Brum Kind Of Wonderful

REVIEW: Loaf Cookery School

Posted on February 3, 2015 by brumkindof

Both BrumKind babs have been to Japan, which makes us both proud and slightly smug. We fell in love with the funny, overwhelming, confusing, beautiful and at times downright weird place (adult school uniforms from a vending machine anyone?!). But I’ll tell you what we loved, what we really, really loved (to almost quote The Spice Girls – don’t say we aren’t current); the food. Noodles, tonkatsu, sushi, a million types of rice, japanese pastries, cakes and one of our personal favourites, beef curry doughnuts.

So, when our favourite local, independent bakery expanded its cookery course menu to feature a new range of ‘Flavour Geography’ courses, beginning with Japan, we tightened our kimonos, put down our chopsticks and booked our places.

The evening didn’t start well – and I’m not even talking about getting stuck in rush hour traffic on the Pershore Road on the way. After a warm welcome from Chief loafer Tom Baker (yes really), with delicious sourdough bread and tea, we were introduced to our teacher, Lap Fai Lee. We and the six other participants were paired off and ushered into the kitchen. Lap explained the most important thing, was to thoroughly wash the rice first, to get rid of all the starch, using a whisk. “Er, I don’t even own a whisk,” Faye announced in her dulcet northern tones. The assembled cooks looked at her in horror and the teacher realised he had at least one novice on his hands.

But the BrumKind babs are nothing if not triers, and, after a quick demo of the first sushi task – sashimi, we got stuck in. The first job was to debone the cured mackerel with a giant pair of tweezers – one between two. It soon became apparently that we were A LOT slower than our fellow students. However, Lap kindly took pity on us and came along and helped us/did it for me. We were actually pretty pleased with the end results:

Next,Lap delicately created some beautiful mackerel and cucumber Californian rolls. We tried our best with the sushi rolling mat, and to be honest, we’ve seen worse:

The next challenge was inside-out maki rolls, assembling layers of sesame seed, rice, seaweed, crabstick and avocado, and then wrap the little blighters in cling film. Faye got confused at this point, and I had to point out to her mid-wrap that the cling film shouldn’t be an additional layer as part of the sushi. Oh well, at least mine turned okay – see?

Post-sushi, we embarked on a collective pot of Miso soup where Faye got the chance to shave the bonito flakes (aged dried tuna) for the soup while another lady held her box. You don’t get that offer every day.

Lap then announced we’d be making the most amazing, yet simple, dish with an Asian aubergine. We brushed a paste of miso, mirin, sugar, ginger, spring onion and sesame seeds on to the aubergine halves and whacked it in the oven for 20 minutes. The resulting dish was truly delicious – he was right.

Our final challenge was Tonkatsu (pork fried in Japanese panko breadcrumbs served with shredded cabbage and – a fruity, brown sauce, like the HP of Japan). We were running out of time, but Lap let us dip and coat the meat and use the mandolin (with a necessary health and safety warning) to shred the cabbage.

The evening ended with a convivial feast of our creations, washed down with a nice glass of vino. We then loaded our Tupperwares with as many leftovers as possible. There were plenty of treats to take home and you’ve got to get your money’s worth…

Venue: 1421 Pershore Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B30 2JL

Tel: 0121 458 7682

Website: www.loafonline.co.uk

Cost: Evening course £60 incl all food.

Brum Kind Of Wonderful: Great teacher, varied selection of dishes taught, the group meal and talk of all things Japanese.

Brum Notes: It may have been our incompetence, but they tried to squeeze quite a lot in. This would have been fine but quite a lot of the equipment was shared between two (fish tweezers, sushi rolling mats etc) so just doubling these items would make all the difference.

Warning: Don’t eat beforehand. The food just keeps on coming…

REVIEW: Afternoon tea and spa treatments at Hilton Birmingham Metropole

Posted on January 21, 2015 by brumkindof

Last Saturday I went for afternoon tea and spa treatments at the Oceans Room Spa at Hilton Birmingham Metropole with my sister. I’d bought the Groupon deal for her, under the misguided notion that she would enjoy some pampering. I think she’d have preferred the money.

Our afternoon tea was booked for 5pm. After checking in at the spa, we headed to The Lounge to announce our arrival. The man we spoke to was reasonably pleasant, but was busy pulling pints, and advised us that he’d find the host after he’d finished. Ten minutes later he returned to tell us that she had ‘gone AWOL’. Some 25-30 minutes later, our food arrived. Here it is:

It looked quite sweet, I suppose. I liked the the display box. But the sandwiches were decidedly dull. Something I didn’t know, and that may be untrue, for I only have my sibling’s word for it, is that their contents were in keeping with the afternoon tea tradition. Ham. Egg. Salmon. Cucumber. They’re apparently the Fantastic Four. This is a shame, as I’ve had more exciting sandwiches on training courses and at work conferences. Still, I wasn’t expected to network, so that’s a blessing. Or role play. If you discount ‘disgruntled eater of dull sandwiches’, of course, but that involved no acting.

What riled me further, on top of the wait, was that some of the bread still had bits of crust on. This was disappointing and a little lax, I felt. Here’s the evidence…

The cakes, however, were lovely. Moist. Just how I like them. Yes, the chocolate chip sponge let the side down, but other than him, they were firmly in the upper quartile of cakery. However, we didn’t get given plates, and yes, we should have asked for them, but the Grimsby in us, and the fact we have questionable table manners, saw us improvise and use the dishes the other cakes stood in to jam up our warm scones. We couldn’t wait a further half hour for a bit of crockery.

We had time for a swim before our treatments. The pool was warm, but included a feature I didn’t expect from a spa day. And that feature was children. What made it worse was that we got bombed by a young girl. WHILE WE WERE IN THE JACUZZI. To be fair, I should have been grateful we had a go in there. When we first arrived it was packed to capacity like a bubbling pan of human Big Soup, as though an attempt at a World Record was underway. It had cleared by the time of our assault. Call me old fashioned, but I don’t think bombing should be permitted in a Jacuzzi. Nor should they allow heavy petting in the main pool. THERE WERE CHILDREN THERE. Granted, the place didn’t have one of those posters from the 70s showing forbidden activities, but come on people, we’re all aware of the rules. A bit of governance would have been nice.

After our swim, we were led to our treatment room. It needed updating a bit, if I’m honest, as it wouldn’t have looked out of place in an episode of Changing Rooms circa 1996. Like Linda Barker had gone crackers with a £250 budget. But I closed my eyes as soon as I laid down, so that wasn’t a deal breaker.

My beauty therapist was great. I can’t fault her, I thoroughly enjoyed the massage – she’d asked what pressure I wanted (hardcore) – and she delivered. The hot stone finish was interesting. And hot. As described. The facial was thorough and my skin felt soft and clear afterwards. A bit of a head massage was included, as well as some hair pulling, which was a new one, but I liked it. I didn’t even mind that it resulted in me resembling Don King when she finished. Better him than Frank Maloney, perhaps.

After the session, I was offered a further deal at the spa. Two 30 minute treatments for £29 if I booked there and then. Including free use of robe and slippers next time, which didn’t feature as part of the Groupon deal. I signed up. I like robes. I like slippers.

In conclusion, it can’t have been too bad if I’m prepared to fork out to return. Then again, I like cheap things. You only have to look at my shoes to know this. I just won’t have the afternoon tea. Or risk scenes of mild peril in the Jacuzzi. However, if anyone’s up for a spot of heavy petting, call me…

Venue: The Ocean Rooms Spa at Hilton Birmingham Metropole, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1PP (www.theoceanroomsbirmingham.com)
Cost: £115 for two via Groupon deal. £6 to park.
Brum Kind Of Wonderful: The treatments.
The Brum Notes: The afternoon tea service, Crustgate, Jacuzzi bombing.

REVIEW: Sushi Passion

Posted on January 18, 2015 by brumkindof

The Great Western Arcade is a lovely little thoroughfare just opposite Snow Hill Station that’s undergoing a bit of a renaissance, after years in the wilderness with little to offer aside from good old Druckers. With independent boutiques, the brilliant, award-winning Loki Wine, and a medium-sized Greggs, you’d think that this Birmingham parade had all anyone could ask for. Then along came Sushi Passion…

My inaugural visit to Birmingham’s latest Japanese restaurant was on a first date. In the preamble, I’d asked what he’d have as his last meal on earth. “High end sushi” was the answer. And, although I wasn’t planning to cut his life short, and had also grimaced a bit at his use of the term “high end”, I thought it’d be a nice idea to take him to a local sushi place.

I’m not claiming that Sushi Passion is “high end”, but I think it’s the closest thing that Birmingham has to a sushi place with style, substance and superior sashimi.

Sushi Passion came recommended. A friend told me about the original Sushi Passion stall at Birmingham Market, and how wonderful it was. His exact words were: ‘It’s pretty (insert expletive of choice) amazing”. He also added that what sealed the deal for him was the fact his miso soup was delivered via a toy train. Here’s a photo of, if not the train itself, the train tracks.

Choo choo, Thomas. Well there’s novelty value for you.

I made the mistake of booking a traditional tatami mat seating table for that authentic feel, in an attempt to impress the new man. Sadly, I ended up with cramp in both legs. But that’s just my age and lack of flexibility. So, don’t do that for a first date if you’re pushing 40, is my advice. Sit in normal seats.

The noren*, that welcome you at the door, are a nice touch, the Japanese music playing delicately in the background sets a pleasant ambience, and the welcoming and attentive staff, who still agreed to serve me after I’d twice phoned to move the booking time, were a pleasure.

We ordered a sushi platter, sashimi and, as it soon transpired that my new man could eat for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the rest of Europe, an array of hand rolls also made their way on to the order.

The sushi was far too pretty to eat. Look at it.

So I just took a photo and left it on the plate. Well, I nibbled gracefully and pretended to be in full control of my chopsticks. In contrast my companion, who tucked in with vigour. Greedy little so and so. He ended up with soy sauce on his shirt too, so I looked reasonably sophisticated, which, for those of you who know me, is more novel than the toy train.

Now, the fact that the chef behind this whole venture is Polish has attracted lots of interest, but the thing is it doesn’t matter (and I can say that, I’ve been to Japan, so am clearly an expert (I’m not)). But he definitely knows his stuff.

The sushi is the best you are going to get in Brum, unless Nobu comes to town – the fish is fresh and varied (I particularly recommend the salmon sashimi), the rice was near on perfect, and the presentation and the peaceful ambience was perfect. Well worth a visit.

Venue: Sushi Passion, Great Western Arcade, Birmingham B2 5HU

Tel: 0121 238 2933

Can’t locate a website, but there’s a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sushi-Passion/212584485422108

Cost: £60 for two.

Brum Kind Of Wonderful: The beautiful sushi and ambience.

The Brum Note: The lack of wine choice. Plum isn’t for everyone.

*noren are those little curtain things. Yes, of course I had to look up what they’re called on Wikipedia.