One of the best things about doing this blog is being invited along to new eateries; there’s so much doom-and-gloom around, so it’s great when you hear of something fresh that’s recently come to fruition. Bla Blaa is one such new venue, located in Burton-upon-Trent, and The Man and I were excited to see what the team had got to offer.
Not being overly familiar with Burton itself, we didn’t want to chance parking restrictions that would cut our experience short (why pile extra stress on yourself?), so we found a car park nearby and walked over. Stepping through the door, we got a lovely warm greeting and were shown to our table – fantastic first impression. There were already a couple of tables taken, possibly by people staying at the Travelodge across the road? The takeout scene was popping too: the faint beep of orders coming through to the kitchen never stopped all evening, and delivery drivers were steadily coming in and out as well.
Bla Blaa doesn’t serve alcohol, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a great range of beverages on offer: table water had been brought out to us without being asked for, and I ordered a jug of Salted Lassi (£6.99), and His Nibs opted for a Classic Mojito Mocktail (£4.99). Whilst we were studying the menu in-depth, we grazed on a pair of Poppadoms and assorted Pickles (£3.49). The Poppadoms were a really good size, and super-crunchy without any trace of oil at all; a trio of pickles (spicy Lime, sweet Mango Chutney, and cooling Raita) were housed in stylish bowls, and our taste buds were soon occupied nicely.
There is a curious mix of Eastern and Western cuisine on offer, including Indian Curries, Italian Pizzas and American Burgers. You can also choose between having several snack/smaller plate dishes, or opt for a more traditional main course and sides kinda meal; in our usual fashion, His Nibs and I did a hotch-potch of both!
To start, we ordered some Crispy Samosa Chaat (£5.99) and the brilliant-sounding Dynamite Prawns (£7.49), and it wasn’t long before the lovely young lady was carefully placing decorative bowls in front of us and some side plates. The Samosa Chaat was not at all what we were expecting, looks-wise! We had anticipated more of a ‘bomb’ style, but the actual dish was a fusion of smashed up, fried pieces of papri crackers, tangy sauce, creamy Yoghurt, Sweetcorn, and Red Onion. Whilst it might not have catwalk-worthy looks, this minx absolutely slapped in terms of taste and texture. Both of us were eagerly digging into it with our forks, so smitten that we didn’t even bring the Chaat to the plates, it was that good.
Equally fab were the Dynamite Prawns; definitely a case of being aptly named. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a sizeable portion of King Prawns before…and certainly not for such a good price! Served in a scaled-down Karahi pot, their fiery red tone certainly couldn’t be missed. The plump, juicy King Prawns had a beautifully light batter coating that extended the chew time slightly, and Sesame Seeds had been scattered around for decoration, adding a pleasant nutty crunch to the mix. Contrasting with the sweet, fragrant flesh of the Seafood was a spicy, lip-smacking sauce that was certainly dynamite on the palate.
A dish of Salad and pot of Minted Yoghurt accompanied the starters, and it was cool and crisp in the mouth. For a pop of added sharpness, I squeezed over the fresh Lemon that was placed as garnish – waste not, want not!
In the interlude between the starters and mains, I took in the décor of Bla Blaa in more depth. Like the menu, the vibe of Bla Blaa is a curious one: somewhere between café/bistro and restaurant. The palette is neutral and unfussy, the more predominant pale wood having one dark-panel accent, and a pop of colour comes from Lime Green on the upholstery in one corner of the venue. In my opinion, Bla Blaa is the ideal place for meeting up with groups of friends, or going for first dates rather than cosy [established relationship] ones. In case you think that’s a negative thing, I just want to clarify that it most certainly isn’t! I just want you to realise that intimate, quiet corners are not part of the deal here.
For main course, we chose the Daal Gosht (Lentils and Lamb, £7.99), Charsi Lamb Karahi (£18.99 for smaller portion, £31.99 for multi-portion), Garlic Naan (£2.49), and Plain Basmati Rice (£4.99). As with the starters, all the food was carefully presented and garnished with fresh Herbs, Seeds and Spices.
My Daal Gosht had the most glorious texture to it, thanks to the softened, creamy White Lentils. Tender chunks of Lamb bathed in a silky, spiced sauce that was garnished with innocuous-looking, pale strips that soon reacquainted us both with the saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’: turns out, they were strips of possibly the most pungent Ginger known to man! Good job I’d got my Lassi to chug down! Although this was a small plate dish, it punched way above its weight in the satiety stakes, no doubt due to the fibre-rich Lentils.
Originating in Peshawar, His Nibs’ Charsi Lamb Karahi curry was bursting with flavour and colour. The rich tomato base added a delightful sweet tone to the meal, partnered by the lusciously rich on-bone chunks of Lamb. I couldn’t resist grabbing the bones and sucking all the intense-tasting marrow out – to me, the fatty, oily texture provides comfort and depth to any dish. Black Pepper and Garlic add a superbly pungent layer to the curry, and more of those julienned strips of Ginger brought warmth and heat. Lingering in the sauce, the whole Green Bullet Chilli nearly caught me out, but I swiftly (and sneakily!) popped it back, then sat and waited for The Man to encounter it; I wasn’t waiting too long before I heard that distinctive “oooooh!” as the Chilli made its presence known on his tongue and lips! You have to get your kicks where you can, folks, and I was laughing like a Hyena at His Nibs; don’t pity him too much, as you can bet he’ll exact his revenge soon enough.
Over the years, we’ve had many varieties of Rice, but the one served at Bla Blaa was a new one to us. Drier than most you’ll encounter, the fluffy grains were also dusted with Cinnamon for a gorgeous spicy, sweet blast. If you have doubts, all I can say is “don’t knock it until you’ve tried it” – honestly, it was bloody amazing. The star of the meal was the Garlic Naan though; this mogged everything else! If anyone told me that a bread would be so marvellous, I’d laugh in their face…and yet here we were. The ready-quartered bread was glossed with Ghee on its surface, and sprinkled with fresh Coriander for presentation. Garlic was clearly discernible on the palate, but it had a divine mellowness to it that was rounded rather than pungent and harsh. Texturally, this Naan was unrivalled; beyond pillowy, it melted in the mouth, leaving us both smiling happily. As I say, you would never have convinced me that a ‘simple’ bread could be so magnificent.
As well as savouries, Bla Blaa serve an assortment of cakes, including a pink icing and sprinkle-topped, old-school tray bake cake, a Fudge Cake, Carrot Cake, Cheesecake and Blondies. Had we got even a smidge of space in our tummies, we’d certainly have had one of these, but we really hadn’t got any room. Maybe next time?
We couldn’t have been treated any nicer whilst we’d been at Bla Blaa: check-backs were done, fresh cutlery and crockery brought with each course, and everything done with a smile. Hot Wings happily given to Daniel and his Burton-upon-Trent team; as the team say: “Good Food, Good Mood, Good Company”.
To book a table, call 07760 557357; if you fancy staying in to dine, visit blablaaburton.uk and click the ‘order online’ tab. Bla Blaa Burton-upon-Trent is open 7 days a week 8am-11pm, so you can grab brekkie, lunch, dinner and all-day snacks.
