Hello All,
How are you doing? It’s been another rather delicious week for this Derby foodie, packed with writing Book 2, trial recipes in my test kitchen and checking out fab local eateries (more on a fantastic Nottingham restaurant opening in a standalone post).
The big news of the week (heck, month, maybe even year) is that Turtle Bay rocked into Derby, holding its launch party on Thursday 30th July at The Wardwick, Cathedral Quarter. We were met with welcome cocktails, gargantuan smiles and platters of scrumptious food. In short, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to end the month.
There was live music from Troy Ellis, Hail Jamaica and Laid Blak, and menu sampling all night. What I will say, is that Turtle Bay know how to throw a good party. The carnival atmosphere was infectious and that coupled with good food, excellent company and lush cocktails made for a highly enjoyable Thursday night out in Derby.
I had the pleasure of having a cocktail served by the lovely Lauren, who recommended I go for the white rum cocktail (Koko Kanu). It really was delicious, with the base notes of creamy pineapple accentuated by the smooth rum for a wonderful floral aftertaste.
The food included sweet potato fries, sticky sweet ribs, crispy battered squid in golden breadcrumbs, pulled pork salad and my favourite, jerk fish. I also had the pleasure of speaking with Turtle Bay Founder Ajith Jayawickrema (expect a standalone Q&A soon).
It was an eclectic crowd, some who had made the dash straight after work replete in smart-cazh wear (like yours truly) and suits who could have walked straight out of London City’s Square Mile. One of my favourite pastimes is people watching. As I perched on a comfy couch on the elevated section seeing and hearing people having fun and grooving to the music, I suddenly realised how lucky I was to be Derby resident. Derby may not be the obvious destination to party, but the arrival of Turtle Bay on the dining scene will undoubtedly change those preconceptions.
It’s always an indication of the success of a launch party when the whole room seems to be having fun. Hat tip to Turtle Bay, who certainly know how to rock a city. I could write a mini essay on this launch but I’ll let the pictures do the talking. A special shout out to Lauren (who made lovely cocktails) and Sam and Greg, whose nifty moves made the party an even better place to hang out.
Turtle Bay is open from 11:30 – 23:00 (Sun – Wed), 11:30 – 24:00 (Thurs) and 11:30 – 01:00 (Fri, Sat). It’s a child-friendly restaurant but due to licensing laws, kids aren’t allowed after 9pm.
Call 01332 344 100 to make a booking (you’d be mad not to) or hop onto website www.turtlebay.co.uk.