I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this (lol) but it’s my birthday soon *fires glitter canon* so I’ve been thinking about what I could ask for, in terms of presents. I drive my other half to disappear by always answering the annual “what do you want for your birthday?” question with, “I don’t know/anything/I don’t need…
Spring menu @ Gusto Birmingham
Gusto Birmingham Having been invited to attend the intimate blogger evening to try out the latest seasonal additions to the menu, I was excited to return to Gusto Birmingham; a restaurant I’d enjoyed several times when it first opened back in September 2016. Found on Colmore Row – where new bars and restaurants currently seem…
Place your bets: The Restaurant, Broadway Casino
Visiting Broadway Casino With our forthcoming nuptials in Sin City at the forefront of mind, I was delighted to be invited to Broadway Casino to check out their Italian eatery, aptly named The Restaurant. First impressions of The Restaurant (which opened in January this year) are good, and the elevated open plan nature of the…
Posh kebabs and all the hot sauce
Yesterday saw the first of the 2017 seasonal markets pop up in Birmingham. Found in The Bond in Digbeth, the canal-side setting is a gorgeous hidden gem and just 10 minutes walk from the city centre. The spring sunshine made for a busy event, with hundreds of foodie friends and families spending the day mooching…
Chicken and vegetable gyoza
Like most people I am a big fan of Wagamama, but it is an expensive way to eat Japanese-style food if, like me, you love all the side dishes. When I visit the restaurant the one thing I cannot resist ordering is the chicken gyoza. These little dumplings are packed full of flavour and have…
Decent pub grub @ The Loft Gay Village
The Loft Gay Village Thanks to my Independent Birmingham card I came across The Loft in the Gay Village, just behind Nightingales, but couldn’t believe the transformation it had undergone. Mind made up I dragged Ian along. The Loft is a really lovely bar come eatery, with separate areas for diners looking for a slightly…
Spanish chicken stew
There are certain go-to meals that every household has and in ours it’s Spanish chicken stew. Super easy and quick to make, this one pot dish is a firm favourite of my other half and something I learned from my mum – who isn’t that big on cooking but loves a simple mediterranean style feast…
Crustless bacon and vegetable quiche
Sometimes I like to eat healthy food. Sometimes I like to eat healthy food that tastes like it’s probably bad for you; fake fatty food, I call it. When you’re trying to be a bit more healthy it can be hard to choose lunches – especially ones on the go. You need something that can…
Why I love eating @ Pho
I’m a big fan of Pho based in Grand Central. It’s my go to place when I’m in the mood for something tasty but vaguely healthy, and I often take myself off to the Vietnamese ‘street food’ restaurant for a working lunch. In fact, I like it so much I’ve taken my boyfriend, my mum,…
And with this pork pie, I thee wed
I’ve never been one for tradition, and my future wedding is far from the country retreat fresh out of the pages of a bridal magazine that most seem to choose. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the niceties of a ‘traditional’ wedding (I’ve been to many gorgeous churches, barns, stately homes and marquees and had…
Sushi sampling @ Wasabi, Grand Central
I’ve been mildly obsessed with Wasabi sushi since 2015 when I discovered the chain on a work trip to London. Having stumbled upon the takeaway sushi joints by accident (read: I was lost) my hungry belly was beyond happy to receive a selection of California rolls and nigiri. So much so that I went back…
Sweet treats @ Centenary Lounge
I pass through Birmingham Moor Street station at least 3 times a week, and have always been a fan of Centenary Lounge; the tiny cafe that takes pride of place in the main waiting area of the station. Offering a quiet slice of vintage respite in the always busy station, the Art Deco inspired cafe…
Chilli crab linguini
Hands up who loves pasta.. *watches every arm in the Western World spring up* Of course you do! It’s comforting, super-filling and is (usually) ridiculously easy to cook. Granted, without lashings of a tasty sauce your humble spaghetti doesn’t exactly ring all the taste alarms BUT I’ve recently been shown an easy way to get…
Sunday brunch @ Bistro du Vin
A few weeks ago I got to experience the famous Bistro du Vin Sunday Brunch at Hotel Du Vin, which sits right between the Jewellery Quarter and Snow Hill areas. My wonderful friend Flic gave me the lunch as a gift – she knows me well! – and we finally found the time to enjoy…