Best steaks at The Ox!

"If you are gonna spend 27 quid for a steak, you;d better be sure it is the best steak in the world"

When I read that on Twitter the other day, I instantly knew they were talking about The Ox, a very good steak restaurant in Bristol. Unless you know where the restaurant is, it is very likely that you'd miss it. It is hidden in the basement below The Commercial Rooms on Corn Street.

We chose The Ox for a celebration dinner. Just to make sure we'd get a table, we decided to book it in advance. All dressed up, we entered to a cosy bar area where you can grab a drink if your table is not ready or you are waiting for some friends to arrive. There was a formal but relaxed atmosphere in spite of the big group of friends that were having dinner at that moment. Our table was waiting for us in the other (and smaller) room, which I honestly preferred to the other busier room.

The decoration is quirky and it seems that a lot of thought had been put into it as a reminder of past times. I found the grape-shaped lamps very interesting and original. 

We were handed to menu but both of us had already decided that we would have a steak (although there are steak alternatives if you doesn't eat steak).

We ordered one small plate each, Steak Tartare (£7.50) and Pig's Head (£6.50), and some Leeks & Greens (£3.50) to share. We also had a 10.5oz Rib-Eye (£27) and 10.5oz Bavette d'Aloyau (£27). A glass of Rioja red wine and a Belgian beer... and some peanut butter, banana and salted caramel chocolate ice as a dessert.

The food was just fabulous. Starters were very nice, specially the Steak Tartare, and the meat was perfectly cooked, charred on the outside but succulent inside. And the dessert, even though it could seem to be an odd combination of flavours, was very tasty. The service was brilliant, attentive but not fussy at the same time.

I know it is not an cheapest place. However, for a special occasion, it will be worth every penny you'll pay. Nonetheless, there are also some set menus for lunch (£14-17) and early-bird evening meals (£12.50) in a more than affordable prices. I highly recommend the place!

WEBSITE: http://theoxbristol.com/

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Graduate Director's Cuts: Treats

"Dave returns home to find the locks changed and his girlfriend living with another man. In an attempt to win her back, he begins to insinuate himself into their lives. Under the surface of this witty, urban love triangle is an unsettling examination of the cycles of power and abuse."

That was the story of the theatre show I went yesterday at the Brewery Theatre, right across the road from the Tobacco Factory. It was the press night for "Treats", a dramatic story of the love-triangle between Dave, Ann and Patrick set in a 1974 single room flat in London. A violent tempered Dave refuses to accept that her ex-girlfriend is living with her lover Patrick, demanding an explanation and bullying her and being overly friendly with Patrick. He finally succeeds, making both of them miserable. After watching these three young actors interpret three completely different characters, my mind keeps going round in circles. Why do we, women, always prefer the bad-boy to the nice and gentle man? Why do we like to suffer? I don't have the answer but what I thought it would be a comedy theatre play ended up being a very dramatic situation. After all, I guess they both deserve each other.

It was the second performance of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Graduate Director's Cuts season. It started last week with Laura McLean directing "Little One" by Hannah Moscovitch and last night, it was Christopher Hampton's "Treats", directed by Josey O'Neal. The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is one of the most successful and well-respected conservatoire drama schools in the UK. It attracts the very best talent in students and staff, and it’s courses are recognised nationally and internationally as a benchmark of quality in professional drama training. It has been a centre of excellence for world-class vocational training in the arts and entertainment industry since its launch in 1946. 

Would you like to go see what Bristol's artists offer? It's not too late! Book your ticket for the next performances (ticket's between £7-£12):

• "Woman and Scarecrow" by Marina Carr (directed by Siobhan Cannon-Brownlie and designed by Elina Pieridou). 12-16 May 2015

Woman lies dying of spite, attempting to avoid a confrontation with death, who waits in the wardrobe. Accompanied by Scarecrow, Woman is visited by her heartless husband, and her overbearing auntie. Moving and funny, Woman and Scarecrow is a eulogy for a wasted life, from a woman unprepared for death.

• "The boy on the swing" by Joe Harbot (directed by Laura Jasper and designed by Elizabeth Harper). 19-23 May 2015

"What if, for a small fee, you had the opportunity to meet with God. Believer or non-believer, would you be tempted? Earl Hunt is. Join him on a bizarre and unpredictable journey that challenges personal beliefs in the pursuit of happiness and the desire to believe in something more."

INTERESTING LINKS

TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRE: http://www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/

BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL: http://www.oldvic.ac.uk/
"Treats" by Christopher Hampton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treats

Make Sunday Special is bigger than ever!

Make Sunday Special is back... and even bigger and better than ever, apparently! The event gets bigger and bigger every year and for this year, the city council wants reach some of Bristol's neighbourhoods as well as having the fun in the city centre too. 

For those who are not familiarised with Make Sunday Special, it is a unique chance to walk, enjoy, play and have fun in the city's busiest streets. It happens only during summertime, the first Sunday of each month, when several streets were closed to the traffic, and food, vintage clothing, jewellery and souvenir stalls... take over the streets. There is also family games, relaxing areas and very good atmosphere! 

The city centre will celebrate Make Sunday Special every first Sunday of the month from May until September and the neighbourhoods will have one day celebration (Bedminster, 14th June; Hartcliffe 6th September; Avonmouth 13th September; Easton and Lawrence Hill (tbc). 

There is a list of market stalls and street traders already confirmed on the official website (here) but application forms for trader applicants are still online. If you are interested in trading at one of the events, I am sure they's love to hear from you!

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

2014: Let's keep Sunday's special

2013: Making Sunday's Special: Highlights

Lady Boys of Bangkok @ Castle Park

Yesterday, I started the week off right with the Lady Boys of Bangkok. The best therapy to recharge your batteries with a spectacular cabaret show of dance, music, choreography... and great sense of humour! The Lady Boys are a honourable part of the rich cultural heritage of Thailand and for the 17th time, the Thailand's best-known export has come back to Bristol!

This year, the brand new show called Beauties and the Beats does not disappoint. An almost 2-hour show featuring from Grease to The Sound of Music, from Rihanna to Cindy Lauper, from jazz to disco music… everything is accepted and welcome in a brilliant shinny show full of flamboyant costumes. The audience, who is peacefully sitting around round tables, enjoy their drinks and food with their friends until some of them are randomly picked up to be part of the show! Just get on the stage and be ready to be seduced by one of the 16 lady boys! 

You have until next Saturday, 25^th April, to get your tickets (starting from £19.50; students £14.50) and enjoy one of the shows! Shows are at 18:30 and 20:30 at The Sabai Pavilion at Castle Park, which also features authentic Thai food (around £6-7) and a pair of licensed bars, so you won’t even need to worry about cooking the dinner that day! Highly recommended!

Website: http://www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk/

Copyright of pictures: Lady Boys of Bangkok

It's not a bike, it's not a pizza shop: It's The Pizza Bike!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to met and chat with Angel. He is The Pizza Bike, a Bulgarian guy on his orange magical bicycle, selling the most bizarre pizzas here and there.  

GLPCB: Tell us a little bit about the story of your life. Why did you come and how long have you been in the UK? 

THE PIZZA BIKE: The short version of the story is that I have been travelling quite a lot. I have been in the UK for 4 years so far. I am originally from Bulgaria but I have been living abroad for the last 10 years, some of which in the USA. I settled down in Bath now. I studied Tourism at the university but I am a professional tourist (he laughs).

Angel came up with a very original business opportunity that 'is fully independent, produces minimum waste and encourages people to spend more time out in the wild enjoying nature and eating well'.

GLPCB: I am curious... when and how did the idea of The Pizza Bike come up?

THE PIZZA BIKE: Well... for the last two years, I have been mountain biking with friends and we used to bring a portable bbq many times. Last year, I wised I could be able to cook something outdoors a little bit more elaborated like a pizza. So, I started thinking on how I could do that. First, I tried putting a ceramic tile in one of the bbqs... and had been able to make a few pizzas. Once this worked, I wanted to find a way to incorporate it to the bike and I manage to create a prototype. Then, I brought the prototype to the Harbour Festival last year and this was how it started. 

The Pizza Bike is a project of two people now. Angel, who is the ideator of the project and Ana, who has recently joined the Pizza Bike and is here to stay.

GLPCB: How does this second person, Ana, join the project?
THE PIZZA BIKE: That is very funny, actually. Even though I could sell pizas on my own, I think The Pizza Bike is a two-"men"'s project so I put an advertisement on the Facebook group "Españoles en Bristol" and Ana was the first one to reply. She happens to be an artist, she a master in Fine Arts, she like photography, she likes the project... so I told her "Welcome on-board!". 

GLPCB: How was the response of the customers at the beginning?

THE PIZZA BIKE: It is amazing so far. My friends and family, they know about the project since the beginning, and even then they were not quite sure it could work. In February, I went to Victoria Park with some friends to try The Pizza Bike and as it was supposed to be a cloudy day, we assumed we would be alone... but it happened to be beautiful day, the park was packed. People in the park were curious and came to see what was going on, how it worked. So, it ended up being a good day!

The Pizza Bike is powered by pedal power, fire and electricity and it has an award winning portable pizza oven, pizzas can be made in just about 2 minutes and pizzas are cooked right in front of you. The Pizza Bike accepts major credit cards at no extra charge.

GLPCB: The bike looks very attractive. Have you designed the whole oven-bike yourself?

THE PIZZA BIKE: Yes. I started in November, properly getting all the bits and pieces. At the beginning I was thinking that I could get somebody to build it for me. So, I contacted a few shops that were doing this kind of bikes and the guy in one of the shops replied saying that they couldn't take the project as they didn't think it was safe. And, then it's when I realised that I definitely needed to build it myself (he laughs, again). Designing websites is my hobby as well. So, I have done all the graphics of the website too.

GLPCB: It looks impressive to be able to reach high temperatures with a portable oven...

THE PIZZA BIKE: It is! I found that oven last Autumn. I just saw it and though "Ok, this is exactly what I need!". So, I bought the oven, I tested it and it was perfect for the purpose. The company is doing the oven as a new project and it is a clever design. It can reach 450C in about 20 minutes, it's just crazy. It's one of those products that really works. 

The Pizza Bike offers three completely different types of pizza: the Italian classic Marguerita (£6), the American styled Pepperoni (£7) and some Spanish taste Sobrasadita (£8). Additionally, he also has a Cheesy Garlic Bread (£1.99). 

GLPCB: Which one of the three is the most popular among British people?

THE PIZZA BIKE: It is difficult to say... but I think the Margerita is the most popular among British people. But I am insisting on how special the Sobrasadita is, I think this will be popular once people start getting to know it.

All pizzas are made from scratch with no added extraterrestrial chemicals or flavours. In order to ensure the best quality possible, all ingredients are fresh and organic, sourced from local suppliers and traders. Sourdough is used to make dough instead of using yeast or baking soda, and the toppings are also high quality: Italian buffalo mozzarella, pepperoni, Sobrasada from Mallorca, Casadermot's Chorizo, Cheddar cheese from Somerset, olives, hot jalapeño peppers... 

GLPCB: Are you planning on incorporating new toppings in the near future? Maybe a British-style pizza?

THE PIZZA BIKE: Actually, I am thinking about doing something for breakfast, something with bacon and cheese. I have a couple of ideas but first, I need to start going.

According to the website, he has been in Keynsham last weekend, you can find him in Green Park Station (Bath) every Tuesday and Friday in April and May, and  and he will be in Glastonbury Market next weekend. 

GLPCB: I have noticed that you move around the South West area quite a lot. Do you have any plans to settle down in one same place?

THE PIZZA BIKE: I applied at some markets and I am waiting for replies. For example, I will be in Bath for the following 6 weeks in Green Park Station. In May, I am going to be in Bristol during the weekends in the Harbourside Market. I will also be in Cardiff... and for July/August, I am not sure yet.

So, Bristolians! We will have the chance to try his special pizzas from 10th May on at the Harbourside Market! Yuuuummmm... 

http://thepizzabike.co.uk/

0741 547 4298

hello@thepizzabike.co.uk

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Pictures were borrowed from The Pizza Bike website. ;)

Let's go for a walk!

Do you fancy a healthy and friendly walk? Come join the Bristol Walk Fest on Friday 24th April! The Walk Fest 2015 is having a launch event with a difference: a huge, multi-stage walk across Bristol!

The launch event is made up of 20 short (2-3 mile) walks through some of Bristol's nicest green spaces, stopping off at community venues along the way. There will be refreshments at some of the stop points to rest and recover! It's free to take part in the walks, you can join as much/little as you like... or alternatively, catch up with at Cascade Steps from 5.15pm.

Besides the launch event, there will be many other events from 1st until 31st May in this UK's largest urban walking festival.

I found it very interesting that some of the walks will make you travel back in time to a city of Bristol in riot (2nd May), will help you improve your posture through walking (5th May), will introduce you into Tai Chi in a quiet Ashton Court (6th May) or will make you discover Bedminster's hidden stories of love, sex and violence (9th May).

I have selected some interesting (and original) events below but you can download the complete programme here.

• 2nd May - Bristol in riot 1831: a stroll from Totterdown, past Temple Meads and up to Bristol Bridge, through the city centre and calling at places that figured in the riots, ending at the New Gaol. 
  Starts: 10am Duration: 2.5 miles Cost: Free
• 5th May - Improve your posture through walking: after some warm up exercises, a trained walk leader will show you how to improve your breathing and posture while you walk. Get into the rhythm and you will start to feel as though you float!
  Starts: 10am  Duration: 1 mile Cost: Free
• 6th May - ‘Qi’ in the Woods -a mindful excursion: a quiet walk through park and wood, interspersed with pauses for mindfulness meditations, and Qi Gong/Tai Chi exercises for all the senses and deeper awareness of the present moment.
  Starts: 2pm Duration: 3 miles/2 hours Cost: Free
• 9th May - Why Don’t We Do It In the Road (North Street): discover Bedminster’s hidden history of love, sex and violence. Your guides will introduce you to a host of real-life local characters who tell their extraordinary stories. Repeated on 16 & 23 May.
  Starts: 11am Duration: 1 mile/1 hour Cost: £3-5 
• 17th May - Burrington Combe and Dolebury Warren: starting in Burrington Combe we’ll climb up through woods to the ancient hill fort on Dolebury Warren, then skirt the edge of the Mendips before returning. All welcome but aimed at people in their 20s to 40s.
  Starts: 10am Duration: 7.5 miles Cost: Free
• 19th May - Pre-School Storywalk: join us on a buggy-friendly stroll around St George Park, with stories and rhymes to entertain us on the way. Perfect for pre-school children and their parents or carers. Starts: 10:15am Duration: 0.5 miles Cost: Free
• 21st May - Walk in Giants’ footsteps on Dundry Hill: learn about the legend of Gorm, a local giant, as we explore Norton Malreward, Norton Hawkfield, and Maes Knoll hill fort. Magnificent views of the hills around Bristol and even the White Horse of Westbury.
  Starts: 10:30am Duration: 3.5 miles/2.5 hours Cost: Free
• 23rd May - Bristol Nordic Walking: a 40 minute Nordic walk on Clifton Downs with qualified instructors.
  Starts: 10am Duration: 1.5–2 miles Cost: Free  
• 26th May - Pirates Love Underpants Stomping Story: take a sail walk with your kids on the Pirate Ship Black Bloomer in search of the Pants of Gold! After we’ve nabbed the booty, we’ll make a pirate hat to take home. Aimed at children of 3+ years (babies and toddlers go free).
  Starts: 3:45pm Duration: 0.5 miles/45 minutes Cost: £3 per child + booking fee, with adults accompanying for free
• 29th May - Night at the Cementery Guided Tour: revealing the darker side of Arnos Vale Cemetery at dusk, in an atmospheric torchlit exploration of tragic tales, folk customs and funeral etiquette of Victorian society. All welcome, but aimed at a 16+ audience. Starts: 7:30pm Duration: 1.5 miles/1.5 hours Cost: £8.40 + booking fee

WEBSITE: www.bristolwalkingfestival.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/805397009542624

Bristol to Sea Mills: Cycle Path

I took my rusty bike for a ride today. It has been standing in my room for over a year and nobody has used it. The weather has been lush today and there was no excuse to stay in. This 15-km cycle path along River Avon is excellent for beginners and families with young children.

The route is very simple: let's say you start at the Hippodrome, pass the Harbourside and just follow the river towards the Suspension Bridge. In a sunny day, there might be pedestrians walking their dogs or enjoying a family day out, specially until the Pump House. Please, respect them as I saw many cyclist not respecting them today.

The path is completely flat although not ideal if you are looking for some quiet. It goes right next to a busy road and the traffic noise might be loud. The landscapes, however, are gorgeous. I took a couple of pictures on the way, not many... hope you like them!

I turned back at Sea Mills railway station but if you feel like going further, you could get to Shirehampton easily, or even Avonmouth. It is a very enjoyable road!

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.betterbybike.info/regional-cycle-maps/

The Better Food is always in season!

It's Good Friday and St Paul's is quiet today. I walk down Sevier Street and I see people coming in and out of The Better Food Company, a supermarket selling local, organic, ethical and fair-trade goods, apparently open as usual. Outside the shop, I find a poster that says "Fashions come and go. Veg is always in season". Once and for all, I decide to have a look inside.

When I go in, I find a very nice looking and appealing shop with a café next to it. It is the perfect place to find products for people with special dietary requirements from dairy free to gluten free. There is also a wide range of healthy options such as high quality raw products and a section entirely dedicated to superfoods. In addition, they have locally produced food directly from farmers and artisans. It doesn't really matter if you are a meat-eater, vegetarian or vegan, they have products to suit all of us.

Good quality local groceries; superfoods; chocolates and sweets; dairy products; local eggs and bread; meat, poultry and seafood; dairy-free, gluten-free and Poleo diet products; health and bodycare; gardening... You will be able to find anything!

It really surprises me to find products from the Basque Country in there! They have tinned tuna Bonito del Norte from Conservas Ortiz. It is a very well-known Basque company which sells canned tuna, anchovies, sardines and many other types of fish. I add a tin of tuna to the basket where I have a organic carrot and coconut soup (Free&Easy) and slow dried whole wheat Sicilian Gomitini pasta (La Bio Idea), which costs £5.28.

And the best: the friendliness of the staff member at the counter! Have a good Easter you too! :)

WEBSITES: 

• The Better Food Company: http://www.betterfood.co.uk/
• Conservas Ortiz: http://www.conservasortiz.com/home_en.php