Big British Food Map A plateful of Nottingham's nosh

Date Published:

15/09/2008

Andrew had a nose around Nottingham to see what Robin's 'hood had to offer

Taste test

Chris 'Chef' Smith added Delilah Fine foods to the Map saying; "a great deli, full from top-to-toe of new and old, classic and experimental delights from every corner of the food map." I dropped in to have a chat with manger, Jez Wain.

Delilah was set up just over three years ago as there wasn't really anything like it in Nottingham. "So many places are just sandwich bars," says Jez. "We have a food bar and because we use items we sell, it becomes a tasting bar for the rest of the shop, plus we get instant feedback from customers."

A cheesy treasure trove

There's a daily special (squid and chorizo with rocket on my visit), sandwiches, coffees, wines and cakes. The special cocktail catches me eye - "Prosecco with limoncello, it's like 7Up for grown ups!" says Jez. Jez and the team work hard to stock the best items as well as the more unusual. So as well as the Italian bresaola, he's got a British version, which is darker and more heavily spiced - it's very interesting.

There's a full range of Stilton including Stitchelton and some intriguing oils and dressings - chocolate, orange and cinnamon balsamic vinegar?! "Goes great with crêpes and a blob of cream," says Jez. Add to this, private wine and food tasting events that sell out in minutes and the merry folk of Nottingham have got a real treasure in their city.

A cup of tea and a sarnie

Popped into the Alley Café; a very chilled sort of place with a young crowd - a couple of mums, and some students. It's also veggie/vegan. The portions I saw on other tables looked large. I opted for a coffee, juice and cheese on toast. The latter arrived on proper tasty, doorstep-sized bread - very filling.
One other point I noticed, a customer came up and asked for a bottle of water. The waitress very politely said: 'we don't do bottled water as it's unsustainable, but we do tap for free'. To which the customer said: 'that's fine'. Well done Alley Café. I'm a great fan of free water as par for the course in restaurants.

Colston Basset Stores

Barbara Mason added Colston Basset Stores to the Map saying of it's café: "A superb fully licensed café restaurant in idylic surroundings where if you wish you can eat al fresco looking over the cottage garden." She's not wrong, I think it's one of the prettiest looking shops I've ever been in.
Owners, Jan and Martin Lindsay, have poured their hearts and souls into making this a great place to shop and eat.

Village veg

Most of the bread comes from John Turner who has a unit in the village. Jan collects it every morning at 8:30 and it comes into the shop still warm. They've just extended the range to include artisan bread from Hambleton Hall's new wood-fired oven. The cheeses all come from Neil's Yard, and there's the Colston Basset Dairy just around the corner for Stilton.

Tasty tarts

It's still a working village shop too - there are newspapers, pints of milk, an off licence, even drawers full of pick and mix in to which two young lads are delving. In the café itself the autumn sun was shining through and I felt I wasn't far from the season of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness'. There's an apple tree groaning with fruit outside, some of which makes it into the shop in tarts and crumbles. Martin makes daily specials in the kitchen; French onion tart, soups, salads - light lunch bites really. There are also some great looking cakes, huge scones and a beautiful nectarine tart.

Smooth mover

I stopped at this little van, on Bridlesmith Gate, serving smoothies to get a 'Flu Fighter' (not that I've got flu, I just liked the sound of apple, orange, ginger and blueberry). I fell in chatting with the owner. He tells me that the council have decided to revoke his trading licence due to opposition from another (non-food) business down the street. "What will you do?" I asked. "What can I do, that's it, bankrupt. The van is design for this-sized pitch, it's too big to go elsewhere and too small to do large shows and festivals," comes the reply.
What a shame, you could perhaps understand any objections if he were a greasy burger van, but smoothies and juices? Especially when we're all supposed to be getting five a day.

Poaching perfection

Finally got my hands on some Lincolnshire Poacher to have with Pete's Lincolnshire Plum bread. Tasted amazing, he's right it does improve with time like Xmas pudding. I heated the bread up a bit in a dry frying pan to release the flavours, then topped with some sliced cheese - stunning.

Last week Andrew was in Lincolnshire.
Next stop Leicestershire.

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