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I fancied trying out something a bit different and Rodízio Rico with its Brazilian offering seemed like just the thing, so I popped along to try the food and experience the restaurant as it’s been somewhere I’ve been thinking of going for some time.  Rodízio Rico has a fun concept: there’s a buffet with salads, side dishes and even full blown meals.  You can go help yourself as many times as you like and they keep refilling it.  You get given a disk for each person at the table.  On one side it’s red and the other green.  When you have the red side up you don’t want any more or just want a bit of a break, but when it’s green you get offered meat by the servers who move around the restaurant.  They bring out a range of meat on skewers and you can try as many as you have room for.

As we arrived we were asked if we had a voucher or a code and there are often Groupon deals or similar for this restaurant, so it’s worth checking in advance. We were seated and given the drinks menu.  I asked for a pint of Bass which I was encouraged to see on the menu, but it seems that they didn’t have this on and didn’t have a suitable alternative either really.  I had to have Guinness instead which isn’t really the same at all, so that was disappointing.

The buffet was well presented with a wide range of dishes from simple bread rolls, vegetables and salad ingredients to more complex salads, side dishes and even complete meal like lasagne.  You can eat very well off just the buffet to be honest, although its the meat that is the star of the show and certainly what you are paying for and expecting.  The buffet was well kept (it looked fresh and appetizing) and kept refilled.

After we had our buffet salads and accompaniments, we started to get approached by the waiters with their large skewers of meat.  They carve it at the table and serve it straight to your waiting plate. I really enjoyed the meats especially the beef steaks and cuts.  I was less keen on the sausages and felt that the chicken could have done with a little in the way of flavouring.  There was plenty to go round and we had no problem at all getting enough to eat.  The dinner menu has more expensive cuts of meat and more variety, but is more expensive than the lunchtime deal.

It’s a fun place to eat and there are good views over the canal if you are lucky enough to get a window seat (in fact I would ask for a window seat if you book in advance).  There’s so much choice there should be something to suit all meat eaters and vegetarians can have most of the buffet food and pay a reduced price (not sure I’d be that keen on coming though as a vegetarian because the meat is very much the centrepiece).

This summer sees the REP, Birmingham relaunching its Marmalade at the Rep bar and restaurant after an extensive refurbishment that includes a new outside terrace overlooking the newly created fountains of Centenary Square.  It is the only food and drink offering on Centenary Square, so it is really well placed for those who want to soak up the atmosphere and indulge in a little people watching.

Marmalade team have been very working closely with local businesses and artisan suppliers to provide customers with an all new dining experience, that is firmly rooted in the local area.  Suppliers local to Birmingham have been used wherever possible, especially those who source their products in a similar way. The menus are environmentally conscious with their local sourcing cutting down on food miles, plus there are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options readily available. But those ethical principals haven’t been at the expense of taste: there’s plenty to choose from if you want to indulge including Chicken & Pork Jambonette, Glazed Baby Carrots & Gooseberry Jam; or maybe Sweet Potato Thai Curry, Mange Tout, Bok Choi, Shitake Mushrooms, Coconut Crisp & Fragrant Rice.   If you are looking for great dessert options, there’s the Blueberry Frangipani with Vanilla Crème Fraiche; or Chocolate & Coffee Mousse with Chantilly Cream & Pecan Praline. My favourite dish was the unusual take on Apple Crumble with an oaty topping which was truly delicious.

One of the ways that Marmalade at the Rep is standing out from the pack is its supplier team ups.  New partnerships include a working with local award-winning Purity Brewery in a symbiotic relationship, and together they have created a one-off cask ale for the Marmalade bar that has been flavoured with a jar of home-made marmalade.  I was a bit dubious about how this would taste (my first time to try marmalade flavoured beer), but it was surprisingly good, with a subtle hint of marmalade, and the resulting beer is of a caliber with Purity’s other fine beers which include a number of IPAs. There’s a great collaboration too with local eco coffee provider, Iron & Fire, and global brand Martini, to bring some interesting twists to the drinks menu. I attended a preview event that meant that I got to try out some of the range of supplied produce and hear from the committed and dedicated suppliers who have a genuine enthusiasm for the work they do.

Marmalade have completely refurbished the interior and the new stylish decor at Marmalade sets the tone for diners.  The new terrace which can hold up to 200 people, so it’s the perfect spot to grab an al fresco bite to eat with a long refreshing drink, maybe try out that special Purity ale.

Marmalade at the Rep is an independent business which is both owned and run by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre so its profits go towards the artistic and charitable aims of the theatre.  It’s great to be able to eat and drink in style and support the arts while you do it.

In the foodhall at Selfridges there are so many great places to eat, but my new favourite is Ooty StationOoty Station that I was invited to try last week. South Indian, fine dining restaurant Ooty (London), have launced Ooty Station as there relaxed dining concept. The menu features delicacies from various regions of South India and have been developed by head chef, Manmeet Singh Bali (former Head Chef at Michelin-starred restaurants – Rasoi and Vineet Bhatia London (VBL)) alongside Sous Chef, Niru Palakonda. The aim is to provide a creative selection of dishes and sensational aromas and flavours will provide an authentic experience of South Indian cuisine.

Head Chef Manmeet Singh-Bali said: “Since the opening of Ooty earlier this year I’ve been working hard with Niru on developing the Ooty Station food menu. We loved creating the more refined and experimental dishes at Ooty, but with the station menu we’ve been able to be more playful, with the same fidelity to traditional South Indian flavours.

We’ve taken inspiration from the street food of our childhoods growing up in India, and the comforting pub food we know here in the UK, to create a unique offering which is perfect whether you want to drop in for drinks and a few light bites, while spending the afternoon with friends and family, or starting your Friday night after work with us.”

There’s a great selection of starters available in the street food section of the menu.  We picked out the Malli Chicken Wings and Shammi Shikampur to try. The Malli Chicken Wings are crispy chicken wings flavoured with coriander and then tossed in OOTY’s special sauce.  This was our favourite of the two as the spices gave the chicken a great depth of flavour.  The Shammi Shikampur are garam masala-spiced lamb kebabs scented with mint, coriander and onions.  I’ve eaten shammi kebabs many times in Indian restaurants, but these had a subtleness and a delicacy that they usually lack, but they still pack a powerful flavour punch.

For the main course I picked out the Kasoori Murgh which is an Ooty twist on one of India’s most popular dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala.  I like the tikka flavours, but found the dish a touch on the oily side for my taste, on the up side it flavoured the rice well and there were generously sized chicken pieces in the sauce. My companion went for the Matka Lamb which is billed as a tender lamb stew flavored with chilli and tellicherry peppers.  This was our favourite of the two main as it had everything you hope for in a curry: a deep and complex flavour which complements the meat well.  I’d certainly order the Matka Lamb again on a return visit.  Both our dishes came with rice included.

To go with our meal we chose a couple of sides:  Cucumber Raita and a Paratha.   The Cucumber Raita was the perfect complement to the spicy Matka Lamb: cool and cleansing on the palette.  The Paratha, a thin flat bread, was a great way of scooping up some of that curry goodness and cleaning the plate and the dish. I liked that it wasn’t too filling (like a naan can be) and it was just about the right size.

For dessert we picked out Chocolate Torte for me and Ice Cream for my guest.  These dishes obviously aren’t particularly Indian, but they were well executed.  The Chocolate Torte was very smooth and there was a strong, intense chocolate flavour.

Ooty Station is a great place to grab a bite to eat either when you are shopping or maybe as an early evening treat.  A couple of items from the street food part of the menu would make a perfect light lunch and there are the main meals if you want something a bit more substantial.

Disclosure: I was provided with a complementary meal for the purposes of this review.

The Edgbaston branch of Fiesta del Asado has been a favourite of mine since it opened a few years ago and I’ve eaten there on a number of occasions.  I’d heard that Fiesta del Asado had opened a new restaurant in Solihull and I was keen to see the new restaurant.  As luck would have it was was invited along to try out the new summer menu and experience a Gaucho Feast whilst listening to live latin music in the shape of Sonrisa.

Fiesta del Asado, Solilhull has a much different feel to the Edgbaston restaurant it’s much bigger and the bar does dominate the room.  It might lack a bit of intimacy, but it is certainly a place that you could spend the whole evening as it’s very natural to have a cocktail and then a meal, or to start by eating and then enjoy a leisurely drink afterwards.  There are still quiet corners where you can tuck yourself away for a romantic meal, plus the sound from the bar and the music isn’t so loud as to detract from conversation.

We started off proceedings with the fabulous Patata Focaccia.  I could have ate this all night in honesty, but was very aware that I needed to leave room for the treats to come.  It’s a freshly-baked focaccia topped with thinly-sliced potato, and served with smooth tomato dip. Just very moreish.

We also got to sample the empanadas.  Empanadas are an Argentine pastry dish that are often served at parties, so they seem perfect for the Fiesta del Asado menu.  Traditionally they are are served with a range of different fillings and can come in variety of shapes.  On offer at Fiesta del Asado are the Beef Empanada (which speaks for itself) and the Spinach and Cheese Empanada, filled with spinach and provolone cheese.

The centrepiece for the evening was the Gauchos Feast: a juicy selection of meats with a 10oz flat iron steak,a 8oz pork flank steak, a 4oz rump cap steak, morcilla and chistorra sausages, chicken wings, chimichurri and malbec sauces.  It’s intended as a meal to be shared and I think you’d need to do that with this much meat.  It’s a great way to sample a number of different cuts and really get an insight into Argentianian cuisine.  It’s also good to know that Fiesta del Asado only use premium, naturally reared, ethically farmed meat.

To ring the changes we had some fish too and for me this was one of the hightlights of the evening.  The Sea Bass Parilla is exceptionally tasty.  The dish features whole char-grilled sea bass with crisp garlic and thyme potato, with fresh dressed peppers, onions and fine tomatoes.

To round off the meal we finished with a plate of Churros which are perfect for sharing and they come with a moreish hot chocolate dipping sauce.

It was a wonderful evening that had a very latin feel with the food and the music working together perfectly.  If you want to experience a slice of South America, then a visit to Fiesta del Asado would be just the thing.

How many times have you been out for a meal, and been disappointed? Many people don’t feel their restaurant experience came up to scratch, yet tend not to do much about it (apart from swear never to visit the eatery in question ever again).

There are ways to ensure that you enjoy a better dining experience – here are just a few ideas.

Enjoying a meal out – properly

• Work out what ambiance you want. Going out to eat shouldn’t focus solely on food. Some restaurants are lively, bright and bustling, which is ideal if you’re meeting up with friends. However, if you wanted a relaxing, romantic night with your partner, you’ll probably prefer a more intimate restaurant, with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and cosy, private booths.

• Look at the menu beforehand. Okay, so this might take the spontaneity out of it a bit, but it’s a wise idea to peruse the menu before you make a purchase. With severe food allergies now more common than ever, there are plenty of people who have to do this anyway. But even if you’re allergy-free, the menu will give you a good idea of whether you’ll enjoy the food or not.

• Make an event of it. Obviously, there will be times when you just want somewhere to fill your stomach, before moving on to other places. But for those occasions when the meal is the star-event, take the time to make it feel special. Dress up beforehand, then splash on some Coco Chanel Mademoiselle, or whatever fragrance tickles your fancy. Order a starter, as this immediately stretches the meal out (ditto dessert, if you’ve got room). Take your time with it, and relax between courses.

• Time it right. Go at the wrong time, and you might end up entering an overcrowded restaurant, complete with harassed waiters, long waiting times, and a nervy, slightly negative atmosphere. Conversely, if you go when it’s too quiet, you’ll feel self-conscious that you’re the only ones in there! Find out when their busy periods are (this information is usually available online when you do a google search) then book either slightly before or slightly after.

• Consider a buffet or carvery. These ‘different’ forms of dining make a pleasant change from simply being served at your table – which immediately makes them more memorable. Also, there’s something about carvery dinners that is very ‘nostalgia inducing’ and takes people right back to their childhoods! This is great if you’re looking for a meal experience that gives you warm, comforting feelings…

• Don’t drink lots beforehand. Try to save the heavy drinking for afterwards, if possible. While it’s nice to have a glass or two of wine at the table, if you’re absolutely hammered before you even start eating, you won’t remember much about it afterwards, which ruins the experience somewhat. After all, you’ve paid good money for this – you’ll want to enjoy it as much as possible. It’s also wise from a health perspective, as drinking on an empty stomach is always a risky business.