Pop-up restaurant

I love Masterchef - the professionals. (Actually, I love food....) I love the imagination and the beautiful presentation. In the early rounds, I even love it when the dish doesn't quite work, and they describe the disaster.

I love the unusual ways they prepare food - and it's intriguing (and sometimes a bit ridiculous) to hear about their new methods - deconstructing, using a waterbath etc.... I'd love to learn more.

There's a pop-up restaurant in Birmingham city centre that has achieved a Michelin star. It's Adam's on Bennett's Hill and it's silly prices in the evening - but they do an excellent lunch menu - 3 courses for £25 - and the young staff in there are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable, that they will tell you all about what you are trying and how it has been prepared.

I started with "confit salmon" - and the charming young man (I'd love to have taken him home as a butler) described how it was coated with the very best olive oil and then cooked in a waterbath, with the temperature kept at a steady 40 degrees. It came with Sea aster (a sort of coastal spinach with a hint of sea salt). My main course was brisket. I said casually that I cook it for a long time. He gently mentioned that their brisket was cooked for THREE DAYS - again in a waterbath. It came with an onion sponge and horseradish powder.... both breathtakingly tasty and wonderfully different.

Dessert was "textures of chocolate" - with chocolate soil, sorbet, honeycomb, mousse etc etc.....

A splendid lunchtime - and if you're a Masterchef fan , it's the missing piece in the jigsaw - letting you taste.

Adam's website

Just like Glyn Purnell (Birmingham's other famous Michelin star chef) Adam is always present for every service - except for two when his wife had a baby. They will be staying in the pop-up place for about 18 months. It's very tiny and the picture of the corridor cleverly makes it look bigger. Then they intend to move to grander, permanent premises.

it's worth going now...