#feedyoursoul: Big Papa’s B. South take over the Sunflower Lounge


It’s hard to believe that The Sunflower Lounge on Small Brook Queensway near the Bull Ring and New Street Station in Birmingham City Centre is over 10 years old. I remember going there many times when I was younger for cool indie tunes and a chilled vibe, with work colleagues. It was always fun. Yet, I haven’t been for a long while since, not sure why, maybe you out grow these places and remember the memories with fondness of good times past.

So it was with nostalgic excitement that I found out that there is a grand refurbishment afoot at the Independently owned Sunflower Lounge which includes a #feedyoursoul new foodie residents
Big Papa’s B. South street food gurus and soulfood experts, so expect great soul food and soulful music, with good vegetarian options.

Having spoken to them I know that they are passionate about their food, and want to get their vegetarian options right. They are excited by the launch on the 21st January and of the new joint partnership with the Sunflower Lounge. Being permanent residents at
The Sunflower Lounge allows them to be free and interchangeable with the menu which is great for veggies and meat eaters alike. On the whole soul food can be very meaty, but also in this case very veggie too. What’s not too like?

The soul food menu will run for seven days a week, service times to be confirmed and will be a permanent fixture in The Sunflower Lounge’s top floor bar/restaurant.

So expect starters, mains and puds. Mains from Kale, avocado, and garlic aioli salad-healthy option, and Roasted Butternut squash, Mac and Cheese, with poached egg, plus a veggie starter and three puds.

Big Papa’s B. South, want to create an independent, unique and vibrant atmosphere in a venue that’s known for great food as well as great music.

Big Papa’s will still be doing their streetfood gigs and festivals. They will employ chefs whilst they are away cooking up a storm.

The Sunflower Lounge has been completely refurbished so my memories will be severly tested. Yet, one things certain the vibe will be the same, if not better, an awesome place to hang out with friends, eat great soulfood, and listen to cool music. For people like me that grew up in Birmingham it’s part of our history, now it has a new vibe, a new look, new menus,

its the #feedyoursoul vibe. Feel happy 🙂

Keep an eye on my blog for further details and reviews to come.

The Sunflower Lounge is part of the Independent Birmingham trail and supported businesses.

See http://www.independent-birmingham.co.uk/thesunflower-lounge

The Sunflower Lounge
76 Small Brook Queensway
Birmingham
B5 4EG

@bigpapasuk

@sunflowerlounge

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#TastyMorsel: Lounging at The Loungers Cosy Club


Well it would be rude not to 🙂

One of the finds for me since I started my blog is the casual Loungers cafe bars that offer all day casual eating, drinking and community chilled fun, quirky atmosphere, amd a relaxed vibe whatever the day or night or occasion.

They are extremely popular and what I like about them community driven. My local one in Kings Heath, do fundraising, have book sessions, do charity work, they have a community notice board where people can promote events, local information.

They offer a space for families to dine in a casual way with children’s activities and games, as well as offering an informal drinking and dining scene for evening down time.

Birmingham and Solihull already have four Loungers bars.

<strong>Arco Lounge in Harborne, Loco Lounge in Kings Heath and Desco Lounge in Shirley at the new Park Gate shopping centre. and Verdo Lounge in Wylde Green.

All four offer a similar menu, from Breakfasts, all day brunch, lunches and an evening menu and a changing specials board.

Plus coffee, cocktails, wines, real ale and craft world beers. An all round winner.

They are cosy, quirky, family friendly home from home, and ideal for catching up with friends or an informal date night or as a place to work in or write over a coffee.

The food, i’ve had is excellent, from tapas, to Burgers, to specials, and puds. They are very popular with a cross section of the communities they serve, and are buzzy and lively and always busy, day and night.

For vegetarians and vegans, they offer a comprehensive menu. vegetarian breakfasts, veggie Kedgeree, sandwiches, tapas, veggie burgers, and risotto and Mac and cheese.

They have a full vegan menu which is to be commended and serve vegan wine.

Brunch is served all day, and on Tuesday’s in Kings Heath there is Tapas Tuesday where you can get three tapas and a glass of wine for £9.95.

There is also an extensive gluten free menu, a kids menu and cakes, coffee and puds.

See website for menus: http://www.theloungers.co.uk

For my review of Loco Lounge Kings Heath here

https://vegiefoodie.com/2014/11/26/veggieburgerwatch-loco-lounge-kingsheath/

So it was with a degree of excitement that I read in
The Birmingham Post that the company Loungers are planning to open a cafe bar called The Cosy Club in Birmingham City Centre hopefuuly in the Spring

They have purchased the old historic Midland Bank building on Bennetts Hill opposite The Lost and Found bar and Issacs curry restaurant near the already successful Pure Bar and Fumo.

They plan to offer a similar cosy all day cafe with 30’s sofas, a quirky atmosphere and a similar menu. Expect to see vegan/veggie breakfasts up to 6pm, Mac and cheese with a twist, Veggie Bean Burgers, sharing veggie plates and cheese plates, delicious puds and coffee galore.

Details are still a bit vague, but for Birmingham City Centre it should be a great place to chill with good coffee, and a cocktail and for veggies and vegans it should offer more food choice than many other places in the city do.

What with a new restaurant from Lasan and
The Botanist Bar also to open nearby in the Spring, that part of Birmingham will become even more of a haven for foodies.

It should be retitled the Colmore Foodie district.

Keep an eye on my blog for more details on the all the above over the next few months.

Also, now open is Quinto lounge in Sutton Coldfield which is the 5th lounges bar to open in the West Midlands. This has opened this week on the Birmingham Road.

The Lounges Cafe bars are an excellent all rounder. Give one a try. 😊

Arco Lounge: 147 High Street, Harborne, B17 9NP

Loco Lounge: 32-34 High Street, Kings Heath B14 7ST

Desco Lounge: Park life Shopping centre, Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AX

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

@andydhare

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#TastyMorsels: A few New openings 2015


Happy New Year 🙂

2015 is already heralding a number of new openings and re openings in the early months of the year.

Indian Restaurant Pushkar will be launching a sister venue called Praza by Pushkar this month.

The new restaurant will follow on Pushkar’s focus on North Indian cuisine with cocktails aflowing.

However, the food will have a international influence.

The new menu will be created by Pushkar Head Chef Bishal Rasaily.

Praza by Pushkar will be located in the former Rose Muree restaurant on Hagley Road, Edgbaston the venue will feature an Art deco design with Monochrome colourways, glass, and chrome for a ‘chic and luxurious feel’.

Pushkar on Broad Street has recently celebrated in November 14 a five year anniversary.

Pushkar is one of the best restaurants in Birmingham for vegetarians in my opinion so Praza by Pushkar is sure to be equally good and veggie friendly.

keep an eye open on my blog for more opening details and menus.

Praza by Pushkar
94-96 Hagley Road
Birmingham
B16 8LU

Also, due to open is new bakery and independent coffee shop
Sixteen Bakery in Picadilly Arcade off New Street.

Set up by Lucy Lam of Faculty Coffee next door, its sure to be a place for bakes, cakes and coffee.

Be sure to keep an eye on this blog for more information.

@sixteenbakery

Independent Japanese resturant Woktastic has recently closed at The Paradise Forum due to the arrival of the redevelopment in that area.

Thankfully, it is due to re open in a new location as yet unanounced in the Spring in the City Centre.

For further details keep an eye on this blog and http://www.woktastic.co.uk and @woktastic.

I will be mentioning more new openings over the next few weeks.

Thanks for reading.

Andy 🙂

@andydhare

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Good Food Eat Well Show. Olympia London 27th Feb-1st March 2015 and Happy New Year


The brand new BBC Good Food Eat Well Show is coming to London on 27th February-1st March 2015.

Learn how to balance a healthy lifestyle with a love of good food.

See inspirational guests such as Davina McCall and Jenni Falconer, and enjoy live cooking demonstrations from healthy eating experts such as Vegetarian chef Natasha Corrett, and Marcus Bean. Lorraine Pascal, Phil Vickery and Master Chef winner Shelina Permaloo will be also at the show.

You can get involved with in depth foood discussions on food related issues and discover a host of healthy food products to try and to buy, from whole food, super foods, free from products, and natural ingredients.

http://www.bbcgoodfoodeatwellshow.com

For this i’m offering in conjunction with the BBC Good Food Eat Well Show tickets reduced by 30%.

Just quote the code EW30S when booking on advanced standard tickets and over 65’s tickets.

This offer is only up to the 31st December 2014, so hurry.

use the link

http://www.bbcgoodfoodeatwellshow.com/?utm source=andyhare&utm medium=bloggers&utm campaign=30

or http://www.bbcgoodfoodeatwellshow.com

Twitter: @GFEatWellShow

Keep your eyes posted on VeggieFoodie in the new year for more offers and posts regarding the show.

Finally, I would like to extend my Happy New Year wishes to all my readers and followers, and wish you a happy and peaceful and good foodie 2015.

Cheers for reading. See you in 2015.

Andy 🙂

@andydhare

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Merry Christmas


The Holidays have finally arrived at break neck speed and many a meal later. Hopefully you will be ready and looking forward to a chilled time and a present fest, plus great food and company.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Thanks for reading my vegetarian blog this last eight months, I can’t believe it’s only eight months since I began to write it.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve loved writing it and researching. I’ve had some fab food and met some lovely people along the way.

Thanks to you all who’ve supported me. My fellow bloggers, chefs, restaurants, the Twitterati, retailers and events people, and my wife Ruth without whose support I wouldn’t have begun this foodie journey.

I raise a toast to you all and in so many ways this is what makes the foodie network and Birmingham a great place to live.

You all do exceptional work. Cheers.

Here’s to 2015 another year of fab food, events and great discoveries.

Thanks again for following and reading.

Have a very Happy Christmas.

Andy 😊

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Christmas Dinner at The Highfield, Edgbaston


It’s taken awhile for me to visit The Highfield, a lots been going on in the last few months, but I’m so glad I left a first visit until Christmas as our first experience was exceptional.

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Last Friday Ruth and I with my parents visited to try out their Christmas menu.

The Highfield sits in leafy Edgbaston opposite Simpsons restaurant (the place ruth and I had our first Christmas meal at) and near the lovely Edgbaston bar and hotel.

It’s white colour stands out, a lovely villa type building that looks the part from the outside and inside is as cool as a cucumber and on a busy Friday before Christmas was buzzy and lively.

Initially the service was leaden and as lumpy as Carvery custard, but greatly got better though I was unsure why the waiter that took us to our table told me I couldn’t have a Langley’s Gin Martini at the table, very odd.

Ruth chose her obligatory Cosmopolitan and I chose a Langley’s gin and tonic with juniper berries. Both were stunning, and a great way to begin a meal, good choices.

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So to the food.

My parents and Ruth chose the mushroom soup and porcini cream which they all loved and it certainly looked delicious.

I chose the whipped butternut squash, goats curd, and baby leaves, tossed seeds. A really enjoyable dish, the whipped squash cooling and delicious against the crunch of seeds a thoroughly lovely starter.

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Myself and my Mum both chose the veggie option as we both are, which I would say was a surprising delight of flavours and a real joy as a main course.

The shallot, and chestnut Bourguignon, beetroot relish dish was very memorable. The depth of flavour of the red wine sauce with the chestnut and the zing of the shallots, a superb dish. All main courses were served with vegetables and it proved a worthy Christmas dinner main course.

My Dad and Ruth both had the turkey and this went down well too.

To end I had the White chocolate Valrhona cheesecake which was creamy and very enjoyable too. An excellent cheese cake. Light and with a lovely delicate Baileys flavour running subtly through.

As a gastro pub The Highfield is certainly adept in the kitchen, as a bar a place to have a drink and move on.

The cooking at every level was a notch above expectation for a Christmas dinner and wetted my appetite for a Sunday lunch in the new year.

The veggie options were original and very rewarding.

Our Highfield visit, well better late than never. One to return to again and again.

A buzzy gastro pub and restaurant, with cracking thoughtful food.

The High field
22 Highfield Road
Birmingham

0121 227 7063

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#TastyMorsels: Cruelty Free Christmas Fair and Digmas @ the Custard factory Saturday 20/12


This Saturday the 20th seems to be the climax of Birmingham’s December Festive seasonal foodie calender.

It’s a bit like buses, you wait around for ages and then three turn up at once.

I’ve mentioned Brum Yum Yum KingshEATh already, but two more events also going on in or near the City Centre.

First off is, The Birmingham Cruelty Free Christmas Fair at Carrs Lane Church Centre B4 7SX in the City Centre.

From 10.30-4pm 30 stalls will be offering a wide variety of animal free products, chocolate, cosmetics, cakes, recipe books, soaps, sweets, and gifts and much more with delicious vegan catering from ChangeKitchen whom I’m big fans of and much more fresh food stalls and nibbles to tempt you.

http://www.changeKitchen.co.uk

@changeKitchen

Also, stbestcaterers, will be bringing top quality food, the best in Caribbean cuisine will be showcasing too.

http://www.stbestcaterers.co.uk
@stbestcaterers

Run by West Midlands Vegan Fest, promoting veganism in the West Midlands including free food fairs and events.

http://www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk

Supporting local Animal Sanctuaries, campaigning groups and small ethical traders. The fair will be free entry and run from 10.30am-4pm.

The second event is Digmas 12pm-6pm at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The Christmas Fair will be an alternative day out and be the best of local traders, Street food, a pop up bar and entertainment.

Digbeth Dining Club will be doing the food and for veggies and vegans the esteeemed Vegan Grindhouse will be there along with The
Bournville Waffle Company.

Alfie Birds another Veggie Foodie Favourite will be provideing the drinks with a pop up bar- including craft beer, Bailey’s Hot Choc, and Christmas Cocktails.

Street food and bar running until 8pm.

Plus, there will be live music, an Urban Village Vintage fair, and a Mockingbird Theatre treats (see website) plus other independent luminaries from The Custard Factory to tempt and loosen your purse strings.

So catch them both if you can, 🙂

Digmas @ the Custard Factory 20th December 12pm-6pm.

http://www.thecustardfactory.co.uk/digmas for full programme.

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Thanks for reading 🙂

@andydhare

Brum Yum Yum in Kings Heath 20/12 #kingshEATh 11am-5pm


Brum Yum Yum are due to take over the Village square in Kings Heath in South Birmingham on Saturday 20th December from 11am-5pm.

KingshEATh is a long running streetfood market that usually runs on the 2nd Saturday of every month. It was on last week on the 13th and lucky Christmas festive revellers have a second opportunity to enjoy fine street food, real ale, live music and the local Kings Heath vibe.

There is always plenty of food choice for veggies.

Look out for Bare Bones pizza, Mrs Mills, Ciao-Arancini (well recommended) Big Papas Beautiful South, and Bombay tapas and Pip’s Hot Sauce.

Brum Yum Yum have been selected as one of the top 5 food attractions in Birmingham by Visit Birmingham.

This Saturday see traders:

-Big Papas Beautiful South, soul food and soulful music, deep south
-Rolling smoke
-Flipping cow
-Bare Bones pizza
-Pimpernells Delights
-Nosh & Ciao, Italian street food. Inspired by Italy.
-Bombay Tapas
-Pelima Satay
-Mrs Mills, cakes, bakes, and brownies.
-Pip’s Hot Sauce, devishly spicy chilli sauces, and more

Plus, Live bands, DJ’s, Purity Craft Beer Bar,

and a special Christmas gift Market and ice grotto for children.

That’s Brum Yum Yum at the Village Square, Kings Heath #KingshEATh

11am-5pm 20th December 2014 for festive family fun 🙂

See you there.

Thanks for reading.

@brumyumyum
Facebook/brumyumyum
http://www.brumyumyum

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#TastyMorsel: The Eight Foot Grocer opens: A Feast of Veg in the Jewellery Quarter


If you are a vegetarian and you don’t eat or like fruit or vegetables, then maybe ask what’s the point. Veg are the kings of vegetarian and vegan living. All hail the veg 🙂

So in that respect any news that an Independent food grocer is opening in Birmingham is therefore greeted with the applause and plaudits it deserves.

That’s why I love the idea of The Eight Foot Grocer. i did wonder if the guy who owned it initially was a giant, that eating all those veg like your Mother told you to do had made him grow so much that he had turned into a fairy tale character, old Jack himself.

No in fact, his name is Chris James and his grocers is in the lovely Jewellery Quarter and is housed in a eight foot wide former loading bay near
St Paul’s Square.

Chris has turned a quirky venue into a new fruit and veg store selling exciting deli produce locally sourced where possible and all in a eight foot wide space. The store is in Caroline Street next to the Braderie Vintage shop and opposite The esteemed Bloc Hotel.

The shop is an eclectic mix of local art, and photography, and receives daily fresh bread deliveries from nearby Peel and Stone bakers and stocks such items as jams, marmalades, loaclly made Cufuffle preserves,
Kneals Chocolates, Pip’s Hot Sauce, pastas and olive oil.

It also serves porridge for breakfast, and sandwiches, salads, and cakes for lunch.

It’s a proper shop, independent and local and open from
8am-8pm Monday-Saturday.

The Eight Foot Grocer
13-15 Caroline Street
off St Paul’s Square
Jewellery Quarter
Birmingham
B3 1TR

@The8footgrocer

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#TastyChristmasmorsal: Bistro 1847 Veggie Christmas menu


Re blogged due to updated review of meal.

See link on full review.

andydhare's avatarveggiefoodie

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Bistro 1847 in Birmingham City Centre last week launched its modern vegetarian Christmas menu.

They have a two course and three course menu available from Monday to Friday over lunch and dinner, plus Saturday all day and Sunday lunch.

There is also a six course taster menu available. Contact the bistro for the menu.

The menu includes vegan options too.

To make a booking call Birmingham on 0121 236 2313.

Or email them at Christmas@bistro1847.co.uk

Booking is advised.

For the menu see

Click to access ChristmasPDF.pdf

Or at http://www.bistro1847.com under Christmas

Please note the menus may differ to the ones on the website.

Menus: 2 courses £18
3 courses £24

And a tasting menu is £40 for six courses plus coffee and petit fours.

Bistro 1847 are also running a cocktail masterclass for £29.00 for 2 courses and £36.00 for three courses including 2 cocktails which you will be…

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