I was reading on the internet the other day that if you eat 30 bananas a day you will live to be…read more110. Now first off, I'm not sure I want to live till I'm that age, but most importantly I wouldn't be able to physically eat this much. I could imagine being constantly on the toilet. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, it aids digestion and has lots of vitamin goodness. Vegetables contain all those nutrients we all demand, yet we still eat processed food with no nutritional value. This is a welcoming greengrocer on a very quaint high street in a very nice part of Birmingham. They sell all of the above will a freshness and quality that you won't find in the supermarkets.

With just under 10 branches in the South of Birmingham The Big Apple is probably the shop in…read moreHarborne that most resembles a traditional greengrocer - although of course the larger supermarkets probably stock a slightly larger range. However, The Big Apple is a cheap and cheerful place which stocks seasonal produce, has a good selection of cut flowers, bedding plants and is also a good place to get discount priced biscuits, crisps, nuts, chocolate and pop. The staff wear their tabards well and are friendly and particularly nice to some of the older people who shop there (counting change and filling up shopping trolleys) and the quality of the fruit in particular is pretty good.

All though the main outdoor market with fruit and veg and is nearby, this stall, situated inside…read morethe indoor market, covers a slightly more selective ground. They have a large variety of exotic fruits so you are more likely to get your kiwiis, lychees, and star fruits here but they also have a good stock of all the regular ones like pineapples, bananas etc. The stall is beautifully organized and clean, all fruits and vegetables in very good condition and the sellers are very friendly. If you can't find what you're after in the outdoor market I'd recommend coming here.

this green grocers in the indoor market is pretty cool. at first they come across as only stocking…read moreChinese food but i noticed the other day that they sell caribbean and indian foods too. From hot sauce to indian spices to pak choi and lychees, you can get loads of interesting stuff here. The prices were reasonable too and I will definitely go back to the indoor market and visit a few stalls including this one next time I need some ingredients for a homemade chinese feast.

Located within throwing distance of the main Aston Webb building this is a great little fruit and…read moreveg stall that is a popular choice amongst staff and students at the University. Their produce always looks pretty fresh and you can select your own. It's also worth looking out for the odd occasion when they stock quite unusual items - I've picked up dragon fruit, guava and coconuts from here before at much cheaper prices than the localish Waitrose.

This is such a great little fruit and veg market. It is here Monday to Friday and is based under…read morethe archway of the Staff House. I often get some fruit here when I am on campus. They have such a large selection and so I usually end up buying loads. The prices are quite cheap and it is all fresh produce; it really is a bargain. It is all good quality too and I have always found the food very tasty. It is probably the cheapest and best quality fruit and veg in the Selly Oak and Edgbaston area. The people that run the market are quite friendly, but always so busy serving people as it can get a bit hectic as it is very popular. I always visit this market when I am on campus and it is definitely worth a visit if you are on the campus.

This is a large Morrisons store, located on Hagley Road in Edgbaston Village, a short ride on the…read moreWest Midlands Metro tram from Birmingham city centre. The store seems much more modern than I'm used to from Morrisons. The store is visually pleasant. As you enter the store, you'll be greeted by their Market Kitchen area where food counters are available offering a rotational daily selection of hot dishes, pizza and a couple of other options alongside the regular Morrisons Cafe offering. The facilities inside the store are good and also include Amazon Lockers. The selection in terms of groceries was reasonable. Prices were competitive but did seem fairly expensive for some items including Cravendale Milk, even out pricing some convenience stores in Birmingham city centre. The staff seemed friendly enough; there was a lack of them on the shop floor however to assist customers. 4* - An impressive Morrisons with an overall store look/feel that I hope they roll out across more of their supermarkets nationwide.

Morrisons is excellent for online shopping. I've always received my full order with no…read moresubstitutions and knew exactly when it would be delivered!

You want amazing quality meat and fish and great prices? You won't go wrong with AJ Barlow! These…read moreguys stock fresh and frozen fish from around the world from cod and salmon to more exotic species like red grouper. If you fancy something more interesting than "white fish fillets" for your dinner, you are in for a treat. The Birmingham Indoor Markets is great for meat, fish and poultry, but I have used these guys many a time and not been disappointed. From your basic stuff like Mackerel to your more expensive seafoods - chances are you'll be able to find what you're looking for here. The guys clearly label their produce (so you know the cost before you buy) and you can get set amounts, rather than pre-packaged - so you can buy exactly what you need. They're friendly, helpful, have great produce and will offer advice on their stock. If you go towards the end of the day, you might be able to snap up a bargain too. If you're looking for great quality fish and you're watching your pennies, give these guys a go!

Amazing service...mark was fab today filleting my shark as was his colleague with a beard, very…read morefriendly and helpful five stars out of five, I hadn't been in years but will go again handsome duo to, looking forward to my filleted shark for dinner with a glass of wine x

I'm a bit of a market novice when it comes to shopping for and actually buying meat and veg. I've…read moregot to be honest and admit that I've always watched the hustle and bustle of the markets in Birmingham from a safe distance. However, having a young family and in these financially challenged times, I thought I should bite the bullet and give it a go as an actual customer, rather than mere browser. Being the coward that I am, I went with my Mum for moral support. She knows what to look for when buying meat and veg. In these days of cellophane packaged supermarket goods, the market produce can seem very daunting. After some hints from Mum and watching her in action, I went for it at A P Doherty's. I wanted to write this review to recommend them because of the amazing deal we got. I think Ryan (the guy behind the counter) mistook my hesitancy for reluctance to spend, whereas I was trying to work out what he was talking about and whether I was getting good value. There are loads of butchers and poultry specialists but these guys gave great value. I got so much chicken and gammon for £20 that the bag burst carrying it to the car.

Moseley farmers market is an award winning market held in the central square of Moseley. I had been…read moremeaning to get down for months before I finally managed it this Saturday... And I wasn't disappointed. The market is exactly what you would want a medium to large sized market to be. Offering a huge range of locally sourced goods sold to you by the actual producers of the items, you can get most things you would need to stock up the fridge, freezer and cupboards (with a good amount of locally made crafty things too). It's in a pretty setting and has a lovely community feel to it. We managed to find parking in the small shopping area just up from St Mary's Row at around 9:15am, but parking could be a bit of a nightmare if you were getting here later. The square area offered braces of pheasants for £6, cheese, wine, condiments and artisan food products and the High Street area (which we hadn't realised was there until we were leaving - D'oh) offers more of a crafty element. We had a nice little poke around the stalls and chatted to many of the business owners about their products and they were more than happy to talk to us and advise where the items are made and the ingrediants that go into them. We got some lovely locally made fizzy red wine (Did you know there are vineyards in the Midlands?) for £10 a bottle, some hot sauce from Pip's and was very tempted by cakes and unusual scotch eggs... We are definitely planning to go back. If you haven't been, you must go. Get there early if you're planning to drive but the buses down to Moseley drop you off right in the thick of the action, do that might be the best idea.

Moseley Farmers Market takes over the village green every fourth Saturday of the month, and holds…read morethe perfect little community vibe for all who love to indulge in fresh food and organic produce. I've been attending the market for over three years now, and I rarely miss a month. The stalls always draw me back when I'm needing a healthy variation to my diet, and the price range is perfect value for money. Specifically regarding the Beans & Leaves stall, which sells a wide range of both coffee beans and loose teas. Most of these infusions rarely reach the £4 mark for 100g, which results in more than enough tea for two for several months! The tea stall holder himself is a bubbly yam yam who'll immediately strike up a conversation. It's just a shame that his stall is on the windiest part of Moseley, meaning that a lot of his tea ends up at the other side of the market! But of course, on first visit, you'll want to sample everything. Whether this be jam, ostrich burgers, bakery, alcohol or cheese (in fact, I highly recommend the Warwickshire Truckle), there's literally something for everyone. I've also tried a range of unlikely produces which sometimes appear at the market, such as a piece of fruit called a quince, and a green tea cake, both equally as delicious as the other. As a worthy winner of "best farmers market in the UK 2012", Moseley Farmers Market is a treasury to Birmingham and brings a tasteful locality to the streets of Moseley.

Visited pickled piglet a few months ago. Really impressed by the restaurants downstairs spacious…read morebar. I spent some time with the waiter, and decided on a refreshing tangy, whisky cocktail which had a great punch to it. The bar mainly consists of whisky and a selection of rums. We were seated upstairs, which was a lovely open, restaurant with a twist of wooden and modern interior. We opted for the 'Seasonal £10 Menu' which was great food for the price. The menu consisted of 2 started each and a Main. We chose a selection of small starters, including salmon pate, salami and pickles and a light prawn cocktail. These starts were small portions but definitely tickled the taste buds. Great light refreshing starters. For the main course I went with a mushroom Risotto and Sea bream. The fish was very fresh with a light batter, risotto was very light, cooked to perfection with a sharpness of lemon which I throughly enjoyed. I only wish the dishes were a little bit larger! Great small dishes, very flavoursome and I would definitely go again. A grande step up from any pub grub in Birmingham.

So I said I d head back and check out the bar area and when I saw that the pickled piglet were…read morelaunching their cocktail menu (241 cocktails from 5-7, m-f) and providing samples of their new spring menu in the bar area with the accompaniment of some acoustic singing, I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to head down. We arrived at 5 and found a cosy corner in the bar. We later found out the singer would practically be on top of us but it was an intimate gig so that was fine by us. We ordered a baker elk fizz with was amaretto, prosecco and sour cherry liqueur. It was very delicious, sweet from the amaretto and cherry and did taste like a bakewell. I did need to stir the ingredients round but I liked the way the cocktail was presented in layers. There appeared to be a good choice and beers and ales too. The food samples started to be circulated just as we were leaving - they were canapés sized and there was a duck taster on a charcoal cracker which was interestingly flavoured with lemon and black pepper. The one I preferred was Guinea fowl in a terrine/pate - it whetted my appetite to see what else is on the new spring menu. We ll definitely return for some after work cocktails! And I see the PP guys are opening a pub in the JQ - cannot wait for that!!

The signage on this store makes it look like something out of a computer game. I love it! It's a…read moretiny little store but manages to fit quite a lot in. Intrigued as I am by anything oriental I decided to go in and buy some 'snacks'. Now if you, like me, have a bit of an obsession with all things Asian then you will have probably tried some pretty weird stuff like Wagashi sweets and bean curd buns. Nothing, however, could have prepared me for the sensation overload that is 'Homemade Mocha'. Trust me; you want to steer clear of these freaky little snacks. Falling somewhere, aesthetically, between a willy and a dumpling, these dusty, odd little sausages will make you think you are eating something very raw and very wrong. They come in flavours such as 'Red Bean' and 'Green Tea' and are clearly not worth the £2 you will pay out of curiosity. I ate my whole pack anyway so that I got my money's worth. I'll probably be dead by morning or at least have a few tentacles. Other delights to be found in this store are Hello Panda biscuits (amazing!), noodle snacks, wasabi peas and 'Ball Cakes'. Hello Kitty fans will be in for a surprise when they chow down on those BBQ flavoured seaweed crisps. YUMZ!

This store is irresistible to me, and I find myself drawn in to explore the array of quirky…read moreoriental produce every time I walk past. The tiny shop somehow manages to stock masses of unusual food, from Japanese sweets to herbal flavoured jellies to noodles to biscuits. The fridge inside is also packed with healthy cold drinks and ice teas. I mainly go here to purchase herbal teas, particularly goji berry infusion. Although this specific tea is little pricey, the taste alone is well worth the expense. I'd describe Anytime Snacks as a condensed, cuter version of Sing Fat Ltd. Although saying this, I often find more products here that tempt my taste. Additionally, staff are very friendly and always talk to you and smile when you are inside the store. Whereas at Sing Fat, the staff rarely acknowledge that you are there. Anytime Snacks is well worth a visit if you like bright colours, little oddities, sweets or want to explore food that you've never tried before.

I will be totally upfront and tell you first off that I help organise the market. It is run by the…read moreJewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum who are a group of local volunteers. But I'm also a customer who looks forward to seeing familiar favourites and new stalls and I never leave without bags weighing me down, so I'm judging it as ok to write a review :-) We now do an Easter, summer and Christmas market the grounds of St Paul's church. We don't make any profit and plough any surplice back into the next one to keep the cost to stallholders down. We have a mix of delicious food to eat there and then, to buy and take home, and a great bunch of local artists, crafters, makers and growers selling stuff to adorn you, your house and your garden. We are small and perfectly formed but growing well. At our summer 2014 market in August we had 27 stalls, a good footfall and a great atmosphere. Look out for our Christmas market in December.

One of my favourite days of the Jewellery Quarter calendar is the third Saturday of each month when…read moreit's 24 Carrots day. The food traders are all local to the West Midlands and after 2 years of popping in for my regular haul I've got to know them pretty well. Must haves are coffee beans from Andy at Beans & Leaves from whom I tend to try whatever is new this month. He's also an expert on the 1970s but that's beside the point. JQ business Vee's deli are there with their great selection of cheeses that you can try before you buy and then there is the markets' own vegetable stall which occasionally sells carrots! More often than not I'll pick up some flowers and whatever vegetables I want with the Sunday roast the next day. Sometimes I'll pick up a homemade frozen meal or at the very least a dessert from the frozen food stall before checking out the delights from the huge Squisito hot food stand. Finally it's the essential dozen eggs from the meat guy, who has a 10 year old clever side-kick who can calculate in his head faster than I can with a calculator. If you're coming along, I'm usually there around 12, when occasionally they have live music so be sure to say 'hello.'