Keeping it real, everyone gets the Hump-Day/Wednesday blues, don’t they? Thankfully, the wonderful team at The Bottle Bank in Belper saved us with their invitation to come along and try some of their Small Plate temptations and a tipple of our choice. We parked the jalopy and skipped down King Street, where The Bottle Bank (the former Bank of Scotland building) awaited us, sporting some rather swanky, bespoke new signage.
Owners Kirsty and Sam have oodles of experience of the food and drink trade, not least with Sam being the inaugural organiser of the Belper Food Festival! Anyhow, I digress… inside, The Bottle Bank is simply gorgeous; sleek and modern, but with that all-important local friendliness – and a very well-stocked bar. I ordered a large glass of Gavi and The Man had a pint of Asahi, then we went to grab a table smack-dab underneath a huge, stylised painting of an over-flowing wine glass; clearly, this was a sign from the universe that I was channelling the right vibe.
I liked way that the Small Plates menu was organised into sections: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Fish, and Vegetarian; this makes choosing so much more straight-forward. There are also Sharing Boards, Texan Smokehouse, and On the Bun dishes to choose from. Chef Danny is certainly enthused with the new Smoker in The Bottle Bank kitchen, and he’s not alone; Sam is like a [big] kid in a candy shop and was chatting enthusiastically about the woods they use and the timings etc. but, really, all you need to know is that the smoked morsels are mouth-wateringly good.
First up, we ordered Meatballs, Mini Chimichanga, Korean Pork Bites and Rattlesnake Tails (LOVE that name!), all priced at £5.95, and they were soon being presented to us on a beautiful, circular wooden board. I know you’re all wondering what on earth Rattlesnake Tails are, so I’ll put you out of your misery; they are, in fact, Smoked Corn-on-the-Cob quarters, generously doused in Horseradish Tiger Sauce. The recipe for the rub is a fiercely guarded secret, but it certainly is a tiger when it comes to the ferocity and intensity of its spiciness! This paired brilliantly with the juicy sweetness of the Sweetcorn, and my taste buds were singing with joy – even His Nibs tried some and liked it, and you all know that he doesn’t do ‘Corn. The Man was tucking into some sizeable Meatballs and their accompanying, unctuous sauce; on their own, the Meatballs were marvellous but, oh my word, with THAT sauce: divine. Tomato based, this sauce was a deep red tone and had a tantalisingly intense sweetness to it that had been seasoned perfectly. Fans of Spanish Tapas will certainly appreciate this dish.
It's been an absolute age since I last had a Chimichanga, and I do so enjoy them so, when I spied them on the menu at The Bottle Bank, it was a no-brainer that they were going to be mine, all mine! The deep-fried Burrito was stuffed with shredded Chicken breast, Jalapenos and Cheese which was a fantastic combo, especially since the golden outered morsel was drizzled with a creamy Aztec Guacamole and beautifully fresh-tasting, homemade Salsa. Chockful of flavour, but not heavy on the tummy, this was a real treat; if I worked in the town, I’d be popping in and having this for lunch every day. The Man had chosen the Korean Pork
Bites and they were gorgeous to behold, with their striking layers; the key to scrummy Pork Bites is getting the ratio of meat-to-fat spot-on, and this offering had certainly found that sweet spot. Creamy fat melted on the tongue, releasing its richness immediately, followed by the mild creaminess of the tender Pork flesh.
Kirsty had been keeping a discreet eye on our progress and, when we had finished our last mouthfuls, asked if we would like to sample some more of the dishes that they offer at The Bottle Bank. Having known both of us for a fair few years, I think she knew what the answer would be, and smiled as we said that, yes, we’d love to try some more! The choice of dishes is huge, and it was so difficult to choose what to go for next – what a marvellous problem to have.
Any self-respecting Tapas/ Small Plate menu has to have Gambas Pil Pil on it, and I am partial to the pairing of plump, juicy King Prawns cooked in oil with Garlic and Chilli. At The Bottle Bank, they serve their Gambas sizzling – and you know I love a bit of theatrics at the table. This dish did not disappoint: sweet Prawns bathed in an aromatic oil bath, and you could see the slices of Garlic clearly; best of all though, Chef Danny had cooked the Garlic slowly so that it didn’t burn but became softer and mellower on the palate. Where I’d gone for ‘Surf’, His Nibs went for ‘Turf’ with his choice of Spanish Meat Stew. This stew was proof, yet again, that it’s often the simple things that are the most remarkable; the pairing of Beef and Peas in Gravy sounds innocuous enough but, trust me, this was super-tasty.
One thing my Bestie and I have in common is our obsession with Mushrooms – put them in front of us and we’ll happily chomp away until we’ve cleared the plate, no matter what type they are! At The Bottle Bank, Chef cooks firm-textured Chestnut ones with Garlic and White Wine, then adds a flourish of seasoning to enhance their earthiness before serving them up to eager diners such as myself. The final choice of mine and The Man’s feast was Mac-n-Cheese… pimped up a bit with freshly smoked Chicken pieces and an indecently rich BBQ sauce. Comforting Macaroni tubes languished in a cheesier-than-cheese sauce that produced those delightful ribbons when picked up with a fork, and these two mild elements were elevated by subtly smoky hints from the Chicken and aromatic BBQ sauce with all its ardency. All four of these ‘second course’ small plates were priced at £5.95, too.
After eight dishes, our tummies were happily full, though if I could reverse time there were so many more options that I’d like to sample! As far as tremendous ways to spend a Hump-Day evening go, this one certainly would take some beating! Top marks, The Bottle Bank in Belper; Hot Wings unreservedly given.
To book a table call 01773 292034 or visit www.thebottlebankbelper.co.uk As well as lip-smacking food, The Bottle Bank offers a choice of 40 wines, Cocktails, Beers, Lagers and Spirits, so it’s also a great place to unwind and relax with friends.
