Bristol Foodie presents: Pudding Club (#PudClub) at The Colour Inn

Back in December 2011, the Bristol Foodie females devised an evening of epic proportions; satisfying a selection of sweet-toothed ticket holders with an aptly-named Pudding Club. An evening which, showcasing the indubitable talent from within the realms of Bristol's culinary presence, invited five independent businesses to create a pudding to be expertly matched with a cocktail concocted by the masters of mixology at The Colour Inn. Unsurprisingly met with an overwhelmingly positive response, round two of this gastronomical genius sold out in less than twenty-four hours, a time-frame which luckily, I managed to adhere to; bagging myself a space at the sweetest soiree of the year thus far!

Date and Time: Tuesday 17^th April 2012, 19:00

Name of Event/Establishment: Bristol Foodie presents: Pudding Club (#PudClub) at The Colour Inn

Location: Clifton Down, Whiteladies Road - Bristol

Reason for Visit: Plainly said, a combination of my two great loves made this an unmissable occasion

Pudding #1: Pomegranate Trio: Lavender Meringue Nest with Crème Patisserie, Pomegranate and Almond Tartlet (complete with edible sparkle) and Pomegranate and White Chocolate Blondies

Courtesy of: Devilled Egg Kitchen Academy - http://www.thedevilledegg.com/

Cocktail #1: Rose and Lychee Vesper, (served in a frozen shot glass)

Verdict: A fantastic start with commendable presentation and an exquisite arrangement of flavours; most notably, from the aromatic lavender of the meringue which, punctuated with the tangy crunch of fresh pomegranate seeds, simply danced upon the palate – in my view, instantly coining the calibre for the courses to come. Meanwhile, the crisp potency created with the combination of gin, vodka and lychee liquor effectively cut through the buttery disposition of the blondies and appropriately offset the burnt-sugar tasting tartlets with decidedly delicious results! 

Pudding #2: Strawberry Bakewell Tart with Gooseberry Cream

Courtesy of: The Townhouse Bar and Restaurant (previously The Picture House East) – http://www.thetownhousebristol.co.uk/

Cocktail #2: Apple Sourz (a twist on the well-known assemblage of citrus, sugar and egg white, this cocktail was served short, over ice)

Verdict: Round two channelled the essence of an English country garden with a bitter-sweet medley of ripe British fruits; sweet Cheddar strawberries and freshly-picked gooseberries (from the Head Chef's very own garden). Here, The Colour Inn 'sweetened the sour' by muddling a little Elderflower into the cocktail’s green apple zing along with a dash of almond syrup to compliment the ensemble with its rich, earthy appeal. The shortcrust of the bite-sized tarts also ate very well; its crumbly moreish-ness the final factor in making this specific sweet a strong contender for the coveted spot of my overall 'pick of the puddings'!

Pudding #3: White Chocolate Pannacotta with balsamic and black pepper strawberries and a peppermint coulis

Courtesy of: Brace and Browns Bar and Kitchen – http://www.braceandbrowns.co.uk

Cocktail #3: Dirty Lipstick, (served in a coupette, this concoction consisted of strawberry-infused rum which had been shaken with balsamic, fresh lime and a touch of grenadine)

Verdict: This course brought about an intriguing fusion of flavours with a distinctive bite…one might say, cream versus kick!? I wasn't sure that I could detect the peppermint to the extent that it was perhaps intended but it was nevertheless a well-executed pud; both in terms of its complex composition, (the pannacotta itself proving beautifully textured with a well-measured white chocolate content), as well as the thoughtful presentation whereby the familiar Brace and Browns branded tapas-bowls had been effectively utilised – a nice touch. Furthermore, with a cocktail that rather accurately reflected the elements of the fare, this could have almost been an extension of the pudding itself rather than a separate entity – consequently, the wow-factor and then some!

Pudding #4: Rhubarb, ginger wine and cardamom trifle – finished with beetroot sugar and nut brittle

Courtesy of: Dinewithi Pop-up Restaurant - http://dinewithi.com/

Cocktail #4: Ginger and Cardamom El Diablo (which, muddling El Jimador Tequila with fresh lime and a little Crème de Cassis, was served 'long' over ice)

Verdict: Round three constituted an inspired contrast of taste and texture whereby thick and viscous met light and sharp – for me, this pudding altered my former preconceptions of the age-old tradition of trifle, bringing to it, an innovative take on its rather more conventional (and in my view, almost haphazardly arranged) attributes. Here, an intricate balance of flavours had been achieved; the warmth of the saffron-threaded custard and marsala soaked crumble giving way to the distinctive smokiness of the cardamom whilst the crème de cassis of the accompanying cocktail teased the sweetness from the overall dish, contrasting the tart of the rhubarb to perfection.

Pudding #5: Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie

Courtesy of: Bellevue Bakery - http://www.bellevuebakery.co.uk/

Cocktail #5: Smoked Rob Roy, (which combined a heavily peated Scotch with Sweet Vermouth and Angousta Bitters in a frosted shot glass)

Verdict: After the initial shock-factor of what is positively, an acquired taste, the rich-roasted notes of what I'd heard described as a punchy digestif began to develop on the palate; encompassing an almost coffee-like quality given its deep, smoky hues. Not particularly enjoying this experience (if I'm completely honest...and I usually am), I promptly followed the somewhat tentative sipping that ensued with confident mouthfuls of pie, which I’m pleased to report turned this course around with the full-bodied indulgence of its choco-nut content! I was impressed that Laura had only trialled this pudding just days prior to the evening in question as, for me, it established the height of faultlessness; subsequently proving my pick of the puddings – sorry guys but once a chocoholic, always a chocoholic!

In conclusion, an entirely decadent evening which, without doubt, raised the bar in terms of what I can now refer to as pudding porn! On a serious note however, this was an event which demonstrated the high standard of culinary craftsmanship within our city, the imagination and skill behind the puddings provided (and, of course the acquisition and understanding behind the cocktails that accompanied them), really putting Bristol on the map in regards to its position within the fine-dining arena. My thanks go to Becci and Gemma of Bristol Foodie who were fabulous hosts, the evening itself proving professionally managed and the venue thoughtfully arranged with admirable attention to detail. They assure me that this is not the final foray of their popular Pudding Club – news which, for me at least, will keep my sweet tooth tingling for a rapid reprise!

NB. For MUCH better (and less tipsily-taken) images of the evening's fare, join the Bristol Foodie's Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/BristolFoodie

Brace and Browns – Whiteladies Road, Bristol

There has certainly been a raft of praise for Brace and Browns since its bar and kitchen opened for business back in the Spring. So, when the Best Foodie Friend (BFF) and I encountered a spanner in the works in terms of the venue for our next natter and nosh-up, it was the first to spring to mind as an alternative. Fast-forward to the evening in question and it's fair to say that we were really rather excited to be checking out Brace and Browns consistently complimented cuisine for ourselves...

Date and Time: Friday 3^rd September 2011, 19:30

Name of Establishment: Brace and Browns*

Location: 43 Whiteladies Road, Bristol

Reason for Visit: Dinner and drinks with the BFF (yes...we do this a lot!)

In order to reach the peace and quiet of Brace and Browns' inside space, the BFF and I initially had to fight our way through the buzz of the typical Friday-night merry-makers who, warming themselves beneath heat lamps, had flocked to this venue's popular decked exterior terrace, (no doubt to make the most of the fading evening sunshine). Having never visited 'Deasons' (the sites former occupant), I suppose you could say that I had a clean slate when it came to any preconceptions regarding how the interior had been utilised. Consequently, I can report (without comparison nor contrast) that the décor has been classically arranged with deep reds and browns that tie the rich hues of the furniture, as well as the wooden expanse of the flooring, in with the intended colour-scheme. A distinct focus on well-known British branding, plus, food and drink manufacturers from the past are interestingly amalgamated within a tasteful feature-wall – the subtle soundtrack also seemed to adhere to this 'years gone by' theme; ranging from a generous helping of 60's Motown to The Beautiful South! Furthermore, the framed Marmite pop-art was considered a great touch and, as lovers as opposed to haters, the BFF and I enjoyed the view from where we sat! Service was efficient and friendly and although our table was waited by a number of servers, proved systematically well-informed and polite. 

Brace and Browns' Feature Wall

On to the food and the BFF and I felt somewhat compelled to sample a selection of morsels from the Tapas menu which we had heard so much about prior to our visit. The originality and imagination behind this array of mini-plates proved fresh and exciting and, although predominantly British, has also been inspired from cuisine from around the globe. Despite discovering that the 'famous' Yorkshire pudding' was no longer on the menu, there was certainly plenty to choose from. Split into four categories of; meat, fish, vegetarian and sweet treats, the dishes are priced at one for £3, three for £8 and four for £10. Alternatively, you can opt to have everything the menu has to offer for a reasonable £60 – great if you're dining as part of a large group or...have a hollow leg! Moving on...the BFF and I decided to choose six dishes in total, two each and two to share. I chose the chicken skewers with a satay peanut sauce which, beautifully presented with a flourish of tiny pink (and I hope edible) leaves, were succulent and flavoursome. My second dish was the cauliflower and parmesan bhajis which were generously portioned and crisply textured with a drizzle of curried cream – just divine. The BFF was equally as impressed with the dishes she chose; the pork belly with a cider and apple chutney was reportedly very tasty and albeit proving a little chewy, was complimented perfectly by the chutney with its tangy sweetness. Her second dish, the halloumi, was exactly as described on the menu – perfectly grilled. We shared the pesto and tomato schiaccialella which, described as 'fancy Italian bread', consisted of two crisped pizza rounds with an amazingly juicy, not to mention vibrant, topping. Lastly, it would have been rude to ignore the 'treats' section of the menu and so for pudding, the BFF and I shared the mini scones with vanilla clotted cream and jam. Now, I can confidently say that the cream was not clotted, (more so a light whipping cream) but it was a pleasant accompaniment nevertheless with the vanilla's distinctive flavour a delicate delight with every mouthful. 

Tapas Board

Besides Tapas, there is a great assortment of Gastropub-style grub to choose from; burgers, risottos and salads all feature here but it was the Chef's omelettes that particularly caught my eye – at only £6 there are three options including honey glazed ham and smoked cheese or wild mushroom and spinach – simple yet delicious; especially, if the quality of the ingredients sourced for the Tapas dishes are anything to go by. In addition to this, I can't document the cuisine at Brace and Browns without mentioning their Sunday roasts and, on the last Sunday of every Month you are even invited to flip a coin for a chance to enjoy your dinner for free, (normally £12.50). However, the Brace and Browns' Sunday roast has been alluded to as one of the best in the central Bristol area and thus, I certainly intend to find out for myself whether this is the case with or without a lucky coin toss!

Back to the evening at hand and to wash down our meal, the BFF and I both chose a glass of vino; she, a Sauvignon Blanc and I, a Pinot Grigio, both of which lapped at a rather sizeable glass for just £3. I think as a larger party, a jug of Pimms may have gone down rather well and, although I didn't check out the line-up on this occasion, I did hear the unmistakable whizz of a cocktail shaker implying that there is indeed a wide range of tipples – some of which I will indubitably have to sample upon my next visit!

Overall, a great evening – classy surroundings, service which was commendably on-the-ball for a busy Friday-night and dishes which are well-presented, adequately portioned and scrumptious to say the least! I love that Brace and Browns have redesigned the concept of Tapas; drawing on aspects from the great cuisine of Blighty and beyond as opposed to simply sticking to the usual Spanish-related suspects. The appeal of diversity coupled with the option of feasting on as little or as much as you wish makes, in my view, for a winning combination and is ideal for the indecisive among us (myself included) who consequently, can try a little of everything! With this in mind, I can’t wait for my next visit - no wonder the praise for this venue has been consistent, I shall be undoubtedly be echoing what others have said for anyone who will listen!

And now for the second opinion...

The BFF gave Brace and Browns 9/10 and in three words, described her experience as 'diverse’, ‘imaginative’ and ‘delicious’.

References:

*http://braceandbrowns.co.uk/