MANCHESTER residents have something of a love-hate relationship with the Christmas Markets. After all, one doesn’t always want to walk around a singing moose on the way to work. However, if you find yourself with time on your hands, the markets are worth a look. Love mulled gin, hand made pies and great street food? You’re in luck. Your guide to this year’s smorgasbord is food writer, Ruth Allan; a women who claims to eat at least one meal a day at the Christmas Markets. Let’s just say she knows her pancakes from her Poffertjes.
1. Northern Soul’s Grilled cheese Crimbo Dinner Sandwich - £6.50
Manchester’s award-winning grilled cheese merchants are new to the Albert Square Market and they’ve created an epic Christmas Dinner sandwich for the occasion. Expect a thick layer of melted, house-blend grated cheese, built up with cranberry sauce (with a bite), fresh stuffing, turkey breast, and topped with a satellite sausage on a stick and finished off with gravy drizzle. The most satisfying snack in town - and a great hangover cure.
Location: Albert Square, in the very centre, just next to the singing Moose.
2. Tiny Dutch Pancakes with Nutella and whipped cream from the Dutch Pancake House - £5.50
A platter of these puffy pancakes, topped with scoop of Nutella and a squirt of whippy cream is as close to heaven as the Christmas Markets get. Known as poffertjes in the Netherlands, the pancakes are cooked to order in a dimpled pan, dusted with icing sugar and topped with maple syrup, Nutella and so on. Each serving comes with a little fork so you don’t have to stop strolling as you tuck in.
Location: Various stalls including Exchange Square and Cathedral Gardens.
3. Lakeland Picnic – beef burger with cheddar and onions - £5
Serving prime beef burgers, lamb patties and Cumberland sausages from Lakeland Picnic’s butchery in South Cumbria, this popular stall in Albert Square offers a great, British alternative to the ubiquitous German wurst. Choose from the Classic burger, the Blue Lamb burger, The Cumberland hotdog – or go for the Special, which was double beef and bacon on my visit. Extras include blue cheese, farmhouse cheddar, caramelised onions and classy ketchup. The traditional chutneys from Yorkshire’s Bracken Hill Fine Foods (plum and real ale, for example) are excellent too. For best results, keep your burger simple and just try to resist coming back for seconds...
Location: Albert Square.
4. Freshly baked coconut macaroon from the Macaroon stall - £1.50
These simple coconut macaroons are served warm to the touch with a crisp outer shell and soft centre. Both Cathedral Street and Albert Square stalls have a funky chandelier and a single chef, who cooks and serves the dairy and gluten-free delicacies at the same time. Unfortunately, once you’ve tried a warm coconut macaroon, you’ll have to get one every time you are passing.
Location: Various including Albert Square and Cathedral Street.
5 & 6. George and Shelley’s Mulled Gin (£5) and Lamb Madras Pie with Home Made Mango and lime chutney, mash and peas (£4.95)
If traditional German Gluhwein is a little sweet for your palate why not try mulled gin, brewed with apple, cinnamon and star anise at George and Shelley’s opposite the National Football Museum? Independently owned and operated, this new outfit is the brainchild of former Manchester Food and Drink Festival organiser, George Jackson and Lakeland Picnic owner, Michelle Partington. The pair sell warming foods like homemade sausage rolls and mac'n'cheese. Best of all, though, is the Lamb Madras pie with all the trimmings. Spicy, tender mince is encased in a hard-crust pastry that’s perfect for mopping up drinks or keeping the family going on a day out. The house gin and tonics are great; the Oriental-spiced Opihr gin packs a serious cardamom punch.
Location: Cathedral Gardens, just down towards the Cathedral from the National Football Museum.
7. Gluhwein from Delicacies of Luxembourg in Albert Square - £4
Manchester’s favourite festive tipple costs around £4.50 for a 125mls in Albert Square (plus a £2 mug deposit). However one stall stands out, serving Gluhwein at just £4 per glass. Delicacies of Luxembourg is a long-term favourite of mine. Run by two charming, elderly ladies, Monika Zrikoven and Sonja Scholtes, the pair made their first foray into the Christmas market scene sixteen years ago in Lincoln and they haven’t looked back since. They serve a mean pretzel too.
Location: Albert Square, just left of centre if you are looking at the Town Hall.
8. Anything from the Great North Pie Company
There seem to be more regional British food sellers on the markets in 2016 and two of the best are the Great North Pie Co and Saddleworth Cheese Company. Wilmslow’s Great North Pie Co, in particular, has won an absolute raft of awards. I tried the minced beef and onion with Bovril gravy, cinnamon and hints of star anise and the repeat winner of British Vegetarian Pie of the Year; a classic Lancashire cheese and onion combo with caramelised onion, nutmeg and panko breadcrumbs. Both were excellent - and even better warmed up at home.
Location: Albert Square, centre.
9. Saddleworth Cheese Company’s How’s Yer Father Lancashire cheese - £3
When it comes to cheese, you’d be pushed to beat smooth and creamy Lancashire, How’s Yer Father. Created by former Coronation Star, Sean Wilson (who played Martin Platt), this firm-textured, cheddar-style cheese begs to be grilled and served for supper on Christmas day with a mountain of rhubarb chutney and an open fire. Cheers!
Location: Exchange Square, just opposite the Corn Exchange.
10. Slattery’s Milk Chocolate – prices vary.
Whitefield’s award-winning confectioner makes an excellent milk chocolate. Weighing in at 31% cocoa solids, it’s up there with Hotel Chocolate’s 40% Milk (the only other milk chocolate on the market that compares right now) and Slattery’s milk has a creamy bite, that’s smooth yet richly malty and highly addictive. Look out for alternative stocking fillers on the stall too, like a chocolate toolbox and a giant ‘Rolo'.
Location: St Ann’s Square, just near to Holland & Barrett.
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