Last week we were kindly invited to take in a ‘Dinner & Show’ event at The Jam House in Birmingham. The Jam House is one of Birmingham premiers live music venues, and is a perfect place to dance he night away to some great live bands and music of all sorts of genres. And all the better if you get to eat a lovely 3 course meal on a balcony overlooking the action first.
We chose to see the swing band King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, who have toured with B.B King and the Original Blues Brothers Band amongst others.
We arrived at 8pm for dinner, and shown to a lovely table on the balcony, over looking the mezzanine level housing the stage and large dancefloor and bar area. Our waitress for the evening was a fantastic girl – I didn’t catch her name but she and her colleagues did a fab job.
We started with some bread – I quite like the way it’s served in little loaves that you can cut yourself.
The menu you is a fixed price – £28 for 2 courses or £35 for 3, with a surcharge for a couple of dishes, or for sides.We started with a Ham Hock Terrine, Red Chilli & Pineapple Chutney, Sourdough Crisps for me, and a Asparagus & Pea Risotto, Poached Hens Egg, Lemon Oil for Lee. My ham hock was very good, nicely seasoned and the chutney was fresh and sweet, with a tang of tropical sharpness cutting through also. The risotto was a less successful dish, probably the worst of the night, being a bit rice pudding like in texture and very bland. A very good poached egg and well cooked new season asparagus perked it up a little.
Luckily for us, both our mains were great and made up for the risotto! I had the Pan Fried Fillet of Cod, Dauphinoise Potato, Fricassee of Gem Lettuce, Bacon and Peas – the cod was really well cooked and a perfect match for light and tasty mix of peas and lettuce and salty bacon. Lee’s main of Chump of Spring Lamb with a Herb Crust, Confit Potato, Minted Crusted Peas, Spring Baby veg, Rosemary Red Jus was a ‘twist of salt away from being a very good dish’
Puds were also very decent plates of food – Apple & Rhubarb Crumble, Vanilla Ice-Cream, Jug of Creme Anglaise and a Chocolate Molten Cake, Salted Peanut Caramel Ice-Cream. The highlight for me was the salted peanut caramel ice cream which I could have eaten all day long.
At half 9, the support act of a boogie-woogie piano started, just in time to accompany our desserts and then just after 10pm the main event began. We loved listening to King Pleasure – they were fantastically talented and a great end to a lovely evening.
If you’re looking for something a little bit different to do in Birmingham, a night of dinner & live music at the Jam House could be just what you’re after. Check out their website for who’s coming up soon!
Disclosure: Our tickets for the night were complimentary, thanks to the Jam House. All opinions on the food and music are our won as always.
