Quirky Quarter

 

For Holly's birthday I got us tickets to the Quirky Quarter on Duke Street near Chinatown. We were suppose to go 2 weeks ago but Holly had covid and I ended up doing some filming so rescheduled it for today.

Duke Street Market

We went into town to have some lunch which took us a while to decide where to go and finally settled on Duke Street Market. I went there a few years ago when it first opened with Jo and Rich but not been since. I think most of the places have stayed the same but some of the places have changed. I let Holly in charge on what to order.. I did say I wanted something light and she ended up getting carb heavy food...!

Big Lolas Taqueria

Chicken Quesadilla - Grilled chicken thigh quesadilla, with salsa roja, mixed cheese, coriander and spring onion - £9.50

Holly ordered this by accident but it was nice and I didn't taste any coriander!

Big Lolas Taqueria

Grilled Chicken Burrito - Grilled chicken thigh burrito with black beans, Mexican rice, cheddar cheese, avocado creama and pico de Gallo - £10

This doesn't say it has coriander but it definitely did and could taste it!

Cahita

The Famous Cahita Cubano - Mojo pork shoulder, roast ham, sliced chorizo, gouda cheese, house pickle and sweet mustard served with mojo mayo - £10.50

Wasn't a fan of this, it was dead greasy and definitely not something I would order. The quesadilla was my favourite considering it was an accidental order and Holly didn't realise till it came to our table as you order via the QR code on your table then they bring your food over.

I finally got a pistachio croissant from The Butterholic that they had in. It was so nice loved the crème patissiere inside. I ended up eating this first as it took use that long to decide where to eat I was hungry and ate it while Holly ordered the food.

 It looks so fake like the fake food they have to display but it was definitely real and cost me £3.50. They also have chunky cookies but they were expensive for £3.75.

Quirky Quarter

We were booked in for 4pm and went at 3:45pm and they let us in early as it was dead quiet there was only like 2 groups of people there when we went. We went in and they gave us gloves for the end and said you will know when to wear them and this will come towards the end and the first bit you have to work out how to get through it. Then there was a guy who was our photographer to take some cool optical illusion photos.

Finally wore my Ugg Boots that I bought nearly 2 years ago! They make my feet look massive as it is but these photos make them look even bigger!

This didn't work that well the guy should have guided us better and I think if we did one standing on each other would have worked well.

Holly didn't get the green screen...

In the corner of the living room on the TV Lionel Ritchie's Dancing On the Ceiling video was playing and the guy came back out and said he would record a 10 second video for us dancing to the song then you can flip the video to make it look like you're dancing on the ceiling. It was the most awkward 10 seconds as I can't and don't dance!

These photos were fun but I don't know why we didn't do any standing up ones and why we chose to lie and sit on the dirty floor!

It was fun we were in there for an hour and I thought it was just good photo opportunities with optical illusions but there was different challenges and puzzles which it does say on the website but I just didn't click on to. It wasn't as big as I thought it was going to be though. I think it was only meant to be here temporarily but is now here for good. Tickets are £13.50 and it's a fun day out if you're looking for something to do especially if you have kids or a group.

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The Dark Kitchen

 

Went to The Dark Kitchen on Allerton Road for dinner with Holly last night. It's a new restaurant and bar that changes the menu every 3 months. Currently they have Hello Sushi and Lucha Libre - Japanese food and Mexican street food. Hello Sushi has been there from the start so not sure if this ever changes but Lucha Libre only came on the menu last week. There did used to be Lucha Libre restaurant in town next to the Fact Cinema that I've been to a few times. 

We got there just before 6pm - we hadn't booked and it wasn't busy when we got there. They had to check if they had a table for us and they had one but said we could have it 8pm which was fine for us.

Holly went for Lucha and sushi where as I went all sushi.

Sushi Plate (2 people to share) - 2 x prawn maki, 2 x katsu cali, 2 x tuna nigiri, 2 x salmon nigiri, 2 x char sui maki served with picked ginger and fennel - £16.95

I got the platter to myself as I didn't know what to get and it works out the same really - you don't even get that much so to share between 2 you would definitely need to order other bits. I swapped the spicy tuna cali for salmon nigiri.

The sushi looks better than it was. Definitely not the best sushi I've had. I think they were going for more presentation over taste. It's presented nice but taste wasn't the best.

Holly got:

Pilbil Tacos - 3 soft corn tacos topped with slow cooked pulled pil bil pork served with pickled red onions and coriander - £5.95

Spinach & Mushroom Quesadilla Vegan - Cheese filled toasted tortillas filled with spinach & mushrooms - £5.95

Char Sui Cali Maki Roll (4 pieces) - £5.95

The vegan cheese looked and tasted like glue - Holly was so sad that she got the vegan cheese as she can't really eat normal cheese as it gives her stomach pains. She said she rather have took the pain than eat vegan cheese.

I got churros with Biscoff sauce

Holly got the TDK Vegan Sundae - Chocolate and vanilla ice cream, with melted chocolate, strawberries, Biscoff biscuit and churros

The churros were good with the Biscoff dipping sauce that was definitely my favourite thing.
The idea of having a changing menu is good but when you're choosing presentation over taste it doesn't work. I know people eat with their eyes but it's still what you're actually eating and not what you're being presented. The point of food is to eat and not look at it. If you're after sushi I wouldn't recommend coming here but if you're wanting Lucha Libre - Mexican street then this is the place for you.

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