Head to Veeno for a real taste of Italy
WITH its feet firmly under the bistro table of the ever-changing food and drink scene for five years now, Veeno has become something of an elder statesman in Manchester. As its name, when spoken in your best Italian accent, suggests, the main focus is wine – particularly Sicilian, where the co-owners Nino and Andrea have a family vineyard. But there’s much more besides with their newly extended drinks list, bringing even more diversity to Veeno this long hot summer.
One of the main additions is the array of small batch gins, including a number from the mother land. Panarea hails from the tiny Aeolian Islands just off Sicily, and blends juniper with tangy myrtle berries, citrus peels and coriander. Malfy, meanwhile, is from the spectacular Amalfi coast near Naples, and has two sun-filled flavours: one packed with lemon; the other orange.
Veeno has also branched out into cocktails, with refreshing numbers including the Pomegranate Cooler, containing cherry gin, and the Ferrero Rocher – made with Italian hazelnut-flavoured liqueur Frangelico and vanilla vodka – both jumping off the page and screaming summertime drinking.
And don’t forget the educational side to Veeno, with its popular wine tasting experiences, just expanded and available throughout the year. There are red, white and mixed wine flights, blind tastings, fizz tastings, and three different food and wine pairings to choose from.
The ‘Family’ Wine Tasting is a great all-rounder (and the cheapest option at £24.90 per person), giving you the chance to try out five wines from that famous family vineyard, Caruso & Minini, paired with a sharing platter of authentic Sicilian appetisers called spuntini, and rounded off with Veeno’s homemade Italian tiramisu and a sweet wine. The ‘Moroder’ session lets you enjoy four still wines and a glass of sparkling rosé from Veeno’s winemaking pals in the Marche region, while the ‘Riserva’ experience features a premium wine offer with five still and a glass of sparkling wine – all with savoury nibbles and sweet treats.
If you’re more on the hungry side and feeling leisurely, Veeno now offers an Italian afternoon tea from noon until 6pm every day. Glass of Prosecco in hand, this is your chance to go on a culinary journey through Italy, sampling focaccias, meats, cheeses and cakes from across the country – all at under £20 a head. In a hurry? There’s a range of city-named paninis on offer as a quick lunch (£6 with a drink), from the north’s ‘Milano’ and its bresaola heading further south to ‘Palermo’ and Sicilian tuna.
There really is something for everyone with Veeno’s new food and drink menus, so get on down and give it a try!
Find out more and book a table here.
