Tag Archives: City centre

Land, it’s all in the ingredients: Restaurant Review.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, vegan, vegetarian by

The list of ingredients on The Land tasting menu reads like an autumn almanac of what’s great and good and the best you can get in the Autumn months. That I guess is the ethos of Land that it thinks about the dishes it presents and the ingredients that make them, not delving into the latest trends that are thrown at us daily by the media.

This is what makes Land different to other Vegetarian and Vegan restaurants in Birmingham. The desire to lift the core ingredient to its highest point and make it better. I’ve eaten at L’Enclume in the Lake District and though not in that league Land has a similar ethos to make the small beautiful, inspired by the land.

Land has grown out of the ashes of Bistro 1847 which was the original ingredients led Vegetarian restaurant in Birmingham.

Brought by chefs Tony Cridland and Adrian Luck from 1847 Land sits in the beautiful Great Western Arcade and is a light but warm cosy restaurant with caring and passionate service from Front of house Damien is a joy. They know what they are doing.

After eating the amuse Bouche (below) and home made bread, we both knew we were in for an outstanding night of food. Both were well executed and well presented.

The Chef’s menu that Ruth and I ate from is 6 courses for £40.

A strength of any restaurant in presenting a 6 course menu is how they can take you on a journey from the first course to the last. Land’s chef menu on the night we visited demonstrated the art of delivering this by heightening the anticipation of each course. Well thought out dishes, that folded into each other and told their own story gave a warning feeling that brought a smile to our faces.

Take the Potato-goats cheese, onion, lovage first course: a warming dish, with a depth of autumn flavours that enticed the palate and was beautifully constructed.

A Butternut squash-Laska-chard-noodle dish was a wonderful plate of joy. The soft squash, taken with the tender noodles with a splash of chard made for an interesting flavour that worked on every level.

Next, Celeriac-oyster mushroom- cheddar-truffle, took one of my favourite ingredients-the celeriac and have it a voice of its own. Pitched alongside the humble mushroom and truffle made for an earthy dish that tasted and smelt of Autumn.

We progressed to the Potato and Swede Terrine-pease pudding-tamarind: delicate curry notes wafted through this dish, a harmonious concerto of flavours, beautifully presented, bright, vivid, my favourite course of the night which I could have ate again. A real stunner.

Onto dessert : Pumpkin-walnut-red-current: Another stunningly presented plate of colour that was beautiful as a palate cleanser and what a way to deliver a pumpkin! They’re not just for Halloween. A superb dessert.

The final course, Apple-caramel-bay leaf-hazelnut: a lovely ending to the chefs menu. Tangy Apple with caramel and the crunchy texture of hazelnuts perfectly presented.

In the even tide of Autumn the drawing in of light warrants food that sings and comforts and warms us from the cold glare of Winters approach, Land ticks the promise that all will be ok with the world.

The nature of the produce used and the ingenious presentation demonstrated the best use of the produce of the season.

The focus on the ingredients through the beautifully presented dishes created a harmonious and perfectly flowing tasting menu with Exquisite flavours and textures.

Land provided a culinary celebration of plant focused dining that takes you on a culinary adventure and begs for a return visit.

The best meal of the year.

Our food was complimentary, but all drinks consumed were paid for.

Thanks for reading.

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Salad Box will open in Birmingham this October.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Independent, Lunch, Lunch deals, Salad, vegan, vegetarian, Vegetarian takeaways, Veggie by

Healthy fast food chain, Salad Box, will open its doors to the public in Birmingham on Wednesday 16th October, giving away 100 salads across the first two days to celebrate the launch. 

Situated on Great Charles Street Queensway, Salad Box will serve up an array of fresh and nutritious meals and snacks, made using ingredients of the highest quality. Salads, wraps, soups, desserts and juices, as well as coffee from local 200 Degrees, will all be available to help workers in the Second City sustain a healthy diet without compromising their time, energy or savings. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, Salad Box will be giving away 50 free salads each day, first-come, first-serve, from 12:30pm onwards.

The free salads on offer on the day for Vegetarians will be Athena (white cheese, black olives, tomatoes, green leaf mix, cucumber and red onions, with yoghurt & lemon dressing).

Customers will also be able to choose from a menu of delicious classics, or customise their own meal, with a wide range of vegetarian and gluten/vegan-friendly options to choose from.  

Salad Box will also be offering catering services for local businesses to support events and meetings, as well as a delivery platform which will launch later this month. 

Tara Johal, Salad Box franchisee for Birmingham, said: “Our team are so excited to be launching Salad Box in Birmingham and we’re confident that our fellow Brummies will love our range of nutritious salads, wraps, soups, desserts and juices. We can’t wait to open our doors on the 16th October and start fueling the healthy lifestyles of Birmingham’s busy young professionals.”

Founded in Romania in 2012, Salad Box opened twelve restaurants in its home country in the first year. After just seven years, it has not only grown to become the third largest fast food chain in Romania after McDonald’s and KFC, but also a true international success story. Salad Box now has more than 70 outlets across 12 countries in three continents, with stores in some of the most important cities in the world, including New York, Miami, Paris, London and Rome.   

The site in Birmingham will be the second Salad Box in the UK. The first outlet opened on London’s Brick Lane in 2017, and there are plans to open more outlets across the UK in the near future. 

For more information, follow Salad Box UK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SaladBoxUK/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/saladboxuk/. 

Fancy a veggie pie? Pieminister arrives in Birmingham. 

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Cocktails, Colmore business district, Pies, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Pies are an indulgence I think of often, but sadly eat infrequently. Possibly because it’s so hard to find a decent veggie pie, they’re usually an afterthought on menus and have an oh so soggy bottom and boring filings. Until now maybe? 

Open last week small and fun award winning chain Pieminister specialises in the small things of beauty that’s a welcome addition to the Birmingham food scene. Open seven days a week you can grab a coffee, lunch, takeaway or eat from a more extensive evening menu. 

Pieminister is a family business and uses high quality, ethically sourced ingredients. 

With plenty of Vegetarian pies on the menu Pieminister will be a popular haunt for an indulgent and warming feast on those cool summer days. (You know we have them in Birmingham) 

The menu includes four Veggie pies from the Heidi, (also a gluten free option) Saag Pie-Neer ( see what they’ve done there!) and the Wild Shroom. Again clever,  this one with Asparagus. 

There’s also a Summer Pie Special, the Feta Attraction which is Feta, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and chick peas, served with a Tzatziki dip ( try with a side of sweet potato fries) 

Which is part of the pie for a pie campaign. Which means that every time you buy a pie off the list Pieminister will donate a pie on your behalf to U.KHarvest. Which aims to deliver good food to 10,000 vulnerable people across the U.K. This summer. 

Also Veggie are the Skillets. These tasty sounding dishes are pies without the pastry. 

The Meany Bean is Vegan friendly, with butternut squash, mixed bean chilli and crispy potatoes with Jalapeños. Plus Peas and Love. A pea and paneer concoction with spinach, and cauliflower. A curry in other words served with a Bombay potato top. 

Sides include Mash, Peas and gravy to Summer slaw, salads and fries.

Plus on weekends a Veggie Munch Brunch Pie of smoked cheese, Veg sausage, chestnut mushrooms, poached egg, tomato, halloumi and potato hash on top. Wow! 

They are thankfully working on a Vegan pie which hopefully won’t be long in the making with vegan friendly pastry. Yay! 

Get a move on! 

For full menu see below. 

Inside find a stripped back interior and bare brick walls and a nice view of the cathedral from its Waterloo street location. 

Next to Adams if you want to know. They don’t do pies there so it’s ok! 

Also cocktails (2-1 before 7 and after 9.30) and beers such as Pieministers very own Pie PA are available and coffee and tea to wash them down. 

Plus a kids menu is available and puddings including toffee apple ice cream pie and Glastonbury Mud ice cream pie. 

All Veggie Pies are Vegetarian Society approved, bravo! 

Thanks for reading and see you there for a pie fix! 

The difficulty is in the decision which one to have.

After all they are the stars! 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

As a footnote Pieminister is the only pie company to use British Free Range meat. Yay! 

Pieminister, 16 Waterloo Street, Birmingham. B2. 0121-285-3743.

http://www.pieminister.co.uk/restaurants/birmingham

https://www.facebook.com/pieministeruk

http://www.pieminister.co.uk/pieforapie/

All photos courtesy of Pieminister with thanks. 

Indian Brewery opens for craft beer and street food in Birmingham.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, beer, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Craftbeer, Independent, Indian restaurants, Street Food by


So many marvellous independent beer places have opened up over the last year in Birmingham, that now beer lovers are truly spoiled for choice.

The newest addition to the Jewellery quarter, Indian Brewery Snowhill, is set to spice things up a little which is great news for beer fans as well as street food lovers and artisan coffee folk.

The Indian Brewery has resurrected the old coffee shop, Brewsmiths under Snow Hill’s railway arches, and turned it as if by magic into a bar selling craft beer as well as artisan coffee.

Obviously being Indian you have to throw a bit of masala into the mix, so during the morning it dishes out an innovative breakfast menu and mouth watering street food from midday till late.

 Jaspal Purewal, who owns Indian Brewery which supplies Birmingham lager, Indian Summer, Bombay Honey, Peacock and IPA to Birmingham venues including Harvey Nichols, Connolly’s wine merchants and Indico, has taken over the lease of the cafe and had added an impressive bar. The old worn out exterior has been replaced by something altogether more slick and modern and the interior has a more industrial feel. 

It’s casual and relaxed with benches for drinkers to enjoy an artisan beverage whether it be coffee or Indian sodas as well as their beers, whilst admiring the classic Bollywood posters on the walls. A place of social gathering and good times.

 Jaspal told the Birmingham Mail: “We’ve wanted to set up a bar for our brewery for a long time and the Jewellery Quarter is the perfect location. There is so many exciting things happening here. This will be our flagship store – for all to consume our beers along with in-house artisan coffee and street food.”

The site on Livery Street opened on Friday 13th.

Beer is served in craft cans, bottle cask and on draught these include Indian Brewery beers and also an impressive range of guests.; The Indian Brewery beer is brewed at their Great Barr base.

The food has good options for Vegetarians and is a bright light in a gloomy slate grey January. Split into two areas Streetfood and Breakfast, 

For Streetfood veggies try: 

Chaat Bomb: veggie Gilles triangles, chickpeas, yoghurt, chutney and onion.

Delhi Paneer: Paneer cheese with spices, peppers, lettuce and yoghurt.

Fat Naans: veggie delight of potato, cauliflower, onions, chutney, mint, yoghurt and Bombay sprinkle.

For the Breakfast menu: 

Amritsari Kulcha: stuffed flatbread, accompanied by a side of seasoned yoghurt, chutney, onions, chickpeas and fresh lime pickle. 

Egg Naan

Posh Avocado: Brown bloomer with avocado and poached egg. 

For vegans I’m sure the menu can be adapted if it isn’t already vegan friendly. Check before. 


 The food menu has a distinct street flavour but there is a difference! Jaspal revealed: “We’re not your typical Balti house or Indian pub, we’re truly different and being innovative was key, the public has spoken.”

For the drinks all bottles (Indian Brewery beer) and Birmingham Lager in a can and keg are veggie and vegan friendly. 

However, the cask ale isn’t  but other guest ales are. 

The Indian sodas are also ok.


Enough to brighten even the dullest of days. 

Indian Brewery Snow Hill, Livery Street, Birmingham B3 1EU

Officially open from Monday 15th January 2017.

Breakfast is available Monday to Friday from 7am to 12pm midday, Saturday from 8:00am to 12pm midday, and Sundays from 8.30pm to 12midday.

Street Food is available Monday to Thursday from 12pm midday to 9pm, Friday & Saturday from 12pm midday to 9:30pm and Sunday from 12pm midday to 8pm.

TO BOOK : 0121 296 9000 WEBSITE: http://www.indianbrewery.com

FOLLOW : Twitter @IndianBrewery Instagram: @IndianBrewery

LIKE : Facebook.com/indianbrewery

Looking forward to trying it out soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

All photos and information courtesy of Indian Brewery and Delicious PR. 

Ring in the holiday season with Park Regis afternoon tea. 

Posted in Afternoon Tea, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Hotels, vegetarian, Veggie, Veggie foodie by

Park Regis Birmingham has added a very special festive Christmas Afternoon Tea.

Here It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas.

Afternoon tea is a lovely treat as a gift, party, or special romantic indulgence.

It’s Available until the end of the year, visitors to the hotel’s 1565 Bar and Lounge will be able to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea full of tempting festive treats and even a glass of fizz.
Park Regis’ Festive Afternoon Tea includes ‘Snow White’ marshmallow (check for veggies) and coconut knot, lemon frangipane drizzle, clementine mousse, ‘Nut-Crackers’ dark chocolate macarons, scones with jam and clotted cream, and a glazed ‘Egg-Nog’ brulee tart – all of which are certain to leave you Santa-sfied.

For Vegetarians alongside this it will include The below replacement sandwiches. Vegans can also be catered for with advance notice (same for veggies)

– Roast pepper and hummus
– Mozzarella and pesto
– Mediterranean roast vegetable and aioli

Alongside this are a delicious assortment of savoury snacks, including British roast turkey sandwiches with cranberry and apple chutney, Warwickshire truckle cheese with red onion chutney sandwiches and ‘Sleigh’ roasted sirloin of beef on a toasted brioche bun. To kick the whole thing off are a duo of festive amuse bouches Which can be veggie.

The Afternoon Tea comes with a selection of teas, coffees and hot chocolate, and for those really looking to get into the festive spirit, a glass of Prosecco is available as an extra treat for just £5.

Robin Ford, General Manager of Park Regis, said: “Our Afternoon Tea has already proved to be extremely popular throughout the year, but we’ve been busy giving it a festive makeover just in time for Christmas.

“It’s the perfect way for couples, families and friends to finish an afternoon of Christmas shopping as it provides visitors with the opportunity to sit down and enjoy some fantastic festive treats in the comfort of our 1565 Bar & Lounge.”
Park Regis’ Christmas Afternoon Tea is available at £25 and tables can be booked by calling 0121 369 5555.

Looks a lovely seasonal tea in one of Birmingham finest hotels.

As a veggie My advise is always to check the ingredients used in the above treats. Substitutes may be available with the sweet ones.

For more information see

http://www.parkregisbirmingham.co.uk/

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

Park Regis Birmingham, 160 Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1DT.

6/8 Kafe Craft Beer festival 10/11/12th November, plus discount.

Posted in beer, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, City Centre, Coffee, Coffee Time, Craft beer, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian by

Scaffolding is a necessary pest, a bit like slugs eating my veg or wasps in the summer. 

I once went to Florence and the great cathedral was covered in the stuff. How annoyed was I. The same happened in Rome with The Trevi Fountain. I was not amused. 

But then it comes off, as if by magic the structure below appears, more beautiful, brighter and and all is well. 

This is what 6/8 Kafe hope now their monstrous outdoor cover has been taken down and to celebrate they are having a craft beer festival. Well why not, they deserve it. Let’s toast progress! 

Sitting at the back of House of Fraser on Temple Row 6/8 Kafe is an independent coffee shop of some repute in the city and a innovator of the fine art of the Barista.

Festival organiser and proprietor Dav said:

”Our festival is about enjoying local beer with the amazing people that make them.

”It’s about tasting, learning and enjoying everything about craft beer. 

The line up includes: 

On Thursday ‘meet the brewers’. 

Burning Soul Brewing:

Bringing OCT IPA 6.7%

Mount Olympus Pale Ale 5.2%

Insert [Blanc] Single Hop Ale 5.2%

On Friday there is a ‘meet the brewer’ session with Twisted Barrel Ale who are launching their annual winter special ”Dark Knight Rises” and a Belgian Dubbel at Six Eight.

http://www.twistedbarrelale.co.uk/


On Saturday two Black Country brewers Sacre Brew at 6pm and Fixed Wheel are at the festival. 

Fixed Wheel will bring ‘Carbon Black IPA 6.8%, ‘Coffee Fix ‘6.1% and ‘Single Speed Equinox’ 4.5%.

Sacre Brew will bring  3 beers: Sloe Loris, Wendigo, & Donkey’s Years! 

Throughout the festival they will have live acoustic musicians appearing and playing to their hearts content. 

Tracks like down with the scaffolding should be popular on the playlist. 

Sacre Brew Microbrewery

http://www.fixedwheelbrewery.co.uk/

Tickets are £3.66 or £2.66 using my discount   ANDY_H at the checkout which will get you your first pint and access at the event. Enter the promotional code at the link. Andy_H.

Here: 

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=JuO6H&m=gcE2TaB8ITvENEE&b=VsnXDFvrrJivKpZnMQMmMQ

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618496268450152/

Also present will be Digbeth Dining Club favourites Stufo providing the food. 
http://www.stufo.co.uk/

http://www.sixeightkafe.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1618496268450152/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊


Get ready for Ramen at Selfridges, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Ramen, vegetarian by

   
 

Birmingham is certainly becoming a much more interesting place to live for veggie friendly dining. Though not fully vegetarian Tonkotsu has a decent amount of options in store. 

Tonkotsu is one of London’s best-loved Ramen bars and it opened a restaurant in Selfridges in Birmingham’s Bullring on 5th September.

Its the first Tonkotsu outside the capital and the team is very happy to be partnering again with Selfridges after becoming a popular choice for shoppers in the Oxford Street store.
Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish containing stock – usually pork and chicken – with a special wheat noodle and toppings including marinated egg, slices of pork, wakame seaweed and bean shoots. 


Vegetarian options: include: 

Hyashi Ramen: 

Cold noodle salad served with refreshing sesame ponzu dressing.

Shimej and Shitake Mushroom Hiyashi Ramen £9.50

Ramen: 

Miso of Shimaj- Mushroom ramen

(Rich kanbu and Shitake stuck with miso base and classic homemade noodles) 

Bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and mangetout topped with seasoned egg Shimaj and Shitake. £11.00

Katsu Curry: 

Veg Katsu curry: Sweet potato, courgette and aubergine Katsu. £8.75

Gyoza:

Shitake and bamboo shoot £5.75

Sides: 

Such as Tenderstem Brocolli, Edamame beans, Japanese Pickled cucumber, Homemade kimchee.

Tomatsu is proud to make all its noodles in-house thanks to their bespoke noodle machine, giving a fresh, springy noodle. 

Tonkotsu is the name of the richest, porkiest ramen dish – serves a variety of completely authentic, delicious, short-menu ramen with various starters, sides, artisan Japanese beers and whiskies to complete the menu.  

In addition  Tonkotsu Birmingham will serve katsu curry, perfect for a mid-shop pit stop. Japanese and British lagers and ales will be on offer along with house cocktails and wines. All dishes will be available to take away.

Tonkotsu is a group of six London restaurants, including Selfridges Oxford Street Foodhall, serving ramen with homemade noodles in slow-cooked broths, along with craft beers and cocktails. For locations, check out http://www.tonkotsu.co.uk/

Business partners and friends Kensuke and Emma opened Tonkotsu Soho in 2012 after hunting around London for a decent bowl of ramen and not being able to find one. Japan is full of ramen-ya and there are plenty in New York and over the world, so why not in London? Ken and Emma believe in keeping things simple, having a few dishes done very well and serve cocktails, Japanese and British beers and a couple of great wines.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

For locations see:

http://www.tonkotsu.co.uk/

  
  
For the menu see above.

All images courtesy of Tonkatsu. 

Zen Metro launches its Thai Food menu in Birmingham.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Thai, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

Colmore Business District has always been the hub for great bars and restaurants in Birmingham and now it’s going to get even better with the launch of Zen Metro in Birmingham.

Based on the site of the old Metro Bar and Grill – the restaurant and bar will be launching a new menu serving great Thai food from the 6th July.

Having been taken over by Paul Bassi and Pawan Kenth’s Brandasia Group in 2015, the iconic venue has been refurbished and will be taking a new direction offering a quality offering for its regular business clientele.

After a £250,000 investment, the 100-seater venue has now been transformed into a sophisticated Thai restaurant complete with a huge blossom tree statement piece, emulating a luxurious south-eastern vibe. Guests can enjoy Metro by Day and Zen by Night.

There is a glass private dining room too that seats up to 20 people, where you can enjoy dinner and a quality wine list or liven up the night with some divine Thai inspired cocktails.

This iconic bar is the sister restaurant to award winning Asha’s on Newhall Street, with Jaimon George at the helm. As you would expect from his team, they will be offering exemplary service with an eclectic range of traditional and modern Thai dishes created by Head Chef Shailender Kothiyal, who has spent several years in Thailand learning the cuisine. 

Pawan Kenth of Brandasia said : “Metro has always been immensely popular with property, banking and legal professionals. Great deals have been done here over the past 20 years and we want to continue to make the place great. 

   
 
Birmingham’s hospitality landscape is always changing but Zen Metro will always be part of that and I know our regulars will be proud of how Zen Metro looks today.”
The ethos is based on the Zen Buddism Enso-a circle drawn with one continuous brush stroke to express a particular moment in time that is as individual as the person that created it. 

For Vegetarians try Tom yum noodle soup flavoured with lemon grass, galangal and kafir leaves, Thai Spring rolls, Veg Massaman Curry: Potatoes, onions, carrots, pineapple, Zucchini and peanuts in coconut milk or stir fry mixed vegetables with tofu garlic and soya. Or Pad Thai stir fried rice noodles and pad egg noodles. 

Zen Metro will surely be a good and different addition to the Colmore Business District and for Vegetarians out for the night either with meat eaters or with other veggies an interesting choice which I’m looking forward to trying.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy😊

Home

Zen Metro, 73 Cornwall Street, Birmingham City centre. 

0121-200 1911.

http://www.zenmetro.co.uk

Menus

https://m.facebook.com/metrobarbham/

Also, good news for Gastro Card holders is that you can save 10% off your bill with the card.  See the link below for details: 

http://eblast.barques.co.uk/t/y-l-dkdliid-jutjitlkc-q/

Buy The Gastro Card

 
  

Photos courtesy of Zen Metro.
 

Veggie dish of the day: James Brindley Pizza at The Stable, Birmingham.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, pizza, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
Sometimes a pizza is what is needed to hit the hunger spot and satisfy that craving that won’t go away. Pizza come in all shapes and sizes. I love homemade ones, where healthier toppings can be used if desired. Sometimes though a full on  cheesy (vegan or vegetarian) pizza is the best.  That’s how Ruth and I felt one lunchtime, pizza cravings. 

The Stable opened at the end of last year in Birmingham a few footsteps from New Street Station on John Bright Street. I visited it in December and enjoyed their mix of cider and pizza in an exposed brickwork space with openness and a relaxed funky vibe. 

They 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. 
Serving gourmet pizzas, pies and cider The Stable makes all pizzas from scratch, from the sourdough to the sauces. 

An added bonus is the indulgent Garlic Bread that oozes garlic and parsley butter with a freshly baked flavour and is a must when visiting with any pizza. 

  
  

  
  Garlic Bread. £4.50.

  

So try The James Brindley, (£10.50) a locally inspired pizza that is an indulgent slice of heaven. Take herb roasted potatoes, Fowlers Forest Blue cheese, roasted Spanish onions, English Spinach, tomato sauce and mozzarella and you have a feast of an indulgent kind. 

The herb roasted potatoes, working with the heavenly blue cheesy texture with a dabble of spinach and red onion providing the salad crunch and colour contrast to the silky cheese. 

A filling and well made pizza with a good sourdough texture. 

The vegetarian pizza of choice at The Stable and one to return to in a friendly and fun environment. Try it. 
    James Brindley Pizza.

    
    
   

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

My previous review of The Stable:

https://t.co/gZ4CA0gUe8

The Stable, Unit 1, Orion, 115 John Bright Street, Birmingham, B1 1BE.

http://stablepizza.com/birmingham/

Since my previous review The Stable have introduced a Vegan and dairy free pizza as well as gluten free (NGI ) options.

I ate my pizza washed down with a local Sadlers Ale beer, but The Stable also have over 80 ciders on offer plus a good wine list. 

Ruth ordered the same pizza with a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc. 

 

We paid for our food and drinks in full. 

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,