Category Archives: vegetarian

Bar Opus Christmas cocktail making videos. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, City Centre, Cocktails, Colmore business district, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian by

  

  
Bar Opus is one of the best places to drink cocktails in Birmingham. Classic cocktails are served along side some innovative concoctions using the freshest ingredients. 

To countdown to Christmas, and to celebrate the unique Christmas cocktails that Bar Opus will be serving over the festive season, the team have made a series of videos showing how people can make their very own Bar Opus cocktail at home!  Or at the very least enjoy them in the bar over the Christmas period. 

  Sam Cross Photo courtesy of Bar Opus.

To see the videos, please click on this link underneath the cocktail. 

The five cocktails that bar manager Sam Cross, makes in the series of videos, are:

Smoking Monkey Sharer: £25, serves four: Monkey shoulder, smoked ice tea, cherry, citrus fruits.

Half Dozen of Egg Sharer: – £12, serves two: Six warm eggnogs with nutmeg dust

Frozen Candy Cane  Kallipo – £6 for two: Peppermint, Burgal blanco, strawberry, Cranberry.

  Frozen Kallipo Photo courtesy of Bar Opus.

Candy Cane Cocktail – £5, serves one: Brugal blanco, peppermint, strawberry, cranberry

Spiced toffee Apple cocktail – £5, serves one : Stoli salted karamel, gingerbread syrup, apple juice.

The countdown to Christmas begins. 

Have fun. 

Thanks for reading and hopefully I’ll get the chance to try them myself.

Andy 😊

Click to access BAR-LIST-WINTER-2015-NEW-WINES1.pdf

  

You can purchase cocktail making classes gift cards via the Opus Website. 

http://baropus.co.uk/

Bar Opus is at one SnowHill, Queensway, Birmingham, B4.

#Veggiebreakfastwatch: Birmingham Breakfast Club at Simpsons Restaurant. 

Posted in Birmingham, Birmingham Breakfast club, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Edgbaston, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Veggie foodie brunch breakfasts by

   

Ruth and I have been to Michelin Starred Simpsons Restaurant in Edgbaston, Birmingham a number of times since we met in 2007. 

We’ve been to celebrate Christmas, Valentine’s and at various other celebratory occasions and always found the food to be excellent and the venue a true place to celebrate. 

So to be invited with Ruth to the second exclusive and ticketed  Birmingham Breakfast Club (http://www.birminghambreakfastclub.co.uk/ ) Michelin Starred three course breakfast was both thrilling and a lovely opportunity to try out the food of new head chef Nathan Eades formally of Epi Restaurant in Bromsgrove and whose vegetarian food so wowed me last year when I visited Epi. 

Simpsons has recently had a refurbishment with all of the restaurant area been revamped into a more minimalist airy space, which has a Scandinavian feel about it. Gone were the table cloths of before and the simple tables and clever use of space and light reminded me of Simon Rogan’s flagship restaurant in the Lake District L’Enclume. (My favourite meal ever).

Been shown the main single spaced empty dining room space was a thrill, and left me impressed by the use of space, the atmosphere and use of natural light from the beautiful garden space outside (with an alfresco decking dining space)  

It’s fresh modern style equated itself well for breakfast.

Simon Steggles (@Stegabyte) chief Birmingham Breakfast Club reviewer of breakfasts across the city did the honours and had also arranged for myself and fellow diners to see inside the kitchen at the end of the breakfast. 
    
  Main dining room.  Our smart breakfast table.

  

We began with a crunchy sourdough (sorry no photo) of excellent quality with a soft butter that melted in the mouth (though would have liked another slice).

A mixture of fresh Apple and freshly squeezed orange juice were also offered. The orange juice again of superb quality and very welcome. 

The three courses were presented beautifully and had all the hallmarks of Nathan’s delicate intricacy and presentation of more unusual and seasonal veggie ingredients. 

  

1) Celeriac: Celeriac and Potato Hash, lingonberries, celery.

A delicate and adventurous start. The hash lifted by the clear flavours of celeriac. The lingonberries (an edible fruit with a slightly acidic taste) a nice addition and offered a lovely red glow on top of the golden hash.

For me the standout dish. The dish that demonstrated chef Nathan’s cooking ethos perfectly. Simple ingredients presented well. An adventurous veggie option. 
  

  Salsify and Eggs: Maple roasted salsify, fried duck egg. French toast, maple mascarpone. 

Again a beautiful take on ‘bacon and eggs’ which was the non veggie version. A lovely runny Duck Egg, perfectly fried and set off by the beautifully named salsify (love that word, but a fantastic root vegetable) like pencils holding the egg up high the salsify, maple sweet and silky Offered new possibilities to a standard dish. Presented with the lush rich mascarpone, which I loved. Delicious.

  What an egg!

  

3) Cereal: Cornflake Pannacotta, milk foam. 

The ‘pudding’ of breakfast at Simpsons. Cornflakes to finish a meal, whatever next? Panna cotta infused with the cereal. Perfectly creamy, refreshingly indulgent even and a lovely way to end a superb breakfast. 

  

The Michelin Starred breakfast at Simpsons was a lovely experience, nice company (we all sat on one long table) delucious and exceptionally prepared food by Nathan Eades (who I later found out dis all the cooking himself without any assistance) was a fun way to spend a morning. It whetted the appetite to return for dinner with Ruth next year for another celebratory meal. It also proved that under the head chefship of Nathan Simpsons will be a standout restaurant for Vegetarians to visit in Birmingham. Thanks chef!

  Espresso at Simpsons

  Main Dining room with garden view.

  Gardens at Simpsons

    In the kitchens of Simpsons. Where art and sweat meet. 

  Bar area at Simpsons

  
    Cow Milk jug. Sweet!

 Main Dining room

A word of thanks to Simon for inviting myself and Ruth to the Michelin Breakfast at Simpsons. The cost was £25 per person (superb value).

We paid for our breakfast in full and my review is honest as always. 

If you like my veggie breakfast reviews then check out others in my blog. 

Plus from next year I will be looking after the veggie part of the Birmingham Breakfast Club website:

http://www.birminghambreakfastclub.co.uk/ 

Please Keep checking back for my veggie reviews. 

https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamBreakfastClub

For details about the Birmingham Breakfast club see the link here:

http://www.birminghambreakfastclub.co.uk/full-english-about-us

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Simpsons restaurant, 20 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3DU.

0121-4543434

http://www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk/

Veggie Pizza Watch: First look at The Stable, Birmingham.

Posted in Bars, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cider, City Centre, pizza, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
I think The Stable will be a popular place, what’s not to like about Pizza, Pies and Cider. For Vegetarians it constitutes two of our favourite things, or is that just me. Yes I know Pizzas and Pies are not great for you, but in Winter, well what’s better (apart from a veggie roast).

The Stable, a few footsteps from New Steeet Station on John Bright Street like to personalise the menus to cater for the local area or city they land in, so you find names of pizzas like ‘The Bull Ring Boar’ ‘The James Brindley’ ‘ The Longhorn Jim’ and ‘The Perry Barr-Baa. 

Using locally sourced ingredients  The Stable offers the West Country with a Birmingham twist. In fact it’s casualness (you order at the bar) is its strength with a mixture of long sharing tables, and cosy booths it creates a nice warm, buzzy atmosphere that caters well for groups, couples, single customers or families, and was doing a good strong trade on the night we visited. 

Note though that the restaurant is quite darkly lit at night, so not great for food photos. 

The Stable isn’t independent in any way, but that doesn’t make it a place worth trying. They have hired Jon from Marmalade (Bitters N’ Twisted) to manage the restaurant. 

Serving gourmet pizzas, pies and cider The Stable makes all pizzas from scratch, from the sourdough to the sauces. 

There are a four Vegetarian pizzas on the menu (the stone-baked sourdough kind) and one pie called The Squish Squash.

They are: Margherita, The Four cheese special, The James Brindley, and The Billy The Kid. 

Sadly, there aren’t any vegan pizzas on the menu, which is a bit of an oversight in my opinion and could do with been rectified as numerous places such as independent Mr Singh’s in Handsworth,  Bare Bones Pizza who you can find at Brum Yum Yum in Kings Heath and Alfie Birds at The Custard Factory in Birmingham do Vegan pizzas well.  

   
 Above photo courtesy of The Stable. 
  
Ruth and I visited on their first Monday night to take advantage of their 50% off food day. 

We both chose vegetarian pizzas. I ‘The James Brindley’ and Ruth ‘The Billy The Kid’. We also decided to take advantage of the seasonal mulled cider offer. We also ordered a garlic bread to share. 

  Mulled cider: 

The upside of cold weather, lovely warming with a good cider punch. Recommended. 

  Garlic bread £4.50. 

A fresh pizza base smothered in garlic and parsley. A nice generous sized garlic bread. A good garlic flavour. Enjoyed. 

  The James Brindley: £10.50.

Herb crusted potato, Fowlers Forest Blue, Roasted Spanish Onions, English Spinach, fresh tomato sauce, and mozzarella. 

A fine pizza, surprisingly so as I wouldn’t have thought the potatoes would work with the strong flavours of the cheeses. In fact, it complimented perfectly. The potatoes were like roast potatoes and with the deep flavoured blue cheese made for a top and hugely recommended vegetarian pizza.    

 The Billy The Kid: £12.50.

Cheese Cellar Dairy Goats’ curd cheese, caramelised onions field mushrooms, English Spinach, fresh tomato sauce, and mozzarella, topped with roasted hazelnuts. 

Ruth enjoyed her pizza, she said it had a good cheese flavour with the goats and the mozzarella working well together. All the elements were sound and with the generous size of the pizza made for an indulgent choice.

I had a taste and i concur with her. I liked the roasted hazelnuts too which gave it a crunch and an additional texture. 

  Hogans Draught cider: medium/dry. 

     

 
   
   
The Stable, on first glance is a hearty and atmospheric new pizzeria addition to the informal Birmingham food scene. The pizzas are excellent, fresh, a good size and of good value for £10.50 and £12.00.  

The toppings in some ways are more unusual across the menu, but that’s ok in my book as the pizzas are made so well. The Sourdough base works and the fresh flavours come through. I liked it, and it’s certainly worth further examination and with an addition of a vegan pizza it would get full marks from me.

The Service was friendly and efficient. You order your food at the bar. They deliver it to you with a smile. 

For drinks there is a huge cider menu from draught (10 ciders) through to bottles from across the South West.

There are not many ales or lagers on the menu, but you are able to order a tempting cider tasting board costing £7.50 for five different third of a pint samples selected by them. Wines to are available by the bottle and the glass. 

For bargain lovers, Tuck in Tuesday offers a pizza, side salad and a drink for £10. A Bargain.  

Ploughmans are also available. Including vegetarian cheeses for £9.00.

The horse has now bolted from The Stable. Slightly trendy, quite delicious and fully vegetarian friendly. 

The Stable, Unit 1, Orion, 115 John Bright Street, Birmingham, B1 1BE.

Www. Stablepizza.com

For the Birmingham menu see below.

Click to access Menus-Birmingham-V2.pdf

Thanks for reading,
Andy 😊

Disclosure: we printed off a 50%off food voucher. All other drinks were purchased and my thoughts and opinions are my own and honest as always. 

   
 

#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 😊

Review: Two Cats Kitchen and Kam and Cat vegetarian collaboration. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

If those in the know (or think they are) are anything to go by then Two Cats Kitchen is the hottest dining ticket in town. For Vegetarians that might be greeted with, ‘for meat eaters maybe’ or yes really? But why should vegetarians be excused from the shouting or feel disinterested. After all we have the right to eat outside of vegetarian restaurants surely? 

So many restaurants that come by generally can be described by vegetarians as beern like a big black hole of an abattoir sent from outer space, a place to keep away from. 

For the unnanitiated Two Cats may appear a restaurant too far. For meat rules still, and Birmingham is generally living and breathing it in a massive way, if the Twitterati are to believed. 

This though is not all together a fair description of my city. I’ve spoken before of the good work Nomad are doing in Brum, as Marmalade at The Birmingham Rep with its Meat free Monday’s and the three Opus Restaurants. Two Cats is also treading the innovative line on veggie dishes, ingredient led and blossoming under the dim lights of its permanent home. 

Two Cats is the brainchild of Chef Nicki Astley. The food is described as ‘New Baltic Cuisine’. This is in fact Baltic-Russian cuisine,  re composed traditional dishes and some newer innovative ones. It’s very much stripped back fine dining, the plates of food tell a story, and in its story is the ideals in the cooking. It certainly stands out on the Birmingham dining scene. 

The vegetarian night was organised with Kam and Cat. 

Kamila is a raw food chef and is the owner and founder of Kam and Cat. They have completed numerous pop ups in Birmingham over the last year. 

Together with Nicki she provided the quirky dishes on the night. 

  
Two Cats Kitchen is on Warstone Lane near St Paul’s square and in the historical Jewellery Quarter area of the city. Itself becoming a fine food and drink location. 

After showcasing their food in various pop ups in the City Centre they’ve now settled in the cosy Jewellery Quarter and opened up in an even more cosy restaurant. 

The dining room is entered via a small delightful passageway that is reminiscent of some Trattoria’s you find in Italy, inside exposed brickwork, original tiles on the floor and some monastic stained glass is quite a surprise if you weren’t expecting it. It’s a fine discovery, simple, with a charming atmosphere that only such an old narrow space can provide. Maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s just me.! I feel at home. 

The menu itself is a bargain at £40 for seven courses. We had in order:

“Aukstazupa” Beetroot and Buttermilk Gazpacho.

Oyster Leaves and Garlic Buttermilk, Plum, charred almonds.

Chickpea terrine, pickles, cheese custard, coal oil. 

Goats cheese Pelneni, lovage oil, sweet onion broth.

Golubtsy, slow cooked egg, cep mushroom stock.

‘Sorrel’

Kam’s Blueberry Vegan ‘Cheesecake’.

   
Aukstazupa, (Beetroot and Buttermilk Gazpacho). 

A Latvian Beet cold soup, slightly peppery, a bracing shout out I’m here kind of dish. Impressive veggie fare. 

  Oyster leaves and garlic, buttermilk, plum, charred almonds. 

Paired down, simple ingredients, put together well, so easy? Is it? 

  Chickpea terrine, pickles, cheese custard, coal oil. 

A third course of contrast, to the previous two. The chickpeas, complimenting well the cheesy heart of the dish: lovely. 

  

Goat Cheese Pelneni, lovage oil, sweet onion broth. 

An enchanting dish, all the elements came together. The tender Pelneni (chewy dumplings) of soft goats cheese stuffing, with an onion broth so crystal clear I could see my tired mid week night eyes peering jaded back at me from its depths, plus homemade lovage oil. Sweet, sticky, chewy, subtle-delicious.

  

Golubtsy, slow cooked egg, cep, mushroom stock. 

Russian/Ukraine Stuffed cabbage leaves (Golubtsy) wrapped round the cep filling, the stock and egg providing the added contrasting bite. A classic of Ukrainian food, here in Birmingham, a dish originally devised to use up left over food, now central stage. A Moma of a dish. A special dish. 

  

Sorrel

Simple sorrel leaf (pre desert) 

bunch of sorrel leaves tied together by twine with lovely textures and a sweetness that is surprising. To be taken in the hand and eaten like a bone ( sorry for the meaty term) sweet, and simple, served and presented artistically.

  
Kam’s Blueberry vegan cheesecake.

A vegan style cheese cake, finishing off the meal well. Good flavours and light touch. Lovely. Presented well. 

Two Cats Kitchen is terrific, gastronomic even, it is attempting to break barriers, but it’s feeding its customers well. I think you could keep returning here and finding new joys on the menu, or at least in some favourite tried before dishes and though this was a different Two Cats Kitchen night it whet the appetite for more in the near future. 

It does all the right things and for that they’ve succeeded in giving veggies another powerfully seductive experience whence once it thought not to tread and that’s all in the hands of the chef who knows how to please, and understands the beauty of food for everyone and that’s quite simply a relief for vegetarians in Birmingham. 

    
    
 

  

  Photo courtesy of Two Cats Kitchen. 

http://twocatskitchen.com/

https://twitter.com/twocatskitchen

27 Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B18 6JQ.

0121-212-0070.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Disclosure: We paid for our meal in full. My opinions are my own and honest as always. 

Birmingham restaurant director receives prestigious membership at leading hospitality association.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
Birmingham City-centre restaurant, Opus is celebrating another fantastic achievement after one of its directors was awarded the prestigious role of academician at the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RAOCA).
Irene Allan director at Opus at Cornwall Street, Cafe Opus at Ikon and Bar Opus at One Snowhill, was presented the outstanding membership earlier this month (November) following a rigorous application and interview process. She is the fourth hospitality professional from the city to take on the role, joining Glynn Purnell from Purnell’s and Luke Tipping and Andreas Antona from Simpsons. 

With an aim of raising the standard of the hospitality industry as well as inspiring the future generation of restaurant professionals through education, training and recognising and rewarding talent, the RAOCA is the UK’s best and leading professional association, whose members include the country’s top head chefs and restaurant managers. To achieve the esteemed role of academician within the association, applicants must first be nominated by three current RAOCA members, before completing an application stating the unique attributions they can bring to the association as well as partaking in an intensive interview.

Through initiatives such as working with the University College Birmingham to offer the ‘Opus Scholarship’ programme, achieving the highest possible accolade from the Sustainable Restaurant Association, and adopting a school to educate pupils of the importance of food knowledge, Irene has demonstrated an exceptional skill set in raising the standards of the catering sector by sharing her wealth of knowledge and skills with the younger generation. She has mentored a number of her staff through to achieving awards of excellence in their careers. 
Irene said: “Opus is having a tremendous year so far, what with celebrating our 10th year in business and recently being named the most sustainable restaurant in the Midlands, so to also achieve the role of academician at the RAOCA is another brilliant achievement for us. From a personal level, I’m thrilled to have been given this added responsibility and with it, I hope to inspire and mentor the next generation, as well as highlight our fantastic industry within the West Midlands” 

For more information on Opus, please visit 
http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/

I want to congratulate Irene personally on her wonderful and much deserved achievement and thank her for the support of my blog. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Veggie dish of the day: Kitchen Garden Flatbread, Fletchers, Kings Heath.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Craft beer, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian by

  

A veggie flatbread is a blank canvas and you can cover it with almost anything and make a meal very quickly. In restaurants the plain variety (as in tapas) is popular. In many ways for me, the message is keep it simple: 

Take the seasonal butternut squash at Fletchers, set it off with a touch of crumbly gentle feta and wilting spinach, a rich tomato sauce base (crucial) that provides that slightly spicy chilli kick. 

Then you have probably the best Topped Flatbread in Birmingham. Simples! 

Fletchers in Kings Heath, is the venue. The Kitchen Garden Flatbread is the dish. Beautiful. 

Fletchers Bar and Eatery’s Kitchen Garden Flatbread was listed as one of the best cheese dishes by myself in Birmingham for Wow Brum (Birmingham Mail) in a recent article I was asked to do by them. 

See post here: 

https://t.co/MTEMGG2kbb 

  
  Fletchers Bar. 

  Topped Flatbread, Kitchen Garden: feta, butternut with chilli and spinach flat bread. Rich Tomato sauce. £9.95.

  
  

Order with sweet potato fries.

  Greek style fries also served. 

  

One of the best beers in the world? Wainwright from Thwaites. 

  

Craft beer from O’Hara’s. 

 

Yamazaki 12 year old Whisky from Japan. 

  Gin Martini at Fletchers.

  
  
Fletchers Bar and eatery is in the south Birmingham suburb of Kings Heath. Located on York Road, it’s friendly service and serious beers, Whiskies and cocktails make it a relaxed and veggie friendly choice in the area. Offering seasonal dishes and a varied tapas menu, Fletchers has an intimate and bustling vibe with a peaceful floral beer garden. 

It also offers independent Birmingham card holders 10% off the menu. 

Fletchers Bar: 7 York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7SA.

http://www.fletchersbarandeatery.co.uk/#!menu/c24tf

http://www.fletchersbarandeatery.co.uk/

http://independent-birmingham.co.uk/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

I paid for my own food at Fletchers Bar and Eatery. All opinions are my own and honest as always. 

Previous post on Fletchers veggie Halloumi burger: 

FLETCHERS BAR: KING HEATH BIRMINGHAM

   
    
 Fletchers Beer Garden.

  

A new star is born: The Star and Garter pub in Leamington, gets new look. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Brunch, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Warwickshire by

   

  
   
 The Highfield in Edgbaston has been one of my favourite places to eat and drink in Birmingham since it opened just over a year ago. So I was pleased to hear that over in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire 

its sister pub The Star and Garter has had a refurbishment and re opened with a new menu that has numerous vegetarian options. 

Since being taken over by award-winning independent local pub company Peach, The Star & Garter has earned itself a place on the social scene, building up a reputation for offering good, fresh seasonal food and quality drinks, with friendly service to match, as new pub manager Colin Barber explains.

 “The Star & Garter is a lovely pub in a gorgeous period building in the heart of Leamington Spa. Having moved in three years ago, we’ve been warmly welcomed by the townspeople who’ve quickly made us their own. After getting to know our guests really well and asking what they wanted from their local, we’ve made the pub an even better, more sociable place to be. We’ve also added new seasonal dishes and quality drinks from great suppliers, many local,” he says.

 “We’ve updated our style, starting with an eye-catching new sign and a warmer, cosier interior making the pub more intimate. The bar’s been opened up and we’ve added more informal seating throughout. There are comfy booths and sofas in warm fabrics and soft leather, mellow wooden tables and chairs and quirky exposed brick effect wallpaper. The eatery has been completely restyled with spacious booths, creating an informal yet stylish place where you can eat, drink and relax wherever you like,” he says.

 On offer is a new Noon & Night Menu, with traditional pub classics, superfood dishes and seasonal specials from brunch through til late. Head chef Jakub Fijak uses great local and British produce in his dishes that keep the menu fresh and invigorated. 

 There is also a wide range of quality gins, with your choice of tonic, served in a grand coupe with plenty of ice, fruit and juniper berries, alongside local ales and premium long neck lagers, a new cocktail and mocktail list and even beer cocktails.

 “Our new style is all about being sociable, bringing more choice and more good things to eat and drink, whenever you visit. We want you to feel very welcome and right at home, whether you pop into the eatery for a burger, linger a bit longer over a three course dinner or simply join us for a drink,” says Colin.

 The Star & Garter is at 4-6 Warwick Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5LL. Tel: 01926 359 960.

http://www.starandgarterleamington.co.uk/

Twitter: Star_Leamington Facebook: TheStarGarter 

New menu highlights for vegetarians include: 

Major or Minor Orders, small pots for £3.50 or three pots (a board) for £9.50. 

Veggie Options include: 

Red lentil falafels, spicy yogurt, Wooky Hole cheddar and Parsnip Cakes, Tomato Jam, Superfood Salad, Quinoa, Sweet Potato, Broccoli and pomegranate, lemon and honey. 

Brunch is served from 9am to noon and vegetarians can enjoy Smashed avocado on toast with Poached egg, American pancakes, maple syrup, ricotta and banana. All eggs are local and free-range.

Mains include Superfood Salad, Quinoa, Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Pomegranate, Lemon & Honey (£6.50 or £12.00), Spicy Bean Burger, served in a Brioche Bun with Chips, Onion Rings & Coleslaw and Roast Squash and  Spinach and Barley Wellington, vegetarian gravy. 

With dishes changing seasonally and with a daily specials board The Star and Garter is one to keep an eye on for vegetarians. 

 

   
 
Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

All photos courtesy of The Star and Garter Leamington. 

Veggie Foodie Lunch watch: Java Lounge, Colmore Row, Birmingham. 

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

Sometimes you just want a simple lunch. Nothing fancy, nothing glamorous, just something that hits the spot, is warming and non offensive. This is what I found at Indie Coffee shop Java Lounge on Colmore Row in Birmingham City Centre. 

   

Having stumbled in, as you do, though I can assure you I hadn’t had a drink or much worse. I thought let’s give the Toasted Falafel Wrap with tomato and onion a go. It came with 2 dips and a mixed side salad. 

I was impressed, the falafel wrap was a decent size, with the tomato and onion offering a contrast to the firm falafel inside. It had a good flavour and wasn’t in any way falling away in my hands or was tough to cut with a knife and fork.  It was filling and even though I wasn’t sure of the dips which seemed an afterthought, maybe provide a oily chilli or balsamic dressing instead, it proved to be a decent lunch and not a rip off that some places are. For just over a fiver I had a filling vegetarian wrap and a Flat White (what else!). 

The flat white, pitch perfect, looked good. A really fine coffee. 

    
   

As the Java Lounge is only 5 minutes from the Birmingham Getman Market, it’s a lot more tempting for lunch for vegetarians than the overdose of meaty goods you can find there. It’s also inside and a darn site cheaper, unless you are having the cheesy garlic bread of course at the market. (Watch your breath though).

You can find Java Lounge on Colmore Row 5 minutes from Victoria Square. 
Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

I paid for my wrap and coffee myself and left with a bit more of a spring in my step than when I entered. 

For my coffee time review of Java Lounge see here: 

http://t.co/Rxwk0lWAj9

  
  

Review: Byzantium, Kings Heath, Revisited. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Food, Independent, Kings Heath, Spanish, Tapas, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

Byzantium was colonised by Greek colonists from Megara in 657 BC. Not that anyone in Kings Heath was present, or can remember this. Partly because of heavy nights and days in the nearby Hare and Hounds and partly because well, the residents of Kings Heath have been silenced by their fear of more charity shops and the shock that a new ‘Subway’ sandwich shop has opened on the High Street. 
    

But then if the Greeks were around today then I’m sure they’d be impressed by the quaint and intimate hideaway named after their great empire that sits cosily on York Road (almost opposite The Hare and Hounds and next to Fletchers Bar.) 

For me Byzantium is the kind of tapas restaurant a Vegetarian could frequent often and still not get fed up of the same dishes. In fact there are numerous choices and daily specials that makes one scratch your head and shout out ‘if only I had one choice, life would be simpler.’ Yet, I have my favourite dishes, well why not, life’s too short!

Byzantium takes its inspiration from across the Mediterranean to create a tapas menu that’s reflective of the whole area. So you have, Spanish, Italian, Greek, French influences in the dishes which keeps the menu varied. Inside you’ll find religious art on the walls, church like seating, and ornate lamps which help to create a lovely exotic atmosphere. 

I’ve been going with Ruth to Byzantium fairly regularly over the last few years. It’s our go to place. We had a lovely Valentines night meal there earlier in the year. For its elegance, romantic lighting and soothing gothic shadows lend itself perfectly to the occasion. In fact my very first restaurant review for Veggie Foodie was Byzantium back in April 2014. 

This occasion too was a celebration for it was Ruth’s Birthday and her Mum was with us to celebrate. In fact Ruth’s Mum loves the restaurant.

I began with an aperitif. The Negroni. The classic Italian cocktail. 

  Negroni at Byzantium.

The Negroni was a well made aperitif, one part gin, one part Vermouth, one part Campari. Italy in a drink. Delicious. 

We also shared an excellent bottle of Prosecco with our food. Well we were celebrating. 

  

The vegetarian dishes we chose to share were: 

Homemade Flatbread. 

Zaalouk: pan fried Aubergine dip with cumin, Tomatoes, and Corriander. 

Olives: a selection of marinated green and black olives. 

These were all eaten as a shared starter. 

The flatbread was a beautiful unleavened bread, very large, served with a jalapeños chilli on top. Ideal for sharing it was a joyous thing, and probably due to its flavour and size the best plain flatbread in Birmingham. Taken with the punchy tomato and aubergine based Zaalouk its a perfect sharing starter. The pan fried aubergines perfect in a dip and the ideal accompaniment to the flattened doughy bread. A beautiful zingy flavour with a touch of cumin. 
  

To follow Ruth and her Mum ordered a couple of meat tapas to share and I ordered the Halloumi Souviaki for myself and four veggie tapas to share between the three of us. 

The dishes we shared were: 

Croquetas: Cheese and spinach croquetas served with alioi and red onion jam. 

Patatas Alioli: Crisp potatoes served with Garlic Mayonnaise. 

Tortilla Con Queso: Spanish omelette with potato, spinach, cheese, caramelised onions. 

Championes Rellenos: mushrooms stuffed with tomatoes, roasted red peppers and cheese. 

Halloumi Souviaki: skewers of Halloumi cheese, Mediterranean vegetables, served with Tzatiki (creamy yogurt, cucumber and garlic).

  Tortilla Con Queso. 

A classic Spanish Tortilla, an indulgent blend of potatoes, spinach and cheese, topped off with the golden tinged caramelised onions to make s very satisfying tapas dish. One of the best. A Perfectly made tortilla. 

  

Championes Rellenos. 

A tasty tomato based stuffed mushroom dish which had a delicious lingering flavour and complimented the tortilla well especially. The cheese didn’t overwhelm the rich tomato sauce. I liked the bulky mushrooms as a contrast to the Patatas Alioli too. 

  Croquetas. 

Nice Croquetas with a good creamy filling. Served with the red onion marmalade gave it another dimension in flavour that elevated it. A recommended dish. 

    Halloumi Souviaki. 

The star dish on the night. Who doesn’t like skewers of Halloumi? Served with Mediterranean vegetables, the peppers in particular offer a juicy accompany ment as does the side salad and the garlicky Tzatiki. Halloumi heaven on a plate. 

  Patatas Alioli: 

crisp potatoes served with a garlic mayo. A classic tapas dish though not as fine as the Patatas Bravas which is also on the menu. Any potato dish whether Alioli or Bravas is essential for Vegetarians at Byzantium.

  Tiramisu. 

The most disappointing dish of the night. Both Ruth and I chose the Tiramisu. I’m in love with tiramisu and it’s often my first choice when in any menu. Yet in the UK it can be underwhelming, as this unfortunately was. The cream was over whipped and it didn’t ‘pick me up’ at all. Quite the opposite in fact. A disappointing pud. I can’t find anything positive to say about it at all. 

  

Poached Pears soaked in Red wine.

So to counterbalance the bad, meet the good. The Poached Pears, Just lovely, decadent, the pear fragrant against the deep full bodied reduced wine, a beautiful strikingly simple desert that I’ve eaten before and found an old photo of. 

Along with the Creme Catalan the best pudding on the desert menu. 

Byzantium is a lovely tapas restaurant and one that Kings Heath is rightly proud. Our food on the night was delicious. The dishes were all well made, with the menu demonstrating a varied and sensitivity to vegetarians and meat eaters are well served too. In fact for veggies there’s enough choice for tears of joy and to return with Christmas bells on next week, and have a completely different menu. 

The service was good, attentive, friendly and efficient. In fact everything that a neighbourhood restaurant should be. It has a strong drinks menu, with sherry’s, cocktails and a mixed selection of European wine, plus spirits, vin Santo (which we enjoyed) and a good strong espresso. If only their Tiramisu was up to scratch things would be perfect, but for now it will do, maybe the Greeks didn’t get to Venice or Verona, but thankfully South Birmingham and who can complain at that? 

  
 

We paid for our food in full apart from the complimentary bottle of prosecco, kindly given as it was Ruth’s birthday. My opinions are honest and no review was expected or required. 

She had a good night. 

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

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

Byzantium,  11 York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7SA. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

Byzantium have also recently opened an up stairs function room for parties and large groups to dine and party. 

For details and party menu see their website and my post here: 

http://t.co/9wa86cSkdr