Pic: Dom Henry
It was Sunday morning and we were hung-over and hungry, a hazardous combination. We wanted something substantial - no grease, no gristle - and a decent coffee. The Kiosk, an exciting new brunch-stop in Sherwood, offers just that. Healthy creative food is a speciality of proprietor Beth, best known for her pop-up supper club Nottingham Underground Restaurant and her foodie blogsite. The Kiosk has outdoor seating on a tucked-away terrace, equipped with an enormous green parasol to protect patrons from the elements, while mismatched quality tableware and colourful vintage deckchairs add a quirky touch. Menus are hand-written on brown paper and chalkboards, offering world-inspired brunches, tapas, salads, sandwiches and cake to eat in or take away.
When we visited, the theme was Mexican. My companion opted for Mexican eggs, fried in smoky olive oil and served with zingy tomato sauce (£4), adding bacon for an extra 50p, while I plumped for smoky chorizo scrambled eggs (£4). There was a choice of tortillas or Turkish bread; we ordered the latter, cut into oblongs, toasted and served with pats of real butter on the side of the plate. We’d heard that this place served an outstanding coffee, so we started with a latte (£2) and an espresso (£1.50) followed by a pot of refreshing lemongrass tea (£1.20).
Despite a steady flow of customers and the minute size of the kitchen – which was accommodated both Beth and her mother - the food arrived quickly and was beautifully presented. The soft yolk of my companion’s egg was rich, golden and tasty, and the bacon was cooked to crispy perfection, contrasting delightfully with the cold salsa which delivered a light kick to the taste-buds. My scrambled egg with chorizo, cheese and coriander was also fantastic and a pretty effective hangover cure.
Beth sources most of her ingredients within two miles of The Kiosk. Being vegetarian herself (but with a carnivorous boyfriend), she’s aimed to create a café-style menu where the vegetarian, vegan and meat options are equally good. Her skills were honed in the family home where her father, mother and grandmother were all excellent cooks and foragers, welcoming hordes of guests for slap-up meals at the drop of a hat, and Beth has continued this tradition.
The Kiosk is currently open seven days-a-week (8.30-5 Mon-Fri, 9-5 Sat, 10-2 Sunday) and future plans include building a permanent heated shelter for the winter months, hosting a regular food hall run by local food and drink producers, and more pop-up events. To sum up, a beautiful, friendly little nook from which to watch the world go by, possibly while munching on beetroot, rum and chocolate cake (£1.50) made by Beth’s mum. How naughty!
1B Winchester Street, Sherwood, NG5 4AH
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