Rosaās Thai Cafe is yet another London restaurant crossing over to the North and opening in Birmingham, we are the second city after all and causing quite a stir on the culinary scene. Rosa’s was founded by Chef Saiphin and serves up āaward-winning authentic Thai food that is bold on flavourā. I adore Thai cuisine so of course, I was very excited to try this out.
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Located in the heart of the new Paradise Circus, this is the first Rosaās Cafe to open in the Midlands. First impressions were at odds with every other Thai restaurant Iāve been too. The decor was understated, the atmosphere pretty vacant – but then again it was a Tuesday night in the cafeās second week of opening.
My sister and I decided to order several starter plates: crispy prawns, summer rolls, honey-marinated pork skewers, sweetcorn cakes and the obligatory prawn crackers. The portion sizes were decent, the colours were vibrant, and everything looked appealing to the eye. Lets start with what we did like: the crispy prawns were fresh and fragrant and the sweet chilli dip provided a welcome zing. The honey-marinated pork skewers were tender and juicy – a plate I would definitely recommend. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes were disappointing. There was way too much sweetcorn than cake in the patties and virtually no seasoning. Now I know summer rolls are supposed to be served cold but are summer rolls supposed to give you brain freeze? Biting into one of these was like biting into a choc ice thatās been sitting in your mumās freezer since 2005. Refreshing maybe but again, bland as fuck.
Luckily the mains were a bigger hit. I ordered the stir-fried beef with black pepper sauce and sticky rice. The beef was full of flavour albeit it a little on the chewy side and the sauce was just glorious drizzled over the sticky rice and scooped up with a prawn cracker. My sister ordered the fried aubergine and confirmed it was sweet, salty and moreish. It was probably the most authentic dish we picked.
The staff were very friendly and attentive, our server was fantastic and I couldn’t help but feel bad when he asked us about the half-eaten plates on our table. Admittedly my sister and I messed up by ordering mostly deep-fried dishes to start. By the time the mains came we were rubbing our tummies and exhaling like labouring women.
Unfortunately for me, Rosa’s Thai Cafe was disappointing. I felt it was lacking the flavours and spice Thai food is famous for. Where was the spice?! I felt I could have gone to another chain such as Sabai Sabai and experienced bolder flavours. After visiting Thailand and tasting authentic Thai cuisine I don’t think Rosa’s comes close. For a quick working lunch maybe – as I said, the service was excellent – but for an evening meal with friends or family it’s a strong no. I understand there can be teething problems in the first couple of weeks so I might try it later in the year, but Iām definitely not in a rush.
I’ll be honest I wanted to love it. Itās in a great spot and the cafe itself is light, breezy and welcoming. But the absence of flavour in its dishes means that Rosaās might well be overshadowed by others in the city centre who deliver a more authentic Thai experience
Are you surprised that there is yet another new opening in Digbeth? not really, because everyone is talking about Digbeth right now. From exciting new hospitality venues to draw-dropping street art that lures people in from all over the world to appreciate Digbeth’s uniqueness, nerve, and talent, Digbeth is the word. The latest opening in Digbeth is Luna Springs brought to you by London-based Adventure Bar Group who operate nine bars in London such as Bar Elba, Blame Gloria, and Tonight Josephine. Embracing creative energy and inspiration that buzzes through the city, located in the Digbeth Arena and surrounded by an urban concrete jungle with a splash of 80’s nostalgia,
Taking over the Digbeth Arena that currently has a capacity of 400 but will soon look to increase this to 2,500 after Co-vid restrictions lift, there is indeed, plenty of space for all. The bar area is huge which is great because as it’s such a big venue I did wonder what the ordering at the bar situation would be like when restrictions are lifted. My time slot was 2.30 pm on a Friday with three of my blogging pals, upon arrival we were asked to check-in using the NHS app and informed that we must wear masks when walking around the venue. Sitting under what can only be described as a giant Battenberg cake which was very vibrant! looking around you can see quite clearly that this venue is pretty big! Plenty of seating that is spaced out and plenty of cool street-art backdrops for those Instagram photos!
Looking at the menu, the prices for the drinks are very reasonable from Ā£8-Ā£10 for cocktails It’s kind of the “norm” price for a cocktail these days in Birmingham. I ordered the zombie cocktail which comes in a very quirky Tiki glass. Its Havana Club Especial rum, Pussers dark rum, velvet falernum, pink grapefruit cordial, citrus and pineapple juice, passionfruit and grenadineā¦Yep, its a mouthful alright! I can happily confirm that you do get a lot of alcohol for the price and it’s simply not just watered down with JUICE. The Zombie cocktail is full of flavour and was definitely giving me holiday vibes! The next cocktail I went for was the Strawberry and melon martini that was just so refreshing and tasted so gorgeous. My favourite cocktail was the Hibiscus Margarita, you just can’t beat a good Margarita and this one was pretty darn good.
If you’re not a big fan of cocktails then they have plenty of alcohol beverages such as shooters, wine, beer and more. They also do alcohol free cocktails and soft drinks.
Cocktails are fabulous here but the waiting times are not so much, it did take a while to order and receive the cocktails however this was opening week so I expected a few teething problems. I did feed this back to the team in which I was insured this was going to be looked at. I will say however, the staff are very friendly here and a lot of fun!
Luna Springs also offer food from burgers to sides such as fries, I didn’t get to try this as I was too busy gulping down cocktails but I do remember I tried the chips and I Enjoyed them. They also have street food pop ups such as The English Indian and The Handmade Pizza Co.
The venue is superb, and really fits in nicely with Digbeth attracting students to families. Luna Springs will also be opening their Moodlight Cinema which will be pretty special and something you shoudl defiently book in to this Summer. A movie under the stars with a cocktail? Hell to the Yeah Bab. Luna Springs is most likely to be packed out throughout the Summer with its electric atmosphere and sassy cocktail menu, Another venue with no doubt in my mind will succeed and will have a thriving future here in Digbeth, The place to be is Luna Springs that’s for sure!
UPDATE I recently attended Luna Springs again and ordered some drinks, in which this time, I didnt wait long at all. Drinks came within five minutes and service was super sharp!
Say HOLA! to real Authentic Mexican cuisine courtesy of Good Food Cartell right here in the Midlands. Serving Mexican food that is full of flavour, made with the freshest ingredients out of a truck at The Hearsall Inn Pub in Coventry on Craven Street. The Owner Michael invited me down to try out some of the food and was served a warning to ” not eat too much on the day” and boy was he right, an absolute fiesta de agrietamiento was waiting for us!
Now when it comes to Mexican food I have to admit, I am not the biggest fan but that’s because I have always been let down when I have had Mexican food. It’s always been a solid “No” or “It’s just okay” it has never had my full attention and the only time it has was when I was in San Diego in 2010 in the Mexican village. Nothing has come close until I tried Good Food Cartel which exceeded my expectations and has certainly got me excited again for Mexican cuisine.
The first dish was the tacos 3 for Ā£9 or 6 for Ā£16, bursting with colour complete with appealing garnishes and a mouth-watering aroma’s. Full of tangy sauces, shots of spice and fresh ingredients packed into a soft blue corn tortilla that is gluten-free. Fillings included chicken, cow, pig, jackfruit and cactus? Yes, cactus, and believe it or not this was my favourite filling as a non-vegetarian I preferred this to the meats. It does have a unique taste to it but I found it went beautifully with the garnishes and tangy sauces.
The second dish was the Elote Ā£3.00 which is cooked corn on the cob covered with lime juice, cheese, honey mustard mayo and chilli mix. Tangy, Sweet, and FUCK (Yes I am going to swear in this review) it was unbelievable. I believe this is Good Food Cartel’s secret weapon because on the outside it just looks like fancy corn on the cob but the insideā¦Wow, its MIND-BLOWING. I don’t blame you for reading this review and thinking Amy mate, it’s corn on the cob? But honestly guy’s, this little guy blows my mind. The flavours are incredible and weirdly enough, it has that sweet taste which to me, oddly reminds me of ice cream. ā£ The third dish was the Cow Burrito-Beef brisket Ā£8.00 with guacamole and Pico de gallo. Beautiful and full of flavour, and not messy! I can’t stand a messy burrito where it all falls out the bottom or goes soggy. Very filling but not too much, just right.
The fourth dish was the Quesadilla’s Ā£7.00, fillings included Cow, Pig, Chicken, Jackfruit or cactus. Toasted beautifully with plenty of cheese, full of flavour and was just another mouth-watering dish that took my breath away. My favourite topping I would have to say is the Al Pastor pork shoulder that just worked beautifully with the chipotle sauce dipped into the guacamole and sour cream.
ā£The fifth dish was Nachos Ā£4.50, Full of layers Babs, plenty of corn Tortilla chips that pack an epic crunch combined with fresh guacamole, salsa, and sour cream smothered in melted cheese. FantĆ”stica!ā£ ā£ All washed down with BOING Guava Juice which is a natural fruit beverage made from Guava that was refreshing and a great cleanser after such a massive feast.
This was the first Mexican meal that I have had in years where I have not felt disappointed. Good Food Cartel serves up incredible food that is bursting with flavour, made with the freshest ingredients and isn’t charging silly money such as Ā£15 for a Burrito. Great value for money and the portions are very generous for how much you are paying, the set of 6 tacos for Ā£16 is superb! Shared between two we felt satisfied and there was still four more dishes to go!
Michael is fantastic, full of knowledge and LOLS, he entertained us through out our feast. He really looked after us and it was very interesting to hear his story of starting up Good Food Cartel at the start of lockdown.
FINALLY, I have discovered real Authentic Mexican food that I love. The only problem is that I love it so much that I am having GFC blues! I really do hope to see them over in Birmingham this year but if not, It is definitely worth the trip down to Coventry. Thank you so much for inviting me down and congratulations to Good Food Cartel for creating something very special in lockdown for people to enjoy and making me finally fall in love with Mexican food.
You will find Good Food Cartel at The Hearsall Inn on Craven Street in Coventry. They will now be offering table service from Monday to Sunday and you will need to book your tables here at bookings@hearsallinn.com Please show your support and give Good Food Cartel a follow on socials
Well, it looks like we don’t have to travel far to get into the festive spirit this Christmas with the newest addition to Sutton Coldfield, introducing Silver Tree Bakery. Now, you may recognise the name as throughout lockdown I was none stop ordering from them, from essential groceries to the lockdown treats such as cream tea, Silver Tree was an absolute lifesaver not just for me but for many who live in Sutton Coldfield and the surrounding areas.
Located in the heart of Sutton Coldfield, Silver Tree is a catering company, catering for events and weddings throughout Birmingham, they then turned to local heroes delivering essential groceries and treats to people in lockdown and now they have become shop owners. I was delighted for them when they announced they will be opening up a Bakery in Sutton Coldfield, and now seeing the Bakery open during the pandemic, seeing people enjoying themselves and the business thriving already, I am over the moon for them.
Located on Water Orton Lane in Minworth you will find this quirky, Scandinavian style wooden chalet accompanied with fire pit, picnic benches, and faux fur throws. A little bit of Lapland in Sutton Coldfield, We didn’t ask for it but now realised how so badly we needed this especially this time of year with the pandemic, there was not one miserable pout insight!
There is a queuing system and of course, social distancing rules put in place, as you enter the bakery there is more seating however due to Tier 3 restrictions, the seating can not be used. You can grab breakfast sarnies, cakes, bakes coffee and more, and toast your tootsies too on the fire whilst munching away on some awesome food, It’s absolutely delightful. ā£ There is also the option for click & collect on their website here where you can also order hampers and desserts such as lemon drizzle cake and Bakewell tarts.
Hot drinks are also on offer at the bakery, I opted for a cappuccino and it was a beauty alright, I spotted a few fancy hot chocolates some of the kids were tucking into however I thought scrapping with a six-year-old is not how I would like to end my year, plus, the six-year-old was way taller than me, I didn’t have a chance.
The cakes and bakes are amazing, especially the cinnamon bun, crikey, I could kick myself just for picking up one! Before I even made it into the bakery, a man stepped out and announced to the queue “The sausage rolls are the best around” so of course, I ordered two and I can confirm, That they are indeed, the best sausage rolls aroundā¦boar off Greggs.
The staff are so lovely here, I had the pleasure of meeting some of them in lockdown and it was great to meet them again and hear they are doing so well already. Smiles all around, and you can tell they are proud of their bakery, I would be to, it’s wonderful and the positivity of the staff here just make it even more wonderful.
Not just for kids, but for the whole family, Silver Tree Bakery is a must-visit for all. It was lovely to see people come together (social distance of course) enjoy good food, have a coffee and just to feel a bit of normality! The Bakery is perfect, put together so well and is just so festive, it’s impossible to not get into the Christmas spirit here. ā£Congratulations to you all and I wish you the very best with the Bakery, I am sure it will thrive here in Sutton Coldfield.
Open from Wednesday to Sunday Wed-Fri: 8AM to 6PM Saturday: 8am to 4PM Sunday: 9AM TO 2PM
Introducing a vibrant new independent to Birmingham located in the Great Western Arcade you’ll find The Pineapple Club, A new bar that is currently slaying the Birmingham bar scene. Neon lights, pink interior, art deco furniture and the Basic Bitch photo opportunities to be had here, The Pineapple Club is bringing the EXTRA that Birmingham so badly needs!
Opened in September, bookings are filling up quite fast so I managed to book in for early October on a Friday from 5.30 pm to 7 pm for drinks and food. Arriving at The Pineapple Club you enter into the shop where they sell a variety of wines and cheeky alcohol beverages, looking a little bare yes, but its quality over quantity here Bab and there is quite the impressive selection of booze on offer. Walking up the stairs you are hit with botanical and pink neon scenes that is sure to make you eye lit up!
Straight away, this place oozes sexiness and style, So stylish with the 1920s interior with art deco styled furniture throwing in a bit of futuristic neon creating those Instagram photo shoots opportunities. We all are a sucker for a little of neon and pink so straight away my eyes lit up to this and got me quite excited!
Sitting down at our table we took a look at the drinks menu which is very impressive, you got your basic bitch cocktails like Pornstar Martini but then you got your fancy and creative cocktails such as candy club punch and Kawaii Milk. If you donāt fancy a cocktail you can always opt for Wine and beer. They also provide non-alcohol cocktails and soft drinks for those who fancy a quiet one or don’t drink alcohol. In regards to the food menu, they do a good selection of Spanish tapas inspired small plates from meat dishes such as chorizo to vegetarian dishes such as Colombian Arepas with guacamole. We did worry a bit with the amount of food we were going to order as the table was quite small so we did ask if we could change tables however this was not allowed as all tables were booked up.
For the drinks, I ordered a Candy club Punch, Beefeater pink gin, fruit wine, cranberry and vintage candy cordial, so fruity, so sweet and so satisfying. Very easy to drink too however could be going down the dangerous route as I was drinking it like fruit juice! For food, we ordered Gambas al Ajillo (prawns), chorizo, chicken skewers, Colombian Arepas with guacamole and the cheese board for two. The lady who served us was very informative, one of my friends only eats Halal meat so she was very helpful in advising which dishes would be best to eat such as vegetarian dishes.
The food came within 15 minutes, and it was quite the squeeze fitting it on the table however we managed it. The chorizo dish was beautiful but it never came with sliced bread in what the menu said (however we did ask for this and it came straight away, no problem)The prawns were cooked to perfection, couldnāt fault them and full of flavor. Colombian Arepas was surprisingly delicious (it was the least dish I was looking forward to) and the portion was pretty generous!
Unfortunately, the cheeseboard was a little bit disappointing in regards to size and variety, I expected more cheese’s and more meats HOWEVER what was there was delicious, just could do with a bit more variety. The cheeseboard also came with pickles and breadsticks, there was nothing to dip the breadsticks in so to me, it was quite random, it would have been better to have a dip (aioli) or freshly baked bread to put the cheese and meats on top. Early days of course for Pineapple Club but maybe these things can be considered.
The meal came to Ā£60 between three Ā£20 each, which I was very happy to pay and really enjoyed the meal. If you’re looking to improve your Instagram game and chill out with a couple of cocktails and eat some good food hit this place up! It is really thriving and quite busy in there, but no wonder, they got it right, Brum needed something like this. We need more neon, botanical, fancy pink interior and basic bitch vibes because let’s face it, we all have a basic bitch in us and we bloody love it!
There is no doubt in my mind that The Pineapple Club will continue to succeed and become a much loved independent in Birmingham by Brummies and travellers to our City. Thank you to The Pineapple Club for having us and Welcome to Brum Babs!
Disgustingly satisfying burgers, over the top fancy cocktails, and a bathtub full of balls? Welcome to the NO BASIC BITCHES ALLOWED Club. You can’t miss the neon signs, the pinkness, and the jaw-dropping cocktails, this isnāt no basic bitch restaurant Bab! Located in Leamington Spa and tucked away on Augusta Pl (just look for a pink sign) step on through to the world of FEMME celebrating the power of FEMALE! This restaurant just screams girl power and is a must-visit for us girls to meet up, have a bitch, with a couple of proseccoās in hand or by the end of it…all down us!
From mountain high Mummy Harts roasts to colourful brunches where you can pimp your burger or eat a stack of rainbow pancakes, Hart + Co means business when it comes to having fun and eating good food. On Saturday, my Cousin and I decided to try out the bottomless brunch for Ā£30-Ā£35. We were running a little bit late due to the changes of train timetables, when we informed Hart that we were going to be late they were very accommodating and told us not to worry, our table will still be there waiting for us.
Arriving at Hart & Co, they took our names and walked us over to our table which was under a beautiful pastel display of balloons. The tables were spaced out and social distancing was taking place so straight away I felt very safe in there. We were then approached by our server who asked us what drinks we would be going for, we opted for the beer bottomless brunch as the last time I had prosecco it was a complete and utter disaster…I lost my trousers…like seriously.
Our server then went through the house rules “Don’t fall asleep” “Keep your glasses topped upā very tongue and cheek, and straight away creating that fun experience! We were advised it was table service only, ordering food is done via Instagram. The brunch menu was to be found on Hart & Co’s Instagram story displaying the options for brunch where you could choose from waffles, pancakes, burgers, etc. Ordering your food, you would need to confirm the table number and your order via Instagram message to Hart & Co, very different but also something that maybe the older generation may not like due to not having social media however I am sure Hart & Co would take the order there and then.
The beer was served straight away after house rules were explained and they were HEAVY! I do love a good pint of beer, but this was like two pints in one! Very generous and very satisfying, ice-cold just the way I like it!
Looking around, every table was full of girls, it made me realize how bloody loud us girls are! Sometimes It was hard to hear but when you are in a room with girls and unlimited prosecco, what do you expect?! The layout of the restaurant is very FEMME, Walls covered in Pink, some feminism artwork scattered around that tied in really well with the restaurant, and fun props such as a bathtub full of balls which is set up at the front of the restaurant where groups are invited to take photos accompanied with a selfie light however Due to CO-VID this was sectioned off but still plenty of photo opportunities to have here!
When it came to ordering, I went for the cheeky Hog burger, a beef patty with lots of cheese, chorizo, bacon, crispy onions and topped with brioche. My cousin went for the Cheesy chap which is a beefy patty smothered in all kinds of cheese! Within 20 minutes of ordering the food arrived and…Dayum.
I swear to you, this is a burger alright! It was monstrous! Swamped in chorizo, cheese, onions, and just pure delicious FILTH! Of course, I could not finish it with a side of “basic bitch” fries but it was pretty fun to tuck into especially been given some gloves to try and hack the mess of eating it. The beef was cooked perfectly and what an experience to trying stuff all that in my gob!
Soon as the food arrived, we were asked if we wanted another beer, so they do keep you topped up quite well here and the staff are bloody lovely.! Filling up quite quickly with the massive portions and unlimited beer, this is one brunch where you won’t be leave starving and running to McDonald’s.
I will say it was very HEAVY, very heavy, an overload of carbs and meat and within five minutes I was stuffed. Dining at Hart & Co was so much fun, the brunch is pretty impressive, fun, creative, and massive portions with a quirky twist, I will be honest it’s not my favourite brunch I have ever had but it was definitely an experience and it tasted delicious! We had a lot of fun here and that’s what Hart & Co is about, having fun and eating good HEARTY food.
The cocktails are next level, cocktail in a chinse takeaway box? out of a Russian doll? They certainly do pull the phones out of your pockets!
Many may look at Hart & Co as just another Instagram restaurant to lure these IG kids in to take photos all day, yes everywhere you look is an Instagram worthy post but What I love about Hart + Co is that they are creative and fun with food, they dare to be different, I mean, Who thinks of a spaghetti Bolognese burger?! Only Hart & Co…
They care about their guests, and they want us to have fun whilst tucking into some seriously amazing food and sassy cocktais! An experience that all must experience visiting Leamington Spa, and an independent that is bound to be loved by all for being so EXTRA and fabulous!
Hart and Co are offering their bottomless brunches every weekend, please head on over to their social media page here to book. If you fancy a fun afternoon out with the girls with lots of bubbles, sterling food, and smiles for hours, then make sure you book in with Hart + Co, you won’t be disappointed…Okurrr!
Secret Garden meets Narnia without the snow in Westminster tube station…Intrigued? confused? of course you bloody are. I just involved Narnia and a tube station in a review of a restaurant in Birmingham! Craft Dining Rooms is not the typical dining experience that you will find on every street in Birmingham or any City! Bringing artistry, coolness, and a very British feel giving diners a unique dining experience that they would want to experience all over again.
The last time I went to Craft was for the launch of Crafts Secret Garden back in January/February time, it’s been on the list for ages to try out and finally, on a chilly Friday afternoon, my cousin and I got to try out Craft, finally! Located just outside the ICC opposite the bridge to Brindley Place (you can’t miss it) full of blooms, sleek design, and awesome futuristic dining pods outside. Upon entering Craft, you walk through a tunnel of flowers which is an impressive touch, and I can also hear the squeal of those Instagram Girls eyeing it up for their next post, An blooming lovely great impression.Inside the venue, you are greeted by the receptionist on the front desk, and on your right is a pretty cool cocktail bar that is oh so chic! We first had our temperatures checked which was a pretty odd experience as we just stood in front of a device on the wall which looked like a camera, and then the receptionist confirmed all was well and showed us to our table, technology these days hey?!
The dining room is just stunning, it’s so sleek, so fancy and so clean! Covered with blossoms and a pop of yellow here and there making it already quite the classy dining experience my cousin and I were looking for.
A set menu is displayed on your table: starter and main for Ā£33 or starter, main and pudding for Ā£39, and there is also a four-course set menu for Ā£45. We decided to go for the two-course menu, starter, and main as I am not really a pudding person! A staff member came over and collected our orders. I ordered a raspberry gin with lemonade, for my starter the salted beef, pickles and mustard, then for my main I ordered the lamb, garlic and aubergine.
The cocktails came out first, refreshing, and delicious, and plenty to get through! Within ten minutes the salted beef starter came out, I loved how quirky the dish is, very beautifully presented and it was full of flavour. Accompanied by a Brioche roll, we were off to a great start with our meal! My cousin went for the tomato soup which she said was very delicious and quite filling.
Onto the mains and the lamb came out within 15 minutes, lovely and tender, absolutely full of flavour and I will say this, that was some of the best lamb I have had in a very long time! complimented with garlic, aubergine, caramelized onion, and a variety of purees, it really was quite a powerful dish. Now, a little criticism all though the food was sensational, the one thing I would have liked to be offered is CARBS, a few potatoes would have topped of the lamb dish and filled that pesky little bit of hunger in my stomach after finishing my meal. It just would have been nice to have the option of ordering a side dish to accompany the main, maybe this is something Craft can look into?
That is all the criticism I have to say. The experience and the food is sensational here at Craft, the staff are an absolute joy to talk to, so helpful, so polite, and they really do make you feel quite important here at Craft! Our server was amazing, full of information, and was delightful!
Upon our visit, we managed to get a sneak preview of About 8 which is Crafts sister restaurant opening on 8th October which is going to be the ultimate fine dining experience and something Brum has never seen before! I won’t go into too much detail but if youād like to know more then please do head to their website here and make sure you book yourself in!
The option of private dining is available, as Craft offers a beautiful private dining area for that special occasion, and let’s not forget booking one of the garden pods which adds a bit of uniqueness to your dining experience. For Ā£33 for a two-course meal oozing fine British dining at its best with a side order of fantastic customer service, beautiful scenery and delicious cocktails is something not to be missed when visiting Birmingham, Craft is a must-visit for all to experience something a little bit different to your “Basic Bitch” chain restaurant dining.
Craft is that unique dining experience we all crave occasionally, however once visited you’ll be craving it once a week. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the passion that this restaurant has put in to create a positive and special dining experience to guests is something that should be admired by all. Craft dares to be different and is a fantastic representative of the foodie community here in our amazing city, which is sure to be loved by all.
WARNING: Some Seriously New High Fashion Food Coming Your Way This Summer/Autumn.
Introducing Pinch of Masala -POM- A family-run catering company in Smethwick who cater for weddings and events but unfortunately was hit hard by the pandemic, looking for ways to get business back on track they decided to offer a new takeaway service across Birmingham. This is one takeaway service that stand’s out from the rest, I can assure you. I was gifted a free meal of my choice in exchange for my views. I posted quite a few photos on Instagram and you were all gagging for a full review so here it is, expect nothing less than 5-star service and food from Pinch of Masala.
Pinch Of Masala have a website where you can order your food [here]once accessing the website you’ll realise straight away that this is not your typical Indian takeaway! Full of colour and beautiful photography, A website that is very easy to navigate around and what I love about the ordering process is that POM provides photos of all the food on the menu so you know what to expect. You can book delivery on the day or in the next couple of days which is fantastic if you are having a little gathering and inviting your friends round!
With such a large selection of meat, vegetable, and vegan dishes I did just want to order the whole menu! A Fantastic menu for all and also for vegetarians and vegans, loads to choose from! Also people with allergies there is an allergy guide on the website telling you about all the dishes and what they contain, which will come in very useful. They also have set menus, and offer dessert and BEER!
MY ORDER
Starter: Masala Fried Prawns Jackin’panko wings
Main (Feeds up to two): Palak Gosht (Lamb and Spinach) Butter Chicken
I was going to be sharing between three people so I thought this was plenty! I chose a 7 pm time slot and my food arrived at 7pm in which, from all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield was very impressive. I met the owner Dinesh who was so friendly and passionate about his business, full of positively and was just so lovely to meet. What caught my eye straight away was the most fashionable takeaway bag I had ever seen! compared to a Selfridges kind of style (but way better) I knew straight away that POM are not playing when it comes to standing out. Another impressive point was that the food came in containers that are made from plant fibre and recycling plastic! great for those who want to look after their environment and it just makes the food look a lot more appealing using these containers instead of those hideous plastic 20P boxes.
I have to say, from coming all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield and opening the lid of the food seeing the heat rise made me gasp, I just didn’t think it would be hot and ready to be served so it was such a surprise, it was like taking it out of the oven there and then. Straight away this takeaway was screaming high quality to me, The packaging, the food, this takeaway is definitely different to my down the road Indian takeaway I usually go for.
The masala fried prawns tasted perfect and very similar to Dishooms Prawn Koliwada dish, they may look small but these guys pack a powerful punch of spice however combined with my mint yoghurt dip I tamed them down a bit! Prawns were cooked very well and also went well with the little salad garnish. Onto the Jackfruit wings, a favourite for vegans! one portion gives you 5 pieces in which they are quite big and my god, tasted lovely! There’s also a little surprise in the middle [Wink Wink]
The butter chicken with the pilau rice, a little bit on the sweet side but I like sweet and it tasted so bloody good! Chicken cooked to perfection, and sauce for days! Such a tasty dish that even when finished we were all craving more!
Now I don’t usually go for lamb curries because every time I’ve have done the lamb has just been way too tough to eat so I thought I would put POM to the test and oh my, they passed with flying colours alright! Lamb was perfect, couldn’t fault it at all, every piece (I was hogging on to itā¦) was nice and tender. Accompanied by the mixed vegetable pilau rice this was defiantly my favourite dish! The portions of the curries were perfect and very generous, shared between three there was still a bit of curry left for even a fourth person!
The Chili Cheese Naan was BANGING! full of chilli and all the cheesy cheese you need for those sweet dreamsā¦.or nightmares. Accompanied by the garnish tub and a bit of mint yoghurt, pure joy!
The poppadoms came with a variety of sauces such as mint sauce and mango chutney, A must of course with any curry! We ordered one portion which is two poppadoms in eight pieces and that was also the perfect amount for sharing.
In conclusion, This has been one of the best takeaways this year, definitely the best Indian takeaway I have had and definitely the most stylish takeaway! Very generous portions of food that is packed full of flavour that is cooked to perfection. POM has a wide variety on offer that will tempt you to challenge yourself and try something new, and yes, it’s absolutely worth it! If you fancy something a bit different to your basic chicken tikka masala and garlic Naan then I would definitely recommend to push the boat out with POM, A fantastic new takeaway service that will no doubt in my mind will go far in Birmingham and beyond.
Delivery is Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm you can opt for delivery or pick up, they also are available on the Deliveroo app. There is a postcode checker for delivery that you can check to see if they deliver to you and also displays the fee, POM would like to mention if you live too far then you can also give them a call and they can see what they can do.
Last weekend I was gifted an afternoon tea experience at Browns in Birmingham by the lovely Craft Beer Pin Up to celebrate afternoon tea week that certainly did lift the mood on a miserable rainy day in Birmingham. Snugged just under the Bullring, it has been a while Browns, I think the last time I visited was about three years ago for a Christmas roast dinner so it’s nice to return and try out something different. If you know me, you’ll know I love a good brew and love stuffing my face with sandwiches so I can never turn an afternoon tea down even if Weatherspoons offered one…
Arriving just before our time 3.15 pm, we asked if we could sit down early in which the staff were very happy to assist. We were seated at a gorgeous green marble table (it went very nicely with my green bag!) looking around Browns they certainly do have style, it just screams British Summer with all the floral however I was also getting a bit of 1940s American with the super stylish bar aswell! Tables were spaced out, hand sanitizer was displayed on the way in and social distancing was in place here, straight away I felt very safe.
We were brought the afternoon tea menus right away and left to decide, The traditional afternoon tea was priced as Ā£18.50 however we saw the G&T afternoon tea and we just fancied a bit of a pick me up after our boozy previous night. A staff member came over took our afternoon tea order and asked us what hot drinks we would like to go for, we both opted for English breakfast.
After a five minute wait, the rhubab and raspberry G&T cocktails came out, a very generous glass in which I could possibly get lost in as a 5ft 1 woman. Ice cold and refreshing, the flavour was a little bit on the strong side at first however as the afternoon progressed it became less strong! Our tea followed shortly after and then the afternoon tea.
The Browns Afternoon Tea Includes:
Sandwiches: Prawn & baby gem lettuce, ham & dijon mustard, cucumber & cream cheese, egg mayo brioche bun, smoked salmon & cream cheese on a whisky & thyme oatcake.
Home-baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Sweets: Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake, almond macarons and chocolate praline mousse in a chocolate flower pot.
One Pot of English Breakfast tea or any tea of your choice
One glass each of Tarquin’s Rhubarb and Raspberry G&T
Price: Ā£25.50
I was very impressed with the sandwich selection, for some reason I didn’t think I was going to get that much however I was pleasantly surprised. The quality is nothing to be amazed about but it was still pleasable, the sandwiches tasted fresh, there are no arty-farty ingredients here but you can’t beat a traditional cucumber & cream cheese sandwich can you? The egg mayo in a brioche roll was my favourite, just a shame it was a bit on the small side! The only sandwich in which I wasn’t so fond of was the prawn & baby gem lettuce it was a bit too heavy with the sauce creating almost a slimey texture.
The scones were definitely on the small side but I am not a massive cake/scone fan so I actually preferred them that size plus I can’t stand having the massive scones that completely crumble everywhere, you spend more time cleaning yourself than stuffing yourself with them. They were also warm and tasted fresh, so I was pretty pleased with them!
Onto that impressive looking flowerpot, which at first I thought was for decoration but it is a lovely chocolate mousse, perfect for those chocolate lovers out there. The lemon drizzle cake was delicious and so was the Victoria sponge, Wasn’t too mad about the almond macaron. Maybe could have squeezed another sweet (maybe a tart?) on there however I like the variety and I like the portions of the sweets so maybe I’m just being a little bit greedy! I have to say the chocolate mousse is very filling on its own!
The Afternoon Tea with the G&T really complimented each other well and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with this afternoon tea. For Ā£26.50 I think it’s pretty good for the money, I have to say I have paid Ā£30+ in grand places where I have received a small/basic afternoon with just a pot of tea, no fizz involved. I believe they have the right balance of sweet and savourly, and I have to say I was pretty full after eating it so I didn’t have to venture out to McDonald’s after.
Browns Quintessentially British afternoon tea with a splash of Gin went down a success, offering a great variety and good quality for all to enjoy. priced at Ā£26.50 with a very generous glass of G&T, a pot of hot tea and an impressive selection of savoury and sweet,I believe that this is a worthy contender for you all to try out in Birmingham.
Gooey Naans, Seductive killer prawns that pack a punch and Harry Potter Butter Beer? Yes, believe it or not, I am talking about the eagerly anticipated opening of Dishoom in Birmingham.
The last two months social media has been dominated by Tiger King/Normal People memes, the cat with nine lives we call Aston Villa, and of course, The Kardashians, one lost their marbles, one faked her millions and one that just needs to be bloody single for Christ sakes. Ergh what a headache right? However, one thing that has been dominating our feeds and is “headache-free” is the exciting announcement of Dishoom opening in Birmingham on Chamberlain Square. In which, is now open operating their soft launch with 50% off food until their official opening date on 6th August 2020 was just the welcoming addition to the city that so many of us Brummies need after the last few months.
With branches operating over London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, it was only a matter of time Dishoom was going to make the wise choice of opening their next restaurant in the second biggest City Birmingham. I have heard so much about Dishroom, I have never dined there before so I was really looking forward to my first experience dining with them. I had a brief look at the menu before me and my cousin Jess went for our 5.15 pm sitting but even then, I couldn’t decide with the generous offering of food on offer.
We arrived on time and already it was quite busy, we sat in the bar area for two minutes just skimming through the menu and then we was taken over to our table. The tables are nicely spread out, the layout of the restaurant is big, spacious with indoor and outdoor seating. I was feeling quite chilly that evening so thank goodness we were sat inside. The staff wore face masks, there was hand sanitiser stations and everyone was keeping to the social distancing rules, so I felt 100% safe dining here.
The interior of Dishoom has really been thought out through out the whole of the restaurant, bringing Bombay to Birmingham (Wish I could of get more pictures, but it was so busy!) and very cleverly has its own story of Roda Irani finding her voice and incorporating that story into the design of the restaurant which is so creative and wonderful to dine in and feels like you are reliving the story. It’s classy and it’s 1930s Bombay Bab.
Within 5 minutes of sitting down, we were greeted by our server Diogo ready to take our drink orders. Diogo is absolutely fabulous, a right character that knew his stuff, he was like a walking and talking encyclopedia of Dishoom, he knew everything.Ā Feeling quite parched I fancied an alcohol beverage, I was thinking more on the lines of a fruity cocktail but then the words “Forget beer, drink only this” caught my eyes. What came was what I can almost describe as one of those Harry Potter butter beers but tasted so much better and tasted like…well, beer. Hoppy butter paanch is a Foam beer with a butter syrup base with a sprinkle of ginger that gave it a tangy sweet kick, different but I really liked it! Jess ordered the Colaba Colada cocktail, however, Diogo came back over to tell Jess they just sold out, he asked her what does she like to drink “gin” “something sweet” she replied and with a click of his fingers “I know exactly what to get you” Diogo went away and came back with a fabulous gin cocktail with a hint of lime, fizz, and fruit that she really enjoyed.
Diogo returned to take our food orders, he talked us through the menu and suggested the number of dishes to order, he also made the best decision for us to opt for a cheese AND garlic naan instead of ordering cheese and garlic naan separately, excellent choice Diogo!Ā
The afternoon menu has a variety of small plates, grills and curries on offer for you to share or not share! There is so much on offer that we defiantly didnāt order everything we wanted especially missing out on the exclusive Birmingham dish, the mutton korma but there is always next time right?!
We first ordered small plates of Lamb samosas and prawn koliwada that came literally in five minutes. We were told that the food in different sections may come out at different times, we didn’t really care as long as there was food! The lamb samosas were a nice light dish and tasted beautiful, as for the prawn koliwada, my goodness! these babies blew our heads off! Small and delicious but don’t be deceived these prawns pack an almighty punch, accompanied with a mint chutney dip to cool down the fire in my mouth. A little bit on the spicy side for me but tasted very nice. Both of these dishes are the perfect beer snack so make sure you order a few of Dishooms IPAS.
Now, in comes the feast! We opted for chicken ruby murray curry, paneer pineapple tikka, gunpowder potatoes, 2 x cheese and garlic naans, steamed basmati rice and the Vada Pau (Bombayās version of London’s chip butty)
The colour, the smell, and the saliva dripping from our mouths everything just looked incredible. My favourite dish out of the food would have to be the Chicken ruby murray curry paired up with basmati rice which was an absolute winner. Silky texture, sweet, and chicken that is cooked to perfection and easily just melts in the mouth. The gunpowder potatoes tossed in butter, crushed aromatic seeds, and green herbs tasted nice, nothing to get overly excited about however, a nice accompany dish to the paneer pineapple tikka that I really enjoyed. The Paneer cheese had a gorgeous mouth-watering coating of tikka paired up with pineapple which left a cool refreshing taste in my mouth which helped to knock down some of those spices.The Vada Pau (Bombayās version of London’s chip butty) I wasn’t a big fan off sadly, a little bit too spicy for me so all I could taste was fire in my mouth.
The naans were of course, bloody sensational. So gooey, and I am all for the cheese! it was just dripping and oh my god, I have literally just had to wipe the saliva off the keyboard thinking about this so let’s just end it here as it was pretty sexy… (apologies for the saliva on keyboard images)
The review doesn’t end here, oh no, we went for pudding Ladies and Gents, and we went for the Dishoom chocolate pudding with chili ice cream. All I got from this pudding was PURE JOY, melted chocolate mixed in with a vanilla/chili ice cream is the pairing that I need in my life, a sensational dish. Finishing off with a nice cup of Assam, the food must have knocked me out a bit because instead of asking for Assam tea I asked for “Sam” in which Diego was quite amused, Bill, please!
So, the bill came to Ā£63.41 with the 50% off that included an optional service fee of Ā£10.61 that we were more than happy to pay and more.Ā Ā For all that food and the quality, it felt like we had won the lottery with Dishoom. Ā
The customer service is something I will always remember at Dishoom, from the host on the door to our amazing server Diogo, it was such a pleasure to dine in Dishoom as they are so attentive, and it almost makes you feel like you are the only ones dining in the restaurant. Of course, we weren’t it was completely packed out. To deliver 110% service on a packed-out Thursday with every table full and a queue outside the restaurant is absolutely fantastic and I applaud Dishoom and especially their hardworking staff.
A very happy welcome to Dishoom, a restaurant that will settle in just fine and will be celebrated by Brummies and all for a very long and foreseeable future here in Birmingham. The taste of Bombay in Birmingham is the light at the end of the tunnel that we need after the last worrying months. Thank you for the fantastic dining experience Dishoom and you will, of course, see me very soon….How does Breakfast Monday morning sound?
I would advise pre-booking your table as it’s pretty busy, you can just turn up but expect to wait! Soft launch (50% off) ends 5th August 2020 Vegetarian/Vegan friendly You can book your table here
Espresso rubbed beef brisket baps, lemon curd tarts with syringes, and cold soup?! Well, this is certainly not your basic bitch afternoon tea ā¦
The Early Bird Bakery has whipped up an afternoon tea for us to all enjoy in the comfort of our homes. If you’re not familiar with The Early Bird they are a coffee shop and bakery that serve up creative and delicious bakes plus sensational brunch options in Kings Heath, They are pretty much bakery Gods! I live in Sutton Coldfield so when my sister invited me to hers to enjoy an Early Bird Bakery Afternoon tea my first thought was “Why is she being nice to me?” and then “Who cares? ITS FREE!!!!! YES I’M IN!”
Delivered on time and all boxed up, the afternoon tea comes with a little information booklet listing everything that you get in your afternoon tea, and how to serve, very useful and very considerate.
The Sweets you simply serve, the tea you simply pop into a teapot and the savory, well, this is where it gets a bit faffy (Yes, I just made that word up) I don’t know if this is just me but with an afternoon tea, I had it in my head to just take out of the box and pop on a tea stand to serve but not quite as simple as that. The espresso brisket and belinni you have to construct it together yourself. The kitchen was crammed with all sized cardboard boxes and pots full of ingredients so It was a bit of a faff especially when we weren’t expecting but hey ho, you get on with it. I must say everything was so fresh, the quality is outstanding and when you put it all togeather it looks great, just full of colour!
The Early Bird Bakery Afternoon Tea Includes:
Savory Spicy Tomato Gazpacho Fennel and apple sausage roll DIY espresso rubbed slow-cooked beef brisket, BBQ Sauce, slaw and brioche bun Cured salmon blini, pickles, creme fraiche, and watercress Curried cauliflower, chickpea, lentil, lime yogurt, pomegranate, raisin, and coriander salad
Cream Tea buttermilk scone x2 Currant bun x2 Strawberry, raspberry and orange jam Passion fruit and lime curd Clotted cream Morgans tea
Sweet Raspberry, white chocolate and rose macaron Lemon and early grey drizzle cake chocolate and coffee ganache cake Gin and tonic choux bun
So when you look at the amount and the sort of ingredients that have been used you would think okay, this is going to be one pricey afternoon tea but much to my surprise this has been one of the cheapest afternoons teas I have ever had, priced at just Ā£17 per person. A small price for such an over-generous spread however comes with a few tiny issues…
The spicy tomato gazpacho tasted nice but I wouldn’t serve up as a starter before an afternoon tea. I felt it didn’t really tye in well with the rest of the spread and there is a lot going on already in the afternoon tea so I just found it to be a bit unnecessary really. The curried cauliflower salad was very refreshing however again, it didn’t tie in well with the afternoon tea. You got sandwiches, cakes, basically finger food so to throw in a salad, I didn’t quite get it however it did taste good, personally, I would have preferred a sandwich/savoury pastry instead. The lemon and drizzle cake looked lovely but biting into it I think the guys at The Early Bird Bakery when a little bit too heavy on the tea! it was quite cold, had a strong overwhelming aroma of earl grey and was soggy. A little bit of criticism but it certainly didn’t ruin the rest of the afternoon tea which was fantastic.
The espresso brisket was just pure sexiness, yes I am going to add sexiness into this review, okay! The bun was soft, the brisket was packed full of flavour and was an unusual yet satisfying touch to the afternoon tea. The sausage roll?? not your basic bitch roll we are talking about here Bab! Fennel and apple tasted gorgeous together wrapped up in flakey pastry, small yet filling and you won’t find that in your local Greggs. The blini was light yet gave a naughty little kick of flavour with the pickles, salmon and creme fraiche.
The cakes are absolutely sensational. Top-quality, the variety was all there and it wasn’t dull! it was actually enjoyable to eat, it was lovely to look at and absolutely devour! My favourite sweet would be the chocolate and coffee ganache cake. Chocolate and coffee, two powerful forces, you team those up you have yourself FOODGASMS all over the world so yeah, it tasted pretty incredible! The currant buns had a beautiful glaze that tasted wonderful warmed up with a spread of butter. The buttermilk scones tasted gorgeous especially with the orange jam, just wow! Quite different to your basic scone you would find for 35p in your local Asda but you should know that The Early Bird Bakery don’t do basic here.
Okay, so there were a few little hiccups but did it ruin my whole experience? absolutely not. There were more positives than negatives and when you think about what you get for Ā£17, its a fantastic afternoon tea. The amount, the variety, and the quality are all there, quite surprising really for a very reasonable price tag! It was exciting to eat and it was appealing to see, and it was enjoyable to experience with the whole family in my sisters home. Maybe go down the less faff route and add in some more buns for me eh? but Fair play to the bakery for daring to be different and not going down the easy route (meaning finger sandwiches, they always look so sadā¦) It dares to be different, and I believe its a worthy afternoon tea for all to enjoy, not perfect but will get there I’m sure.
Thank you Early Bird Bakery
Early Bird is currently running a delivery service of their cakes and coffee to your doors, you can check out their website and orderhere. They are also now open for takeaway on Friday 11-2, and Saturday & Sunday from 10-2.
So, for the past three months, I have been quite a busy girl supporting my independents and helping those who are isolating with putting together information on how they can get in their weekly shop, keep active, and seek free advice. So many Fantastic businesses agreed to be part of The North of Birmingham blog post and it has received a pretty amazing and overwhelming response by so many people. I can see so many of you using the blog daily and it is fantastic to hear that so many of you have said the blog has opened up their eyes to wanting to shop more independently which was the aim!
I regularly post about my food deliveries via social media and a lot of you have been wanting to know what independents I would recommend and what are my favourites. So, I thought why not put together a blog post of all my favourite independent food deliveries I have had in lockdown. I regularly review restaurants, venues, etc so why not start something new and review at home?! From scrumptious cakes to fantastic DIY food kits, it seems Bab about Towns blog has been burning a hole in your pockets for the last three months and apologies, the hole is just going to get bigger after reading this post!
SILVER TREE CATERING
Silver Tree Catering is a catering company based in Sutton Coldfield, who decided to deliver essentials such as fruit & veg hampers and treats to those in isolation. They have a variety of hampers on offer from Breakfast to Cheese hampers. My first purchase with Silver Tree Catering was the cheese hamper and the fruit & veg box. I ordered before 12 pm and it came the next day. The fruit & veg hamper offered a great variety of fresh produce, very impressed with the quality and the hamper lasted for around three weeks. The cheese hamper was just amazing, a great selection of cheeses with crackers and pots of chutney with grapes. It was nice sitting out in the garden tucking into it, it was like we were transported to a wine yard in Italy until I heard one of the neighborās shouting in a Brummie accent āAre you making a Brew Bab?ā
I have ordered from Silver tree a couple of times (I regularly buy the freshly baked bread, and the cream tea was delightful!) and will continue to do so because they are so professional and the food is high quality, just fantastic value for money. I can tell there is a lot of passion and heart thatās gone into their products, so I am happy to support a hardworking business that deserves all the gratitude that they deserve any day
In the words of King Curtis “Chicken Nuggets is like my family” but more so “What the Cluck is like my family” This right here, is the breadwinner, my absolute favourite takeaway I have ever had and boy, I’ve had a bloody lot in my time, These guys smashed it. I ordered the chicken strips platter which comes with fried cauliflower covered in Buffalo sauce, BBQ pit beans, house slaw, and the sexiest Mac N Cheese I have ever tasted jeeeeez getting me all hot & bothered over here woo! What The Cluck didn’t just impress me but impressed my fussy bugga of a Mom who now withdraws her statement that “The Bingo is the best place for Fried Chicken” now Its “What The Cluck is the best place for fried chicken” so we have an all-round winner!
The process is very simple, simply order via their website, choose what platter you want, What The Cluck will then send you a confirmation email with the date and time of delivery. When the food arrives its just a 20-minute oven job and that’s it. Super easy to make, super service & super satisfied, bloody well-done Guys that’s how you deliver a bad boy feast!!!
Fancy getting your freak on? Well, now you can at home with these fine buns! When The Patty Freaks announced they were delivering to Sutton Coldfield it caused an outcry of cheers and relief after the devastation of losing our beloved M&S for good and the closure of TGIS [Insert troll face] due to Co-Vid. as a town we needed a pick me up and wow, did the Patty Freaks deliver! Full of juice, dripping with flavour and topped with sexy buns, and gone within 10 minutes. The loaded chips are heavenly, just oozing with sauce. Oh yes, The patty Freaks delivered alright, and may I mention they delivered HOT and ON TIME food, I was given a time slot between 4.30 and 5.20 and it came dead on 4.30 so fantastic service and what a bloody treat this was! ā£I ordered the following:
The O.G burger: Bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard mayo and pickled onion.
Cajun chipsā£ ā£ Loaded chips with bacon, cheese, crispy onion, and BBQ sauce.ā£
You will need to keep up with them via social media to find out when they are next delivering and a little advice, be quick! these bad boys are like Willy Wonka golden tickets so don’t be a bad egg and feel too disappointed if you miss out because they are also popping up now and again at Digbeth Dining Club!
Stay up to date with The Patty Freaks and Order here
STRIPCLUB STREET FOOD
This kit comes with a parental warning as these buns are well naaaaaughty! Stripclub Streetfood is a very popular vendor at various food markets over the Midlands especially at Digbeth Dining Club, you will often have to queue but that first bite though is worth a thousand queue waits, trust me. So when Stripclub Streetfood announced they were back on selling burgers the whole of Birmingham kind of just lost their minds a bit…
Okay so it’s not ready-made burgers delivered straight to your door but they have come up with a fabulous idea of putting together these awesome burger DIY Kits in which, you can get down and dirty with, and attempt to create the worlds dirtiest burger, I was up for the challenge.Ā You have all the ingredients you need and instructions to follow, you can make the kiss XXX or biscoff burger or get creative and do what you like! I think this is a fantastic kit and I really do hope they stick with it because I really enjoyed it and my family members loved taking the piss out of me getting all Gordon Ramsay on their ass.
The kit is priced at Ā£40 and To get your hands on one of these kits, you got to download the app which you can find here and place your order just like that!
Really fun, really creative, and really bloody delicious these burgers. Get the family involved, get your mates involved, and just have a couple of beers and relax eating some seriously amazing burgers.
Stay up to date with Stripclub Street Food and download their app to order your DIY burger kits here
BITE ME CAKES
This was a first, an afternoon tea delivered to my door and I can tell you, It certainly won’t be the last. If you know me, you know I am a big lover of afternoon tea so when I heard you could get an afternoon tea delivered to your door, I first called BS and then slapped myself silly after receiving the amazing service that I received that day from Bite me Cakes. The afternoon tea comes all prepared, from finger sandwiches to mini desserts just the perfect size, and just the way I like it! The afternoon tea that I received included the following:
A very generous portion of finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings: smoked salmon, chicken, cucumber & pepper, and cheese.
Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Scones just needed to be heated up in the microwave, no fuss.
A great variety of cakes and treats such as brownies, lemon drizzle, chocolate strawberries, and more. all ready to be eaten and tasted fresh so simply serve.
Bite me Cakes caters to vegans as well, I didn’t opt for the vegan option but there were still lots of options for veggies and vegans with the afternoon tea we ordered. So this afternoon tea can be enjoyed by all, also any other allergies need to be addressed to Bite Me Cakes as they can also cater to gluten-free and dairy-free.
I was absolutely impressed with the service, the quality was fantastic, the variety was there and the amount we got, still a family of three could not finish it. Very simple to order just message Bite me Cakes and await your delivery, I was kept informed on the day regarding the time of delivery which was very helpful. The sandwiches were really tasty, the scones are big but soft and buttery, and the desserts are sweet yet VERY Satisfying and the brownies were oh so gooey! A hassle-free afternoon tea that would make the perfect treat to invite your friends and family over and to enjoy all together. So impressed, and you made our afternoon really lovely, so thank you so much for the incredible service and amazing afternoon.
New to Sutton Coldfield, Veeruās is an Indian street food restaurant offering mouth-watering street food from Punjabi Wraps to Speciality naan pizzas! unfortunately, they didn’t have a chance to do a proper opening due to CO-VID but it didn’t let it stop them and opened up their delivery and collection services. I have had three takeaways since opening and every meal has been sensational, full of spice, full of flavour and just fantastic! My favourite dish I would say is the lamb kebab (got a nice kick to it!) but I also had the mixed grill the other week and wow, best-mixed grill I’ve had in a long time and the portion was so big that three people couldn’t even finish it. I will say that delivery time was a bit long (1 hour 20 minutes) but if I’m getting amazing well cooked and full of flavour food then I don’t care about the waiting time. You can pre-order with Veerus so maybe this something for you to consider but this is a new business that has had to think fast on their feet and adapt to change to survive, and although waiting times are a little long, I think they are doing a fantastic job giving the people of Sutton Coldfield some bloody fine and fantastic Indian street food to enjoy in their homes
Veerus really did exceed my expectations, the quality is superb- second best to non and has quickly become my favourite Indian takeaway in Sutton Coldfield. I just can’t wait for the restaurant to open, a fantastic new addition to Sutton Coldfield that will no doubt in my mind will thrive.
For a while now I have wanted to visit Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Birmingham and see what all the fuss was about as itās a hotel and bistro that is often praised by many in and out of Birmingham. As a lover of food and of course, afternoon tea, I thought now was the time to book myself in to experience and trial Hotel du Vinās exceptional reputation in Birmingham.
The Hotel & Bistro is located on Church Street, a great location for travellers who are staying over at the hotel as you have Grand Central station that is just under a 10-minute walk away, you are surrounded by restaurants and bars, and if you had forgottten any essentials ( I always forget pants which is ridiculous but my brain chooses 2 x biscuits in case I feel sick in the night instead of pants, absolute LOLS) you are also surrounded by retail shops, so the location is perfect. Upon entering the Hotel, it does have a fabulous entry that leads to the courtyard where you can dine in, but our afternoon tea took place in the Bistro restaurant which is just darling! It’s elegant and it just oozes Le Paris!
We were shown to our table and then handed menus to choose which tea we would like to have, I opted for the English breakfast and my friend opted for Earl Grey. They had a pretty impressive variety of drinks on offer that you can have with your afternoon tea, from hot drinks to fancy champagne and Hendricks cocktails. I did nearly choose the āDozy Girlā tea with lavender and rose petals but we were on a tight schedule as we chose to go in our lunch hour, so we wanted to avoid falling asleep on the keyboard and getting the sack! The tea was served first and it came within 5 minutes, sharp service, I like it!
One of the staff members asked us if we had any allergies and then confirmed we was having vegan (for my friend) and non vegan (for me) afternoon tea. Shortly after, the afternoon tea followed glistering with a range of savouries and sweets and wait, do I spy POPCORN? (I shall not quote Stephen Kings ITā¦POP POP POP…damn it) Vegan afternoon tea on the top and the non-vegan on the bottom. My eyes lit up and I couldnāt help but sigh with relief when I spotted the sweets because bread is Jesus and the number of afternoon teas I have had and they just plonk a load of cakes on it and have 3 tiny sandwiches?! This certainly wasnāt the case with Hotel du Vin, let’s start with mine first.
With the non-vegan afternoon tea you get a pretty good selection of finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings.
Cheese and pickle
Coronation chicken
Cucumber and mint
Smoked salmon and cream cheese
Egg and cress
A selection that I was pretty satisfied with. The bread was fresh, the fillings were full of flavour and I enjoyed the variety. Next up was the deserts which to me, are perfectly sized and again, great variety.
Carrot Cake
Paris-Brest
Tutti Frutti macaroon
Black Forest gateau
Rum Baba
Now, the rum baba I never tried because my mother is the Queen of rum baba’s. She is completely obsessed with them, so obsessed that she would try and blackmail my dad in going down to Waitrose and buying her 10 packets of the stuff, āwell, I am not making you dinnerā whipped by a rum baba, the shame. She did comment on it saying it was delicious but of course, she would have liked a larger portion. Now, the other desserts were absolutely delicious, the Paris-Brest was my favourite and it just complimented my cup of tea so nicely. The black forest was just pleasurable that’s all I am going to say, and the carrot cake took me by surprise but they all did, because there not the sort of desserts I would go for but it sure did tickle my sweet tooth and left me pretty satisfied.
Vegan afternoon tea was quite impressive, again, a very generous and good variety of vegan treats for my friend to tuck intoā¦
Cheese & onion tart
Tempura cauliflower
Vegan scone with peppers
Salted popcorn
and more vegan savoury tarts
The deserts
Pistachio cake
Chocolate truffle cake
Victoria sponge
Danish pastry
As a vegan, my friend noted that it is often quite difficult to find a vegan afternoon tea and she was pretty impressed with the selection and variety on offer at Hotel du Vin. Thumb ups on the vegan front. I am a non-vegan and I have to say it did look very appetising and I liked the quirky touch of popcorn…Nope, I am not quoting “IT” again. We also received scones which had me pondering for 5 minutes if they even were scones, they had a glaze on top almost like a donut would have and the texture was also different to a regular scone āIām not like a regular scone, I am a cool sconeā Yes I just quoted Meal Girls but anyway, Iām a fan of the scones! Different but delicious.
The Bistro is absolutely stunning, decorated with wall art and empty wine bottles empowering that rustic feel with a touch of quirk. I would like to mention that the staff at Hotel du Vin are professional and very informative, they check in with you now and again to make sure you are enjoying your experience to the fullest.
I was invited by Hit Birmingham to a Bloggers lunch to try out AC Hotel’s new Spanish taster lunch which they hope to go live with very soon. From spicy prawn spaghetti to Spanish omelettes with a spoonful of aioli, this sure was a Fantastica feast!
The AC hotel is located in the Mailbox on the ground floor and is neighbours to Zizzi Italian. The hotel offers a variety of spacious rooms with modern furnishings featuring everything you need for a comfortable nightās stay in a prime location for restaurants and bars. AC hotel also has a Starbucks for your early morning coffee runs and a restaurant where you can sit down for a buffet breakfast in the morning or indulge in a luxurious afternoon tea. At the moment AC Hotel only provide breakfast and afternoon tea options, considering the location, they are completely surrounded by some of the big boys in the lunchtime competition, therefore, they want to start offering light bites to workers on lunch breaks, commuters and of course, hotel guests.
I have been many times to this hotel to stay over and have eaten the breakfast, of course, I was over the moon receiving an invitation to try out their new Spanish inspired lunch menu. On arrival, I met with the other bloggers and we all sat down in the restaurant area which was very cosy on quite a big table that is great for large groups of people, plenty of room for food and snaps! We were all anticipating what was to come out of the kitchen however alcohol first! A selection of white and red wine sangria’s to taste which were very refreshing and full of ZING BABY! I could taste the red wine in it which is perfect for me, as I am red wines best friend so we get along just fabulously.
Next up was what we were all waiting forā¦the Spanish buffet. The Head Chef came out and talked us through the plates that they are looking to put on the menu and my, what a selection it is. A variety of wonderful dishes on offer made with fresh ingredients and comnpletly from scratch…this is no microwave job Bab. Below are the dishes that are on offer:
Garlic spicy prawn spaghetti
Spanish omelette with garlic Aioli
Spanish Mediterranean toast- serrano ham, tomato and manchego cheese
Spanish ratatouille with quails eggs
Chickpea hummus and chilli oil
Chicken meatballs in tomato sauce and garlic bread
CrĆØme Brulee
Churros with chocolate
My favourite dishes had to be the chicken meatballs which just oozed with flavour and almost came across as that one snack you find out a Buffett party that you just gorge on all night until the host tells you its time to go. The omelette seemed to be a hit with everyone, it was just a shame that it was a small portion as I could have eaten about 10 of them! One dish that took me by surprise was the ratatouille with the quail’s egg which was absolutely delicious, cooked well and the yolk complemented the ratatouille which I was not expecting at all! The crĆØme Brulee was so sensational that it made me question…did I die and go to heaven? Itās light, creamy, and definitely a winner! The churros I found were a little bit on the hard side but I am not too sure if this was because they were left on the table for too long but I am also not a big fan of them so I was not fussed.
Overall some fantastic Spanish inspired dishes that a lot of guests will feel spoilt for choice within a lovely hotel which deliver high-class service to its guests. The restaurant is very cosy, with a classy and sleek interior throughout including the service. The staff are very polite, hard-working and have an eye for an empty glass (no glass shall be left empty Senorita!) I would recommend you all to try out this fiesta of Spanish inspired dishes and drinks when it launches! In the meantime, why not treat yourself to a stay in the hotel? for just under Ā£100 for a whale of a room which is SPOTLESS, with gorgeous canal views and a more than comfortable nights sleep. Everything you want for a short stay in Birmingham or as its soo nice a long stay…Just saying, I would happily opt for the suite life in AC Hotel.
A big thank you to Hit Birmingham the AC hotel for inviting me, please note this was a gifted experience.
If you are interested at staying/dining at The Ac Hotel- please check out the website here
I tell you Iām like a walking-talking Expedia when it comes to Digbeth, dare I say it but I have another exciting attraction for you all to try out in Digbeth however with this one, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty Bab. Introducing The Big Birmingham Bake in Digbeth which is a competitive cooking experience where you have 90 minutes to create the winning bake and be in with a chance of taking home the Best Baker price. Very similar to the channel 4 GBBO but you don’t have to be an experienced baker and you don’t have to do it alone, you can work in teams of two. So I was pretty much over the moon when The Big Birmingham Bake invited me and Heather down to try out this brand new experience!
Upon arrival, you see the tent where the baking takes place. Opposite the tent is a couple of old bike containers offering a quirky sitting area where you can grab a coffee before the fun begins. When your time arrives you are then gathered together by the head baker to show/scan your ticket, then you head-on into the tent and choose your work station. A recipe card that you follow with all instructions is laid out for you as well with all ingredients (these are already weighed) ovens are already preheated and your baking tools are all there. The one thing we said on the way to the bake-off was āI hope we are not making doughnutsā not because I donāt like them, but because they are funny buggers to make, but guess what, it was Doughnut month, so of course, We are baking doughnuts kids!
Before we start we are given a short introduction by the head baker who went over the rules and safety procedures we must follow. The most important rule is “just have fun” and just like that my game face came on. I was eyeing up my competitors and I was choosing my enemies. It was like mean girls meets Bake-off, but of course it was healthy competitiveness. I had no plans to sabotage other bakers creations….or did I? Before my evil genius plans were coming together they were suddenly melted away by…
3..2..1 BAKE!
Everyone starts running around like headless chickens scrambling over the recipe cards and ingredients. The recipe is pretty straight forward it’s like GCSE Food Technology and you also have baker assistants there to help you if you get a bit beaten up with the baking. At the front, you have the shelves stacked with decorations, flavourings, and food colours. We were making two types of doughnuts. The ring doughnuts that were to be judged on presentation and the filled doughnuts that were to be judged on taste.
We decided to make toffee apple and cinnamon doughnuts. The ingredients were all over our work station as the pressure of the bake-off was mounting especially when they announce how much time you have left every 30 minutes and where you should be at. A little tip for you guys, you only live once…lick the bowl š . It was great to get in touch with your creative side when it comes to decorating the doughnuts, for the ring doughnuts we went for a marble blue cinnamon icing covered in galaxy stars and eyes and for the filled doughnuts we rolled them in sugar and pink wafers using the same filling as the ring doughnuts. Like two kids in a free frawl candy shop, me and Heather got very creative with our doughnuts.
Surprisingly we didn’t find ourselves having any hiccups along the way but I noticed that there was always help whenever you needed it from the staff who are all lovely, so if you did manage to balls something up it can be fixed so donut worry about it! The time flies by your so busy with checking the times on your creations and making sure you are following the ingredients properly that you do easily lose sight of the time as well as just enjoying being part of the competition.
3..2..1 TIMES UP
We finished just in time and so did everyone else. We all brought our doughnuts to the front and you could just see a buffet of doughnuts with a range of colours and decoration, what a pretty picture. We all went around the group and explained what we made and the head baker got stuck into tasting them all which was absolutely hilarious to watch as the head baker is pretty honest, so if something doesn’t taste right they will say but of course, in a light-hearted way.
After a quick deliberation it was time to announce the resultsā¦
And we got beaten by an 8-year-old kid! but I think it was only because he said it was his birthday and well come on, weāve all used that chestnut before, havenāt we?! Every time I go to Harry Potter world I say it’s my birthday so I get to open the doors to the great hall even when it’s obviously not my birthday resulting in the kids giving me death staresā¦suckers. However all the doughnuts were pretty incredible, I was with a right creative bunch and even though we didnāt win, I was proud that we actually created doughnuts and didnāt bugger it up! I took my doughnuts home and offered them to my Mom in which she responded: ā Did 5 years old make those?āā¦oh donut even go there sugar plum! because 6 doughnuts became 2 the very next day and I caught the culprit that was my Mother tucking into them whilst watching Judge Rinder.
The Big Birmingham Bake is truly a fantastic experience that I would recommend within a heartbeat to anyone, itās fun, it’s exciting and competitive! A great quirky take on the Chanel 4 great British bake-off, so if you love the show, you will love this. A truly wonderful and exhilarating experience racing against the clock covered in buttercream and sprinkles, I took home two deserts: my doughnuts and myself, a sure winner in Birmingham!
Week day tickets are priced at Ā£39.50 and weekend tickets are price at Ā£42.50. Grab you tickets here
You donāt have to travel too far to feel like royalty these days. To many people royalty could be a fry up in your local pub, a free arm massage from your work colleague or an afternoon tea in an enchanting 1875 French Chateau surrounded by 140 acres of picturesque grounds. I know which one I would pick. Introducing Chateau Impney, a stunning venue located in Droitwich that offers accommodation and plays host to a variety of events in the Midlands. Me and my friend Sian were invited to try out the afternoon tea 2 for 1 offer and take a tour of the Chateau.
Upon arriving at the Chateau the first thing you will encounter is the 140 acres of land which is like something out of Downtown Abbey or a Jane Austin novel. Views of waterfalls, cherry blossom and swans taking a dip into the lake, now all we need is an enchanting castle to go with it..oh wait! Upon entering the Chateau, we were guided down to the Impney restaurant where the afternoon tea took place in a modern extension. We were greeted by the host and shown to our tables and were asked for what drinks we would like to be served with the afternoon tea. Once ordered we had a little wonder around the restaurant which seemed to have two different styles on either side. One side was very modern with leather chairs, purple walls and wooden tables. The other side had more of a rustic botanist theme with fairy lights and greenery covering the ceiling. Very different but strangely seemed to tie in quite well together, but not so much with the rest of the Chateau that boasts original french archtiecture.
After 10 minutes the afternoon tea arrived at our table offering a very generous selection of sandwiches, cakes, and scones. There were many sandwiches with a variety of fillings such as cheese and caramelised onion, egg and cress, fresh salmon, ham and cheese, and cucumber. The sandwiches were fresh, filling and very tasty. The Scones are served with fresh cream and jam, and they were delightful. Perfectly sized cakes are on offer from cheesecake, caramel slice, fudge/chocolate cake and carrot cake. The staff are very attentive and are really friendly, the price of the afternoon tea is not high class but the quality of service and food you are receiving certainly is. The offer is 2 for 1 so it costs Ā£20 which is an absolute steal for the afternoon tea you are getting. I have paid up to Ā£35 in some restaurants and the quality/quantity doesn’t even come close to the Chateau.
After the afternoon tea, we were introduced to Peter who was the General Manager. He took us on a little tour of the Chateau. Peter was like a walking Wikipedia of Chateau Impney, he gave us so much information and went through the history of the Chateau. Peter showed us one of the luxury Chateau feature rooms which was just something out of a fairy tale. The room was possibly the size of my house, it also had one of those arty-farty bathtubs behind the bed that could fit a family of 6 in and a king-size bed that was fit for a King and Queen. The view of the grounds from the room is breath taking and even when you come away from the balcony the luxury of the room still makes it breath taking! On the tour, we also took a look at some of the exhibition rooms that can hold up to 800 people in. The hall that offers grand features where weddings are held and the beautiful gardens. The gardens were something that reminded me of a cross between Alice in Wonderland and The Secret garden. Sadly, the day was a bit dull so we didnāt stay long in gardens, but it would be lovely to come back in the summer to see the whole of the garden out in bloom in its full glory, bathed in sunlight.
Chateau Impney is a venue that you could only imagine would exist in fairy tales. An enchanting building full of character and life that would make a stunning backdrop for any special event. The afternoon tea was delicious and for the price it is, I believe it to be far too generous. High-quality food, very generous portions and good value for money- it should be something you need to put on your list to do this month. Chateau Impney is a real fairytale to be explored by all, from the moment you drive into the grounds to the moment you step out, you are treated like royalty. Thank you Chateau Impney for inviting me, a tip-top royal experience I will never forget.
The Afternoon tea 2 for 1 offer ends on 27th February 2020.
