Harley Young chats with Carmen Andre and Claudio Vitale, owners of Manchester’s very own slice of Sicilian sunshine
Carmen and Claudio, the duo behind friendly neighbourhood bistro and bar Sicilian NQ, first came to Manchester in 2016, bringing with them their knowledge of Sicilian food and ricotta cannolis that were so popular they needed to expand out of their Piccadilly location into the cosy and welcoming spot we all know and love on Turner Street.
The pair opened Sicilian NQ in 2020, facing the trials and tribulations of Covid-19, but won over the hearts of their local community and solidified their place as Manchester’s only Sicilian restaurant. Since then, the restaurant has gone from strength to strength, hosting a ‘family-style’ way of service and adding a Mancunian twist to dishes that they loved from their childhood and grew up with.
I caught up with Carmen and Claudio to find out more.
Tell us a bit about yourselves.
Claudio: I studied as an actor in Rome. I had some roles in an Italian TV series then shot some action and horror films in the Philippines with an Italian production.
When [Carmen and I] arrived in Manchester in 2016, there was a clear lack of Sicilian food, only Neapolitan. I’m from Naples but know Sicily very well, the traditions and cooking styles etcetera. There are some similarities between them both, but introducing authentic Sicilian food to Manchester was sort of a challenge to propose.
Why did you choose this spot on Turner Street to open your restaurant?
Carmen: I remember we were on Market Street when we decided to open a place. I was saying to Claudio “There’s Neapolitan pizza here, but no Sicilian food. Why don’t we try?”
We saw this bar at 45 Hilton Street and decided to buy it. It was a sandwich bar so we transformed it into a cafe. Our purpose was to sell Sicilian rotisserie, arancini, pizza, and so on.
We were taking to the street with our ricotta cannoli samples for people to try for free and they kept coming back to buy them. So it was a big success because, little by little, we constructed a name for ourselves and became ready for an expansion.
We moved here in 2020, just as Covid struck. The place has so much character and is perfect to us.
What makes Sicilian NQ so special?
Carmen: It’s the only Sicilian spot in Manchester. We produce authentic Sicilian food with a bit of a twist, designed to suit the people of Manchester. We also have a full vegan menu and also a very popular pistachio menu, so everyone can come and enjoy our food.
What does Sicilian food mean to you?
Claudio: It means a lot. Carmen, in particular, grew up in Sicily but it’s also very important to me as I spent a lot of time in Sicily, too. It’s like having a little piece of home here with us in Manchester.
What do you want to bring from Sicily to Manchester?
Carmen: We want to bring that sunshine from Sicily to Manchester, along with that community, family-approach to dining - there’s no strict rules here, we try to accommodate everyone and make everyone feel very welcome.
What are the key elements of Sicilian cooking?
Claudio: One in particular is the Bronte pistachio, it’s one of the best in the world, known as ‘the green gold of Sicily’. People travel from all over for our quality pistachio produce.
Carmen: Tomato sauce is another element, because it's the base of the kitchen. If you don’t have good-quality tomato sauce you can’t make anything right.
Claudio: The pachino tomato from Sicily is exported everywhere in the world because it is of such a good quality, so we like to cook using that.
Do you have any signature dishes on your menu that have stayed with you since opening?
Carmen: Our Mount Etna, the arancino with a volcanic shape and a melting heart of slow cooked ragu with cheese, served with our homemade tomato sauce and parmesan on top, is always very popular. The vegan ragu Siciliano is also a great seller and is halal, too.
Claudio: Yes, usually Italian restaurants don’t have so many vegan options but we have lots of choices for our customers.
Do you have any upcoming events?
Carmen: We’re getting ready for Christmas now. We’re open on Christmas Day, serving a special a la carte menu that’s available throughout December. We chose a la carte over a set menu because this means people can choose what they like and enjoy it.
We also host regular wine and cocktail masterclasses - these can be booked for private parties so makes a good team building activity for work nights out. Then we have bottomless wine on Tuesdays. There’s something for everyone.
Click here to find out more about Sicilian NQ on Confidential Guides.
Sicilian NQ, 14 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ
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