#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

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#TASTYMORSELS: VEGETARIAN PIZZA WATCH


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Pizza has often been the default food option for vegetarians. I’ve always been fond of pizza, from trips to Italy and memories of beautiful Italian squares.

In Birmingham their is a renaissance in pizzas, with many places offering good pizza options and creative toppings for vegetarians. Many now use a sourdough base and wood fired ovens.

Ruth and I didn’t intend to visit Alfie Birds at the Custard factory in Digbeth last weekend, but we were their for the vintage fair and needed some lunch so thought why not.

I had wanted to try their veggie pizzas for awhile.

We shared a chunky vegetable pizza, which was very good. A thin base, lovely fresh vegetable flavours and an added twist of beetroot on it, which enhanced the texture and attitude of the pizza. With a pint of Italian lager and a side salad it was a good example of the improvements in the city with the introduction of more creative thinking to ingredients and toppings.

Alfie Birds use a woodfired oven too so that could be a factor.

They also do a delicious sounding vegan pizza with spinach and a vegan pesto.

I plan to visit again and do a full review soon, when i try some more of their veggie pizzas along with their cocktails which are two for one Monday to Thursday.

Alfie Birds plan to launch a new menu soon. See website for menus and events.

Alfie Birds
Custard Factort
Digbeth
Birmingham
B9 4AA

@alfiebirds

http://www.alfiebirds.co.uk

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The Victoria theatre bar on John Bright Street in Birmingham city centre do a deliciously sounding sourdough based
Squash the Goat pizza, goats cheese, butternut squash and chilli jam.

I’m planning to revisit the Victoria to give it a try along with their cocktails.

The Victoria do a two for one offer on all pizzas on a Sunday.

@theVictoria

The Victoria
48 John Bright street
Birmingham
B1 1BN

New to the Pizza scene in Birmingham is street food family run company Bare Bones Pizza Company, who use a wood fired oven to make their Neopolitan style 10 inch pizzas.

They have intriguing veggie names such as:

Barebones- A classic tomato based pizza.
Boneless- A vegetable, mushroom, red onions, sliced green peppers, and Buffalo mozzarella toppings.

They have also introduced a vegan pizza to their repertoire with tofu.

They also do garlic bread and a sweet pizza of Butterscotch sauce and sliced apple with a cinammon mix spice.

They will be creating their pizzas from a van near you:)

See them at

20/08 Victoria Square: Fine Food market
3/9 Kings Heath Brum Yum Yum KingshEATh
13/9 Independent Food fair at Millenium Point
17/9 Fine food fair at Victoria Square
15/11 Kings Heath Brum Yum Yum

They can also be found in Leamington Spa and Sutton Coldfield. See their funky website wwwbarebonespizza.co.uk for details

@barebonespizza
info@barebonespizza.co.uk
07795 1144 26

Also new to the Birmingham scene is the Dark Horse pub in Moseley village on the same site as the Cross Pub and Mo Dough pizza pop up.

They have a wood fired pizza oven and reports say the pizzas are very good.

I am to try one at some point and review it for this blog.

@darkHorseMosele

http://www.independent-birmingham.co.uk/the-dark-horse

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Where would you recommend for veggie pizzas?

Is there anywhere I have missed?

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Disclaimer: The view expressed in this post are my own and are honest. I paid for my own meal at Alfie Birds.

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Alfie Bird’s gourmet eats and beats opening soon


Alfie Birds is a brand new bar and gourmet destination opening in Birmingham’s Custard Factory, Digbeth area near Birmingham City Centre.

It will open its doors on the 23rd, 24th and 25th May with a special launch Bank Holiday weekend of music, and food.

Over three floors Alfie Birds will seduce us with stone baked pizzas, craft beer, cocktails and live music.

Alfie Birds is on the site of the old Medicine Bar which I remember well in the Custard Factory, and has been set up by Damien Fell and Andrew Purvis to offer gourmet eats and beats to the Digbeth area of the city.

There will be live performances and DJ’s on offer most weekends and the food will be affordable and will have good vegetarian options.

Details of their opening nights can be found on their website http://www.alfiebirds.co.uk or via Facebook or twitter.

Tickets can be purchased from http://www.seetickets.com

Alfie Birds is sure to be a fun and funky venue.

It should be quite an independent venue for Birmingham to savour.

Update on the 16th May 2014 via twitter.

@Alfiebirds: @andydhare At the moment we’ve got 1 vegan, 2 veggie, 3 fish/sea food & the rest meat options however we make them fresh so can do more 🙂

http://www.alfiebirds.co.uk
@alfiebirds
@independentB’ham
@custardfactory