Sunday, 28 August 2011
DIAMOND AWARDS 2011- The Heart of England food Oscars!
This is a date in my diary that I look forward to annually. The evening was hosted by Suzanne Virdee, known to us from BBC’s Midlands Today. A talented brigade of chefs presented us with a delicious six course menu at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham; during which the fourth annual diamond awards were dished out to outstanding food and drink producers in the heart of England region.
Balti towers restaurant owner Mohammed Sadique from Birmingham won the award for the best new business. His award winning balti sauces are low in fat and cholesterol free available in medium and hot strengths. I visited Mohammed’s restaurant; set in modest surroundings it is here the award winning sauce originated. When a regular diner emigrated to the Netherlands, he missed his weekly fix of chicken balti that he requested the chef should bottle the sauce and dispatch it to his new home in Denmark- Balti Towers cooking sauces were born. Now they are available in forty local co-operative stores and are proving to be a big hit with weekly shoppers. Balti Towers is a definite hotspot in the Black Country.
Try the recipe below and create your own home Indian takeaway!
Tips: add coconut milk or natural yogurt for a creamy curry or you can add wilted spinach or toasted flaked almonds. This recipe is a good base for endless Indian curries so get cooking, tell us about your creations at food@streetsaheadmag.co.uk
DID YOU KNOW?
Turmeric also known as the ‘king of spices’ is well renowned for its healing qualities, especially when you have a burn! Mix to a paste with a little water and apply to the affected area, it acts as a natural antiseptic- wonderful result with no nasty chemicals.
Fennel seeds have been part of our diet since the middle ages. They aid digestion and cleanse the palette. Whilst demonstrating at Malvern food fair last month I came across a real find, sugar coated fennel seeds produced by Tiffy and Salim Kabir. I keep a small jar in my handbag a great alternative e to smints!
Email tiffykabir@aol.com
Mint Restaurant Sutton Coldfield West midlands
Mint Restaurant- Burnett Road Streetly village
Friday8th July
The name Mint gives no indication to the style of cuisine served at this restaurant; so as this was to be my first visit there I decided to do some market research.
I was both surprised and intrigued by peoples comments, many that I asked had heard of Mint but had never dined there. Others had been to functions catered for by Mint and had thoroughly enjoyed the food. But those who had visited the restaurant gave mixed reviews, ‘lovely food but didn’t like the dining room’, ‘stylish and tasty menu but not enough on the plate’, ‘.’Gorgeous food but inexperienced staff’.
So always with an open mind my husband and I arrived promptly at 8pm on a Friday evening. We were greeted by a very pleasant young lady, who offered us a seat in the lounge area and handed us a drinks menu.
The Lounge
The lounge is also the reception area, it is glitzy and glamorous in a Boudoir style, and it reminded me of a restaurant that we recently visited in Soho London but on a much smaller scale. The one wall is covered in peacock paper and there are hints of glitter, the seating includes large sofas with animal print cushions. Admittedly the decor is not to everyone’s liking but it certainly gives the restaurant character and creates a relaxed atmosphere. To the right of the well stocked bar is a circular table for the casual diner. This area is open from 6.30pm for those who fancy a couple of drinks and perhaps a sharing plate.
The Diners
The lounge was busy with a mixture of potential diners, they were of various ages, some couples, a group of ladies and families with teenage children; all enjoying a pre dinner drink as they browsed the menu. There was a gentle buzz of conversation creating a very pleasant atmosphere.
The Menu
Mint www.mint-restaurant.com offer the option of a £20 menu Wednesday to Friday, which includes 3 courses, half a bottle of wine and coffee and is available from 6.30pm- which I consider to be excellent value and suitable for all ages and budgets.
We opted for the main menu£29.50 for 2 courses, £36.50 for three courses; which included 6 starters, mains and deserts or a local cheeseboard.
Local Seasonal produce
Browsing the menu it became obvious that Mint is very keen to offer local seasonal produce. Dan the owner tells me he visits Birmingham wholesale markets each day to buy the best fish. He also purchases Packington pork, Great Wyrley beef and local pigeon when in season, the entire restaurant’s fruit and vegetables are fresh from a farm in Shenstone.
As a keen supporter of local produce this impresses me, buying local helps sustain our local economy and reduces food miles, ensuring the freshest produce from farm to table. www.pennyzako.co.uk
A talented adventurous chef
The menu is a novel of complex combination dishes each dish tells its own story, the meat or fish being cooked in 2, 3 even 4 different ways. To the untrained palette the menu may appear over bearing even pompous. However that said the flavours and textures should work well together and are an indication of a talented adventurous chef As long as each dish is cooked correctly and well balanced the evening promises to be a gastro feast. The menu excited me and I was so looking forward to tasting it.
To Start
John ordered
- A trio of Cornish Mackerel, pan fried, soused, smoked pate with peanut, cucumber, dill and pineapple
And I
- Hand dived Scallops, belly pork, apple puree, Clonkilty black pudding, purple sprouting broccoli.
We ordered a bottle of
- Petit Bourgeois- Sauvignon blanc vin de payes du Jardin de la France 2007
- (likened on the menu to a Sancerre)
I was disappointed that there were no English wines offered on the menu, considering we have a vineyard (www.buzzardvalley.co.uk) only five miles away bearing in mind Dan the owners passion for local produce. However the menu offers a good range of beverages starting from £15 up to 3101.
The Dining Room
Upstairs the glitzy boudoir theme is continued with silver, glittery pillars and mirrors. The dining room is quite small and can only be accessed via a steep staircase, so unfortunately those who are not able bodied only have the option of casually dining downstairs. For those who are capable there is the option during fine weather to dine on the balcony terrace, with a lovely view of Sutton Park.
The Meal
John’s mackerel starter looked pretty and had a lovely fresh flavour. The handmade peanut butter added texture and brought the dish together, overall it was a pleasant well balanced dish.
My generous portion of scallops and belly pork was beautifully presented. The packington pork belly melted in the mouth, the puree was smooth and well seasoned and the sweetness of the apple sauce partnered well with the scallops. The black pudding when tasted on its own disappoint had very little fat in proportion to rusk, however because the belly is a fatty cut the combination balanced perfectly.
I was a little dismayed that at 8 o’clock on a Friday evening that they had sold out of my first choice main course- the fish platter. so instead I ordered the lamb
- Slow cooked shoulder, lamb fillet and lamb breast, lamb liver, garlic and olive puree, crispy potato and asparagus.
John ordered
- Duo pork tenderloin and slow cooked shoulder, courgettes, morels lavender carrots, crispy potato and asparagus.
The pork dish was quite simply divine; the carrots had just a subtle fragrance of lavender which did not overpower the dish much to my surprise. The thick sticky glaze added a depth of flavour which complimented the earthiness of the succulent local pork and the woodland morels- partners made in heaven.
My lamb dish was cooked beautifully, full of flavour and slightly pink it was the star of the dish and looked stunning on the plate. The garlic and olive puree added a touch of acidity which counteracted the sweetness of the lamb and the peppery spinach cut through the richness of the meat.
To Finish
- Pistachio macaroon, strawberry puree, Chantilly cream, basil sorbet and strawberry jelly
- Followed by a board of local cheeses.
The desert was Picasso on the plate; macaroons are very in vogue at the moment. The basil sorbet complimented the sweetness of the seasonal strawberry jelly, which was intensely flavoursome and had just the right wobble!
My verdict
Dan and his team have worked hard to establish their restaurant in streetly, their dream of a drop in venue for brunch, afternoon tea, pre dinner drink or full menu I feel is a little over ambitious, not because they cannot deliver on service, taste or quality of food, quite the contrary it is purely down to their location.
If you could pick up Mint and relocate it in the grounds of Sutton Park I do think people would think differently about dining there. The building itself is historic but there is no getting away from the fact it was once a clothes shop!
In summary
We had a very pleasant dining experience and I applaud Dan and his team for what they are striving to achieve. We were served attentively by young but well informed polite staff. The food was presented with finesse and artistic flair and the unusual flavour combinations were delicious.
My response to the pre dining comments that I received- please give Mint another chance to impress.
Mint is a restaurant for the sophisticated palette and those who appreciate the fine dining experience. If you are a foodie and love local food cooked beautifully with artistic flair, pay Mint a visit- I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Loveourbritishfoods
More local produce recipes
Lemon Chicken with Ricotta and Ox springs air dried ham
The key to the success of this dish is the use of the fine quality oil and vinegar
Serves 2
125g ricotta cheese
15g fresh rocket finely chopped
½ pack traditional air dried ham finely chopped
1 large roasted red pepper diced finely
20g pine kernels
1tbsp just Oils rapeseed oil with lemon
1tbsp Vinig-Couture white wine vinegar
2 chicken breasts- part boned skin still intact
Preheat the oven to 190oc/375of/gas mark 5
Put the ricotta, finely chopped rocket, ham, roasted red pepper, pine kernels into a bowl add seasoning and mix to combine.
Divide the mixture into two and stuff each chicken breast beneath the skin, take care not to rip. Then place skin side up onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
Blend the rapeseed oil and the white wine vinegar with some salt and ground black pepper. Drizzle half over the chicken reserve the rest for the next recipe- Roasted vegetables.
Place in the oven and cook for 35 minutes or until cooked through.
Roasted vegetables
Cut into chunks- 2 courgettes, 1 red onion, 1 red pepper, 1 yellow pepper.
Slice two garlic cloves into slithers (I love the snoggable garlic companies paprika variety)
Place on a lightly oiled tray and sprinkle with rock salt and freshly ground black pepper, drizzle over the remaining oil and vinegar mixture from the previous recipe. Then roast in the oven for about 25-30 minutes.
When cooked garnish with torn basil leaves and serve as a compliment to the lemon chicken.
Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
Ciabatta loaf
Rapeseed oil with a hint of chilli
1 garlic clove
Pomodorino tomatoes, orange and red mixed
1 red onion
Bunch of fresh basil
Good quality Olive oil
Vinig-Couture tomato vinegar
Cut the bread into thick slices grill on one side, remove and then brush generously with the rapeseed oil.
Finely dice the red onion and the tomatoes; finely chop the garlic and mix to combine with the torn basil leaves. Mix 1 tablespoon of tomato vinegar with 1 tablespoon of olive oil add freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste.
Place the bread under the grill until crisp remove and top with the tomato mixture drizzle with the olive oil dressing and garnish with whole basil leaves.
A tasty little snack or starter in minutes.
Local trout recipe
Local baked trout with herb and caper sauce
A work colleague of my dear mum fishes regularly in a local lake, he catches the most beautiful rainbow trout. I am very lucky to receive the odd fish now and again and I love nothing more than cooking it as below.
Serves 4
One large 4lb rainbow trout or 4 small (gutted and descaled)
50ml dry white wine
50ml water
50g butter cut into cubes
50g butter at room temperature
½ tablespoon flat leaf parsley
½ tablespoon chives
½ tablespoon mint leaves
11/2 tablespoons capers
3 anchovy fillets
1 crushed garlic clove
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ lemon (juiced)
1 lemon cut into slices
Small bunch of each parsley, chives and mint
1 sliced fennel bulb
Olive oil
1 teaspoon plain flour
Sea salt and black pepper
Method
Pre heat the oven 200oc/400of/gas mark 6
Lightly grease a shallow baking dish with olive oil
Season the trout with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, place into the baking dish.
Place the lemon slices, sliced fennel bulb and the bunches of herbs inside the fish, pour over the wine, drizzle the fish with olive oil and dot with the cubes of butter.
Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes- until the fish flakes off the bone.
Whilst cooking mix the chopped herbs, capers, anchovy fillets and garlic in a pestle and mortar to form a paste or use the flat blade of a knife and a board.
In a bowl mix the lemon juice and mustard together add the paste and mix.
Take the fish from the oven, drain the liquid into a saucepan and cover the fish to keep warm.
Mix the butter with the flour to form a paste- add gradually to the liquid until thickened. Then add the herb paste.
Spoon over the fish and serve.
I love to serve this simply with new potatoes and oven roasted vegetables.
Delhi 6 Burnett Road Sutton Coldfield - restaurant review
Delhi6- Wednesday 25th May
Delhi6 in Burnett Road, Streetly, is not your average Indian restaurant. Brothers Mac and Liton are attempting to target the fine diner with their a la carte’ Indian menu; which they describe as fusion.
Upon entering, the door boasts a five star certificate from the food standards agency incurring confidence of a clean well managed kitchen.
The interior is well furbished with a modern contemporary look. The seating is comfortable with a good mix of tables, including booth seats and a large circular table in the front window which seats eight. The stylish French designed cutlery, glassware and place settings add a touch of class. Despite the subtle authentic music playing in the background I did feel that the dining room lacked ambience. However it was a Wednesday evening and there were few other diners.
Mac and Say are front of house and Mamun serves the bar. They are friendly and well informed. We are greeted warmly and shown to our booth seats.
To start we are served onion salad and mint sauce with two homemade chutneys; pommegranate and pineapple and the second, mango. They are clearly freshly made and both include fennel seeds, a lovely accompliment to the crisp popppodoms.
The starters range from £4.50 upwards and offer a good choice:
Salmon Dil Tikka- salmon fillet marinated with hung yogurt, chaat Masala, ginger garlic paste; served with mixed baby leaves and honey, mustard sauce
Is cooked very well, a difficult dish to get right as it is cooked in a clay oven. The level of spice is spot on and does not overpower the subtle flavour of the succulent Scottish salmon fillet. The smooth mustard sauce compliments the fish.
The Dhoomer kebabs are excellent, firm in texture but juicy and have a lovely smoked flavour.
Say tells me their main cliental are couples and adult diners; this is not a place to take the kids. If you require a good Balti or the nation’s favourite- chicken tikka masala, this is not the restaurant for you.
Delhi6 offers a fine dining experience of delicious Indian dishes. They roast and blend their own spice mixes here to produce authentic, original Indian cuisine, from north to south the mains menu is a trip around India. The chef liton has chosen classic Indian recipes to include sea bass, cod, prawns, chicken, venison, beef loin and lamb which represent the Goan, Bengali, southern and Kashmiri regions.
The chefs here are so confident in their marinades and seasoning, they do not offer salt and pepper! In fact whilst there a diner requested extra salt and was told there was none available. However do not mistake this for arrogance, after tasting the food in this restaurant I feel they are entitled to have this level of confidence.
I was impressed to learn that they do not use ghee (a clarified butter) in their cooking, so there is no unpleasant film of fat hovering on top of your plate as is very often the case in many an Indian restaurant. Quite the contrary the Kashmiri Rogan Josh was the highlight of the evening. The lamb melted in the mouth, free from artificial colours and flavours the Rogan Josh was divine. The side dishes of spinach and the pilau rice were well portioned and cooked well. If I have one criticism it would be the lack of serving spoons, which I understand are on order!
The Gulab jamun for desert was deliciously rich and delicately spiced with cardamom was fragrant on the nose and very Moorish! I did feel the choice of deserts was disappointing but the chef assures me he is at present in the process of developing more homemade dishes.
There are a lot of good Indian restaurants in our area and I hope the team at Delhi6 can do enough to impress their diners to make a success of it. My advice to them is to stay true to what they have set out to achieve and continue to produce authentic, high quality, well presented Indian food.
I would recommend this restaurant and mark it as one to look out for in the future. If you want sophisticated, tasty Indian food Delhi6 is the place to go.
Simply Delicious Aldridge West Midlands - restaurant reviewSimply Delicious – August 3rd 2011
Simply Delicious – August 3rd 2011
Simply Delicious is a ‘little gem’ of a restaurant, sandwiched between two high street banks in Aldridge village.
When I was asked to review a restaurant in Aldridge I had mixed feelings. In the 90’s I taught at a local primary school, the children were a pleasure to teach and I hold fond memories of St.Mary of the angels. However my impression of Aldridge was that of a village stuck in a 70’s time warp! And not a place that I would consider to visit for a meal; therefore I was intrigued.
On my arrival I noted that Aldridge has had a bit of a makeover! A quality fireplace centre, a well stocked contemporary florist, traditional family butchers and a classy Italian restaurant and there on Aldridge High street, my destination – Simply Delicious.
The sun was shining and people were dining al fresco on the pavement, there was a very pleasant atmosphere I could have been in rustic France.
Simply Delicious is owned and run by twin sisters Sarah and Ellie. It was Sarah who warmly greeted us. As the restaurant is only open during the day I had taken along my mum and son James. We were all made to feel very welcome, as were all the diners that entered the restaurant whilst we were there’
Inside the fully licensed restaurant it is light and airy; the whole frontage is glass which gives a clear view of the high street. In true Anglo-François style the menu is based on a wide range of local produce which you can also buy to take home from the in-house Delhi. You can purchase oils and vinegars on tap, local cheeses, fresh bread, chutneys, jams, handmade chocolates and homemade cakes.
Alan Foster the family butcher from across the street provides the sausage, bacon and pork pie and Hay head Farm on Longwood lane produce all the local seasonal vegetables. It is due to such partnerships between local businesses that Aldridge has raised its profile in return by supporting one another the local economy is improving.
The menu offers a wide choice of sandwiches, baguettes, salads, olives, soup, jacket potatoes, Panini’s and daily special dishes.
By the time we were ready to order the restaurant was full of diners, a mixture of all ages; mums and toddlers, local business men, mothers and daughters, young ladies and families. A lovely mix of folk creating a mediterranean atmosphere, although being typically English the surroundings and ambience were reminiscent of holidaying on the continent and lunching in a classy bistro.
Service was quick and before long our food had been delivered to our table. I had opted for the simply delicious ploughman’s lunch:
Wookey Hole Cheddar Cheese, a wedge of locally made pork pie with sweet pickle, homemade coleslaw, salad garnish, red grapes and speciality bread.
Mum the finest Devon dressed crab:
Finest Devon dressed crab – served with salad garnish, homemade coleslaw, lemon mayonnaise and speciality bread.
And James:
Chicken breast and crispy bacon baguette.
All the food was beautifully presented and clearly fresh, my Ploughman’s was the best I’ve had in a long while. James’ baguette was soft yet crusty on the outside with plenty of filling, but I think we all agreed the star of the show was mums crab.
The coleslaw was homemade and the mayonnaise with lemon zest was ‘simply delicious’; the bread was freshly baked and I particularly liked that the butter was soft so it spread easily without ripping the bread. The generous portion of crab was carefully picked and served in its shell. All the food was of a superior quality.
This restaurant is clearly very popular with the locals, already full they had to turn people away so booking is highly recommended. I’m afraid Aldridge the word is now out you will have to share this wonderful Delhi restaurant with us outside.
There is a lovely relaxed atmosphere which I think is partly due to the design of the restaurant but also down to the genuine nature of Ellie and Sarah whose bubbly personality encases this venue.
To finish we decided to sample the homemade and local cakes, I had the Lemon Drizzle cake which was divine; a moist light sponge with a sharp citrus icing it finished my lunch on the right note.
Whilst I was there I decided to ask some of my fellow diners what they thought of the restaurant here are their comments;
‘...a relaxed atmosphere...we like the finishing touches to the food – it’s a little bit of affordable luxury...a refreshing change.’ (Two ladies doing lunch)
‘It’s a bit of a treat, we come once a week.’ (Husband and wife)
‘It’s the nicest place in the area.’ (Businessman)
‘Excellent food, great presentation and quality, very pleasant staff. We come in most days for breakfast and lunch!’ (Paul and Gary Smith- Smith brothers roofing Ltd)
So my experience of ‘Simply Delicious’ was just that, simply delicious and judging from the comments every day is just as delicious if you dine here.
Sarah and Ellie are living their dream and have been running their continental style Delhi Restaurant since 2008.The sisters have brought sophistication and a touch of class to Aldridge village. You really should take time out to visit them for breakfast, brunch, lunch or afternoon tea, it is definitely worth it. No fancy recipes just good quality, fine tasting honest food which speaks for itself – no messing!
I shall definitely be returning and recommending your restaurant Ellie and Sarah, thank you for changing my perception of Aldridge – You are simply delightful and your food is simply delicious.
October recipes
Now autumn is upon us and the nights are drawing in I decided for this month to include a couple of simple but tasty recipes, comfort food at its best.Field mushrooms stuffed with chicken livers and bacon
This recipe can be served with a leafy salad as a starter or as main meal with creamy mashed potato and broccoli
Serves 4
8 large flat mushrooms
Olive oil
8 bay leaves
16 sprigs of thyme
Salt &pepper
225g or 8oz chicken livers
16 rashers of pancetta or streaky bacon (rind trimmed off)
1 white onion
50ml or 2 floz dry sherry
Method
Preheat the oven to 200 oc (400 of) gas mark 6.
Wipe the mushrooms and then brush liberally with olive oil.
Arrange on a greased baking tray placing a bay leaf underneath each one.
Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper.
Place the chicken livers inside the mushrooms then sprinkle over half of the sherry.
Arrange the pancetta slices on top.
Peel the onion and chop finely, scatter on top of the mushrooms and then add a couple of thyme sprigs.
Add the remainder of the sherry onto the tray and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.
Serve two per person with the juices from the tray.
Enjoy!
Toffee apple cake with blackberry cream
For the cake
2 eggs
4oz self raising flour
4oz soft butter
4oz caster sugar
50ml Toffoc (toffee vodka!) available from good supermarkets
3 peeled and chopped desert applesGrated rind of half a lemon
For the toffee drizzle
4oz caster sugar
5oml water
Squeeze of lemon juice
For the blackberry cream
1 pack of blackberries
284ml double cream
2 desert spoons icing sugar
Method
Apple toffee cake
Cream together the butter and sugar until pale.
Add flour and eggs mix until well combined.
Add Toffoc, lemon rind and chopped apple, mix gently until the apple is evenly distributed.
Put mixture into a greased and lined 8inch cake tin.
Cook for about 30 mins until golden brown in a preheated oven around 160oc.
Meanwhile prepare the blackberry cream
Whisk the cream with the icing sugar to form soft peaks then gently stir in the blackberries.
Place the bowl in the fridge to set slightly.
Once the cake is cooked make the toffee drizzle
Place the sugar, water and lemon juice in a heavy based pan.
Put onto a low heat until the sugar is dissolved; stirring frequently.
Simmer for about 4 – 5 mins until the sugar begins to colour take off the heat and stand in iced water to prevent further cooking.
Drizzle over the cake and serve with a dollop of blackberry cream – Yum Yum!
Penny’s Diary
There’s nothing I enjoy more than a leisurely stroll through our local farmers markets; held in general once a month in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Birmingham and Solihull they are a delight to visit.
Stalls selling fabulous fresh vegetables and fruit, locally produced meat and cheeses, homemade cakes, pickles and preserves as well as seasonal plants all line the streets of the high street, and you can often pick up a spicy samosa or traditional pork and stuffing bap for lunch.
Recently I visited Brindley Place local produce market and cooked up some dishes for the public to sample the delights on offer, my pea, broadbean and locally produced Woodhouse Farm pancetta was a huge hit.Last month I also spent a very pleasurable Friday and Saturday at Shrewsbury Flower Festival with the HEFF cookery theatre. Cooking alongside the cheeky Italian Gino d’acampo, Brompton cookery school and Our Lizzy was a pleasure.
It was wonderful to see so many of our local food producers in the food marquee and it was an honour cooking with their produce. Check out my recipes www.pennyzako.co.uk – love our britishfoods.
I highly recommend to all you foodies Gino’s new book – ‘Gino’s pasta’ by Gino d’acampo rrp £16.99
Fantastic pasta recipes to suit all, from family fayre to dinner party dishes – check it out!
Each month I shall be recommending one of our local farmers market traders this month it is:
The snoggable garlic company
They really are what they claim to be, even though Ann who runs the stall on Birmingham New Street adds; I can’t guarantee the snog!’ Their fantastic tasting garlic has all the flavour without the smelly breathe! There is a selection of flavours: hot chilli, paprika, lemon, lime, ginger 7 thyme, simply snoggable and oak smoked. I particularly liked the paprika variety which I used to marinate some local fillet of beef. They are all suitable for snacking on or to use in marinades or dressings.
For those of you who like a touch of hot and spicy, the harrisa paste from this company is second to none, glaze a leg of lamb with it and roast in the oven serve with sour cream cucumber dip and paprika potato wedges; it’s a great alternative to the traditional roast.
I recommend seeking out this stall at your local farmers market or visit their website @snoggablegarlic.com
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