Cheltenham is a lovely place to eat! Kibou & Huffkins [@NLi10]

 We had a day out in Cheltenham yesterday for the Science festival - but you don't care about that part - what did we eat?!

First up before talk one we had a coffee and a cake at the lovely Huffkins on what I think of as the main road - it leads from the festival to the high-street and has two huge bookshops on it.

It also looks very English - especially if there is drizzle.

Partner had a carrot cake, but I had a double raspberry éclair.  Decadance.

Cut open, not piped while hot so the bake-off judges would be knocking off points, but the flavours and textures would win them back around.  Not too sweet, and not too fruity.

Between talks 2 & 3 we had a two hour slot for a proper look in the bookshops (and dinner) and I chose a Japanese place we've not spotted in other years called Kibou, purely on the wonderful aromas and lovely atmosphere.

Turns out they had the beer I like most

The perfect pairing of brewed liquids. Hitachino and Kikkoman!

I had the pork mazeudon and it was awesome.  Everything was exactly how you'd want it - melting pork, firm fresh udon noodles and a good mix of veggies and seeds/flakes to add texture.  I could eat here every day and not get bored.

We didn't have space for desert but the green tea crème Brule sounded amazing so plans are already in place to return.

We sat at the bar seating which added to our salary man vibes as we ate and ran to the final talk about genetics.  Despite the lovely beer I managed to not fall asleep too.

And there are so many other little independent eateries around I think we could have done all three days of the festival only eating in 5/5 places with no repeats.

Wagamamas New Choices - Vegan Katsu Udon Noodles (plus chicken) + Sakura Lemonade [@NLi10]

 I'm not a huge fan of Wagamamas - locally in Birmingham there are indy versions with smaller queues right next door - but when out it's a reliable choice for decent food.

And when they add new exciting choices to the menu it's an easy compromise to go in and get well fed.

First up we have their Rose Petal & Cherry Blossom Lemonade (which is basically the Sakura Lemonade) - it's an odd mix of potent botanical flavours, but if you are after an exciting drink to sip then this is great fun.  The way the petals cling to the ice-cubes at the end is quite pretty too!

For main I had this crazy concoction of Katsu Udon.  The stuff on top is actually crispy sweet potato!

The Udon was great as usual, with the katsu in the name presumably actually the kare sauce at the bottom. But - I did add the optional Chicken (default vegan meal here) so I did get a Katsu or Cutlet in my food 

Here the flavours were far too muted, I needed excitement so added a dash of soy sauce, but I think some kind of chilli flake or maybe even fresh ones was needed to make this pop. That said - it's pretty unique and decently filling so maybe I'd just add the chilli oil next time and give it a good mix.

Overall Wagamamas continues to impress me in that they provide a very acessible gateway to fusion Asian food across the UK, but if I'm in town I'm still going to choose Mt Fuji, or The Brummie Noodle Company over them for the authentic experience (even if it does mean missing out on the ace sweet potato noodle things here!)

American Screwball Dessert (Hickory’s) By @Cinabar

We’ve been going to Hickory’s a little more often than usual recently, as it’s one of our favourite restaurants. They’ve just launched their Autumn/Winter menu, and the Gumbo is back, always a highlight. It’s a hearty stew with sausage, chicken, rice, and beans, and it’s a firm favourite of ours. It returns every year and never disappoints.

We don’t usually order dessert, but today we decided to make an exception when I spotted the American Screwball on the menu. When it arrived, it looked fantastic, ice cream covered in red and blue sauce, with white marshmallows completing the colours of the American flag.

A British ice cream Screwball usually hides a gobstopper at the bottom, but this version didn’t. Instead, it featured plenty of fro-co (frozen custard, or vanilla ice cream) and lots of marshmallows, which made it fun to eat. The red sauce was fruity, while the blue had a more tangy, sour edge. I suspect the blue colour might have come from melted sprinkles, though I can’t be sure. Either way, it was bright, cheerful, and very enjoyable.

By the end of the dessert, I realised my tongue was blue, which made me laugh. It’s nice to be reminded you’re still young at heart sometimes!

Peri-Mac & Cheese and Grilled Chicken Wrap (Nando’s) By @Cinabar

I love cheese and I love pasta, so when Nando’s announced their new menu with this Peri-Mac & Cheese and Grilled Chicken Wrap, I knew we had to make time for a visit.

It had been a while since our last trip to Nando’s. They are now encouraging people to pay using the app, which was a bit of a faff as it needed downloading, re-authenticating with my email, and then waiting for a code to come through. Once that was sorted though, the food arrived quickly and the service was friendly.

I ordered the wrap with a side of chips and a tomato side salad. I went for medium spice on the chicken, which is my usual choice, enough heat to notice, but still easy to enjoy.

The wrap was served cut in half, showing off a generous amount of macaroni cheese and plenty of grilled chicken. The mix of textures worked really well: the soft wrap, the tender chicken, the creamy pasta, and even the crispy salad in there too. The flavours were lovely too, with the gentle Peri-Peri warmth from the chicken blending perfectly with the rich, cheesy macaroni. It’s a combination that just works, cheese, chicken and pasta is always a winning trio.

The tomato salad added a nice sharpness and a hint of vinegar, cutting through the richness of the wrap. It made the meal feel a bit more balanced.

This is hearty, comforting food, perfect for this time of year. I really hope it stays on the menu for a while, because it’s the kind of dish that makes me want to go back to Nando’s.

Gumbo (Hickery’s Smokehouse) By @SpectreUK

My mom has been in the hospital for over a week now. Cinabar noticed that Gumbo is back on the menu at the Hickery's Smokehouse nearby to the hospital, so we popped in.

Gumbo is generally on the menu for around six months from October to March. It's comfort food against the cold and for the weary. It's tiring worrying about a loved one that's ill, and it's a cold, wet and windy day; perfect for comfort food.

The Gumbo I order is packed full of pieces of chicken and spicy jalapeño sausage in it, with rice and pulses, tomato, okra, and peppers, all in a Gumbo stew. I have a pot of Tennessee gravy to dip my baguette in for an added taste variety. I also ordered a spicy sausage on the side to dip in my gravy too. The gravy is just divine.

The Gumbo was not too spicy, and was plenty wholesome, with a gorgeous smoky spiciness, and very filling with the bread and sausage on the side. It's a must have during this season. It's getting more difficult as each day goes by, so a little comfort food for everyone doesn't go unappreciated.

Nostalgia Overload – Bendy & Cheese (Wimpy Bar) By @Cinabar

I haven’t been to Shrewsbury for a day trip in years, so it was absolutely lovely to visit over the weekend. We’d planned to head home for dinner, but while wandering around the shops, a familiar red logo caught my eye. We walked over to double-check, and sure enough, it really was an actual Wimpy Bar. Oh my word. The one in my city closed in the 1990s, and I was heartbroken when it did. It was a favourite childhood treat spot.

As we got to the door, I was still only peeking in, curious to see if my childhood favourite was still on the menu. Then I heard the nostalgic 1980s music playing, and the sound of the Ghostbusters theme sealed the deal, we were going in. We sat in a cosy booth, and there it was on the first page of the menu: Bendy & Cheese. It’s a sausage, bent to fit in a bun and treated like a burger, and I had to order it just for the memories. I love that Wimpy still offers table service.

The food arrived quickly. We both had chips and a soft drink to make it a full meal. I opened the bun and grinned, the Bendy & Cheese looked exactly like I remembered.

 

One bite and I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. It had that classic frankfurter taste but was chunkier and firmer. The cheese, ketchup and tomato balanced it all perfectly. I couldn’t stop smiling while eating it. The chips were great too: crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.

The dessert menu was new to me, I can’t remember what I used to have as a kid. I went for churros, as that’s always a favourite. They arrived in a fab-looking glass, more like an ice cream sundae. There were churros, ice cream and chocolate sauce, a sweet and indulgent treat.

We left full and impressed with the speed of service and the quality of the food. This place will definitely become a regular haunt. I can’t wait to go back.

British Pie Week Big Cheese Stack - Pieminister [@NLi10]

 We were in Leeds for the weekend - and it was British Pie Week - so we went out for pies!

Look at this glorious creation - but what is it?

It's the Big Cheese Stack!

They list it as "Big Cheese is a gloriously gooey combination of vintage Cheddar, potato, leek, Emmental and a splash of cider for good measure. This one’s for the true cheese lovers, oozing with rich, melty goodness in every bite."

(pic from the Pieminister website)

And here it comes with extras too - 

🥔 Mozzarella & Cheddar mash (for those cheese pulls obvs)

🥧 The Big Cheese pie

🧀 A halloumi, gherkin, pickled onion, and jalapeño skewer

🔥 Sprinkled with none other than a crispy onion and cheesy Wotsits® crumb!

🤯 Drown the whole thing in BRANSTON PICKLE GRAVY. We know it sounds bonkers, but trust us, it works 🤤

Don’t wait around to try this cheesy masterpiece, as it’s only available from 3-9 March, and after that it’ll be gone! So, make sure you get in and try it while you can 🏃

Why am I cutting and pasting so much?  Well I didn't eat it because I hate cheese.

I had the Filo Harissa Chicken, and all the stolen pickles. Yum!

The girls having the pies said that it was great, not too cheesy, and one even finished the Branston Pickle gravy with a spoon!

There has been a suggestion that other meals should be served with cheezy wotsits too...

To make up for the lack of pics here is an American guy in full armour from the Leeds Armoury museum (also worth a visit - less cheesy though)

HoneyBird Cinna-Bun (Hickory’s Smokehouse) By @Cinabar

Let me start this by saying that Hickory’s Smokehouse is one of my favourite restaurants. It is a small chain restaurant, mostly around the Midlands, and its theme is Southern Texan food and style. We go there regularly; Spectre is addicted to the Gumbo (spicy stew), and I love the Hot Dog (classic), but I have tried quite a lot of the menu items. They have a few sweet savoury options, for example, the chicken waffle that is drizzled in maple syrup, that work really well. This dish, though, is one that takes that sweet savoury mix a step further; here we have the HoneyBird Cinna-Bun. Effectively a cinnamon bun, with chicken served in the middle. I also love cinnamon but have sort of avoided this until now. 

When it arrived, it was served with nacho chips and slaw. The HoneyBird Cinna-Bun looked super dangerous to try and eat; there was icing and honey glaze on the top. I picked at the nachos before I decided to try to eat with a knife and fork!

I gave it a try and have to say I did like the flavours. I love sweet cinnamon, and it was good with the chicken; the red onions inside were definitely there to bring balance, and that helped. 

If I’m honest, even as a cinnamon lover, I think they force this to work, and it makes it a decent meal. However, in my heart of hearts, the maple syrup chicken waffle is by far the superior sweet savoury dish on the menu. If you are going for the first time, I still heartily recommend the Hot Dog, and apparently the Gumbo is also absolutely amazing. 

Sky By The Water - Resorts World, Birmingham [@NLi10]

 We don't go out to fancy restaurants very often, but for a surprise 40th we were invited to Sky By The Water, which is on top of Resorts World Birmingham.  This is basically a restaurant on top of a hotel, and beneath that is a shopping centre and cinema.  It's also next door to where they now hold Birmingham Games Expo (and the airport) so I know it well!

I started with the Chorizo Scotch Egg - which was pretty deluxe and warm and crispy - for £8 it was about right.  The textures were great, the flavours a little muted for my tastes, but overall glad I chose this.

Next up was the Lemon Chicken Risotto, which was quite a filling main.  The veggies were balanced and well cooked (and you could order a side of extras if required) and the chicken was tender and did have the lemon flavour.  The risotto could have had a touch more bite for me, but was very enjoyable and I almost couldn't finish.  Almost.

By this point the sun was setting and the smaller groups in the extension could see the view.  Larger parties are more in the main area though so we had to look at the view at the end - but over the water in question it was a little too dark to see.

Having had the Crème Brulé last time I went out (generous portions!) I opted for the fruity crumble.

The topping was very light which was appreciated, and the custard was lovely and strong.

Overall this was very fruity and well worth hanging around for.  A fantastic three course meal for just under £40 (didn't have alcohol).

After dinner you can hang out in the secret garden in these little pods, but there isn't a view as they have put up partitions - so we went to the casino for a few hours and we didn't loose too much.

Izaak Walton - Largemouth Bass Beer (Moddershall Oaks @ModdershallOaks) By @SpectreUK

Moddershall Oaks is a spa hotel just outside of Stafford in the UK. We've been there once before, and decided to spend another night there earlier this week. It's a really good place to relax and indulge. There was an Indian Head Massage in with the deal for the overnight stay.

We used to go to another spa hotel nearby, but it's prices went up, and you couldn't go into the spa area until the next day after staying the first night. As soon as we get to a place, we prefer to go straight into the spa area to relax, rather than have dinner and wait for the next day.

For dinner I decided to have what I had the first time I went to Moddershall Oaks a couple of months ago. I know that's not very adventurous, but fillet steak and chips, with sticky toffee pudding for afters is a big favourite of mine, especially as it was the best sticky toffee pudding I've ever tasted, and the main meal was gorgeous too.

To wash my meal down I decided to have this Largemouth Bass. At 3.9% in volume it was brewed by the Izaak Walton Brewhouse. Golden straw coloured, this ale was brewed with Marris Otter malt and Fuggles hops. It was described on the bottle as having a "distinctive and assertive character, with a fruity finish".

Spicy food and burgers were suggested to eat with this ale. I reckoned my steak and blue cheese sauce wasn't too far away from a burger, so I tucked in and then went for a swig. On first taste I found there was the sweetness of the malts to start with, followed by quite a crisp bite from the herbal hops, and a biscuity fruity finish. This Largemouth Bass went perfectly with my meal. We really enjoyed our relaxing stay at Moddershall Oaks, and look forward to going again for my birthday in July.

 

Christmas Meal - Hickory’s Smokehouse (Restaurant Review) by @Cinabar

Well, I have had my first Christmas meal out, and it was American style. We went to Hickory’s Smokehouse, which is a chain that brings the flavours of the American South to the UK. There aren’t that many branches of Hickory's in the UK, but the list does seem to be growing every time I look.

They have recently launched their Christmas items, and I thought I’d try them out. Spectre had Gumbo, a spicy winter casserole with chicken and sausage, but for me, I wanted the limited edition Christmas goodies. For my main course, I went for the turkey burger, but this has an American Christmas twist. Firstly, we have the turkey burger in buttermilk; on top of this is a sausage patty, cranberry relish, and, a little bit bizarrely, American cheese. This is served with chips, gravy, and coleslaw.

When the meal arrived, I soon noticed that the burger was huge! There was even a pig in blanket on top, all held together by a wooden skewer (plus a piece of holly to ensure I knew I’d ordered the Christmas special). I loved the flavours in the burger; there was a nice taste of stuffing, which I hadn’t been expecting but appeared as an extra layer. The cranberry added a touch of sweetness, and the whole thing was a delight to eat. I’m still not sure about the slice of American cheese, but I can’t say it was bad. I also wasn’t sure where to pour the gravy; if I added it to the burger, there would be no way of eating it without cutlery, so instead I used it as a tasty dip for the chips. It was a gorgeously sweet gravy with a hint of bourbon and a lovely sauce.

Despite being full, for some reason, when the friendly waitress asked us if we wanted to see the dessert menu, I answered yes. When you are out, you are out. There was a Christmas special, a mince pie ice cream fro-co (frozen-custard); this seemed the obvious choice to go with the turkey burger, and an ice cream is light, right? When it arrived, there was a huge jar packed full of ice cream and layered with Christmas mince, topped, of course, with a piece of holly to ensure we knew it was part of the Christmas specials. In case there wasn't enough ice cream, there was a small mince pie on the side.

I have a healthy appetite, but I was struggling to finish all this gorgeous food. The ice cream was lovely and creamy, and a nice contrast to the zingy, fruity Christmas mince. It was good, but there was just so much of it. The mince pie on the side was a mini one with fairly thick pastry; I managed to eat it but felt like I needed a good long nap afterwards, much like Christmas day. In conclusion, I am loving the Christmas items at Hickory's, but just need to remember these are American portions, so make sure you leave room!

Birmingham Museum Edwardian Tearoom Is Back! @NLi10

 I happened to be in town on a weekday at lunch time for my driving theory test ( I passed, go me) so I treated myself to lunch at the Museum.  It's been closed for most of the pandemic for obvious reasons but they've chosen to open one of the buildings while they continue replacing all the electrics - and fortunately for us it's the one with the cafe.

I say cafe - it's a lot more like a restaurant that tolerates you just buying tea and a sandwich.  Here we can see I had the special - some pork piled up high on veggies and smothered in tasty gravy.  Honestly it's a treat to get to eat here.  It's not the cheapest but it's certainly good value for money (I even get money off for being a member of the museum)

I also got to have a lovely pot of tea for one - three cups with some to spare - to give me a kick to survive town itself.  It's a lovely space and really tranquil.

I also stumbled into the exhibition on Birmingham's Cinematic History - Wonderland which had opened that morning. This is great because we love our little indy cinemas. 

And afterwards I got to cash in my reward points from Happy Lemon for some freshly brewed lemon tea.  Result!

Carluccio's Birmingham Pizzas -but- in a supermarket! @NLi10

Carluccio's is a Birmingham institution, a restaurant so good that it's whole area is now one of the hot places to go for food.  We used to go in the early 2000s as grubby post students and marvel at the depth of the menu and the flavours.  Nowadays I'd choose Del Villagio every time, but then that's more my kind of Italy - but if you want to take someone out and wow them we have Carluccio's.

I mean  - look at that luxury Pizza!

And now Sainsbury's have a Carluccio's section.

I was confused at first - would this be a name only thing where they just slapped a brand on something they already had?  It seems not, as there were a wide range of fresh options.  Unfortunately due to a holiday coming up (which I'm now back from - review time is odd compared to real time) I couldn't pick up much so we chose a pizza each.

Made in the UK and name-checking Birmingham. It seems its a whole range called Carluccio's At Home and I'm mainly putting this link here for my own benefit later.

Raw Pizza looks better than in most restaurants - it's £4.50 for this and £3 for the frozen Chicago Town ones I get from the shop on my road.  Those are decent pizzas to but this is art.

Still soft on the bottom, but the cheese has bubbled so it's done.

Terrible picture here of me holding a slice over the pizza, but I wanted to eat it.  Rich, deep flavours and all the bites were unique.  

Now I'm older and can afford the finer things more often I'll have to go back to Temple Row and visit Carluccio's at their home instead of mine. Until then - this will certainly do.