Tag Archives: Food

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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BBC Good Food Show Summer, returns to NEC this June, plus competition to win two pairs of tickets.

Posted in Birmingham, chefs, Food Festivals, food shows, vegan, Veggie, Veggie foodie by

This Competition is now closed.

Michel Roux Jr. will be returning to the NEC this summer for the BBC Good Food Show 2018.

One of the summer’s most popular days out will return to Birmingham again this June, as BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Good Food Show Summer take over the NEC for four days.

With one ticket, visitors will gain entry to both spectacular events, which will attract over 500 exhibitors from the culinary and horticultural worlds from Thursday 14 June – Sunday 17 June.

As well as the hundreds of stands, the Shows also bring a star-studded line-up of some of the country’s favourite gardeners, chefs, experts and bakers.

The line-up includes BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World lead presenter Monty Don plus co-presenters including Carol Klein, Adam Frost and new to the Show this year, Mark Lane and Arit Anderson. Fellow television personality Alan Titchmarsh also joins the team on Friday.

At the BBC Good Food Show, firm favourites Mary Berry, James Martin, Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr. and many more will be cooking up a storm on stage in the Big Kitchen, with plenty more chances to see them around the Show.

This year’s BBC Good Food Show sees the return of a selection of fantastic shopping areas including the Producers’ Village and the Drinks Emporium.

New to the 2018 Show is the Eat Well Zone, showcasing the best in vegan and vegetarian products, with expert advice and recipe ideas at the Show’s Summer Kitchen stage.

Some of the best Veggie and Vegan stands are:

Blacks cheese (cheese stand)

Proper Nutty (Peanut butter stand)

Nutriplanner

Juvela, (gluten free foods)

The Brownie Bar ( brownie stand) see image below.

There’s also a WH Smith at the show. The Hairy Bikers will be present at some point signing books of which their most recent is a vegetarian cookbook called ‘The Hairy Bikers go veggie’ so pop by if you’d like it signed or any other cookbook you have at home. Other chefs will be there also at allocated times.

Stepping outside, you’ll find inspirational Show Gardens and top shopping for your garden. The Made in Birmingham garden will feature a railway embankment plot with allotment, wildflower meadow and a working steam engine with Pullman Dining carriage.

The Wyevale Garden Centres Solutions Garden will display stunning best practice ways to deal with common issues such as soil types or shady areas; the Tesco Every Little Helps Garden offers up ideas for small changes that can make big differences; the Beautiful Borders will be full of small space ideas, plus much, much more. The Floral Marquee and Plant Village is a haven for plant lovers with over 100 dedicated places to buy quality plants, seeds and bulbs.

Whether inside or outside, you’ll find the best in cooking and gardening inspiration with four days of free entry stages showcasing a full mix of plot to plate inspiration, live demos, Q&A’s, talks and plenty of advice. Plus, the chance to chat to more artisan producers and gardening experts than you can fit into one day.

Ticket holders will gain entry to both Shows, with children under five going free and discounts and free tickets available for groups of eight or more. For an extra special treat, the VIP and VIP Luxe packages include front row seats in the Big Kitchen super theatre and BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre, access to exclusive lounges and much more.

Adam Frost, who will be giving his insight in the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre on the Thursday and Sunday of the Show, said: “This year’s Show is really about helping gardeners make every space count. I’ll be live on stage, talking about the progress of my own garden and giving lots of design tips, as will many fellow Gardeners’ World presenters, including Monty Don and gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh too. It’s the perfect show for anyone looking for exciting garden inspiration to try at home – see you there!”

Tom Kerridge, who will be cooking live in three Big Kitchen sessions, said: “There aren’t many events that compare to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC Birmingham. With the size of the venue, the amount of delicious food and drink to sample and buy, and the expert demonstrations, it really is an amazing day out.”

For more information and tickets to BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Good Food Show and, visit www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com or www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com

To celebrate the return of the two shows this Summer I’m running a competition to win two pairs of tickets.

All you have to do is retweet my post on Twitter or like the competition tweet to be in with a chance of winning.

The competition begins on Monday 7th May at 11am and ends on Friday 11th May at 11am.

Keep an eye on Twitter for my competition tweets and then follow me @andydhare and retweet, or like to be in with a chance of winning.

I will then randomly select the two winners and contact them via Direct Message on Twitter to let you know you’ve won, and your details will be passed onto a third party who will contact you and send the tickets out to you.

Good luck!

This competition is now closed.

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

T&C

1. The event runs from the 14th-17th June at the NEC Birmingham.

2. Tickets are Only valid on Thursday, Friday or Saturday Admission.

3. Prize includes 2 pairs of entry passes-no travel expenses or accommodation is provided.

4. General admission tickets do not include a seat in the Big Kitchen. Seats are available to purchase on the day for £3 subject to availability.

5. Not all celebrities appear on all days.

6. You must have followed @AndyDHare on Twitter and retweeted/like the competition tweet to be entered.

7. Giveaway ends at 11am on the 11th May 2018.

8. Winners picked at random and will be notified by message on Twitter after 11am on the 11th May.

9. Contact information will be supplied to a Third Party who will post your winning tickets directly to your home address.

10. The prize is for two pairs of general admission tickets so there will be two winners.

11. Prize cannot be swapped for cash or sold on.

Product Review: Riverford Quick and light organic vegetarian recipe box.

Posted in Organic, Product reviews, Recipes, Vegetable box, vegetables, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

Ruth and I love to cook food from scratch. Even after young Hare has gone to sleep we still do, which quite often results in some late suppers eaten as our eyes dip into the land of nod.

So when Riverford contacted me and asked if I’d like to try an organic vegetable box for Organic Week I jumped at it. I’ve never ordered a veg box before. I don’t know why, but after sampling the two recipes we cooked over that week we’ll be certainly ordering again.

Riverford deliver around 47.000 boxes a week to homes around the UK from their local organic farms.

The good thing about the boxes are that there’s no weekly commitment, you just order when you wish.

With Riverford a box of ingredients arrives and in the case of the Vegetarian quick box for two people a promise of getting food out in just 30 minutes is made. Could this be too good to be true. Sometimes in our house it’s over an hour.

The aim of the box is to cook fresh but taking away the stress of the preparation which includes the chopping of veg. All veg for the two meals is clearly labelled and measured for you, chopped and cut, so you can be on the way quickly. All spices and sauces are individually wrapped and a recipe is provided. And away you go.

The thing that strikes both of us is the quality of the ingredients and vegetables. They smell and feel fresh, the colours are vivid and and some had dirt still on them. The recipe cards were on the top of the box and all the ingredients enclosed in the box as portioned out to match the recipes were used, so no wastage.

The recipe cards or booklets were beautifully produced and very comprehensively put together. The clarity of the instructions and lay out assisted greatly in the artificial light and the step by step instructions were spot on.

We decided to make one dish each.

The first evening Ruth made the Miso Mushrooms with Kale, Green Beans and sticky rice. For me this was my favourite. Lovely flavours, healthy and filling at the same time and maybe not something we’d make usually. It packed a punch and made in 30 minutes just as promised. A very healthy dish where the quality of the ingredients shone through and were showcased perfectly.

The second night was my turn. The beautiful sounding Spinach and lentil Mulligatawny with Apple, carrot and ginger salad.

Again this dish was made in thirty minute, and again the instructions were clear and simple to follow. The dish itself was lovely. Good simple but healthy flavours with the quality ingredients giving the dish a lift. I found it easy to make and the addition of the salad gave a contrasting crunch. In fact the two components of the dish could be eaten separately, but together they certainly complimented and gave a filling effect.

One of us had the salad at the side and one on top of the mulligatawny both ways worked well.

I finished some of the mulligatawny off the next day and the flavours had more of a depth from been chilled over night in the fridge. A lovely dish which we both enjoyed.

What did I think?

Ruth and I both enjoyed the recipe box and recipes. The quick and light vegetarian box was a great success. The recipes were well written, presented beautifully and were completed in the time stated.

The ingredients were of the highest quality and the individual packaging kept them fresh and separate from each other.

I’d advise reading the recipe through before starting cooking but once all of the ingredients are laid out in front of you it’s easy to get going. The meals were full of flavour and filling and low in calories at the same time. For people with little time to make fresh food in the evening or who fancy trying different recipes that they may not normally make the vegetable boxes are an ideal way of treating yourself .

As I’ve said there’s no commitment to buy but you can do so when you feel ready. That’s ideal in my opinion.

The recipe box is perfect for two people and for Vegetarians it’s a lovely way to eat and a fun vibrant way to make and explore new dishes as well.

We’ll definitely be ordering again sometime soon.

Thanks for reading,

Andy😊

I was sent the Riverford quick and light organic vegetarian boxes complimentary for the purposes of my blog review. All opinions stressed are my own and Ruth’s. I have not been paid or sponsored for this post.

The Riverford Vegetarian quick box costs £24.95 for two speedy meals for two people. There is also a 3 meal version for £33.95.

Riverford Organic farmers limited is based in Buckfastleigh in Devon.

Known also for its abbey and homemade drinks made on site.

I know it well.

https://www.riverford.co.uk/

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ted up the next day.

San Carlo announces new Fumo venue for Selfridges, Birmingham.

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Cocktails, Italian restaurants, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by


Fumo, St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London.

Birmingham's multi-award winning Italian restaurant company, San Carlo Group has announced it’s to further expand operations in the city.
 
The Italian family owned and run group which has 17 leading UK restaurants, including the original and hugely popular San Carlo on Temple Street and the excellent Fumo (open since 2012) on Waterloo Street, is to open a second Fumo restaurant, champagne and cocktail bar at Selfridges in Birmingham this Autumn.  
 
Fumo will be located in Selfridges on the 4th floor with stunning views overlooking the iconic Bullring. With a nod to the popular and critical success of its Fumo restaurants in Birmingham, Manchester and St Martins Lane, London.

Fumo will serve delicious, seasonal Italian small plate dishes known in Venice as cicchetti made to share or eat alone and will incorporate a feature bar which will specialise in cocktails and Laurent Perrier champagne.
 
The £1m restaurant will be the third Selfridges San Carlo Group restaurant – San Carlo Bottega and Gran Café are situated within Selfridges Exchange Square, Manchester.
 
The Group’s success has been built on providing original Italian food using the freshest produce, much of which is flown in from markets in Milan and Sicily. It is this passion for food and attention to detail that has seen Fumo on Waterloo Street scoop several awards since its
launch 5 years ago including Best Italian Restaurant at the BFDH Awards and Les Routiers Restaurant of the Year.
 
A further 16 individually designed venues are located in Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool, Leeds, Roundhay, Bristol, Leicester and London and further afield diners enjoy San Carlo restaurants in Qatar, Bahrain and Bangkok.
www.sancarlofumo.co.uk
 
Follow Fumo on social media:
Twitter:
@SanCarlo_Fumo
 
Facebook
@SanCarloFumo
 
instagram
@SanCarloGroup

I've visited Fumo numerous times on Waterloo Street and always found it a bustling and lovely restaurant with excellent food, cracking cocktails and with good veggie options the new venue is sure to be popular.

I Look forward to Fumo opening in the Autumn.

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

 About San Carlo Group www.sancarlo.co.uk
Winners of 36 industry and consumer awards, San Carlo Group is renowned for great food and a star-studded clientele; from celebrities and sports stars to business leaders and high profile politicians, the multi-award winning San Carlo Group was founded in Birmingham as a family business by Carlo Distefano in 1992.


Courtesy of San Carlo group.
 

Restaurant Review: Zindiya, Moseley. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, curry, Curry restaurants, Independent, Moseley, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by


Close your eyes And you can well imagine a perfect restaurant. Service tick, ambience tick, food tick, atmosphere tick, drinks tick.

Then tuck into the written word of those in the know, or whom think they do and then you’d feel well what’s the point in visiting it sounds so perfect. 

Me included have waxed lyrical about this place (at the time without trying it, lesson learnt) and from my point of perspective well it’s based entirely on the perceived menu and it’s very veggie friendly leanings. 

The written word, the gospel according to Birmingham is not always entirely accurate. 

It’s not that Zindiya is poor it’s just on the night Ruth and I visited, shall I say underwhelming and disapointing.

The hype suggested get your chops round this, and you’ll be reborn, but then when those chops get chewing and ready to rock and roll we found a game of two halves Saint.  It’s a game of two halves. 

I wanted zip and zing but didn’t find it sadly. 

Specialising in Indian street food dishes the menu is full of Vegetarian options which should make it essential and full of taste explosion and colour. 


Now Imagine you are in India, smell the air, the food, the atmosphere. Now let’s get our hands dirty and snack our lips with the intoxication of flavours. 

Unfortunately we aren’t in India. 

The good bits: Well we had two more than decent Dishes. 

An excellent traditional fast food dish Papri (Papdi) Chaat, which melted in the mouth and was very comforting that warmed the palate and an indulgent Idli Sambar, tifin dish. Idli’s are a traditional breakfast dish a savoury cake (for dipping) which came with a flavoursome Sambar, a touch of hot lentil soup with some nice textures of vegetables running through it. A Very enjoyable dish. 

Plus we ate An ok Hara Bhara Kebab, which was different. A snack like a cutlet that had subtle veg flavours with slightly bland spicing that made it not very binge worthy sadly and a bit dry. The dip alongside was also underwhelming. 

We also ate the Chilli Paneer which was not to my taste, and left me stunned with disappointment to its bland sweetness, and didn’t lift the paneer to any heights.

The masala chips, we ate were sadly disappointing with very little flavour (apart from a resemblance to a McDonalds fry without the salt) and if they were homemade chips then I’ll be Greavsie to the aforementioned Saint and then a unremarkable desert of chocolate balls filled with strawberries, served with chilli ice cream. (Chocolate Gol Gappe). 

Ruth ordered an ok Alphonso Mango Sorbet. 

I also drank a nice Massala Chai. 

As an aside I would have liked some Poppadoms to nibble on with thecmenu and maybe some Pani Puri on the menu. 

Papri Chaat

Hara Bhara Kebab

Idli SambaarChilli paneer 


Maybe we just chose badly on the food front and we missed a jewel from a long menu, but it wasn’t just the food but the whole experience that felt underwhelming and a tad dull, forced and lacking energy which for a street food cafe which promises authenticity and a buzz was surprising. 

The atmosphere felt stilted, more restaurant than cafe, not at all lively and bustling like I imagined an Indian street food gaff to be.

It was a Saturday night so that’s unusual in Moseley, right? 

Staff are friendly and helpful to a degree,  a bit chatty but didn’t inform us about their so called amazing cocktails or beers that I keep reading about or about any beer, cocktail matching with the food. Shame! 

Small bites careering from good to not so. Some a bit dreary (masala chips) some unforgettable (chilli paneer) An evening of what ifs and why nots. 

It’s a most peculiar place. 

When the food’s good my it’s good but then at times the place feels confused, unsure of itself, and it’s concept. But then I suppose  we aren’t in the hot aired and noisy streets of India, but hipster Moseley with its drip fed trendiness and right on smiles and why not there’s a lot to smile about in this part of South Birmingham. Stand up Cheval Blanc, Kababish, Sabai Sabai and Carters. 

So it should be more authentic right? After all Moseley can cope with this can’t it? 

Pluses. There’s lots of veggie choice. Which is fantastic. More than anywhere I know outside a veggie restaurant. Which I guess makes it more disappointing to me. This alone should get me a season ticket and get me dancing Bollywood style. A sight to behold! 

I liked the decor, the outside is bright, cheery, but gives the impression you are entering a lively eatery which sadly wasn’t our experience. Inside touches of Bollywood, bright and airy. 

It’s quite large too which I think doesn’t help the street food vibe, unlike Raja Monkey or Indian Brewery maybe it didn’t feel cool and intimate. 

There are places in Birmingham that do this better with more panache, better cooking, more simplistic style. More authenticity and self confidence, more cafe than restaurant. 

More crafty.

Zindiya didn’t feel anything special and a muddle of ideas served in a muddled way. I feel sad writing this. It’s a shame. I so wanted to love this place. 

It undermined the decent dishes. 

There’s some work needed on pulling the whole thing together, making the experience more seamless, explaining the dishes, exploring the tastes of the diners more, (both food and drinks)  making the whole experience more authentic. Bringing the street element more into focus. 

It felt like a restaurant not street food cafe. 

And yes, please remember to promote your cocktails and craft beer to me. Aren’t they supposed to be special. To be shouted about. 

Or at least as good as the chaat.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Disclaimer: We paid for our food and drinks in full. All opinions are my own and an honest reflection of the experience we had on the evening. 

Zindiya, 21 Woodbridge Road, Birmingham, B13 8EJ. 

0121-439-0593.

http://www.zindiya.co.uk/

Veggie Foodie tip: 

Do try Cheval Blanc in Moseley for cocktails and wine before and after a meal. The food is also raved about with veggie options on the menu.

I’m up for a food visit soon.

Also Carters of Moseley is outstanding for a special night of vegetarian seasonal decadence. 

The Kababish for curry. Delightful veggie dishes in nice surroundings. Tarka Daal anyone? 

Visit Sabai Sabai for sumptuous Thai food. 

AH.

#TastyMorsels: New Veggie and Vegan happenings.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Caribbean, City Centre, Food, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Moseley, Pubs, Thai, Thai food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie, Veggie foodie by

Nyam Nyam will be bringing their Caribbean vegetarian and Vegan food to the Moseley Festival on the 1st July. 

http://www.facebook.com/nyam_nyam_brum for updates and details on menus.

The second Vegan Vybes event is set for Saturday 17th June at Kings Heath Community Centre on Heathfield Road. 

They are popping up to share with you the joys of vegan living through urban food. Come and have a great time, meet new people, enjoy a truly lovely community atmosphere and take part in the vegan vybe. 


The Real Junk Food Project have another one of their Vegan pop ups at The Gunmakers Arms on the 17th June from 6-9pm.  Free admission. 

In fact they are at The Gunmakers Arms every month with vegan friendly beer from Two Towers Brewery. 

Pizza Express have announced that From June 20th, they will have a Vegan mozzarella alternative on the menu.

Made in Italy using Italian ingredients, it melts perfectly in the pizza oven and gives a creamy finish to any pizza. To celebrate, they have taken some of their favourite ingredients and created a new pizza recipe that combines artichokes with new season asparagus, red onion, garlic oil, black olives and seasoning all on a classic dough and passata base. Called the Vegan Giardiniera. 
The vegan mozzarella is available across the board on all their pizzas. 

Read more from their Head of Food and Drink, Holly Davies, here: 

https://www.pizzaexpress.com/news/vegan-giardiniera


Moseley craft beer festival is on from the 28th-30th July at The Dark Horse. Expect to find Vegan and Veggie friendly beers and lots of laughs. 


Burrito top dogs Habaneros have begun a kitchen residency at craft beer pub 1000 Trades in the Jewellery Quarter. Expect some lip tastic veggie friendly burritos and tacos on the menu. Otherwise catch them In  city centre near the cathedral in their street food burrito mobile. 

Tipton pie people Mad O’Rourke’s have a Brewery selling pies opening later in the year in Digbeth. Veggie and vegan pies a plenty. Expect opening sometime after August. Watch this space. 

Finally, Veggie Foodie favourites Sabai Sabai will be opening up a fourth venue for their fine Thai food in Birmingham City Centre. Open later this year on Waterloo Street. 

Following on from the original Moseley restaurant, Harborne, and Stratford Upon Avon. 

See you there. 


Here’s my latest review of Sabai Sabai https://t.co/s1aprNIf3g

That’s all folks. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

A Feast of food for Vegetarians and Vegans in Wolverhampton. 

Posted in Lunch, Lunch deals, Take away by

Feast-Food is Wolverhamptons own Vegetarian and Vegan delivery lunch service.

Delivering healthy and nutritious food each meal is £5 and simple to order. 

Message via social media or head to the website. 

Dishes such as Vegan friendly Raw courgette and spinach risotto, sweet potato, chick pea and spinach salad, pea Nut curry and chick pea burger are all or have been available. 

This week try aubergine and green bean curry (Vegan) or black bean chilli. 

Previously shepherds pie (vegan) cashew hotdogs, or lentil Dahl and mango chutney have appeared on the menu 

See full menu below. 

Add a healthy snack to your order, such as vegan fruit and nut or vegan chocolate and coconut bite for only £1.



Getting good and healthy veggie food can be quite difficult and this seems a brilliant addition to the Wolverhampton food scene. 

http://www.feast-foods.co.uk/

Feast Foods are holding a Pop up Vegetarian Restaurant on the 7th April at Perton Park golf course, Wrottesley Park Road, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7HL. 

A three course Middle Eastern meal for £30 plus cocktail. See below for ticket info: 

https://billetto.co.uk/en/events/feast-pop-up-restaurant

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

New menu at The Almanack, kenilworth. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants, Kenilworth by

 

The Almanack has already got the New Year off to the best possible start by launching an exciting new menu for dining, grazing and sharing, from morning until night. There’s also plenty going on at the bar right now at Kenilworth’s popular gastropub.

 Head chef Jakub Fijak has come up with an all-new menu of great gastropub dishes that you can tuck into any time from 12 noon until 10 at night, each one a delicious plate packed with the good stuff.

He’s also put together a fabulous collection of small pots for mixing and matching so you can make up your own tapas style selection to enjoy with a glass of something chilled at the bar or if you’re in the mood for late night nibbles.
 Think British-style deli pots to have individually or on a board – 
 

And just because you might need to tighten your purse strings after the festive season, you won’t need to shy away from the pub right now because he’s come up with a cracking choice of daily deal dishes available each lunch time as well. Look out for dishes such as 

The daily deal is two courses for £12.50 every day bar Sunday, when The Almanack’s great roasts are on offer bringing you bottomless roasties and towering Yorkies alongside sweet crumble served at the table.  

On the bar, meanwhile, The Almanack’s branded beer glasses are making a comeback by popular demand, so now you can savour a perfectly poured pint of Peroni, Purity or Estrella in your favourite glass.

 You can also get your weekend off to the best possible start by taking advantage of a very special offer for Friday evenings. Treat yourself to one of the three great Grand Gins on The Almanack’s list including a classic London Dry Beefeater or a distinctive cucumber and rose infused Hendrick’s gin and get another on us.

 “We’re excited to be kicking off the New Year with plenty of good things to eat and drink and plenty of good reasons to visit the pub,” says head chef Jakub Fijak. “I’ve put a lot of thought into the new dishes on my menu; I love serving the good stuff and there’s even more of it on offer right now from breakfast right through to dinner.

 “I’ll be serving my new gastropub dishes all day so you can eat well until 10 o’clock at night, and the new arrivals on our bar menu mean you can order something tasty to go with a good bottle of wine or a beer, or for those moments when the munchies take over. Jon, Ania and the team will be taking good care of you too, whenever you visit.

 “Sometimes a change is all you need and we think we’ve got everything you need for a great time here at The Almanack. Come and see us soon,” he says.

For Vegetarians, there are numerous choices: Try out

Veggie Board- includes; 

Sesame crusted halloumi, Peanuts and crunchy vegetables, Westcombe Cheddar.

Macaroni and cheese

warm crispy Camembert and fig relish. 

Parsnip and cheddar cakes, tomato chutney. 

Either/Or

Herb Pancakes, mushroom and spinach stuffing, Gruyere, cream sauce. 

Superfood Salad: Sesame crusted halloumi, peanuts, crunchy veg and oriental dressing. 


Mains: 

Butternut Squash, Spinach and barley Wellington, Baby Jackets and vegetarian gravy. 

Daily Deal: 

2 courses for £12.30. 

Monday 12-10pm 

Tuesday-Saturday 12-6.30pm

Starters: 

Parsnips and cheddar cakes, tomato chutney

Herb pancakes, mushrooms and spinach stuffing and gruyere. 

Mains: 

Tart of the day and two salads or Butternut squash Wellington. 

Superfood salad

Plus burger option: 

Spicy bean burger, slaw, chive, sour cream, chips and onion rings. 

Sandwiches available daily. 

The new menu is now being served at The Almanack from 12 noon until 10pm every day. To enjoy £15 off when you dine any week day before 10th February, just quote ‘New Year’s Treat’ when you book.

Breakfast is available until noon and Gin O’clock is every Friday from 6pm to 8pm. Roasts are also served all day on Sundays until 9pm including vegetarian. 

The Almanack, Abbey End North, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ. Tel: 01926 353637 

http://www.thealmanack-kenilworth.co.uk hello@thealmanack-kenilworth.co.uk

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

All photos courtesy of The Almanack.

Veggie takeaway watch: Esme’s Eats, Kings Heath

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Caribbean, Independent, Kings Heath by

Sometimes a takeaway is just what’s required on a Saturday evening and after eating numerous (and enjoyed) Kings Dining curries a change was in order. 

Ruth’s a big Caribbean food fan. She loves the meaty curries and flavours that are de rigour of the region. 

I’ve eaten a bit of Caribbean food, but as a veggie it’s harder to find the variation in dishes to keep me keen and interested. 

What I’ve eaten I’ve enjoyed and having been brought up in Handsworth the homemade Jamaican Rum Cakes I’ve had resulted in superlatives that I can still see, feel and hear now. 

So it was on a cool Saturday evening that I walked up to Esmie’s Eats to collect our food. This local Kings Heath restaurant has had a bit of a makeover in recent months and offers, breakfasts, lunches and evening meals as well as takeaways. Inside it’s cafe like, but in a lovely way that makes it feel authentic and when busy would provide a cracking atmosphere that is the escence of the Caribbean. 

That evening it was quiet, I’d ordered over the phone and felt instantly comfortable and trusting of the lovely service and friendliness of Esme’s charms. The menu isn’t as you would expect full of Vegetarian dishes but at this point I didn’t mind and the Veggie Mutton Curry intrigued me and scared me in equal measure. 

Made from soya protein and mushrooms slowly cooked in its own juices its a delightful dish, that was as piping hot as the Strictly dancing that gobbled me up with my thirst quenching Purity Ubu beer. Full of good flavour and subtle spicing it was a lovely warming dish that was deeply satisfying. Served with Rice and Peas. 

We also ordered a portion of Fried Dumplings and a side portion of Plaintain which were both excellent and added to the curry. 

For heartwarming food Esme’s Eats is a good choice for an alternative weekend bite. Especially if you live with a meat eater and don’t won’t to do without the Veggie Mutton Curry is heart- warming food with good flavours and spicing and a satisfying meal for a winters evening. 

For veggies well worth trying. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊



Esme’s Eats is located in Kings Court in Kings Heath High Street opposite ASDA. 

3 Kings Court, 93 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ.

0121-439 8282.

Restaurant Review: Sabai Sabai, Moseley, Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars, Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, Cocktails, Gastro Card, Independent, Moseley, Thai, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie, Veggie foodie by

Picture the scene. Out with Ruth,  a romantic meal cut off from the main Moseley drag on Woodbridge Road. A window table, private, candlelight, very nice. When suddenly out of no where a group of drunken men walk past and decide to pull faces at the window and shout out things you hear on a Saturday night, breaks the romance and a scene remembered to this day.

Then picture the scene when for Ruth’s Birthday meal we arrive at the same restaurant and see a table for two free in the same window, hearts miss a beat and words I’m not sitting there pass through our mouths.

Fear not there are also free tables inside so we sit comfortably away from the door and aforementioned window. That’s the story of one of our many visits to Sabai Sabai in Moseley. One of three Thai restaurants owned by Torquil and Judee Chiswick. The others in Harborne and Stratford Upon Avon have their own identities, their own regulars. We though love the intimacy and bijou feel of the original, (10 years old) it’s perfect for couples and for a little romance.

The Bohemian ways of Mosley Village dictate that the decor is as rich with colour as the food. There’s a good buzz about Sabai Sabai and it’s popularity desires you book on a weekend.

Having recently won the Best Oriental Establishment at The Food Awards, held in Manchester, Sabai Sabai’s star is ascending. The recent opening in Stratford Upon Avon is the first out of Birmingham and a hit already with the theatre crowd.

And then the food. So often Thai food can be so richly spiced that Fireman Sam needs to be called out to rescue the choking Norman. But here delicate flavours are contrasted and compliment perfectly the booming spice that makes these dishes whisper fire.

Kanam Jeeb Pak starts me off. Steamed mix veg dumplings topped with crispy garlic and served with a delicious sweet dark soy sauce contrasting perfectly the depth of flavour in the dumplings which are perfect for dipping. Balanced flavours, crisp and firm a delight.

Sabai Sabai have a huge choice for Vegetarians from stir frys to a recommended  Phad Thai and a tempting set menu for the undecided. My choice the Gang Ka Ree, yellow curry, was a colourful and vibrant veggie slice of heaven. Golden fried Tofu simmered in coconut milk with potatoes, onion, mixed veg in a mild and sweetly spiced yellow curry sauce. It’s a deeply satisfying main course with just the right amount of sweetness from the coconut milk to pronounce the rich creaminess which though milder than some of the dishes packs a punch on many levels with its vegetables and sophisticated delicacy.

I ate it with Kao Pad Kai (Egg fried Rice) which worked beautifully with the outstanding curry.

We also shared some delicious Pak Choi in garlic sauce, stir fried perfectly. A joy.

I have found desserts are sometimes hit and miss in Thai restaurants. An after thought, an add on that they feel they must put on the menu because we dictate we need a pudding after the meal in the west. Much like some Indian desserts many are underwhelming.

The distinctive green colour of the Pandan leaf makes  a vibrant pancake into a satisfying end to the meal. It offers a wonderful subtle flavour to the gentle coconut. Traditionally a breakfast sweet originating from Bali it proves to make a fantastic dessert and well recommended to quench the spicyness of the previous courses. A winner.

Pandan leaf pancakes with coconut.

Sabai Sabai in Moseley is a lovely restaurant. The food is top notch, and with invigorating flavours and a cosy feel it’s a recommended dining choice in Birmingham for Vegetarians. 

The only critique I can find is that the service can be erratic (not listening, waiting for drinks, a tad rushed) and either very good or a bit noneplused. Though always friendly and at times efficient it’s just best to put up with it as it’s a minor quibble and doesn’t detract from a lovely experience.

The Cosyness and intimacy of the venue is an asset and I was pleased the music volume had been lowered (as once it was so loud it was more club like than romantic restaurant). Sabai Sabai in Moseley is one of the most romantic spots to eat in Birmingham and perfect for a date. Just remember though if you are seated in the window to watch out for interruptions, can it be funny? though with Thai food this good who can fail to miss out on this real taste of Thailand.

Thanks for reading,

Andy 😊

We enjoyed a bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with our meal. A good though pricey wine choice at £29.95.

We paid for a food and drinks in full and why not I’m happy too.

Sabai Sabai Moseley, 25 Woodbridge Road, Birmingham B13 8EH.

0121-449-4498.

http://www.sabaisabai-restaurant.co.uk/

Sabai Sabai is part of The Gastro Card and you can receive 10% off food bill Sunday-Wednesday.

To buy a card see link here:

http://www.gastrocard.co.uk/buy/

http://www.gastrocard.co.uk/

Sabai Sabai – Moseley

Veggie Foodie Tip: 

Have a glass of top quality wine at the excellent new independent wine bar Cheval Blanc in Moseley Village before dinner. Cocktails also served.

I enjoyed a glass of Red, Le Gourmand Domaine du Janicer from France.

Ruth a superb Gin Martini.