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Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Turtle Bay New Menu Launch

Turtle Bay, known as the ‘Caribbean Social’, is famed for its extensive cocktail menu, never ending Happy Hours and of course, its authentic taste of the Caribbean.  With branches all over the UK, the brand’s latest offering popped up in Teesside recently and has proven to be not just a great place to eat but also a real destination bar.  I went along to the VIP launch when it first landed and dined on a feast of menu favourites, and a few that were whipped up specially for the night, accompanied by enough rum cocktails to please a pirate.

HH Turtle Bay Food Shoot Beach platter 002
Turtle Bay Food Shots Goat Curry

Two months down the line and Turtle Bay have revamped their menus to reflect a Summer vibe, the old favourites are still there and there are some fresh new dishes in there too as well as a few that have been revamped.  When I was invited along to be one of the first to try it I jumped at the chance to sink another couple of those amazing ginger beers.  Bo and I arrived at Turtle Bay Middlesbrough to a warm welcome from staff and were shown to our window table right in front of the insta-perfect boombox wall.  If you’ve visited Turtle Bay before, you’ll know that their Happy Hours are legendary and we arrived right in the middle of the lunchtime Happy Hour which means 2-4-1 cocktails.

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Dining Area
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Boombox Wall
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Cocktails

We chose the lunchtime sitting on a super hot day and it wasn’t just us who saw sunshine and thought about taking in a little Caribbean sunshine in the UK, by the time we’d made our menu choices the place was packed out with a wait for tables.  I opted for a Raspberry Reggae (make that 2) and Bo slurped Jamaican Shandy whilst we waited for our starters to arrive.  After scanning the menu, we went with our trusty favourite: Chilli Squid (a first for us at Turtle Bay but a firm favourite as a starter pretty much everywhere we go), Duck Rolls and a Garlic Flatbread because a wise man once said it’s the future.  Our food arrives quickly and it’s good, the garlic bread has an added zing that makes it stand out as a favourite for me and our server Gemma brings me a ginger beer because she’s heard that I love it – true story.

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Menu
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Starters
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Ginger Beer

Looking around Turtle Bay it looks way bigger than its 231 capacity, the clever use of mirrors and seating on different levels makes it look double that and with this layout, it’s easy to see why it’s become a favourite on the Middlesbrough nightlife circuit.  The Tiki hut bar has dedicated seating with a bar zone surrounding it so if you came to REALLY drink, you’re separate from diners although it seems that everyone who visits Turtle Bay shares a love of the Caribbean spirit.  Plus, with a whole host of different rums on offer, the bar menu is as lengthy as the food menu.

Gemma recommends that we try the plantains as an accoutrement and we’re pleased we do, notoriously difficult to deal with, plantains are tricky to get right.  Levi Roots once said that only Caribbean women know how to peel plantains and that there’s a definite knack to it – he’s not wrong.  Ours arrive perfectly ripe and fried up to give a subtle crunch to the outside with sweet banana-y goodness on the inside.  I’ll be honest Voyeurs, these are the best thing on the Turtle Bay menu and something that’s largely overlooked because a lot of people still don’t know what plantains are.  Go there, try them, love them, thank me later.  I could have eaten six bowls of these quite happily as a main course and at £2.80 per portion, they’re cheaper than a beer.

When it comes to main courses at Turtle Bay, the menu is cleverly divided up into sub headers geared up for how hungry you are.  There’s a huge selection of over 50 dishes varying from street food through to their famous signature One Pots.  Everything is freshly prepared in the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant which is lit in a way so that you can see inside from wherever you are in the dining area, it’s a nice touch and something that’s typical in the Caribbean.

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Mains
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Lamb Rump
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough One Pot
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Plantains

We opted for lamb Rump with a spiced sweet mash to die for and the Curry Shrimp and Mango One Pot with Jamaican style sticky rice.  Everything at Turtle Bay delivers a certain amount of spice, whether you like it subtle or full on, each dish is prepared to bring the heat.  Even the lamb was mildly spiced and the curry shrimp was laden with heat but with a coconut creaminess to take the edge off.  If the heat gets too much, Turtle Bay have a selection of creamy coolers perfect for quelling the heat, the elderflower cooler is the equivalent of turning the gas down a notch and servers are well equipped to advise which drink to have on stand by if things get too hot to handle.  The food is good.  Very good in fact.  If you’re a fan of spice then this is one for your list, the meat is slow cooked and tender and the flavour is palpable but not over bearing in everything that’s served.  Where some places pile on the spice, Turtle Bay maintains the flavours but gently warms them up with spice, and balances the spice with coconut.

The portions at Turtle Bay are pretty good too, we managed a starter and a main course but it all would have ended in tears if I’d attempted to squeeze in a dessert too – yes Voyeurs, I *sometimes* know my limits – although the dessert menu is packed with traditional Caribbean favourites that you’re unlikely to see on regular dining menus.  If you’re looking for a real taste of the Caribbean then you can’t go far wrong with Turtle Bay, with branches all over the UK you’re bound to find one close by and menus are updated regularly to reflect seasonal changes.  I’d highly recommend the Curry Shrimp One Pot with six sides of Plantains, oh, and grab yourself a cocktail and some sort of cooler before you even start eating, you’ll need it….

Pixie xo

Big thanks to Turtle Bay Middlesbrough who gifted us our lunch and to Gemma who helped me discover my new favourite side dish.

 

 

 

 

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…

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Beach Hut Bar
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Cocktail Reception
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Bar Aspect

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.

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Back Section
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Booth Dining
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Tiki Bar

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 Middlesbrough Sharing Platter
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Sweetcorn Fritter Platter

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.

Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Dessert Platter
Turtle Bay Middlesbrough Green Bottle

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 Food Shots Goat Curry
HH Turtle Bay Food Shoot Beach platter 002

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: Uncategorized

Dainty Lou & Dolly Rockers Store Launch

This weekend I was invited to the launch of a boutique in Middlesbrough so I put on my stonewash jeans, packed up my Tom Ford tote and off I set.

It’s less of a new launch and more of a “coming together”.  The boutique I’m visiting is called Dainty Lou and it’s recently moved into shared premises with another local boutique called Dolly Rockers.

IMG_0249 IMG_0354  IMG_0291 IMG_0293

Dainty Lou owner, Leah Kirby, had been trading out of the Forbes Building in Middlesbrough for some time before deciding it was time for a move.  Leah says that the Forbes Building is on the outskirts of town and just didn’t get the footfall of other, busier areas of Middlesbrough.  The clothing she makes herself is stocked in various fashion boutiques in the region, one of which is Dolly Rockers on Baker Street.  She struck up a friendship with Leigh Gallacher, the owner of Dolly Rockers and a fashion and accessory alliance was born.

Baker Street, Middlesbrough has a cool, urban feel to it, lined with independent boutiques, vintage stores, record shops and funky hair salons it’s hard to miss This joint boutique.  The front of the building is mint green and pink, alluding to the kitsch products you might find inside and the window display filled with vivid colour and kooky frocks.

I’m greeted by cupcakes, fizz and the friendly faces of Leah and Leigh who tell me that it just made sense for Dainty Lou to move into the same premises as Dolly Rockers;  the boutique is small and interesting, there are fixtures and fittings made from crates and a vintage till and suitcase in the front section which makes up the Dolly Rockers brand.  At the back of the store is Dainty Lou, it’s a clean and uncluttered space with a studio feel and there are vibrant prints on display.  Leah makes most of the clothing herself at home and buys in around ten percent of what she sells from local North East manufacturers or fashion students.  There’s a real eclectic mix in Dainty Lou, from ice cream and unicorn print tees to gingham co-ords and some real quirky swimwear.

IMG_0351 IMG_0352  IMG_0254  IMG_0273

Leah makes the jewellery she sells in-store too and she tells me it’s been really popular with customers, there’s a mix of rings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces and in the run up to Festival Season Leah is stocking flower crowns and metallic tattoo’s that are guaranteed to sell out.  There’s a feature wall of necklaces in picture frames, Leah tells me she wanted to put them out on display but wanted it to be different from a regular, run of the mill jewellery display.  Dainty Lou also stocks bath bombs, wax melts and candles and Leah tells me that these are all good sellers.  Customers of Dainty Lou are encouraged to send in their selfies wearing items from the store and in return they’re rewarded with a £5 discount off their next purchase, customers are loyal and there’s a feeling of community here, it’s apparent when customers arrive in store and Leah instantly recognises them.

IMG_0353 IMG_0258 IMG_0324 IMG_0361

Dolly Rockers is a little different.  Leigh buys in most of her stock, including some of Leah’s designs, her love of faux fur is evident as there are various faux fur and faux fur-trimmed pieces around the store in shades of pastels.  Leigh also makes feather trimmed bags in a variety of colours (in fact she’s working on an orange one as we speak, it’s for herself and it’s for a big night out).  There are re-worked vintage pieces including some really cool original Christian Dior silk shirts that have been re-worked into cropped shirts with hoods, with their seventies and eighties style prints they ‘re perfect for SS15.

IMG_0289 IMG_0300 IMG_0287

IMG_0299 IMG_0356 IMG_0358 IMG_0285

If you’re in or around Middlesbrough then the Dainty Lou and Dolly Rockers store is definitely worth a look, there’s a real eclectic mix of clothing and accessories and the girls are friendly and happy to give advice, and if you do happen to visit, don’t forget to upload your selfies to the Dainty Lou website for a discount off your next purchase!

Pixie x

For more information on Dainty Lou visit www.daintylou.co.uk where you can also shop online

Want to engage on social media?

Dainty Lou

Twitter: @daintyloux

Facebook: www.facebook.com/daintylou

Dolly Rockers

Twitter: @dollyrockers3

 

People will stare, make it worth their while

Pixie Tenenbaum

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