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.