Hello friends,
Beans, beans, good for your heart… and a handy way to keep your finger on the pulses. Today marks the start of National Vegetarian Week, a celebration of all things plant-based and a chance to sow the seed of joyful food exploration beyond meat. After all, life is the variety of spice, or something like that. Head over to our Veggie City Guide and our BRAVO Plant Champions page for more.
If you’re going to get fresh at the weekend, you might spot some freshers out, too. Welcome to our fabulous city by the sea, new students! You’ve survived Freshers’ Week but it’s trickier to live on toast for four years, so here’s our BRAVO Awards Best Value Eating Guide. Remember: your brain is what you feed it. We wish you all the success.
Pumpkin-spiced stuff and spooky shindigs: October has entered the chat
We love October: cosiness becomes crucial, winter socks resurge, and the earlier darkness makes Saturday afternoon drinking feel reassuringly evening-like. Moreover, you can smother almost anything in gravy or custard and call it comforting rather than calorific.
Grape harvest season is here, and our Sussex vineyards are reaping the rewards of their hard work. And we, as appreciators of wine, get to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Artelium is inviting us all to “crunch across golden leaves and appreciate the quiet beauty of the vines as they settle in for winter dormancy.” Pure poetry in motion there, folks. Tours and tastings are now open for bookings.
October Unpacked, Brighton’s month-long celebration of food, drink, arts and culture, is live. The beer-ly Oktoberfest events continue, and this weekend welcomes the inaugural BrightonFoodStory.
Have you spotted Brighton’s beautiful BookBenches?
We didn’t have the city being transformed into a giant open-air storybook on our autumn bingo card, but here we are. The Story Trail, organised by local charity Amaze in partnership with Wild in Art, has installed more than 30 large, artist-designed BookBenches and dozens of miniature creations by local schools and community groups. From Brighton Skies to The Attenborough Adventure Bench, each has its own character and tale to discover.
It’s free to enjoy, but donations help Amaze support families with disabled children. You can, of course, also eat and drink your way around the trail. Learn more and download a trail map before it all ends on 8 November.
Keep Calm and Curry On
With the ear-bleed-inducing anthem Vindaloo by Fat Les stuck in our heads, may we tingle your taste buds with National Curry Week, which starts on 5 October? Yes, Chicken Tikka Masala is apparently our National Dish, and it’s true that some of us eat chips with our Korma, but there’s much more to a good Ruby Murray than that.
Indian Summer is a taste sensation, Mowgli’s Chat Bombs are worth talking about, The Chilli Pickle’s bold flavours are an adventure in spice, and Permit Room’s Dishoom Black Daal is ding-dong delicious. Celebrate the week at an Indian restaurant near you.
But let’s not put all our curry leaves in one basket, as curry comes in many delicious guises: Thai, Sri Lankan, and Japanese all know how to get saucy too. Some of our faves: The Mucky Duck for Thai, The Coconut Island for Sri Lankan, and Irori Food Truck for Japanese. It’s a naan-stop flavour sensation.
WIN – A meal for four at the Plough Inn, Rottingdean
Enter this week’s giveaway here.
The Vibe: On our Radar
- Did Someone Say the C-Word? Dunno ‘bout you, but we’re nowhere near ready to think about Christmas yet – on a personal level at least. In the office world, though, it’s time to book your do, so we’ve rounded up some of the best private dining and group booking options for your consideration.
- For those with the capacity to plan ahead – or simply succumb to that early glow of festive excitement – makers fairs, Christmas markets and local shopping events are in sight. Here’s our guide to the best.
- Bird’s the word! Med is popping up at Bison Beer with a poultry-themed takeover. Find out more on Instagram. And spit roast ‘Crazy Chicken’ is now the signature dish at The Crazy Goose.
- Pickle fans, clear your diaries: Tern in Worthing is putting the humble pickle centre stage for a celebration of all things tangy, crunchy and gloriously brined. Get the details on Facebook.
- OctoberBest returns from 10–25 October, celebrating 38 of Brighton’s Best Restaurants with special festival menus.
Editor’s Picks
- MEO has refreshed its Mexican evenings, with even more adventurous tacos, birria, ceviche, small plates and cocktails.
- The New Inn’s new Ultimate Sausage Sandwich piles chilli-garlic Toulouse sausages, fried onions, melted cheeses and Carolina mustard mayo into sourdough, with slaw and fries on the side. Well worth tripping out for.
- This Friday, plant-based chef and author Gemma Ogston brings a soulful, seasonal vegan feast to The Canopy in Seven Dials. Find out more and book via BrightonFoodStory.
- Pearly Cow’s autumn menu launches today, celebrating the changing season.
- Also starting today, Trading Post’s new menu brings tempting twists on French toast and pancakes, plus much more.
RB Diary
Team RB descended on Coppa Club for a working lunch – see if you can spot who spilt coffee on their sweater here.
Brittany went bake-off bonkers at a Brighton Community Kitchen Cupcake Class last week, and she’s heading to the Bar 50ml First Birthday Party this Saturday.
Jude rode the Brighton Regency Routemaster for an Afternoon Tea tour, which she captured for our enjoyment here.
Torsten is off to try the new-for-October Asian menu at The Bell Tower (blog to follow).
And Ivanka and Nick brunched at the North Laine Café on Jubilee Street.
Yours, digging out our favourite scarves,
Torsten and Team RB x