Home of Rossopomodoro – visit to Naples

Back in September we had a guest post from friend of MFB, James Day of Eat the Midlands, tell us about Rossopomodoro - a new Italian in Birmingham. Now James is back with a detailed look into where the inspiration for the restaurant comes from. 

“They taste great, but I bet they are not true authentic Neapolitan pizzas?” -  A comment made during a recent review of the new Italian Restaurant Rossopomodoro, in Selfridges, Birmingham.  Two weeks later, my bags were packed and I was off for a visit to Naples, the ‘birth place of pizza’ to see for myself!

A hair-raising trip through the busy streets of Naples to the rustic head office for a welcome briefing, and even more welcomed Neapolitan coffee – seeing as I had not slept at this point for 24 hours! The senses awaking coffee was  accompanied by Pastiera – Traditional Neapolitan cake with wheat, ricotta cheese and orange flower water.

The briefing was then followed by a whistle stop tour of their suppliers … jumping in their company 4×4, and off to the mountains we went, a climbing up the side of the dormant (we hoped) and imposing Mt Vesuvius volcano, up to where they had just harvested the last olives. “The best olives are picked by hand, and traditionally pressed within a few hours,” the farmer explained (translated from Italian!) “we have been harvesting in this area for generations, and this year has been one of our best for a long time.”  The hillside was densely packed with large, twisted olive trees, some up to 300 years old, covered in nets to catch the falling dark olives.

Nutty in flavour, and golden in colour, this was the ‘daddy’ of all oils the D.O.P. (Denomination of Origin Protection – monitored for picking to packing) with strict controls on horticulture and purity of process, which was evident in the flavour. We tasted variants, mixed with the local herbs, including rosemary, wild garlic, and even the lemon oil, which raised the flavour not to mention the potentials for usage to another level – of course Rosspomodoro only use the pure DOP for their salads, and buffalo mozzarella drizzle, and the extra virgin for their pizzas, topping with the aged black olives, sweet and firm in texture.

But there is more to pizza than great olive oil. Of course there is the base, and the toppings – not the now customary, ham, pineapple, peppers, and even eggs, and chicken Tikka as I have seen in the UK – but true authentic Neapolitan pizzas contain four simple ingredients: “00” flour for the base, tomato puree, mozzarella (Buffalo of course) and olives. So, Rossopomorodo olives – yep, wild flavoursome and hand-picked –  “Tick”, but what about the rest of the ingredients?

We headed back down off the side of Vesuvius and into the narrow cobbled ancient streets of Naples and found a small group of ladies or ‘Nonnas’ (grandmothers) who were tucked away at the rear of what I can only describe as a ‘volcanic cave’, which had been painstakingly carved out and had become the rear of the tomato packing plant with large Kilner jars stacked up to the roof on well used pallets containing rich red tomatoes, and fresh fruits, jams and preserves. The local San Marzano tomatoes, a variety of plum tomatoes, are considered by many chefs to be the best sauce tomatoes in the world – reputed to be a gift from ancient Peru – and grow on the sides of Vesuvius, to create a unique rich intense flavour and firmness of skin, and they certainly had both qualities.

The next day it was off to the lowlands of the region, about an hour from the City, just in time to see the last batch of the day’s Mozzarella “di Bufala Campana” from the DOP Compagna region being produced. Fresh straight from the Northern Hills, where the milk is tested on arrival for purity and authenticity of origin coming only from water buffalo on a farm in Paestum, Campania.

The factory consisted of stainless steel vats and white tiled floors, as ordained by the DOP institute (Mediterranean Institute of Certification) but the cheese makers had fought for one tradition of retaining their wood mixing vats to ‘retain tradition and remind our workers of the origin of their works” which I must say looked out of place, but certainly added to the contrast of the need for modernity but maintaining the origin of tradition.

 

Trying it at this stage was a complete taste sensation – a firm rich outer texture, and then on biting it revealed its inner intensity, creamy, warm, airy, and lush – still being able to taste the fresh grass the Buffalo were grazing only a few hours ago, like a savoury marshmallow that one could savour all day; the unique quality of Buffalo Mozzarella. The owner has been producing this mozzarella for many generations and is considered a master in his field – supplying only the finest outlets in Italy, and selected European destinations – including Rossopomodoro in Birmingham (even in their ice cream)! So, Buffalo Mozzerall….”Tick”

So, the perfect tour to make the perfect pizza. Do the ones at Rossopomodoro in the UK taste like “true authentic Neapolitan pizzas” do in Naples?  Well, returning to Birmingham, I went straight to Selfridges and ordered a margarita (the first ever pizza created for Princess Margarita, in, er Naples) and they come pretty damn close – fired in their authentic oven, at over 480 degrees, taking just 90 seconds, from heat to plate, they are a delight to eat

Rossopomodoro restaurant and products are available in Selfridges.

So thanks to James for giving us the low down on Rossopomodoro and the provenance of it’s ingredients and next time you get a trip like that ….. can we come?! 

Glynn Purnell’s Ginger’s Bar and The Asquith Restaurant

Did you see our favourite yummy brummie on Saturday kitchen this weekend with his Movember moustache? We loved his recipe and are so proud of his efforts in making Birmingham the UK’s culinary capital, as crowned by BBC Olive magazine, that we were so excited when he opened a second venue to add to the success of Purnell’s. 

One of theMidland’s finest Michelin star chefs, Glynn Purnell has fulfilled one of his many ambitions by opening his second business venture inBirmingham.

Ginger’s Bar and The Asquith Restaurant, which is located at 11 Newhall Street has been welcoming guests since opening in October.

After The Asquith closed its doors at the beginning of 2011, Glynn promised to re-open his second restaurant with the original team, setting his sights on a project that would open as a joint venture.

The massive 6,500ft site on Newhall Street, formerly occupied by Must dim sum bar and restaurant has been given a £150,000 refurbishment. The theme adapted from the Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire era, injects a touch of elegance and flamboyance into Birmingham’s bar and restaurant scene.

Glynn Purnell: “The concept of Ginger’s Bar complements The Asquith Restaurant perfectly. After identifying a gap in the marketplace, I explored opportunities within Colmore Business District and stumbled across this site. It was most definitely a momentous moment to finally see both ventures working alongside each other.

“The Asquith menu remains classically French, using the best produce and seasonal ingredients. The beauty of The Asquith is that if you choose to dine with us, you are not restricted to a set menu. Guests will be able to order a main course, or simply enjoy a dessert in the bar area if they wish.”

The original team at The Asquith Restaurant remains. Head chef Jason Eaves has worked closely with Glynn Purnell to create the classically French inspired menu for the 35 to 40 – cover restaurant, using the very best ingredients and locally sourced produce. Julie Tonsgaard continues as restaurant manager at The Asquith Restaurant.

Jason has trained alongside some of the UK’s best Michelin star chef’s, at restaurants which include Simpson’s, Midsummer House and L’Autare Pied. Working with Glynn for many years has given him the confidence and knowledge to progress to head chef at The Asquith, where he works tirelessly to create a gastronomic menu for diners. Speciality dishes include the Ballotine of Quail Egg and Ox Cheek Rossini, which are firm favourites since the restaurant opened.

Ginger’s Bar and The Asquith Restaurant is a welcome addition to Birmingham’s thriving business district and bar culture. Award winning bar manager and mixologist Chris Hoy is at the helm, with the vision to create an atmospheric buzz throughout the venue.

Chris, originally from Sutton Coldfield has travelled extensively to perfect his art and boasts an impressive portfolio of accolades, which includes Chase Vodka’s National Bartender of the Year 2011.

Chris Hoy, general manager: “Ginger’s Bar adopts the modern day “Design for Drinking” theory and is influenced by the golden age of the classic American cocktail bar.

“We want people to enjoy the experience, offering a taste of Manhattan in Birmingham’s Square Mile.  Customers can relax in the heavily influenced 1930’s surroundings, while sipping on re-mastered timeless classic cocktails or more outlandish drinks, to include vodka based autumnal tipples or a lamb and mint flavoured Sunday roast in a glass.”

He adds: “As well as classic cocktails, we offer ‘forward thinking’ creations such as the ‘Smoked Bacon & Maple Old Fashioned’ pioneered byNew Yorkbartender Eben Freeman. We also champion innovative techniques such as ‘grilling’ for the ‘Scorched Lemon & Vanilla Margarita’ which I highly recommend.”

Ginger’s Bar offers an extensive spirits list, a variety of local ciders, bohemian lagers and award winning cask ales. A fine wine list has been meticulously selected by Julie Tonsgaard, restaurant manager at The Asquith and Jean-Benoit Burloux, maître de at Purnells.

Glynn Purnell adds: “It is fantastic to have Chris involved to head up Ginger’s Bar, his experience and enthusiasm is mind blowing.  My faith in the original team at The Asquith has never been in doubt, so it is a pleasure to welcome back both Jason and Julie to create such an explosive formula, whilst working in partnership with Chris and his new bar team.”

If you go and try it we would love to read your review, or even better, write a review for this blog.

Bite ‘n’ Write

We have already mentioned Bite ‘n’ Write a few times on the blog as we’re so excited about a Food Bloggers conference right here on our doorstep!! It really makes us feel that having this group community page for Midlands Food Bloggers has had a positive effect on the awareness of Food Bloggers outside the capital. Yahoo!!

So on Saturday 19th November we will be attending this event along with a collection of our members and some food bloggers from all reaches of the country including Jam & Clotted Cream from Cornwall and Tinned Tomatoes from Scotland.

Time Slot                               Activity
10:40 – 11:00am   Welcome speech
11:00 – 12:00am   Food Photography workshop by Craig Fraser of Frasershot
12.00 – 1:00pm     Lunch
1:00 – 1:30pm      Promoting your blog with Social Media & SEO by J. Lewis
1:30 – 2:00pm     Finding your blogging voice by J. Horak from Cooksister
2:00 – 2:45pm      Chocolate Tasting by Artisan du Chocolat
2:45– 3:00pm      Tea & Coffee, mingle time
3.00 – 3.30pm      Recipe Developing & Food Allergy by GoFreeFoods
3:30 – 4:15pm      WordPress workshop by James Bolton from Derezzed
4:15 – 4:45pm      Video Blogging by Ben Frazer from Cupcake Artisan
4:45– 5:00pm       Thank you speech
5:00 – 6:00pm     Drinks

It sounds like such a fabulous day and not only will we learn lots to hopefully improve our blogging but it will give us a chance to get to know a few of our online friends. In fact there is a few of us heading out afterwards to Jamies Italian to continue chatting and enjoy some yummy food!

There are still tickets available, for the full day or half day and we have discount for our members. It would be lovely to see as many of you as possible. If you are going let us know – tweet us @midsfoodblogger

Poultry in Motion at Denstone Hall Farm Shop

Today we have a story from one of our local food heroes. Denstone Hall Farm shop in Denstone, located between Uttoxeter and Ashbourne in Staffordshire has decided to show their customers how the traditional festive bird should be raised. 

Customers visiting this Staffordshire farm shop will see a very different side to the nation’s favourite Christmas lunch following the arrival of a quartet of live turkeys.

The free-range festive foursome, named Len, Alesha, Craig and Bruno after the judges on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, have taken up residence at Denstone Hall Farm Shop and Cafe, in Main Road, Denstone, near Uttoxeter.

They were brought in by farm shop owners Rupert and Emma Evans to mark the launch of their Christmas turkey season, which has already begun with scores of customers already placing their orders.

But the couple expect the birds to become a hit with visitors, who will be able to take a look at the gobblers at close quarters and watch them as they grow over the coming weeks.

Rupert said: “Because turkey is predominantly a Christmas dish and people don’t eat turkey eggs, we’re not as familiar with turkeys as livestock in their own right as we are with chickens.

“In fact, the only time most people actually see a turkey is when they’re pulling it out of the oven at Christmas, so we wanted to give our customers the opportunity to see some live turkeys at close quarters.

“We decided to name them after the Strictly judges because the show mirrors our turkey trade – it gets really busy and builds up to a great crescendo before Christmas, but then finishes just before the big day itself.”

Len, Alesha, Craig and Bruno, who have been supplied by Rupert’s brother James Evans’ Pastures Poultry Farm in Northamptonshire – where Rupert grew up – have been made to feel at home inside a specially built pen, where they are able to peck at the straw and have room to stretch their legs and wings.

But there is no chance of them making a quickstep to avoid their traditional festive fate – instead of the paso doble it will still be Paxo at the double for the foursome on Christmas Day.

Rupert said: “We want to see an end to the anonymous supermarket bird and believe people should know where their food is coming from and how it is produced.

“Hopefully Len, Alesha, Bruno and Craig will create a lot of interest and our customers will learn a lot about turkeys. It’s true that they are not exactly the most attractive birds, nor the most intelligent, but they are fascinating creatures all the same.

“And, if we can pass on our annual message about only buying turkeys that have been raised in humane conditions and have enjoyed a natural upbringing, then so much the better.”

The farm shop saw a 40 per cent increase in sales of fresh turkeys last year and is expecting demand to be high this year too.

Denstone Hall Farm Shop is run by Rupert and Emma Evans; the business was established in 2007 and is located in the old milking parlour which has been lovingly restored. The shop offers a wide range of fresh, local produce for visitors to choose from, including its own home-reared beef, locally sourced lamb and pork, regional cheeses from the deli as well as a wide range of dairy products.

The farm was recently crowned Small Business of the Year at the Burton Mail Business Awards and received a Highly Commended in the Business of the Year category. It was also mentioned in the Independent newspaper’s Saturday Supplement’s Top 50 Farm Shops.

It won the Taste of Staffordshire Awards’ Tea Shop of the Year Award for three years running – rules barred it from entering this year – and it has also picked up a host of awards for the quality of its sausages and bacon.

Selfridges Birmingham Launch Mr Trotter’s

A REVOLUTIONARY NEW BRITISH SNACK FROM GUARDIAN FOOD WRITER TOM FORT AND TOM PARKER BOWLES

Launching exclusively at Selfridges Mr Trotter’s Great British Pork Crackling is the brainchild of food writers Tom Parker Bowles and Matthew Fort, with the help of Cotswold farmer, Rupert Ponsonby.

Guardian food writer Matthew Fort and Tom Parker Bowles will be in Selfridges Birmingham on Saturday 12^th November, 2011, from 12 until 3pm, hosting tasting sessions of the new snack.

The trio’s dream was to create a new interpretation of the scratching made from 100% outdoor bred British pigs.

Tom Parker Bowles said: “We’ve long been pork scratchings fanatics, seeing them as a Titan among snacks. But nearly every pork scratching sold in Britain is made with Danish rind. This seemed mad. We wanted to support British farming so started to look around for a means of making our own, from British pigs. Sadly, though, our technical knowhow was no match for our passion for scratchings.

“Enter Graham Jebb and his team at RayGray snacks in the West Midlands, true masters of their art. Once they’d decided to work with us, Graham developed a slow cooking process which seems to have an amazing effect on British rind, reducing the fat content and vastly increasing Mr Trotter’s signature crunch. Of course, we’re not claiming that these are a ‘health product’. But we have removed the monosodium glutamate, and use sea salt and special seasoning instead. The result is a revolutionary crackling with both crunch and punch.”

Ewan Venters, director of Selfridges Food, said: “We try to encourage unique British products like Tom and Matthew’s at Selfridges because we are keen to support British farming in general. We hope our customers enjoy this delicious new snack and come to meet the brains behind the project on 12^th November.”

Cooked by hand in small batches using a new process, Mr Trotter’s Great British Pork Crackling delivers a crispier crunch. Available exclusively in Selfridges stores nationwide on 10^th November until 31^st December, 2011 and then available in delicatessens, farm shops, garden centres and pubs from 2012.

Available Selfridges Birmingham from 10^th November 2011 at £1.89 per pack.

So if you’re in Birmingham tomorrow pop in for some British pork and to see the celebrity chefs! 

Birmingham Christmas Vintage Tea Party

We’ve just heard of something new and exciting to the foodie scene in Birmingham for the festive season – a vintage tea party in a cool bar! This sounds like a fab idea for those Christmas parties.  Here’s some information from Katy at The Vintage Tea Cup in conjunction with Kiss Me Cupcakes. 

2011 has been the year of vintage!   Everywhere you look there is a new vintage fair, festival or book celebrating vintage style and the tea party!

There has never been a better moment to launch Birmingham’s own vintage tea party.  With Xmas nearly upon us it’s the perfect alternative to the usual Christmas meal – and not so formal as a sit down Afternoon Tea – this is a candlelit feast in one of the city’s coolest bars.     Opt for either the lighter version of mouth watering canapés, festive cakes and mini mince pies, or a 3 course Christmas dinner.  Everything will be served on 40’s & 50’s china – even the cocktails come in vintage tea cups – and of course, there will be lashings of tea!

The table will also be decked with a variety of original Victorian parlour games – to be played before, during or after the feast.

A truly magical experience, downstairs at Bluu Bar, conveniently located in the centre of town.  Once the feast is complete adjourn to the bar upstairs to carry on the rest of the celebrations!

Any parties looking for more activity to add on to the tea party can book a masterclass of cupcake decorating with Kiss Me Cupcakes or cocktail making.   Skills that can certainly be put to good use over the rest of holiday period.

Where : Bluu Bar, Fleet Street, Birmingham, B3 1JH                                                       When : Now taking bookings                                                                                                       Prices : start from £20 per head                                                                                                 How : Call Katy on 07793 361096 or Dali 07523 139269 for booking form or email teaparty@vintageteacup.co.uk

Midlands Foodie Events – November 2011

November is generally a busy foodie month in the Midlands with the arrival of the BBC Good Food Show and this year is no exception.

Thursday 17th November – Friday 23rd December 

The Frankfurt Christmas Market is in it’s 10th year and is bigger than ever with beautiful hand crafted items including toys, decorations, jewellery along with mulled wine, sausages, pretzels and lots of choice for those with a sweet tooth too.

Saturday 19th 

A Food Bloggers conference outside of London Bite ‘n’ Write  is set to take Birmingham by storm. With a number of our members going why not come along for workshops, food and networking with other bloggers. We have extra discount off the tickets for all members.

Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th

The Fabulous Places Christmas Fair returns for a second year at the Roundhouse in Derby with lots of handpicked food and gift exhibitors.

Wednesday 23rd – Sunday 27th

The BBC Good Food Show is back at the NEC with all the usual celebrity chef appearances, cookery demonstrations, fabulous producers and much more it really is a great day out. We’re there so will you be joining us?

If we have missed any out, please email us at midsfoodbloggers@hotmail.co.uk and we will add it to the list and don’t forget to let us know of any upcoming events in the next few months that would interest our readers.