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Sunday 11 September 2016

The Bulls Head II

The Bulls Head  Part II - Repton

I must echo my last post on this... see here

...and I repeat : "I Love this place. The staff are helpful, [friendly] and the place is amazing!"

I will also have to switch things up and start with the dessert because this is the Best cookie dough and ice cream I have ever eaten!

Its called the GOOEY COOKIE on the menu (£6)

Giant gooey skillet cookie + vanilla gelato + strawberries + chocolate fudge sauce.

This certainly was a giant cookie - three of us shared.



There was an incredible deep crust at the edges combined with lovely gooey cookie dough and melted nuggets of chocolate. Heavenly. The vanilla gelato cuts through the rich cookie dough. A bigger scoop would be great... but thats just being extremely picky. I have to mark it down and only give it 11 out of 10 for that.


There is a huge selection of drinks... 100 plus beers/ales.

I had Havana Rum with some cool ginger beer. My Brother-in-law went for Hop House 13 and my wife had a Lemon, lime and ginger presse.



My Brother-in-law went for one of the big yakitori sticks. great choice. I will have one of these next time. Great jerk flavour, with a lovely warming background heat.

Jerk Chicken - Big Stick Jerk spiced chicken breast and juicy thigh meat + peppers + red onions + volcanic jacket sweet potato + slaw + buttered corn (£16). He swapped out the sweet potato for chips. 


I had the FLAMING MEXICAN BURGER (£11)

2 x 4 ounce beef patties + spicy Mexican cheese + hot chipotle sauce + bbq sauce + jalapenos + fresh green chilli's + red onion + leaves


A super burger witha chilli kick. I was torn between this and the American mustard.. a great take on a "dirty" burger. Next next time maybe... not typo I will just have to keep going back to work my way through the menu.

My wife went for the FISH & CHIPS (£11.50)


Premium Cod fillet in a ‘Freedom’ (locally brewed premium Lager) batter + real Chips + mushy peas + home-made Tartare sauce


Well the three of us ended up sharing this. This a a big tasty dish. The presentation has changed but the dish still remains one of my favourites.


An other shot of the cookie dough. Its new to the menu, and I hope it remains there for a long time!


The menu is massive! not yet had a bad meal here. It definately gets the thatfatfoodguy seal of approval. My only advice is download the menu and have a read before you go, there is a lot of good food on there.

Here is a link to the menu : Link

Link correct at time of review!



Tuesday 7 June 2016

Toad in the hole

Toad in the hole



Okay here is an admission... I have never made my own toad in the hole before. Yes thats right I have also never made Yorkshire puddings from scratch!  The first thing I did was read approximately 20 recipes.  They all had slightly different ways of making the Great British classic. Here is my version mixing and matching various elements from some good looking recipes I read.

How did the dish get it name? A quick google.... Most suggestions are that the dish's resemblance to a toad sticking its little head out of a hole  All I know is it it comfert food at its best.

Some recipes stated resting the batter for 30 minutes others a couple of hours and two overnight. Recipes used a Milk only, Milk/water, Milk/ sparking water and even a milk/ale combination for the liquid. I went for milk this time. 

I opted for over night and made my batter the day before and placed in the fridge. 

Ingredient

140g plain flour
3 free range eggs
300ml milk
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1/2 salt
pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil
8 Cumberland sausage
4 rosemary sprigs





Method


1.  Combine the flour, eggs, milk, mustard and  the salt and pepper, blitz until smooth, then leave to rest overnight. You can use a whisk, food processor and blender to mix. I used my Bamix with the whisk attachment.


2. Heat oven to 220C fan

3.On a low heat cook the sausages in a frying pan on all sides until nicely browned.



4. Pour the oil into a deep metal roasting tin. Brush the oil all over the sides and bottom, then place in the oven. When the roasting tin is very hot and smoking.

5. Stir the batter and pour into the really hot tin – take care! Quickly place the saauages on top and sprinkle over the rosemary, then place in the middle of the oven. Do not open the door for 25 mins!!!!then check – if needed, cook for a further 5-10 mins. Cook until puffed up and brown and the batter is completely cooked through. 

6. Enjoy with Mash, Veg and Onion Gravy!


Saturday 16 April 2016

Singapore Noodles


Singapore Noodles 

No need to go to the takeaway when you can make these noodles so easily at home! They taste great even if I do so say so myself!



Serves 2

Ingredients


Mairinade 

  • 3/4 tbsp curry powder
  • 3/4 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 red chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 12.5g fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 large chicken breast, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 1 medium red onion, peeled and cut into half moons
  • 1 small red pepper, sliced
  • 1 whole carrot, peeled and sliced into thin batons
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 180g raw king prawns
  • 300g cooked rice noodles
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves
  • 1.5 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 12.5g fresh root ginger, peeled and minced
Instructions 

1 Start by mixing all the ingredients for the marinade together in a bowl. Add the chicken to this and set aside while you prepare the vegetables. 




2 Place a large wok onto a medium heat with 2 tbsp oil, put in the chopped red onion, peppers, carrots and spring onions. Keep everything moving round the wok for 2 mins to cook. 



3 Push the veg to the side of the wok and add the marinated chicken. Keep the chicken moving until cooked, and then throw in the prawns. Stir everything together and carry on stirring until the prawns turn pink. 




4  Now add the noodles, mix  well so that everything gets a good coating of sauce and the noodles are hot. 



5 Serve into bowls, scatter over the chopped coriander, sliced spring and some fresh chilli. 

6. Enjoy



Sunday 27 March 2016

Meatcure

Review Meatcure (Leicester)

I was looking forward to trying another independent burger joint. My in laws looked after the kids so we went for an evening meal.

I love the Chipboard clad walls and industrial look of the restaurant.

The Burgers are Movie theme named. Some of which include the Raging Bull, the Pulp Fiction-Royale with Cheese and Smokey and the Bandit to name a few.

I went for the Smokey and the Bandit (£9.75). This is a beef patty, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, smokey streaky bacon, caramelised onions, house mayo, mother sauce and a brioche bun.


The Burger came with copious amounts of fries (frozen rather than in store made).



The burger itself was good but I have had better. The bacon added depth. The patty moist saying it was cooked through and not left pink like some other gourmet burger places.

My wife had the Colonel Parker's Tribute (£9.75). House rub Southern fried chicken breast, lettuce, red onion, smokey streaky bacon, tarragon mayo and a brioche bun. This burger was a lot better then the one I had. I definitely had food envy.


What they say:


We went on a Saturday, it was busy and took a while to get served, but there were a few large parties in so it was not an issue.


I will be back here to give it another go, but there aer a few more places to try before I return.

visit there website:




Sunday 20 March 2016

Derby Grammar Food Fayre

Derby Grammar School’s Food Fayre 2016

The promise was “…delicious produce from the local area’s finest independent retailers…” and the School did not disappoint!

This was the Schools fourth annual Food Fayre and is now a permanent fixture in the Thatfatfoodguy diary.

The event was well attended by exhibitors, it was busy yet intimate enough to talk to all the exhibitors individually about their products.

I sampled and/ or purchased items from the following: (thoughts and impressions below)
  • 4 Heavens Cakes
  • Barry Colenso Chocolatier
  • Battey’s Farm
  • CookEd
  • Deventio Brewery
  • Field Farm Wine
  • Fortey’s Fudge
  • Hackwood Farm
  • Julie's Pickles
  • The Little Larder
  • Little Friends Honey
  • Littleover Lodge
  • Nibble Nose Cheese
  • Oakfield Farm
  • The Loaf
  • Rachael's secret tea room


4 Heavens Cakes
C:\Users\784465\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\75SBF4KC\4 heavens cakes final.jpg



Amazing moist cakes full of flavour. I sampled all of the cakes, some on the day and some before. 
The baker is very talented and part of the Thatfatfoodguy family. Rosy the baker is my eldest sister so she gets a few extra pictures on this post. The reviews remain completely impartial as I am probably her most hard critic. It was her first event and she was nervous. There was no need the cakes went down a treat. Comments I heard included a customer saying “we just ate the best Black Forest cake ever”, I have to agree. 


The Black Forest cake was rich, moist combination of death by chocolate sponge, black cherry jam and chocolate butter cream, topped with black cherry jam and chocolate icing and cherries. (£2.50 a slice)

I think I will have to ask for another!



Another one of the large cakes was the Lemon Cake (Vanilla Sponge, Sicilian Lemon and Butter Cream, topped with Lemon Drizzle icing and mini meringues). (£2.50 a slice)

There were also a selection of cup cakes  (£2 each or £10 for 6) including:

Chocolate and Oreo (chocolate sponge, topped with vanilla butter cream and crushed Oreo’s)


Hot Chocolate and Marshmallow (chocolate sponge made with hot chocolate, filled with marshmallow and topped with vanilla butter cream, marshmallows, Moneo stick and hot choc dusting).


Pineapple and Coconut (made with coconut sponge and pineapple pieces, topped with coconut butter cream and fresh sliced coconut shavings)


Vanilla and Bubble-gum flavour frosting (vanilla sponge, topped with bubble-gum icing and blue pearls)

There were cakes including:

Coffee and Walnut cake (coffee and walnut sponge, filled and topped with coffee butter cream and walnuts) (£1.50).


Another of my favourites was  the Chocolate and Salted Caramel (death by chocolate, filled and topped with homemade salted caramel, chocolate butter cream and rolo’s) (£2.50)



Her first show was a resounding success, resulting in a sell out. Well done Rosy! 

Visit the Facebook page:


The Loaf:


Some great artisan loaves! I really wanted to try the Focaccia bread but it had sold out by the time I got round to going back... along with practically everything else.



 I did manage to get some rolls and they were great.



The Loaf is a bakery, cafe and deli in Crich near Matlock. They supply to Portobello and Jack Rabbits on Queen Street in Derby. The Pizza Night and Bread Making Courses sound great.

visit the website:


Barry Colenso Chocolatier

Chocolate fit for a (future) King!

"My proudest moment, however, came when the McVitie’s Cake Company approached me to help develop and create the Chocolate Wedding cake for Prince William and Catherine’s Wedding in 2011." .

I sampled the chocolate buttons in various flavours and they were good. The Dark chocolate were my favourite. My boys loved the white chocolate.

Visit the website:

http://barrycolenso.com/index.php

Betty’s Farm


There was a great selection of food from Betty's. I ended up getting a Chicken Pillow (£5) for two, six eggs (£1) and a Scotch egg for (£1.50).

I was so full from the food fayre, that I could not manage a full meal when I got home. But I just had to try the chicken pillows. These were chicken fillets filled with sage stuffing and wrapped in their popular streaky bacon.  Definately very flavourful and we both agreed we cant wait to have these with all the trimmings! Yorkshires, roasts, gravy....




I had the scotch egg for my lunch on Monday. The delicate flavour of the cranberry and rosemary, gave this classic an interesting twist.



I will definitely be paying the farm shop a visit.

I like the ethos of Betty's:

We try to stick to the rule that 70% of our produce is local (within 20 miles) and the 20% is regional (from a county adjoining Derbyshire) and a minimal amount is sourced outside of that.

Visit the website:

http://bettysfarmshop.co.uk/shop/

CookEd -Jenny West

Cooked had a extensive selection of chutneys. I sampled a selection including the Bengal, rhubarb & chilli and mango. The chutneys were a explosion of perfectly blended flavours and spices. The Bengal heat builds slowly leaving a nice warmth in your mouth. The mango would go great with some spicy poppadoms.




Other flavour combinations include banana and date, apple and onion, apple and date to name a few. CookEd has an extensive number of amazing chutney that would enhance any meal. Bring on the cheese and crackers.


Like Jenny said "Chutneys are for life and not just Christmas".


Fortey’s Fudge



Wow this was fudgetastic!

Handmade local fudge. I tried various flavours and ending up buying the chocolate orange, mint chocolate and Christmas pudding. I did not get to try the Marshmallow so will have to pop down to the shop in Melbourne.






vist the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/forteys-1440571266160855/

Deventio Brewery

I did not get a chance to try or buy any of these. But will do on a night out soon. 

Hackwood Farm





These golden scotch eggs looked and tasted so good!



I had already purchased a few bits from Betty's, but Hackwood farm is on the list to visit soon.

visit the website:

http://www.hackwoodfarm.com/index.php



Little Friends Honey



Tried some great local honey from native Littleover bees.

There are also some beeswax candles.

Visit the facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/littlefriendshoney/

Bentleys Restuarant (Littleover Lodge)



I tried the goats cheese, ham hock and the chocolate brownie, WOW the food did not only look amazing it tasted it too!





I can wait to eat there if the bits I tried were anything to go by, especically the brownies, with hazel nuts and an orange gel.

Visit the website:

http://www.boars-head-hotel.co.uk/the-littleover-lodge/bentleys-restaurant-3/

The Little Larder (catering company)




Was good talking to these two ladies. I had a couple of tries of the lemon pepper chicken. Delicious!


Nibble Nose Cheese


The three cheeses I sampled were amazing. I tried the Chilli, Garlic and Charcoal Cheese. The cheeses were available at £3.50 for one, £10.00 for three or £20.00 for seven. I loved all the ones I tried and would have no hesitation recommending them to anyone. The Charcoal Cheese were particularly interesting being a black cheese containing real charcoal. It tasted great.


Rachael's secret tea room


Rachel was selling scones and handmade shortbreads. There were some great flavours Chai Spiced Tea, Earl Gray and Lavender, Matcha Green Tea and Vanilla, Butterscotch and Hot Cross Bun. My favourite was the Chai Spiced tea and my boys loved the butterscotch.




I have tried some other great treats made by Rachael before, and all have been really great. Racheal has a Secret Tea Room in, Shhhhh its a secret! I can confirm its in Derbyshire, and that is not breaking the secret as it is on her website. It's a great concept and great food.

Visit the website:

http://www.rachaelssecrettearoom.co.uk/


I spotted these but was too full to try anything else! By  Oooh la laa crepes & cakes.





The blackforest cake was so good I thought it deserved another picture.


There were also two cooking demonstations by Chef Chris Parry. I missed the first but got to see Chris make a caramelised pinapple, with caramel sauce and chantily cream.

I was great speaking to Chris who has some great things planned. A peak at his facebook page shows some of the amazing food he makes.






I have always be to scared to make my own caramel, I still am but after watching Chris and trying his I definately want to give it a go.


This dish was amzing.

Looking forward to trying more from the great exhibitors in the future.