I often lament the lack of good Italian food in Nottingham so it’s about time I gave Bar Gigi a shot. Opening in 2021 it describes itself as a ‘Modern Italian’s restaurant. Inside it really fits the bill, a sense of history and character from wooden beams but primarily a smart contemporary aesthetic. The seating snakes nicely around a central bar which keeps things spacious and light. Apparently no restaurant can open (or survive?) without a central ‘small plates’ concept. If you long for more traditional Italian fare then you may be disappointed. They do offer 3 larger dishes that could be co ..read more

It’s been a long time since a West Bridgford review. In fact it might have been the disappointing experience I had at the then newly opened La Storia. I have heard positive things since from the locals not only about the aforementioned Italian restaurant but also some new venues like Cuzina. I say new, apparently its on its 2nd refurb after having opened in 2017! I like whatever they have done to the place, an attractive terrace sits on Radcliffe Road opposite the imposing Trent Bridge. Inside its whitewashed walls do give a Mediterranean feel, though if you’re sitting further back it’s lackin ..read more

As we enter our season of themes, where each member brings a bottle and we taste blind, I will only highlight a few of the best (or most interesting) wines of the week. — 1st May – vintages ending in a 4. Pouilly-Fume, Rambauilt, 2004. A touch smoky initially but mostly aromatic with a greenness. The palate was incredibly vibrant for its 20 years, great acidity, bone dry with a core of clean citrus fruit and a streak of minerality. Montana East Coast, 2004 from NZ was perhaps the most interesting of a handful of middle of the road Bordeaux blends. It was all tomato leaf and green pepper. There ..read more

This new addition to the city centre claims to “Explore the authenticity and excitement of a true Chinese Takeaway”. Their polished website, that feels like it’s been written by AI, claims they have been “taming the wok since 1968”. I wander past one evening and decide I should give it a go. They have had a pretty swish fit out with some stylish chairs, which combine with the exposed brick and paintings of Asian streets to all seem disconnected. It’s quite a wide menu, not just boxes of noodles but Bao, loaded fries and more. I’m wanting to be a bit healthy and to test their claims of authenti ..read more

My latest piece for The Great Food Club, celebrating some of the dependable favourites that are easily overlooked when shiny new things come along. https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/still-got-it-excellent-nottinghamshire-restaurants-that-have-stood-the-test-of-time/ — I thought I would do a full review of French Living alongside this wider piece and pay homage to their 30 years in Nottingham. There is so much charm to their rustic style; small thick rimmed wine glasses, chalkboard menus and of course many familiar and comforting dishes to choose from. Prices are around £10 for starters and £20-3 ..read more

Our final ‘tutored’ tasting of the season was from a member who has spent much time in Cyprus over the years. His passion for the country and the region was clear to see and the evolution in the wine industry sounds like it has been significant. Many of these wines and grapes were new to me which is always fun! I am going to group the sparkling and still rose into one group for brevity. They appear to be making this style for (British?) tourists as the traditional rose wines are a lot more dark in colour and don’t appeal to holidaymakers! Anyway these generally had too much sweetness for the g ..read more

I regularly get asked to suggest somewhere in Nottingham that people might not have been to. Balageru has been my most reliable answer for a while. It’s only a stones throw from the Victoria centre and sitting at the bottom of Mansfield Road among takeaways and off licenses it is definitely easy to miss. Inside there are few bells or whistles with a pretty basic room that fits only a few tables. I will readily admit a lack of knowledge about African cuisine, it may shock you but it wasn’t a mainstay of my Fenland upbringing. I am taking the restaurant’s self identification as Ethiopian & E ..read more

I have been away this week so the report is by Peter who has more than capably stepped in and shared his notes. [Alec: with a better palate & wine writing lexicon…] Cheverny has low name recognition, but that might change as its main grape varieties are fashionable: Sauvignon Blanc for whites, Pinot Noir for reds. To please an even wider audience, whites can include Chardonnay; reds Gamay and Malbec. Chinon, meanwhile, is one of France’s best-value classic red wines, as this tasting for the most part reminded. Cheverny, Benoit Darien, 2021. Aromatic, with notes of cellery, yellow grass and ..read more

The first time I am writing about a blind bottle format. In short most of the wines are covered so we don’t know what we are tasting and then revealed. — A sparkling wine to start. Some nice age and autolytics immediately present on the nose with some ripe apple and citrus. High acidity on palate, green apple at the front with lemon curd as it developed in the mouth. A pleasant little bitterness on the finish. Lacking a touch of persistence at this stage of its life but soft and enjoyable. Could only be English and was a Leckford 2011 before their Waitrose partnership. Currently around £30. T ..read more

Starting on Hounds Gate in 2017 the No.Twelve team have quietly been making a name for themselves over the last few years. I went some years ago but it was early in their evolution and before their menus changed significantly. No.Twelve now offers an evening tasting menu and lunch time small plates alongside some special one-off evenings including wines pairings. The restaurant is made up of a couple of small rooms around a central bar area with exposed brick throughout. On a sunny springtime day its a lovely spot to while away a few hours. The small plates menu I tried sees a dozen options at ..read more