'Moovers' and cocktail shakers - Bitesize food and drink news – Week 47

We continue to applaud the way our favourite restaurants have managed to think on their feet while they’ve had close during lockdown. Every day brings news of a fantastic new cook at home kit (this week we tried making Pad Thai with Rosa’s and we tested out HOME-X) or the development of an online shop (like Fazenda’s) or a new enterprising delivery scheme. If we can’t get to Manchester’s best restaurants and shops, they’re making sure to find ways they can come to us.

Here’s the latest food and drink news. Cheers!

New king of the castle

The Edinburgh Castle Ancoats and Cottonopolis have announce the appointment of new executive head chef, Joe Grant. Grant was previously head chef at Cottonopolis when the Northern Quarter Bar and Restaurant first opened in 2015. Having gained a wealth of experience with seafood in London and the Scilly Isles, he most recently headed up the kitchen at Issho in Leeds for D&D London. Grant is now returning to Manchester, keen to make his mark. 

'Cottonopolis has always felt like home to me, and it’s owner’s Nick & Hayley like family’ says Grant. ‘Manchester is such an exciting city, ever evolving and I feel so strongly and passionately about these venues - so I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in.’ He aims to breathe a new lease of life into Cottonopolis menus, branching out with Nikkei and other Asian influences. Believing strongly in the importance of local ingredients and supporting the finest British producers, a stylised take of British seasonal pub food is on the menu at Edinburgh Castle. 'It's great to have Joe back. We're looking forward to working with him again and extremely excited for 2021" says Marc Farrell, Operations Manager.

Vegan roll over

After the UK went potty over Dishoom’s bacon naan delivery kit, the Dishoom team have now launched a brand-new Vegan Sausage Naan Roll Kit, for nationwide delivery. Responding to numerous requests from vegans, vegetarians and those who avoid pork or dairy, Dishoom have created this plant-based kit that contains everything required to enjoy two Vegan Sausage Naan Rolls with Masala Chai at home for £16 plus delivery. 

Dishoom’s new vegan sausages have been specially developed with their good friend chef Neil Rankin, who spent most of last year working on a secret recipe for a unique meat substitute made from fermented vegetables (beetroot, mushroom and onion) mixed with the best blend of spices for deep, rich umami flavours. Also included in the kit are full cookery instructions for first-class results in minutes. You get three vegan dough balls, Dishoom’s signature tomato-chilli jam, fresh coriander and vegan cream cheese, along with loose-leaf Darjeeling tea, chai spices and fresh ginger slices for brewing Chef Naved's much-loved Masala Chai (simply add plant-based milk). 

For every kit they send out, Dishoom donate a meal to Magic Breakfast, their long-term charity partner that provides free nutritious meals to children in schools in the UK who might otherwise go hungry.  Kits can be purchased via www.dishoom.com/store. For group orders of ten or more kits to be delivered to one household, or to multiple addresses, visit www.dishoom.com/send-naans. 

El Gato Negro & Canto launch Festive Shop

Those who miss El Gato Negro’s impressive drinks selection can rejoice, for the acclaimed Spanish tapas restaurant has boxed up a range of its finest bottles available to purchase from a new festive shop.

There are ten options to choose from including red wine, white wine, cava, port and gin, all of which can be complemented with a wide range of El Gato Negro’s multi-award-winning cured meats, cheeses, accompaniments, olives, and sweets.  Prices range from £35 to £165, making El Gato Negro’s boxed sets the perfect self-treat, gift for friends and family, or corporate present. Additional food items are individually priced. All orders are presented in a traditional wooden wine box or a cellophane wrapped hamper sealed with a bow and are available for collection from the restaurant.

For confident cooks, Carlos Gomes, head chef of sister restaurant Canto has created a food hamper featuring his own paella recipe. The hamper includes calasparra rice, saffron, Las Hermanas paprika, O-med extra virgin olive oil, Piquillo peppers, organic tomate frito, along with a step-by-step recipe card from the Michelin-award-winning chef and a two-person paella pan. 

Chef Patron Simon Shaw, said: “We’ve talked of introducing El Gato Negro hampers from the day we first opened the doors here in Manchester but to be frank, always managed to find a bigger priority. If you’re to focus on the positives of this year, that’s one of them, being challenged to think, adapt and do things differently.”

Hampers are available to order for collection or delivery now at www.elgatonegrotapas.com/shop/.  Last orders for Christmas deliveries are 6pm on Monday 21st December.

Boxed up Baratxuri

If you need a Catalan fix but live more on the north side of Manchester, you’ll be thrilled to hear that the award winning Ramsbottom-based restaurant has now launched Baratxuri at Home. Customers can now order fresh meal kits, which come with everything you’ll need for a perfect Baratxuri main course experience such as hake viscaina or Galician fillet steaks. You can also order a selection of frozen tapas like jamon or queso croquettas, gambas pil pil or chicken thighs in almond and lemon salsa.

Authentic Spanish deli items like queso Manchego, boquerones or Jamon Serrano are also available along with a small but perfectly formed hand-picked selection of wines at slightly discounted prices than you would find on the restaurant menu.

They are currently delivering locally to Ramsbottom, Stubbins, Edenfield, Helmshore Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Baxenden, Accrington, Holcombe Brook, Greenmount, Hawkshaw, Tottington, Walshaw, Bromley Cross, Edgworth, Bury, Whitefield & Prestwich. 

Salvi’s salvation

You can still grab a small slice of Neapolitan life during lockdown as Salvi’s Deli in the Corn Exchange is well and truly open.

Stop by and say hello to true Salvi’s legend Roberto, who has been at the helm since the very beginning, so can talk you through the very best imported produce from Italy; the meat section, the cheese section and assorted pastas, sauces, homemade pesto, wines, beers, Italian aperitivo drinks and Sicilian cannoli made with authentic goats’ ricotta.

Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco says “We love our customers, they are just like family to us. When our doors are open, they are really open and we want anyone who is struggling or just needs to see a friendly face to come down to the Deli, have a look around, buy some delicious Italian produce… but most of all walk away with a smile on their face.”

Salvi’s is also running a takeaway service (collection only) on Fridays and Saturdays from 12-8pm.  Call the team on 0161 222 8021 to place your order.

Find out more here

Facebook.com/salvismcr Twitter: @SalvisMcr Instagram: @salvismcr

Oldham’s open

Oldham’s market traders are still selling essential goods and others are offering click and collect and delivery. Tommyfield Market Hall has a wide range of popular stalls still trading including butchers, grocers, pet supplies and hardware. 

Oldham Council is urging residents to shop local wherever they can and to make this easier than ever, two convenient click and collect bays have opened on the Market Hall car park so customers can place their order with their chosen trader and collect it at a time that suits them – without leaving their vehicle. 

Cllr Sean Fielding, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: “When you buy from a local business you are putting money directly into the hands of local families - so if you can shop local, please do. Our market traders offer unbeatable quality and price and it’s really easy to shop with them.”

Follow Oldham Markets on Facebook and Twitter @OldhamMarkets or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/markets 

Tommyfield Indoor Market is open Monday-Saturday, 8.30am-3pm although Tommyfield Outdoor Market and the Town Centre Street Market are closed. 

Shaw and Royton Markets are also continuing to operate on Thursdays with stalls selling essential goods including fruit and veg, fish and bread. 

Ready Bready

Multi-award-winning bakery, Lovingly Artisan, based in the Lake District and Altrincham market have created a virtual bakery store that can deliver artisan sourdough breads across the nation. 

Following the success of their virtual baking club which helped people across the country with their sourdough questions, many wanted to buy Lovingly Artisan’s breads themselves but couldn’t because they weren’t based in the Northwest. 

To meet this demand, co-owner established a new virtual bakery store on their website which allows people to select from up to 13 breads, including loaves from Lovingly Artisan's heritage and healthy eating ranges, pay for them and have them delivered next day. 

Catherine and partner Aiden Monks have also devised an environmentally friendly packaging system, which protects the bread in transit without using insulation or plastics – it even doubles up as a unique bread bin. 

Visit the Lovingly Artisan virtual bakery store

Ho-Ho-Hawksmoor

We can not get enough of Hawksmoor at Home and are still working our way through their Cocktails at Home, but now we’re leading up to Christmas, Hawksmoor is launching its most indulgent Hawksmoor at Home box yet. Pre-dinner cocktails and Hawksmoor lager are followed by smoked salmon and Champagne, fillet steaks, sides, gravy and a bottle of Rosso Braida, and finished off with a sticky toffee pudding to share.

Hawksmoor at Home Festive Box serves 2 very hungry and thirsty people and can be ordered from today, priced at £165 or £105 excluding drinks, for nationwide deliveries on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Deliveries will start from Thursday, 26th November with last deliveries (must be pre-booked) on Wednesday, 23rd December.

Hawksmoor at Home Festive Box comes with easy to follow instructions and a bar code to access videos by Matt Brown, Executive Group Chef for anyone needing extra help with cooking. Another bar code will take you to a Spotify playlist to listen to if you so wish.

£5 from each box sold will be split between three charities Hawksmoor has been cooking for and supporting in other ways this year: City Harvest, Wood Street Mission (Manchester) and Soul Food Edinburgh. 

To order from Hawksmoor at Home range, please visit shop.thehawksmoor.com