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

Winter Skincare with Clinique at House of Fraser

Guys, the days are getting shorter and the dark nights are setting in. It can mean just one thing; winter is nearly upon us.

Whether you're a summer girl or love winter, your skin will be affected by the cooler weather just the same.

Now is a great time to start thinking about upping the ante and protecting your skin against the wind, rain and cold air.  All of these factors can leave skin feeling dry, flaky, irritated, red and sensitive.

Here's my guide to winter skincare.

LIPS

Lips are often the first thing to be affected by the cold weather, feeling chapped, dry and sensitive. Try Clinique Superbalm* to repair dry lips and pump moisture back into the skin. A rich emollient, this comforting balm glides on thanks to the hygienic applicator, feels super satiny, is long lasting and makes lips look plump and rehydrated. Wear it alone or under lipstick or gloss.

EXFOLIATE

It may sound strange, but a little light exfoliation is a must to get rid of dry skin cells and help moisture to get through to the skin. Make sure you pick out something suitable for your skin type, but good exfoliation is key to helping you get the most from your products. Origins Modern Friction is a great one to try.

SERUMS

Now is the time to start layering skin if you don't do this already. A serum delivers deep down moisture and can be used before a moisturiser for extra hydration. Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate is good for night time use.

MOISTURISER

A good moisturiser is a must whatever the time of year, but it's worth bumping up your moisturiser to something richer in winter as the skin needs extra comfort. Although there are plenty of products out there, you could try Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+*. A new version of the cult classic original, the new formula is richer and better for dry skins or in dry climates. DDML+ promises all day hydration (handy), fast absorption and can be used morning or night (but I say use twice a day for extra moisture).

MASK

As well as delivering hydration to your skin during the day, you could even use a mask at night to help hydrate whilst skin repairs itself. Just apply Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask* all over after your usual routine, massage in and wake up to hydrated, plumper, softer and calmer skin. It's oil free and lightweight too.

COLOUR POP

Lastly, winter is a great excuse to go darker with your make up and try out rich berry colours on eyes, nails and lips. The easiest way to add an autumnal vibe to your look is with a rich lip and I am loving the new Clinique Colour Pop Lipstick* in Berry Pop. A lipstick and primer in one, the Colour Pop range covers everything from pink and coral to brown and red. Highly rated, these keep lips moisturised for 8 hours. There are 16 colours in the range and I'm just getting started with this shade.

HANDS

If you're anything like me, you'll know it's winter from the state of your poor, dry hands. You'll need something turbo charged to add a protective layer over your hands and keep them moist, so try something like Kiehls Ultimate Strength Hand Salve or Clarins Hand and Nail Cream.

BODY

Again, you'll need something rich to keep skin soft all over. I love Kiehls Creme De Corps, a buttery yellow mosituriser for the body that dries fast.

Have you started thinking about adapting your skincare routine? Is there anything else you guys would add to my list?

*This post contains PR samples 

Food Review: Umami Harborne

What's Umami? Umami is the fifth taste after sweet, sour, bitter and salt. It is also the name if the newest Indian restaurant to open in upmarket Birmingham suburb, Harborne.

With a name that's just a bit different, Umami opened up at the end of May promising classic Indian dishes with a modern twist. Leading the kitchen is former itihaas chef Mandeep Bajwa who even came out after our meal for a chat, but more on that later.

Entering via the petite frontage on Lordswood Road, you're immediately inside an open space that resembles a lounge. This is exactly the idea and diners are invited to sit and relax pre-dinner with a drink in the lovely sunlit lounge. 

That's exactly what manager Abdul invited us to do when I arrived with my dining companion and we happily sat in the lounge and had a mocktail each. Once we were suitably relaxed, we were taken into the main dining room past the cocktail bar, which opens out to reveal a 70 cover restaurant. 

Always keen to try out a few dishes, we opted for the Regal Pre Fix Menu (£24.95 per person for three courses) with some adaptations for my Gluten Free diet! The staff were very helpful and were happy to change a few dishes from the starter section around to accommodate; result! Thankfully, the mains were all gluten free with the exception of the naan breads but do check before you dine. 

Poppodums and chutneys are obligatory when dining at an Indian restaurant and ours did not disappoint, arriving with mango chutney made with roasted garlic for depth of flavour, raita made from greek yoghurt that is hung and strained and tomato chutney. All of these chutneys are made in house adding to the freshness of the flavours.

Next up our adapted mixed starter of chilli paneer wah wah, murgh tikka and aloo tikki channa chaat. I adore paneer, and these cubes of pan fried paneer come marinated in indo-chinese spices for an extra kick. The murgh tikka was big hunks of chicken in a mild spicy dry marinade and the aloo tikki potato bites (one of my favourites) came unusually smothered in channa chaat, chickpeas in a rich tomato sauce and the potato bites were thick and soft. Again, we were told that the paneer is homemade.

Onto our mains, the set menu included butter chicken, harra bharra gosht, sabzee milloni handi, dal makhani and sides of zafrani pilau rice, naan and a green salad.

The chicken sauce was creamy and smooth, the dal was exceptionally rich and also creamy, and the lentil dish was an unusual mix of black lentils, cream, kidney beans and yoghurt. The mixed veg made a great accompaniment that held its own as a main and included carrot, cauliflower, paneer, tomato, mushroom, peas, potato and a ginger garnish. 

All of these dishes were flavoursome and well balanced as well as being very generous!

We even managed to find time for dessert and we opted for the unusual Gajar Halwa Samosa which came beautifully presented with a brandy snap basket filled with Cookies and Cream ice cream - yum! 

Mandeep very kindly came out to check on us and talked us through his experience on cruise ships and in some of the best hotels in India. He explained that the spices are ground on site, the pickles are made on site, the paneer is made on site and that they don't use any artificial colours or flavourings in the food; very reassuring. He also explained that the menu is 80% north Indian Punjabi food and 20% local specialties.

The service at Umami was impeccable and we didn't have to wait for anything at all, with enough waiters around to ensure we were well tended to. The food arrived swiftly and hot and the portions were, as previously mentioned, very generous. The quality of the food was also very high, and it was great to hear a chef with such passion talking about the work that goes into making the ingredients on site.

Overall, Umami boasts high quality and thoughtful food in the suburbs. We were impressible with the value of the meal, the portion sizes also, and most of all the impeccable friendly service which was attentive and unobtrusive. 

*I dined at Umami as a guest of the restaurant. With thanks to the team! 

Event: The High Field Summer BBQ

Edgbaston is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment. No longer a residential only area, it is now a place to eat, drink and socialise thanks to the arrival of venues such as The High Field.

This swanky gastro pub supplies locals with food and drinks in the rustic restaurant and bar, but for summer they've also made use of the lovely outdoor gardens.

Hidden away behind the white frontage of 22 High Field Road is the city's only gastro pub garden, where chef Dean Jeffer is serving up his favourite seasonal dishes as well as grub from the BBQ; you can even hire out the space for your own party complete with free marquee hire.

I headed over to the garden with a group of friendly Birmingham bloggers to experience a summer BBQ, High Field style; it even came complete with seasonal rain!

Ting from The Ting Thing and I decided to go all out for the BBQ and went to Harris & Gibbs in the Jewellery Quarter for a blow dry first (Ting had a trim too!).

Here's a picture of my hair pre pampering:

Onto The High Field we hopped into a cab to protect our blow dries and were greeted by this fun sign!

First off, we were welcomed with Prosecco Sangria laced with fresh fruit. The food was already prepared for us, just in time and here a picture of the spread.

We were treated to prawn and monkfish skewers, steak skewers, chicken wings, Dandy Ribs, corn on the cob, jacket potatoes, tomato salad, green salad and coleslaw. The Dandy Ribs were marinated in a homemade BBQ rub of paprika and cumin, and the BBQ and Bourbon sauces were all homemade too.

King of the Grill

Corn on the Cob

Prawn and Monkfish Skewers

Steak Skewers

Dandy Ribs

Green Salad

Coleslaw

Tomato and Onion Salad

Dinner is served

That wasn't all. We finished off the evening with desserts too including Eton Mess, Mini Caramel and Toffee Cheesecakes and my favourite, the dip your own Strawberries.

I also took a few outfit pictures too to show you my gorgeous bouncy blowdry, thank you Ting for taking these!

The BBQ is open on Friday evening as well as every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon till 8pm when the temperature hits 20 degrees C.

*With thanks to the High Field for the invitation and fabulous food (and drink) and to Harris and Gibbs for the blow dry