Results tagged “tomato” from Birmingham Mail - Restaurant Spy

Good chefs can spot bargains and turn them into fabulous feasts...then there's me.

At just a quid, a big bag of decent quality tomatoes - probably over 3lbs of the things - seemed like great value at the Bull Ring open market on Saturday.

I proudly took them home, cut them in half, sprinkled on a little garlic, sugar and salt, splashed on a bit of red wine vinegar and annointed them with olive oil before slow-roasting them as I watched the racing on Channel Four, cursing when my selection staggered in last at Kempton.

The tomatoes smelled and looked wonderful when they emerged from the oven and I whizzed them in the food processor with a bit of water to create a rich, chunky sauce for pasta.

Here's a pet hate of mine: restaurants that fail to give full descriptions of dishes on their menu, encouraging customers to place side orders that prove to be unnecessary.

Last night, for instance, I placed an order for steak unaware that the plate would also contain grilled tomatoes (and mushrooms). Consequently, my £3.50 side order of tomato salad remained largely uneaten.

Either the waiting staff are ignorant of the dishes they are serving or this is shabby, cynical, money-making trick. Either way it reflects badly on the restaurant. And costs punters dear.

Next time it happens, the side order will be heading back to the kitchen.