The Chameleon Restaurant & Bar | Central Birmingham

The Chameleon is renowned in Birmingham for its quality cocktails and is the ideal evening location for a spot of sophisticated fun on the dance floor. But discerning diners run the risk of overlooking the restaurant, which would be a great shame.

[by Sanjeeta Bains]

atmosphere

With its glamorous lighting and upbeat music, the sophisticated décor at The Chameleon creates a seductive ambience at dinner that insists you luxuriate and indulge. 
 
food

Former Hotel Du Vin chef Dave Gill has designed a menu for all tastes.  You can order everything from pizza to kobe fillet steak – a rarity for Birmingham restaurants. I opted for the kobe fillet steak tartare with quail egg yolk and white truffle oil as my starter. This dish is not for everyone but kobe beef is a delicacy and I’m glad I took my opportunity. The richly flavoursome red raw beef was tangy and zesty. In comparison, however, the polenta crusted scallops with seaweed and squid ink risotto felt lacking in flavour.

When it came to the main course, the pan seared fillet of salmon on saffron mash with a lobster and crayfish bisque sauce was pleasant, but the stunning goats cheese and caramelised red onion gnocchi with wilted baby spinach and white wine cream sauce was divine. This was simply the most delicious pasta dish I’ve enjoyed in a quite a while. I thought I had no room left for dessert, but polished off every crumb of the hot treacle tart with crème anglaise, ending dinner in decadent style. 
 
drinks 

A classic cosmopolitan was the perfect pre-dinner drink and made to the Chameleon standard being neither too sour or sweet. A generous range of mocktails is also available.  A bottle of South African drostdy hof chenin blanc nicely offset our rich meal. The wine list boasts a good selection of both Old World classics and the finest of the New World to give the impressive cocktails a run for their money. 
 
As befits a place as proudly glamorous as The Chameleon Restaurant & Bar, there are some fabulous star turns on the restaurant menu. Overall, expect an A-list dining experience.

You can enjoy exclusive discounts at The Chameleon, as well as over a hundredrestaurants across Birmingham and the UK, with a Gastro Card. Click here to find out more.

Have you visited The Chameleon Bar & Restaurant in Birmingham before? Tell us what you thought here

Chamberlains Quality Fish & Chips Restaurant | Oldbury

Chamberlains Quality Fish and Chips is located on the outskirts of Birmingham, doing justice to its ambitious name by scooping a top prize at this year’s National Fish & Chip Awards. We think the cosy family atmosphere, and the wealth of choice beyond classic haddock and chips, makes Chamberlains the perfect choice for a Mother’s Day meal.

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

atmosphere

The interior of the restaurant manages to be warm, casual and classy in equal measures. Large mirrors and deep red walls boost the chic factor, while the comfy seats and well-spaced tables make the venue ideal for family groups and friendly dinners. Imagine something between a country pub and a smart city centre restaurant, and you’ll have an idea.

food

Chamberlains’ efforts to branch out from the core offering of fish and chips is apparent right from the starters menu. Mackerel and cod scotch egg and garlic mushrooms and stilton both come highly recommended. The richness of the flavours was as much of a pleasant surprise as finding these interesting options on the menu. Other diverse starters include sweet chilli chicken and prawn salad.

The mains menu prevents a challenging array of choices. Allow plenty of time to decide whether to opt for a traditional fish and chips choice, or to experiment with one of the more exotic dishes. Cod and king prawn curry gives a nod to Birmingham’s strong tradition of Asian cuisine, while nut squash risotto and Chamberlains winter chicken dispense with fish altogether.

In the end, we compromised with a generous portion of haddock and chips, and the smoked hake and breaded poached egg, which is accompanied with a delicious chive mash and honey and mustard glaze. If you have any room left for dessert, expect to select from old faithfuls like bread and butter pudding, chocolate fudge cake and banoffee pie. And for the extra-fussy kids, there’s vanilla ice cream with a range of sweet sauces.

deals

The restaurant’s family-friendly claims are bolstered by a whole range of deals and offers. On ‘Tenner Tuesdays’ two main courses go for £10, while throughout the week, the classic Chamberlains haddock and cod meals come in at £9.95 each. There’s even a special deal for senior citizens on Thursdays, with a full meal adding up to just shy of £7.00.

All in all, Chamberlains Quality Fish and Chips carries out a balancing act, offering the good value and hearty family atmosphere of a traditional fish and chips establishment, while serving up a more adventurous menu in a slightly smarter environment. Mother will be pleased.

You can enjoy exclusive discounts at Chamberlains and many more restaurants in Birmingham and nationwide with a Gastro Card. Click here to find out more.

Have you visited Chamberlains before? Tell us what you thought here

Claire Hutchings: The MasterChef from Moseley returns

Claire Hutchings from Moseley in Birmingham made it all the way to the finals of television’s MasterChef: The Professionals in 2011, gaining a reputation for creativity and culinary flair, and creating a chocolate sorbet recipe that legendary chef Michel Roux Jr himself wasn’t ashamed to swipe. With Claire back in Birmingham to host a number of guest chef evenings at the Kitchen Garden Cafe (pictured, in background), we caught up with her to find out how she plans to build on her national success.

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

What did the experience of being on MasterChef mean to you as a professional?

The experience was daunting but incredible. The final eight were all really good so it was a constant challenge. I learnt quite a lot about myself – you’re filmed constantly, so you do.

In terms of my cooking, it helped me to develop my own style. I’m more confident in the kitchen now. I also managed to perfect one or two techniques, especially prepping almonds!

And what was your least favourite part of doing the programme?

The cameras can get tedious at times, and it’s especially unnerving when the presenters [John Torode and Greg Wallace] come over and ask you questions on the spot while you’re rushing to finish a dish.

So as a local chef who graduated from University College Birmingham, what do you make of Birmingham’s food scene at this moment in time?

It’s definitely changed for the better. When I started out working at Simpsons it was the only Michelin-starred restaurant in town; now we have three. What’s happening now is that people are finally noticing what Birmingham’s restaurants have to offer.

And is there room for improvement?

Yes, I think Birmingham’s up-and-coming but the best is yet to come. For example it can still be difficult to source the rarer ingredients you can get in London, but it’s not impossible.

What are your plans for the future, career-wise?

Initially I was going to move straight to London, but I’ve decided to stay in Birmingham for now. I’m holding food events and hopefully helping to raise the profile of the city food-wise. With this pop-up menu [at Kitchen Garden Cafe], I’ve gone for a seasonal theme. I’ve included mackerel, which I think is underused, hearty ox-cheek, and my favourite chocolate sorbet

The one Michel Roux Jr liked so much he stole the recipe?

Yes, that one!

Although Claire’s pop-up evenings at the Kitchen Garden Cafe are now sold out, you can enjoy exclusive discounts at this Birmingham restaurant and many more nationwide with a Gastro Card. Click here to find out more.

Have you visited the Kitchen Garden Cafe before? Tell us what you thought here

MY DINE BIRMINGHAM | Steve Denyer from Heart FM

Steve Denyer’s Heart FM Drivetime show keeps thousands of commuters company across the West Midlands during the week, while at the weekends he broadcasts to a national audience. The famous Birmingham-dweller shares his favourite places to eat and drink around the city:

Breakfast

Having lived in central Birmingham for nearly seven years, I have been thoroughly spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking out. 

With my new training regime I have to walk about quite a bit! On a recent walk I discovered a little gem hidden behind Birmingham’s Broad Street in Canal Square. Ju Ju’s is the perfect place to wake up over a cooked breakfast and watch the world pass by. I love taking my iPad down and catching up on social media over some delicious food.

Lunch

By mid-morning I’m usually at The Cube. The Club and Spa is the perfect place for a coffee, a massage or just a dip in the pool followed by a steam and a sauna. And of course, the new Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Birmingham upstairs is worth a visit for its great views of the city.

I’m a firm believer in a bit of retail therapy before my show. I find it impossible to shop in Selfridges without succumbing to the wonderful food on offer. Ekachai, the Thai restaurant in the food court, always gets me first.  I can recommend their delicious tom yum chicken soup or their legendary duck salad - it always works a treat before I head to the Heart FM studios to get ready for my show.

Dinner

I get to finish work every night at 7pm which is perfect timing to meet friends in town for some dinner (my favourite part of the day!) I’ve long been a fan of The Loft Lounge on Bromsgrove Street. I love it here; it’s chilled, the lighting is low and the new menu offers everything from unhealthy burgers to very healthy Asian style stir fries and tasty salads. It’s the kind of place where time whiles quickly away. Quite often, before I know it, it’s 11pm and I’m being asked to leave!

You can enjoy exclusive discounts at The Loft Lounge and many more restaurants nationwide with a Gastro Card. Click here to find out more.

Have you visited any of the venues mentioned before? Tell us what you thought here

Chung Ying Cantonese Restaurant | Chinese

Billing itself as the ‘original Cantonese restaurant’ in Birmingham, Chung Ying (map) has been a staple feature of the city’s Chinatown district for over two decades, this year welcoming the third Year of the Dragon since its launch in 1981. Dine Birmingham visited Chung Ying on the eve of Chinese New Year, to investigate the secret of its longevity.

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

atmosphere

On entering, the immediate impression was one of bustling activity. Alive with chattering guests and waiters darting about with sizzling platters, Chung Ying captures the business-like energy of a traditional Chinatown. The decor is insistently Chinese: red and gold decorations are reflected in the many mirrors which, according to feng shui, holds the power to enhance positive energy and prosperity.

food

The menu certainly holds a promise of plenty. Faced with a dizzying array of options, we opted for one of the set starter bundles, including vegetarian spring rolls, crispy wontons, and deep fried shredded squid. While the wontons were average, the spring rolls and squid were excellent, perfectly complemented by the selection of accompanying sauces.

Although primarily a Cantonese restaurant, Chung Ying offers dishes from another of China’s three culinary traditions. Fried king prawns szechuen style and sizzling fillet of beef in black pepper sauce both offer more of a spicy kick to the palate than the average Chinese dish. We recommend the noodles cooked with mixed seafood and chicken if you’re in the mood for a really filling meal. For a slightly lighter accompanying option, go for egg-fried rice.

drink

Only the most demanding wine-lover would have trouble finding something satisfactory on the wine list, as the selection carries a good range of Old and New World bottles, including several sparklings and champagnes should you choose to spend a special occasion here. Disappointingly, however, only two wines from the Orient appear, and neither of these is Chinese. The easy-drinking Tsing Tao beer represents China’s main contribution to the drinks menu.

Overall, Chung Ying’s casual atmosphere, combined with its wide variety of culinary options, keeps its clientele well-satisfied. Fans of unfussy Cantonese cuisine can join the Birmingham venue as it celebrates the Chinese New Year on the weekend of 28^th-29^th January with a special festive menu.

You can enjoy exclusive discounts at this Birmingham restaurant and many more nationwide with a Gastro Card. Click here to find out more.

Have you visited Chung Ying Cantonese Restaurant before? Tell us what you thought here

Dine for less in 2012 at Birmingham’s top restaurants

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

The Gastro Card is a dining discount card that allows restaurant visitors access to special discounts at  over 100 top-flight venues across Birmingham and the whole of the UK.

Dine Birmingham can now make the discount card available to our readers at a half-price rate. We caught up with Geoff Abbott, the founder of the Gastro Card, to bring you the details.

How does the Gastro Card work?

Gastro Card members save money when they visit a range of over 100 Birmingham restaurants including Edmunds, Opus and Lasan (see the full list here), and also many more across the country.

These are all hand-picked venues that we’ve invited to be part of the Gastro Card family because of their top quality food, drinks and service. The discounts offered are exclusive to Gastro Card holders, and typically range from 15-25% off. You can use the card as many times as you like.

What was the inspiration behind the Gastro Card?

As a food-lover in the West Midlands, I was fed up with the myth that all the great food places are supposedly in London. I wanted to shout about Birmingham restaurants and the amazing culinary variety and expertise we have here, and so I set up the Gastro Card in 2009 to help Midlands restaurants get bums on seats.

We hear a lot now about Birmingham’s rising gourmet reputation. What are your thoughts?

Well, Birmingham has a vibrant food scene with a wide range of cuisines, but another thing that makes it special is that it’s surrounded by a large number of local suppliers. The restaurants offering deals to Gastro Card members all pride themselves on using fresh local produce in their kitchens, which, in my opinion, makes all the difference.

Dine Birmingham is proud to now offer the Gastro Card at the half-price rate of £15. This gets you an annual membership and access to exclusive deals at over 100 Birmingham restaurants, as well as many more nationwide.

To learn more and to take advantage of the reduced rate, simply visit the official Gastro Card site and enter the coupon code DB1.

Cook up a perfect Christmas with these top chefs’ tips

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

It’s that time of year again, just in case you hadn’t heard. It’s the season for spiced nuts, fancy appetisers, succulent roast birds and gorgeously indulgent desserts.

Whether you’re planning to feed the world or just your special loved ones this holiday season, delve into the Gastro Card’s guide to cooking a perfect Christmas, featuring tempting recipes from top Birmingham chefs.

For starters, you might choose to have a go at the asparagus with poached quail’s eggs, which comes courtesy of Steve Love at Love’s Restaurant. Anderson’s Bar & Grill offers up the honey-glazed dexter boston rib of beef, while Michelin-starred Edmunds suggests a rich chocolate marquise with mango coulis.

But don’t worry if you’re a stickler for tradition at the Christmas table. Not only does the GastroGuide feature a classic recipe for roast turkey and stuffing, it includes a timed schedule to help you cook and serve up your pièce de résistance with military precision.

Get your free Christmas GastroGuide online right here

The Gastro Card is accepted by more than 300 restaurants across the Midlands, all of which offer exclusive dining offers to Gastro Card holders.

the warehouse café | vegetarian | 0121 633 0261

The Warehouse Café is one of Birmingham’s best kept secrets, serving creative and meat-free cuisine in a cosy bohemian space on the edge of Digbeth.  

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

atmosphere

In a word: relaxed. In two: relaxed and friendly. The upstairs dining room is unassuming and comfortable, with a slightly funky decor that perfectly complements the menu.

food

You might turn up with a common prejudgement of what vegetarian cuisine is – rabbit food and mush – but the menu at the Warehouse Café should leave even the most hardened anti-veggie appreciative.

Drawing on global cuisines, the selection travels from Greek-inspired cous cous salads and tzatzikis, to Far Eastern noodle and rice dishes flavoured with jasmine, ginger and apple-fennel.

Even traditionally meaty European fare gets a makeover, with tomato and lentil sausages as one delicious example.

My only criticism is that the limited dessert menu lets the creativity down somewhat, with pleasant but uninspiring cheesecake and chocolate options you might find anywhere else.

drink

A range of organic juices to keep your fibre levels nice and high; just don’t expect Coca-Cola at this ethically-focused establishment.

service

Our waiter was not only prompt and polite, but genuinely friendly and attentive.

Have you visited the Warehouse Café before? Share your thoughts here 

Thai restaurant Chao Baby comes to Birmingham’s Spiceal Street

Bullring Birmingham has revealed that the third new restaurant at the Spiceal Street development in St Martin’s Square will be Thai-banquet style venue, Chao Baby.

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

Chao Baby is owned by restaurant group Chaophraya. When Spiceal Street development (see artist’s impression above) is complete later this year, Birmingham will be home to the group’s first Midlands venue.

Set to offer a wide range of Thai-inspired delicacies, cocktails and beers, Chao Baby promises to bring a touch of spectacle to the new development as well, with an open kitchen where guests can watch food being prepared by chefs.

A large jellyfish tank is also planned as a feature of the restaurant’s design.

Louise Hitch, Group Marketing and Sales Manager for Chaophraya Restaurant Group, said: “Each of our restaurants has its own characters and style. Nethertheless, each one carries with it our unique core values of freshness, focus, flare, fun and family. Launching the restaurant on Spiceal Street in the Bullring marks the start of a very exciting new journey for us”

The new dining quarter planned for Spiceal Street is expected to be complete by winter 2011. It will also include Brown’s Restaurant and cocktail bar, as featured in this article.

Birmingham Food Fest: new celebration of city’s cuisines

[by Ahmed Ahmed]

Birmingham is set to flex its gastronomic muscles this October with the first Birmingham Food Fest (14-23 October). The newly launched festival will bring together the city’s finest chefs, restaurants and venues for ten days of food-filled events.

The event will feature award-winning Birmingham restaurants including Simpsons, Purnell’s, Opus, Edmunds and Loves. Rising culinary stars from University College Birmingham will join seasoned local chefs like Aktar Islam (pictured), winner of The Great British Menu, in serving up the best that Birmingham has to offer.

Richard Turner, chef patron at the Michelin starred Turner’s of Harborne, said: “The outstanding food and drink offering in the city is something to shout about. Events such as Birmingham Food Fest give talented local chefs a platform to demonstrate their passion for good food and great regional produce.”

Birmingham Food Fest clearly seeks to represent the diversity of cuisines and venues in Birmingham. The broad offering of over 100 food-related events aims to create a “truly unique festival that reflects the many different tastes in the city.”

And it’s not only restaurants that are getting in on the act. Favourite Birmingham attractions like the Ikon Gallery, Cadbury World, National Sea Life Centre, and even the canals, will be offering visitors their own food festival-themed experiences.

Emma Gray from Visit Birmingham said “The festival will bring together key cultural attractions, a wide range of restaurants, independent eateries and local producers to showcase Birmingham’s authentic food and drink offering, along with its wider visitor appeal.”

Birmingham Food Fest will take place between 14-23 October 2011. To find out more about the occasion, visit the website.