The Celebrity Indian Restaurant on Broad Street has been a familiar feature of the famous thoroughfare for many years. In fact, the restaurant has a long history and started life just around the corner near the Rep Theatre and was known as The Celebrity because it was a regular haunt of the theatre stars. I first became aware of the restaurant after its move to Broad Street where it occupies the top floor of a handsome red brick building (the ground floor of which is the Brasshouse pub). The location is ideal as its at the heart of Birmingham’s nightlife area and there are a host of places near by to enjoy a drink afterwards, or you can go clubbing if you want to party.
The Celebrity Restaurant is beautiful decorated and it’s a very stylish place to spend an evening. The decor is almost monochrome and has been put together with an eye for detail. The tables are generously spaced and it’s a very comfortable environment to spend time. You wouldn’t know you were so close to one of Birmingham’s busiest streets. It’s truly a place where you can savour the restaurant experience concentrating on the food and your companions.
One of the things that stood out for me as I looked over the menu is the range of dishes available and the fact that The Celebrity offer some interesting and unusual plates of food that are very different to the usual fare on offer at a local curry house. Over the years the restaurant have created a comprehensive range of modern and traditional dishes, which are presented flair and vibrancy.
One of the highlights of the evening for me and my table companions was their signature starter: an onion bhaji stack. This is the perfect dish for sharing as it’s so tempting to pick out those stands of onion with their gram flour batter coating, although you might prefer to keep it all to yourself.
The main course I picked out from their Signature Main Courses was the Seabass Khazana. In fact, I was very pleasantly surprised by the amount of fish dishes on the à la carte menu. I think it’s a delicate balance to hit: to get the combination of Indian spices right, but without overpowering the fish (some types of fish can be quite delicate in flavour). The seabass is first marinated in spices and then pan fried in herbs to get that crispy skin whilst keeping the fish flesh moist. Then the seabass is served on a bed of creamed vegetables with paprika, tomatoes and onions. The Seabass Khazana did manage to find that sweet spot between delivering a punchy Asian flavour and overwhelming the sea bass, which should and did remain the star of the dish.
Disclosure: I was invited along to The Celebrity Restaurant to try out the food with the Westside Bid in Birmingham. The Westside Business Improvement District (BID) is constantly working towards creating a more attractive, better marketed, brighter, safer and cleaner business environment in Broad Street, Brindleyplace, Five Ways, Centenary Square, Broadway Plaza and all the surrounding areas. Photos are by Jas Sansi.
At this time of year I have a soup as my lunch when I’m working from home. I like soup for lunch because it’s tasty and warming, which is perfect when you need to keep going till tea time and you are trying to avoid putting the heating on for just one person. I find soup is easy to take into the office too as you can put it in a thermos or easily heat it up if you have a microwave to use.
We’ve all had that stiff, painful feeling after we have exercised hard or done something our bodies aren’t used to doing. Others suffer with aches and pains on a more regular, long term basis. If either apply to you, you’ve probably tried everything from hot baths to heat packs to get some relief. Pernaton Gel is a product made from green lipped mussel extract. Green-lipped mussel is a shellfish and it’s possible to extract a substance called perna from the shellfish. This is often used by those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue and joint issues. It is also used to help prevent sore muscles after exercise. It’s simple to use as you just apply the non-greasy gel direct to the problem area. It’s very quickly absorbed and has an instant cooling effect, which is followed by a warming sensation. Pernaton is manufactured in Switzerland using a special formula which also includes menthol, pine and other essential oils. The gel is non-greasy, absorbs immediately and has a fresh and pleasant aroma.
Forever Living
The masks are eco-friendly and biodegradable; a welcome alternative to masks made with fibre produced through commercial manufacturing processes. The bio-cellulose mask is available in packs of five and is priced at £51.00.
Veganuary continues to grow and more and more places are creating special menus now or at least including a few more options on their main menus this month. Where possible Bill’s always aim to make vegetables the star of the show when creating theirr dishes, so Veganuary seems a natural step for the restaurant chain. Whether you’re following a plant-based diet or are just looking to try something new, it’s worth taking a look at Bill’s Veganuary menu which is available until 31st January.
New to the Bill’s menu and only available during January are the very appetizing Miso Aubergine Fritters, served with a smoked chilli and soy dip and topped with sesame seeds. Jackfruit seems to be the salad ingredient of the moment and I fancy trying the Jackfruit Salad Bowl made with smoked chilli jackfruit with mixed grains and rice, edamame beans, red cabbage, toasted cashew nuts, lettuce, mint & lime soy yoghurt finished with a crispy rice cracker.
For a truly decadent choice, Bill’s have a vegan Sticky Toffee Pudding on offer, drizzled with syrup, icing sugar and hazelnut crumb, and served with a scoop of coconut ice cream. Or you could try their Amaretto Parfait which sounds like the perfect vegan treat.