#Tastymorsel: Great deals at vegetarian 1847. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Food, Independent, Lunch deals, Organic, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
  

Vegetarian restaurant Bistro 1847 has a number of offers that are  perfect for those enjoying Veganuary (try vegan for a month) or cutting back after the festive season. 

In Birmingham you can Enjoy £40 worth of food for just £20 via Dine Birmingham. Full T&C available here.

http://www.dinebirmingham.co.uk/offers/birmingham-restaurant-deals-january-restaurant-offers-birmingham/#sthash.rjlvphFB.dpbs

   
 
For my latest review of the Winter Menu, see here:

https://t.co/p2wLZcZfFg

Veggie Sunday Lunch Watch:

Bistro 1847 are also open every Sunday in Birmingham – new for 2016 from 1200 – 2000 offering a choice of Vegetarian and Vegan roasts with 3 courses for £17 plus kids eat free! 

I’m certainly tempted. 

Book on their website 
http://www.by1847.com/
  

Bistro 1847 also have Valentines menus available on their website for Valentines weekend, February 12-14th. 

Book directly on their website. 

http://by1847.com/

Valentines menu: 

Click to access ValentinesMenu2016.pdf

Vegan and Gluten Free options will also be available.

  

For details of Veganuary see here:

Home

  
   
   
Bistro 1847 are still doing their classic lunch deal.

  
Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

Bistro 1847, Great Western Arcade, Birmingham, B2 5HU.

https://m.facebook.com/pages/1847-Birmingham/208341145981255
 

Veggie Dish of the Day: Chinese Green Gai Lan at Henry Wong, Harborne, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cantonese, Chinese, Cocktails, Harborne, Independent, vegetarian by

   
For Vegetarians seeking a sophisticated but different kind of meal, with an extensive vegetarian menu Henry Wong in Harborne in South Birmingham is just the ticket. Specialising in Cantonese food Henry Wong presents exquisitely flavoured and classically presented dishes with a golden service. 

Set in a stylish dining room, with a rich woodwork and leather seating lounge bar area (serving cocktails) Henry Wong is a place for all occasions, but is becoming a place for Ruth and I to visit for celebrations as on this occasion to celebrate Ruth’s birthday late last year. 

We had visited Henry Wong before last year and had a fantastic evening. 

See my review:

https://vegiefoodie.com/2015/06/08/review-henry-wong-harborne/ 

    

One of the Vegetarian main courses on the menu is Chinese Green Gai Lan with Ginger and Shaoshing Wine. A dish so simple looking but packing a huge flavour of tongue and senses twisting exoticness that with that taste you begin to believe in the afterlife. 

The thick stemmed tender and crisp Chinese vegetable Gai Lan (also known as Kai Lan) is a bit like broccoli, served simply with the light touch of ginger and Shaoshing wine, it’s a delightfully shiny, and glossy dish, tossed simply with the ginger and Shaoshing wine, the warmth of the ginger balances the pronounced taste of the Gai Lan with an intensified cooling flavour kick lingering long on the palette. 

It’s an aromatic dish of substance and a vegetarian essential not to be missed at luxurious Henry Wong. 

 Chinese Green Gai Lan with Ginger and Shaoshing wine. £9.50.   A beautiful glossy dish eaten best with a couple of shared dishes (or another vegetarian dish) and some sticky rice. 

   Cocktails at Henry Wong.

   

 Last two photos courtesy of Henry Wong.

With thanks to owner Parm Rai, chef Ricky Wu and a special thanks to restaurant manager Marianne Ho and her team for helping us celebrate Ruth’s Birthday with their exemplary service.

We paid for our food and drinks at Henry Wong, but received a 25% discount from Parm as it was a special occasion. My review is honest as always and I was not required to review or write about my experience.

Henry Wong, 283 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9QH.

http://henrywongharborne.co.uk/

http://henrywongharborne.co.uk/menus/food-menu/

#Veggielunchwatch: Maison Mayci, Kings Heath, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Kings Heath, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   

    

Maison Mayci on Poplar Road, Kings Heath is one of my favourite places to visit. I’m a big fan of its neighbourhood Continental atmosphere and delicious homemade fresh bread and cakes which are fantastic to take away. Open in the daytime it caters for coffee and cake, lunch and on weekends brunch and is very child friendly.

Maison Mayci has a unique charm and friendliness about it. Lunch times are popular, especially at weekends when the Kings Heath masses fancy a bite or to catch up with friends. For Vegetarians, it has a varied menu that has enough different options for repeated visits. 

Ruth and I visited as we do quite frequently on a Saturday lunchtime. 

I chose the Veggie Platter, which is substantial in size and comes with its own fresh bread basket. 
  Fresh toasted bread at Maison Mayci.

 Veggie Platter:

 Celeriac remoulade, Roasted Mediterranean vegetables, Stuffed Vine Leaves, homemade hummus, Grated Carrot and Tartare Potato.

A good value veggie platter, nice rounded flavours, the roasted vegetables including peppers are delucioys, and compliment the lovely stuffed vine leaves which I could of eaten more of. The addition of the potatoes makes for a filling lunch, filled with varied ingredients and sufficient contrast in flavours. 

It’s a lovely dish, and with the added fresh in house bread substantial. The bread in its own is worthy of a bite, but together they are well recommended. 

    

Ruth ate a traditional Croque Monsieur sandwich, which came with potatoes and salad. She omitted the potatoes and had fries instead. 

She enjoyed the good ham and the addition of the fries for an extra 50p.

 The Vegetarian ‘Mediterranean’ is especially good. Also available is the Pear and Roquefort.

The sandwiches are recommended too at Maison Mayci. 
  

A top notch espresso at Maison Mayci in Kings Heath.

 
  

  

   Cappuccino 

  

  
Maison Mayci is a thriving and busy cafe. The quality of its patisserie, coffee and bread make it worth dropping by for that indulgence alone, But, it’s the quality of its main rustic lunch time menu that make it worthy of lingering longer. With daily soup, pasta and quiche specials also available  Vegetarians are well catered for and can enjoy the rich traditional French Patisserie and bistro experience for affordable prices. The service has a personal but professional approach, charming and efficient, which only adds to the intimate experience. 

Maison Mayci is a true independent and chic jewel in Kings Heath and offers a unique haven for all things Francais and a home from home in its vibrancy and delicious menu. 

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

We paid for our own food and drink in Maison Mayci. All opinions are my own and honest as always. 

Maison Mayci, 8 Poplar Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7AQ.

Evening reservation

http://www.mayci.co.uk/menu.html

Maison Mayci are also open in Moseley at 148 Alcester Road, B13 8HS.

You can also receive 20% off all Afternoon Tea in Moseley (must be booked in advance) with the Independent Birmingham card. 

Home

My previous Coffee time review of Maison Mayci. 

https://vegiefoodie.com/tag/maison-mayci/

   
 Cake at Maison Mayci. 

Happy Christmas And Winter Solstice from Veggie Foodie.

Posted in Christmas, Veggie foodie by

   
Today is the shortest day of the year. The Winter Solstice an astronomical phenomenon marking the shortest day and the longest night has captured the thoughts, feelings of writers for many a long year. Maybe the day will bask in bright sunshine, or maybe the darkening tinge of bleak winter will seem ever more apt, more poetic. 

Officially the first day of Winter, it’s always been a time of reflection and close down for me, the space between two worlds, the pre and post Christmas/holiday period. A time to think, to hold what’s dear close, to enjoy time with family and friends, those that I hope make us smile and look forward with renewed vigour and inspiration. 

The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light. The Talmud recognizes the winter solstice as “Tekufat Tevet.” In China, the Dongzhi Festival is celebrated on the Winter Solstice by families getting together and eating special festive food.

The term ‘solstice’ derives from the Latin word ‘solstitium’, meaning ‘Sun standing still’. In the UK Stonehenge is most associated with the Winter Solstice.

The December solstice marks the ‘turning of the Sun’ as the days slowly get longer. Celebrations of the lighter days to come have been common throughout history with feasts, festivals and holidays around the December solstice celebrated by cultures across the globe.

The Feast of Juul (where we get the term ‘Yule’ from at this time of year) was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. 

One of my favourites at Christmas The Yule log is associated with this. 

People would light fires to symbolise the heat and light of the returning sun and a Juul (or Yule) log was brought in and dropped in the hearth as a tribute the Norse god Thor.

The log would be lit from the remains of the previous year’s log which had been carefully stored away and often slowly fed into the fire through the Twelve Days of Christmas. Tradition dictated that the re-lighting process was carried out by someone with clean hands.

  
The Yule log is brought in.
For my little blog that also means a time of silence. This year I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my musings, my ramblings and my love of good vegetarian food and the joys a good meal can bring. 

The new year will bring some new opportunities, some changes I’m sure to my blog and to life as we know it (as a new year always does).

So from me I would like to wish every single one of my readers a lovely warm food and drink filled holiday and Christmas time. 

Happy New Year and thanks for reading and sharing a small part of me.

 It’s been a good year. Here’s to the next one. 

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite seasonal poems: 

Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost.

Whose woods these are I think I know. 

His house is in the village, though; 

He will not see me stopping here 

To watch his woods fill up with snow. 
My little horse must think it queer 

To stop without a farmhouse near 

Between the woods and frozen lake 

The darkest evening of the year. 
He gives his harness bells a shake 

To ask if there is some mistake. 

The only other sound’s the sweep 

Of easy wind and downy flake. 
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, 

But I have promises to keep, 

And miles to go before I sleep, 

And miles to go before I sleep.

Andy 😊

  

Photos courtesy of : 

1 GoddessandGreenMan.co.uk

2.Grassclothwallpaper.com

3: Emerrychristmas.hol.es

Winter menu review: An 1847 Christmas in Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Christmas, City Centre, Colmore business district, Independent, Lunch deals, Organic, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

What does Winter mean to you? A cosy fire, warming comfortable food, deep intense flavours, Christmas, Milky sunshine, snow?

 In 1847 (the year the vegetarian society which Bistro 1847 takes its name from was formed) Winter was very different, but had for some those comfy elements. For others poverty and cold filled the darkening destitute days with a penniless existence. There was fog in London, Famine in Ireland, times were hard and a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens had been written four years before. 

For me, food is best comforting, warming seasonal and filled with the intensity of deep flavours and cheerfully rich colours that only a Winter time dish deserves. So you’ll find root vegetables, cabbage, red onion gravy, kale and hearty mash on the menu. 

Bistro 1847 are in full on expansion mode. Openings recently in Bristol and Brighton supplement the Manchester and Birmingham restaurants. Dishes served with contemporary flair and passion which just happen to be Vegetarian with good Vegan options and menu make 1847 unique in Birmingham. With a neighbourhood feel in the city and cocktail list its charming. 

I visited with my parents and brother to try the new Winter menu’s delights, one mild lunchtime. 

We enjoyed two courses, a main and a desert. 

   

Merguez and Mash: 

Spicy Puy lentil sausage, turnip and sage mash, red onion gravy.

A hearty vegan friendly main course, big flavoured, spicy, a deep intense gravy. It’s comfort food at its best. It’s simple in design, almost traditional, but those hearty slightly exotic flavours pack a punch that creates a harmonious wintry and Christmas memory lane delight of a main. 

To accompany it I enjoyed a glass of decent house red that worked, bringingout the deep flavours of the sausage and red onion gravy.


  

  Chocolate and Pear:

Soft ganache, port poached pear, gingerbread, mulled wine gel. (Vegan)

A gem of a pudding, and the best I’ve tasted at 1847. It felt luxurious and with a deep and full flavoured port poached pear which set off the soft, dark chocolatey ganache,  it was heavenly, creamy (but no cream) and made me think, can I have some more please? 

    ‘Fish and Chips’

Ginger ale battered Halloumi, triple cooked chips, savoury lemon curd, green pea and Basil. 

A Bistro 1847 signature dish that my brother lapped up. A variation on the norm due to the added ginger ale. Cheese heaven! 

  

My parents also had the Merguez and mash. They said it felt like winter on a plate. 

  
  A welcome to Winter

  
  Cheese board. 

My Dad enjoyed his British cheese plate for desert, which he said was a good size with the right amount of varied biscuits. Local to 1847 they come with grapes and homemade chutney. Nice cheeses. 

 

A trip to Bistro 1847 is a refreshing and inventive experience for Vegetarians and Vegans. When the classics are spun into another more modern realm of intricacy, simplicity and beauty then Winter feels more 2015 than 1847. Dishes are more precise, but not less indulgent and comforting for it. With the core elements of familiarity and comfort 1847 have taken the season and made it now, but with a certain doff of the cap to the past. It is on this level where it succeeds and in its discovery where appetites are more than satisfied. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

Disclosure: We paid for our own meal at Bistro 1847. My views are my own and honest of my experience of the dishes eaten. 

   
 

Click to access b-menu.pdf

Click to access b-menu-desersts.pdf

Bistro 1847, 26 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham B2 5HU.

http://by1847.com/

Two courses on the winter menu cost £19.50 and three cost £25. 

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.