Epi pop-up restaurant at Kitchen Garden Cafe - 25th February 2014

I love going out for dinner on a "school-night" and a pop-up restaurant at the Kitchen Garden cafe, just 10 minutes down the road was a perfect excuse for date night with Guy. I've eaten breakfast and lunch at the Kitchen Garden before and I think it's a lovely, homely venue... arriving at night through the twinkling courtyard and the atmosphere was definitely different and more in keeping with an evening restaurant service. I'd spoken to the chef, Nathan Eades, via Twitter and he'd kindly replaced the woodcock on the menu with sea bass for me, and had even swapped the fennel (one of just a few foods I avoid!) with baby gem, but otherwise both Guy and I enjoyed the same fantastic tasting menu.

On arrival we had a couple of relaxed drinks (Chenin Blanc for me, lovely and crisp; and a San Miguel for Guy) while enjoying a delicious amuse bouche - think of a more refined bruschetta with mackerel, wasabi and tomato (for me) and ham hock instead of mackerel (for Guy). Nathan came out to the restaurant and introduced himself and his concept, which was lovely; as well as being a talented chef he's a nice chap too!

We moved across to our table where some simple unflavoured bread and butter was served - delicious and a good indication that what was to come was going to be a real appreciation of good ingredients. And so it was... The salt cod was just perfect along with the baba ganoush (a real favourite of mine!) in the first course proper.

The description of the cauliflower dish on the menu kept us guessing, but again a simple ingredient was made to shine in such skilled hands. Cooked in a number of different ways, the tempura style was my personal favourite!

Onto our mains and another course that really delivered on flavour and precise execution. The spelt risotto was really warming comfort food, and my sea bass and Guy's woodcock were cooked to perfection. We're both celeriac fans anyway, but what a surprise to find the brussel sprout leaves packing a real punch. Guy was enjoying the sauce ("glaze", maybe, if we're getting cheffy) with the woodcock so much I thought he might start to lick it off the plate!

The high bar had been set, and whilst I didn't feel the dessert hit the same level (slightly lukewarm rice pudding and a flavour that reminded me of shredded wheat... not necessarily a bad thing), it wasn't an unpleasant end to the evening.

In any case we opted to finish on a high note with petits fours, coffee and a brandy. The petits fours were a nice touch, a lovely rich chocolatey one, which was a treat with the coffee and brandy along with (in my words at the time) one that tasted like "a posh iced gem".

We're already contemplating a return visit when Epi returns to Kings Heath at the end of March, and looking forward to tasting some more of Nathan's cooking. 

Bistro 1847, Birmingham - 20th February 2014

Among the many things my husband, Guy and I disagree upon is vegetarian food. He's a chef and a bit "old school" so whilst he's been very supportive during my eight-ish years of avoiding meat (but eating the odd bit of fish), he has continued to eat meat in substantial quantities and not particularly adapted his own diet. As he does the vast majority of cooking at home and doesn't seem to mind cooking two different meals we rub along fine, but before Thursday evening I'd never managed to convince him that it is perfectly possible to forego flesh without missing out on flavour.

We had a "Living Social" deal for Bistro 1847 (named after the year that the Vegetarian Society was founded, but otherwise not heavily advertised as a veggie restaurant) and as I had my sports massage earlier that day I would have been missing my usual run in any case. The restaurant is located in the Great Western Arcade, which is pretty deserted on a weekday evening, but there were a few other occupied tables in the stylish, minimalist restaurant. 

We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed a glass of prosecco whilst we contemplated the menu, which for once offered me a real choice of dishes, and I remembered the enjoyment of having the whole menu available to me. The "nibbles" we started with - gin-marinated pineapple and blacksticks blue cheese got us in the mood for some inventive cooking, but the flavours were tried and tested, rather than creative for creativity's sake.

Guy began with fried aubergine and mushroom croquettes, whilst I opted for "the most fun you can have with cheese" to start. It was one of those occasions where we just had to share, through wanting each other to experience the taste we were each raving about. My cheesy creme brulee style pot with dippy bread soldiers was so delicious I was tempted to scoop out every last drop with my finger, but managed to contain my baser instincts! My main meal choice, "the great British fish and chip shop", was a real winner, with Halloumi (or you could choose tofu for a vegan option) doing a sterling job of being more than just a capable substitute for the fish. Guy had a hens egg, with crispy potatoes and vegetables, and again the dish delivered on flavour and style.

We finished with two of the nicest puddings I've tasted in some time, from a choice of three, all of which I would happily have chosen. My "drunken mess" contained ginger nuts, meringue, bananas and almonds, all of which would feature on my list of foods to take to a desert (or should that be dessert?) island. Guy chose the chocolate and ale cake which was wonderfully moist and moreish and we both left feeling there were other dishes we'd like to return to on a future visit.

Taking aside the voucher offer, the prices were reasonable and there was a good selection of wine and beer to accompany the meals. Sadly, as it was a school night, I didn't sample the cocktail menu, but it certainly looked full of promise.

Guy left the restaurant with a much more positive outlook on veggie food, and I left feeling that all chefs should be encouraged to dine at Bistro 1847, I think we'd benefit from a little of this type of creative thinking in all Britsh restaurants, taking the best of ingredients and really bringing out their flavour. We'll definitely be making a return visit.

Moreton Morrell Mad Dash, 8th February 2014

Having looked for a couple of pre-marathon tune-up races (or catered training runs as I prefer to think of them!) I'd landed on the Moreton Morrell 20km race as an alternative, slightly less scary than a half-marathon challenge, and still eight weeks away from the Manchester marathon.

An unusual distance, not too far away and on a Saturday morning for a change; I'd been looking forward to it, and was only slightly worried about the "undulating" description. A friend was competing in the 10km on the same course and we were joined by another member of Bournville Harriers completing the two laps.

On Friday with heavy rain and flooding forecast I did wonder what lay in store, having visions of a similar experience to the 2011 Stratford Half Marathon, which goes down in history as my least enjoyable race; wet and windy weather is for staying in with a good book and a cuppa in my opinion! Come Saturday morning though the sun was shining, and even with the windy conditions it certainly could have been a worse day for it.

The race starts at the agricultural college, which also housed the facilities and registration, which was well organised (and only a small queue for the ladies too). Parking was ample and just a five minute walk from the start. Not a good day for spectators as the wind was bitterly cold, so we all really just wanted to get on with it and were glad when finally we were off. 

Starting out running through the college grounds, the previous day's rain and some potholes meant conditions under foot were less than ideal to begin with, but as we turned out of the grounds onto the open roads things improved and I was able to get into my stride. The route itself was well marked and the marshals were excellent - doing their best to slow down the traffic and give plenty of encouragement to the 140 runners completing the 10km and 95 taking on the 20. There were also a couple of water/electrolyte stations on the course.

We passed through a the village of Ashorne and in places the wind was really beginning to pick up, but it was, as we commented afterwards, quite an interesting route, through really pretty Warwickshire countryside. At about the 7km mark there is quite a long uphill stretch, which wasn't too steep but it was quite difficult to pass others at that point, as the traffic was heavier in that section it wasn't really safe (especially if, like me, you were also trying to avoid the puddles). Far more challenging than that stretch though is the mile or so to the halfway point, which takes you back into the college grounds up a steeper hill, which on Saturday also happened to be straight into a serious headwind. Seeing my pace target slipping away I could do nothing to prevent it - I was going nowhere fast, but on rounding the corner back past the halfway line (avoiding the 10km finish) I was still on track for my target and felt I could make up a bit of time on the second lap.

Unfortunately the wind continued to pick up, but nevertheless I enjoyed the second lap, and the comments of the marshals ("still smiling!") and the camaraderie with some of the others (passing or being passed!); I still felt strong up to the 18km point. Alas, the last push was even harder the second time around and I also had to navigate a group of walkers, so in spite of a sprint finish I missed my target by four seconds, but having given myself a decent target to beat next time.

Just after finishing, we saw the finish canopy blown away by a gust of wind, but the impressive event team carried on recording the times of finishers whilst a few spectators and marshals recovered the finish line. We then happily collected our souvenir beanie hats and Eat Natural bars and caught up over a coffee in the college bar. Not long afterwards the rain was back but we were warm and dry in the car, enjoying the resulting rainbow, and thinking perhaps we'd had the best of the weather for the day. A good morning's work and even worth missing parkrun for!