What's On In Brum? - Your guide to what's on in Birmingham?

We went along to the launch at Brindley Place, where top chefs Surachet Patpun, Aktar Islam and Chris Duffy from Thai Edge, Lasan, and Falini cooked up a storm on a BBQ in front of Thai Edge. Each prepared a dish, whilst explaining to the gathered crowds not only the ingredients and recipe, but also the reasons behind their choice and combinations. It was all very much in the style of any good television cookery programme.

Celebrity chef Atul Kochhar was present to have a taste and judge between the three prepared dishes - although when it came down to making a decision as to a winner he was diplomatically vague, saying that they were all fantastic.

I was a personal fan of Chris Duffy’s Sea Bass, not least because there was a decent amount of it to go round for tasting - though be wary of bones, as they are sharp enough to pierce your lip.

Now in its third consecutive year, Taste of Birmingham will celebrate the very best cuisine the Midlands’ offers in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 13th July 2008. Get down there and get involved with food.

Words / Photos : Tom Horton

Oh my goodness, were you there? Wednesday 4th June 2008: Infinity Festival @ Q Club

3 Universities got together to put on a huge charity event at the legendary Que Club. With a Dj set from Bloc Party, and super funky sounds from a Spectrum led Pete Jordan and Joebot back to back bonanza, the main room was a rockin’.

Other rooms were hosted by Birmingham University Jazz Society and Kerrang - as well as there being a full blown R&B room, and a drum and bass room. There was literally something for everyones taste - including free give aways by Rustlers (anyone fancy a burger?). You could even get screened for Clamidia, as there was a sexual health awareness stand who would happily furnish you with a glow stick in return for a bottle of pee - not a bad ploy! I’ve seen similar things run at popular student nights such as The Night Before at Oceana. It’s a great way to promote sexual health in young hedonistic students

Despite being huge and exciting, with stair cases to random hidden rooms, The Q Club could really do with a lick of paint inside (the novelty of a dusty old venues is starting to wear a bit thin), and the availability of free tap water is unfortunately non existent. I wonder if it’s still trying to sell itself on memories of the past, rather than looking to making a venue for the future.

3000 odd students got together to party the night away and raise loads of cash for the very worthy Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Everyone I spoke to was having a fantastic night out - although I notice a growing trend for people to spend most of the night sat down texting on their phones.

Lots of photos from Infinity Festival can be found here

The Restless Debt of Third World Beauty

Woom Gallery Exhibition by celebrated South African artist Faith47. Her work depicts strong female characters in dilapidated environments. It focuses on the importance and the spirit of the strong female identity through adversity.

A super duper evening : )

As the sun continues to beat down across the region, Birmingham’s leading chefs and restaurateurs have revealed what they love most about summer, and the delicious seasonal dishes they have in store for visitors to this year’s Taste of Birmingham.
Andreas Antona (Simpsons), Raj Rana (Itihaas) and David Colcombe (Opus) toast a Taste of Summer
Now in its third consecutive year, Taste of Birmingham will celebrate the very best cuisine the Midlands’ offers in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 13th July 2008.

Celebrity chefs Anthony Worrall Thompson and Aldo Zilli will be preparing mouth-watering menus alongside a host of the region’s leading restaurants, including Itihaas, Opus and Simpsons.

Chef David Cocombe from Opus said:
“Everybody looks forward to summer. For me, it’s all about enjoying quality seasonal produce and the occasional long lazy brunch. With any luck, we might even be in for some good English strawberries this year.”

Restaurateur, Raj Rana, from Itihaas, added:
“Customers are noticeably happier when the sun starts to shine! For us, summer can be a really hectic time as we cater for up to 3,000 wedding guests every weekend, but I always look forward to picnics, barbeques and eating outside.”

Andreas Antona, Chef Patron at the Michelin-starred Simpsons said:
“In England we are lucky to enjoy four distinct seasons, and the fresh produce that comes with them. At this time of year I look forward to spring lamb, beautiful Evesham asparagus and soft berries. Summer for me means plenty of sun and lots of golf. Even Chefs are happier in summer!”

All three restaurants have revealed the signature dishes that they will be preparing for visitors to this year’s Taste of Birmingham. From the Opus kitchen, guests can enjoy flaked free-range ham hock with potato salad, braised heel of Scottish beef and a Black Forest Martini.

Itihaas will be cooking up a salmon, goats cheese and spicy onion samosa, roast Tandoori quails with sea salt and black pepper potatoes and truffle-infused rice, followed by a reduced Gazara Tart with pistachio and coconut kulfi.

Simpson’s will be preparing melon soup with crab, braised pork cheek with polenta and Eton Mess.

Other leading restaurants taking part in Taste of Birmingham this year include Lasan, Aria at the Hyatt, Hotel du Vin, Malmaison, The Oriental, Fillini, Thai Edge and La Becasse.

Over 20,000 visitors are expected to enjoy a Taste of Birmingham this summer, sampling local cheeses, meat and fruits at the special Taste Kitchen with Sainsbury’s, meeting local producers at the delicious.magazine Producer’s Market and experiencing the Lavazza Aroma Zone, including the Barista-led Aroma Theatre.

Tickets start from £12 and can be bought from the box office 0871 230 5581 or through the website www.channel4.com/taste

If hip-hop, MCing and DJing are your thing then make sure you don’t miss this year’s BASS (British Art and Street Sounds) Festival, which starts on June 1st and runs throughout the month across over 40 venues in Birmingham, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham.

Billed as the biggest and longest annual celebration of British Art and Street Sounds, this year’s theme is The Elements of Hip Hop and will see artists from the UK, the US and South Africa come together to provide visitors with a host of events ranging from masterclasses and workshops to exhibitions and installations as well as theatre and dance performances.

The month long festival culminates in a two-day conference, at Birmingham’s Custard Factory and Manchester’s Contact Theatre, entitled MCs for Life with debates, workshops and films celebrating the art of MC Culture and featuring artists such as Black Thought, Ursula Rucker, Lord Finesse along with a further 40 artists from across the world.

The full line-up is available on www.bassfestival.co.uk