You Choose: Casa di Carlo

Venue: Casa di Carlo at 1000 Trades, 16 Frederick St, B1 3HE; website
Choice: Beef cheeks with red wine (£8) Chooser: Richard Pope

Concentrate on the meat dishes is our not-at-all helpful to vegetarians advice when it comes to 1000 Trades latest pop-up, Casa di Carlo. Caps immediately doffed, by the way, to the people behind 1000 Trades, for providing a kitchen and a setting for some of Birmingham's most exciting food purveyors in which to practice their culinary witchcraft. The carnivorous courses from the tapas-style Italian menu were streets ahead of the at times disappointing veg. Sidestep the porcini arancini, for example, and go all in immaculate beef cheeks (pictured). Like a chocolate orange they fell apart with the slightest of prods. Chef Charlie Leggett has experience at Adams, the Wilderness and El Borracho, and his talent shines on the mercurial Madeira and balsamic glazed pork tenderloin with sweet potato mash and the bread-dippingly good chicken thighs in white wine. If you consider yourself a foodie, you're duty bound, if we might be so bold, to support this month-long Italian fling, that comes to a close July 29. Menu