Farmers Market

Saturday was the last Saturday in the month which means ......Moseley Farmers Market!!!!!  Yippee!!!

I brought my Mother in Law with me last month,  she's lived in Birmingham for 50 years and she had never before been, seriously?!?!!?!?  Anyway she thought it was amazing "It's like they have in foreign places"  was her verdict.

My favourite places are the Russian pie lady, Bake Birmingham with their amazing cakes (also available at Tilt) , The Magic Porridge Pot, the olive stall, Churds and Whey the french cheese guy.

Bake Birmingham

The Magic Porridge Pot

But there is so much more, unlike most of the "farmers markets" you see around there are plenty actual fresh seasonal vegetable stalls, fresh farm meats, sausage, bacon, pork pies etc.

Don't know why I am even bothering with this my last 3 posts haven't been read by anyone.  I give up there are better writers and more dedicated bloggers out there than me.  I wanted to change peoples perceptions of the the city but you need non-brummies to have a look and I realise now they won't the prejudice runs deep.  I'm just going to enjoy my city and take the pressure off, forget about the ass-holes out there.

Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iiiiittttt'sssss Christmas!!!!!!!

Okay so Noddy hasn't actually said that yet but I saw the Coke ad on Saturday so close enough.  I was in the City Centre at the weekend and it is quite frightening how quickly it fills up once the Frankfurt Market (to give it its correct title) opens.  The main market was the usual design although I didn't get right up to Victoria Square.  But what surprised me was that the craft market, formerly Chamberlain Square and then Centenary Square, is actually now in Pigeon Park (the Cathedral Square to non-locals).  They have covered the grass with interlocking plastic hexagon panels so at least it won't get muddy.  At lot of it was the usual Isle of Sicily Fudge, Cheese, Pork scratchings, handmade jumper and jackets that are so beautiful but weigh a ton and the Baileys bar under the Christmas Tree.  There were some new delights though including a loaded chips vendor 😵Grilled Chicken stand and a guy with a something that looked like a Sitar playing Christmas songs.  You gotta love the diversity.

The reason I was in the city was to have afternoon tea at The Ivy for my friends 50th Birthday.  It amuses me that I am eating meals at The Ivy in order.  First visit Brunch with Mom, second trip lunch with a friend and now third trip Afternoon Tea.  So I really need to get there for dinner asap.  Anyway back to the tea, it was gorgeous sandwiches, creme brulee doughnut, raspberry tart, a little plant pot with chocolate mousse and of course scones with cream and jam.  As it was a special occasion we had the glass of champagne as well as tea, how decadent!  One of my friends has MS and she was having a bad day so came in her wheelchair, the staff were really nice and helpful, chirpy and fun.  That was the main thing I've noticed on all my visits, this place could be very intimidating but it's not it genuinely is casual and fun.

I had been to a Champagne Afternoon Tea at Marco Pierre Whites at the Cube a couple of months ago as a treat for my Mom.  She wanted to see Mamma Mia 2 so I booked the Everyman Cinema at the Mailbox, (who doesn't love a cinema where you can get a bottle of wine delivered to your seat?) and then afternoon tea.  I thought the actual afternoon tea was reasonably priced but as Mom does not like any sparkling wines we ordered wine separately, the 2 glasses of wine came to more than the tea for two.  It was nice, I have no actual complaint and we got a window table so nice location but somehow just not a special as The Ivy, can't put my finger on it.

 

Back at The Ivy I got there before the rest of the crew and was sitting at the bar, resting my feet people watching. An older guy came up beside me and barked at the bartender "A large whiskey and it has to be Glenfiddich!" The bartender said "Well the only Glenfiddich we have is 21" I genuinely think that the guy did not know what Glenfiddich 21 actually was, as he paused and look puzzled.  The bartender gently point out that a double Glenfiddich 21 would be £33.  The look of shock on the guys face was hilarious, I was watching through the mirror behind the bar so hopefully he didn't notice me.  But the bartender caught my eye and we smirked at each other.  He finally checked the drinks menu and selected something more in his price range with 2 Virgin Marys, a drink incidentally I can't get on board with tomato juice is just so nasty anyway but if it's not even going to get you drunk why bother Urgh!!

So what exciting delights does the greatest city in the country have for me this week?  Well I have physio on my shoulder, I fell over walking the dog back in February and torn a tendon it still gives me pain 10 months later 😬.  But on a brighter note it is the Seasonal Market at the Bond next Saturday (1st December) this season's theme is Chilli and Spice, looking forward to that.  So if anyone else is coming I'll see you there.

Recommendations

Last week I was chatting to a women in the office and she told me that she had a friend coming to stay from Cape Town, he would be renting an apartment in the city for two weeks and she asked what she could do with him.

My immediate response was to reel off a whole list of things, I think she was a little overwhelmed.  But this time I did pause to ask what he liked but she said basically anything he just wants to explore.  Here was my list:

• The Lovely Bones is currently on at The Rep
• I also said check out what's on at The Crescent (turns out it would be In Praise of Folly), The Blue Orange and The Old Joint Stock.  She was very intrigued by the Old Joint Stock idea as this is a theatre in the back of a pub, of course I also had to mention their delicious pies for a whole night out.
• Blakesley Hall - A Tudor Manor House, I haven't visited the house since I was at school but for the last 2 years I have been to the Crescent Theatre touring performances of Jane Austen works.  This year it was Emma and last year Sense and Sensibility.
• Aston Hall - A Jacobean Manor House,last time I was there was the Independent Birmingham Festival in the grounds on one of the hottest days of the year.  It also happens to be straight across from the Aston Villa Football ground, turns out the friend is a football fan, so I suggested they might be able to combine this with a visit to the grounds.
• Apparently he was also a Jazz fan,so I mentioned that there was often free Jazz performances on in the Foyer of the Symphony Hall on a Friday evening after work.
• Cadbury World obviously.
• Walking in the Lickey Hills
• JuJu's Cafe for Brunch, she's vegetarian so I enthused about the Vegetarian Hash they do, hmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
• The Museum and Art Gallery for the Pre-Raphaelites and the Staffordshire Hoard.
• The I realised that the German Market will be opening shortly after he arrives so that will keep them occupied for at least a few evening.

So that was my off the top of my head list, what would your list be, have I missed out any of your favourites?

Oh there you are......

Okay so I haven't actually blogged for nearly 2 years, oops.  I have a really good excuse, okay maybe not good but acceptable, hmmm right it's just an excuse.  So after my last blog I got asked by a company that were moving their head office from London to Birmingham to start blogging for their internal website to promote the city to their staff.  The plan was to transfer about 1,000 jobs from London up here and they wanted some of their experienced staff to relocate.

It was a very exciting time I can tell you, not only was I blogging about the city I love but I also got to host visitors thinking of relocating around the city for a couple of weekends and go down to their offices in London to promote the relocation package (wearing a fetching T-shirt with "Want to know more about Birmingham..............Ask me I live their" on it).

The weekends were fascinating we got to meet families and show them round.  On the Saturday there were walking tours of the city centre focused on different aspects Families, Culture, Shopping and another one that I can't remember now.  On the family tour we went to the Sea Life Centre, the Library, the CBeebies roadshow that conveniently was on and a canal boat tour.  Culture involved a lot of the Jewellery Quarter, St Paul's Square including St Paul's Gallery on Northwood Street that I wasn't aware of, they specialise in Album cover art they had a David Bowie exhibition on at the time 😢😢😢.  The Shopping tour including a trip to the champagne bar at Selfridges and a tour round the inner workings of the Bullring.  Then on the Sunday it was a coach tour around the city and suburbs (including the requisite stop at Cadbury World) and it was this that was the real eye opener for most people, they had all heard Birmingham was a concrete wasteland of 1960s shopping centres and council houses.  So to go around Edgbaston (south of the Hagley Road obviously), Bournville, Lickey, Barnt Green, Wythall and then round to Solihull was to say the least a surprise. 

Ultimately most of the families I got to see did actually relocate.  I remember one family with 2 of the cutest little boys ever who had been told the best places to look for property were Handsworth, Smethwick and Small Heath?!?!?!?!  I really do wonder who by?  I mean seriously, the Mom was definitely a Solihull type and wanted the boys in a good school, I gentle steered them away and in the end they settled in Stourbridge.

It was however challenging to talk to people who did want anything to do with Birmingham and were going to be negative no matter what.  I made a big mistake with one of those people once, he went straight on the attack "Tell me what's great about Birmingham then." I realise now that I should have quizzed him a bit more about what he does for fun and what he wants in a place to live.  But I didn't I started off the with usual statistics youngest city in Europe, 513 parks, gardens and open spaces, more canals than......blah blah.  When this failed I tried commuting distances because not everyone that works in London lives in London right?  So I started on about how close to the countryside everything is and how you can live a beautiful village and still get into the city in 30 minutes, but the guy picked up on this and exclaimed "Ha so the best thing about Birmingham is NOT living in Birmingham"  he roared with laughter and then just shut me down if I tried to say anything else. You win some, you lose some.  I can't change the world on my own.

But anyway even though I haven't been doing much blogging here I have been out and about on Instagram making sure people get to see the city at its best and find out about hidden treasures.  So I intend to blog weekly now going forward and I hope you enjoy it.

More Food Glorious Food

Okay here's the deal there is so much food going on in Birmingham it deserves a second blog.  Last time I was talking about the high end restaurants and street food, but this time I want to talk about the speciality shops and cafes.

Cakes, Bread etc:

Peel and Stone - Based in the Jewellery Quarter but branching out in to Harborne later this year.  They bake real bread using time honoured methods and trusted techniques. And have a small range of rustic and indulgent sweet treats, from delicate financiers to seasonal fruit pies, and the most decadent chocolate brownies.

Maison Mayci, Kings Heath and Moseley - Opened in Kings Heath in 2005 and later a café in Moseley in 2010 after customer demand.  They make French patisserie and bakery products with a rustic lunch menu, which includes daily soup, quiche and pasta specials.

Miss Macaroon - Mail order Macaroon.  Wedding gift boxes, themed macaroons, gift boxes and just yummy indulgences that you wouldn't know had not come from Paris.

Chocolates:

Crafty Brummie Chocolates - They have only been going a couple of years but can be found at most craft and food fairs in the area.  Offering beautiful and innovative chocolate designs.

Henley Chocolates - That's Henley in Arden not the other one, home of Henley ice-cream as well as chocolates and the longest High Street in the country.  The chocolates come with wonderful unique flavours such as Salted Morello Cherry and they offer workshops to learn to make your own.

Meat:

Bowketts Butchers - A little butchers shop on the Wolverhampton Road head in to Oldbury, plenty of people would drive passed.  They have been going over 75 years they supply free range chickens from Hereford, Prime Beef from Shiremeadow to English Lamb and bacon smoked in Oak chips.

Lashfords & Son, Knowle - The original butchers shop responsible for the famous award winning Lashford sausages.

Becketts Farm - This is a great farmshop the size of your average supermarket but the quality is of course first rate.  They also have a restaurant which is locally famous for its breakfasts.

But that is one of the best things about Birmingham you are always only 1/2 hour drive away from wonderful countryside with pretty villages and farm shops a plenty, so I have only touched on a few there.

Back in the centre of the city one place that needs special mention is The Great Western Arcade http://www.greatwesternarcade.co.uk/stores as about half their shops are food and drink related- Loki's Wine, The Whiskey Shop, Anderson and Hill, Chouchoute, Yorks Espresso Bar, Treat Greek Deli, The Bread Collection and the Victorian Tearoom.  If you know London it's a bit like a mini version of the Piccadilly or Burlington Arcades (but with a Greggs in the middle?!?!)

Loki's wine is an amazing place a wine shop/wine bar.  You can buy taster cards to use in what are effectively wine vending machines :-O  every home should have one!  And they organise Wine Tasting classes, speciality events and corporate events.  I went to one of their introduction in wine tasting classes last year, it was all going so well, until they said "okay class over, finish up what's left in the bottles if you like."  Oh uh, hubby said I came staggering down the street swerving to avoid parked cars..... but enough about my embarrassing moments.

Chouchoute is an amazing chocolate shop, they actually sell those heart shaped boxes you would see in a Doris Day movie.  But the flavours are uber modern, chilli chocolates, seasalt, kiwi, marzipans, rose and violet creams and best of all they make the chocolates on site.  It is owned and run my a lovely French man called Pierre, so you can pretend you are in gay Paris right in the centre of Brum.

The Bread Collection is an off-shoot from their larger shop and cafe in the village of Knowle.  Again keep the French thing going and pick up you real baguette and croissants here.

And of course there are the regular markets, today was the monthly food market at the mac.  Sadly I got there too late for the samosa stall but I did get some amazing brownies and a piece of truffle cheese from Curds and Whey/

All this is making me hungry, better go and get a snack.  Speak soon, byeeee!!!

Food Glorious Food!!!

Brummies LOVE food, no really it's not just me, or at least I think it's not?!?!? That might seem a bit strange given that Birmingham does not have a dish which is synonymous with the city (except perhaps the Balti but that didn't come about until the 70s). No, Melton Mowbray has its pork pies, Bakewell its Pudding, London its Pie and Mash, Grasmere its Gingerbread and Cornwall its Pasty. But Birmingham, well closest thing we have is Faggots and Peas but even that it more Black Country than true Brummie.

So how then did Birmingham become the Foodie capital of the UK? Beats me! But it did, over the last 10-15 years it has slowly crept up on us. These days Birmingham has 5 Michelin Starred restaurants, which is more than any other city in the UK (other than London), of those 5 restaurants one was voted by Trip Advisor contributors the 4th best restaurant in the WORLD!! and Number 1 in the UK. Yes people, according to real eaters and not Giles Coren forget London for your gourmet treat head to Brum.

The restaurant in question is in fact Adams run by Adam Stokes, this restaurant used to be a "pop-up" on Bennetts Hill, but moved round the corner to permanent and larger premises on Waterloo Street in January this year.

The other Michelin Stars belong to:
Purnells - obviously as he mentions it enough on the TV, and where you may even get to meet the yummy Brummie himself, I did :-)
Turners - in Harborne for such a great restaurant strangely located in the 1960s sections of the High Street a couple of doors down from Iceland.
Simpsons - which opened in Kenilworth in 1993 but moved to Birmingham in 2004 and received their star just one year later.
and the newest recruit Carters in Moseley, specialising in fresh local produce.

There are other chefs worthy of mention who are surely on the Michelin guide list for consideration. Such as Ahktar Islam our other celebrity chef (he won a course in Great British Menu twice) who owns and runs Indian fine dinning restaurant Lasan, Indian Cafe Raja Monkey, Champagne and Lobster bar Nosh and Quaff and Argentinian restaurant Fiesta Del Asado. And then there is Andy Waters whose success with his tiny restaurant Waters on the Square at St Chads Square in Edgbaston resulted in his invitation to Headline at the recently opened Resort World Casino and Leisure Complex at the NEC with the self named Andy Waters restaurant.

Okay I know what you are thinking that's all well and good for Alan Sugar but what about us mere mortals who can't afford Michelin Star food every night? Well have no fear my friends we have everything from chains like Giraffe, Cafe Rouge and Nandos to Fried Chicken shops open until 3am Eek!!!  Although for the truly individual you will want to check out the burgeoning street food scene down in Digbeth.

Digbeth Dining Club I have mentioned before is a super cool set up in an old warehouse open every Friday night where a selection of fab vendors set up shops for the evening including bands and DJs.

Habaneros Burritos also pitch up at the Cathedral Square on a weekday lunch time if you fancy a mid-week treat.

And there are new venues opening up all the time our first late night dessert only restaurant opened last week Pirlo's.  Just opposite the Calthorpe Road office is the new Park Regis Hotel with their Japanese restaurant and Sky bar, which I have yet to check out.

But don't just take my word it come and feast yours eyes (and bellies) on what Birmingham has to offer.

What's going on in the city at the moment?

So what been going on in the city recently and more importantly what's coming up you could get involved in?

Well Monday night I went to the Midlands Art Centre (The mac) to see Eddie Izzard perform a segment from his Force Majeure tour.  It was 3 shows, in 3 hours, in 3 languages French, German and then English.  Sadly he wasn't in sexy boy mode (I love the goatee) but wearing that hideous pink beret that he seems to be permanently attached to at the moment.

On Saturday we went to see the new production of King Lear at The Rep with Don Warrington in the title role (a.k.a the posh bloke from Rising Damp).  Which was 3 1/2 hours but totally amazing.

To celebrate payday some of us went over to check out the new Park Regis Hotel on Five Ways Island.  We booked in for Afternoon Tea and it was splendid, but at £24 a head something of a treat.  Next we need to go to the Japanese restaurant Rofuto and sky bar at the top of the hotel.

Well that's what has been happening but loads of stuff coming up.  Tomorrow sees the start of the Birmingham Pride festival.  An amazing couple of days of partying, parades, cabaret, music and general loud raucous fun in the Gay Village.  This year HSBC is one of the official sponsors so I'm guessing they want their presence known ready for the opening of the new head office on Broad Street.

As it's the last Sunday in the month the Food Market will be on at The mac,

Curds and Whey - A huge range of delicious cheeses.

Staffordshire Scotch Eggs - Delicious, handmade scotch eggs using free range eggs and quality pork. 16 varieties including vegetarian and gluten free options.

Hibiscus Grove - Ethically produced authentic South East Asian food

Vegan Grindhouse - 100% Plant-Based Fresh Grinds & Fab Food. Think of a 1950s American Diner - but all vegan and mobile!

More Cocoa - Handmade cocoa / chocolate cakes, chocolates and real chocolate beverages Fair trade chocolate.

B14 Artisan Collective - Passionate about local food

Frank's Sauces - A wake up for your taste buds, Frank's original Scotch Bonnet Jelly.

Kuskus - Vegetarian handmade natural food inspired by the Middle East

Tilesford Cottage Larder - Rare breed pork fare.

Rachel's Cake Delights - Vegan and gluten free cakes and bakes

Hungry Penguin - Sweet and savoury pancakes

Beans and Leaves - Coffee beans & speciality loose leaf teas.

Happy Gut Hut - Fermented food packed with good bacteria for vitality and energy.

Vegetropolis- Organic fruit & veg.

Yvodne's Caribbean Treats - Cakes and treats inspired by sweet flavours of the Caribbean.

It's a Wrap - Fresh Tex Mex style food and homemade toppings.

But sadly I won't be there much as I love my food markets as I will be back at the  Crescent Theatre watching the Musical of Musicals.

Bank holiday Monday sees the return of the Bournville Food Festival, where a lot of the Digbeth Dining Club regulars will emerge into the daylight.  It's held at the Rowheath Pavillon in the beautiful village of Bournville, home of the Chocolate Factory.

Wolverhampton born songstress Beverley Knight is performing at the Symphony Hall On Thursday 2nd June. Tickets are sold out but there may be cancellations on the night. And check out her star on the walk of fame across the street by the Hyatt.

And for anyone who grew up in the 80s Adam Ant will be there on 7th June.

18 June - City of Colours Street Art Festival arrives, it is one of the UK's largest celebrations of graffiti, street art and urban culture. Bringing together communities from across the city and wider, transforming the area around Digbeth into one of the world's largest outdoor art galleries, and what's more it's FREE!

Phew!  I'm exhausted just thinking about all this I'm off to lie down in a darkened room to get my energy going for the bank holiday weekend.