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Food
Food news from across the region...
Food
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Birmingham has been crowned Britain’s Most Exciting Food Destination by The Good Food Guide. Carters of Moseley, The Wilderness and Grace & Savour at Hampton Manor were all awarded an ‘exceptional’ rating and feature in the top-20 list. The Good Food Guide said: ‘No other English provincial city is as well served with such a range of unique and frequently exceptional restaurants right across the price range.’ Go on, Brum!
Albert’s Schloss launches winter menu
Albert’s Schloss Birmingham has launched its brand-new winter menu. Featuring a range of Alpine and Bavarian-inspired dishes, the menu includes: coquille pretzel pie, black forest chicken burger, and the Bavarian Feast - roast pork knuckle, chicken schnitzel, bratwurst, kaiserwurst, chilliwurst, bier chilli ribs and sides of sformato, braised red cabbage, seasonal greens, bier jus, Schloss Sauerkraut and pickles.
New look for Pitcher & Piano Birmingham
Following its extensive refurbishment, Pitcher & Piano Birmingham has reopened with a refreshed look. Over £800,000 has been spent renovating both the inside and outside of the bar, with the venue’s covers having increased in number to 168, including canalside tables. The chain is continuing to offer a menu of fresh food - including bottomless brunch - a range of classic, house and sharing cocktails and a premium range of spirits, wines and beers.
New fine-dining restaurant opens in the heart of the city
Birmingham’s highly anticipated fine-dining restaurant, Orelle, has opened on the 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row, boasting unrivalled 360degree views of the city and beyond. Taking modern French cuisine to another level, Orelle’s executive head chef, Chris Emery, has designed the menu to showcase the best of British produce and celebrate the stories behind locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes Côte de Boeuf, suckling pig, Cornish turbot and Lake District lamb. In addition to the restaurant, the 38-cover ground-floor café & bar is entered through a 28cover outdoor terrace that forms an integral part of the building’s street presence. The all-day café serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea, and then offers a bar menu in the evenings.
New whisky festival comes to Birmingham
The first English Whisky Festival is taking place on Saturday 19 November at The Custard Factory. Featuring 20-plus English distilleries and bottlers, the festival constitutes the largest-ever gathering of English whiskies under one roof. For £40 per person, as well as sampling what’s on offer, attendees will meet the makers to hear first-hand what goes into producing small-batch craft whiskies. Many of the brands will also be sharing new products, festival exclusives and some money-can’t-buy samples. A series of masterclasses will run throughout the day, delving deeper into the techniques, ingredients and approaches of some of the distilleries. Tickets for the festival can be purchased at exploringenglishwhisky.co.uk
Classical music from across the region...
Ex Cathedra: Songs Of Protest
Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 13 November
“Music expresses our deepest thoughts and has the power to change the way we think and feel,” says Ex Cathedra founder and conductor Jeffrey Skidmore. “Songs Of Protest on Remembrance Sunday puts the case for peace, political freedom, compassion for our fellow human beings and the fight against torture. “Classic works by John Joubert and James MacMillan are performed alongside profoundly moving new works by Sally Beamish and Alec Roth.”
Birmingham Bach Choir
Lichfield Cathedral, Sat 19 November
Returning to Lichfield’s historic cathedral, the acclaimed Birmingham Bach Choir present Johann Sebastian’s Christmas Oratorio. Written in six sections, first performed in the 1730s, and telling the story of the birth of Jesus, Bach’s beautiful festive classic has become a firm yuletide favourite. The concert, featuring parts one, two, five and six of the Oratorio, is being viewed as a celebration of conductor Paul Spicer’s 30 years with the choir.
Solem Quartet
Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Wed 30 November
Hailed for their immaculate precision and cultured tone, the Solem Quartet pride themselves not only on their innovative and adventurous approach to music but also their enthusiasm for showcasing the work of contemporary composers. The quartet’s Conservatoire concert sees them presenting a programme featuring music by Bartók, Bosmans and Beethoven.
Classical
City of Birmingham Choir: A Sea Symphony
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 6 November
The City of Birmingham Choir here celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ birth with a performance of his first and most-loved choral symphony. Vaughan Williams’ orchestral miniature, Fantasia On Greensleeves, and the stirring Benedicite - scored for choir, orchestra and soprano soloist - also feature. The choir is joined for the concert by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Adrian Lucas is the man with the baton.
Mozart Festival Orchestra: Four Seasons By Candlelight
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 27 November
The hugely talented Mozart Festival Orchestra light the candles and don the period costume for this celebration of the verve and virtuosity of the 18th century. The crowning glory of what should prove to be an evening of exceptional musicmaking is Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, one of classical music’s most enduring and sublime compositions. But there’s plenty more to enjoy too, including Corelli’s Allegro & Pastorale from Christmas Concerto, Bach’s Air On The G String and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
