Food Review: Brunch at The Ivy, Temple Row, Birmingham

The opening of The Ivy, Birmingham, is one of the most exciting to happen in the city this year.

Located on the former Louis Vuitton site overlooking the Cathedral and park, we’ve been longing for the opening of those iconic green doors.

I was invited to an exclusive blogger brunch in the private dining room, the Spencer Room on the opening weekend.

Walking into the reception area, guests are greeted in the hallway before being able to pass through to the main restaurant. Here, you’ll be given a wait time or told if you can head straight through.

The bar is the first thing you’ll notice, a chic little hotspot for cheeky drinks and rendezvous.

From here, there is a ground floor seating area, leading up to a mezzanine space, which overlooks Fumo.

If you continue up the stairs, you’ll find the private dining room. Beautifully laid out and ready to host any number of formal occasions and celebrations, the room is large enough to seat around 20 guests. The corner houses a very photo ready backdrop of a large palm, two stunning blue velvet chairs and a side table. The walls are adorned with botanical art, mirroring the lush green of the park it overlooks. The lighting is spectacular, overflowing with natural light from the windows.

Onto the food and service, as soon as I sat down I was attended to with an offer of a drink. Between Beet It Juice (beetroot, carrot and apple) and Green Juice (avocado, mint, celery, spinach, apple and parley), I chose the former.

There was also a selection of pastries, which I declined on the basis that they weren’t gluten free, but I did enjoy some tea whilst I picked from the menu.

We were offered a selection of treats from the breakfast menu, including hot buttermilk pancakes, avocado tomato and sesame on toast, eggs royale, eggs benedict, avocado on toast or coconut yoghurt with berries. Had I been in the mood to count calories, I should have opted for the yoghurt. However, I picked the Eggs Royale on gluten free toast instead.

Everything miraculously arrived at the same time, and was gracefully served to the table so that we could start papping each others meals quickly before eventually digging in.

My Eggs Royale did of course look different to everyone else’s as it came on gluten free toast and not a muffin. It was however, delicious. The salmon was fresh and plentiful and the Hollandaise sauce was tasty but not too heavy or overpowering.

We then had an opportunity to sit and chat around the large table, and make use of the beautiful lighting to take pictures by the window and in the “made for instagram” chair corner!

Overall, I cannot fault the service and experience at The Ivy, Birmingham. The service was polite but friendly, and exceptionally professional.

The food itself was good quality and not at all overpriced compared to what you’d expect to pay for a similar meal in any of the city’s many brunch spots.

For me, the stand out element of The Ivy is not just the perfect service, but the beautiful interior. I would describe it as an Art Deco jungle, with metalwork, art and plenty of greenery, it’s a very chic jungle in there.

I can’t wait to go back, in fact, I already have.

*With thanks to Rewired PR and The Ivy for the complimentary meal

Food Review: Comptoir Libanais, Grand Central

Admit it, you're not actually sure what Lebanese food is. If you're anything like me, you may have an idea of Lebanese food resembling Iranian or Middle Eastern food. I was certain there would be lots of meat involved and probably some kebabs, but that's pretty much as far as I got.

Comptoir Libanais opened three weeks ago at Grand Central, Birmingham. Located just above New Street station, things are changing very quickly around here with a new Fish and Chips restaurant just opened, and another two new restaurants on the way.

With a number of restaurants across the UK, most of these are clustered in London and the South East.

Promising to serve Lebanese and Middle Eastern food, I was invited along to try out the menu.

With a queue outside the door, it was clear to see that Birmingham has an appetite for new restaurants, and we're fast becoming a city of foodies. Seating was slow even though we had booked, but menus were available for the wait. The front of the restaurant is open and enticing, with a huge table of baklava and sweet treats to one side, and a wall of exotic goods such as tea and Turkish Delight on the other.

Taking a seat at the back of the restaurant, the market bazaar theme continued inside, with rows and rows of straw bags and silver trays for sale, set off with an array of colourful fez's which were sadly not for sale.

To drink, I decided I had to try a traditional lemonade, so went for the Vodka Roomana, a pomegranate and orange blossom lemonade (£7.95).  I'm fairly sure there's a tradition of drinking sugary fruit based drinks in the Middle East. This one was indeed sweet, and the orange blossom was an unexpected flavour.  Next time, I'll probably go for a mint tea as the flavours would be more subtle with a meal.  The most interesting drink on the menu was a Lebanese spiced hot chocolate made with halwa, cinnamon and tahini.

To start, I had to try the mezze platter, made gluten free for me which meant the tabbouleh, freekah salad and warm pitta bread were excluded. I did try the falafel, halloumi, hommos, pickles and baba ghanuj however. I would have liked to see a gluten free pitta bread on the menu to allow for some dipping, but appreciate this can't always be accommodated.  The mezze I did try was delicious, and my favourites were the falafel and halloumi. The flavours were near identical in these, the pickles and hommos as anything I have tried in Turkey.

My dining companion had the marinated jawaneh, chargrilled marinated chicken wings with garlic, lemon and pomegranate molasses. These were a good size, cooked well with just enough chargrilled flavour, finished off with the sweetness of the pomegranate molasses. To anyone who hasn't tried this sweet condiment, get yourself down to your nearest Waitrose and pick a bottle up! It adds instant flavour to any salad with very little effort.

For mains, I picked the mixed grill (£13.95), whilst my companion had the Lebanese lamb and halloumi burger (£9.45). I swapped the vermicelli rice for batata harra, spiced cubes of potatoes with red peppers, coriander, garlic and chilli.

My dish was a hearty one of lamb kofta, chicken kofta and chicken shish, that alongside the potatoes made for a filling dish for one or something smaller for two. The chicken kofta was my favourite; soft, tender and subtly spiced. The potatoes were nice but could have been crispier. I adored the salad and could have eaten a whole bowl of this, seasoned with sumac.

The lamb burger was again, very filling and dense, but the halloumi was a highlight.

As much as I should have resisted, there were two gluten free cakes on the menu and I couldn't resist. Saving the dark chocolate orange and cardamom tart for next time, I picked the orange and almond cake (both £4.95).

This cake was without doubt the highlight of my meal. Soft, moist and lightly flavoured, with a little bit of sticky glaze on top, I could eat this every day... but won't.

Based on what I ate, Lebanese food is extremely similar to Turkish food, so anyone who has ever holidayed there will be familiar with the style of cooking and flavours used. Baklava, houmous, halloumi, pickles and kebabs are all dishes that I've eaten and enjoyed in Turkey.

The dishes we ate were filling and flavoursome, perfect if you're not keen on spicy foods full of chilli and heat. Instead, the flavours are more subtle including onions, garlic and sumac.

The interior was an absolute delight, full of trinkets that you can't help but adore, whilst the Comptoir Souk was exactly that, a treasure trove of unusual Middle Eastern food treats that are great for yourself or as a gift.

Comptoir Libanais is well worth a visit. If you're gluten free, there's plenty to try, and the cakes especially are going to blow you away. Come with an appetite and you won't be disappointed.

*With thanks to Comptoir Libanais for the complimentary meal.

Food Review: Lasan, Jewellery Quarter Birmingham

There have got to be very few restaurants in Birmingham that I haven't dined at; so when the invitation came through to experience Lasan I was pretty excited.

Lasan has always had a reputation as one of the finest Indian restaurants in the city, cemented by winning "Britain's Best Local Restaurant" on The F Word in 2010. 

Now, the eatery has come a long way with a whole new look and a whole new menu; one that's world's away from what you might expect.

Located just off Saint Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter, Lasan is hidden from the main square where you might find revellers enjoying a drink or two at the weekend. 

Inside, the restaurant has been renovated to create a bigger bar area, enabling guests to enjoy a drink at the bar, pre or post meal in a space that's quite separate from the main dining area. The restaurant itself is beautiful; light, bright and airy with giant mirrors and an air of grandeur (press pictures, not my own).

Settling on a bar stool, myself, Paul Fulford and Brummie Gourmand sat and enjoyed a drink before heading to the table. This space is great not just for drinking, but for waiting for your guests to assemble before being seated. On this occasion, I was last to arrive (sorry guys!) having driven into the city, but it's worth noting that there is street parking available close by. 

I did however have one drink here, a classic gin and tonic made with Hendricks pink gin and slimline tonic water. Served in a goblet, just how I like it, I sipped this slowly so as to savour the light, refreshing flavours.

At the table, which was laid out with crisp white cloths and napkins, we took a look at the new menu. Although I had never eaten at Lasan before, I got the feeling that this menu was simplified and easier to use.

I had been recommended the paneer to start, so I ordered the Ananas Paneer first of all followed by the Murgh Kari. Brummie Gourmand ordered the Haleem and Punjabi Makhan Chicken whilst Paul picked the Shakarkand Kofta for mains.

Before we began our meal in earnest, Pani Puri was brought to the table along with some poppadoms whilst my dining companions were able to enjoy on my behalf!

When my paneer starter arrived, it was love at first sight. Three large flat squares of paneer, grilled enough to see the colour changing on the corners and add a smoky flavour, served with a fresh pineapple relish and beetroot to boot. If the presentation hadn't already won me over, then the flavours would have; grilled tangy paneer served with fresh pineapple, this dish was a delight and could have happily been served as a delicious vegetarian main course.

Onto the main course, my Punjabi Makhan Chicken and the Murgh Kari arrived looking very similar, with the most visible difference being that the Murgh was served on the bone whilst the Makhan was served in enormous chunks.

Thankfully, the flavours of the two dishes were completely different, as the Makhan had a sweeter, nuttier flavour and creamier texture whilst mine (pictured second) was more tangy and flavoured with curry leaf and mustard seed.

I also tried a little of the sweet potato kofta, a light, smooth, vegetarian kofta that was equally delicious, and we also shared the cauliflower side which I highly recommend.

Onto dessert, there was far too much to tempt me. In the end, I was able to order the Beetroot Halva and have this adapted to be gluten free. Described as "slow cooked beetroot with caramelised nuts, apple crisps and dreamy pistachio ice cream", this for me was the star of the show and worth a visit alone. It is rare to find an unusual Indian dessert, with most restaurants treating dessert as something of an afterthought. At Lasan, I was overjoyed to see that finally, someone has taken the humble Indian dessert and put the time into developing something that is innovative whilst maintaining integrity.

Presented like a work of art, there was everything to play for on this plate, from the sweet dehydrated apple crisps to the contrasting soft and crunchy sweet caramelised cashews.

Lasan is a restaurant that you'll want to save for a special occasion and find yourself going back to just because. A great location, wonderful service and delightful food that's raised more than a few notches by the presentation makes this a must visit for any curry lover. This is no ordinary Indian restaurant, so don't expect dated decor and one choice of gin.

I adore the interior, with it's refined feel and minimal but warm styling; it makes the food stand out against the palate cleansing white background.

Need another reason to visit? The picture perfect dishes make it a must visit for any foodie photographer!

*With thanks to Lasan for the complimentary meal and drinks.

Food review: Tamatanga Indian Birmingham

Any Brummie will tell you that we are well and truly spoilt for choice when it comes to curry in the second city. However, it seems our appetite for the spicy stuff show no sign of slowing down with the opening of Tamatanga and Mowgli within a short space of time.

I was invited to sample the fayre at the newly opened Birmingham branch of Tamatanga a few weeks back; and I'm ready to give my verdict!

Tamatanga is well known in Nottingham, having opened in the city over a decade ago. Now, they've spread their wings to Birmingham with a vibrant eatery located on Navigation Street, halfway between New Street station and The Mailbox.

Coming in from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfare, we were warmly welcomed at Tamatanga and offered the choice of drinks at the bar or going straight to our table. We opted to try a tipple first at the bar (plenty of seats and even tables here!) and opted for the Non Alcoholic Bombay Cooler and a fabulous gin and tonic from the extensive gin menu.

As always, my gin was delicious and made all the better for being able to customise it to include a slimline tonic and garnish of my choice (orange peel on this occasion). The Bombay Cooler, made from pomegranate juice, lemonade and unusually, coriander was also a refreshing option. There's also a good range of cocktails, wine, beer, crafts and IPA as well as coolers, softs, spirits and mixers.

The food menu is pretty big with plenty of options, from salads and small plates to kathi roll wraps and curry bowls. With so many interesting options to choose from, we started off with small plates before we got stuck into mains. There is also a dedicated gluten free menu with plenty of choice, so be sure to ask if you need to see it.

Playing it safe, we picked the gilafi lamb kebab and garlic chicken tikka. Both dry starters, the lamb kebab was exactly as a lamb seekh kebab should be, with a kick of spice and plenty of onion. Personally, I do prefer mine a little more chargrilled, but that's just preference. The garlic chicken was a good appetiser, hearty and a good portion. Both were soft and tender dishes.

Onto main courses, I opted for the tamatanga thali, a dish containing many little dishes including salad, chutney, two veg dishes, daal, raita, rice naan (unless of course you're gluten free like me) and two curry dishes of your choice. I picked the saag paneer and  chicken tikka masala, two of my favourite Indian dishes.

My companion picked the chicken khurana (£11.45), a a mild and creamy chicken curry dish infused with coconut and curry leaves, topped with sweet potato chunks. This lovely mild coconut sauce was finished off with a kick of chilli, whilst the texture from the sweet potatoes added to the dish. This was served with your choice of rice or naan.

As for my thali, you can see from the picture that it was absolutely huge! At £17.45 for nine separate items, this is a steal and a must try for anyone with a bigger appetite. The dishes included in the thali change regularly, but when I visited there was a green bean dish in a dry paste of onion and mild spices, mango chutney, a cooling yoghurt, a yellow daal which was smooth, creamy and mild, as well as a meaty chicken curry.

What stood out for me was not just the friendly, genuine service, but the relaxed casual atmosphere and generous portion sizes. With so much choice when it comes to curry, Tamatanga is great for anyone who wants to try curry for the first time in a convenient location. Not sure what paneer is? The team here will be more than happy to guide you through the menu and help you decipher your daal from your saag.

Would I come back? Definitely! It's worth mentioning that there are some fantastic offers worth checking out, such as the daytime deal including a soft drink and main for £8.95, and the 2-4-1 cocktails served all day every day from 12-7pm.

*With thanks to Tamatanga for the complimentary meal