Tag Archives: brunch

The Barnt Green Inn Review

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Located in the leafy Worcestershire village of Barnt Green, the popular country pub favourite of mine, The Barnt Green Inn, has recently had an exciting new refurbishment. I couldn’t wait to visit to see how this beautiful historic listed pub had reinvented itself! I’ve always loved the food at The Barnt Green Inn, so for me the most exciting part was the brand new menu which was chosen to incorporate fresh fresh flavours and ingredients inspired by modern world food trends.

Eager to see the transformation I headed to The Barnt Green Inn for their re-opening night so I could be one of the first to see the exciting new chances. At the door I was met with the usual warm welcome by the staff but was taken aback by the breathtakingly new lush interior, which brought a twist of modern to the classic feel of the half timbered original decor.

The bar area was large but had a private feel to it and was still as cosy as I remembered it before! Situated in the bar on the opening night was something I’d never seen before – a build your own gin station. Filled with an array of fresh fruit, garnishes, and botanical, something I couldn’t resist. With the expertise of the staff I was able to craft a gin and tonic that consisted of the perfect combination of flavours for my personal taste.

It has to be said The Barnt Green Inn has really succeeded in creating a luxurious venue whilst still incorporating the classic charm the building had before its renovation. I don’t think there’s an establishment within the Midlands quite like it! I really am impressed with the new interior but I have to say my favourite part is the toilets (strange I know).

I absolutely adore the chic feel of the bathrooms and couldn’t help taking a few pictures of myself in the cute little mirrors either. If only I could have a bathroom this stylish at home!

Now onto the food. I’d probably say my favourite hobby is eating, so I was definitely excited to taste the new menu that had been created by the team. I was spoilt for choice, everything sounded so lovely but I finally settled on the Pork Belly Bao Buns and my mother opted for the Seared Wild Atlantic Scallops. Our food arrived shortly after we order and looked an absolute treat! The Pork Belly Bao Buns came with a red chilli, pineapple and mango salsa which perfectly complimented the pork. Additionally the chilli gave the dish a fiery kick that went nicely with the sweetness of the mango and pineapple. On the side was a pot of thai-style dipping sauce if you fancied adding a little bit of extra heat to the dish! I really enjoyed the Pork Belly Bao Buns; they were perfectly flavoured, very filling and brilliant for sharing.

I’ve never tried scallops before and as my mother opted for the Seared Wild Atlantic Scallops I found this the perfect opportunity to try one for the first time. The scallops were served along lobster and a crab bonbons with a pea and truffle oil velouté. My mother really enjoyed this dish and I have to say so did I…my first time tasting scallops was a success! I expected them to be overpoweringly fishy, but instead they were tender and juicy, with a very subtle seafood taste. Now I know that they’re delicious I will certainly be ordering them in the future!

For the main I opted for the Outdoor-Reared Heritage Breed Rotisserie Sticky Glazed Pork Belly. I had pork as my starter so probably shouldn’t have opted for it as my main, but it sounded too delicious to resist! It was served with smoky creamed corn, roasted butternut squash, calvolo nero mashed potato, red wine jus and crispy crackling. The pork was cooked to perfect and was so tender it melted in my mouth. Surprisingly I’ve never tasted roasted butternut squash before, I’ve only tried it in soups but it was really flavoursome and I’ll definitely be trying it at home in the near future. The creamed corn went unusually well with the dish, adding a unique flavour when paired with the pork. My only criticism is that I would have liked more calvolo nero in the mash as I adore it, but I guess that’s just a personal preference!

My mother opted for the Four Bone Lamb Rack which looked impressive to say the least! This was served with chorizo, butternut squash purée, roasted shallots, calvolo nero, dauphinoise potatoes, chimmi churri and a red wine jus. You were able to choose how you wanted your lamb cooked and to my mothers delight it was cooked expertly, with it being exactly how she had asked for it to be. I didn’t try dish myself but I’ll take my mother’s word that it was all cooked to perfection, being one of the nicest meals she’s had in a very long time!

After finishing two mouth-wateringly delicious courses we browsed the desserts menu and decided on the Icon Sharing Dessert Birdcage. This exciting dessert consisted of a half birdcage structure with three tiers of desserts. The desserts included were vanilla cheesecake, strawberry, chocolate & pistachio smash; blackcurrant mousse & mango coulis; home-baked brownie, French almond macaron & pecan praline ice cream. This dessert is made to be shared between two to three people, or just one if your appetite is big enough! I was excited to try each dessert of this trio, as they weren’t too similar in taste or texture and it seems like the selection was picked so as to bring you an array of different flavours to excite the tastebuds. My favourite was the chocolate brownie as it was really light and fluffy, but decadent at the same time! Overall, I really did enjoy all the elements of each dessert and would definitely recommend the Icon Sharing Dessert Birdcage if you’re stuck on what dessert to choose, not only is it delicious but also makes for a great picture!

Overall I had an absolutely amazing night at the newly refurbished Barnt Green Inn. The staff were as friendly and attentive as ever, but I was really taken aback by the effort that has gone into designing the luxury velvet interior which merges perfectly with the original timbered structure. Before the refurbishment I didn’t think the food could get any better at The Barnt Green Inn but I couldn’t be anymore wrong. I throughly enjoyed every course I had and wished I could have ate it all over again!

The Barnt Green Inn has really put itself on the map as a luxury dining destination. Perfect for family outings or special occasions, it’s really worth giving this establishment a visit as you certainly won’t regret it. You can find out more information about The Barnt Green Inn and see their menus here.

What’s your favourite country pub?

Laura 
♡

Disclaimer: I was gifted this meal, however all opinions are genuine and my own.

 

Flight Club Birmingham Review

Posted in Food, Lifestyle by

Meet Flight Club – the trendy bar chain and worlds first interactive darts venue which opened its doors to the people of Birmingham back in July. The creative concept gives a fresh modern take on traditional darts, using state of the arts darts tracking technology combined with fun interactive games.

After having a blast on their opening night, I decided to return for the brunch social hosted every Saturday and Sunday, priced at a reasonable £25. Upon arriving, my partner and I were allocated our own table and oche (posh word for the dart line area) which was beautifully laid out with fresh orange juice, filtered water, bottles of prosecco and fun props to play with. Each guest receives a bottle of prosecco as well as unlimited fresh orange juice and filtered water. Can this get any better you may think? Yes, it can! You are also served unlimited pizza for the two hour duration you are there!

There was an impressive selection of ten different types of freshly baked pizza made using the finest ingredients, with choices for everyone…whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or an avid meat eater Flight Club have you covered!

Photo courtesy of Flight Club Birmingham

The pizzas were so delicious that I wish I could have stayed and tried them all as they were certainly some of the nicest pizzas I have ever tried in Birmingham. I’d even return again just for the pizza! A personal favourite was the ‘pork sausage pizza on a garlic cream base with braised leeks and smoked mozzarella’.

Photo courtesy of Flight Club Birmingham

If you’re not a fan of alcohol or if you just don’t like prosecco then the Flight Club team will happily make you some exciting mocktail alternatives instead. So no matter what your preferences are, Flight Club will make sure that everyone is having an amazing time! One thing which I didn’t realise before going to Flight Club is that they record snapshots and highlights from your entire night and send them to you via email, so you can look back at them any time you want. I love this concept because most of the time when I’m having fun I forget to take photographs to save the memories, so Flight Club have you covered on that aspect!

I applaud the new experience which Flight Club has brought to Birmingham, bringing a creative and contemporary concept which stands out against the array of typical traditional bars found within the city centre. So whether it’s your birthday, hen-do or you just fancy a day out with a difference, then I’d definitely recommend Flight Club to be your first choice to go to, you won’t regret it! More information about pricing, menus and what they offer can be found at Flight Club Birmingham.

Will this be your new brunch spot?

Laura 
♡

 

Bodega Cantina – Birmingham Review

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I find there’s nothing better during the colder months than warming up eating my favourite cuisine – Mexican, and where else better to go than Bodega Cantina in Birmingham! Located on Bennett’s Hill, Bodega has spiced up Birmingham’s local cuisine since it opened in 2010. With its quirky vibrant decor, the restaurant offers homemade South American and Mexican inspired dishes, and with over 18 dishes on the menu there’s something to choose for everyone!

Recently their menu has had a refresh, with the addition of new dishes and improvement of some of the existing ones…the perfect excuse for me and my partner in crime to visit again! As usual upon entering Bodega I was greeted by their warm friendly welcome, and we were soon onto ordering our cocktails whilst we browsed the food menu! We opted for the ‘Bodega’s Burger a la Parilla’ and Peruvian Seco de Pollo, along with a side of Mexican Cola Wings, Colombian Papas Chorreadas, and of course…nachos! No visit to Bodega is complete without their famous homemade nachos.

In no time our fresh homemade food was delivered to the table, and boy were we in for a treat! The array of enticing aromas wafted past me, not only did this food smell amazing but it looked amazing too. I started with the Mexican cola wings, and I was instantly in love. They have to be some of the tastiest chicken wings I have EVER tried. The lightly spiced sticky sauce was delicious, I couldn’t get enough of it. Since the visit I’ve tried making cola wings myself at home but unfortunately can’t master them to the Bodega standard, so I’ll certainly be returning to get my next fix of them soon. The nachos at Bodega are different to any nachos I’ve ever tasted, their crunchy homemade taste really sets them apart. Covered in a mountain of melted cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa fresco, jalapeños and chicken mole they are definitely a winner. The other side we ordered, Colombian papas chorreadas, was equally as good. The dish consisted of crispy diced potatoes covered with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, topped with salsa fresco. If you’re a cheese lover like myself then this dish will win you over, it reminded me of a cheesy patas bravas! I had to stop myself from eating it all and save some for my friend.

The sides proved the perfect accompaniment to our delicious mains. My friend opted for Bodega’s burger a la parilla, and to my surprise it was like no burger I had ever seen before. It was a unique take on a traditional burger, and instead of a bun the burger was wrapped in a tortilla. It sounds strange but it surprisingly goes really well and it is actually easier to eat than a normal burger! But my favourite was the main I had chosen – Peruvian seco de pollo. This rich chicken stew was just what I needed to warm me up! Different to any other stew I’d tasted before, the fresh coriander and red chilli within the dish really brought it alive and enhanced the warm hearty flavour of the dish. It’s not a dish I’d usually associate with South America which made it a nice unusual change to the stereotypical street food I always tend to order at Mexican/South American restaurants. If you’re looking for a dish that fills you up and warms your soul Peruvian seco de pollo is the dish for you.

As they say there’s always room for desserts no matter how full you are, so we opted for my favourite – churros, as well as banana & salted caramel cheesecake. The churros were warm, crispy and delicious, with just enough cinnamon sugar to make them not too sickly. But my favourite out of the two was the cheesecake. Served with dulce de leche and a dusting of sugar, I couldn’t get enough of rich creamy flavour of banana. The taste reminded me a bit of banoffee pie, a dessert I adore, which is most likely why I loved this cheesecake so much. For me it has to be one of the cheesecakes with the best flavour combinations I’ve ever tried.

A few cocktails later and we were ready head home. As usual we had an amazing time at Bodega Cantina, with an array of delicious food and fantastic service. I’m already planning my next visit to try out some of the other new items they have introduced to the menu. Whether you’re strolling through town and fancy a quick bite, or want somewhere refreshing for a date night Bodega is the place to go.

You can find out more about Bodega Cantina and what they have to offer on their website.

What’s your favourite South American dish?

Laura 
♡

Élan Cafe – My Experience

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In April I decided to visit my friend in London for the weekend, and I couldn’t resist the chance to visit the famous Élan Cafe. The cafe has two branches, both as beautiful as each other and their pink decor and floral walls makes this cafe a blogger and instagrammer hot spot! So on a sunny Saturday me and my friend eagerly headed to Élan Cafe on park lane, with our excitement being driven by the beautiful photographs we had seen of the cafe on Instagram.

Arriving at Élan Cafe

Upon arriving at the cafe we were greeted by a large que outside of people waiting to be seated. Due to it being such a lovely day me and my friend did not mind waiting around 20-30 minutes to get a table, so we joined the back of the que. However after 30 minutes the que had hardly moved but we did not want to leave as we had already waited so long. Finally after a whole 60 minutes we managed to be seated! Walking into the cafe we were greeted by the cute chic interior which was any bloggers dream! The cafe itself was quite small which explained why the wait was so long but now seated me and my friend were served immediately by a friendly and helpful waitress.

 

The Food & Drink

I could hardly decide what to eat, because the array of cakes in the window all looked amazing and I wish I could have tried every single one of them! Upon looking at the menu what first noticed about the menu was that the prices were quite expensive, but this was proportionate considering we were in the Mayfair area of London, and Èlan wasn’t exactly your standard costa style cafe! The menu hosted a vast array of hot and cold drinks, with good selection of plant based milk substitutes available for vegans (soy, almond, rice, oat and cashew milk. There were also many cakes to choose from and some brunch options. I opted for a flat white, a smoked salmon and pomegranate molasses open flatbread sandwich, followed by a chocolate mousse cake which in total set me back £17.30 (not including the service charge). All of the food and drink arrived promptly, and I only have one word for it – AMAZING! The presentation was beautiful and I have to say everything tasted so good that I’d eat there everyday if I could.

Would I Return to Élan?

Although I had a lovely time at Élan Cafe, I would be reluctant to visit there again due to the wait time. Also after waiting 60 minutes to get in we saw on the menu you could only stay in the cafe for a maximum of 45 minutes which meant we were standing outside the cafe waiting longer than we were seated inside. I can’t fault the food and drink there, and would love to go again if only the waiting time was less. But overall, me and my friend enjoyed ourself and got some fab pictures for the ‘gram to go with it! Want to try Élan for yourself? You can visit their website here.

What’s your favourite ‘instagrammer’ location in London?

Laura 
♡

Battle of Birmingham’s Best Rated Cafés

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You don’t have to venture far from Birmingham to experience flavours from all over the world. Being blessed with a handful of mitchelin star restaurants such as Purnell’s which is located on Cornwall Street, ran by the Birmingham born master chef Glynn Purnell. Birmingham is a hub of variety when it comes to food. But good food doesn’t always have to be expensive, with the new street food venue Digbeth Dining Club taking Birmingham by a storm, you can enjoy gourmet foods at a low cost. Hosting weekly events at the Spotlight venue, the Digbeth Dining Club showcases various street food venders who offer fare to tantalise the taste buds and allow you to embrace your senses with the various smells and tastes which this venue has to offer. After moving to Birmingham when I started university, I have been fortunate to try what Birmingham has to offer, and I am impressed. Brunch is one of my favourite meals; I mean who doesn’t love a good coffee paired with eggs benedict? This year I took it upon me to try out two places that I had heard great things about; Boston Tea Party and Yorks Bakery Café.

Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party is a chain of independent cafés located around the UK, one of which resides on Birmingham’s Corporation Street. Opening in 2013, this café has gained a lot of fame, being featured in The Times list of top 25 places to eat brunch in the UK, as well as winning Food Magazine’s ‘Best Café’ award in 2015. The chain is proud to be ethically run, being a three star member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The rustic, ‘upcycled’ interior is one of the first things you notice as you enter Boston Tea Party, but if you’re food obsessed like me you will probably notice the huge array of baked goods displayed on the counter instead, which I couldn’t resist! As well as an extensive hot drinks and food menu, the café offers a great range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food to cater for all dietary needs.
After ordering a latté and eggs benedict, I took a seat in the corner of the room to get a good view of the café itself. My coffee arrived after a few minutes wait, nicely presented with an nice attempt at some latté art on the surface. The coffee here was to die for, it was one of the nicest lattés I have had, but I wasn’t too long into enjoying it when the main event came, my eggs benedict. The presentation was brilliant, enticing me in with the rich, tangy smell of the hollandaise sauce. The eggs were perfect, the coffee was perfect, the experience was perfect, and I left (with cake in hand) feeling very satisfied.

9/10

 

Yorks Bakery Café
Yorks Bakery Café is an independent café with two locations in Birmingham, with one being an espresso bar. Founded in 2012, Yorks Bakery Café has a passion to deliver the very best speciality coffee and uplifting food to Birmingham, with an emphasis on craft and ingredients. Rated by the Sunday Times as one of the best places in Britain to have brunch, I first heard about this café in an article by The Guardian, who stated it as one of the top 50 best breakfast places in the UK in 2017. With high expectations I eagerly made my way to Stephenson Street to locate Yorks Bakery Café. Inspired by the travels of the team, the interior had a similar feel to that of Boston Tea Party, with a more urban feel to it. Excited, I ordered immediately, choosing a latté and the Arabian buttered eggs. Once I settled into my surroundings, I felt that the café itself was small and cramped, but this may be due to the café being entirely full when I visited. The counter hosted a small array of baked goods, but nowhere near the quantity that Boston Tea Party displayed. As this café calls itself a ‘bakery’ I was expecting there to be more on offer. As I sat there staring out the window I had noticed 10 minutes had gone by, and I still had not received my coffee. It arrived a few minutes later, and although there was a wait, I was impressed by the presentation. The coffee used in the latté itself was a very dark roast, with a bitter taste which I did not enjoy. After drinking my latté my food had still not came yet, with it eventually arriving a good 30 minutes after I ordered. The Arabian buttered eggs were something new to me; I enjoyed the new tastes, and eating things that I normally wouldn’t put together. The presentation was slightly lacklustre compared to Boston Tea Party’s offerings, and I noticed my food was missing the ‘mixed herbs’ which were stated on the menu. Although I enjoyed my food, I left (with cake in hand obviously), feeling rather disappointed. I had high hopes for this café but they sadly didn’t meet them.

6/10

 

After sampling the delights of Birmingham’s best rated cafes – Boston Tea Party and Yorks Bakery Café, I can conclude that Boston Tea Party is hands down the winner. For me first impressions are everything, and Boston Tea Party made a cracking one. Although both cafes are good, and I would recommend going to either if you are in the area, there is no doubt in my mind the Boston Tea Party comes off as superior. Maybe one day I will give Yorks Bakery Café another chance one day to impress me, but when I am not busy, as it’s not the best place to go if you are in a rush! So if your after ethically sourced food, amazing coffee and brilliant service, I highly recommend you pay a visit to Boston Tea Party, you won’t regret it.

Laura

♡

Links to the websites for the cafes in the review can be found below –
Boston Tea Party
York’s Bakery Café