Piccolino, Birmingham

After I had a meal at Bank, I was given a loyalty card. I signed up and was then given a voucher for £10 for a meal at Bank or this place called Piccolino which is just a short walk away. I had to try it as I do not want to waste that tenner! [...]

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Strada, Birmingham

I do like a bit of Italian food from time to time. I’ve been to Carculccio’s a number of times but haven’t been to Strada before. I decided to go in and try out their food. Spacewise, the restaurant is rather dark and dingy which I didn’t like much (this was the one in the [...]

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Café Blend, Birmingham

Ever since Hudson’s went belly up (see previous post/s on this), in my quest for independent tea/coffee shops, I came across a café opposite the Mailbox in Birmingham. It’s name is Café Blend. I frequented it in unison with The 90 Day Café (I’ve promised to write a eulogy on its demise which I would [...]

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Carluccio’s, Birmingham

Some of you may know of the famous Italian chef, Antonio Carluccio. Well, he has opened a chain of restaurants last year and one of these happened to be at Brindleyplace in Birmingham. I paid several visit there but have yet to write a review of the food so here goes. The surroundings were rather good. [...]

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Review: Standards of the Guqin

This review was prepared for submission to the Ethnomusicology Forum journal in April but was never submitted as some my colleagues in the qin word felt I was inaccurately criticising Lieberman’s book translation the Mei’an Qinpu (that it didn’t include the jianzipu for the melodies which makes it rather ‘insufficient’ as a beginners teaching manual given that means [...]

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BANK Restaurant, Birmingham

There is a rather large restaurant in Brindleyplace, Birmingham which I often walk past. The front is rather imposing and I never thought of visiting until now. Inside, the decor was rather dark and dreary. The kitchen was smack bang in the middle (mostly covered). The bar was in the front whilst the restaurant proper [...]

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Café IKON

Since the two best teahouses in town have gone belly up, I have had difficulty in finding an appropriate place to take tea. I’m still looking. I have now frequented the other independants in Birmingham: 90 Day Café and Café Blend (these I would go into further detail at a later date). However, I have [...]

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Court Shoes (Opera Pumps)

The correct shoes to wear with white tie are court shoes (or what Americans call ‘opera pumps’). This shoe has been used for several hundred years and is the only thing left that hasn’t been changed from the time of Brummell. Hence, the traditional sartorialist must not be put off by them or think ill [...]

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Mortarboards: a short guide

If you are in need of a mortarboard (or trencher or square cap), here is some advice which may be of help. There are two varieties, rigid skull and folding skull. The former is the best whilst the latter is for mere convenience. There are also two other types: elasticated and lace-up; these I will [...]

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Bookster MTO trousers

Ever since my initiation into sartorialism, I have never been so anal about what I wear. Indeed, I now look at every item of clothing I plan to buy under a microscope and put it to my very rigid scrutiny. Anything that does not fit the bill is immediately rejected. The item of clothing that [...]

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