Posts filed under 'Other Restaurant News'
Northamptonshire Food Awards Video
Apple Charlotte Recipe
Crisp buttery bread outside and fragrant sweet apples softened to a delectable pulp inside, the apple charlotte has been a traditional English dessert for at least two centuries. It’s a very simple recipe and the secret of success lies in the ingredients. When made with good baker’s bread, real butter and flavoursome eating apples it is a delight, but use sliced bread, marg and cooking apples and you’ll be disappointed.
You can make this in an oven proof pudding basin, but it is better made in a metal cake tin, so that the bread really browns to golden crispiness. All the apple charlotte needs to accompany it, is a good dollop of thick cream, or some vanilla ice-cream if you prefer.
Recipe for Traditional Apple Charlotte
Ingredients
175g / 6oz butter
750g / 1 ½ lb apples (half Bramley and half Cox’s orange pippins or similar)
caster sugar
2 egg yolks
half a loaf of good white bread
Preheat the oven to 200C / 400F.
Look out a deep cake tin or other baking tin of a 1 litre capacity.
Peel, core and slice the apples. Put in a pan with a knob of butter, a very little water and 2-4 tablespoons caster sugar, according to the sweetness of your apples. Cook gently until the juices run, then over a higher heat, until the apple is soft and can easily be beaten to a pulp. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar if necessary. Beat in the egg yolks off the heat and leave to cool while you prepare the tin.
Melt the butter.
Cut the bread into 1cm thick slices and remove the crusts. Dip the slices of bread into the melted butter briefly on each side and line the tin tightly with them so that there are no gaps. You can use some beaten egg white to brush over any joins to seal them if you like.
Pour the apple pulp into the lined tin and top with a last slice of bread, also dipped in butter. Cover the top with an ovenproof plate. Bake at 200C / 400F for 20 minutes then reduce the heat to 190C / 375F, remove the plate and bake for another 40 minutes until golden.
Give it at least 10 minutes to cool slightly before serving, then slide a knife around the inside edge to release the pudding and invert it onto a serving plate.
Looking for traditional English desserts cooked for you? Why not try one of Nottingham’s fine British restaurants for a wonderful Sunday lunch with the family.
Ramsay’s Best Restaurant – Press Release
‘Ramsay’s Best Restaurant’ is an exciting new series dedicated to celebrating the finest restaurants in the UK. Restaurants nominated by the public will be tested to the highest level by Michelin starred chef Gordon Ramsay and the series will culminate in one culinary hero being crowned ‘Ramsay’s Best Restaurant’.
Gordon’s journey will see him travel the length and the breadth of Britain in search of brilliant restaurants that deliver gastronomic perfection and wonderful customer service. He’ll meet restaurant owners who refuse to be daunted by the threat from ubiquitous chains and who are determined to survive the recession on their own terms and with their exceptionally high standards intact. He’ll seek out culinary heroes working in the kitchens and front of house at independent restaurants across the UK whose brilliance deserves to be recognised.
Each of the eight heats will focus on a different type of cuisine including Italian, French, Indian and British categories and this year there’s a new category – Fine Dining. Will one of the big boys of the restaurant world come out on top? Or will a small local restaurant take down the Goliaths of the kitchen? The chef’s culinary abilities will be tested as Gordon sets the kitchen brigades some of the toughest challenges they’ve faced in their careers. The pressure will truly be on as the competitors could face anything in their heat, in the super tough semi-finals and in the head-to-head cook-off that is the series final. Only one brilliant contender can win the title of “Ramsay’s Best Restaurant.” Who will it be?
The series will follow the highs and lows of the passionate chefs, restaurateurs and of Gordon himself as he tries to find his worthy champion.
Restaurants can only take part in the competition if they’ve been nominated. We’re looking for restaurants of the highest calibre so if you know a fantastic restaurant that is worthy of the title then please visit www.bestnominate.com and nominate them now.
View the best restaurants across the East Midlands
Ramsay’s Best Restaurant 2010
Who would get your vote for the best restaurant in Britain?
Gordon Ramsay is on the hunt for Britain’s best restaurant and he wants to know where you love to eat!
Tell us about a hidden gem or a local culinary landmark. Who do you think deserves to be crowned Ramsay’s Best Restaurant?
Following on from the success of 2009′s search, nominations are now open for ‘Ramsay’s Best Restaurant’ 2010
Simply visit the website in the poster below and vote on the best restaurant.
And please spread the word – we want the whole country to get involved.
Go dine blogs now showing on Twitter
We love twitter and for all of you who use the site regularly, you can now view our latest posts. All you need to do is add us to your friend list and away you go!
Availability at Weekends and Key Times during December – Nottingham
In an effort to make finding those last minute tables a little bit easier, we have created this blog based on the availability of restaurants in Nottingham as of 12/12/09. We shall try to keep this as up-to-date as possible over the coming days…
Availability on the 18th, 19th, Christmas day & Boxing day (subject to change):
108 Grill (British/city centre, Nottingham):
18th (evening) – 7pm or 9pm small groups
call 01159 940 516
1877 (European/city centre, Nottingham):
12th (evening) – limited
call 01159 940 920
Amarone (Italian/city centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – 6pm or 9pm+
call 01159 940 813
Archies restaurant (British/Sandiacre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – table for 10
18th (evening) – limited
19th (evening) – two tables of 2 at 9pm
call 01159 940 745
Belle and Jerome (Beeston, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – seating for up to 10 people
18th (evening) – yes
19th (evening) – 10-12 seats available
call 01159 940 779
Bianco (Italian/ Carlton,Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0863
Bluu British/city centre, Nottingham):
Fully Booked 18th/19th
call 01159 940 653
Bombay Bridgford (West Bridgford,Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0985
Chops City Steakhouse (Surf and Turf/ City Centre, Nottingham):
19th (lunch) – limited
19th (evening) – limited
call 01159 994 0935
Chutney (Indian/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0883
City Spice (Indian/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0831
Dakota Grill (Steak and British/ Sherwood, Nottinghamshire)
18th (lunch) – under 10 seats left
18th (evening) – yes – early only
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – under 10 seats left
call 01623 220 945
Fat Cat (British/city centre, Nottingham):
Fully booked throughout
call 01159 940 920
Fire and Ice (Anglo/Italian/ West, Nottingham)
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
call 01159 940 895
Harts (British/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – 15 seats left in main restaurant
18th (evening) – 10 seats left at 9:30pm-10pm
19th (lunch) – private dining only
19th (evening) – 20 at 9.30pm
Christmas Day – Private dining only
Boxing Day – 4 seats left
call 01159 940 938
Home (British/ Arnold, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – 6.30pm only
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes – 6pm-7.30pm only
call 01159 940 814
Iberico World Tapas (Spanish and World Tapas/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – early times and 9.30pm only
01159 940 933
La Tasca Nottingham (Spanish Tapas/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – after 9pm
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 940 968
Latino (Italian/ Beeston, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0812
Le Mistral Nottingham (French/ City Centre, Nottingham):
19th (lunch) – limited
19th (evening) – limited
call 01159 994 0867
Loch Fyne (Italian/ Beeston, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – limited
18th (evening) – limited
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0567
MemSaab (Indian/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (evening) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0728
Merchants (British/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (evening) – yes
19th (evening) – limited
New Years Eve – limited
call 01159 994 0873
Mogal-E-Azam (Indian/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0628
New Delhi (Indian/ Arnold, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0815
Pappas (Greek/ West Bridgford, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – only 10 seats left
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – only 10 seats left
call 01159 994 0906
Pretty Orchid (Thai/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (evening) – yes
19th (evening) – 7pm only with table required back by 9pm
call 01159 994 0912
The Sanctuary (European/ NG12, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – 9pm onwards only
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – limited
call 01159 994 0147
Shaws (British/Seafood and Tapas/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (evening) – 20 seats left
19th (lunch) – yes
call 01159 994 0916
Strada (Italian/city centre, Nottingham):
18th (evening) – Up to 6′s
19th (evening) – Tables of 2′s and 4
call 01159 940 926
Tamatanga (Indian/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0174
The Living Room (British/ City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes – 1pm onwards only
18th (evening) – yes – 6pm and after 9pm only
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes – 9.30pm onwards only
call 01159 994 0978
The Lord Nelson (British/ Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – limited
18th (evening) – yes – 6pm and after 9.30pm only
19th (evening) – yes – 6pm and after 9.30pm only
call 01159 994 0120
The Verve Grill (British/West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire):
17th – fully booked
18th (lunch) – fully booked
18th (evening) – fully booked
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – fully booked
XMas (evening) – yes
NYE – Gourmet night
The Wollaton (British/Wollaton, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – yes, 7pm particularly
call 01159 994 0036
The Verve Grill (British/Chilwell, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes for set menu
Vienna (British/Chilwell, Nottinghamshire):
Fully booked 12th/18th/19th
Woodborough Hall (British/ Woodborough, Nottinghamshire):
18th (lunch) – yes
18th (evening) – yes
call 01159 994 0976
Yamas (Greek Tapas/City Centre, Nottingham):
18th (lunch) – yes
19th (lunch) – yes
19th (evening) – only 10 seats left
call 01159 994 0199
If you are still stuck for ideas – just give us a call on 01159 506 804 or email bookings@godine.co.uk and we will help as much as we can.
Happy Christmas!
The Go dine team
Nottingham’s First Food Festival Goes Down A Storm
An action-packed 5-day event has been heralded a huge success for the city as over 18,000 visitors, attracted by the celebrity chefs’ theatre and the speciality local and regional food and drink market in the Market Square, attended the first ever Nottingham Food & Drink Festival this month. Funded by the Nottingham Leisure Partnership, an organisation that represents the city centre licensees, and the Greater Nottinghamshire Partnership, the Festival took place from Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th September to help showcase the city’s diverse offer of fine food and drink.
The new chief executive of the Nottingham Leisure Partnership, Sylvia Manser, commented: “We are delighted with the success of the first Food and Drink Festival. Nottingham has one of the greatest variety of food and drink venues in the country and the festival felt like a real celebration of that. It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the wonderfully diverse programme of events that took place all over the city.”
The Rangemaster Chefs’ Theatre in the Market Square hosted celebrity chefs James Martin, host of Saturday Morning Kitchen, Nottingham’s own Michelin star chef, Sat Bains, Step Up To The Plate regular, James Tanner, Ready Steady Cook favourite Brian Turner and Something for the Weekend’s Simon Rimmer. Tickets for James Martin’s first demonstration on the Wednesday morning went before midday on the day of release, proving what a popular draw he is.
James commented “it’s good to be back in Nottingham and I’m delighted that they’ve finally got their own food and drink festival, my last visit here was as a judge for the Nottingham Restaurant Awards. It’s a great city and an event such as this continues to showcase the food and drink offering to its fullest.”
Another of the highlights in the Rangemaster Chefs’ Theatre over the five day festival, was the Ready Steady Cook style cook-offs with local chefs pairing up with radio, TV and sporting personalities. BBC East Midlands Today’s Sara Blizzard took on BBC Radio Nottingham’s Richard Spurr in a contest that ultimately ended in a draw. Lucky for Sara who didn’t seem to know her way around the kitchen too well and was found looking for butternut squash in a bottle! They were followed by Heart 106 breakfast presenters Sam and Amy and Smooth Radio’s Mike Ashley and Tim Gough. Assistant coach and captain of Nottingham Panthers, Bruce Richardson, who didn’t know what an aubergine was, took on the might of Nottingham Rugby’s Sam McDonald who had big shoes to fill as his father is a Michelin star chef! The contestants were all guided through their challenges by chefs from venues around the city.
Other activities in the Rangemaster Chefs’ Theatre included specialist classes led by city restaurants including Wagamama, YO! Sushi, The Curry Lounge, Kean’s Head, World Service, Memsaab and The Old Angel. Local producers and suppliers held master classes including meat by butcher Owen Taylor, fish by M&J Seafood, simply sausages by Johnny Pusztai, perfect pork pies by Stephen Hallam and cooking made easy by home economist Teresa Bovey.
Coping with all this work were the festival’s unsung heroes in the prep kitchen, ably managed by Teresa Bovey and supported by students and apprentices from New College Nottingham who are studying the new Professional Chefs Diploma Programme – what a great opportunity for them.
Sunday 20th was family fun day with Sunday brunch, perfect sausage making and fun and easy bread making demonstrations on stage, plus interactive activities for children including cake decorating with Homemade and pizza topping with Strada. The adjoining Smooth FM chill-out area also proved a popular retreat with deck chairs and parasols in the sunshine.
City centre restaurants and bars also held special events in-house making it a city wide event and attracting up to 100 customers at a time. The events included a 7 course gourmet menu at Tonic, a beer and food matching event with expert Richard Fox at the Pitcher and Piano, cocktail making classes at The Living Room and a chocolate and beer tasting experience at Bluu.
Owner of The Curry Lounge Razak Arfan, who first approached the Nottingham Leisure Partnership with the idea two years ago, spoke of their involvement during the festival: “It was a fantastic experience, from cooking in the Chefs’ Theatre to showcasing the restaurant to new visitors during our week-long events. It was also nice to see my idea finally get off the ground. I’m sure it will grow to become one of Nottingham’s must-visit occasions! Great to see so many Nottingham folk supporting this unique event, there was a real buzz in the city. We were delighted with the response and look forward to next year.”
Craig Sharpe-Weir, manager of The Bell Inn, commented: “We held a ‘Best of British’ beer and food tasting on Friday evening, offering a few tasters from our menu with different beers, with Phil Darby from Nottingham Brewery co-presenting it with me. The event was a great success, attracting around 50 customers. Among these, there were a number of new faces who’d not been into the pub before, including some local CAMRA members who we’re keen to engage with as we’re proud of our cask beers. And for the pub regulars, the event was a way of rewarding them, giving them another reason to come to the pub, and getting them to try something new. The overall marketing of the Food & Drink Festival definitely created awareness of our event, especially as we’re so close to the Market Square – there was a great buzz about the place while it was on.”
Elsewhere, the regional speciality food and drink market in Market Square proved a huge hit with visitors, with a number of stalls selling out of produce and having to rapidly re-stock.
Stuart Isbister’s The Worm that Turned was one of the extremely popular stalls. Stuart said “We thoroughly enjoyed participating the first Nottingham Food & Drink Festival and demonstrating our range of ‘grow your own’ seeds and accessories. We met some interesting new people and I’m sure that after this strong start, the Festival will only get bigger and better in future years. There’s loads to celebrate about our regional food and we look forward to playing our part.”
Pat Parkes, organiser of the event, summarised: “The Food and Drink Festival was a great initiative for the city centre restaurants and bars to lay on and is a great example of what can be achieved by businesses working together. The festival attracted people from far and wide to enjoy what our wonderful city has to offer. It was a fantastic event and it can only get bigger and better over the forthcoming years.”
Funding is already in place to make the Nottingham Food & Drink Festival an annual event for at least a further 2 years.
Coolest Restaurants in the World – Acquadulza Restaurant, Italy
The Acquadulza restaurant in Italy is renowed for being one of the coolest restaurants in the world, with breathtaking design taken from a theme of water. The restaurant lighting of blues and whites creates a slick and exclusive ambience that can only be matched by the world class food served at the restaurant.
Whilst the Acquadulza restaurant in Italy may not be everyones cup of tea, it would be hard to argue that the interior at the restaurant and general ambience is not one of the coolest to be found at any restaurant in the world.
Vote for the F Word’s Best Local Restaurant and Win!
Gordon Ramsay’s F Word is coming back and there on the hunt for The F Word’s Best Local Restaurant.
Tell us about the place where you love to eat. A well known hotspot or a hidden gem – anywhere you think deserves to be crowned F Word’s Best Local Restaurant.
Plus, once you’ve nominated you could win a seat in the F word restaurant. Visit the website to give your suggestion!
Nominations close at midnight on July 17th.
