Well after a long slog, we can start looking forward to pub gardens and dining at restaurants again!
The current roadmap says that outdoor hospitality can return from 12 April, and indoor hospitality from 17 May, both dependent on data, but many bars and restaurants have already reopened their bookings for summer, so if you’re ready take a look at your favourites to get some dates in the diary!
For the moment it’s still all about deliveries and online events, so I’ve got a few suggestions for the coming weeks below. Tell me what you end up eating over on Twitter or Instagram, or follow A Life Less Organised on Facebook for more food & drinks news throughout the month.
News
You wait for an indie-focused alternative to Deliveroo and two show up at once! The locally-based BARBI app (featuring local indies such as Wings Diner, Cafe Kino, The Cloak & Dagger, Beirut Mezze and Pizza Bianchi) only works with independents, takes a lower rate of commission on orders and also pays their drivers more. Foodstuff is a zero emissions delivery service focused on independents and is working with some great businesses such as Nutmeg, Bertha’s Pizza and Cargo Cantina.
With the lockdown easing meaning the outdoor areas of restaurants and pubs can open first, there are already some creative plans from smaller businesses in the city – The Cauldron in St Werburghs have opened bookings for The Table, an exclusive, single table of 6 out on their terrace. Will you get a golden ticket?
Good Chemistry Brewing wants you to help your favourite pubs restock their cellars in the lead-up to their planned re-opening in April. With their ‘Help Us Help Pubs’ initiative, for every case of cans bought from Good Chemistry’s webshop from now until 12th April, the customer will receive a 10% discount and the opportunity to nominate a pub of their choice. Nominated pubs receive credit towards GCB beer when they’re finally allowed to re-open. Win win!
If you’re looking for Easter treats, there are already some gorgeous eggs and themed goodies available from Zara’s Chocolate, Papadeli, Better Food Co. and some vegan options from Chocbox.
Speaking of Easter, Pinkmans have a great competition at the moment where you can win a chocolate filled hamper including a Chocolarder Easter egg, Chocolarder sea salt truffles, Rabitos Royale chocolate covered figs, praline covered almonds and Chocolarder Virunga 75% Dark, Cinnamon Toasted Nibbed Cacao 74% Dark & Cornish Honeycomb 50% Milk bars. Enter here.
It’s also St Patrick’s Day on 17th March, so get into a celebratory mood with some Irish specials from Espensen Spirit, including a selection of tasty stouts, and some stout & porter cocktails.
You can also do your bit to support a couple of great local producers this month – Dawkins Ales in Easton have launched a crowdfunder to secure the future of the brewery. There are some good rewards up for grabs including beer sets, brewery tours and more. You can also support the fundraising efforts from Bristol Distilling Co. and their plans to invest in their taproom and to start distilling whisky.
Mothering Sunday
There are plenty of options to treat the special lady in your life, I’ve also got more ideas in my Foodie Gift Guide, or am updating the highlight on my Instagram page. Of course you could treat yourself, a friend or a partner to any of these goodies too – I’m eyeing up a few of them for myself…
- Bomboloni are doing a special Mother’s Day afternoon tea for £25.
- Hart’s Bakery are doing a special take home meal for customers for collection on Friday 12th & Saturday 13th. The courses are porchetta with toasted cashew & apricot stuffing, fennel & chilli crackling, garlic & rosemary new potatoes, peperonata & salsa verde, and for pudding: sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce. Meals are £16 each.
- Fennel & Twine are doing a Mother’s Day menu from £20pp.
- Psychopomp & Snowdrops Floristry are doing gin & flowers boxes, whether you want to send a bouquet or flower crown kit with G&Ts.
- Espensen Spirit are doing various cocktail, mocktail and beer boxes for Mother’s Day gifts.
- All About the Cooks have a range of options from local home cooks, including gift vouchers, Mother’s Day hampers and treat boxes and a range of alternative Sunday roasts, including Duygu’s Turkish inspired roast stuffed chicken, to Mona’s whole roasted duck with orange and cinnamon.
- There are a range of cake and sweet treat boxes available from ANNA Cake Couture, Bakers and Co. , Becci Bakes and Zara’s Chocolates.
- Vegan treat boxes are available from The Spotless Leopard.
- Pearly King Cakes in Redland are doing cakes and tulips to collect on Sat 13th March.
- Snobby’s are doing a special gift pack of Champagne and a bouquet of flowers.
- Bishopston Supper Club are doing cream teas and gift sets of their preserves and homemade rum truffles.
- Dough Heads in Easton are doing a special menu on Mother’s Day, including panzanella salad and a Caesar Pizza with creme fraiche base, roast chicken, anchovies, pancetta, fresh herbs, shaved parmesan and pangrattato.
- Bristol Pantry have a range of Mother’s Day hampers.
- Steak dinner kits are available from Pasture and Mugshot.
- Box Local have a range of Mother’s Day boxes.
- Little Kitchen are doing chocolate truffle making kit and a special afternoon tea.
- Mother’s Day roast kits are available from The Ox, Bar 44, Ruby & White and the award-winning Bank Tavern.
- For beer fans, Lost & Grounded are doing a gift set of beers, glassware, a bottle opener and a box of Guilberts chocolates – £5 from each gift box is being donated to Womankind Bristol Women’s Therapy Centre.
- Good Chemistry Brewing have a Mother’s Day Special including four of their beers, fudge and a face mask (all vegan friendly).
- Postable treats from Ahh Toots, Mrs Potts Chocolate House and various grazing box from Pickle & Pear, Bristol Graze Galore.
- Skyboat Cafe are doing a Mother’s Day afternoon tea which also comes with a bunch of flowers.
More meal kit and delivery ideas are in my Lockdown Essentials Guide.
Events
Add these dates to your calendar!
- Bring your dinner and join the Bristol online community feasts on 9th, 16th and 23rd March.
- Book onto the Summer Brunch Party with Box-E and Psychopomp on Sun 28th (and keep an eye out for Box-E’s picnic box which will be released later this month) – the brunch is £40 between two people, with two courses of food plus some paired cocktails.
- Avery’s next online wine tasting is on Wed 31st, featuring four specially selected full bottles of wine and a tutored talk for £60.
- Clifton Wine School have two WSET Level 1 courses available to book, either on Sunday evenings or Monday evenings.
- Bristol Wine School has a range of online wine tastings all priced at £15 for the Zoom session and including a recommended wine shopping list. Upcoming events include Discover Organic, Biodynamic & Natural Wines, South African Safari and Champagne Masterclass.
Newbies
The new places keep coming! Newly-opened places include Burra cafe in Redland, a new Bristol Cheesemonger counter at the Five Acre Farm shop located in the Tobacco Factory.
We have a new brewery in town in the form of Newtown Park Brewing Co., plus a potential new brewpub from Bunnyhop Brewing in St Phillips later this year.
Pasta Loco have a new shop based in the restaurant which also features a Pizza Bianchi pop-up, and Pizza is Lovely is a new vegetarian & vegan pizza delivery specialising in Detroit style pizza.
Coming soon include a new deli from Wilson’s in Redland, Pizza on the Park in what was formerly Pizza Express on Park St, and The Pony & Trap now has an opening date for it’s new bistro on North St in Southville – set your alarms for 19th May!
That’s it for this month, you can read more on my Lockdown Essentials Guide and Bristol Foodie Gift Guide. I’ll also be updating all other food & drink guides on the blog once places start to reopen.
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