and cake of course. 



flat white at Urban Coffee Church Street

The new emporium is at the new Birmingham Open Media Gallery and has plenty of vegetarian options on its brunch and  lunch menu. See above 

Also recently opened are Quarter Horse Coffee which is an Oxford based coffee shop which is independent and has branched out to Birmingham at 88-90 Bristol Street B5 7AH. @Qtrhorsecofee.

Plus the intriguing Diplomat Barista at the 2 SnowHill development near Snow Hill Station. 

They have a deal with the RBSA Gallery in the Jewellery Quarter to display art on their walls. Looks a good newcomer. 

I’ve also heard that Java Lounge from Moseley Village are opening up at some point on Colmore Row in Birmingham City Centre. 

So exciting times for coffee drinkers in central Birmingham. Expect to see reviews and reports on all of these in the next few weeks on my blog. 

Happy coffee drinking. 



Photos above taken at Yorks Espresso bar on Colmore Row and Marmalade at Birmingham Rep Theatre. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊





#CoffeeTime: Loco Lounge- Kings Heath

Posted in Bars, beer, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, Cocktails, Coffee, Coffee Time, Kings Heath, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie by

I’m making no apologies for mentioning the Loco Lounge on Kings Heath High Street in Birmingham again on my blog.

IMG_2420

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The Loco Lounge Is part of the Lounges group of cafe bars that offer an all day space and cater for the whole community and neighbourhood.

They also sell and eclectic mix of cocktails, craft beers and wine.

Loco has a large double fronted shop front which has some outside seating. Inside the the ground floor is open plan with stairs leading to a snug with a covered terrace to the rear of that.

It’s a large space with a loyal customer base and is popular at all times of the day. A real community space. A place for all the family.

The Loco Lounge is near my house, but until this occasion I hadn’t drunk a coffee in its cosy cafe.

As a cafe/bar caters for many different people in many different ways. Since this visit I have visited in the morning a couple of times and this time is popular with parents with children and people working on laptops…and me 🙂

It is for this reason one Friday afternoon that I visited. To work on my blog and my poetry. Yes I have new work 🙂 x 6!

The Loco Lounge I think is the best space for working in
in Kings Heath, spacious, free wi fi, and with comfy chairs, sofas and cushions, it’s like your front room with a casual buzz and friendly staff.

On the afternoon (a Friday) I visited the cafe was busy.
Some people had eaten lunch others were working with a coffee and some were chilling with a book and a coffee.

You have to order at the bar, and I chose my favourite coffee test a Flat White with a Vegan (yes vegan) chocolate and Ginger torte.

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The Flat White was lovely, creamy, well made, a good coffee with a decorative twist. Presented in a glass mug which was quite retro like. Excellent.

The torte alongside it was a lovely choice. The ginger against the vegan chocolate was delicious. It was well baked, soft, sticky, the vegan chocolate was thick and gooey. It was superb. A real surprise, I don’t mind saying.

A lovely combination.

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The Loco Lounge is a brilliant space to work in. It’s buzzy without been in your face, it’s spacious and cosy. The food and drink is varied, with lunches, evening specials, breakfasts, and a whole vegan menu on offer it covers all basis. In fact if you stay all day you can be well fed.

For coffee and cake it ticks all the boxes and makes for a satisfying stop off whilst in Kings Heath, for locals like me well it’s an extension of our living room, a home from home.

In my case with better coffee and cake.

The Loco Lounge
32/34 High Street
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7JT

0121 444 1296

@loco_lounge

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

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On Monday Loco do a pub quiz. On Tuesday they offer Tapas Tuesday where you can have three tapas dishes and a large glass of house wine for £9.75.

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Update: A delicious Cappuccino, creamy with a touch of chocolate class.