Berries, Bagels & Shakes...

Name: Berries Bagels & Shakes

Type: Sandwich Bar        

Hours: 11am- till late

Location: 20 Killinghall road, Bradford, BD3 8DS. 

Website: www.berriesbagelsandshakes.co.uk

Overall Rating: 5.8/10

Review

Berries bagels & shakes, famous for….Guess… well famous for bagels and shakes. Well honestly I didn't know they existed till my mate dragged me there. Apparently the chicken tandoori bagel was to die for. I didn't know whether to put this place in the dessert parlour section or an actual food place, because apart from the bagels and salads the rest of the menu is made up of fresh juices, smoothies, mocktails, milkshakes, waffles and hot desserts. But anyhow, it’s a food place. 

The place is clean, modern and inviting and the staff are very polite which is a good start. We ordered chicken tandoori bagel meals with chips and a mocktail (£6). This was the most appealing out of the 12 bagels on the list. After around 15 mins we were presented with our well-presented bagel meals and our perfectly constructed mocktails, a 9/10 for the appearance I guess. However I did notice (because I was still hungry after) that the bagels weren't that big; 2 normal bagels with a tandoori chicken filling, topped with salad. I wouldn't really go here again if I wanted a ‘manly’ meal, it’s more of a lunch time meal to just keep you going.

Either way the chicken in the bagels was too bland, there just wasn't enough flavour. I would definitely take some BBQ sauce or ketchup for some extra flavour. The mocktails were the same too, the Mango Pango didn’t have a read direction and the Pina Colada was yoghurt with a slight hint of pineapple. The Strawberry Mojito was probably the most appealing out of the three different ones we ordered.  Maybe the smoothies and shakes tell a different story.

So you can tell this place didn't do well in my eyes; a clean and tempting place with nice staff ruined by the lack of flavour in the visually appealing food. And because of the lack of food on my plate It scored only 5/10 for its price: food ratio score. You guys can probably guess what it got for the manliness score. Yes, 0. Not manly enough! However if  I did go again, I would try something else to ensure it wasn't a one off. 

Thanks

A manly man

Abaseen- A taste of Peshawar

Type: Pakistani Food

Hours: Early - Late (Guess) 

Location: 858 Leeds Rd, Bradford, BD3 8EZ.

Website: No Website

Overall Rating: 7.3/10

Review: 

Peshawar is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse cities in Asia. Peshawar's recorded history goes back at least 500 years BC, making it one of the oldest living cities in South Asia. But I’m not here to give you a history lesson, I’m here to talk about food. Peshawari food is quite distinctive, it incorporates Afghan, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Yum! To get the true essence of the Pashtun dishes you need to get down to Bradford, taste these Chapli Kebabs at Abaseen.

It’s a tiny place, barely enough for 10 people, but I can assure you this place won’t disappoint. It was my first time going to Abaseen and very quickly me and my friend were convinced to get the chapli kebabs. So I told the fella to give me 2 portions of 3 kebabs but he laughed at me. Apparently a portion of 2 kebabs was enough for both of us to start off with! So we put the order through. Was the food going to be enough? Will I starve? Is this guy feeling ok? I was ready to eat a cow that specific day so you can probably understand what went through my head. The workers quickly got to work, I could see one of the workers preparing the Nan bread for the tandoor oven; fluffy, fresh and warm Nan, couldn’t wait. But that wasn’t the highlight; it was the big massive karahi In the middle of the room. Kneading the kebab meat, the worker slammed the prepared mutton in the karahi, cracked an egg, threw in a few chillies, tomatoes and peppers and got to work frying and cooking them.

Within 5 minutes a warm Nan topped with 2 Chapli Kebabs layered with egg, tomatoes, chillies and peppers was served to us. The kebabs were surprisingly humongous! So we got tucked in, and within a few minutes I realised this was going to be more than enough for both of us. The kebabs were delicious; nice soft mutton mixed with spices and chillies hidden inside a crispy deep fried outer layer, served with spicy eggs; seemed like the perfect combination. I can say it wasn’t too rich in flavour like many indo subcontinent dishes and did need the mint sauce to substitute in for some of the missing flavours, however my taste buds were still amazed. I definitely enjoyed it. The freshness of the food was overwhelming. Just before we left we paid for the meal, £8. Yes £8 for both of us! That’s why the price to food ratio rating was 9/10.

We only managed to get the chapli kebabs, but this place has other items on the menu; fish, lamb and chicken curries with the choice of an Asian style breakfast in the mornings. Exciting! As we finished the worker quickly presented us with Cava, a green tea like warm drink freshly made within the store. This is one of the reasons why this place picked up a 10/10 for its customer service, for a small place, the workers had an amazing attitude towards providing fast and quality customer service. The place did need touching up but it was very clean so I gave it a decent 7/10 for hygiene. Likewise due to the lack of spices in the kebabs I'm normally used to in my curries this place got a 7/10 for flavour, however it’s good to note that my friend thought this place should get a 10/10.  The food wasn’t presented very well so it only managed to get a 6/10; I would changes the dishes and maybe add a few more sauces on the Nan.

 So what about the manliness? Did this place make me struggle to walk to the car? Did it have me craving more? Did it save me spending on an expensive meal? Did my beard and hands get dirty? The answer to most these questions except the last is YES! Abaseen; Peshawar in Bradford picks up an 8/10 for manliness. A perfect taste of the Peshawar markets, picture-perfect for them heavy Friday afternoon meals. 

Thanks

A manly man

Chickano's Bradford

Type: Fast food- Fried chicken and Peri Peri    

Hours: 11am-11pm

Location: Leeds Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD3 9TY.

Website: www.chickanos.co.uk

Overall Rating: 8/10

Review:

Park your car at the rear and run for the entrance, as the food can get addictive at this place. You’re welcomed into a vibrant, fresh and inviting environment; a small counter placed on the left, surrounded by seating for the customers. Well, I can definitely say it’s a clean place; tables and toilet, all clean. There’s always a cleaner on hand, quickly cleaning up after the previous customers.

Like most fast-food outlets, the menu is short and there isn’t much choice, but I think that’s what makes it special. You already know what you’re going to order, no messing around and no indecisive feelings. There’s a selection of around 10 different burgers, wraps, fried chicken and salads. It doesn’t take long to put in your order. The staff are very friendly. But what does take long is waiting for your order; let’s just say there’s abit of a wait (around 10 minutes for around 3 meals), which doesn’t really match up to the claim they make on their website about having a 'fast service'.

We normally order the Mexicano burger, with extra buffalo sauce; consisting of a nice crispy piece of fried chicken dipped in Chickano’s own special buffalo sauce (secret recipe, soon to be stolen), topped with lettuce, cheese, jalapenos and nachos, all placed in a burger bun. Delicious. The spicy, tangy buffalo sauce is mouth-watering, it’s the item on the menu that makes the place unique. The buffalo sauce is the main reason we never get the standard chicken fillet burger, what’s the point paying four quid for a standard, bland burger meal when you can walk down the road to Salah’s and pick two of them up for a similar price. I’d like to see the wings, strips and fried chicken with an option to dip in buffalo sauce. As we stick with the saucy stuff!

The rest of the items aren’t that different, you either get buffalo chicken in a burger or get it chopped in pieces and put into a salad or a wrap. However there are two unique items; the ‘gourmet’ and ‘big stack’ burgers. The former is a grilled chicken in a gourmet bun, filled with a grilled chicken fillet smothered in mayo and topped with pickles, gherkins and lettuce. The latter is basically a posh ‘cheese burger’. Both these burgers take an awfully long time to make, but you are warned by the staff whilst you’re ordering.  

Seen at though I’m a big fan of the burgers covered in buffalo sauce I gave this place a 7/10 for taste. As the standard for most fast food outlets for appearance is low, Chickanos managed to pick up an 8/10 in this section, due to their consistency and nice packaging. The customer service picked up a 7/10 and hygiene 9/10 as the lads upfront are friendly and the place is quite clean (not always the floor) but the food can take long, maybe because its fresh and always warm. The price to food ratio got a decent 7/10, as Chickanos is competing against the likes of Mahmood’s and Salah’s which often tip them at the prices.

Finally the manliness rating; did my fingers get dirty? Did I ask for extra tissue? Did I go back for more within the next week? Did I get sauce in my beard? The answer to all these questions is YES, 10/10 for manliness. The food at Chickanos is cut out for a real man. Wherever you are, go to Chickanos, get yourself some chicken dipped in buffalo sauce. 

Thanks

A manly man

The beginning of time

Man. Sent down from the heavens to culture the Earth and to worship God. From life in caves to mud huts. From the heights of trees to the luxuries of sky scrapers. Man has come a long way. We once burnt trees to give ourself light and heat. We spent hours chopping the wood and warming our furnaces, but that was long ago. Electricity. Man has championed and made himself him on this earth, winning in every battle he came across. Strength, survival and skill. This is what made man. But Stop. There is weakness! Food. Yes that's it, food. All this innovation and development, but what about the energy? What about our food? What is the source? A man needs his food. He wants to sit at a table and devour his dish, stuff his mouth and wants to pleasure his belly. But where to go? What to eat? Which menu? Which item?

These are the some of the hardest questions a man faces in his lifetime. Questions that could destroy him or make him. But worry not. I am here. If man wants food, we shall give it to him. The best of places; big or small. The posh restaurant or the local chippy. We shall cater. A 'dutty' burger or a curry infused with the rich spices of India.  Be prepared to see some of the most succulent and mouth watering dishes. But we warn you now, not all shall be good. We hope to taste, review and promote all dishes in their original light, some may be good, but others bad.

If you're a food lover who loves a good meal, keep a keen eye on this blog and all shall be yours.

Thank You

A manly man.