Slims Pork Chop Express BBQ club...

I am quite a night owl and I love my food, so a concept which combines being out late with good food is sure to be a winner in my eyes. I was therefore pleased to get the chance to go along to the cooler than cool Slims Pork Chop Express* in Liverpool to try out their bbq club. The idea is simple, from Thursday to Sunday late night bbq club serves up an irresistible menu of fried chicken, smoked meat, shellfish and burgers which conjure up the spirit of the deep south in the heart of Liverpool. 

We were welcomed at the bar area, where a dj was playing; neon signs and chalkboard style menus create a stylish and fun aesthetic. We were led to a cosy candlelit table with wooden bench style seating complete with Slims Pork Chop Express cushions. I sipped a glass of chilled white wine as we perused a menu filled with mouthwatering goodies such as slow smoked baby back ribs, soft shell crab and loaded burgers.

We ordered a couple of milkshakes, one was salted caramel and the other was peanut butter; both were sweet and tasty. Our meal started with a tin of Louisiana Crayfish boiled in spicy stock, served with spicy sausage and corn and finished in garlic butter. Rolls of paper towel were provided and we set to work getting the crayfish out of the shells, they were meaty and succulent with a spicy flavour. The sausage and corn provided counterparts which perfectly balanced with the crayfish and this was a tasty and hearty way to start the meal.

For the main I ordered Kornflake fried chicken which was a revelation, the chicken was cooked to tender perfection and the crispy cornflake batter was golden. This was an elevated fried chicken experience and the array of custom sauces complemented this dish perfectly with tangy and smoky flavours. 

My dining companion chose the 3 winds burger, a single beef patty with melted cheese, bbq pulled pork, onion ring and slaw. The towering burger arrived wrapped up in paper and sealed with a sticker, a cute touch which gave the burger an American diner appearance. Once unwrapped it was revealed in its full glory, and my dining companion declared the burger to be one of the best he had ever tasted. Upon sampling this I agreed, the smoky pulled pork worked so well with the other components and the burger delivered in flavour and satisfaction. Crispy hand cut sweet potato fries and skin-on home fries completed our meal, which was a feast we will not forget in a hurry!

Slims Pork Chop Express feels like a real discovery which you will not want to relinquish once you find it, the food is excellent and the space feels welcoming with exposed brickwork, custom artwork and a funky soundtrack. The milkshakes and Kornflake fried chicken alone are reason enough to meander up to the top of Seel Street and check out Slims Pork Chop Express bbq club for yourselves when you get a chance. They also do epic Sunday Roasts and their legendary Dim Sum & Daquiri Tuesdays as well as the usual menu which includes smoked meats, bbq trays and burgers.

Late night bbq club: 

Thursday & Sunday 9pm-late

Friday & Saturday 10pm-late

Slims Pork Chop Express

85 Seel Street. 

Liverpool

L1 4BB 

www.slimsporkchop.com

What do you all think, do you like the idea of a late night bbq club and which of these dishes would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo

*I was invited to try Slims Pork Chop Express BBQ Club, the meal was complimentary for review purposes. Opinions expressed herein are my own and honest. 

A voyage of cocktails at Red Door Chester...

You know by now how partial I am to a cocktail or two, so it was a pleasure to be invited along to Red Door Chester recently to sample a few of their cocktail menu options. After a warm welcome from the lovely Sam, we were seated in cosy booths where we could soak up the intimate atmosphere of the bar which has a hidden away feeling with the bar dominating the centre of the space. We would be sampling a selection of cocktails during the evening, but first we were treated to welcome drink of Fizz Your Bean, which is one of my favourite drinks at Red Door; a sweet concoction raspberry and Prosecco with a jelly bean in the bottom of the glass.

I have to say, I was very excited to try The One With The Balloon, this was my first time sampling a cocktail which comes complete with its own balloon and I loved the sense of fun this conveyed. This cocktail was an irresistible blend of Ketel One Vodka, homemade rhubarb syrup, rhubarb liqueur lemon juice, egg white and custard essence. The balloon is filled with lemon grass infused helium so that when you pop it, the scented air adds to the heady experience of the drink. I would say this is perfect for celebrations, a really special cocktail.

Before long it was time for the fiery creation of Caramelised Rum Punch, a heady blend of rum and fruit which is heated over a stove before your eyes. The theatre of this drink is incredible and there is pure entertainment in watching cocktails like this being prepared. Red Door always excel with their theatrical choice of cocktails and Old Smokey is another favourite of mine. This was a tasty and refreshing cocktail which would be lovely on a sunny day and watching this being made was a real treat, with the flames flaring up as the drink was made. 

I like ordering gin goblets when I go out at the moment, and the Big Dill consisted of Tanqueray gin, watermelon syrup, dill, fresh Amaranthe and a slice of watermelon, finished with Fevertree tonic water. This was such a refreshing and unusual take on a gin and tonic which tasted as good as it looked. I have tried various gin goblets recently and this was the first one I have tried with watermelon in it, which worked so well. 

The South Beach Sour was a tangy creation of Cocchi Americano, passionfruit syrup and egg white. Another summery drink which conjured up distant shores, this was a favourite of mine during the evening. I liked the variety of the cocktails we tried as there was something for everybody. 

Without doubt, a good espresso martini is one of my all-time favourite cocktails, one which I often order at the end of the evening when I have been out to dinner, so I was thrilled to see an Espresso Jalisco on the menu. Patron xo café tequila, vanilla vodka and espresso are blended to make this smooth and delicious cocktail which is sure to wake you up. This was the final drink of the evening and I thought this classic creation was a great way to round off proceedings. 

It was such a fun evening and I like the way that Red Door go the extra mile with the creation of their cocktails, combining knowledge with theatrical mixology which results in irresistible drinks. Red Door is a great place for a night out and I am looking forward to visiting the Chester bar again soon for some more delicious drinks! A big thank you to Sam and the team for a lovely night. 

Red Door 

St John Street 

Chester 

CH1 1HL 

www.reddoor.uk.com/

What do you all think, have you been to Red Door and which of these cocktails would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post. 

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

A decadent brunch...

When you have time one weekend or on your day off, you might feel like treating yourself to a slightly more decadent brunch which can be enjoyed at leisure. This American pancake recipe is very simple and easy to make and it goes well with a wide variety of toppings. This is the perfect brunch to enjoy in bed, with a pile of newspapers and a pot of fresh coffee to hand. Bliss.

I made these a few weeks ago and I have been meaning to get around to posting the recipe, but I have had so much content to get up to date with lately. Now it is finally time to share this and I have to say that these make a picture perfect breakfast or brunch which is definitely Instagram worthy! I had so much fun making and styling these and they are great to make if you feel like spoiling your other half (and looking as though you have made a huge effort when in fact it takes anything but!)

They are pretty as a picture and they taste just as good as they look, so what are you waiting for, whip up a batch and spoil yourself (or someone else) you won’t be sorry. After just a minimal amount of effort you can enjoy a restaurant style brunch without having to leave the house. 

These taste amazing topped with maple syrup, fresh berries and a little icing sugar but you could also serve them the American way with fried eggs and crispy bacon or even as a dessert with Nutella and ice cream. The best thing about these is how easy they are to make; I really like having pancakes as a treat for brunch because I only have them once in a while. Usually, I order these when I go out for brunch but now I like making them at home too. 

 Ingredients 

135g/4¾oz plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2 tbsp sugar

130ml/4½fl oz milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 tbsp melted butter 

Oil for cooking 

Method

Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the milk, egg and (cooled) melted butter together. Combine the milk mixture and flour mixture, beating well in to a smooth batter. 

Heat oil or butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, then add a enough batter for a pancake to the pan (cook more than one at the same time in a larger pan). When the top of the pancake begins to bubble, turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown and the pancake is fluffy. Serve hot in a stack, and top with whatever you prefer. Simple. 

This would make a lovely brunch for a celebration too, I can imagine serving these with Mimosa cocktails and bowls of different toppings for your guests to add to their pancakes. 

What do you all think, do you like pancakes and will you be trying this recipe? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post. 

Until next time,

Camille 

xo

Dinner at the pub on a sunny evening...

I like to bring you a wide variety of food content here on Coco Cami, so that you can all find something to appeal to you here. It is funny because although it sounds like a cliché, I feel as though I know you all in person and that I am chatting to my friends when I write these posts. I like to keep that chatty and approachable feel here which is more informal than my writing style for print.
Anyway, after that rambling intro (!) down to business and last weekend we were not sure what to do on Friday evening so we decided to go up to the pub and have dinner in the garden there.

The Cottage Loaf is a quaint and traditional pub located just outside West Kirby in Thurstaston, Wirral. We decided on starters and mains because we were both feeling hungry after a long day. I had fish goujons which were crispy and golden served with a creamy dip.

My dining companion chose the garlic tear and share bread to start with, which was soft and doughy with an intense garlic flavour and a garnish of balsamic and salad leaves.

We ordered a bottle of chilled prosecco and soaked up the sun whilst we awaited our mains. I chose the lemon and chilli pappardelle with chicken; the portion size was good and the sauce was rich and creamy with a nice lemon flavour and just a hint of chilli. Pasta dishes served in a creamy sauce are a weakness of mine and this one was tasty and satisfying, a dish that I would order again.

My dining companion chose the southern fried chicken burger, a classic which is hard to beat when done well. The chicken burger was tender, served in a doughy sesame bun with accompaniments of crispy fries, chipotle sauce and coleslaw. All in all a well-rounded burger which was hearty and tasty, especially when enjoyed in the sunshine with a couple of drinks!

Even simple food like this can be so good when it is made the right way and this was a lovely way to spend a Friday evening.

We decided to skip desserts as we were full from the mains, but the desserts served to neighbouring tables looked tempting. The Cottage Loaf is part of the Old English Inns group, and it has been a regular favourite of ours for a while due to the large beer garden where it is perfect to soak up the sun (when it decides to shine that is!) we had such a nice meal at The Cottage Loaf and we will definitely be dining there more often over the summer as the food is good, portions are generous and prices are reasonable…best of all they serve chilled prosecco so if you needed any further convincing that should be enough!

The Cottage Loaf 

338 Telegraph Road 

Thurstaston 

CH61 0HJ 

www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

What do you all think, have you ever dined at one of the Old English Inn locations and which of these dishes would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo

Browns Manchester new menu launch...

I always like to pop across to Manchester and I had an invitation to attend the Browns new menu launch last week, so I had a good reason to do so. I was eager to visit Browns Manchester, having never been there before despite having dined at Browns Liverpool on a few occasions.
Browns is a classic bar and brasserie and the Manchester location is housed in an opulent building which was once a bank.

It was a sunny afternoon and after exploring the city a little, I was looking forward to trying some of the goodies on the Browns menu. We were warmly welcomed and talked through the evening, which had several things to keep us amused such as an ale tasting, cocktails and of course the chance to try some of the dishes on the menu.

There was a cocktail station in one corner of the room where mixologists were busy making us some delicious drinks ideal for summer, including some with prosecco and Hendricks Gin cocktails garnished with fresh cucumber.

I got a chance to meet some lovely people and we chatted over cocktails before the food arrived. We were treated to duck bon bons, mini steak and kidney pies served in teacups, mini beer battered fish and chips, goats cheese and tomato bruschetta and mini fish cakes followed by chocolate brownies.

Delicious! The atmosphere was really vibrant as both the restaurant and bar were full of people enjoying the evening. I will be visiting Browns Manchester in the future to try some more of the food, I liked the dishes we tried which I think will prove popular.

Browns 

1 York St, 

Manchester 

M2 2AW

https://www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/

What do you all think, have you dined at Browns and which of these dishes would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille 

xo