Category Archives: vegan

#Veggiebreakfast&brunchwatch: Loco Lounge Kings Heath. 

Posted in Bars, Bars and Pubs, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Coffee, Food, Kings Heath, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Veggie Foodie Guide to by

One of my favourite meals of the day has always been breakfast or brunch on a weekend. Especially the lingering kind, with the papers, Sunday Morning listening to Cerys Matthews on BBC 6 Music, bliss. Or in a hotel, when it’s cooked for you, and always appears more exciting without the washing up. I can still remember being impressed at L’Enclume in Cartmel, Le Manoir, or Northcote’s delicious cheese soufflé or just simple a croissant in Paris or on garden terrace in Rome. Magnificent. 

Both simple or extravagant, either eating too many pastries at Hotel Du Vin or just a good cooked vegetarian breakfast, eggs and veggie sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, you get the picture. Good produce cooked well. 

So it was on a Sunday brunch time the other week that Ruth and I wandered into The Loco Lounge in Kings Heath, well known for their brunch menu and sensitivity to veggies and vegans. The Loco Lounge is an all day cafe and bar that is community driven and always busy whatever time of day. It’s my favourite place in Kings Heath to work in on my blog, free wifi and friendly staff and large so easy to get a good comfy seat. On this day it again was busy, a weekend crowd, jolly, relaxed, happy. 

The Loco Lounge do a substantial Vegetarian breakfast, and also it’s vegan equivalent. 

Sweetcorn fritters, hash browns, grilled tomato, baked beans, mushrooms, spinach, roasted red peppers, fried egg, and toast for £6.95. Good value, but alas no Veggie Sausage. Why? How?. 😉

Please remedy that👍 and put some on the extras. 

Though liked the veg aspect a lot and that’s so refreshing to see. 

   

   

I enjoyed the Sweetcorn fritters, crispy, a nice texture, filling, I liked the addition of spinach and roasted red peppers, different, again adding a different texture, and flavour. Also the egg was runny, the hash browns nice, so all in all a good breakfast that was plentiful and filling, but no veggie sausage option. You can’t win them all. I enjoyed it. 

Loco Lounge also serve a veggie kedgeree with Halloumi and of course the vegan breakfast with fried potatoes. 

There is a list of extras so if you feel like more as we did with the toast then order away. 

  

   

       

Kings Heath has a good choice of breakfast/brunch hang outs. Notably Cherry Reds, both vegan and veggie breakfasts, including sausage.

 Also Cherry Reds in Birmingham City Centre.

  

Kitchen Garden cafe, veggie breakfast and potato hash, which is yummy. 

Veg out Cafe, of course vegetarian breakfast, 

Maison Mayci do a Sunday brunch. 

As this is the first of an occasional blog post I’m sure to review all of these in the future. Also on my radar, Ju Ju’s in the city centre by the canal, Yumm cafe at the Custard Factory, Boston Tea party, Harborne and City centre and later this year Moseley Village. Yorks bakery in the city and The Plough in Harborne, who are introducing a new brunch menu including a divine sounding sweet potato and okra hash and Leverton and Halls in Bournville who have a vegetarian breakfast. 

All offer vegetarian choices. 

If anyone has any other recommendations or favourites. Then please let me know. 😊 via the comments below or Twitter @andydhare. 

Thanks for reading. 

We paid for our breakfasts at Loco Lounge. All opinions are honest and my own as always. 

Andy 😊

The Loco Lounge is part of The Lounges cafe bar chain who also have cafes in Harborne, Shirley, Wylde Green and elsewhere in Birmingham, see website for details, and soon the Cosy Club in Birmingham City Centre. 

   

 

Loco Lounge, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 

Open 9am-11pm every day. 

0121 444-1296

Vegan menu see below. 

http://thelounges.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LO_Winter_Vegan_Menu.pdf

Main menu see below. 

http://thelounges.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LO_Food_Menu_Winter_2014.pdf


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. 

 

Review: Bodega Cantina and Bar-Birmingham Latin American cuisine with cocktails. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Cocktails, Craft beer, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Lunch deals, Tapas, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

  

Bodega is a South and Latin American bar/Cantina on Bennetts Hill in Birmingham City Centre just off New Street, and owned by Bitters N’ Twisted. 

It offers a wide selection of tapas style dishes, street food, Burritos, Tacos and a number of larger traditional plates. It also has a completely Vegan menu and excellent vegetarian options. 

Bodega is a fun-time and colourful place, the cocktails flow, the food comes out fast and service is pacy. It’s a brilliant place to indulge with friends,  for parties and for sharing a work or shopping lunch. It’s also open on Sunday for that downtime and Sunday smooch with the city. 

   

 

For Ruth and I it was a Friday night dinner, not the Channel 4 comedy kind, but the cocktail/tapas/Streetfood kind. 

On the Friday we visited Bodega was busy, bustling, and vibrant as I would think it is most Friday evenings, and with a cocktail list that speaks of fun and good times and a wallet full of money Bodga is an education on excellence and high standards with its drinks list. From Tequilas to Rum based drinks the list will cater for everyone. 

Bodega has a small bar area near the entrance by the window, so if you feel the need you don’t even have to eat. The decor is fun too. Iron cast furniture, quirky cactus murals, vibrant colours. Cafe style seating is mingled with funny stools, and with its exposed light bulbs and brightly coloured murals Bodega sells spicy and flavour, with an atmosphere that’s a real contrast from the glum rainy English weather in March outside. 

The food, from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Cuba, is freshly made and easy going and full of variety for vegetarians and vegans. 

   

   Find Pips Hot Sauce at Bodega

Ruth and I ordered cocktails to begin. Two Margarita’s. They were excellent, and always a good choice at Bodega. A classic, well made with a good strong tequila flavour, with salt on the rim.  

   I also ordered a Caipirinha, which is Brazil’s national cocktail made with cachaca, sugar and lime. It was very refreshing and had a sweetness that was complimentary to the spicy food. Another top cocktail. Ruth ordered another margarita.

Bodega also offer bottled beers, non alcoholic cocktails and a good wine list. 

Plus a happy hour from. 5-7pm on cocktails. 

  

For the food we chose to stick with the smaller sharing plates, the streetfood as we’ve found them to be the best from previous visits. And sharing is fun and social. 

Ruth ordered for herself a pulled Pork Burrito which she enjoyed. 

I ordered a vegetarian burrito- from the streetfood section of the menu, roasted vegetables, black beans, and cilantro lime rice. The Burrito had a good spicy flavour ( I ordered hot) with the tortilla holding the filling well, and the depth of the veg with the spicy salsa packing a zing which was lovely. 

   

   

The rest of the food we shared. 

We shared small house nachos (vegetarian variety) crisp well seasoned flour tortillas, topped with some lovely mozzarella chedder and sour cream and punchy salsa and guacamole. Very impressive nachos crisp, with good flavours. Recommended.

   

 

To accompany the Burrito We chose from the light bites part of the menu: 

Batatas fritas: delicious sweet potato fries with chipotle mayo, crisp and with a good flavour. 

Frijoles: Black beans cooked until velvety, with a good garlic flavour with roasted cumin seeds and s subtle hint of chilli and sour cream. Though not pretty to look at it was a good complimentary dish to the Burrito. 

Spicy Slaw: a nice fresh homemade slaw with a South American Twist. 

I also recommend the jalopos peppers from previous visits. 

   

     

One of the dishes Ruth and I enjoy the most at Bodega is the Churros desert. We had to order two, we loved the rich caramel sauce  against the warm doughnuts. A Mexican favourite,  and also ours. Perfect for dipping or with coffee. We orders two espressos. 

  

The food we are was plentiful, it had a good spicy flavour and did what it says on the tin. It’s fun, vibrant and good for sharing. 

Where we found Bodega to suffer is with the service which we felt was inconsistent, hurried and though attentive it felt underwhelming and it had a care free nature about it. Some of the servers were friendly others we felt were  not bothered. We felt that they could have explained the menu to us checking we understood the quite complex but good layout. Advising how many sharing dishes you should choose between two. Our waiter who asked for our order was a bit gruff to be honest and unhelpful. 

In saying that the food and the cocktails are the real deal and as a pop in kind of place Bodega can’t be beaten for fun and very decent South American dishes. 

For Vegetarians and Vegans it’s one of the best places to visit in Birmingham and well recommended. 

Bodega Birmingham, 12 Bennett’s Hill, B2 5RS

0121 448 4267

http://bodegacantina.co.uk/

http://bodegacantina.co.uk/food/menus/

@BodegaBirm

You can also get 20% off with the Independent Birmingham card. Offer is on Monday-Thursday 3-6pm and all day on Sunday.

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

We paid for our own meal and all opinions are honest as always. 

It’s advisable to reserve a table at Bodega at busy times to avoid disappointment. 

  

#TastyMorsel: The Botanist: out of the garden into the city of Birmingham 

Posted in Bars, Bars and Pubs, beer, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Cocktails, Craft beer, Gin, Tapas, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

      

The Botanist, bar, restaurant will open in Birmingham officially on the 6th April and will be a concept like no other. 

Think, whimsical and eccentric design, interior and a garden theme that makes grow your own seem even more attractive than it already is. 

Beyond the wrought iron gates of Chamberlain House On Temple Street The Botanist offers for Vegetarians some good and varied food choices, and then it also has cocktails, Martinis in fact and long cocktails, so many good reasons to visit. 

In fact 45 cocktails and 85 bottled beers are on offer. Plus real ales from Birmingham’s own Two Towers Brewery, and Oakham brewery, 

The Botanist is located on Temple Street in the heart of Birmingham City centre just off New Street and near the cathedral in an area that is becoming foodie central and the place for food or a bar crawl. 

The contemporary garden decor and live entertainment (music every day) should create a buzz, but it’s the food and cocktails I wish to highlight. 

For Vegetarians the starters and nibbles and deli boards part of the menu are enticing, think homemade Humous boards, Turkish flatbreads, salads, garlic mushrooms, cheese, and roasted red peppers. 

For £ 9.75 you can buy 4 items with Turkish Flatbread, and though it seems on first glance a bit salad heavy for vegetarians and vegans should taste good and be a good share. With the cocktails on offer by The Botanist sharing  is for me where it’s at. Though some may prefer a larger plate. 

Also on the menu for veggies is a home comfort cheese and onion pie, a Halloumi kebab with couscous, which is lovely and of course deserts, such as their sticky toffee pudding. 

I was lucky enough to be invited on the   2nd to the media lunch, which was excellent as you will see in my preview post next week. 

Some of the photos from The Botanist lunch below: 

  

   

   

   

   

   

           

   

   

Alongside the botanical cocktails are cask ales, champagnes, a good mocktail list, and ciders. 

Run by Living Ventures (New World Trade Company) who also have bars in Manchester and Newcastle, manager Julian Rose-Gibb ( formally of The Victoria) says it will feel like ‘home from home’ and will be a good living, working venue with a lively atmosphere, and eccentric design. 

Find The Botanist on 14-16 Temple Street, Birmingham B2 8BG. 

0121 600 7430

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊 

       


Photos courtesy of The Botanist. 

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 

   

   

Street Food INC comes to BrindleyPlace Birmingham City Centre 2-6 April 

Posted in Birmingham, City Centre, Events, Festivals, Food, Food Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, pizza, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie by

For 5 whole days from the 2-6th April (Thursday-Monday, Easter Bank Holiday)  Central Square at BrindleyPlace Birmingham will be transformed into one of the largest street food markets with over 15 traders per day. Billed as a celebration of home grown talent and the fantastic food scene that Birmingham has to offer it promises to be a vibrant and lively foodie weekend, and will host some brilliant Vegetarian friendly street food traders. 

   

Organised by I Need Catering, Lucy Darby  the main host has organised a brilliant line up. 

On all 5 days Veggie Foodie favourites The Vegan Grindhouse will be present, showcasing their 100% plant based Vegan burgers, chilli, and a number of other superb dishes. 

Plus Veggie Foodie favourites Barebones Pizza will be present for 5 Days also. With superb pizzas, and their delicious Vegetarian and Vegan pizzas. 

The Vegan Grindhouse   

       Barebones Pizza 

Plus Pip’s Hot Sauce will be presenting an exclusive Vegan hot sauce in conjunction with The Vegan Grindhouse and running a competition New Mystery Sauce challenge- where you have to guess the correct ingredients in Pip’s Fantastic new sauce to win a 90 minute workshop with Circus MASH @circusMash. 

Also there for 5 days are The London Pie and Mash Company who will have a Roasted Vegetable pie with gravy for Vegetarians. Yummy! 

Also appearing will be Vegetarian friendly Becky’s Bhajis (Thursday only) Bournville Waffle, and Hibiscus Grove South East Asian Cuisine (friday-Monday) and Delize Italian (Friday only). 

Also veggie friendly Muy Loco Tacos who will be serving Tacos with a twist. 

   

       

The line up includes:

Thursday 2nd April: 

The Vegan Grindhouse, Barebones Pizza, Becky’s Bhajis, Fat Duck Spuds, London Pie and Mash Co’, Toby’s Tacos’, Sticky Fig

Friday 3rd April

The Vegan Grindhouse, Barebones Pizza, Delize Italian, leave it to Esme-Caribbean, Bournville Waffle, Hibiscus Grove, Fat Duck Spuds, London pie and mash. 

Saturday 4th April

The Vegan Grindhouse, Barebones Pizza, Leave it to Esme, Bournville Waffle, Hibiscus Grove, Toby’s Tacos, Savannah Grill. 

Sunday 5th April (Easter Sunday)

The Vegan Grindhouse, Barebones Pizza, Leave it to Esme, Toby’s, Bournville Waffle Company, Savannah Grill, Hibiscus Grove. 

Monday 6th April

The Vegan Grindhouse, Barebones Pizza, leave it to Esme, Bournville Waffle, Toby’s, Hibiscus Grove. 

The Easter Street Food Market will also have CircusMASH performing a fred community showcase (the production is called ‘Spring Up’) and will be offering free workshops from 2pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

CircusMASH were at Lunar Festival last year and have appeared on This Morning on TV. 

  

Also Drum Together Brum will be doing a few performances throughout the weekend. 

For full details of the line up follow @ineedcatering on Twitter and on Facebook. 

It promises to be a brilliant Easter Weekend of Street Food INC goodies. Hopefully the sun will shine and the rain will keep away. 

   

 

Any more information that comes my way I will add to my post. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

@andydhare


#VeggieFoodie guide to Vegan food in Birmingham: Veggie Foodie and Stay.com

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Curry restaurants, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Veggie Foodie Guide to by

In February I was asked by Stay.com (a travel app and travel website) to be a trusted traveller on the recommendation of Birgit Kehrer of ChangeKitchen CIC (award winning vegetarian and vegan catering) Thank you Birgit!

The idea being that I would recommend eight places to eat for Vegans in Birmingham. A personal choice at the time and eight’s not that many in light of a growing vegan foodie scene in the city. 

This got me thinking that of course there are a lot more than eight, and many places cater for vegans in many different ways from specialised shops, street food to vegetarian restaurants and restaurants with Vegan menus. Though I’m not a vegan myself, I find it frustrating in many restaurants that a vegan diet seems to be ignored or fobbed off as something they dong have to worry about. As a vegetarian some restaurants in Birmingham alas don’t understand a veggie diet never mind a vegan one and that’s some very high profile independent ones too not just the chains. 

Though I’m not one for lists on blogs, I appreciate  that as a vegan and indeed a vegetarian, recommendations can be helpful particularly for s travellers, or someone who has recently moved into the city. 

Hence the extra places that I’m going to mention. 

To begin my list for Stay.com. See below. 

http://www.stay.com/birmingham/guides/509858-e4ce5aa4/vegan-friendly-birmingham/

Includes in no particular order 

–The Warehouse Cafe – A vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Digbeth area

–Veg Out Cafe- All day vegetarian cafe restaurant in Kings Heath area. 

–Bistro 1847- vegetarian restaurant in Birmingham City  Centre 

Cafe Soya- A Vietnamese and Chinese cafe/restaurant in Birmingham City Centre 

Raja Monkey: Indian Street Food cafe restaurant in Hall Green area. 

Jyoti: Indian vegetarian restaurant/ sweet shop in Hall Green 

Blue Ginger: Singaporean Malaysian cuisine in Kings Heath with a dedicated vegan night every Monday. Plus good vegan options on the menu. 

Loco Lounge: part of the Lounges group based in Kings Heath but with branches around the city including Harborne. Dedicated vegan menu every day. 

So I apologise if your favourites are not mentioned on my initial recommendations. 

My extended choices include again in no particular order: 

Bodega Bar and Cantina: based in the city centre, Mexican, Burrito’s, street food, tacos plus a dedicated every day Vegan menu. Keep an eye on my blog for a review soon. 

Mr Singh: Vegetarian and vegan pizzas in Handsworth are of the city. 

Deepalis: Indian Vegetarian restaurant in The Jewellery Quarter. 

100% Vegan Shop: based in the Warehouse Cafe building but selling 100% vegan food, snacks, health products, whole foods. Based in Digbeth. 

The Vegan Grindhouse: 100% vegan streetfood, burgers, plant based, fab food. See them at various events round the city and Midlands. 

Blue Piano: Sister Venus of Blue Ginger based in Edgbaston. 

Boston Tea Party: Cafe and restaurant, based in city centre, and Harborne. Serving breakfasts, cakes, sandwiches etc including vegan options. 

Cherry Reds cafe Bar: two branches one in city centre and one in Kings Heath. Vegan breakfasts, cakes, and burgers. 

ChangeKitchen CIC: vegetarian and vegan catering. 

Byzantium: tapas in Kings Heath, vegan options. 

Cosy Club: soon to be open in City Centre. Has a vegan menu. 

Barebones Pizza: streetfood trader with a vegan pizza on the menu. See them around the city. 

Tall Poppy Foods: A vegan cake and food company, dairy free and animal by product free. Wraps, pastries, sandwiches, cupcakes and brownies. 

KusKus Foods: vegetarian and vegan street food inspired by the Middle East, Whole organic home made food. See them at Moseley Farmers market for example. Think tagines, falafels. 

Plus many other Indian Restsurants will cater for a vegan diet on request. 

Plus Pizza Express have a vegan pizza. Branches at Brindley Place, Bullring and on Corporation Street. 

Pret A Manger have vegan options and sandwiches. Branches throughout the city. 

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has other recommendations for great vegan food in Birmingham or elsewhere. Whether independent or chain. 

For menus set links below: 

http://www.thewarehousecafe.com/

http://www.bluegingerrestaurant.co.uk/Home.html

http://www.jyotis.co.uk/

http://www.rajamonkey.co.uk/

http://www.cafesoya.co.uk/

http://by1847.com/

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

http://vegoutcafe.co.uk/

http://www.byzantiumtapas.co.uk/

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

http://www.bostonteaparty.co.uk/

http://www.thevegangrindhouse.co.uk/?m=1

http://www.100percentvegan.co.uk/

http://www.thebluepiano.co.uk/

http://mrsinghspizza.co.uk/

http://www.deepalisrestaurant.co.uk/

http://bodegacantina.co.uk/

http://www.tallpoppyfoods.co.uk/





Photo courtesy of Stay.com

Stay.com Is a travel app and travel website for city trips all over the world. They were founded in Norway in 2009. 

The guide is based upon creating your own information, to share guides with friends via Facebook, Twitter. Ask for tips from friends via Facebook. Personalise your guide. 

Stay.com has over 150 destinations and has maps that work offline( so no roaming costs) 

Facebook.com/stay.com

Twitter.com/staydot.com

http://www.stay.com/

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

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/

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, The Kaiser Chiefs, The Bilash Wolverhampton and Me.

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Curry restaurants, Food, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Wolverhampton by

I could never profess to being The Voice of knowledge on all curry restaurants, but I know a good one when I see it.  

If you told me that I couldn’t eat another Veggie curry, then I sure would become one of ‘The Angry Mob’ and I would ‘predict a riot’ in Wolverhampton if the Bilash ever closed down. You see the Bilash is popular. In fact very popular in the Midlands. 

The Bilash is located in the Cheapside area of the city opposite the Civic Centre where the Civic Hall is based. Tucked quietly away from the traffic and shoppers at the back of Wolverhampton’s  beautiful  church. 

Ruth and I were in the city to see the band The Kaiser Chiefs ‘never miss a beat’ on a cold Friday night a few weeks ago and the Bilash is a restaurant that I knew was very highly regarded and good for Vegetarians.

The Bilash specialises in Bangladeshi cuisine and from its warm friendly welcome and decor-an Anglo Indian mix of bright shades which is both modern and traditional, and very soothingly ambient. It’s a family owned restaurant and has been established for over 30 years. It has numerous awards, it’s in the Michelin Food Guide, AA food guide, and The Good Food Guide, and is the only establishment in Wolverhampton in all the above guides. 

The restaurant is on two floors, we were seated on the ground floor.





On looking at the menu it was apparent that the Bilash has extensive Vegetarian options. The food is cooked fresh to order every time and this along with the keen and spot on service is the key to its success. It has high standards and is warm, courteous and treats you like a friend. Something money can’t buy. In fact by the time we left for the gig at 7.30 the restaurant was packed.

The Bilash also has a large window looking into the kitchen with a big table set out for groups nearby. 

We decided to not order a starter so enjoyed poppudums whilst we waited for our main course. The Poppodums arrived crisp, with delicious fresh sauces, and a fine fruity raita that was quite delicious. 

As we didn’t order a starter Ruth and I decided to sample some of the veggie side dishes with our main courses. Ruth had ordered a meaty main and I ordered the Panneer Bengum Bahar, homemade paneer (cottage cheese) cooked in Royal Almond, curb and yogurt sauce. 

For the Veggie Sides we ordered the Aloo Bangan Jhool, Potatoes and aubergine in spicy tomato sauce, the Bhindi Bhajee, spicy stir fry okra, and the Aloo Dum , spicy potato curry, plus a Garlic Naan and Basmati Rice. 



spicy potato curry

The Paneer Bengum Bahar was fresh,  creamy, delicate, like a golden nugget of pure joy, with wonderful nuances of spicy taste sensations that I devoured. A great dish. Also available as a side. 

The sides, a subtle Aloo Bhangan Jhool, which held a delicious tomato flavour, superbly spiced, and a quite lovely okra stir-fry (Bhindi Bhajee) and Aloo Dum spicy potato curry distinct in its spicing, creamy and warming. All excellent Veggie side dishes and perfectly complimenting my Paneer Bengum Bahar and Ruth’s delicious meat curry-she said. 

For desert the options are minimal and all home made and presented on a tray which took me by surprise in a good way. From which you choose which you would like made for you. 

I chose a Semilina, raisins and cardamon pudding, which slid down and was full of creamy flavour and mouth quenchingly good. I liked it. 

Ruth chose the Gulab Jamun executed superbly, warming dough balls, sugary, syrupy with a good dose of cardamon and rose water. 

Gulab Jamun





Semilina pudding 

The Bilash is a jewel in Wolverhampton and excellent for vegetarians in search of a curry. 

Its subtle cooking is a cut above most Asian restaurants in Birmingham and the Midlands, authentic, freshly made, each dish made with care and attention all in a relaxed modern space. The Bilash deserves all its awards and is worthy of its name Bilash, warm, reliable with good hospitality and delicious food, and yes for some, and now me too it feels like ‘Coming Home’. 



we paid for our own meal. All opinions expressed are my own and honest as always. 

Bilash 

No  2 Cheapside, Wolverhampton, WV 1 1TU. 

01902 427 762

http://www.thebilash.co.uk

Twitter: @TheBilash

http://www.facebook.com/The Bilash



We also enjoyed a couple of bottles of Kingfisher lager and a couple glasses of white wine.