Where East meets, well, slightly further East

OK it may be a stretch to call Turkey “East”, but it’s east of the UK, and it’s all a matter of perspective and direction anyway…

But on to cuisine, as this is a food-related site!

In this article I’m taking a look at Persian cuisine, similar to Turkish, yet subtly different. This is based on my experience of trying my first meal from Milton Keynes’ newest takeaway, Pardis Meal in Willen local centre.

I opted for the mixed kebab, served with rice and a salad, plus to keep things on the healthy side, ordered a portion of chips to go with it. It was absolutely delicious.

The image above shows the dish served up, and it was loaded with flavour, including the salad which was far more interesting than the “limp lettuce in a bag” so often the offering of lesser establishments. This was because everything was packed separately and, I was pleased to note, they used sugarcane compostable packaging where possible.

The chips were an (extra) indulgence, borne of discovering from forays into Turkish cuisine just how nice rice AND chips can be as an accompaniment to a dish. So I thought I’d try the same with Persian, and I was not disappointed. These were crispy and fluffy, and not at all oily, and while it might be a leap of faith to say they were actually healthy, they added a wonderful final touch to the evening meal.

I’m truly impressed, this was a great tasting meal, cooked and served with pride and skill.

But don’t tell too many people, I don’t want to be at the back of a really long queue next time I’m there…

A second Winner

Congratulations to Maxwell’s Group, London

Maxwell’s Group in London is the second of our 3 winners from September’s Restaurant Tech Live show.

To celebrate our first appearance at this major event held at the ExCel centre in London, DinnerData offered bottles of award-winning Malibran Prosecco as a prize draw to qualifying visitors.

The Malibran Ruio won the Decanter 2017 PLATINUM award, and not only makes a fine prize in our show draw, but it will also be available soon in both our Marketplace and our trade area for purchase.

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A little bit about Maxwell’s Group

Maxwell’s Bar and Grill was established in the early 1970’s after Restauranteur Brian Stein struggled to find a decent Burger or Grill in London. In 1972, the opportunity to open a restaurant in Hampstead presented itself and so Maxwell’s, one of the first American-style dining experiences in the U.K was opened. In the 1980s, Maxwell’s moved to the West End and the group expanded in Covent Garden and beyond.

Now boasting nine unique and exciting venues including Maxwell’s Bar and Grill, Palm Court Brasserie, Boulevard Brasserie, Roadhouse, Joe’s Southern Table and Bar, leading Cabaret and Nightclub Café de Paris, PJ’s Bar and Grill, Bill Wyman’s Sticky Fingers, and our latest opening, Tropicana Beach Club.

Our talents and experience are diverse, but at Maxwell’s Restaurants Group we’re united by one thing: an overarching passion to ensure that every guest that comes into our restaurants has a fantastic and unforgettable experience. As true as it was in 1972, Brian Stein and his team continue to strive to put forth their uncompromising commitment to quality, service, style, experience and cuisine.

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Our final draw for the last winner will be taking place at the end of November.

We have a Winner

Congratulations to the Coach and Horses, Croxley Green

The Coach and Horses in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire is the first of our 3 winners from September’s Restaurant Tech Live show.

To celebrate our first appearance at this major event held at the ExCel centre in London, DinnerData offered bottles of award-winning Malibran Prosecco as a prize draw to qualifying visitors.

The Malibran Ruio won the Decanter 2017 PLATINUM award, and not only makes a fine prize in our show draw, but it will also be available soon in both our Marketplace and our trade area for purchase.

Our next draw for the second winner will be taking place at the end of October.

DinnerData at Restaurant Tech Live 2017

September 2017 saw what is arguably one of the largest trade shows for the hospitality and food sectors take place in the ExCel centre in London

DinnerData were exhibiting in the Restaurant Tech Live show, one of a number of parallel events held on the 26th and 27th September.

Our core team were on hand to introduce DinnerData and the services we offer to support independent places to eat across the UK.

We were delighted with the number of visitors who stopped by and were happy to join the DinnerData family, becoming part of what is already the UK’s largest comprehensive directories dedicated to the Independent sector.

If you have an independent or family-owned restaurant, cafe, tea room, takeaway, bar, pub – or operate an event catering, personal chef or street food business, you can join us for free and benefit from this new collaborative route to market.

To learn about adding your venue click here.

A Tasty Treat in Bath

A little gem of a Chinese Restaurant in Bath, the aptly yet simply named “Tasty Restaurant”

9th February 2017 – While I’m digesting a truly memorable meal I have just had at the newly opened Tasty Restaurant in Bath, I thought I would take a few moments to share the experience.

This is a new venture in Bath, having been open for only a few short weeks as I write early February 2017. Tasty Restaurant offers authentic Chinese cuisine – yes an often used term, “authentic”, but when we were outnumbered 4 to 1 by Chinese customers, I would say that’s a positive accolade.

We ordered 3 dishes – rice with green peppers and tender pork, salt and pepper squid and Sichuan spicy chicken. It was all delicious, and freshly prepared. Standing guard over the chicken dish was a magnificently carved White Heron, which apparently the Head Chef prepares daily, constructing each masterpiece in no more than 10 minutes.

I love Chinese food, but all too often end up with the “Monosodium Glutamate” cough and a raging thirst that sees me through to the following morning. None of that here, not that the meal wasn’t helped by having a nice cold Asahi to wash it down with.

Two of us had as much as we could eat, a beer apiece, and including tip still came away with change from £40.

Strongly suggest you give this little gem a try if you like Chinese food, and prefer something a little more individual than sweet and sour pork balls with a suspiciously luminescent pink sauce!!

See Tasty Restaurant’s details here

Bristol Food Market

12th November 2016 we unearthed more culinary creativity at the weekly Bristol Food Market.

Gosh we get around don’t we?? October it was the street food fair in Milton Keynes, November it’s the weekend food markets in Olney and Bristol

There are a number of these around the country, and they are well worth taking the time to visit. The main thing we’ve found is that vendors at these markets have a passion for the food they produce. Be it food or drink, the spectrum is alive with colour and flavour: from chutneys to cheeses, pies to pickles, fish, meat, veg and all manner of sauces, you’ll find something you don’t see every day in the traditional supermarkets.

Street Feast Treat

On the last week of October 2016 we stumbled upon a real find in the Centre of Milton Keynes – a street food fair.

The square in the food court area of the main Centre:MK shopping mall had been transformed into a treat for the senses, most particularly the tastebuds.

Against the backdrop of the changing autumn leaves on the delicately illuminated trees, around a dozen street food vendors added a colour all of their own. Seen initially from inside the shopping mall through the massive glass windows, the decorative stalls made a visual impact and statement of their own. But the aroma sensations we experienced once we had stepped into the square were something else.

Given we’d not long eaten when we stepped into this scene, it is all the more a testament to the street food vendors craft that everything smelled and tasted so good. There were cuisines represented from across the globe – Thai and Vietnamese, Indian, African, Middle eastern and Mediterranean, plus Spanish, French, German and Belgian.

From savoury to sweet, there was something for everyone. We sampled Masala chips, Falafel with grilled halloumi cheese, Goat curry and Thai curry with noodles and pickles. Plus it is incredibly good value too. We managed to cater for Saturday supper AND Sunday lunch, for 2, and still had change from a twenty.

There were great Vegetarian dishes, and options from spicy curries to traditional German sausages, paella, roasts, and save a bit of room to round off with a tempting sweet from a stall selling delightfully light churros (doughnuts).

The great news is, if like us you enjoy the varied and wonderous flavours of cooking from around the world, then you might be pleased to discover that this was not a chance one-off event, but is held on the last weekend of every month. Next year, in 2017 the season will start 2 months earlier than usual, on the last weekend in February, from, I believe, Friday through to Sunday.

Not only that, but drop in to the Christmas Fair which will be in place from around the end of November for a couple of weeks and enjoy a taste of the year to come.

Milton Keynes food and craft fair, Centre:MK Food Court. Runs last weekend of the month from Feb 2017 – Friday to Sunday

Don’t forget to check out the Christmas Fair from late November