Yorks Cafe Bakery Brunch (With Sarah)

One of the things I like most about school holidays is the fact that I can start to really appreciate brunch, and the many places around Birmingham that seem to be jumping on the brunch bandwagon and putting a contemporary spin on classic breakfast dishes and serving throughout the day. I’ve always been a huge fan of Home Cafe Deli (Church Street) which serves a brilliant range of brunch items complimented with a wide range of artisan coffees, but today, accompanied by colleague and foodie side-kick Sarah, I finally made it to the much talked about Yorks Bakery Cafe.

Now I’ve heard a lot of talk about Yorks from both the hipster community and the professionals of Colmore Row, and in the current environment where the independent coffee safe is becoming a fixture in most towns, standards are high. You’ll probably remember my recent visit to BostonTea Party and the high praise that the brownie and smoothie gleaned from my critical palette, so the bar was set high, especially as Yorks is of the same ilk.

Location wise, Yorks occupies a prime spot just off Colemore Row at the top end of Newhall Street; right on the main path up from the Jewellery Quarter, and within a stone’s throw of the city folk of the numerous law firms. Inside, Yorks is bustling and welcoming with a range of seating options including some outdoor seating to make the most of the rare glimpse of sun. With the decor demonstrating a slight inclination to industrialism, with trendy bare light bulbs, exposed masonry and complimentary art work, it provides a sophisticated place for your morning coffee, whilst offering a sanctuary to those hipsters who savour each mouthful whilst pouring over their laptops.

There is a wide range of food on offer, with a standard brunch menu which runs throughout the week as well as an ever changing array of freshly made sandwiches and cakes. I opted for the Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon at a cost of £4.95. For a brunch under a fiver, I was not expecting much if I’m honest, but I must admit I was amazed at what arrived at my table minutes after ordering! The eggs were presented neatly (and for those of you who cook, you will know that this is a near impossibility when working with scrambled eggs!) with a decent helping of salmon and a blob of mascarpone cheese to add more textural variety. What really impressed me was the quality of the bread (a nice artisan loaf, lightly oiled and toasted) which is testament to the fact that serious though has gone into the food that is served here. Sarah went for the other end of the spectrum, plumping for the stack of pancakes served with caramelised banana and maple syrup (£3.95). As someone prone to food envy, I have no shame in saying that these looked awesome! 4 pancakes served with a healthy dash of maple syrup and a whole banana is enough to meet the needs of most people’s sweet tooth!

To accompany my scrambled eggs I was lured into trying one of the array of fine teas on offer, and on this occasion chose the Jasmine Dragon Peal tea (which I won’t try to explain in detail, but essentially is balled Jasmine which slowly unfurls to infuse your brew with a light a delicate taste). Again, I was really impressed by the fact that this was served as loose leaf tea in an individual cafetiere as this shows real commitment to quality without the pretention and price that usually accompanies servings of this nature.

Once again, I had high expectations and once again, they were surpassed. I can see Yorks becoming a weekend favourite, especially in the cold winter months where the lure of a hearty brunch and steaming brew become essential. 

The Double Whammy: Boston Tea Party and Loki Wine (with Jess)

So it’s the school holidays, a time for teachers to catch up on their social life and hone their drinking skills during the 6 weeks of freedom. Invariably during the holidays, I manage some sort of alcohol and food filled afternoon with Jess as we meander around Birmingham putting the world to right. Our usual haunt is the chic and trendy Bodega (on Bennett’s Hill which I will be mentioning in a future blog), but today, seeing as it is the first week of the summer hols, we went for the double whammy.

First port-of-call: Boston Tea Party, 190, Corporation Street. I’ve come across this chain before in Exeter and was impressed then, so when I heard that a new branch of it had opened in Birmingham, I immediately added it to my list of places to visit. Located slightly out of the town centre, BTP Cafe is situated in a converted pub and still shows a slight inclination to its Victorian past. The interior is reminiscent of an American diner, with distressed red leather booths, but pays homage to the largely young professional clientèle with a trendy vintage décor.

Between Jess and I, we managed to try a good spread. Jess plumped for the tuna melt on a whole-wheat bread which met her approval, especially with the addition of capers, adding a welcoming tanginess which really set off the tuna’s flavour. Along with her standard Coke, she also sampled the Meantime London Lager, which she described as ‘light and hoppy’. Being more of a wine drinker, I will have to take her word for this!

I on the other hand, went for the current trend of super juices, with a Raspberry, Lemon and Mint Cooler. At £3.20 I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The flavours complimented each other beautifully and provided a zingy, yet refreshing summer beverage. Along with this, I decided try to homemade wheat-free brownie (in keeping with the wheat-free theme started by the Chocolate Fondant). This again surpassed expectations, and whilst maybe a little dense, the inclusion of dark chocolate made a very rich, indulgent and satisfying afternoon diversion. At £5.80 for the two, it is in line with the typical hipster cafes that seem to be springing up all over the place, but this one really delivered.

Stop two: Loki Wine, 36, Great Western Arcade. What a way to pass an afternoon! For all you fellow winos out there, Loki is a must. Offering a range of up to 24 different wines to taste via an innovative swipe card system, Loki makes wine tasting accessible, yet maintains a level of sophistication that tasting en masse often lacks. A minimum of a £10 top up is required to taste, and with this you can either charge your glass with a shot, ½ glass, or full glass of your favourite tipple. With my more robust palette I started with an 2009 Frescobaldi Chianti (which was probably a bit too full bodied for afternoon drinking without food), followed by a fantastic 2012, Amalaya Reisling which was simply stunning! Slightly more acidic, yet with a pleasing floral note, this is the perfect bevy for a warm afternoon. I might well go back for a bottle of this next time I whip up a Seafood Linguini.

Loki not only offers the tasting experience to passers by, but also various different events and speciality tastings. Also on offer are a range of Gins, Ports and Champagnes. For a more personal service than Selfridges and Harvey Nic’s, Loki will not disappoint