Category Archives: Pop up’s

#Tastymorsels: Veggie Foodie news: Epi Restaurant, The Edgbaston and En Place @ Six Eight Kafe. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Cocktails, Edgbaston, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pop up's, Tasty Morsels, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Bromsgrove based restaurant Epi last week announced that sadly Sunday 26th April will be its last service in Bromsgrove. Nathan and Charlie who run Epi are currently looking at various sights in Birmingham and hope to make an announcement soon on a new begining for the business.

  

Epi Restaurant served me one of the best vegetarian meals I had last year and left a lasting impression on the thoughtfulness of the menu and the fresh  taste of the seasonal ingredients that Nathan created, so for me it’s an empathy of both sadness of their closure and happiness at their impending move to my home (and theirs) city which should give me many more opportunities to enjoy fine innovative vegetable dishes. Keep an eye on their social media and Veggie Foodie for updates. 

Here is a reminder of my review last year. 

 http://t.co/dKBcXTiu5E 
   
 Two of Nathan’s vegetarian dishes from my last visit. 

Facebook: Epirestaurant 

Twitter: @restaurantepi

The Edgbaston in Edgbaston Birmingham has recently launched a Vegetarian tasting menu to go alongside its main tasting menu. Served against a backdrop of the 1920’s chef Ryan Swift has devised a vegetarian menu that showcases seasonal ingredients and harnesses innovative techniques. More ‘social’ dining than fine dining, expect timeless elegance on a plate and innovative indulgence in the dishes. 

Ryan Swift who formally was at Hampton Manor in Solihull is now running the kitchen and receiving favourable reviews thus far. 

The veggie menu will soon be able to be taken with paired cocktails (the specialism of The Edgbaston) 

See my review here on the cocktails. 

http://t.co/4aDVKaczUJ

The Edgbaston opened in May last year and now it has introduced a food menu appears to be integrating itself well with nearby Simpsons and The Highfield. It has 6 boutique rooms that makes for a nice foodie break with the added cocktails which I think are the best in Birmingham. 

The Vegetarian tasting menu will be four or six courses for £40 and £65. Served Tuesday to Saturday 

The dishes will be a combination of modern presented with a twist. The pairing concept to me seems a brilliant idea and should be a huge success when launched for vegetarians. 

Keep an eye on my blog for updates on the menu and cocktails. 

Also served is an A La Carte menu from Tuesday to Friday. 

The Edgbaston have also launched an Afternoon Tea menu (see photos below) 

   

 This is served from 2-5pm Tuesday to Saturday. Which includes their very own Moseley Serve for £30. 

So for that effortless timeless elegance  and unwavering good taste you know where to go. 

Book for both via the website (see also menus) 

http://www.theedgbaston.co.uk/

Or phone 0121-454 5212

The Edgbaston, 18 Highfield Road, Birmingham B15 3DU. 

Info@theedgbaston

@TheEdgbaston

The-Edgbaston/Facebook. 

  

En Place is a new pop up restaurant from chefs Michael Crew, Josh Porter and Chris Dance. 

On the 14-15th May they will be at Six Eight Kafe, Millenium Point from 18.30-22.30.

They have over 30 years experience in kitchens and this exciting new pop up experience should introduce thei food to a brand new audience.

Along side a meat menu will be a bespoke vegetarian menu using seasonal and local produce to create elegant but affordable food with s modern twist. Their will be a set tasting menu plus with BYOW should make for a good value evening. Priced £35 for 5 courses. 

Mention on booking that you are vegetarian. 

Book here: 

https://t.co/E1rvNC2hLg

I will keep you updated on vegetarian menus as I hear about them. Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for updates on En Place. 

Twitter: @_enplace 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

Nomad pop up: Nature, memory, place in Kings Heath Birmingham. Vegetarian Menu preview. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Food, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, Pop up's, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by



  

  

‘I want to cook food that excites me. Nomad is a collection of ideas, focusing on memory, place and nature. I want to explore these things through cooking’ 

So says  chef Alex Claridge formally of Vegetarian Bistro 1847 and The Warehouse Cafe and from experience of Alex’s cooking and dishes it promises to be a superb residency for vegetarian food lovers. 

Alex Claridge Chef Owner   

 

Head Chef Brian Smith

Nomad is the name of the new pop up restaurant that is opening on April 3rd at The Kitchen Garden Cafe on York Road in Kings Heath, Birmingham. 

Alex brings his innovative take on food, offering innovative, creative and foraged ingredients and food for a 3 Month residency begining in April. 

Nomad will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings and some Thursday’s at the Same venue that has housed pop ups previously from Epi Restaurant and Blue Rabbit. 

Nomad is expected to move to other locations around Birmingham with a City Centre residency planned for June. 

With Nomad he is expected to ‘explore ideas and thoughts about nature, place, memory  and British Cuisine. 

Alex is an innovative chef who creates dishes that explore ingredients that are foraged, seasonal and unique in the UK. This with a view to create a sensory and progressive veggie foodie menu that is a challenge to the palate and mind. 

Diners can initially experience two fixed tasting menus of 5 courses and 9 courses for £32 and £45 respectively. Short and long. 

The Vegetarian menu is: 

April £45 long: 

Reindeer Moss, egg, mushroom, coffee,

Cauliflower and Pine cream, fermented watercress, seared hearts, 

Pickled Mushrooms, Japanese, rose, aged kelp, 

Cox Apple, 

Fresh ricotta in ashes

Grilled Broccoli, duck egg, hay, milk

Hogs weed, grilled carrot cake, purple carrot, Manouri, buttermilk, wild carrot. 

Ewes milk, pickled bilberries, 

White chocolate, caramel, seaweed popcorn

April: £32: Short

moss, egg,  coffee. 

Pickled mushroom, dulse, sunflower seed, Japanese Rose

Fresh ricotta, in ashes, wild garlic

carrot cake, purple carrot, Manouri, buttermilk, wild carrot. 

Goats milk, pickled billberries. 

Cauliflower, Pine, Sorrel, Wild Watercress (three photos)  

           

Dishes above: 

Fresh Ricotta in Ashes, Wild Garlic (first two) and Reindeer Moss, egg yolk, mushrooms (Second two). 

On booking mention that you are a vegetarian to guarantee the menu and ingredients. Please note due to the creative process of Nomad and the seasonality of ingredients the menu you have may not be the same as above. 

Reindeer Moss, egg yolk, mushrooms   

 

Other menus will include meat and fish options and menus are available via the website. 

 Nomad is now taking bookings for April, and May. 

Please visit the website for bookings. 

http://t.co/CFUtHjePuF

http://www.foodbynomad.com/

@nomadbirmingham 

Nomad should offer a delightful evening of indulgence, ideas and exploration of the senses. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊





Kitchen Garden Cafe Kings Heath 

All photos given to me by Alex to use on this post, apart from the ones of Kitchen Garden Cafe which are my own and not so good. 😊

Thanks Alex. 

Nomad, Kitchen Garden Cafe, york road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14. 



Spring Food Pop Ups: Take Over series: April at The Hare and Hounds Kings Heath. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Events, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Japanese food, Pop up's, Pubs, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

 

The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham this April is opening up its kitchen for their latest instalment of its pop up food takeover series. 

It sees Pika Pika, The Indian Rasoi, The Vegan Grindhouse and The Flying Cows all serve up a specially created 3 course set menu in the back bar each Thursday throughout the month. 

First up will be Pika Pika on the 9th April who specialise in Oriental fusion home cooking and have recently completed pop ups at near by Cherry Reds in Kings Heath that I had the pleasure of trying last year. 

There will be a Vegetarian menu available. But specify when booking. 

Starters will be a mixed starter platter and a Maki Sushi Roll vegetarian with dumpling edamame

Main course: Nasu Katsu curry- a traditional Japanese curry with onion, carrot, potato topped with breadcrumbs and deep fried aubergine slices filled with Karashi (Japanese mustard) served with boiled rice and salad

For desert a Matcha cake served with cat biscuit and azuki bean whipping cream. 

Cost of the 3 course is £15 and the pop up starts at 7pm

  

On the 16th April The Indian Rasoi will be providing an evening of authentic Indian Cuisine. 

On the menu are dishes for Vegetarians  such as:

Potato/peas Tikki Chaat, served with marinated chick peas, pomegranate and red onion, mint and chilli chutney. 

Methi, mixed bean medley. Served with flame griddles aubergine purée, home ground spices, cumin rice, Tawa bread parantha, turmeric oil and warm coriander slaw. 

Warm Indian chilli infused carrot and coconut cake with homemade kulfi ice cream

The cost is £15 for three courses. 

   

 

On the 22nd April The Vegan Grindhouse will be taking over. 

Serving a completely Vegan menu it will include: 

Starters: Buffalo Cauli wings served with Pip’s Hot Sauce

GrindHouse Nachos. 

Main course: Grindhouse Burger, signature meatless, quarter pounder with vegan cheese. 

Philly Cheese steak 

Organic six bean chilli, homemade and much loved. 

Sides 

BBQ beans, Grindhouse Slaw, side salad,

Deserts: New York ‘cheese cake gluten free and vegan. 

Ice cream cookie sandwich. Vegan 

For £20 per person you receive 1 starter, 1 main, 2 sides, and 1 desert. 

   

   

On the 30th April the Flying Cows takeover the Hare and Hounds. The cost is £15 for 3 courses menu to be announced. Keep an eye on Veggie Foodie for an update. 

For all reservations, tickets check The Hare and Hounds website/events. 

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/event-listings/

Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ. 

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/

@hareandhounds:Twitter. 

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

@andydhare 

   

   

Six Eight Kafe and Two Cats Roaming Kitchen at Millennium point

Posted in Bakery, Cafés and Restaurants, Coffee, Coffee hour, Coffee Time, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pop up's, Supper Clubs, vegetarian by

2015/01/img_2519.jpg

As anyone who follows my blog will know I’m a keen coffee drinker and from time to time put up up #coffeetime reviews.

Though I have been to Six Eight Kafe on Temple Row in Birmingham City Centre (near the entrance of The Great Western Arcade) I’ve not yet reviewed it for my blog.

It is one of the best independent coffee shops in Birmingham (voted one of the top 50 in the UK by the Independent Newspaper) and though small is a bustling place with fine artisan coffee and beautiful cakes.

So the news that Six Eight Kafe are now this month January are opening up a new outlet in Millennium Point is quite exciting.

Six Eight Kafe have been running a trial pop up coffee shop there for a few months, and with its success have announced a new shop. It’s expected to be one of the largest Artisan independent coffee shops in the Midlands and will have a fully operational kitchen and will be licensed.

This will allow them to serve hot food and be open for longer hours I presume. The launch date has yet to be confirmed, but should be soon. Keep an eye on this blog for updates,

As a way of launching the fully operational kitchen Six Eight Kafe will be hosting Two Cats Roaming Kitchen roaming February pop up on the 17,18,19 February 2015.

Already they have hosted previous pop up kitchens on Temple Row so this will be a larger affair and the first with vegetarian options (on request)

Two Cats Roaming Kitchen is a pop up taking a modernist culinary approach to North Eastern European cuisine and making fine dining accessible and informal. Food is served on one shared communal table and with limited tickets for sale is a ticket only event.

Chef Nick Astley formally of The Church Inn in the Jewellery Quarter has now taken Two Cats full time after leaving The Church. Inspired by his partner Diana’s Latvian food, the Birmingham Post describes his food as ‘imaginative and ambitious’ and fellow local food blogger Full To The Brum have raved about previous pop ups taken place last summer.

As I’ve said this is the first time veggie options are available at every course so expect a modern imaginative approach to the dishes and a creative leaning to foraging and seasonal produce. It’s an exciting prospect for veggie foodies and at £31.00 for many courses, is great value.

The menu hasn’t as yet been confirmed for those dates but you may see veggie dishes such as:

Sweet and sour Jerusalem artichoke, milk ice, cream, Apple and dill.

Beetroot Tartare

Celeriac, truffle, hazelnut, and rose

Sorrel in February

And inventive puddings.

As well as a full non veggie menu.

Tickets are available via facebook.

http//Facebook.com/twocatsroaming

There are three dates so you will need to select the best for you.

Remember if you are vegetarian then you will have to let them know in advance via Twitter or Facebook on booking.

Look out for updates on the menu on this blog, and more updates on Six Eight Kafe.

Six Eight Kafe
Millennium point
Curzon street
B4 7XG

Six Eight Kafe
Temple Row
B2 5HG
0121 448 8099

Facebook/sixeightkafe
Twitter/sixeightkafe

http://www.sixeightkafe.co.uk

Veggie Foodie Guide to: The Birmingham Christmas Markets for vegetarians

Posted in Events, Festivals, Food Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pop up's, shops, Tapas, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Veggie Foodie Guide to by

Navigating the Frankfurt German Market in Birmingham City Centre at this time of year for vegetarians and vegans can be difficult.

The times I’ve been out with Ruth, family and friends and whilst the meat eaters have a array of fleshy delights us veggies are left eating cake and pastries and if we are being greedy Garlic Bread. Good but hey, we like Christmas too 🙂

Then of course it is easier for veggies to drink more at the market than eat some super independent food.

This year it appears their are though some jewels to be sought out and tasted. Yes, you have to search and yes you have to walk a bit, but it is worth it..trust me 😊

IMG_2265.JPG

IMG_2266.JPG

The Birmingham Christmas market that stretches all the way from The Bull Ring up New Street into Victoria Square and onto the area around the Town Hall, and the Art Gallery up to The Hall of memory and up to the New Library of Birmingham and the Big Wheel.

The lower part from the Bull Ring to Victoria Square is the long running and expensive generally German Market which turns Birmingham tourist crazy for a month and makes Brum feel like a European city bathed in Christmas joy. It’s good fun and full of drinking dens, but little hot good veggie food.

The Frankfurt Market leads into the Birmingham Christmas craft markets by the Art Gallery which is much more independent and has a greater amount of food outlets that veggies can enjoy and stretches up to the New Birmingham Library.

br />
IMG_2256.JPG

IMG_2249.JPG

IMG_2250.JPG

IMG_2252.JPG

On wandering around the markets last week with my brother Pete (also vegetarian) we found a number of options.

Within the Birmingham craft market (further on from the Frankfurt Market) by the old Central library and Birmingham Art Gallery lie two good options to begin with for veggies.

First is Woktastic which serves noodles and a variety of Japanese dishes some veggie options. A good option. They also have a stand at Paradise Forum and restaurant too.

Then, nestled within the Christmas trees at the top of the steps lies The Mumbai Grill. For curry and a spicy kick it can’t be beaten. They have a vegetarian menu that includes a vegetarian platter, onion bhaji wraps, samosas, channa chaat, and a chana chickpea wrap. They also have balti chips.

IMG_2246.JPG

IMG_2244.JPG

Then, further through the Paradise Forum over bridge past the Hall of Memory you will find local Pips Hot Sauce, a creperie, and a fully veggie and vegan falafel stall.

The falafel stand sells numerous falafel options, a veggie burger, and is the markets only completely 100% veggie option. Prices start from £4.50. It looks brilliant, and I can’t wait to try it. Their are falafel wraps, spicy Jalapeños, grilled Halloumi and other falafel dishes. See menu.

IMG_2241.JPG

IMG_2240.JPG

Next door so to speak is a Creperie stand that sells sweet and savoury crepes and has veggie options on the savoury side. The creperie has outside tables and is popular.

Next door to the Creperie nearest the New Library of Birmingham is Pips Hot Sauce with vegan options.

Trader Pip Bradley from Kings Heath sells dishes such as sweet potato fries, nachos, salsa, jalapeños, guacamole, and vegan friendly sauces. Try a combination of the dishes and a few sauces maybe?

Pips Hot Sauce also sell gift packs of her superb sauces that can be brought as gifts. Well recommended.

IMG_2259.JPG

IMG_2242.JPG

IMG_2257.JPG

IMG_2258.JPG

IMG_2259-0.JPG

IMG_2255.JPG

IMG_2260.JPG

Back to The Frankfurt Market, their is a stand that sells pizza, and Italian sandwiches near the Town Hall and a stand in the centre near the fountain that sells a nice spinach and feta strudel. Plus, sweet ones too. One I’ve not noticed before.

Then last but not least is the aforementioned garlic bread stand, that is a delight. Try it with cheese, always a winner, but this year it seems not the only hot option. Stationed next to the long bar nearest to the Council House on Victoria Square.

As well as those hot food options their are a number of sweet food stands and some are brilliant. I will leave you to discover those 🙂

As always the Frankfurt Market divides opinions in Birmingham, but at least some independent and local food traders are involved in Birmingham’s Christmas Markets, and their is always Digbeth Diner and Brum Yum Yum to satisfy that independent street food demand.

If you get out into Birmingham have a good Market experience and eat, and drink and be merry, but watch those alcohol prices at The German Market that are quite steep compared to elsewhere. Their are a good selection of drinks at the craft market, near the town hall, including mulled cider, mulled wine and Pims.

Their is also a Hogan’s cider tent near the hall of memory with sofas inside. Looks great, very popular.

Have fun and thanks for reading and Happy Christmas. 🙂

IMG_2267.JPG

IMG_2262.JPG

IMG_2263.JPG

IMG_2264.JPG

IMG_2261.JPG

IMG_2254.JPG

IMG_2254-0.JPG

Library of Birmingham

IMG_2248.JPG

IMG_2253.JPG

IMG_2304.JPG

IMG_2305.JPG

IMG_2303.JPG

IMG_2302.JPG

IMG_2298.JPG

IMG_2299.JPG

Pika Pika Pop up @Cherry Reds Kings Heath

Posted in Bars, Cafés and Restaurants, Catering, Cocktails, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, Pop up's, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Sometimes the best meals you eat are the ones that are not planned, but are spontaneous. Ruth and I hadn’t planned to eat at Cherry Reds in Kings Heath, but at Fletchers bar, but because they had chef problems we found ourselves there instead.

We wanted to escape the cardboard boxes that were sitting in our new house, having moved in on that day and feeling tired and hungry we chose well. That’s the thing with Kings Heath, you can eat well 🙂

On arriving at Cherry Reds we were told that they had the Pika Pika pop up on tonight and they had a free table..Hurray!

I’d wanted to visit the pop up for awhile, as they seemed to have very good and varied vegetarian options , but hadn’t got round to it. So it was a good opportunity.

Cherry Reds in Kings Heath is a very inviting place with a cool, chilled vibe and atmosphere, alternative, and cosy. It’s well known for its pop ups, and Pika Pika is one that has a good reputation. The service in Cherry Reds is friendly, and they do excellent food, both day and evenings, from breakfasts to dinner and superb cocktails and world beers and ale.

Pika Pika are a Japanese catering company and they run a Japanese food pop up restaurant every 2nd Monday at Cherry Reds in Kings Heath. The food consists of Home made Japanese starters, snacks, and sides and main courses. Some of the food is to share. A full desert menu is available from Cherry Reds on the night. There is as i’ve said a wide choice of vegetarian options, both main course and smaller sharing tapas like dishes. Menus change every month.

The main course dish we both ate on the night was called Vegetarian Nikujaga: which is mixed vegetables with a shirataki noodles, cooked in a pot with special soya sauce, served with boiled rice and Pika Pika salad.

We both really enjoyed the dish, deliciously flavoured and with a contrasting noodle and vegetable flavours with a lovely soya sauce biting through it. The rice was also delicious served round, a lovely main course and introduction to Pika Pika’s food.

We followed this up with a beautiful Cherry Reds Chocolate brownie, sorry no photo, but it was very good indeed.

I also enjoyed a couple of English Staffordshire lagers and Ruth had a couple of glasses of white wine.

We both enjoyed our first visit to the Pika Pika pop up. The vegetarian options on the menu change monthly to keep them fresh and to entice vegetarians to eat their every month, and certainly a return visit is very likely, as the food we ate was well made and of good value and in the cool and chilled atmosphere of Cherry Reds is a good way of spending a Monday evening.

For bookings contact Cherry Reds on contact number below.

We paid for our meal in full. My opinions are my own and honest.

wearepikapika.tumblr.com

@wearepikapika

Cherry Reds Kings Heath
16 York Road,
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7RZ

0121 441 3155

@ilovecherryreds

IMG_2174.JPG

IMG_2173.JPG

IMG_2172.JPG

IMG_2194.JPG

IMG_2177.JPG

IMG_2190.JPG

IMG_2175.JPG

IMG_2194-0.JPG

VEGGIEFOODIE GUIDE TO: CURRY RESTAURANTS

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Curry restaurants, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, Moseley, Pop up's, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Veggie Foodie Guide to by

Today I’m introducing a new guide to my blog Veggie Foodie. This will be an occasional listing and musings on a different foodie topic. The list and guide isn’t a definitive but some of my favourites and recommendations to look out for.

To kick off, I’ve decided to look at Curry Restaurants in Birmingham, with a few from outside the area that i’ve come accross or visited.

Curry in its various guises is for many vegetarians and vegans their go to food. It is for me and often the first meal I have when I come back from a holiday abroad for instance.

For vegetarians, it seems it is the cuisine that we have the most options on the menu.

There are a number of pure vegetarian curry restaurants, sweet shops, and cafe’s in Birmingham

Deepalis: An Indian vegetarian restaurant in the Jewellery Quarter which is smart and offers a good range of dishes. Comes well recommended.

16 Hall Street, Jewellery Quarter, B18 6BS

0121 265 4726

http://www.deepalisrestaurant.co.uk

They also have a smaller cafe in Sparkbrook:

1A Alfred Road, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B11 4PB

Sangam A vegetearian Cafe/sweet centre. Authentic curries, samosas, Pakoras, bhajis, to eat in and take away. Highly recommended.

334 Soho Road, Handsworth B21 9NA

Milan Sweet Centre: Vegetarian sweet centre, cafe and resturant. Good choices and always busy.

191 Stoney Lane, Sparkbrook, Birmingham B12 8HB. 0121 449 1617

Jyoti restaurant together with sweet centre is one of my favourites, offering 72 main courses and 15 starters, with an autthentic sweet centre to take away or eat in. Highly recommended. A favourite of Jamie Oliver. A personal favourite.

1045 Stratford Road, Hall Green, B28 8AS.

0121 778 5501. Booking can be made online at http://www.jyotis.co.uk

Pop Up Dosa: Making vegetarian dosa at home, at markets, at cafe. Offering cooking classes, and pop ups. See them at Ort Cafe in Moseley/Balsall Heath. See previous review on my blog. Superb.

@popupdosa

http://www.popupdosablogspot.co.uk

My favourite curry restaurants that are superb for veggies are:

Lasan Restaurant: Contemporary, stylish and delicious, high end curry that packs a punch in lovely classy surroundings near St Pauls Square. A treat at any time. See previous review.

Lasan, 3-4 Dakota Buildings, James Street, St Pauls Square, Jewellery Quarter, B3 1SO 0121 212 3664

http://www.lasan.co.uk

Pushkar Restaurant: beautiful Cocktails, great curries, superb service on Broad Street. Highly recommended for that touch of class and sophistication.

Pushkar, 245 Broad street, Birmingham b1 2HQ

http://www.pushkardining.com

0121 643 7978

Ashas delicious curries, good veggie choices, consistent service, good lunch time deal and cocktails. Lovely restaurant, in central Birmingham off Colmore Row.

Ashas Restaurant: Edmund House, 12-22 Newhall Street B3 3LX

http://www.ashasrestaurant.com

0121 200-2767

Itihaas restaurant Exquisite, Indian food, lovely colonial style environment with superb attentive service. Excellent vegetarian options. Recommended.

Itihaas also have a cafe in Selfridges Food Hall. Eat in or take away.

18 Fleet Street, Birmingham, B3 1JL

0121 212-3383.

http://www.itihaas.co.uk

Also to be recommended are:

Punjabi Rasoi:Authentic Cooking and attentive service in Acocks Green Birmingham.

Kababish: Long standing curry house in Moseley, excellent curries, consistent with good service. Next to the Patrick Kavanagh pub. Recommended.

Maharaja: Long standing and consistent. Old style service, and authentic curries. The saag paneer is superb. Next door to the Hippodrome on Hurst Street.

Raja Monkey cafe superb dosas, talis and curries. A lovely take away too. Owned by the Lasan Group.

Also on my radar are:

EastZEast new curry restaurant on Broad Street. Had good and tasty reviews. Good veggie options. ‘The home of Punjabi cooking’

Horseshoe: Refurbished old pub in Hall Green. Recommended by Paul Fulford of the Birmingham Mail.

Sylhet Spice on York Road, Kings Heath. Has a good reputation locally and also does takeaways. Always busy. Loyal regulars.

Imlees in Moseley, on the Alcester Road also has a good reputation and a bring your own bottle policy. Always busy.

Al Frash: On LadyPool Road, perenial favourite, balti dishes and bring your own.

Delhi 6: Sutton Coldfield favourite: Good reviews and recommendations. Good veggie options.

Street Food:

Becky’s Bhajis: Onion bhajis sold at food markets and street food days. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Outside Birmingham:

Mendhi Vegetarian Indian Restaurant in Droitwich Worcestershire. Comes recomended. Pure vegetarian curries.

Prashad vegetarian restaurant near Bradford Yorkshire: Gordon Ramsey favourite With a Superb cookbook. Always popular and run the Veggie hour on Twitter once a month.
One to visit.

Also in Yorkshire, North to be precise and Leeds to be exact, is an Indian vegetarian restaurant called Hansa. Which is Gujarati and run by all women. I have heard good reports. They have won
Cobra good curry awards, and also have a vegetarian Indian cook book like Prashad.

Bernares Berkeley Square London: A superb Indian Restaurant. High end and Michelin Starred. One of the best curries i’ve ever had in glam Mafair.

As I’ve said it isn’t a definitive list and I will add to it as I go along.

If anybody has any favourites that serve good veggie dishes please let me know either in the comment box below or via twitter @andydhare

Thanks for reading.

20141020-111949.jpg

20141020-112001.jpg

Lasan Restaurant

20141020-112108.jpg

20141020-112116.jpg

Pushkar Restaurant

20141020-112231.jpg

Pop up Dosa

#TASTY MORSEL: EDIBLE EASTSIDE A CONTEMPORARY URBAN GARDEN AND ALLOTMENT

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Catering, Food, Independent, Pop up's, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Edible Eastside in Digbeth, Birmingham is run by Urban Grain Social Enterprise partnership C.I.C is a unique, vibrant and contemporary urban garden covering a quarter of an acre of canal side land. A former gas filling station converted into a pop up garden ‘edible park’ using temporary containers and raised beds.

http://www.edibleeastside.net

Edible Eastside supply businesses and educational institutions a space in the city to master the art of horticulture. They rent out raised beds to local people, city workers, and dwellers to grow produce and to develop their horticlture skills.

Edible Eastside also provide a cookery school and cafe and provide support to community groups who are growing vegetables, herbs, flowers and are interesetd in horticulture.

Edible Eastside also promote urban food production in the city and aim to create a spontaneous landscape and raise the profile of food and urban agriculture in Birmingham.

Edible Eastside also sell produce to restaurants in the city such as vegetarian Bistro 1847 whose development chef Alex visits every week to pick flowers, herbs and garnish for the beautiful vegetarian dishes created every day.

See my previous review on Bistro 1847’s new grazing, sharing exploring menu.

I was fortunate to visit Edible Eastside with Alex of Bistro 1847, and as a keen grower of vegetables (with some success) and lots of un-success 🙂 finding a peaceful and creative space that is like an oasis near the canal amongst factories and creative businesses and is the inspiration behind the beautiful dishes created by Alex.

It was very inspirational and gave me lots of ideas on how to use raised beds and containers and how plants can grow compatabily together in a small urban space.

In September this year Edible Eastside began an exciting partnership with Hotel La Tour nearby in Birmingham City Centre to provide a roof top garden where the restaurant of the hotel, Grill La Tour will grow their own fruit and vegetables for use in their kitchen.

It’s an exciting opportunity to develop a space that can bring the source of the food closer to the kitchen and respond to seasonality and to their guests requests more directly. Good for vegetarians 🙂

Visitors to the hotel will also be able to visit the roof top garden. The garden will be maintained by Hotel La Tour in house. Offering a unique experience to staff who work in the kitchen who will experience a from the ground to the plate philosophy.

Next year Edible Eastside will be merging with Kitchen School http://www.kitchenschool.co.uk to form one organisation offering a range of culinary services and food spaces.

Edible Eastside is a unique social enterprise C.I.C a place to grow, cook, and eat your very own food an asset to any city, but certainly one to Birmingham and its community.

Edible Eastside
122 Fazeley Street,
Digbeth,
B5 5RS

07970 730 646

http://www.facebook.com/edible-eastside

Twitter @edibleeastside

20141013-105557.jpg

20141013-105540.jpg

20141013-105614.jpg

20141013-105626.jpg

20141013-105738.jpg

20141013-105754.jpg

20141013-105814.jpg

Last three photos taken in Bistro 1847.

20141014-195426.jpg

#VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN FOOD HERO: CHANGEKITCHEN CIC. AWARD WINNING VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN EVENT CATERING

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Catering, Events, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Pop up's, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

I came accross ChangeKitchen CIC Community Interest company via Twitter when I began my Vegetarian Food blog six months ago.

ChangeKitchen are an award winning vegetarian and vegan catering company and social enterprise based in Birmingham and to me is a real vegetarian and vegan food hero in the city.

http://www.changekitchen.co.uk

ChangeKitchen cater for corporate events, weddings, civil partnerships, and community gatherings and run a monthly pop up cafe.

ChangeKitchen offer innovative vegetarian and vegan menus, using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients. The idea is to provide, create and serve dleicious and healthy, nuritious and ethical dishes that can be shared and enjoyed by all.

A sound philosophy 🙂

Birgit Kehrer is the individual behind the enterprise. She is a passionate vegetarian and entrepreneur who has developed the idea of the business through her love of growing vegetables as a child (see website for her story)

She plays a key hands on role in all that Change Kitchen do. She is the lead cook, trainer, and business manager and currently runs a programme of community workshops and training (See website) and can be contacted on 07828 825 850.

ChangeKitchen are proud to cook for disadvantaged and socailly excluded people and have worked with SIFA (who work with the homeless).

They also provide a 5 a day budget cookery class( see website for details)

Their food philosophy is about sharing a meal. The food is fully vegetarian (always with vegan and gluten-free options) and everyone shares food from the table, bringing people together, celebrating diversity through good healthy dishes and the community. Food from all over the world is served.

Their cafe is now permanently at Stirchley Baths in Stirchley. 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/vegiefoodie.com/2016/02/01/vegetarian-change-kitchen-now-serving-at-stirchley-baths-birmingham/amp/?client=safari

ChangeKitchen are a real vegetarian and vegan food hero providing innovative, healthy and nutritious food which supports a healthy life style and healthy community.

Has anyone been to a ChangeKitchen? What did you think?

ChangeKitchen CIC

2-4 Bournville Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham,B30 2JT

http://www.facebook/changekitchen

@changekitchen

Birgit.Kehrer@changekitchen.co.uk

20141007-113232.jpg

20141007-113245.jpg

20141007-113258.jpg

20141007-113311.jpg

KUSKUS FOODS: VEGETARIAN STREET FOOD HEAVEN AT A FARMERS MARKET NEAR YOU

Posted in Events, Festivals, Food Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Moseley, Pop up's, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Streetfoodin Birmingham is a major success story, yet there aren’t that many completely Vegetarian and vegan traders that showcase their food.

One of the vegetarian and vegan traders is KuskusFoods who specialise in vegetarian food inspired by the Middle East.

They are a family business who produce quality freshly prepared inspirational receipes for Farmers Markets, Corporate events, and private functions.

A real vegetarian and vegan food hero.

Begining over 20 years ago, Moses the chef learnt his recipes in the Middle East and then had the idea of creating a business that would attend farmers markets showcasing all he learnt in the countries he visited. Fresh, healthy, Middle Eastern food.

Moseley Farmers Market is one of the places to find KusKus foods where they provide high quality veggie and vegan dishes.

Kus Kus Foods are Vegetarian Society approved and can be found at Moseley Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month and the MAC food fair on the last Sunday of the month. This weekend. As well as Solihull, Stratford Upon Avon and Harborne on other dates. See below.

Note They will be at The Malvern Autumn show this weekend. Saturday and Sunday.

Dishes such as
Lebanese Falafal with naked humous,
Arabic veggie kebabs with sweet chilli,
Lebanese Mousaaka,
Moroccan plum and sweet potato tagine.

are available at the venues below.

The food by Kus Kus Foods sounds yummy, I haven’t tried it yet, but please look out for them at a food market near you.

Kus Kus Foods for a taste of veggie/vegan food heaven.

Office: 0121 373 2805
@kuskusfoods
http://www.kuskusfoods.co.uk

20140925-124608.jpg

20140925-124631.jpg

20140925-124644.jpg

20140925-124712.jpg

20140925-124658.jpg