Category: news

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German Doner Kebab not yet open in Weston-super-Mare

I reported back in January that the chain German Doner Kebab is opening a new branch on the high street in Weston-super-Mare in February.

Well on a recent trip to the High Street I saw that they had their unit, but it was yet to open.

Their food is described on their website.

Our kebabs are made from quality ingredients that are exclusive to Doner Kebab Restaurants. The great taste comes from the secret sauces that set our products apart, from our competitors. We use lean succulent beef and our meats are imported directly from Germany to maintain quality and consistency. We only use fresh, locally produced vegetables that are delivered and prepared daily along with our special “Doner Kebab” bread. These make the “Doner Kebab” a truly unique taste experience of our customers.

Reviewing the menu, you might have guessed they sell kebabs.

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The lights are on…

Burger King

Popped out to M&S at the Flowerdown Retail Park to get some wine. I saw that the new Burger King had their signage up and the lights were on, however it wasn’t open.

As I parked a big white minibus parked up. A crowd got out and headed to the new Burger King. I said to myself, they’re going to be disappointed, however they were a cleaning crew. I saw them after I had been to M&S getting an industrial hoover out of their van.

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The unwritten rules of paella

paella

The Guardian reports on how researchers in Valencia have decided what ten ingredients you can use in paella are.

The ten permitted ingredients are: rice, water, olive oil, salt, saffron, tomato, flat green beans, lima beans, chicken and rabbit. 

Note that there is no fish or shellfish. Ever!

The research was carried out by social scientists at the Universidad Católica de Valencia at the instigation of local chef Rafael Vidal. The researchers questioned 400 amateur chefs aged over 50 from 266 Valencian villages.

Now I like making paella inspired rice dishes that include chorizo and seafood, even though this sometimes upsets Spaniards.

The article talks about how the valencianos believe that only they know how to make paella.  

To people in Valencia, their version of paella is the version and nothing else is worthy of the name. 

As for other kinds of paella they think this isn’t paella.

The typical seafood paella encountered elsewhere in Spain is generally dismissed by valencianos as arroz con cosas (rice with things).

So I cook rice with things….

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Exterior completed

Burger King

Going shopping at Flowerdown Retail Park I saw that the exterior construction of the Burger King (which is replacing the Frankie & Benny’s) has now been completed. I also saw they had started the interior refurbishment as well.

They still need to do the road reorganisation required for the drive-thru though.

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Tim Hortons now open

An artist's impression of the drive-thru. - Credit: Tim Hortons
An artist’s impression of the drive-thru – Credit: Tim Hortons

The new Tim Hortons has opened in Weston-super-Mare. The Canadian chain which took over the old Pizza Hut restaurant and added a drive through.

When I discovered that there was to be a Tim Hortons, howeverI had no idea what a Tim Hortons was.  I was quite intrigued. Was this going to be a sophisticated coffee place? They have a number of outlets already in the UK, so I checked out the website. Yes they sell coffee, yes they sell doughnuts, but it looks much more like a burger chain than a coffee chain.

As I said before I probably won’t be visiting.

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German Doner Kebab is opening in Weston-super-Mare

Well, just what we need in Weston, another fast food joint. Casual eating in Weston has got a little more casual.

The chain German Doner Kebab is opening a new branch on the high street in Weston-super-Mare in February.

Their food is described on their website.

Our kebabs are made from quality ingredients that are exclusive to Doner Kebab Restaurants. The great taste comes from the secret sauces that set our products apart, from our competitors. We use lean succulent beef and our meats are imported directly from Germany to maintain quality and consistency. We only use fresh, locally produced vegetables that are delivered and prepared daily along with our special “Doner Kebab” bread. These make the “Doner Kebab” a truly unique taste experience of our customers.

Reviewing the menu, you might have guessed they sell kebabs.

I have seen branches before in other places, but have not had the opportunity to try the food out. Will I try it out? Maybe, well probably not.

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Zizzi at Cabot Circus Re-Opens

One of our regular haunts, Zizzi at Cabot Circus has been closed for refurbishment. I got an e-mail this morning that they have finished their refurbishment and have re-opened.

When I was in Bristol last week I looked in and the main difference was the addition of booths and changes in furniture. The layout wasn’t too different.

We will probably now visit again in 2022, once restrictions have eased.

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Pizza Hut to be a Tim Hortons

An artist's impression of the drive-thru. - Credit: Tim Hortons
An artist’s impression of the drive-thru – Credit: Tim Hortons

After losing Frankie and Benny to Burger King, we now know that the old Pizza Hut restaurant in Weston-super-Mare is to become a Tim Hortons.

I had no idea what a Tim Hortons was. The initial news report I read said a Canadian chain which sold coffee and doughnuts. I was quite intrigued. Was this going to be a sophisticated coffee place? They have a number of outlets already in the UK, so I checked the website. 

Ah well looking at the menu, yes they sell coffee, yes they sell doughnuts, but it looks much more like a burger chain than a coffee chain.

I probably won’t be visiting when it opens.

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Prezzo to close in Weston-super-Mare

According to an article in the Evening Standard Prezzo in Weston-super-Mare is to close. Obviously it is closed now due to Covid restrictions, but is now not going to reopen.

Prezzo in WSM is part of the Dolphin Square development, we’ve already seen Pizza Express next door, shut. Loco Mexicana has moved from their unit to a new one on the seafront. T-Bone and Luda have also closed. That leaves just Costa at the back and Nandos on the corner still “open”. The Cineworld has closed due to Covid, as had clip and climb. Going forward what does this mean for the entire complex? 

Causal dining chains in Weston have taken a hit across the town, as Frankie and Benny’s over at Flowerdown has also shut.

An opportunity in the future for independent restaurants perhaps? Or will people travel into Bristol or up to Cribbs Causeway when they want to go out to eat in the future?

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It’s back…

After lamenting on the blog that the Truffled Cauliflower Cheese from M&S had disappeared, it had come back.

On a recent visit to M&S I found it again, though it has to be said it was now in their Gastropub branding. I also think there was now more crunchy topping than before, but still same great taste.

Excellent.