Tag Archives: Birmingham

POP UP DOSA TAKE-OVER @THE HARE AND HOUNDS KINGS HEATH

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Kings Heath, Pop up's by

I’ve been looking forward to the Pop Up Dosa pop up take over at The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath for a number of weeks. Pop up Dosa are vegetarian, and make the most delicious dosas, and the Hare and Hounds is a fabulous pub, one of the best and always a favourite for live music and real ale.

The Hare and Hounds is in ‘foodie Mecca’ Kings Heath, in South Birmingham near Moseley. As I’ve mentioned in my previous #Tastymorsel blog post it has been holding a summer food season of pop ups to launch its new back dining room cum bar, which is a very cool and comfortable space for casual dining.

Up to now they’ve held two pop ups, Pika Pika and Clark and Lee, with one left to go next week-Fingy’s takeover.

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Last night it was the turn of veggie Pop Up Dosa to serve their freshly made Dosa from Kerala to the Kings Heath public.

Pop up Dosa are based in Kings Heath and make vegetarian Dosa’s from home, at markets, at cafe’s and at street food markets such as Brum Yum Yum in Kings Heath. They also do a regular monthly pop up at The Ort Cafe in Balsall Heath/Moseley in southBirmingham. See their website or twitter for next dates.

Dosa pronounced ‘Dhoe-sha’ is a nutritious sourdough crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Dosa dates back to the 6th century AD and is believed to have originated in Udipi in Karnataka, India.

It’s a staple street food dish in Southern Indian states and known for its simple goodness.

You eat Dosa’s with your finger tips and dip it into the sambar ( a vegetable stew in a lentil broth) and chutneys and pop it into your mouth. You can use cutlery though:)

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As Ruth and I were in the Hare and Hounds we felt we had to start in the main bar. A lovely room, with comfy sofas and mixed tables. It’s very ornate, and has a great character about it that you would expect from a building dating 1907.

Ruth ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and me a pint of Purity Gold. The Hare and Hounds have a good selection of real ales, cocktails and wine and promote the brewery Purity well.

So onto the food:)

The price of the food £12.50 in advance included three courses.

Each single course was served at the same time, so every diner was eating the same dish.

The 1st course was a delicious Kerala street food morsel called Parrippu Vada with slices of banana.

The flavours of ginger and the crunch of the savoury deep fried lentil were superb, and taken together with the banana the correct way to be eaten.

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The 2nd course was the dosa served with the Sambar, mint sublime and the gunpowder smoke.

The Sambar was tangy, filled with delicious vegetables, like a broth with the lentils adding another wholesome texture to the stew.

The mint like a raita, with the gentle harmonious flavours of coriander and lime chutney.

The Gun powder smoke: a chutney of ground roasted lentils, smoky spices, and with a drizzling of hot coconut oil over. Superb, and taken with the vegetable filled Dosa a lovely concoction of flavour.

I enjoyed a pint of Purity UBU with my dosa.

Pop up Dosa’s dosas are lavish and enjoyable. Superb,

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The third course (dessert) was called Aluva. A little known and much loved dessert from Kerala. It was fragrant, sweet and dense, with the flavours of the coconut milk, cashew nuts, nutmeg, cardamom giving it an almost liquorice type flavour and consistency. It was certainly a grower though, I was not sure at first but by the end the knots of subtle flavours won me over. Something very different to what I’ve eaten before 🙂

Chef Hasseen George, served a superb pop up.

The Pop up Dosa cafe is to be recommended. The flavours were good and the food addictive.

I felt the pop up at the Hare and Hounds was superb.

The takeover idea is a lovely idea that gives street food and new foodie concepts a forum. The atmosphere was good, chatty and enhanced the evening.

Keep an eye open for where Pop up Dosa are planning to serve their delicious food.

I can certainly recommend a night or lunch In their company.

Pop up Dosa
07402 806 439
http://www.popupdosa.blogspot.co.uk
@popupdosa

Hare and Hounds
106 high street
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7JZ

@hareandhounds
http://www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

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The final summer food season pop up at The Hare and Hounds is to be held on Thursday 14th August at 7.30. Pre booked tickets only via the Hare and Hounds website.

This is Fingy’s food night with Alan ‘Fingy’ Thomson Peruvian and Latin food.

£15 for three courses, veggie options available. See Hare and Hounds website for menu under events.

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed are my own and honest. We paid for our own food and drinks.

Feel free to comment on my blog post with any thoughts re the post.

If anyone has any suggestions as to where I should visit that is good for veggies, and vegans please let me know either here or via twitter @andydhare

Full contact details on vegiefoodie.com

Thanks for reading:)

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#Tastymorsels: recent Independent cafe openings.

Posted in Cake, Coffee, Coffee Time, Independent, Tasty Morsels, Tea Shops by

Three cafe’s/coffee shops have recently opened.

1. Health County: Is an independent cafe based in Star City, Kiosk 3, 32 Watson Road, Birmingham.

Health County is a new cafe/bar that sells a range of healthy food and drink options. Aiming at people who are on the go, and want a healthy option, but don’t have the time to wait around.

They sell a wide range of healthy meals, drinks, including smoothies, juices, paninis and wraps. They make their own juices and smoothies on the premises, and flavours such as Berry Blast Smoothies, Basil Banana Smooothie and Banana Stawberry smoothie are sold in their cafe.

Health County provide the benefits of fresh, simple and tasty food including many veggie options, such as salads, paninis, wraps and pastas.

They have out door seating, so for those not in a rush, can relax over their healthy fair trade, options. All recipies are below 400 calories, and Health County only use bio-degradable materials which are environmentally friendly.

A good place for veggies:)

Fresh, Healthy, Tasty, Crazy.

For menus see website.

http://www.Healthcounty.net
@healthcountymag
0121 328 0300

2. Under Pressure Espresso is a new independent coffee shop in Sutton Coldfield. It strives to serve up some of the best coffee in the country, promoting knowledge of every stage of the coffee making cycle. In a town of chain coffee shops Under Pressure Espresso is unique that it provides a difference in style and coffee taste.

It has a simple menu of brewed coffee drinks that are made in either pour over style or aero press.

It sound a tremendous place to visit.

23a Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1QA

http://www.underpressureespresso.c.uk
facebook.com underpressurebar
@UPespressobar

3. Cafe Viola is an independent coffee shop in Knowle, Solihull that has recently opened.

It sells organic coffee, pastries, cakes, deserts, and has some hot and cold food on its menu.

It also has free wi fi, always a bonus. 🙂

It stocks special herbal teas, and has a mediterranean breakfast which is a mixture of Greek and Turkish foods on its menu.

For lunch it sells paninis, ciabattas, wraps, and salads.

For the area of Knowle it is a must visit, and all independent coffees shops should be supported for the vigour and boost they give to the local community.

It is good to see the rise of the independents.

Cafe Viola
Knowle High Street,
Solihull,
B93 0LT
@cafe_viola
http://www.cafeviola.co.uk

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Cafe Viola

Birmingham Summer Market Saturday 2nd August 2014

Posted in Events, Festivals, Food Festivals, Independent, Street Food by

This Saturday 2nd August their is fun in the sunshine at the second seasonal Summer Market.

From 12-7pm at The Bond on Fazeley Street Digbeth experience artisan vendors, for food and crafts, local artists, street food, bars and music.

If you have a penchant for all things Independent and vintage this is for you. The entry fee is £1.50 for adults and children free.

The Bond is near the canal side and has a court yard, covered terrace and an indoor area. If it rains there is plenty of shelter, if its sunny, then take your sun block 🙂

There will be a good time summer atmosphere, where a vintage routemaster bus will serve liquid refreshments such as real ale and cocktails.

There will be handcrafterd necklaces, art deco notebooks, and vintage jewellery being sold.

Vendors include: To be updated

-Becky’s Bhajis
-The Bournville Waffle Company
-Brum Yum Yum
-Independent Birmingham
-Deli@Edgbaston
-Sixty Three Islands
-The Mexican Bean
-Pizzafireslice
-Sai Buddha Belly
-Big Daddies Diner
-Waffle Speak
-Jabberwockyfood

See them at The Bond Company, 180-182 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5SE.

@theBondco
@seasonalmarket
http://www.summermarket.co.uk
@independentB’ham
http://www.independent-birmingham.co.uk

Should be a great day of all things Independent:)

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Tasty Morsels: New Pop Up’s.

Posted in Catering, Events, Pop up's by

There are a few pop up’s on top of the ones at Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath doing the rounds at the moment. The one’s I like the look of are the ones that give different types of food a chance.

Over the next few weeks sees two such pop up’s.

1. 63 Islands Caribbean are a new caterer cooking dishes influenced by the Spanish, French, Dutch and Indian settlers to the Caribbean. They have a pop up at Cherry Reds on John Bright Street in the city centre near the Alex Theatre and Turtle Bay serving their food on the 28th July from 6.30pm. They do have a veggie and vegan options.

There is:

1 starter a Spicy Pumpkin Soup
1 main a dish called Channa (spiced chick peas) served with coconut, infused rice and peas or flatbread (roti).

Plus a few side orders including plaintain and spicy pickled coleslaw and flatbread (roti) which are all vegan as are the chickpeas.

Contact 0121 643 5716 for details and reservations.
@63_Islands for menus.
@Ilovecherryreds

2. Pika Pika (whom I’ve mentioned as being at The Hare and Hounds Kings Heath foodie nights on the 24th July see previous post) are a Japanese Catering group who specialise in serving Oriental Fusion Cuisine.

Pika Pika have another pop up evening on Wednesday 30th July 2014 at The Ort Cafe in Balsall Heath/Moseley area. They will be providing an authentic Japanese pop up dinner experience which again includes veggie and vegan options on the menu. This takes place on the 30th July from 6-9pm.

Reservations are recommended email josie@ortcafe.co.uk or call 07845 083 322.

wwww.ortcafe.co.uk/pika-pika-pop-up
@wearepikapika
http://www.wearepikapika.tumblr.com

If I have more information at any point on menus for Pika Pika I will update the post.

Pika Pika will also be testing their culinary skills at a pop up at Cherry Reds in Kings Heath on 11th August 2014. I will keep an eye and post the menu in due course.

Finally, Cherry Reds again (busy people :)) have a pop up kitchen in their John Bright Street cafe on the last Monday of the month. This will be a different street food vendor every month. Watch this space for updates and check on their website http://www.cherryreds.com for details.

Plus, every Wednesday Cherry Reds in John Bright Street are offering a bottle of house wine with every purchase from the menu. Sounds a bargain. 🙂

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Tasty Morsels: bite size foodie happenings

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Events, Independent, Pop up's, Pubs, Tasty Morsels by

Kings Heath in South Birmingham, is currently a hot bed of foodie delights. There are a number of exciting tasty morsels happening as we speak:)

1. Hare and Hounds pub Five Week restaurant project. With a different pop up project every week taking over their recently refurbished upstairs bar area and kitchen.

Week 1 Thursday 17th July 2014 sees City centre rustic Mexican street food pioneers Habaneros take centre stage offering 3 courses for £17.50. Begins at 7.30pm.

Please note this event was cancelled. There are full refunds available.

Week 2: Japanese caterers Pika Pika pop up on Thursday 24th July to provide 3 courses of authentic Japanese food including a veggie set menu for £15.

Week3: Esteeemed pop up due Clarke and Lee of CANeat fame take over the bar with their twist on Asian soul food. See Clarke and Lee in the Heath plus cocktails from the Hare and Hounds on the 31st July at 6.45pm. Price £22.50.

Please note that this pop up isn’t suitable for veggies and vegans:(

Week 4: veggie Pop up Dosa offer their fab dosas (like crepes) from the southern Indian region of Kerala. Starts at 7.30pm for 3 courses costing £12, bargain. 🙂 on the 7th August. Dosa’s can be made vegan by request.

5: August 14th: Fingys Take Over. Alan ‘Fingy’ Thomson brings an evening of Peruvian and Latin food of the highest order. Three courses for £15.

Tickets available for all on website.

Hare and Hounds is on York Road on the corner of the High Street.

See http://www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/events-listings for details and reservations/bookings/tickets.

2. The Blue Rabbit & Co are operating out of The Kitchen Garden Cafe on York Road every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night offering 2 courses for £15 and 3 courses for £18.

Led by chef Dominic Simmonds @Dominicsimmonds, they offer high quality simple food at reasonabl prices for the quality of the sourcing and ingredients. a great independent bistro idea:) There are good veggie options. Contact 0121 443 4725 for reservations.

3. Taco Tuesday’s continue at Cherry Reds in Kings Heath on the last Tuesday of the month. Cherry Reds is in Kings Heath on York Road near The Kitchen Garden Cafe. Veggie options are always on the menu, dates to come 29th July and 26th August. Beautiful soft shell taco’s and killer Margaritas will be on offer. http://www.cherryreds.com for details.

4. Blue Ginger at 72 Poplar Road Kings Heath, serve authentic Singaporian and Malaysian Foood, Its the sister restaurant of my recently reviewed Blue Piano bar and restaurant in Edgbastion. Every Monday night they hold a vegan night, serving vegan dishes. On the menu I’ve counted 5 starters, 7 Mains, 6 sides, and 2 deserts. See webiste http://www.bluegingerrestaurant.co.uk for menu. Contact 0121 444 0999 for reservations.

If you order before 6.30pm Monday-friday you get 20% off the food bill.

Hoping myself to get to some of those at some point.

If anyone knows of any items that maybe considered ‘Tasty morsels’ in your area, and are food and drink related please get in touch or leave a comment on my blog under this post.

Until the next ‘Tasty morsel’. 🙂

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Moseley Mini Vegan Fair 5th July 10.30-4pm Moseley Village @ the Moseley festival.

Posted in Uncategorised by

This Saturday the 5th July 2014 from 10.30am-4pm to coincide with the Moseley Festival there will be a mini vegan fair in Moseley Village. Free Entry. All Welcome.

This will be held at St Columba United Reformed Church which is on the corner of Chantry Road and Alcester Road B13 8DD.

This is aimed at meat reducers, veggies, vegans, and the vegan curious or anyone who wants to seek out ethically minded people and products, food, recipes and contacts.

West Midlands Vegan Fest organise a variety of events to promote veganism in the West Midlands, including free food fairs and the annual West Midlands Vegan Festival in Wolverhampton.

For a full list of vendors and stalls see their facebook page and twitter.

The mini vegan fair is to be held as part of the bigger Moseley Festival which is running from the 4th July-13th July.

This is an annual community festival with local arts, music and culture with a lively atmosphere.

See http://www.moseleyfestival.org.uk for full details of events and participents.

or Twitter @moseleyfestival

http://www.westmidlandsveganfestival.org.uk

@WMVeganFestival

 

BISTRO 1847: VEGETARIAN HOMEMADE AND BRITISH

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants by

Birmingham is a changing city. Food options for vegetarians in restaurants, cafe’s and street vendors is improving, becoming more challenging and more aware that the vegetarian diner expects more than they used to in terms of style, presentation and choice on the menu.

Bistro 1847, named after the year the Vegetarian Society was founded is a contemporary and stylish little place which is quite Scandinavian in its minimalist clean white decor and style. Bistro 1847 is located in the beautifully Victorian Great Western Arcade near Snow Hill Station and department store House of Fraser, an arcade of independent shops and the superb Loki wine shop and tasting rooms.

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Bistro 1847 sits comfortably amongst the cities business district where fine food and business meet. Originally opened in Manchester and Chorlton in the north.

Bistro 1847 is a beacon of light to homemade and British seasonal food. The restaurant is cosy and intimate with seating upstairs and downstairs, with a soft jazz beat to swing you through some stunningly good value food where dishes are about the craft, flavours and textures without the meat. There are real menu treats are on offer, with real experimentation and innovative execution. Bistro 1847 has a good bar too, serving cocktails, wines and draft beers.

So onto the menu and what myself and my wife Ruth ate. We had food from the evening menu of which is from Monday to Thursday as so, main £14, 2 course £17, 3 course £20 which includes a small glass of house wine.

As there is such a good choice I was unsure so I asked our waiter John who advised me to try a dish called
The Most Fun you can have with cheese’ which was stunning. A salted caramel vintage cheddar brûlée, with apricot relish and dippy soldiers. It carried a beautifully cheesy flavour, which the more you are the more caramel came through. A real delight of innovation and flavours.

Ruth chose a dish called Sweet Potato, which describes as sweet potato beignet, fennel and pineapple chutney and dark chocolate mole. She said it had a beautiful rich flavour with harmonious ingredients with the dark chocolate being so rich it was very indulgent without being heavy. A great choice.

For my main course I was advised once more to have
the Hen’s Egg. A Panko soft boiled hens egg, whiskey beurre blanc, curly kale, crisp potato, shallots, bourbon smoke. I can only describe it as a visual and taste sensation.

It was brought to the table under a glass cloche, which when at the table was lifted to reveal swirling smoke that was pure theatre, underneath a ‘Hens egg’ was revealed. I can only say that it is a superb dish, crispy smoked potato, surrounding a soft runny egg which has a crisp thin Panko crumbed batter around it. The flavours of the yolk and the whiskey beurre blanc were beautiful, a dish that was perfectly executed and a joy to discover. Superb.

Ruth ordered a very intriguing dish. It was called
‘The Great British fish and chip shop’ she said it was lovely and very moreish.

You can choose either beer battered haloumi or smoked tofu to go with chips with rosemary and seaweed sea salt, smoked paprika lemon curd, mushy pea mayonnaise, sailors ruin port ketchup, vodka pickled baby tomatoes, sea vegetables. She described it as tasting a lot like fish and chips. The tofu was encased, light and had a subtle smoky flavour that complimented the bite of the salt and vinegar and was an excellent dish of originality.

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For pudding I chose a superb lemon posset dish that was very indulgent and had the mystery that with every mouth full more flavours were revealed. A lovely pudding.

We also enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and two stunning cocktails. They are to be recommended.

Throughout our meal the service was attentive, friendly and showed an enthusiasm for the dishes and the skill in designing them. The recommendations and advice was perfect in this friendly restaurant.

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Bistro 1847 is joy. Their food displays skill and technique and a passion to develop vegetarian food that exalts to another level closer to fine dining. It is sophisticated and chef Alex displays a keen eye for artistic flair.

Good pricing and a commitment to innovate ideas are a major plus at Bistro 1847 with plans to develop new menus and food options in the pipeline.

Bistro 1847 is where textures and flavours take vegetarian food to a new level in Birmingham and with good value prices vegetarians and non vegetarians can’t go wrong.

Do go visit you won’t be disappointed.

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Bistro 1847
26 Great Western Arcade
Birmingham

0121 236 2313

@bistro1847

http://www.bistro1847.com/Birmingham

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

Footnote:

Before dining at Bistro 1847 we had a lovely glass of Prosecco at Loki Wine also in the Great Western Arcade. I well recommend a glass of wine at Loki before your meal. A great combo.

Disclaimer:

We paid for our own meal and my opinions are my own and unbiased,

Great British Menu Finals week. Go Aktar!

Posted in Uncategorised by

If like me you have been following the Great British Menu on BBC 2 in recent weeks, you will know that the finals of the competition for 2014  are starting on Monday 2nd June and continuing all week until Friday 6th June when the banquet will be held.

Birmingham’s own Aktar Islam, Chef Director of acclaimed Lasan Restaurant in Birmingham’s St Paul’s Square area (apt) is competing against 7 other chefs. Only 4 of them will get the honour to go to St Paul’s Cathedral to cook a very special banquet to honour the men and women who gave so much for our country. The banquet itself will be televised on Friday 6th June, the 70th Anniversary of D Day.

I have always loved Aktar’s food and Lasan restaurant is one of the jewels in Birmingham’s fine food scene. As a veggie I have enjoyed some superb food over the years. See my review to come shortly of Lasan Restaurant.

On watching the Central region’s heat I loved and admired Aktar’s desert choice, (always a good section of the programme for veggies) called ‘Victory is Sweet’ which proved sweet for the judges in the heat. Aktar’s take on the queen of puddings featured  a Winston Churchill cigar filled with ganache, plus crumble, meringue, a quinelle of raspberry sorbet and spun sugar crowns. The judges said it was ‘the perfect pudding’ giving it a perfect score of 10 all round, making 40 points of sweet indulgence!. Fantastic!

The competition will be tough as there are some great chefs and competitors on show.

It should be a great week on the Great British Menu (GBM).

I wish Aktar a great week, we are rooting for you. Go Aktar! Go Birmingham!

 

Lasan Restaurant

3,4 Dakota Buildings

James Street

St Paul’s Square

Birmingham

West Midlands

B3 1SD

0121 212 3664

http://www.lasan.co.uk

@lasan

@aktarislam

@gbmofficial

@gbchefs

http://www.greatbritishchefs.com

 

 

National Vegetarian Week 19-25th May 2014 and Meat Free Monday’s Birmingham.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants by

A bumper week of veggie delights is on offer this week.

In case you don’t know this week 19th-25th May is National Vegetarian week. Veggie week is in its 22nd Year and was designed to promote inspirational food and the benefits of a meat free life style. http://www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

In Birmingham we have three vegetarian restaurants that serve a complete meat free menu.

Bistro 1847 is in Birmingham city centre near Snow Hill Station and serves modern, British dishes alongside cocktails, wines, spirits and beers. All menus are vegetarian. They have special set menus and a supper club that runs from time to time. See website for details.

Veg out Cafe in Kings Heath in South Birmingham serves organic vegetarian food all day, and does a super menu on Friday and Saturday evening. See previous review.

The Warehouse cafe is located in Birmingham City Centre in the Digbeth area near the Custard Factory. It is located in the Friends of the Earth building and serves fresh, organic, vegetarian and vegan dishes at affordable prices.

Also,

Moor Hall Hotel and Spa in Sutton Coldfield is doing a special 20% off all vegetarian main courses from the Oak Room and Bar menus all this week.

Meat Free Monday’s is an initiative to not eat meat for one day a week in order to make a world of difference.

The plan is to:

-Help our beautiful planet

-Be healthy and happy

-Save the pennies

-Think of the animals

Their webiste http://www.meatfreemonday’s.com have numerous recipes as well as the full ethos and is endorsed by Sir Paul McCartney amongst others.

Cafe Opus at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham City Centre serve a meat free Monday menu only every Monday and have been doing so for numerous weeks now. It is well worth dropping by. The menu changes every week. Keep an eye on twitter and their website for details. This is a great day/night out for all vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

See my review of meat free Monday’s at Cafe Ikon coming soon.

Also Pop up Dosa will be having a special dosa fest at Ort Cafe in Balsall Heath/Moseley area on Saturday 24th May between 12-3pm. Go aloon for a good selection of veggie dosas.

Update: I have received an email from Bistro 1847 advising that there will be 50% off their a la carte menu from today, the 21st May until Saturday 24th May. You must book directly on their website http://www.bistro1847.com and show the email ‘Enjoy National vegetarian week with 50% off’ to your server.

You can subscribe for emails on their website. Hopefully you will receive this email, with the details.

If anyone knows of other special events, menus or foodie initiatives that are linked to National Vegetarian Week in Birmingham or Meat Free Monday’s please let me know or leave a comment at the bottom of the post.

Whatever, you do though have a good veggie week.

 

Bistro 1847

http://www.Bistro1847.co.uk

0121 236 2313

@Bistro1847

26 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham City Centre (opposite Snow Hill Station)

 

Veg Out Cafe

46 Poplar Road, Kings Heath Birmingham

0121 441 3802

@cafevegout

The Warehouse Cafe

@warehouse_cafe

54-57 Allison Street Birmingham B5 5TH

0121 633 0261

 

Moor Hall hotel and spa, Sutton Coldfield

0121 308 3571

http://www.moorhallhotel.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

The Edgbaston Bar, Birmingham Five Ways

Posted in Uncategorised by

The Edgbaston bar is a bit like your glitzy and glamorous friend that you always want to be around. It is the epitome of sophistication and cool.

The Edgbaston is the sister bar and boutique hotel of The Kenilworth in Kenilworth. The Kenilworth has won numerous bar and cocktail awards and is the place to go and be seen.

The Edgbaston certainly has a Mayfair like location. Well healed it certainly is!

So why were my wife and I there I hear you say? Well we like cocktails and we had visited the Kenilworth a few weeks earlier, had a lovely indulgent stay and yes superb cocktails.

So being foodies we thought we would combine it with a visit to The Blue Piano (see review to come) 5 minutes away. A great combination we think for a night out.

On entering we were warmly greeted by name by the Maître d’ Kate Hands and the owner Stuart Insall and shown into a large cocktail lounge which can only be described as stunning and yes, glamorous. People were chattering and seemed very keen to devour the cocktails and taste this new memorable Edgbaston experience. There are two other smaller rooms, including a library space for chilling.

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The menu is huge and I mean huge! There were so many cocktails on the menu I thought that maybe we would need to stay over to sample them all. Yet, being simple folk and yes traditionalist (well a little!. Maybe next time) we chose two Martinis. We thought classy, stylish, perfect!
They were superb, the gin certainly hit the spot and were well balanced. We felt that they were the best we’d had in Birmingham. Most probably perfect!

As we still had time to go to dinner we ordered two more cocktails, but not from the menu. I ordered a Negroni (a Classic Italian aperitif made with Campari, gin again! And vermouth) my wife a dirty martini. My negroni was superb, the best I’d had outside of Italy and my wife enjoyed her dirty martini. We were impressed that the bar made these for us as they were not on the menu and they were stunning!

Throughout the service was spot on. Friendly, informative. The staff generally care and have a very welcoming approach that will surely be a success with its guests and customers.

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By that time we were feeling happy on cocktails and running slightly late for our dinner, and had no idea where The Blue Piano was from the Edgbaston Bar. Did we find it? You will have to wait and see:)

There are plans (from this weekend) to serve food. It will be small plates with a BBQ as well ( I will explore this another time).

The Edgbaston bar is above all a classy place to go for a celebration or to just chill before dinner (Simpsons Restaurant is also nearby) or with friends. We will certainly return and have some more stunning cocktail creations. Yes, the Edgbaston is a fine creation in itself. Trendy, slick and cool.

Welcome to Birmingham Mayfair.

http://www.theedgbaston.co.uk

01926 779473

@TheEdgbaston