Reviews, Recipes & Ramblings
There’s a new(ish) menu for current 1000 Trades residents, Salt and Earth. It’s called Sexy Fried Chicken – and it’s pure joy. This latest menu reinvention comes after a successful long-term residency for Niki Astley and Georgia Radenschi (formerly of Two Cats Kitchen) and includes more small plates to enjoy. The difference this time is…
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it this week, but I love Pip’s Hot Sauce. Made here in Birmingham, there’s a few variations of the hot sauce now, but I remain a firm fan of the original Super Hot recipe. It’s tasty, tangy and multilayered with chilli and spices, making it ideal for cooking with…
Brindleyplace became the hottest spot (groan; sorry) in Brum last weekend with the return of the annual Birmingham Chilli Festival. Found within Central Square, the festival included a large market and various chilli themed food and drink to enjoy with other spicy fans. With live music and entertainment on throughout the day, it was a…
Rola Wala has replaced Izza Pizza in the Selfridges food court, and I’ve been down to try its Indian street food offerings. To be honest, I rolled my eyes a bit when I heard yet another Indian street food venue was opening. It’s not that I don’t like them (I would happily eat dosa on…
The last time I visited Amantia it was the launch night. It rained so heavily that by the time I got to Bennetts Hill from Digbeth I half expected Pennywise to greet me with a red balloon. Alas it was PJ from Big Brother holding a bowl of paella, but same difference. The venue Making…
You know Original Patty Men serve up some decent burgers at the weekend, but did you know they’re now open midweek and knocking out some pretty epic chicken wings? I got wind of Wings Wednesday through a combination of Twitter posts and my pal Chris (otherwise known as The Fat Foodie) who lives for fried…
I’m no stranger to The Horseshoe in Hall Green. When I first moved to Birmingham I rented a house just yards from it, and spent many Sundays in the bar watching the football (blame the ex) and supping beers. Since then it’s had a decent refurb, making it one of the more stylish venues in…
I can’t remember how long I’ve actually been waiting to try the food at Indian Brewery, but suffice to say it’s been a ruddy long time. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to (Indian Brewery has already gained a solid reputation for its tasty grub) but everyone’s banged on about it so much I was…
I first visited Boston Tea Party in Edgbaston back in July, on a not-very-warm-at-all summer’s day. I was impressed by the high ceilings and changing aesthetics as you moved from room to room; the food wasn’t bad either. Fast forward 7 months and I found myself back at Boston Tea Party in Edgbaston (on the whispers of some…
I haven’t shared any home cooking for a while, mainly because I’ve been out more than the cat over the last few months. I’ve been eating and drinking out pretty much constantly since we got married in October, but now it’s January (and my clothes no longer fit me) I thought I’d make an effort…
I first discovered the joy of Mowgli one rainy evening in Manchester earlier this year. An enjoyable experience, I was won over by the pretty interior and wholesome flavours, so when the Birmingham branch opened in October my fond memories made a visit inevitable. Grabbing some foodie friends for a post-wedding debrief, we headed to Grand…
If like me you’ve been walking past the colourful boards hiding Tamatanga for the last month (and been dying to get inside) this week I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek. The latest ‘Indian streetfood’ style restaurant to pop up in Birmingham city centre, Tamatanga is the new sibling of the award-winning restaurant…
The end of August saw the opening of a new branch of Las Iguanas Birmingham city centre, and I was invited to the launch party. Located on Temple Street – in the long time empty space once occupied by the permanently closed Temple Street Social – the latest Las Iguanas opening is set to bring a…
I’ve written before about my love affair with Pho Birmingham – check it out – located in the food court area of Grand Central. Once you get over the fact that there’s always a queue (and in winter it’s ruddy freezing) it’s a great spot for a steaming bowl of noodle soup or one of the other Vietnamese inspired…