Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Turtle Bay Comes to Middlesbrough

There’s a brand new Turtle Bay Caribbean restaurant launching in Middlesbrough this weekend, the second of its kind in the North East and it brings with it a brand new, fresh, fun vibe to Corporation Street.  With £800k investment ploughed into the unit, the interior has been transformed into a little slice of the Caribbean right here in the North.  I was invited to the VIP preview night to find out just what Turtle Bay has in store for visitors to Middlesbrough…

The 231 capacity restaurant is cleverly styled with mirrored walls which makes it appear well beyond its 4144 square feet, it’s bright and vibrant and everything you would expect from a Caribbean themed restaurant, there’s even a tiki style bar decked with fairy lights serving up over 40 specialty rums that Jack Sparrow would be proud of.  The preview night was an informal gathering of local press and Bloggers to sample both the food and drinks menu and to find out a little more about the preparation and training that’s gone into bringing Turtle Bay to Middlesbrough town centre.  The first thing I notice is the decor, a typical warm, Caribbean colour scheme broken up with large wall murals offers a welcoming, fun environment.  As with all Turtle Bay restaurants, the Middlesbrough branch features those upcycled / reclaimed materials that give each restaurant a unique twist – this one features a boombox wall  and oil drum lanterns which give the place a real street food vibe.

With 50 jobs created, there are enough staff to ensure a slick operation when the restaurant opens to the public on April 23rd.  Servers have been put through an in-depth training programme where I’m told that the focus is on getting to know customers and finding out about their wants and needs whilst they’re dining, in order to deliver the best possible customer experience.

After being greeted with a drinks reception where I manage one signature Mojito (I’m driving) and pretty much everything from the soft drinks and coolers menu, we’re ushered into the dining area in front of an open kitchen, where we’re seated ready to begin our feast.  We’re invited to try taster portions of everything from the menu, which includes some brand new additions so far only served at the Middlesbrough restaurant.  As you might expect, everything served is brimming with spice, which never overpowers the flavour of the food.  I won’t lie to you Voyeurs, things got messy.  Turtle Bay is not a place for flatware, it might be there on the table, but this is messy food that’s meant to be handled – so you’ll be pleased to know that you’re also allocated a finger bowl to wash your hands afterwards.  Think coated chicken wings, sweetcorn fritters and beef cheeks, it’s all prepared with love, super tasty, and fuss free, exactly as it should be.

Turtle Bay is all about celebrating the lively, colourful, soulful and, above all, delicious experiences that the Caribbean has to offer – from rich and explosive flavours to laid back ‘liming’. Their mission is to capture the spirit of celebration that the Caribbean is famed for around the globe – making customers happy by delivering a hedonistic combination of joyous food, wicked drinks and a fun, relaxed atmosphere.  Just as food is at the heart of Caribbean culture, Turtle Bay are aiming to bring that vibe to Middlesbrough and with over 50 authentic Caribbean dishes on the menu – yes, Curry Goat and Jerk Chicken are on there – it seems that that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Now let it be known that I don’t usually cope too well with spicy food, what I mean is that whilst I love it, it turns me into a wreck – I pour with sweat but just can’t stop.  This is a little different, the flavour and the spice are cut with a zest and so are perfectly balanced.  You don’t compromise one for the other.  Yes, I’m still bloody sweating, but it’s totally worth it and there are plenty of specially crafted, creamy coolers on the drinks menu to help take the sting out.

One of the things I like about the place is that it’s set up for ‘social dining’, seats are arranged in rows, a bit like Wagamama do, and once you’re seated, you can’t help but chat to the people seated close to you, it’s nice.  There are of course, booths available for more intimate dining or for spontaneous cocktail nights with your pals, still, it’s nice to see such a welcoming environment when we’re so used to seeing people with their cellphones glued to their hands (myself included).

Turtle Bay might offer up awesome food but it cares about its cocktail menu just as much, and with 2-4-1 Happy Hour between 11.30am (yes really) – 7pm, starting up again at 10pm, it’s a must for rum enthusiasts and cocktail lovers as it includes every single cocktail on the menu.  For designated drivers, the soft drinks menu is pretty damn good too, with zesty or creamy coolers and the best ginger beer I ever tasted, you’re catered for pretty well too.  Driving or not, Turtle Bay Middlesbrough is well worth a visit and there’s nothing even similar in the town centre, I predict this one being rammed for the next few weeks so get amongst it Voyeurs, oh, did I mention, they have a pretty awesome playlist too…..?!

Pixie xo

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough can be found at 32 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2RX with ample parking within walking distance of the restaurant, free after 6pm.

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Orangegrass Thai VIP Re-Launch

When you’re seeking out a place to try real, authentic Thai food, there’s one sure fire way to pick yourself a winner; look for where Thai people dine.  It’s an easy cuisine to get wrong, and with Thai food having a moment right now there seem to be more and more Asian inspired restaurants, food festivals and pop ups on the scene with only a select few hitting the spot.  When it’s done right, it’s different to what you might expect, there’s no ‘jammy’ consistency, artificially over sweetened sauces or over boiled rice.  That seems to be the British interpretation of Thai food and it seems to be pretty widely accepted as being accurate.  That is until you taste the real thing….

I was invited along to the VIP relaunch of Orangegrass Thai in South Shields and I must confess, I’d never actually heard of the place and when I arrive, it becomes clear why.  Orangegrass Thai is like a secret society, it’s completely off the beaten track and from the outside, it hides in plain sight, like a Thai speakeasy, you’d never know the place was there – unless you knew.  It’s so stealthy in fact, I doubt I’d ever find the place again without GPS; but then I like a place that feels so secret, like you’re part of an elite regiment of diners.

The soundtrack for the evening was provided by North East singer Annabel Pattinson, if you’ve never seen her play then you’re seriously missing out, with a full repertoire of covers and some awesome original songs, she’s another secret I’m spilling and she’s playing a stand alone gig at Newcastle’s O2 Academy on Friday June 2nd.  Finish reading this, then go buy tickets – you can thank me later.

Image c/o Annabel Pattinson

I arrived to a champagne reception and an open bar, sadly I was driving but I did sincerely enjoy other revellers getting more and more intoxicated as the night went on.  I shared a table with Luxe magazine and in between courses we were entertained by Ryan Phelps, The British Hustle, who I’m convinced is an actual wizard.  With tricks I’ve never seen before and a cool, calm demeanour, this guy is straight out of Hogwarts with first class honours.

Image by Chris Ord, XtraOrdinary Photography
Image c/o The British Hustle
Image by Chris Ord, XtraOrdinary Photography

 

So, what you really want to know about is the food right?  It’s good Voyeurs.  Damn good.  Like I said, you can get the measure of anywhere claiming to serve food authentic to it’s origin by the people who dine there, as Orangegrass’ staff is made up almost entirely of Thai people, the food is absolutely authentic.  Everything from the ingredients, the spices and creams, to the presentation – expert chefs carve flowers out of vegetables to top each plate, seriously, the attention to detail is incredible.

Images by Chris Ord, XtraOrdinary Photography

We were served a selection of the most popular dishes including curry shrimp, green curry vegetables and a divine chicken dish.  Where the menu really shone though was with its beef dishes, there were two available to try on the evening but due to having foolishly filled up on shrimp I only tried the Beef Massaman which was by far the best dish I tried.  Not so spicy that the flavour was wiped out, but definitely warming.  For dessert we were served a traditional Thai pudding of  sweet sticky rice bound with coconut cream and although I ate every last bit, it’s one of those acquired tastes where I couldn’t decide whether I liked it or not.

If you’ve been dining out on ‘mainstream’ Thai food then prepare to have your mind blown.  The flavour that comes through with authentic Thai cuisine is crisp and cleane, Owner Titu tells me that the use of coconut milk and cream in Thai cuisine, cuts through the spice to allow the warming feeling but also preserves every inch of flavour in the food.  Try it, join the secret society, make the trip to South Shields and enjoy a taste of Asia for a fraction of the price of some of these hipster fugazis.

Pixie xo

Orangegrass Thai is at 7 Mount Terrace, South Shields NE33 1PN, to book a table call 0191 455 8555

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

The Alchemist Newcastle Launch Party

Ok Voyeurs, this is the big one, the one you’ve been waiting for.  For months you’ve been reading the pre-launch hype about the latest bar / restaurant offering to take up residence in the brand new Grey’s Quarter at Intu Eldon Square and now The Alchemist is finally here.  I was lucky enough to get pre-launch VIP access so got a chance to have a little nosey round the huge ground floor unit but the official launch party went down on Thursday March 30th.

A truly magical invite landed on our doorstep inviting Bo and I to the VIP launch party, accompanied by a box of matches, all was revealed when a lit match was run over the invite, which promised a night of adventure and alchemy.  I planned my outfit weeks in advance but obviously didn’t wear it because I’m a ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ type of gal.  I did however, enlist the help of MAC at House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre to help me create a negative space eyeliner effect as a nod toward The Alchemist’s flair for the dramatic.  So, when the night rolled around, Bo and I made our way to The Alchemist fashionably late, natch.

The building has two entrances, one inside the shopping mall and one street entrance – it’s way more impressive from the street entrance and feels less like a mall restaurant from that side.  Once inside, the first thing I notice is that The Alchemist is an entirely different beast when it’s packed to the rafters with thirsty peeps.  When it’s empty, its eye level curiosities and wall murals seduce you with their gothic magic but when the place is full, these become invisible leaving the bar and it’s residents Alchemists to do the work.

Launch night meant a free bar, at least until 21.30 (which meant the bar area was five deep until exactly 21.30) so whilst it took around 15 minutes to get our first drink, everyone seemed to be in the same boat.  Obviously staff at The Alchemist were keen to show off their (b)artistic flair and cocktail making skills so a live Zoltar machine was on hand to assess your personality and assign a matching cocktail which would then be made for you at the bar.

If you’re a fan of spectacular and peculiar cocktails then The Alchemist should be on your radar.  With an array of tools including copper pans and Bunsen burners in order to brew your chosen drink to perfection, bar staff are encouraged to ‘prepare with flair’ so you can expect foot high flames, sparks, and seemingly eternally foaming potions.  Prepare to wait a little longer for the magic though, it’s not something that’s knocked up in the time it takes to pull a pint of Amstel or pour a simple Amaretto and cranberry.  Waiting times for drinks at The Alchemist have faced criticism on social media, however if you’re ordering two or three of their more exotic cocktails, then you just have to suck that up – especially when it’s packed out at its 400 capacity.

We took up residency at a table that gave us a great view of other people’s cocktails being prepared meaning we got to experience the theatre of The Alchemist without the wait – nice.  Once the place quietened off a little and the masses moved on, the personality of The Alchemist comes out, you start to notice the nods to Geordie tradition, like the stuffed magpie sitting proudly atop a shelf.

Personally I haven’t sampled the food available at The Alchemist but they do offer menus from brunch right through to dinner and have an extended seating area outside for days when the sun is shining and you want to trade the darkness for sunshine.

So, is it worth a visit?  Yes.  The Alchemist is somewhere you should visit if only to make up your own mind, it’s definitely a hot ticket and certainly for months to come it’s going to be THE place to be seen.  The cocktails aren’t your usual run of the mill Cosmopolitans or Porn Star Martinis, they really are something special, and they’re worth waiting for.  The interior decor is cool and the touches of copper sing out through the gothic colour scheme, so go, order something awesome and revel in the theatre that The Alchemist brings to the Newcastle bar scene.

Pixie xo

 

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

The Alchemist comes to Newcastle

It’s been a long time coming but The Alchemist is finally ready to open its doors to the people of Newcastle.  Taking up residence in the newly revamped Grey’s Quarter of Intu Eldon Square, The Alchemist has certainly had a buzz about it for what feels like a very long time.

I got the chance to have a snoop inside of this gorgeous (very dark) venue to find out exactly what you can expect from Newcastle’s latest, and most hotly anticipated bar….

The Alchemist 6

The dark, gothic surroundings are par for the course with The Alchemist, the Newcastle opening marks the ninth Alchemist in the UK and each follows the same design plan.  The Alchemist’s strong selling point is the magical cocktails its molecular mixologists create.  Claiming to be masters in the dark arts of mixology and demons in the kitchen, each cocktail is prepared with presentation in mind and a devilish dash of theatre.

Screen Shot 2017-03-21 at 17.37.20

The 6600 square foot space will operate as an all day venue offering food, drink and their famous alchemy cocktails to visitors to the city of Newcastle.  You’ll already know that The Botanist  has seen huge success since its opening in the city and Living Ventures Group, the former parent holding company of The Botanist and current parent holding company of The Alchemist, are hoping the new addition can capitalise and improve on that success.

The Alchemist 1

Inside theres a nod to the secrecy of the prohibition era, but not like a traditional speakeasy, more like a den of iniquity.  The Alchemist explores everything that is dark and mysterious and invites guests to relish in this enchantment.  With its Deathly Hallows-like logo hanging above the door on the external entrance, it certainly looks magical.

The Alchemist 4

Inside it’s much the same, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped inside the Ministry of Magic with its huge skull and butterfly mural and floor to ceiling back bar filled with curiosities.  It’s a huge space divided in to zones; there are booths for cosy dining and tall bar tables for cocktail nights.  Swathed in dark walnut wood and gold all bathed in soft, dim light, The Alchemist is certainly a destination bar for the city.

The Alchemist 3

Ahead of The Alchemist’s official launch, magical invites were sent out with a secret panel which had to be heated with fire to reveal details of the launch event – a great indication of what’s to come no doubt.  Capitalising on the unknown, the people behind the Alchemist have generated a buzz only seen in Newcastle before the launch of The Botanist.  I have no doubt that the Alchemist will be inundated with visitors from the city and further afield – I’ll be at the official launch event next week to bring you more from the place when it’s in full swing!

The Alchemist 5

With so many awesome bars and restaurants opening in Newcastle, it looks like this already awesome city just got better……. and a little more magical.

Pixie xo

Internal images by Head Photography.

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Join the Tapas Revolution at Grey’s Quarter, Newcastle

If you’ve wandered through Newcastle city centre recently you’ll have no doubt noticed some big changes.  Whether it’s the difference in the skyline, or the influx of great new retailers, the rate of response to our needs as customers of this awesome city is uber fast.  We’re a nation of shoppers who enjoy lunch with friends and drinks on a Saturday afternoon and Newcastle has acknowledged that and answered the call in a big way….

Anyone who spends time in Newcastle will know that Intu Eldon Square enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years with a new floor space addition to the mall.  A victim of its own success however, this left older parts of the mall looking dull in comparison and well, a bit boring.  Not any more, the once tired Monument entrance is now the bustling Grey’s Quarter packed to the rafters with awesome eateries and bars which stay open long after the mall has closed.

Tapas Revolution is the latest in a string of restaurants to take up residence in Grey’s Quarter; the brainchild of Spanish TV chef Omar Allibhoy, it’s one mission is to serve true, authentic Spanish food, ethically sourced direct from Spanish farms and suppliers, with no middleman.  As part of the big re-brand, I was invited along to brand new Spanish restaurant Tapas Revolution to experience a little Spanish living with a tapas and beer pairing evening

“There’s a great restaurant and bar scene in Newcastle and I can’t wait to get involved in the buzz happening here and bring a little Spanish twist to the city. Tapas Revolution in Eldon Square is my version of the lively and bustling tapas bars in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. We can’t wait to open our doors!”  Omar Allibhoy

Omar’s menu takes inspiration from family recipes that he grew up with and Spain’s culinary culture of sharing, socialising and eating.  When we arrive he talks us that in Spain, beer is paired with food rather than wine or cocktails and that’s because the flavours marry well to compliment each other.  Beers by Estrella Galicia (natch.) are paired with each course of tapas to accentuate the flavour of spices, I’m not a beer drinker at all but I get it, real Spanish beer with authentic Spanish food, it just works.

“My passion for Spanish food is really at the heart of everything I do; my earliest memory is of watching my Mum in the kitchen cooking crème caramel. She was a great baker but a terrible cook so I took over the helm as soon as I was old enough. When I came to the UK I was shocked by the lack of Spanish restaurants and how rarely anyone I spoke to cooked it at home. I decided it was time to do something about it and so my Tapas Revolution began”  Omar Allibhoy

Me and fellow North East Blogger Elle Blonde arrived to a super warm welcome and a round of opening cocktails spiked with chilli to ensure we stayed focused and awake.  Armed with tasting notes and a stack of Estrella Galicia beers, we were treated to Spanish tortilla, Iberico ham (some of the most expensive ham you can buy and I can vouch for how awesome this is, it’s what I cram my luggage full of when I visit Mama Tenenbaum in Menorca), patatas bravas so good you could forget you’re in a shopping mall in Newcastle and paprika smoked octopus so divine that I had to go back for thirds. Yes, thirds.

Tapas and beer pairing is like a re-awakening of my conscious mind, to me beer is beer, but after reading and absorbing the tasting notes, you really taste the top and mid notes in each beer and understand why each one is paired with a certain taste.  For the tee-totalers amongst you (that’s me too) there’s an Estrella 0.0% which is completely alcohol free, and a damn good dupe.

“Tapas is more than food, it’s part of our everyday culture: food and life are always best shared.”  Omar Allibhoy

I get the Spanish lifestyle – Mama Tenenbaum has it down to a fine art now and she’d definitely approve of Tapas Revolution, she’s quick to lambast the places that don’t quite hit the mark.  From the hanging Serrano hams to the open kitchen, the preparation and service is exactly as you would expect in Spain.  Even the tables are set up so the restaurant can receive large parties ready to socialise with really great food as the facilitator to conversation.

Whilst we’re chatting I notice two very important things: 1. Elle Blonde and I both have seriously strong shoe game, and 2. The breakfast menu is to die for.  Boasting Ranch and Florentine Eggs, Churros and Bacon Brioche, I make a mental note to return in the AM.

The quality of the food served at Tapas Revolution is second to none, in fact, it’s probably the only ‘real’ tapas restaurant in the city,   Omar takes great pride in sourcing only the very best, authentic ingredients, meats and spices for his dishes and it pays dividends.  With another five restaurants and a list of celebrity clients as long as his flowing locks, Omar Allibhoy is the real deal.

It’s not just beer on offer at Tapas Revolution, with a huge range of unusual cocktails and rare gins (no surprise there, gin is HUGE in Spain) on the bar menu including my favourite Mahon gin, Xoriguer (another thing I always bring back from Menorca), all served in a traditional balloon glass, exactly as they do in Spain.  Kudos Tapas Revolution, I’m really looking forward to bringing Mama Tenenbaum along to taste a little piece of authentic Spain whilst she’s here in the U.K.

Pixie xo