Category Archives: Veggie foodie

Ciderfest at Bitters N’Twisted and Meat Free Monday’s at Marmalade. 

Posted in beer, Festivals, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

   Meat free Monday: 

Paneer Tika and Pea Samosas with Homemade pineapple marmalade. With Blind Pig Cider 

 

Meat Free Monday: 

Edaname  hummus, shiitake mushrooms, coconut crisps and grissini bread.  

  

Meat Free Monday: 

Beetroot, feta croustade with wilted spinach buerre blanc 

Marmalade at The Birmingham Rep has introduced Meat Free Monday food specials to its menu every Monday. Above are examples of previous dishes with a different dish (s) every week. 

Meat free Monday’s are a national initiate to help people have one meat free day a week to highlight the impact that eating meat has on the planet and our carbon footprint. 

Home

Marmalade has always offered a good selection of Vegetarian dishes, so this addition is to be welcomed. Keep an eye on social media for the Meat Free Monday dishes every week. 

   
    
 Vegetarian dishes at Marmalade. 
Previous review of Marmalade. 

Review: Marmalade: Bistro at The Birmingham Rep Theatre

  
   
   
Cider fest is back for its 5th year. 

 After previous successful summer festivals, independent Bitters ‘n Twisted Venues are on a mission to unite even more cider drinkers as its fifth annual Ciderfest runs throughout its venues throughout August. 
 The Victoria on John Bright St, The Jekyl and Hyde based on Steelhouse Lane, both located in the city centre, have been joined by Jewellery Quarter based The Rose Villa Tavern and Harborne’s The New Inn for a month long celebration of all things cider. 

New to the Birmingham bar scene, Marmalade , will be taking part too from their home in Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre.

 Ciders on offer range from traditional apple based scrumpy’s to lighter fruity modern ones, served straight up or over ice creating the perfect drink for when the sun comes out. Expected favourites include Maeloc Dry Cider, made in Spain using traditional methods for a crisp flavoursome taste. 

Also Blind Pig, a new cider to the market offering a mix of cider and rum in their not-for-the-fight-hearted Rum and Poached Pear Cider.

 The month long celebration will come to an end with the free Ciderfest Closing Party – an afternoon of cider drinking, live music and BBQ food hosted in the beautiful New Inn’s beer garden from 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31st.

Ciderfest kicks off at the start of August and will carry on until the end of the month at the Victoria, The Jekyll & Hyde, Marmalade, The Rose Villa Tavern and The New Inn.
   
    
 Garden at The New Inn
Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

Meat Free Monday’s: The Vegan Grindhouse at The Mockingbird in Digbeth Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Digbeth, Events, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie, Veggie foodie brunch breakfasts by

       
 

Monday’s will never be the same if you are a Vegan or Veggie in Birmingham. 

The news is that esteemed and popular Vegan Street food traders The Vegan Grindhouse are taking over The Mockingbird at The Custard Factories kitchen all day on a Monday from August 10th for the rest of this year for a Meat-Free Monday’s special.

  

BIRMINGHAM INDEPENDENT VENUE AND POPULAR VEGAN STREET FOOD COMPANY TEAM UP FOR MEAT FREE MONDAYS STARTING MONDAY 10TH AUGUST.

The teams behind the successful Mockingbird Theatre, Bistro & Bar and Midlands based vegan street-food company The Vegan Grindhouse have collaborated to host a new destination event every Monday in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The event, The Vegan Grindhouse presents Meat Free Monday’s at The Mockingbird which is taking place every Monday from 10th August at Mockinbird Theatre Bistro and Bar, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4AA. 

The Vegan Grindhouse chefs will be serving up an all-vegan Americana style brunch menu from 11am-2pm, featuring waffles, scrambled tofu, granola, BLT and bagels. 

Then every Monday evening from 5-9pm there will be a new menu featuring food from different regions of the USA, such as burritos, Philly cheesesteaks, meatball marinara subs, mac’n’cheese and all American sides and desserts. There will be gluten free options available on each menu also. 

In addition to the food, Meat Free Mondays will also feature free film screenings in the theatre, music and a range of vegan beers, soft drinks and plant-based milks for coffees and teas.

Lisa Burbidge-Brown, Co-owner of The Vegan Grindhouse said “We are so excited to take on this weekly residency at The Mockingbird. To give people a fully vegan restaurant menu every Monday is a great way to promote the Meat Free Monday message of reducing or eliminating their meat and dairy intake due to health, environmental or ethical reasons and this is a great opportunity for people to try exciting new vegan food and see why going meat free is a viable alternative diet and lifestyle.”

The Vegan Grindhouse by Vegan Vox travels around the wider Midlands area to markets, festivals and street-food events to bring their high-end Americana handmade organic vegan food to a wide range of customers. 

They have traded across the UK including Birmingham, Warwickshire, Blackpool, Manchester, Wales and London since starting the business in April 2014 and have many more events booked throughout this year working with some of the big names in Street Food events.

The Vegan Grindhouse is a small independent all-vegan mobile catering company from the West Midlands, who produce organic, fair trade, cruelty-free tasty vegan Americana street-food and treats.

The Dinner menu will change each week and will be announced prior to the Monday. 

Contact the venue for reservations or just turn up on the day/night. 
So introduce non vegans and veggies to a meat free meal with new dishes not served up by The Vegan Grindhouse on their truck. 

http://www.thevegangrindhouse.co.uk/2015/08/exciting-announcement-meat-free-mondays.html?m=1

The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 YAA. 

   
 

  
Dinner menu for The Vegan Grindhouse Meat Free Mondays. 

Nomad: version 1 revisited. Kitchen Garden, Kings Heath. 

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

   
 
If you blink you may miss it. You see Nomad version 1 has only 3 weeks until Chefs Alex Claridge and Brian Smith and their merry band of Nomadic roamers leave fair Kings Heath and set up a permanent home somewhere away from my homestead and barter with a new crowd and venue in the big smoke. 

It’s been good having you in the Heath, and the kitchen Garden Will never be the same again. 

If moving from one place to another is true of the concept Nomad then it’s sure true of the nature of the Vegetarian dishes Ruth and I enjoyed last week. 

When we first visited back in April (see here http://t.co/RjhlejagxY) the food concept was still evolving and the vegetarian dishes though incredible were works in progress rather than the more formed and intricate plates that we now find. As with all concepts it takes time to develop a voice and in this case understand the customer and the nomadic skin you work in. 

So in this case the Seven courses we enjoyed were more complete plates of food, larger in size and scale and more rounded than before. Yes, in fact more adventurous and certainly an advancement in textures and flavours. Now maybe that’s the Summer produce, rather than the April Early spring variety, but I’d like to believe that it’s the added confidence of a kitchen more in tune with the diner and the Nomad concept including the ingredients. 

I’m not going to do a full review of the meal as your dishes may be different from ours, but suffice to say it was an outstanding meal. Indeed I think Alex is cooking the most innovative vegetarian food in Birmingham and certainly some of the best veggie food Birmingham has ever seen. 

So here are my photos of our meal.

   
 
Rowan berry doughnut

  
Globe artichoke, seared lettuce, egg yolk, nasturtium. 

  
Tomato, fennel. 

  
Broad bean, samphire, pea, tree mallow cheese. 

  
Burnt cauliflower, hay infused curds, ash dumplings, sea herbs. 

  
Caramelised white chocolate, strawberries. 

   
 
‘Sea buckthorn meringue pie’

If pushed then I would say my favourite courses were the Globe artichoke, the Broad Bean and the final desert the meringue pie. 

The only course that didn’t deliver so well was the Rowan berry doughnut which could have done with a touch more filling, but still they were delicious as a bread substitute. A nice idea though. 

The deserts in particular were a stunning improvement on our previous visit, much more pudding like and a good size portion. Excellent summery flavours. 

In all the courses the size of the portions were spot on and as a tasting like menu it was excitingly put together like a long journey of the pallet. 

Another nod to an improvement is with the service which is informed, crisp and friendly. A real asset to the Nomad experience. 

If you are able to get a table at Nomad in August at The Kitchen Garden then please do go. There is limited availability. 

For bookings: 

https://www.resdiary.com/Restaurant/Nomad

For Vegetarians it’s essential dining in Birmingham and one that’s improving all the time. 

In fact by time it reaches venue 2 in late September in the City Centre it may be nomadicly moving in another galaxy. It certainly makes the changing seasons and the advancement Of Autumn  quite exciting. 

See you on the other side. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

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

Nomad have also introduced their own wine and drinks list which is a positive development and compliments the food well. 

   
    
    
    
   
The night owl at the Kitchen Garden. Part of the Big Hoot Birmingham trail. 


Review: David Bann, Edinburgh. 

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Edinburgh, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
So the guide books would have it, no trip for Vegetarians or Vegans to Edinburgh would be complete without a trip to Vegetarian restaurant David Bann. So on a recent visit to Edinburgh with Ruth and her Mum this sounded good enough reason to me. 

The restaurant has been open since the turn of the Millenium just off The Royal Mile, serving its diverse and interesting menu that prides itself on satisfying non meat eaters and omnivores alike. More fine than cafe dining, it has an atmosphere that’s contemporary and convivial. In fact out of the three of us I was the only Vegetarian dining. 

  
It’s a modern restaurant, serving a creative, eclectic menu in a warm room, which is understated and deep aubergine in colour with a silver and dark glint,  and feels airy, spacious with well spaced tables. It promises much. 

The menu is also vegan friendly with a number of vegan dishes to compliment the vegetarian ones. 

The menu has a globally inspired sweep from the Mediterranean to the Pacific with an eastern twist to finish and looks invitingly interesting with a modern innovative twist. 

   
 
We began with a glass of Cava whilst looking at the menu. 

   
 
We ordered some Homemade Hummus, olives with homemade bread and herb oil to share, which was a nice plate, and a good taster. 
I ordered a starter: Ravioli parcel with artichoke, chick pea and Basil. 

  

A home made ravioli filled with a blend of artichoke, shallot chickpea and Basil with a grilled artichoke heart, tomato pesto and toasted pine nuts. 

It was a lovely dish. A taste of the Mediterranean, the varied flavours simple, and complimentary. The Ravioli was well made, and with the tomato pasta felt healthy as well as substantial as a starter. 

A Very enjoyable veggie pasta. 

  
For my main course I ordered the mushroom Strudel and mash with Mediterranean vegetables. 

   

 
The dish, a loaf of mushroom baked in Heather Ale, Bonnet Goats Cheese from Aryshire, with rosemary and wrapped in filo pastry. Served with cream mash potato, and roasted Mediterranean vegetables. It was a fairly substantial dish, I love strudels so this was a nice choice. 

In fact it was as good a strudel as you could find. The layered pastry, thin, warming with the gentle flavour of the goats cheese and the tang of the veg providing a substantial main course. It was a well executed dish be after a day walking round Edinburgh was just the ticket. 

  
For desert Both Ruth and I chose the delicious sounding and highly recommended (in reviews) Dark Chocolate Soufflé with homemade vanilla ice cream. 

   

 
In fact the reviews were correct. It was a killer desert and worthy of a visit to David Banns alone. 

A bit of chocolate heaven, a well made soufflé, gooey, well presented and finished with a delicious vanilla ice cream. A highlight dish of the trip. 

We also drank a nice bottle of South African Chenin Blanc. 

David Bann deserves its loyal following and well regarded reputation. It’s one of the best Vegetarian restaurants in Edinburgh and probably the UK. It comes over as been peerless in its craft, reliability and inventiveness. It’s range of eclectic vegetarian and vegan dishes are as good as you will find in Edinburgh outside a Michelin starred restaurant. 

The menu is suitably interesting for meat eaters to enjoy also, which is surely a good thing. Fashion now dictates that vegetarian menus encompass good quality seasonal ingredients. In that David Bann achieves the brief without taking the innovation to new heights and treading away generally from the traditional path, that’s ok, though maybe there is a nod to modernism with some of the ingredients. I think there is room to be more innovative at Bann, though the food is thoughtful and well made and it is popular. So why change too much? 

I liked David Bann, it felt indulgent without been stuffy and for the reasonable pricing is a distinctive  choice for Vegetarians in Edinburgh. How it responds to the changing fashions and new veggie innovators will be interesting to see. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

  
Ruth’s Fries at David Bann. 

  
Delicious Chocolate Soufflé. 

http://www.davidbann.com/food.php

http://www.davidbann.com/

Disclosure: We paid for our own food and drink at David Bann, my opinions are honest as always. 

David Bann, 56-58 St Mary’s Street, (off Royal Mile) Edinburgh, EH1 1SX. 


From street food beginnings to the Mockingbird. Bar, Bistro and Theatre at The Custard Factory. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Digbeth, Independent, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

 Anthony Duffy and Craig Essex have just launched their new bar and bistro The Mockingbird at The Custard Factory. 

Previously seen as Big Papas at the Sunflower Lounge, that residency has now finished and a new exciting venture is open. 

At The ‘Mockingbird bar and bistro’ you can expect an exciting fresh seasonal evolving bistro menu with a keen focus on using locally sourced produce. 

Their new head chef has worked in some fantastic kitchens including Purnell’s. 

You may also expect a unique and carefully designed craft beer and cocktail menu, taking influence from small cocktail bars in Harlem, independent spirits, lesser known quality wines and fizz. 

The key objective and focus for the Mockingbird is to push the smaller, independently crafted drinks, championing the local breweries. 

As well as the exciting food and drink (including good vegetarian options) they will be offering a truly unique and eye catching industrial interior married with a relaxing atmosphere. 

As well as the Bar and Bistro, The Mockingbird also offers a 101 seated  cinema and theatre space which offers an intimate, atmospheric experience in live events and unconventional cinema that is unique to the Birmingham region. Plus DJ’s playing some light soul and funk and some very alternative music, live music acts, and comedy.

The Mockingbird provides a unique and diverse programme of events, embracing the city’s cultural diversity and young rising talent. 

The Vegetarian dishes at Big Papas demonstrated to me in their simplicity and eagerness to please an understanding that Vegetarians care too for what’s on their plate, fulfilling the adage that  when their’s a meat eater in a group there is often a veggie too. 

I was impressed then through conversation with the boys their thoughtfulness to please and get their veggie dishes right for the customer, and a keenness to evolve their menu. Thus I’m looking forward to seeing how their new venue develops. 

With the announcement that The Vegan Grindhouse are doing am all day/evening kitchen takeover every Monday until the end of the year, for Meat Free Monday’s there’s going to be a lot for veggies and vegans too like about The Mockingbird. 

I’m going to be at the launch party on the 6th August so look out for further reports and updates soon. 

Andy 😊

   
   

Dip into Summer with the best British Strawberries at The Highfield Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Edgbaston, Fruit and Veg, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
   
One of my loveliest childhood memories is the one of going strawberry picking with my family, and enjoying the sweetest taste of freshly picked produce (sometimes eating too many) and the thrill of then (much later) eating my Grandmas strawberry jam, with some of the abundant produce. 

I’ve always loved strawberries in Summer and along with the Asparagus season it’s my favourite foodie time. 

If there is any dish that includes British strawberries on the menu in a restaurant i’m always tempted by it. 

So I was pleased to hear that The Highfield in Edgbaston has introduced a new desert for Summer, well up to the end of July. 

According to them: 

 ‘To celebrate the start of summer the chefs at The High Field in Edgbaston have been on the hunt for the perfect British strawberry – deliciously sweet and full of flavour, blushingly red and juicy, with a perfect heart shape. And so that everyone can make the most of this superb summer produce, they have come up with a special way of serving it – Dip Your Own Strawberries.

 Their quest for the best British berry took them deep into the heart of rural Staffordshire to Lower Ruele Farm, where they met grower Charles Kidson and asked him what makes the best strawberry. Here they discovered that it’s all down to the variety, and how the plants are nurtured, that produces the pick of the crop.

 “Walking into the poly tunnels we were met with a blaze of colour from the pops of red dotted along as far as the eye could see,” says The High Field head chef Dean Jeffers. “We were just as struck by the way the strawberries are grown along rows of narrow table tops where the tender young fruits can gently ripen in the warm air before being picked from their delicate green stalks. Harvesting is done over several days, when each berry is deemed to be perfectly ripe, sweet and ready to eat.

 “Unable to resist popping one of the beautiful berries into our mouths, we discovered that it is nature, as well as nurture, that plays a part in growing the finest fruit. Only Driscoll’s Amesti strawberries are grown here, a modern breed chosen because of the intensity of flavour, colour and shape of the strawberries it yields. Runners are produced in Holland from the high quality plant tips and lovingly tended here on the farm in ideal strawberry growing conditions. The result is simply the perfect strawberry,” he says.

 After picking the perfect strawberries, the chefs went one better to bring the best of British summer to the pub, creating an irresistible dessert of Dip Your Own Strawberries. 

 Into one big pot goes a generous helping of large, juicy red strawberries; into another, a glug of gorgeous, velvety Valrhona chocolate sauce and one final pot a dollop of sweet Chantilly cream. The whole lot goes onto a board ready for you to dip yourself, with a pile of crumbly shortbread biscuits that are the perfect partner to the luscious fruit and dips.

 “The best British strawberries we could find, rich chocolate sauce and unctuous cream with the crunch of biscuits on the side are the perfect ingredients for the perfect dish,” says Dean. “It’s the best of British all in one place, and the best summer dish. It’s simply delicious. But as with all good things, it won’t be around for long so catch it while you can!”

 Dip Your Own Strawberries are being served at The High Field in Edgbaston from now until the end of July, priced £5.75. 

 To book a table, please go to http://www.highfieldedgbaston.co.uk

 The High Field is at 22 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DP. Tel: 0121 227 7068. Highfield@peachpubs.com 

 To find out more about how the perfect strawberry is grown, please go to http://www.peachpubs.com/blog/10-things-know-driscolls-amesti-strawberry-lower-ruele-farm/

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

 

 

 

 

Henderson’s of Edinburgh. A Vegetarian pioneer. 

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, Edinburgh, Food, Independent, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

 
With its ancient crags and maze of medieval streets Edinburgh is a city that is no stranger to immortalised exposure. Its foodie scene is now renowned, with its garlanded Michelin stared restaurants and cosmopolitan buzz. All a far cry from when this veggie institution opened. 

When in 1962 Henderson’s Vegetarian opened (yes 53 years ago) it couldn’t have realised that its lustre and ethos would still be as much of Edinburgh life as it is today. In 1962 it provided an outlet for the produce of Janet and Mac Henderson’s East Lothian farm and quickly became a restaurant and thus the story of evolvement into a bistro, a bakery, a deli and a gallery. A cultural hub. 

The philosophy is the same. Eat better to live better and to serve delicious, wholesome food, using the best and freshest ingredients, and at affordable prices. 

I’d been with Ruth to Edinburgh a few times over the years, but had never shamefully visited Henderson’s. So to redeem this uncalled for neglect lunch was required, on this our most recent visit a few weeks ago. 

  
We visited their Hanover Street restaurant. The restaurant opens at 8am for breakfast and serves lunch, cake, afternoon tea or just drinks and snacks throughout the day. Its a popular stop off for Edinburgh shoppers in the New Town area, as well as those deserving workers who crave a vegetarian breather from their desks. 

It’s buzzing basement space is set out like a canteen with the menu on a board behind the counter and huge salad table. You can also order hot food, and baked goods, wine and local craft beer. 

Henderson’s provides over a dozen salads, freshly made, so this temptation was hard to resist. I’d heard they were to be had, and with a choice of salads which were varied and colourful. 

You can choose up to four salads. So both of us chose four for little over £8. 

   
   
My salads included a beetroot based one, a pasta one, a Chinese stir fry noodles one and a Waldorf salad. The range of flavours of the four salads were zingy and they all complimented each other superbly. They proved quite filling, but in particular the pasta and stir fry were exceptional and healthy. Very impressive. 

I also washed it down with a local  Innis and Gunn craft beer, which perfectly refreshed me, in preparation for Ruth’s shopping spree to follow. 

  

With its walls showcasing local artists and cool comforting atmosphere, Henderson’s is a smart choice for lunch. It’s a local institution, based on providing good healthy vegetarian food for a quick bite or respite from City life. In fact it reflects Edinburgh city life, it caters for veggies, vegans, and is popular with non veggies too, and creates a warm happy refresh in ones day. That’s how I saw it, a snapshot of a city, a hub in the New Town. 

Don’t expect anything ground breaking, but just great healthy food, competitively priced, with a good range of dishes to cater for all requirements. Henderson’s reflects cosmopolitan Edinburgh, and if there is one place that I visited in Edinburgh for food over my 5 days that I would like to bring to Birmingham City centre it would be Henderson’s. It has that vibe, that community, that quick bite veggie food that is missing.

No trip to Edinburgh for vegetarians and vegans would be complete without a visit to this stalwart. It demonstrates that trends change in veggie food, but there’s always room for a Henderson’s. 

  

 
Above the restaurant on Hanover Street is the Henderson’s Deli, serving takeaways and deli goods. 

Henderson’s also do gluten free options. 

http://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/restaurant.php

http://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/restaurant-sample-menu.php

   
 Above 2 Photos courtesy of Henderson’s. 

Follow Henderson’s 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hendersonsofedinburgh

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HendersonsofEdi

94 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DR. 

0131-325-6694.

Local Sex Sites

We paid for our own food and drink in Henderson’s. My review and opinions are my own as always and honest. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

  
The Thistle Street premises is due to reopen on July 27th. As a purely vegan restaurant. 

   
 

Purely Vegan Store: Kings Heath, Birmingham opens. 

Posted in Birmingham, Food, healthy, Independent, Kings Heath, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 
Kings Heath in South Birmingham is becoming the place for Vegans and Vegerarians to live. 

Hot on the heals of the Brum Yum Yum and Vegan Grindhouse does veggie/vegan streetfood event on the 19th July  news of a fantastic new opening reached me this week via Facebook. 

This week The Purely Vegan Store opened its doors at 271 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath. 

Though I’m not a vegan, I can appreciate that this is big news as the information reaching me suggests that this store will be the largest purely vegan store independently owned in Birmingham, and a thoroughly cool place for vegans to shop and hang out. 

Information on the stock is vague at the moment, so the best move is to go down and check it out. I think they are open to requests on what stock to have in the store, but I’m sure it wi sell the standard vegan food stuffs and goodies. From the photos on Facebook it looks as if it has a big fridge which helps. 

   
    
 
I’m looking to pop down myself shortly ,  so I can update the pictures and news of products and services on offer. Their is a website that is under construction. So the best place to find them is on Facebook and Twitter at the moment. 

Facebook: Vegan Store

Twitter: @theveganstore

http://www.theveganstore.co.uk/

As I mentioned earlier Kings Heath is becoming a cool place for Vegans and Veggies to visit or live. 

The regular monthly Brum Yum Yum has a good selection of veggie/vegan streetfood from all or some of The Vegan Grindhouse, Bare Bones Pizza, with its vegan and veggie pizza, vegetarian Bombay Tapas, Pietanic, and Vegan Mexican Mex it Up. Plus good options at Other traders. 

Also recommended are resident Vegetarian cafe/restaurant Veg Out Cafe, plus The Kitchen Garden Cafe, The Loco Lounge with its vegan menu and Cherry Reds which does good veggie and vegan options including a highly regarded Vegan breakfast. 

Find the  Purely Vegan Store at

271 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 6EB. 

0121-443-3211

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊 

 

Photos from Vegan Store Facebook page. 

#Veggiebreakfastbrunchwatch: Kitchen Garden: Kings Heath, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Kings Heath, vegetarian, Veggie foodie, Veggie foodie brunch breakfasts by

  
If you thought that the High Street was all that Kings Heath in South Birmingham offered then think again. Tucked down York Road, is a gem that when explored brings much reward. 

  
Through some smart iron gates, lies a pathway that meanders through an organic garden centre, past an organic farm shop and deli and thus to an old brick Mediterranean style patio and court yard with a cafe. 

The garden centre is one of the jewels of Kings Heath and I spend many a time mooching through pots and snapping up veg plants and perennials for my new garden. It’s an oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of busy city life and a sun trap with shades on and free from pesticides. 

The farm and deli shop sells local produce from organic free range eggs, home made pies, pasties, sausage rolls. Plus an array of organic wines, cheese, beers, jams and preserves which are made in house. 

  
   
  

 
The Kitchen Garden was renovated and restored and used to be in part a former blacksmiths and also a hard ware shop. It’s a diverse community enterprise that serves the area well, and is a great space for families ( it has a specially created children’s area and is a meeting place for families). 

The Kitchen Garden has a bohemian vibe, with its hand painted signs, pots of herbs, plants, garden statues, and cosy cafe. It’s a community one stop shop, and at night you can find live music, comedy and poetry (poetry bites, that I’ve lustily partaken in many times). It’s also been a temporary home to many pop up restaurants, Epi, with chef Nathan Eades, Blue Rabbit, and currently Nomad until the end of August.

  
Within the cafe you will find an excellent choice for Vegetarians and Vegans. Using the best seasonal, local and fair traded produce including organic when possible. It’s a relaxed space to be, to socialise, to recover from the night before or to work. They have free wi-fi access. 

The menu covers breakfast, including a full veggie, free range eggs, Huevos Rancheros, eggs florentine, continental pastries, bagels and the Hash Potato with onions. Plus fair trade, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, herbal teas and juices. This is served until midday from 8am. 

Having been before I’ve eaten and enjoyed the Vegetarian Breakfast which includes veggie sausages, free range egg (fried or poached) mushrooms, baked beans, grilled tomato, fried slice and extra thick toast. A feast of the veggie kind for £6.95. A bargain. 

On this occasion I decided to try the Kitchen Garden’s famous Hash Potato with onions with extra Grilled Mediterranean vegetables and a poached egg. With coffee. 

   

 
I have to say, it’s one of the best veggie breakfast items I’ve had for a long time. It was different. A lovely feast of flavours, crunchy Mediterranean veg, with a runny poached egg, with fried onions and fluffy potato. Beautiful. Maybe that’s why it’s famous. Maybe in hindsight it would have worked better for me with a fried egg, but I’m funny with eggs…next time. That though was my mistake and my personal preference, a lovely veggie breakfast for just short of £6.

   
 Kitchen Garden cafe’s rustic chunky wooden tables, watch the wobbling ones😀

Inside the cafe is light, airy, with art on the walls from local artists. It feels a chilled out spot, away from the main streets, an oasis to create and wile away time. I like the rustic charm, the nooks and the homely feel. It’s represents all that’s good about Kings Heath, the community and the slightly alternative vibe. 

It’s one of the best places for veggies in the area, it’s intent on creating something tranquil and satisfying. 

Giving back more than you imagine when you enter 17 York Road. 

   
   
   
   
Lunch is served from 12-3pm. For menu see below. Please note items may change. 

http://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk/index.php

http://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk/cafe.php?pid=lsm&lsm_id=197

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

My breakfast was paid for in full. My thoughts and opinions are my own and Honest as always. 

Kitchen Garden, 17 York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7SA. 0121-443-4725.

For details of events. Restaurants, and contact information see their website. 

Kitchen Garden also has a sister bar and eatery two doors down called Fletchers serving food and drinks daily. 

Brum Yum Yum Goes Veggie Sunday 19th July,  Kings Heath, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Food, Independent, Kings Heath, pizza, Real ale, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
LEADING BIRMINGHAM STREET FOOD ORGANISER AND VEGAN STREET FOOD COMPANY TEAM UP FOR BIRMINGHAM’S FIRST ALL VEGETARIAN STREET FOOD EVENT.
The teams behind the successful Brum Yum Yum and Midlands based Vegan street-food company The Vegan Grindhouse  have collaborated to host the region’s first ever all meat-free street food event.
The event, ‘Brum Yum Yum Goes Veggie which is taking place on Sunday 19th July at Kings Heath Village Square , High Street B14 7RA from 11am-5pm will feature Birmingham’s leading street food chefs showcasing an entirely Vegetarian menu with Vegan options available on each stall. 

See Barebones Pizza, Pietanic, Savanna Grill, Bombay Tapas, 9 Tea Cups and much more. 

It has traditionally been quite a minefield for vegetarians and in particular vegans to get well fed at Street food events, though this has improved a long way in recent months and at yesterday’s Brum Yum Yum #KingshEATh there were three purely vegan and vegetarian traders on show.  So this event will even more so readdress the balance of many such events and thus deserves to be supported as an initiative. 

Earlier this year I loved  Barebones Pizza’s Vegetarian pizza. 

See here: http://t.co/Mhkj9eBcJe

  

I also loved Bombay Tapas’ samosa Chaat yesterday at KingshEATh: 

  

In addition to street food, the event will showcase local musicians, an all Vegan Midlands based independent brewery – Twisted Barrel Ales from Coventry along with organic fruit and vegetables, crafts, cruelty-free skincare, cakes and a juice bar.

Lisa Burbidge-Brown, Co-owner of The Vegan Grindhouse said “Street food has become more and more popular in Birmingham, and it is about time people got to try some amazing vegan and vegetarian street food from some of the most popular street food chefs. More people are looking to reduce or eliminate their meat intake due to health, environmental or ethical reasons and this is a great opportunity for people to try exciting new vegan and vegetarian food and see why going meat free is a viable alternative diet and lifestyle.”

Said Duncan Stanley, Brum Yum Yum Founder, “I’m so happy to be presenting an all-veggie street-food show. Here at BYY we’ve always set out to prove that street-food isn’t just about the meat-in-a-bun classics and I firmly believe that a lot of the best street-food out there is served up by the vegan and veggie traders. What better way to spend a Sunday than stuffing your face with some of the tastiest and most interesting meat-free meals in town?! Add in the vegan beer and the great vibes and this is set to be the animal-friendly street party that Kings Heath’s been waiting for!”

        
The Vegan Grindhouse by Vegan Vox travels around the wider Midlands area to markets, festivals and street-food events to bring their high-end Americana handmade organic vegan food to a wide range of customers. They have traded across the UK including Birmingham, Warwickshire, Blackpool, Manchester, and London since starting the business in April 2014 and have many more events booked throughout this year working with some of the big names in Street Food events.

 
  
Brum Yum Yum ‘The Street-food Pimps’ produce Birmingham’s flagship street-food market, KingshEATh alongside a range of innovative street-food and dining events across the city. Licensed by Birmingham City Council, Brum Yum Yum presents the freshest street-food around and the most interesting events anywhere. BYY incubates, manages, represents and promotes street-food from Birmingham and beyond. 
The Vegan Grindhouse is a small independent all-vegan mobile catering company from Bilston in the West Midlands, who produce organic, fair trade, cruelty-free tasty vegan street-food and treats.

This should be a fantastic ‘Streetfood’ day for food lovers. 

It’s what veggies and vegans have dreamed of. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

The event:

 Brum Yum Yum goes veggie. 

Sunday 19th July, Kings Heath Village Square, High Street, Birmingham. B14 7RA.