Tag Archives: Colmore business District restaurants

Opus leads the way in showcasing Birmingham’s independents.

Posted in Bars, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Drinks, Gastro Card, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie, Veggie foodie, Wine by

Opus one of the top fine-dining restaurants in Birmingham is leading the charge for independents, joining forces with some of the best talent in the city.

Billed as a celebration of the bespoke, Opus in Cornwall Street is keen to support local businesses that offer something different from the norm and has so far linked up with artists and an award-winning wine merchant.

Pawel Skrzypinski, general manager at Opus, said: “Birmingham is an exciting, diverse city in which to live and work and if you are willing to meander off the beaten track through our lovely city centre, you will be rewarded with shops and artists showcasing an individuality and tailored approach that makes you feel special and appreciated.

“We think it’s really important for independents – especially those who have a natural synergy – to support one another because we have a unique offering. The beauty of being an independent business is that you have the opportunity to team up with whomever you like and over the past few months alone we have found some real stunners with whom to work.”

Over the summer, it is collaborating with Loki Wine, the award-winning wine merchant and wine bar based in Great Western Arcade, enabling customers at both venues to take advantage of some fantastic offers.

Loki is offering 15% off the Loki Wine Tasting Card for Opus Loyalty Card holders, while Opus is offering all holders of a Loki Wine Tasting Card 25% off all bottles of wine purchased (see T&Cs online)  and £10 off the flight of five wines that accompany their weekend five-course tasting menu.

Phil Innes, of Loki Wines, said: “There’s already a natural crossover between Loki and Opus customers but the opportunity to work with the restaurant, which will benefit all our customers could not be passed up. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Opus.”

Sculptor Viv Astling, OBE, has two pieces of art being displayed at the restaurant over the next few months.

An elected member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) and a former student of the renowned sculptor John Tonks, he uses English limestones particularly from quarries in Portland, Dorset, and Ancaster, Lincolnshire. His piece Turning Point is being displayed at Opus’s reception desk, while Ariel is on display in the bar area.

Bar Opus at One Snowhill has joined forces with Jewellery Quarter-based Argentea Gallery to feature a selection of photographs by Birmingham multi-media artist Sophie Hedderwick from her critically acclaimed series Swift As A Shadow.

Argentea is a new gallery in the Jewellery Quarter launched by Jennie Anderson and is dedicated to showing the very best contemporary photography from both British and international artists.

Jennie said “We were thrilled to have Sophie exhibiting her work at the gallery and to collaborate with Bar Opus is another great way to take her work to a wider audience and engage with people who wouldn’t necessarily think of visiting an art gallery.”

Also at Bar Opus are five works by Birmingham-born innovators Key & Tam, known as LOWLFE. The pair take everyday objects, such as phones, plants, coins and dead insects, and introduces them to the world of miniature people in whimsical settings.

The new collaborations follow Opus’s inaugural art exhibition with Mark Howard of independent fashion store Disorder Boutique earlier this year, when the walls become a canvas for his creations.

Pawel added: “The past few months have been exciting as we have expanded our support network of leading independent talents and we’re looking forward to continuing our efforts to introduce other great Birmingham names to our customers. So make sure to watch this space".

Great to see such a fantastic collaboration between two of the cities best independents.

Also note that Opus are offering 50% off select wine in August. It includes a range that covers most tastes. From lighter summery whites to fruity cherry-like reds and rose wines a bargain is to be enjoyed with the new set price menu or tasting menu.

In Bar Opus news become all Italian and try a Rose Aperol Spritz with complimentary nibbles for £5 from 2-5pm. Aperol Spritz is one of the finest drinks and with added nibbles and hopefully sunshine on the Bar Opus terrace one of the must things to do this Summer in Birmingham. Go on try it!

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

All photos and information courtesy of Opus, Bar Opus and Clive Reeves PR with thanks.

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Opus fixes the price not the diners options.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Food, Gastro Card, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie by

Birmingham restaurant Opus has once again reinvented the wheel with fixing the prices, but not your dining options.

Opus one of the leading fine-dining restaurants in Birmingham, has scrapped the individual prices on its à la carte menu and has instead introduced a fixed price for either two- or three-course dining.

Opus believes it is the only restaurant to have this standout offering. It will enable diners to choose any dish from its full à la carte menu, with a two-course lunch or dinner costing £27.50 or a three-course meal £32.50. 

The vegetarian menu costs £25 for two courses and £30 for three. 

The concept has been spearheaded by award-winning executive head chef Ben Ternent. He said: “Typically you find that the cheaper, fixe prix menus in restaurants offer limited options for diners, but we were keen to do something a little different from the norm.

“We decided that our diners deserved to enjoy our full à la carte options for a fixed price. It’s not something many restaurants do and I’m thrilled to introduce it here at Opus.”

Ben joined Opus, on Cornwall Street, as commis chef shortly after the restaurant launched in 2005 and worked in almost every section of its kitchen before being promoted to executive head chef in 2015, when it celebrated its tenth anniversary.
During his time at the restaurant, Ben has achieved a number of prestigious awards, including being crowned the British Culinary Federation’s Young Chef of the Year in 2006 and achieving his Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Award of Excellence in 2009.

Ann Tonks, managing director at Opus, said: “We’re renowned for doing things a little differently here and because we are independent, we are always looking for new and innovative initiatives that benefit our clientele. Ben’s idea to remove the individual à la carte prices and instead have a fixed price across the whole menu is a great idea and I’m sure our diners will agree, too.

Vegetarians can enjoy dishes such as creamy goats cheese mousse, roasted English tomato and red pepper soup plus Leicestershire wild mushroom and truffle Wellington, Evesham beetroot risotto and tian of Pershore vegetables followed by a warm dark chocolate fondant or raspberry and blueberry iced parfait and a strawberry pudding, the choice is truly yours. 

Diners can, of course, choose one course only if they prefer and those dishes are individually priced.”

The menu is available for lunch Monday to Friday and dinner Monday to Saturday.

Click to access Vegetarian-Menu.pdf

For full menu information, visit: 

http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/

Goats cheese tart 

Beetroot risotto

Strawberry pudding

Ben Ternent.


Opus Restaurant Vegetarian Source Dinner with Worcester Produce is also on Friday July 16th at 7pm.

The Source Dinner series includes this Veggie extravaganza. Enjoy 5 courses with wine pairing in conjunction with Worcester Produce. The fruit, vegetables and salad are grown in their nurseries and farms in the Vale of Evesham, picked on day one and are in the Opus kitchen on day two. It’s always an evening to savour.

Look out for my review soon. 

 Price £65 pp. 

Call 0121-200-2323 for booking. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Thanks to Opus and Clive Reeves PR for the photos. 

Opus Restaurant launches new Vegetarian menu. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Colmore business district, Farm producers, Fruit and Veg, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 
During the last few years I’ve visited Opus Restaurant numerous times and have always been impressed by their passion and belief in the locally sourced produce they obtain from the area surrounding the restaurant. The Source Dinner series held over the course of the year highlights this. In particular for Vegetarians the Vegetarian Source Dinner in July is a real highlight and a must do on my foodie calendar. 

Worcester Produce from Pershore, Worcestershire provide the vegetables, fruit and produce for that dinner and the link is now deepened with the new introduction this month of a seasonally changing Vegetarian menu which uses their produce all year round. 

Opus’ vegetarian dishes have always been stunningly  made, taking seasonal produce and making accessible and tasty dishes that showcase this ethos off to its maximum. 

See below for examples from their last Source vegetarian dinner.

   
 

The new Opus Restaurant vegetarian menu replaces for veggies the A La Carte menu, by offering a dedicated menu that changes monthly to reflect the produce on offer from the farmers. 

There is also a Vegan option on each course.

It is available for lunch and dinner.

The A’La Carte is still available for non vegetarians who can now choose from both menus. 

The winter Vegetarian Menu is listed below. 

 

For the A’La Carte menu and Market Menu which is retained see below:

Click to access A-LA-CARTE-MARKET.pdf

The Market Menu is also available offering two courses for £20 including a Vegetarian Starter and Main Course (price includes home baked bread and tea or filter- coffee) see above link for details. 

I’m looking forward to trying the new Vegetarian menu soon and for me this cements Opus as one of the best places for vegetarians to visit in Birmingham. 

Review of Vegetarian Source Dinner with Worcester Produce:

http://t.co/WkopBcpQ9P

Opus leads the way on sustainability:

https://t.co/3tmU7L7Y2V

  

   

    
    
 Four photos above courtesy of Opus.

Thanks for reading

Andy 😊

http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/

Opus Restaurant, 54 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 2DE.

0121-200-2323.

http://www.worcesterproduce.co.uk/

The next vegetarian source dinner with Worcester Produce is on Friday 19th August 7pm costing £65 for five courses. 

   
 

Opus reveals newly-refurbished Kitchen Table Dining experience. 

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

  
 

Opus at Cornwall Street is introducing its newly-refurbished ‘Kitchen Table’ dining experience, where guests can enjoy their meal at a special newly designed table  in the heart of the restaurant’s kitchen.
Surrounded by the bustling kitchen, diners can see their dishes being created by Opus’ talented young team and enjoy a bespoke five-course tasting menu, which is tailored around the guest’s preferences, (including vegetarian) served by the table’s own dedicated waiter. 

With each course introduced by the chef, the Kitchen Table is a dinner party like no other, with guests getting an insight into the provenance of the food and the techniques used in its creation.

Ben Ternent, executive chef at Opus, said: “The Kitchen Table brings an added dimension to dining with us. Customers are able to see how the whole kitchen operation works, have a tour of the different sections and learn about how we source from our family of artisanal suppliers around the British Isles. 

The Kitchen Table also gives my team a rare opportunity to interact directly with the customer, to explain what we’ve created and how, and to listen to their feedback.”

Originally launched in 2009, the Kitchen Table has been given a complete makeover as it continues to rise in popularity. Plates and wine glasses from Fiskars’ ‘Tanssi’ range have been introduced, as well as newly upholstered chairs. In keeping with the rest of the restaurant, the Kitchen Table has now been clothed and a new, organic feel has been introduced through the addition of beech and ceramic tiles.

The Opus Kitchen Table seats up to eight diners and costs £75 per person or £110 per person with wines to match each of the tasting menu’s five courses. A new four-course bespoke menu has also been introduced for lunch time.

For more information about Opus restaurant, visit 

http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/

0121 200 2323

Photos courtesy of Opus and Clive Reeves PR. 

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

Vegetarian Dinner with Worcester Produce @ Opus Cornwall Street, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Events, Farm producers, Fruit and Veg, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

Direct from the source, are words that we hear often when it comes to our food. The question, do you know where your food comes from? as an (attempting) grower of vegetables it is close to my veggie heart. It is something we should all care about. 

Last week I put a post on this blog regarding the new Birmingham Food Assembly in Kings Heath that has just launched. Where producers and customers can meet and where fresh produce can be picked up after ordering online. You know the source, you trust the grower. 

Opus on Cornwall Street follow that ethos. They know where their veg, potatoes, fish, meat, herbs etc come from. They have met the farmers, seen the farms, been involved with the process of ground to fork or spoon. 

Fruit, salad and vegetables are grown in nurseries of Worcester Produce  across the Vale of Evesham (Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warwickshire) and were picked on day one and were with Opus on day two. The produce is nurtured by local farmers for nearly a year. 

From Pershore Worcester Produce work exclusively with local growers to provide the best food. Grown with pride and nurtured by local farmers the sourcing supports the local community and is lovely to eat. 

The source dinner series of events that Opus at Cornwall Street run is a chance for diners to meet their suppliers and hear their compelling stories. Opus have a mission to promote their farmers, fisherman and wine makers, hence the Source Vegetarian Dinner with Worcester Produce. 

  

Opus celebrates the freshest of ingredients, independent and market fresh top quality produce allows the ingredients to dictate the menu and allows Opus to buy each day from their suppliers. 

The Vegetarian Source dinner is a five course meal with wine (cost £50) with an Aperitif at the begining and coffee at the end. It is a chance to hear the compelling stories of how the food is grown, which for me is so fascinating and an inspiration for my humble but improving growing abilities. 
  
  

  

Menu and paired wines. 
   Fresh bread to start. 

Ruth and I began with an Aperitif in  the bar (a crisp Prosecco di Valdobbiadene from Trvisol, Italy) which allowed the guests to gather and the atmosphere to build. 

Opus is a stylish restaurant, it has a fine dining tone with an informal bistro like quality. It’s a place for an occasion. The Source dinners are certainly a celebration. 

    

First Course : 

Westland baby sweet peppers Avocado, almond, quail egg, nasturtium. 

Baby peppers are unusual and are not for the mass market sadly. They Made a beautifully sweet dish with a fine quail egg on the side. A nice starter. 

Served with ‘No Stone Unturned, Senillion/ Chardonnay, 2014, Australia. 

  

  
Second Course: 

Burnt English onion consommé Spring onion and goats curd 

A rich flavoured clear soup, with a beautiful stock made from the burnt onion from Redford in Nottinghamshire. A classic, given a veggie twist. A refined dish made delicate by the goats curd which worked well with the depth of flavour in the clarified stock. Delicious. 

Served with Domaine de Bellevue, Sauvignon Blanc, 2014, France. 

  

Delicate Ingredients before the soupy liquid was poured over. 

  
  

Third Course: 

Salt Baked Offenham celeriac, Summer truffle and oat granola. 

The most surprising dish of the night. Surprising in the fact that it was beautiful. A simple looking dish packing loads of flavour. The salty celeriac combined with the earthy truffles. With the breakfast like granola providing a crunch and bite on the side. Very impressive. 

Served with the same wine as above. 

  
  

Fourth Course: 

‘Beet’ Bourgignon, Fennel, maitake mushroom and home dried Drews Farm tomato ravioli. 

Take golden and purple beetroot from Evesham Vale and present it with a perfectly made ravioli with delicate and inviting flavours of fresh summer tomatoes. A celebratory Summery dish. Vegetarians are a mushrooms best friend.

Served with ‘Domaine de Bertier, Merlot/ Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014, France. 

  

Fifth Course: desert. 

Evesham Vale courgette cake, Dorset cream cheese, Crushed hazelnuts, Worcestershire carrot and lime sorbet. 

Crushed hazelnuts with the well baked courgette cake, a really enjoyable end to the meal. The sorbet was beautiful. 

Wine, see above. 

    

The Vegetarian Source Dinner at Opus Cornwall Street is one of the Vegetarian food highlights of the year. For both Ruth and I its a must do every year. It’s a friendly, formal, but celebratory experience. Think a wedding where the happy couple are the vegetables and Opus Restaurant. 

The dishes, were thoughtful, creative and celebrated the freshest produce. Most of the diners were non vegetarians which may be surprising, but maybe not when you can see what good Produce can help create. Just, lovely food, made and grown with passion, pride and a sense of adventure. The celebration of veg, herbs and edible flowers, luxurious, harmonious and in Opus’ hands, modern, Engaging, a family ‘wedding.’

Every source does have a story. 
    
  

  

Disclosure: we paid for our meal in full. All opinions are my own. No review was requested. But who could resist. 

Opus at Cornwall Street, 54 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B2 2DE. 

0121-200-2323.

http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/OpusCornwallSt?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

https://twitter.com/worc_prod

http://www.worcesterproduce.co.uk/

Thanks for reading 

Andy 😊

#Tastymorsels: Bar Opus and Opus latest.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Cocktails, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Tasty Morsels, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Three nice pieces to share about two of Birmingham’s finest Independent restaurants and two of the best places for Vegetarians to eat in the city, 

Bar Opus based in the heart of Birmingham’s bustling Colmore Business District has appointed Carl Hawkins as its new general manager. 

Born and raised in Birmingham, Carl has over 15 years’ experience as a ‘liquid chef’ working with some of Birmingham’s finest cocktail destinations. With a vast amount of experience in the bar industry, Carl was eager to join the Opus family and help catapult Bar Opus into the forefront of the Birmingham food and drink scene.   

Carl previously worked for The Jekyll & Hyde pub where, under his leadership, it became a national finalist for “Best Spirit Pub” in 2013 and “Best Cocktail Menu” by Class Magazine in 2011. Carl is also one of the founders of the Birmingham Association of Bartenders and has been committed to cultivating the next generation of bartenders for over a decade. 

Speaking of his appointment, Carl said: “I am excited to become a part of, what I consider, a legacy project. I believe that Bar Opus will become a Birmingham institution and will be here for many years to come. We will be bringing a contemporary technique to cocktail making that will keep customers coming back. Bar Opus will exceed expectations of what a cocktail bar in Birmingham should be and we will redefine the cocktail and dining experience” 

 Irene Allan, director at Opus, said: “Carl is creative and passionate about enhancing the bar experience. We are thrilled to have his expertise to help establish Bar Opus as one of Birmingham’s premier bars. Carl knows the ins and outs of the Birmingham bar scene and his leadership and skills will be essential to the bar’s success.” 

Bar Opus is the sixth-month old bar addition to the Opus family, boasting a contemporary and modern landscape that will cement it as a city staple. Keeping with the Opus ethos, Bar Opus develops innovative food and cocktail menus, uses the freshest produce from the company’s range of British and strictly sustainable suppliers and engages with British spirit suppliers to create its inspiring cocktails.   
 

Birmingham waitress achieves prestigious hospitality award: 

 A talented waitress at city-centre restaurant Opus at Cornwall Street, Gabriella Murea has achieved the celebrated Service Award at this year’s Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Annual Awards of Excellence.

The final, which took place on Saturday 16th May at Le Gavroche, London, saw Gabriella and 15 other finalists from some of the country’s finest restaurants and hotels serve a three course meal to two guests. As part of the service, Gabriella had to set up the table, decant and describe the wine, and fillet a dover sole in front of the diners. The awards, which have a high-profile judging panel, received an unprecedented number of entries and are designed to encourage young people within hospitality to achieve the highest possible standards in their profession.

Gabriella, 26, has worked at Opus for just over six months whilst studying hospitality and events management at University College Birmingham (UCB) and was the only finalist from the Midlands to be shortlisted for the award. Speaking about her achievement, she said: “I’m so happy to have passed and got my award. I prepared as much as I could for each stage of the process and it has really paid off. The standard was very high and I am delighted that the judges saw the quality of work that I can produce and felt it worthy of the award.”
Irene Allan, restaurant director at Opus restaurant, said: “This is such a fantastic achievement for Gabriella. She is an absolute perfectionist and always delivers superb service, so to have this award as recognition of that is a huge accomplishment. Pawel, our restaurant manager, has been an inspiring mentor for Gabriella and has supported all her hard work. We are committed to developing both our front of house and kitchen teams and encourage them to go for awards like this. Everyone at Opus is immensely proud of her and we’re privileged to have her working with us.”

This follows on from Opus at Cornwall Street promoting head chef Ben Ternent to Executive chef to replace David Colcombe who helped launch Opus a decade ago and had run its kitchens. 

He will manage a team of eleven chefs and three kitchen porters at the groups three venues- Opus at Cornwall Street, Bar Opus and Cafe Opus at the Ikon Gallery in Brindley Place. He will help to develop menus and buy produce from the companies range of local and sustainable suppliers and continue to cook. 

We wish him well, and hope that standards will be maintained. 

  
I can’t wait to see what he and his team cook up in the future, as vegetarian dishes are always worth tasting at Opus. 

Thanks for reading 
Andy 😊