Amusing Bouches: The Pickled Piglet, Birmingham, 5th October 2013

Currently one of my two favourite restaurants in Birmingham (can you guess the other one?) The Pickled Piglet is a relatively new, independent restaurant that offers a refreshing change from the chains you find in the Mailbox and Broad Street/Brindley Place (and is situated pretty much directly between the two). Essentially it's good food in a relaxed environment.

To start there's a choice of small plates and "boards" which are great for sharing. We went for a prawn and sausage board, parma ham, sweet chilli and sesame chicken and home made breads. (I think a sign of my appetite and nausea improving after not having had chemo for 2 1/2 weeks these plates didn't even last long enough for photos to be taken!)

You could order more small plates to make a complete "tapas style" meal or move on to their main courses. I decided on chicken with creamed leeks and sautéed potatoes which lasted only slightly longer than the starters. They also have a very good value lunch option of two small plates and a main course for £10 and steak night on Mondays-steak and chips for £10.

I still managed to make a good go of eating their homemade ice cream and my brother/sister-in-law enjoyed the limoncello curd, meringue, honey and ginger crunch.

http://www.thepickledpiglet.co.uk/#!bar/c16fk