Winter break is over & time to prep...

I like the winter lull in street food.  It fits with my preference for getting cosy by the fire and plotting new dreams and schemes.  And there's lots of plotting afoot for 2014...

We've moved into a new prep kitchen in Manchester.  This is a very exciting time for us as we can now grow our capacity in lots of ways.  So watch this space for updates on our new developments.

We re-open at The Beech Inn on Thursday 30th January, with a revised winter menu and a brand new delivery service. Yes, you heard that right! We'll deliver gourmet street food inspired dishes along with fine cask ales right to your door.  We thought it was about time someone started delivering quality food and then thought, why not some fine ale to go with it.  Why not indeed!

The menu will be available online, on our main website and also posted here on the blog, Twitter and our Facebook page, to help keep customers up-to-date with the ever changing menu.  To start, we will be delivering within a 1 mile radius of the pub.

New opening hours at the pub:
Thurs & Fri 5-10pm
Sat & Sun 12-10pm

Delivery 07591 984 655 (6 til 10pm Thursday to Sunday every week)

FEBRUARY MENU  

SMALL PLATES                                                                                                                 
Pani Puri, Indian street food snack (V/Vg) Crispy puri w/ spiced chickpea, potato & tamarind sherbet, 3/5 pcs    £3 / £4.50*

Dal Bowl, daily special dal, w/ rice or flaky roti (Vg/GF)  £4.50 TODAY'S DAL: Roti Canai

Baked Spring Rolls, two crispy rolls stuffed w/ Hoi sin ‘veggie’ duck  (Vg) or ‘OOTB’ Whitby crab & crayfish   £4.50*/£5*

Pad Thai Traditional egg fried rice noodles with crispy tofu (V/Vg) or ‘OOTB’ jumbo prawns   £4.50 / £6.50*  ADD a fried duck egg £1.50

Shashlik Roti Wrap, marinated hand made spiced paneer with cachumba salad in soft desi paratha wrap (V)    £5*

Kimchi Noodle Soup, korean style hot red pepper broth with kimchi, ginger tofu & local pak choi (Vg) £4 / £5*

BIG PLATES

Indonesian Fish Curry w/ OOTB Cornish hake & prawns in lemongrass, tamarind & chilli broth (GF )£7.50

**Pimp my fish!** + 'OOTB' jumbo prawns & flaky roti   £9.50

Malaysian Beef Rendang w/ slow cooked grass fed ‘Frosty’ beef, with lemongrass, chilli & coconut (GF) £6.50

Indonesian Jungle Curry, fragrant cashew & peanut curry w/ green jackfruit, cauli & aubergine (Vg, GF) £6

All of above served with Asian ‘slaw & steamed rice or desi paratha

Shashlik Lamb Chops or Handmade Paneer, Marinated ‘Frosty’ lamb or spiced paneer (V, GF) w/ dal, rice & salad £9/ £7.50

EXTRAS 30p hot pickle / mango chutney / daniya / raita

EXTRAS £1 desi paratha / flaky roti / salad bowl / basmati rice     

SOMETHING SWEET
Rhubarb & Custard, crispy rhubarb samosas w/ rose glaze & star anise vanilla custard (V) - 1 pc / 2 pcs    £2 / £3.50

Fire & Ice Brownie, sticky rich brownie with hint of chilli, served with raspberry sauce & vanilla cream (V)    £3.50

And don't forget our new SIX NATIONS inspired bar snacks being served at the pub. Host nation inspired dishes, bringing you the best of local produce...

What's coming up....

As the old saying goes, we must make hay while the sun shines.  This is certainly true for us street food traders, except the sun has been a little unreliable this summer. There's been the odd blip of sunny loveliness and that was certainly true for the Manchester Picnic and my little jaunt to Harrogate for the International Classic Citroen Car Rally.

I'm about to hit my busiest run to date.  Starting this weekend with the Bolton Food & Drink Festival.  I will be there all bank holiday weekend, from this Friday 22nd August.  

This weekend's menu...

Cheshire Beef Rendang, slow cooked beef w/ lemongrass & coconut 

Indonesian ‘jungle’ curry, smoky tempeh & veg w/ spicy peanut & cashew curry (Vg)

Served with choice of lime rice or soft roti bread or both

Butter dal & aubergine masala, w/ stuffed paratha & pickles (V)

Thai Sweetcorn Fritters, w/ hot & sour noodle salad (V)

Spicy seasonal veg samosa, w/ homemade aubergine pickle (V)

“Little bit of everything” plate w/ curries, dal, fritter or samosa, roti, rice & pickles

Fresh watermelon ice pops pure & simple, with frozen lime yoghurt (V)

Mango & lime sherbet lassi w/ yoghurt, Alfonso mango & homemade sherbet 

Indian Chai, traditional masala tea w/ homemade spice mix

Then I'm off to The Big Feastival at Alex James Farm in Oxfordshire with my biggest team to date.  I need to seriously up my turnover if I'm going to meet the costs of going to bigger festivals.  This will be the test bed....

Then it's CarFest North on the 8th and 9th Sept at Cholmondley Castle in Cheshire.  Really hoping Chris Evans bobs over to see Barbarella and maybe try some of my food. I hear he likes a good curry!

After all that, I'm off to London for the British Street Food Awards 2012.  I've been shortlisted to the final 15 and am really excited about creating something new and delicious for the event.  Feeling quite a lot of pressure because it feels like there's an expectation there being a MasterChef alumni.  Everyone expects me to perform well but there's a massive amount of competition this year, with some amazing traders and producers.  It's going to be tough! 

My first streetfood event @ Ramsbottom Choc Festival

I barely know where to start.  On MasterChef, they say that cooking doesn't get tougher than this.  I may have to contend this point.  I have never worked so hard or learnt so much in such a short space of time.  The preparation and set up during the last few weeks was almost overwhelming.  I've learnt to tow (and even reverse) a 3 tonne 23ft trailer.  I've taken delivery of more produce and prepped more food than I ever thought I would (or could for that matter).  Just bonkers!  But what an amazing experience.  The highs and lows have left me exhausted and exhiliarated at the same time.  The best bit of all was seeing people enjoying my food and hearing such great feedback.  It has made all the hard work, sweat and yes, a few tears, very much worthwhile :)

Our weekend in Ramsbottom at the Chocolate festival was the perfect first event.  I owe a HUGE thanks to the lovely people there for making us so welcome and for helping us out with numerous hiccups and challenges (The Chocolate Cafe, Ruth from Bury Council, Room54 and the lovely Stuart for his impromptu lesson in reversing a trailer).  From class 1 driving lessons to supplying water from local shops, we couldn't have done it without the support of everyone there.  I think I've fallen a little bit in love with Ramsbottom!

So here's a few pics.... 

At one point, the queues were overwhelming and we felt like we just couldn't serve people fast enough.  Thanks for your patience though and the feedback was inspiring! 

  

It has to be remembered that neither my sister Nic or my best mate Fran, have EVER worked in food service or kitchens before.  They did brilliantly and learned so fast.

  

And I only shouted a few times ;0)

My friend H, made some special edition cake pops for The Hungry Gecko including dark choc & chilli and choc fudge & stem ginger.  They went down a storm.  Seriously, her cake pops really can't be beaten and she makes a fine cup cake too.  Check out her facebook page for more info CupCakeCuties

An update on Barbarella, upcoming festivals & that damn car...

I'm happy to say that Barbarella is looking mighty fine.  Kitchen fit out is almost complete.  Flag poles are on their way and I now need to reaquaint myself with a sewing machine.  I'll post some new photos once I pick her up.  In case you missed this earlier, this is what I hope's to come...

Some other VERY exciting news I have to share is that I will be collaborating at the Exeter SW Festival of food and drink with James Nathan (winner of MasterChef in 2008).  You can check out what he's been up to here

We are both working hard in planning our menus and making the most of what the SW has to offer.  For me that's going to include some organic Devon made smoky tempeh, Cornish butter and New Forest mushrooms.  For James, I believe there's some rather marvellous local lobster, chicken and pork making an appearance.  Please do come and see us if you are down for the weekend.  We're both doing demos too.  It's all going to be so much fun...

I'm also really busy with cooking classes, recipe writing and planning menus for my first events.  I will be at the Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival on 31st March and 1st April if you want to come and check out my new street food venture, and maybe enjoy some gourmet Asian delights :0)

Jackie x

Meet Barbarella....

Those of you that follow me on Twitter may already have an inkling that plans are afoot for a new and exciting venture for me.  I started the dining club as an opportunity to cook my food for people and build my experience.  But my dream has always been to have my own streetfood cafe and in many ways that hasn't changed.

I've spent the last month or so working on something that I think gives me the opportunity to do the streetfood cafe thing and make the food I really love to cook and eat for more people.  After the British Street Food Awards at Jimmy's Harvest Festival, I seriously considered getting a Citroen H van but it didn't meet the practical needs for the kind of kitchen I want.  But I made the decision at that point that actually, the street food I love to cook would be better being just that.  And so I am joining the British street food revolution (to coin Richard Johnson's book title) and have bought a 23ft Silver Bullet trailer!

And isn't she a beauty...

Starter for 10... MasterChef, foodie dreams & why this isn't a facebook page

Welcome to my blog!  I plan to write about my experiences of taking part in MasterChef 2011, foodie dreams and what happens next....

As most MasterChef followers will know, my foodie dream is to open a streetfood cafe bistro in my home town of Manchester. I entered the competition to prove myself as a chef and to see if I really have what it takes to pursue my restaurant ambitions.

The competition has given me the most amazing opportunities and experiences, with many still to come.  This is the opportunity of a lifetime to realise something I have been dreaming about for nearly 20 years.

I haven't started a Facebook page for a number of reasons.  My personal page is exactly that, where I can communicate with my friends and family, near and often far.  When Facebook pages are in the public domain, they can attract negative and sometimes malicious comment. 

I want my blog to focus on what really matters.  Sourcing and creating imaginative and sustainable street food and regional Asian dishes.  Exploring new areas of cooking I have never thought about.  Learning new skills and techniques.  And to tell the story of what it's like trying to pursue a restaurant dream.  There's some serious hard work ahead of me....