Food Review: Sunny's Soul Shack at The Sunflower Lounge

Sunny's Soul Shack has been serving up Southern American food at The Sunflower Lounge since opening in July. The latest takeover at The Sunflower Lounge kitchen, Richard and Matt have been perfecting their dishes and have put together a menu of classics.

I went along to try out the new menu along with my fellow Birmingham bloggers.

A friendly bunch, we decided to try out some sharers first, and with four starters on the menu we were able to try them all. Blackened Catfish, Homemade Nachos, Sunny's Hash and Sticky Bourbon Chicken Wings were all put to the taste test.

I was able to try the Hash, Chicken Wings and a breadcrumb free version of the catfish very kindly created in the kitchen to cater to my gluten free diet.

The hash came served as a large round patty the size of a serving plate with Alabama barbecue sauce on the side and wait for it, an egg on top, sunny side up (of course). Made with their special 13 hour roasted beef brisket which is dry rubbed, baked and steamed, this was a meaty man patty of goodness that tastes fantastic with the homemade sauce.

The chicken wings were soft enough to fall off the bone and tasted sweet but not overpoweringly so, whilst my special catfish was my favourite of the starters. Seasoned with a special cajun mix of spices, I'd recommend trying this version even if you're not gluten free. For a starter, the portion was especially generous and came with crisp kale and a sweetcorn and green bean salad as well as a wedge of lime and sauce.

For mains, we had a dish each and it was a choice between the burger or chicken. I went for the Buttermilk Chicken minus the breadcrumbs again as it comes highly recommended. Again, a hearty portion, I was even able to try the sweet potato fries (result!) which came on the side as standard (there is also the choice of rough cut fries) along with corn on the cob. Again, the cajun flavourings are what made this dish so tasty, and without the breadcrumbs the chicken is a good option for anyone looking for a slimline option.

There's also Mac and Cheese, the Dog House Hotdog and Reuben Toasted Sandwich to choose from for a main and I liked the sound of the latter which is toasted rye bread, peppered brisket, sauerkraut, gerkins, swiss cheese and mayo; wow.

For sides you can also try the slaw, onion rings (these looked super thin and crispy!), BBQ beans and bacon, potato salad, mac and cheese or deep fried dill pickle, a Sunny special.

What's the verdict? Very generous portions of hearty classic soul food with a few twists. Expertly blended cajun spices make dishes such as the buttermilk chicken and catfish standout. Great value, starters cost around £5, mains start at £7.50 and sides are all between £2.50 and £3.

*I was invited to dine as a guest of Sunny's Soul Shack

Food Review: Big Papa's at Sunflower Lounge Birmingham

The Sunflower Lounge is a popular spot for live music and drinks in Birmingham City Centre, but did you know it is also serving up Southern American food too?

Perfecting their recipes and honing their skills on the street food scene, the boys have now taken over the kitchen at The Sunflower Lounge and are serving up Big Papa's soul food seven days a week.

Along with a host of beautiful Birmingham bloggers, I was lucky enough to try out the food first hand at the press dinner.

The menu is small but perfectly formed and features many of your favourite Low and Slow dishes including Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Sweet Potato Fries and Pork Chops.

The best way to enjoy the menu is probably to go for the £10 deal, where for this very reasonable price you'll receive a main and two sides, beautifully presented on a wooden crate! There are also starters including Hot Wings, Fried Okra and Blackened Shrimp available for £5 and sides for £3 each including Onion Rings, Salad and Sweet Potato Fries.

I love the fact that the menu is so simple, as it means that ordering is quick and easy (in theory).

I also loved the presentation and the fact that the food is served in a crate. It's a really unusual style of presentation that I don't think I've seen elsewhere in Birmingham, so it's unique! 

The attention to detail and thoughtfulness behind the food is evident from the carefully selected menu to the presentation and finishing touches on every dish. From the paprika on top of the mac and cheese to the twist of lime on the fried chicken, there is real passion behind the food. 

 

I took pictures of a few dishes to give you an idea of what's on offer.

I had the Pulled Cola Brisket Bun, minus the bun to accomodate my Gluten Free diet served with Blackened Shrimp (usually a starter) and Greens. The Cola Brisket was unlike anything I've had before. Cola gives a sweet, rich flavour to the meat whilst the hours of slow cooking meant the meat was tender and soft.

The blackened shrimp was a good portion of small shrimp that was simply cooked in butter and seasoned with lemon juice and herbs, and the Greens were tasty and very soft.

Here is an example of the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mac and Cheese, Sweet Potato Fries and two sauces, one spicy and one BBQ. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken was super crispy and not greasy; the same could be said of the fries which were very crispy indeed and yet soft and sweet inside.

We were able to have a chat with chef Anthony at the end of the night and found out more about the food, such as the fact that the Mango and Chilli sauce is homemade and that the food is all bought in fresh from the nearby Bullring Markets.

It also gave us an opportunity to see how passionate Anthony and Craig are about the food, the business and the city. Food always tastes better when there is real passipn behind it and these guys have it in spades.

Thank you to Anthony for inviting us down to try Big Papa's!