Come back Brexit all is forgiven (nearly)!
With the Coronavirus lock down in full effect, businesses in Brum, the rest of the UK, and most of the world actually, are struggling to keep some form of normality going.. but there is hope!
We’ve covered a smattering of cool Brummie (and West Mids) ingenuity and resolve in the face of bars and restaurants having to close, we are all effected, and anything we, as a collective can do to help support these people, and their brands to stay afloat in these unprecedented times, is very much welcome. No one is gonna make big bucks, but it just shows that life will continue, as we all adapt to the new challenges this virus is presenting.
So, rather than lament the past, let’s look to the future for now, and order a few bits n’ bobs, if you can’t go to the party why not let these guys bring it to your back yard. Some of the micro businesses will require your patience to check back from time to time as stock becomes available and also there may be a slight delay in orders with the post right now.
Turn off from the news for a bit, and take time mooching, ordering, listening, participating, and enjoying what these people are still trying to provide for us all in these tough times:
The Indian Streatery
The Indian Streatery have set up an online shop during this temporary closure. It’s a great way to support this Brummie streetfood institution. The online shop has craft beers, glassware, t-shirts, gift cards & tote bags! And.. 10% of each order will be donated to nhs charities. Delivery above £15 is free of charge. Jump to it!
www.theindianstreatery.co.uk/online-store
Dig Brew Co.
Digbeth’s Dig Brew are innovators through and through. The lock down has inspired them to create a webshop to help ease the ‘Coronavirus Squeeze’. There’s a whole larder full of fancy bottled beers to choose from, from pale ales, to porters and IPAs! The team are currently delivering locally to Birmingham (B), Coventry (CV), Dudley (DY), Walsall (WR), Worcester (WS) and Wolverhampton (WV) Postcodes. Delivery starts Thursday to Sunday with a call/text/email to advise closer to the delivery schedule. They are offering some seriously tasty takeouts so go ch ch check em out!!!
1000 Takeouts
1000 Trades have altered their name to 1000 Takeouts in light of the present Covid Crisis. They are operating a Temporary Menu, available for collection and via Uber Eats, until further notice. This is available Tuesday to Saturday, from 5 to 9pm. Customers can phone and pay for their order on 0121 233 2693. The details will be noted and approximate time for collection given. Beer is also be available to pick up during the same times, with a new Backyard CASK now available. The bottles and cans are 1/3 off, which will be updated regularly. Limited draught is available at 20% off in one pint cups (holders available) with natural wine available to takeaway (bring your own container). Customers living further afield the temporary menu is also available via Uber Eats.
Provide
Provide web store is currently OPEN and are shipping orders once a week. Provide is inspired by the people, the history and the industries that have shaped, and continue to define Birmingham. Purchase bostin’ Brummie t-shirts, sweatshirts, prints, mugs, flags, bags and even sculptures of the Rotunda! UK delivery is free and there is an added voluntary option to contribute £1.99 towards shipping costs at checkout. Orders are packed and shipped by one person, are packed in a room where no others are present, and hands are washed and surfaces are cleaned before, during and after the packing process. Provide are also raising money for 3 local causes that are in desperate need of help during this crisis. When you purchase a set of 3 Positive Prints, £10 from every order will be distributed between the following organisations: The Trussell Trust – Food banks in Birmingham, BSWA – Supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse, The Project – Housing, benefits and debt advice.
Tan Rosie
Taste The Spice With The UK’s Tastiest Hot Sauces, Jerk Seasoning and Caribbean Recipes. This Supper Club also has an Online Shop which is busy right now! Mother and daughter team Monica and Lee founded Tan Rosie Foods in 2010, creating tantalising Caribbean food inspired by family recipes from Grenada and Carriacou from their base in Brum. The team have a new Online Caribbean Masterclass Cookery Course (get 10% Off your purchase! Offer ends 10th May 2020. Use Coupon Code: A7E0AEB1F77547326B54). Browse their website for all kinds of tasty goodness, from Caribbean Cookery Kits to Hot Boxes, jars, sweets and powders.
Baked In Brick
2016 British street food awards winner Baked In Brick, have been cooking fine food now for over 6 years at many street food events and festivals, and at Digbeth Dining Club, or more recently at their restaurant at the custard factory. In these challenging times they have stepped up to the mark and now offer a special limited takeaway and home-delivery. Check the opening times of the shop and be quick as the meu sells out fast.
www.bakedinbrickdelivery.co.uk
Pietanic
Pietanic is a pop-up, traveling pie shop offering a range of creative, handmade artisan pies. Inspired by the growing street food trend, the Pietanic team bring something different to the table with opportunities to handcraft well thought out recipes using only the finest quality and locally sourced ingredients. Pietanic are now offering Bake At Home Pie Boxes. April Menu includes: Classic Steak & Ale, Birmingham (Chicken) Balti, Beef Chilli Cheese, Chicken, Leek & Pancetta, Saag Paneer (v) and Vegan Cheezeburger Pie (ve). Your choice of 6 mix and match pies for £25.00 (free delivery to ‘B’ postcodes, message for other postcodes) deliveries are on the last week of the month. Visit the website to place your order!
Attic Brew Co.
Attic Brew Co. operate a slick brewery and tap out of Stirchley and have joined the throng of those doing free delivery to South Birmingham (check online for a list of postcodes) on all orders over £30. Attic Brew are so popular that their stock runs out quickly so there is presently a pause in supply, but fear not! Their webshop will be re-stocked asap with new brews on order such as ‘What’s Wrong Wi Ya?’ (a 3.7% mild. Launching as part of a full webshop re-stock) and ‘Out Of Office’ (a Desk IPA at 4.3%), keep an eye on their social media and webshop here:
atticbrewco.com/collections/beer
The Night Owl
The current COVID19 pandemic has led to a necessary Lock Down which has resulted in some very difficult times for the nightlife industry and all of the different people that work within it. After several requests from their loyal fanbase The Night Owl have set up a crowdfunding page. The crowd funder aims to cover costs such as social media, casual staff, stage improvements and promotion of events when we reopen after having no income for some time. During the current lockdown, The Night Owl is keeping their customers entertained with regular voluntary home DJ live streams, polls, and now online cocktail classes. With a live stream Northern Soul Championship launching this weekend, The Night Owl continues to entertain us. More info here:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-night-owl
Beef on the Block
Beef on the Block was born out of a love for good quality steak and for the street food industry. All of their beef is sourced from the award-winning, official supplier to the Royal Family; Aubrey Allen who provide the best quality meat, all locally and happily sourced from farmers that they have worked with for years from around the UK. The sauces, are all made from locally sourced ingredients from farms in and around the Midlands. Not ones to be left behind, Beef on the Block are now delivering their steaks, peppercorn and chimichurri sauce straight to your doorstep. Email dani@beefontheblock.co.uk for your orders.
The Brownie Boss
Operating out of South Birmingham, The Brownie Boss aim to offer the best in brownie based desserts for all occasions such as street food festivals, weddings, corporate events and any other outdoor event where food is being served. They normally provide this from a bespoke catering trailer ‘Pod’, and… many will be pleased to know they now offer mail order brownies! Brownie boxes sell out fast so keep checking their social media for new windows of brownie consumption:
www.facebook.com/BrownieBossUK
Pip’s Hot Sauce
Local fave Pip’s Hot Sauces are devilishly spicy chilli sauces. Crafted in small batches to ensure quality, these sauces are made by chilli heads for chilli heads who love flavour as well as spice! Ideal for BBQs and home cooking in this present lock-down, check the website for availability:
Indico
Indico have a restaurant in Shirley and also the Mailbox, and like everyone else business in the restaurant is on hold for now. However, they do have an Ambassador Club where members receive brilliant offers each month, such as a FREE curry! If you fancy a bit of Bollywood t-shirt merchandise then check out their online shop too! Join the Indico Ambassadors Club and receive email offers, stories, and all kinds of delicious updates.
Music Streams & New Releases
Thought Brum’s music scene was knocked out cold by the Coronavirus? You couldn’t be more wrong! It takes a lot to keep this city down, there’s a hot bed of musical talent still bubbling away out there. So, this month’s Brumbeat Gig Guide brings into focus some of the live streams, lockdown mixes, radio streams and new releases from the region, in anticipation of things getting back to normal, whenever that may be. Check out April’s Grapevine Gig Guide here:
www.grapevinebirmingham.com/brumbeatgig-guideapril2020
Another one to listen out for is Lock Down Brum which has launched on facebook and instagram and aims to lift community spirit. Featuring regular live stream musical performances, virtual weekly quizzes in collaboration with Stoo Pittaway including Music Mondays at 8pm, comedy from people such as Barbara Nice, Terry Hughes and Tatvision, lip-syncing from The Boss and The Tramp and more.
The Sunflower Lounge are on form too right now, with a whole host of live music streams being beamed out regularly from their Facebook page, one of the city’s fave underground music venues (literally).
www.facebook.com/thesunflowerlounge
Virtual Quiz Streams
So we’ve already mentioned Lock Down Brum which has launched on facebook and instagram and their virtual weekly quizzes in collaboration with Stoo Pittaway…
The Actress & Bishop ‘quiz but at home’ promises to be a frivolous way to spend your Monday nights in lock-down. Starting at 8pm your host will provide you with a Zoom meeting link and a four digit pin number for the SpeedQuizzing Live app. You will need two devices to play. To watch/listen: One laptop or tablet using the ZOOM meeting app. To input the answers: An iPhone, iPad or Android tablet with the SpeedQuizzing Live app installed.
Info here: www.facebook.com/Actressandbishop
The Old Crown are hosting their own virtual pub quiz, hosted by Jamie Cartwright. Tickets are £5 and prize is a £25 bar tab for The Old Crown when they re-open! To play you will need a laptop and an android device (iPhone coming soon).
www.facebook.com/theoldcrown1368
Cookery Books
So you’re stuck at home, and the local curry house or Chinese takeaway are closed, here’s a suggestion.. purchase one of these two fantastic cookery books written by local restaurants, order your ingredients and get creative in the kitchen!
Dishoom
From Bombay With love is an eccentric and charming cookery book, with over 100 recipes for the Bombay comfort food and drink. Through the course of the pages, you will be taken on a day-long tour of south Bombay, peppered with much eating and drinking. Starting at breakfast, through to lunch, dinner and nightcaps, recipes for beloved dishes such as Masala Chai, the Bacon Naan Roll, Black Daal, Okra Fries, Jackfruit Biryani, and Lamb Raan, along with delicious coolers and cocktails. As you learn to cook the Dishoom menu, you’ll also discover the simple joy of early chai and omelette at Kyani and Co., of dawdling in Horniman Circle on a lazy morning, of eating your fill on Mohammed Ali Road, of strolling on the sands at Chowpatty at sunset or taking the air at Nariman Point at night.
www.dishoom.com/store/cookery-book
Wing Wah
Wing Wah’s co-owner Bon Lam is an Awarded Master Chef by The World Association of Chinese Cuisine, the highest honour in Chinese cuisine. He shares his culinary skill to you in this cookbook. He has given an insight into the way traditional Chinese foods should be prepared, and the origin of many dished. Lam believes every mouthful of food, has a link in Chinese history, from century’s history evolved to modern dining. This book contains a selection of over 100 Chinese recipes with useful tips, shown more than 200 stunning photographs. Each is simple to follow and quick to prepare without compromising on taste. Everything from appetizers to desserts, soups or dim sum and sauces, including some of his iconic creations, epitomizing his unique interpretation of Chinese cuisine.
