Cheap Eats #8

A couple of weeks ago I got a huge meat box from The Schoolrooms and my freezer is now well and truly stocked up with top quality meat. I bought it through a Groupon offer and it only cost me around £20, which was amazing given the amount of produce included. In fact, there was so much that I'd have been happy to pay the full price of about £45 and I'm going to be ordering more from them in the future.

Included in my batch was a pound of stewing beef which was simply crying out to be used in the slow cooker and I decided to make a beef and barley stew. I basically threw 5 chopped carrots, 3 chopped celery stalks, 3 chopped onions, 4 peeled and chopped potatoes, 2 tins of tomatoes, a good squeeze of tomato purée, a litre of beef stock, a couple of bay leaves, 2 diced cloves garlic, a sprinkling of dried thyme and 200g pearl barley along with the pound of beef that I had soaked in red wine overnight into the slow cooker and cooked it, on low, for about 8 hours.

This was lovely and warming. The meat was tender and gravy, thickened with veg and pearl barley, was good and sticky. It was easy as anything and one that can easily be adapted according to what's in the fridge. 

Later on in the week I dug out my Prashad cookbook and had a go at the spinach and mushroom curry. I've done a couple of recipes from here now and I must say that I am impressed. Not only is every recipe easy to follow, and quick to cook (once the masala has been prepared), the end results are pretty fantastic! Veggie curries are probably my favourite kind of curry as I love the fresh flavours and this spinach and mushroom curry did not disappoint. 

This week brings sausage casserole (one that I had planned to cook last week), a slow cooker spinach and feta risotto and a couple of soups. What have you got up your sleeves for the week ahead?!

Cheap Eats #7

Apologies for being a bit quiet on the whole cheap eats side of things. We were out for a lot of last week and we just ate out of the freezer on the nights we were in. However, I did manage to get do cooking the week before last.

This Moroccan Lamb Tagine was pretty dull to be honest. Given that I generally like to use neck of lamb (on the bone) when cooking this dish, I really didn't like using mince instead. I also thought that the spicing was a bit bland. Having said this, it was easy enough to make and as I'd managed to source the mince from the reduced section, it wasn't all that expensive, I just won't bother doing it again!

In order to celebrate the return of HFW's Three Good Things (a friend had borrowed it) I cooked up a couple of his soups for lunches. Parsnip, garlic and blue cheese soup was delicious. I particularly liked the use of roasted garlic and I was surprised at how well it complemented the blue cheese.

HFW's Tomato and barley soup is something I've cooked before and I just love it. Not only is it stupidly easy and cheap to make (I haven't bothered making the purée myself yet), it's delicious. Better still it's pretty versatile as I can turn it into a risotto style dish when reheating just by simmering some of the liquid off and stirring in some cheese.

I still have plenty of soups for the week ahead and I have plans for a beef and barley stew, a mushroom and spinach curry and a sausage, bean and bacon casserole. I'll probably cook up a few more soups during the following week - do you have any recipe suggestions?

The Old House, Sheffield

Over the past year or so, The Old House has become a real favourite of mine. Firstly, the bar is handily located  on Devonshire Street and close to my flat. But I also like the interesting cocktail list and the fact that there's always a good selection of local ales on the bar. More importantly, I've had a run of good meals here. And all this makes The Old House a good option for drinks or dinner - it's now included on my 'to do' list on most of my nights out.

Table service comes as standard here, but traditionalists can bypass this and head to the bar for a nosey at the beers. There's also plenty of standing space and a couple of sofas, as well as ample dining tables, so you can just nip in for a quick pint whilst propping up the bar.

With seasonal menus, the food changes regularly enough to hold my interest, but each menu will hang around long enough for me to try some of the most appealing dishes. Having said that, I do regret not getting round to trying the Barnsley Chop, the Confit Duck Salad and the Beetroot & Puy Lentil Bourguignon from the last menu, especially as the dishes I have tried over the past couple of months have been so good...

The starter of Katy’s White Lavender Ewe’s Milk Cheese, Sorrel, Grapes, Toasted Almonds & Honey Dressing (£4.95) was one of the most beautiful starters I have had in a pub and I loved the delicate lavender flavour with the honey. I also managed to try the Harrisa Marinated Lamb's Kidneys (£4.25) which were delicious and I really like how The Old House try to include a little offal in the menu. Generally found in the starter section, it allows people to have a go at offal without committing more than a fiver.

Of the mains, my favourite must have been Pan Roasted Pork Loin, Cauliflower & Vanilla Purée, Pig’s Cheek Bon Bons, Pickled Girolles & Crushed Garden Peas (£11.50). Not only was this a very appealing dish visually, it was well executed and I don't think it would look out of place in some of my favourite restaurants. And I think this is good going for pub grub, especially at £11.50 a pop. Grilled Plaice Fillet With Samphire, Squid Ink Rice & a Tomato & Red Pepper Salsa (£9.25) was another enjoyable dish.

Pie lovers will be pleased to know that The Old House has daily specials (expect around 4/5 varieties of pie each day - £7.95) and that they are on offer on a Friday (£5 for pie and peas). Most important of all is the fact that these pies are 'proper' pies. With sides, lids and bottoms these will please the most discerning of pie connoisseur.

Personally I'm looking forward to trying out the new menu and mains of Braised Lamb Heart Bourguignon with Roasted Butternut Squash and Lemon Scented Broccoli (£8.95), Globe Artichoke Tart Topped with a Light Cheese Sauce and served with Mustard Greens (£7.95) and Confit Belly Pork with Mustard Mash, Braised Fennel, Crackling, Pickled Walnut and Cider Gravy (£9.95) particularly appeal. Once again there's a few interesting starters too and herring, crab and pig's cheek have immediately caught my eye...

I think we're quite lucky to have places like The Old House in Sheffield. The food is good, but also affordable; it's great that pub grub is no longer limited to gammon and chips. And, as well as The Old House, I really do recommend that you try The Wick at Both Ends and The Rutland Arms as they are also punching above their weight in my opinion.

Thanks to head chef Darren Roberts for supplying the pictures - it's always too dark for pictures when I visit.

Cheap Eats #6

I'm not too sure how cheap this week's cheap eats actually are and I'm conscious of the fact that I've stopped working out the price of each portion which doesn't help. Did anyone find the breakdowns useful?

Anyhoo, we ate two new dishes last week and I have to say that I was impressed with them both. Sweet potato and egg curry (from page 154 of the Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook, 200 Slow Cooker Recipes) was spices, sweet potato, tomatoes and lentils, all thrown into the slow cooker and cooked for a day before adding boiled eggs and tinned peas. Having been sold on the promise that this 'ere slow cooker was supposed to make my life easier I have already given up with any pre-browning/toasting/softening of ingredients and therefore everything just goes in raw (on the basis that if the dish can't handle that kind of rough and ready approach, it ain't the dish for me).

Thankfully this one coped nicely and the end result was a rich and creamy curry that was flavoursome. And although the book tells me that I'd only get four portions out of it, we got five large ones and we could have (should have) easily stretched it those six. It's one I'll do again and if you fancy it, the book is quite cheap on Amazon at the moment and you'll want to try the tarka dahl that's on page 172 too.

The second meal to impress was this cauliflower risotto. Wow. This was pretty amazing given how humble the cauliflower is! The husband is the king of risotto in our house so he cooked this one. He skipped the pine nuts (I don't think they were missed to be honest), used vermouth instead of white wine (as we didn't have wine) and extra mature cheddar instead of Parmesan (as that's what we had in) and it was delicious. Really easy to make and not all that expensive, I highly recommend you try it.

Did you discover any new dishes last week?

Nourish - Fast Food with a Conscience

Fast food has become a way of life for many of us and it's easy to see why. It's an easy, reliable and cheap option, it's just a shame that it isn't always the right option. Aside from the fact that the food available at McDonalds, KFC, Burger King et al is just plain unhealthy, the way that these companies work just doesn't sit right with me and I have shunned these kind of places for many years now.

Thankfully this hasn't been any real hardship for me. I have no interest in eating a 'burger' that has the flavour and consistency of a piece of cardboard. Likewise, the thought of eating a non free range chicken makes me feel physically ill. I am also lucky enough to be able to say that I didn't really frequent these places as a child so this food has never been part of my day to day life. That doesn't mean I'm not as busy as those who eat this stuff; I'm just a bit fussier. The humble sandwich, the Mexican burrito and sushi are my favourite options, but I'm always on the look out for something new which is why Nourish has gripped my attention.

Now, I must come clean and confirm that Nourish is a client of the marketing company that I'm currently working for, but I still believe that Nourish has something to offer to the people of Sheffield and I 'd still be writing this post if they weren't a client. As the title says, this is fast food with a conscience.

This means that nutrition is high on the agenda for owners David Stache, Ben Pryor and Richard Pryor. Indeed, David is a well respected nutritionist who cares about Britain's health so you'll find full nutritional breakdowns of each dish on the menus (protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre and calories) as well as dietary information. There's a bit of blurb about the health benefits of the ingredients on the packaging too. And if that wasn't enough, both David, and Ben (who is a personal trainer), are on hand to help with any questions you may have. With plans of cookery classes, presentations and a weekly shopping box system, Nourish really does want to help us change our lives for the healthier.

Of course, the nutritional content of a meal is far from being the be all and end all. Food is a source of enjoyment for many and taste is just as important. And this is where Nourish gets interesting; the menu is both appealing and approachable thanks to chef Richard (previously of The Milestone) who has worked his magic with the superfoods David has directed him towards. So there's a distinct lack of scary ingredients and as dishes include options such as Thai Green Curry and Meatballs in Tuscan Spiced Tomato Sauce, I think that Nourish will appeal to the 'foodies' amongst us as well as the health conscious. 
 

Keen to make every calorie count rather than counting every calorie, you'll find that David, Ben and Richard have worked hard to ensure that each dish is packed with nutrients. Each ingredient has been scrutinised in terms of what it can bring to the plate which means, for instance, that standard thickening agents aren't used in the Thai Green Curry - why use standard thickeners when cauliflower can do the job whilst adding further nutrients to the dish?

Of course I had to try some food whilst I was there and I started off the day with the Superfood Egg Pot (£4.45) which is a breakfast of two poached free range eggs, poached salmon, avocado, spinach, sunflower and chia seeds with a couple of slices of rye bread on the side. The flavours worked well together and although the portion looked small, it was packed with protein ensuring that I was full until lunch.

The Protein Box (£4.95) is already proving popular (it was their best selling salad on the day) and it's easy to see why. Free range chicken, boiled eggs, smoked salmon, lemon, chia seeds, dill and coriander makes for a real luxurious lunch in my book. Having said this, it probably was a little protein heavy for my sedentary lifestyle and I think I'll try the Smoked Mackerel and Beetroot Salad or the Quinoa Superfood Salad next time.

I also managed to try the Baked Sweet Potato with Smoked Mackerel, Greek Yoghurt and Horseradish - it was as delicious as it sounds and at less than £3.50 a pop, I think these may become a favourite of mine. Of the hot food options we tried the Mexican Bean Chilli (£5.45). This was packed with vegetables and served with perfectly cooked wild rice. My only criticism was that it could have been hotter - maybe the option of a few slices of chilli would work for those of us who like heat.

Overall I was impressed. I like the idea behind Nourish, but just as importantly, I like the food and I can see this becoming a favourite for a lunchtime treat that just happens to be healthy.

For more information follow Nourish on Twitter and Facebook.

Thanks Sam Mawson for the Pictures!

Grind Cafe, Sheffield - Exposed Blog Post

The Grind Café is known as a hidden gem in Sheffield. However its reputation as such is so prolific that I’m not entirely sure it can continue to carry that title. Long before my first visit I’d already heard lots about it and I knew that the sausage rolls have just the right ratio of pastry v meat, allowing the latter to do the majority of the talking, and that the daily changing salads are as tasty as they are fresh and vibrant. Gem – yes. Hidden – not so much.

But, having said this, and despite the café being open for some time, I didn’t actually make my first trip down there until I received an invite to go for lunch from them. And I figured that it was only fair to give Grind Café a go on the basis that if it was as good as everyone seems to be saying it is, I would find something worth shouting about.

Read more here....

INOX Restaurant - Sheffield

I received this press release a few days ago and, well, it sounded interesting, so I thought I'd share it with you...

City’s Newest Restaurant Serves-Up Local Flavour

A taste of Sheffield and the city’s steel heritage is the inspiration for the new Inox Dine restaurant and hospitality venue located at the University of Sheffield’s multi-million pound re-development of the Students’ Union Building.

The brand new 100 cover restaurant has honoured the centenary of the invention of stainless steel by choosing Inox as its name – Inox being the word for stainless steel in metallurgy. It aims to showcase the best that Sheffield City Region has to offer. Serving up a contemporary British menu with both local and international influences, from freshly baked bread to home barbecued brisket of beef, it provides an exciting new platform for local suppliers and producers. 

Sheffield born Head Chef, Joe Berry, previously at Loosehill House Hotel & Spa in Derbyshire, has spent more than 12 years working in restaurants and cooking at the highest level in France, Switzerland, Canada and most recently in the Derbyshire Peak District. He has returned to home turf to build a team of talented chefs aspiring to produce Rosette standard food. 

Joe Berry comments: “We are working with the best local and regional suppliers to source a wide range of ingredients including meat, cheese, honey and beer, to deliver an innovative, fresh, seasonal, locally inspired menu. Our dishes are created and served in a modern, stylish environment that is both welcoming and fun. 

“Some of the menu’s cheeky creative touches have been inspired by my favourite food. On the menu are sophisticated dishes and ingredients alongside much-loved local heroes such as Henderson’s Relish and locally brewed real ale from Welbeck Abbey Brewery. A great example is the Sheffield inspired Yorkshire Afternoon Tea which includes pikelets and my take on potted beef and bread & dripping.”

Inox Dine is set to become an exciting new dining, meeting and events venue, not only for staff and students, but also for the wider business community, restaurant goers across the city and for Sheffield’s many international visitors.

Restaurant and Hospitality Manager, David Smith, has a clear vision for the new venture: “Our aim is to establish Inox Dine as one of the best venues in Sheffield and the surrounding areas and to be the number one destination venue of choice. Sheffield has often been seen as the poor relation to Manchester and Leeds, but the cultural and lifestyle scene here has developed significantly over the last 10 years. With the pedigree of people in our team at Inox Dine ready to deliver this new restaurant concept to the city, we are well positioned to compete with the very best.”

Inox by name, Inox by nature

The city’s steel heritage also inspired the restaurant’s interior design which incorporates steel into its interior finishes.  A ‘statement’ Inox Dine steak knife, made in Sheffield, is just one of the details of the restaurant that celebrates everything the city has to offer.  

Serving throughout the day from quirky breakfast get-togethers, to business lunches, champagne afternoon tea treats to evening supper club style, Inox Dine can also cater for meetings, special events and private dining. 

The restaurant will also be hosting a programme of events for diners including live music and themed tasting days and evenings. Award winning singer song-writer and multi-instrumentalist Joel White will be performing on Sunday 6^th October to entertain Sunday Lunch diners.  

Further information, including opening hours, can be found at www.inoxdine.co.uk Inox Dine is located at Level 5, Students’ Union Building, Durham Road , Sheffield, S10 2TG .

Fitzwilliam and West, Sheffield - Sunday Lunch

Fitwilliam and West, the revamped Bar 23, has been open a while, and although it has been recommended to me a few times (with one such recommendation making its way to this blog) and I do have vague memories of a really good steak there (I was slightly tipsy) I hadn't really spent any time there... but after last Sunday I can assure you that is set to change.

After receiving an invite to check out their Sunday dinners, Gav and I ventured into the bar which is situated in West One, Sheffield. Thinking that we would be seated upstairs (which is where the restaurant section used to be) we were both pleased to find tables set for service in the main bar area downstairs. It's much brighter than upstairs and the large windows also allow for a bit of people watching.

The menu is British and it's full of homely and comforting dishes such as lamb shank, calves liver and steak. There's also an enticing brunch menu of eggs Benedict, steak & eggs and the traditional full breakfast of eggs, bacon et al. Not that any of this mattered on our visit; we were here for the roasts.

Options were chicken, beef and belly pork, and although there was the option to have a selection of all three, I went for beef and he went for pork (all £9.50 each). We also ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir (£19.50) on the basis that it's a light red which goes well with both our chosen meats. 

Our plates arrived and we were immediately impressed; Gav with the sight of his slab of crackling, I with the cooking of the beef. The pork was tender and juicy whilst the crackling had a satisfying texture if lacking a little in seasoning. My thick slices of beef were full of flavour and nicely pink to the centre. Of course there was proper gravy and Sunday dinner fans will be glad to hear that extra was available on request.

Sides included a large Yorkshire pudding each and some cauliflower cheese, veg and roasties to share. I'm pleased to say that all the veg was cooked to my liking and it hadn't been boiled to death (even the cauliflower still had a decent bit of bite to it). Potatoes were also good and they tasted as though they had been roasted in fat rather than bog standard sunflower oil. We thoroughly enjoyed and I think our meals were good value at £9.50 each. 

Although I couldn't contemplate having a dessert after that feast, I was pleased that Gav did. And on spotting a pairing of chocolate brownie and Ron Zacapa (£8) he really couldn't have resisted, especially as Ron Zacapa is his favourite rum. The brownie itself was very good but it was the Ron that really made this dish. Its sweet caramel flavours worked beautifully with the chocolate and I can hardly believe that I hadn't tried this pairing before. It now seems like the most obvious pairing in the world!

Fitzwilliam and West really impressed us both. The food and service was spot on and the wine was delicious. In fact, it's the wine list that really impressed me as highlights include a Riesling, a Malborough Sauvignon Blanc, a Barolo and a St Emilion. I plan to work my way through them all... as I will be returning for brunch, lunch, dinner and pud.