Medicine, The Mailbox

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We don’t normally hang out at the Mailbox. We’re usually buying something specific or having a blow dry, but on this occasion we had time to kill, so popped into Medicine.

We still grieve the closure of Tom’s Kitchen on the same site, but we accept it’s time to move on.

Medicine on New Street has become our go-to meeting place with buzzy vibes, loads of natural light and bang in the centre of town. The Mailbox version is a different beast entirely. It’s tucked away, cosy and feels much more restaurant-y. Largely the Medicine guys kept the Tom’s Kitchen interior – big central bar, lively open kitchen and lots of wood. All very lovely.

There’s a definite brunch vibe and we kicked off with a couple of smoothies – a Very Berry (sweet and delicious) and a Green Goddess (more earthy and virtuous tasting but still gorgeous.)

Among the huevos ranchos and eggs benedict, was an unexpectedly brilliant Korean fried chicken sandwich – only unexpected because it felt a little off-piste. Chicken thigh rather than breast was given a crunchy coating, honey and gochugang glaze, punchy sriracha mayonnaise and a crisp Asian slaw served in the softest of brioche buns. It was really great. A hash brown on the side was soggy so fell a bit flat. It was served on a romesco sauce and honestly, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

The Vegan Medicine, which is essentially a vegan version of a full English, hit the spot and boosted the plant intake beautifully. Pumpkin falafel, smashed avocado, kale, mushroom, romesco sauce and a whopping slice of sourdough toast was a joy. We added nicely charred halloumi as an extra. Our only gripe was another soggy hash brown. It’s not the end of the world but if brunch is one of your strengths, you’ve got to be able to serve up a crisp hash brown. Aside from that, the place is independent, reasonably priced and cosy serving cracking food with warm service. It’s a win.

On the way out of the Mailbox, we ran the gauntlet of the Medicine coffee cart but got sucked in big time. We bought our own bodyweight in pastry/cake and took them home to share with the kids. A salted caramel cruffin got the thumbs up, a raspberry pavlova donut was so great it caused a fight, and the carrot and walnut cake was dreamy.

With a version of Medicine Bakery set to open at the Botanical Gardens this month we’re expecting great things.

Malmaison, The Mailbox

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There’s so much to celebrate about Birmingham’s food scene and there seems to be an exciting new launch every week, so it’s easy to forget the old gems. Malmaison is one of those that we’d let slip for a while, so we thought we’d address it. A new menu seemed an ideal excuse.

Firstly, in true Malmaison style, the menu design is a winner and had us at first peek. Minimalist, chic and with great food photography, everything appealed. It wasn’t style over substance either. Full of inventive dishes as well as the classics, we were won over big time.

The only problem with top notch food photography is the pressure to make the dish in real life live up to that. We ordered a chicken satay and roasted squash noodle soup to start whose lip-smacking image featured on the menu and website. In reality, it looked like a different dish, however, it tasted unbelievable. Shredded chicken, toasted peanuts, coriander and spring onion served in a tasty broth was warming and moreish. A pot of red chilli paste/sauce served separately was seriously fiery, so we’d advise caution. Less is more. A small amount was enough for us adding a perfect amount of heat. Such a good dish.

A salt beef and confit pork terrine, with mushrooms a la grecque and burnt onion purée looked a treat. The accompaniments were better than the main event which, without the punchy purée would have been a bit bland, but maybe that’s the balance. Miso glazed short rib of beef fell off the bone and just melted served with a zingy carrot and orange purée and radish salad. We ordered triple-cooked fat chips as a side which were superb. The highlight was a crab & scallop risotto. With fresh white crab meat, crab bisque, samphire and pan seared scallops, this was a perfect risotto in our book. Far too big for one, but perfect.

Dessert was winking. A pineapple upside down cake with rum, caramel and coconut sorbet hit the spot nicely, while a sticky poached pear, raspberry and frangipane tart inspired much cooing. As well as the food, the cracking wine list deserves a nod as does the service which was attentive and knowledgeable. It’s also far enough from that market to pretend it’s not happening. We won’t leave it so long next time.

David Pardoe

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Up close and personal with David Pardoe from Birmingham’s iconic Mailbox

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I’m head of marketing, retail and tenant engagement at the Mailbox, the second largest mixed-use building in the country after the Shard in London! It’s a cool place to work, with 45 shops, restaurants and bars, two hotels, offices, residential apartments, a car park, the BBC and a fab cinema.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN?

I take the train straight into the city centre – it’s so convenient and much better than battling on the M6. Then it’s just a five-minute walk from New Street station. It’s actually a shorter distance from the station to the Mailbox than it is from the front of the Mailbox to the Cube at the back. I have counted my steps!

HOW’S THE COMMUTE?

I live in Shropshire, which sounds a long way away, but it only takes me 45 minutes from home to work. I typically spend my train journeys catching up on e-mails, reading, listening to music and gazing out of the window enjoying the scenery.

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN?

It’s a fantastic place to work! It has such a great energy with some incredibly passionate and friendly people. Thanks to a huge amount of investment, we are now a major player on the global straight. We are definitely not the second city; there’s nothing second about Birmingham – we are the first city outside of London!

COFFEE BREAK?

I love a cappuccino and Tom’s Kitchen Deli in the Mailbox tends to be my first choice and York’s by New Street station is convenient. I like supporting independent businesses as I appreciate what they bring to a city.

LUNCHTIME?

The food at Tom’s Kitchen is amazing and the Ivy on Temple Row is also fab. It’s great for celebrating a special occasion – I treated my wife there recently for her birthday.

POWERWALKING?

I tend to be on my feet quite a bit at work and I usually do about 18,000 steps a day so that keeps me fit and at weekends I enjoy cycling. The canal at the back of the Mailbox is a great place to go for fresh air.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY?

Without a doubt Symphony Hall – it’s one of the city’s jewels and has tremendous character. It’s a magnificent venue and has the finest acoustics in the country.

AFTERWORK PINT?

A beer from the Malmaison bar is my first choice for a quick after-work tipple. It has a great chilled atmosphere and when live music or a DJ is playing it’s even better. I also like the Canal House in the summer as it has a great sun terrace.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER?

I would love to see more independent shops to complement the terrific retail offer that we have and I also think public landscaping could be improved further. The city has already shown that it can be bold by attracting the likes of HSBC and the Commonwealth Games and we must continue to be bold and have more confidence in ourselves. This is our time!