Evuna Northern Quarter Opens
Lovely new operation this one. Evuna, well-known in Manchester through its Deansgate restaurant, has opened a new Spanish restaurant in the Northern Quarter in a prime location on the corner of Tib Street and Thomas Street.
With tall windows on two sides of the restaurant light floods in, illuminating a warm, wood dominated space with high tables and walls laden with alluring white and red wines. It neatly captures a rustic Spanish feel.
High ceilings, wood and plenty of light
The tapas sampled on the opening day, the tortilla, the chicken paprika and the sausage were superb - dunking the tortilla into the paprika sauce was a little wonder. It's £9.99 for a selection of three tapas. The food was washed down by a draught Alhambra, a clean, refreshing Spanish lager.
This place should fly. It plugs a gap in the Northern Quarter food offer and occupies a fine location, prominent from three main directions.
That we even have Evuna makes for an interesting tale. For the reasons why and the story of the 20,000 bottles of wine, read David Blake's interview with Jane Dowler here.
Tapas selection
Senor Alhambra - beer, Jane Dowler - proprietor, Natalya - manager (asleep but happy), Ewa - manager of Deansgate Evuna, barman (name unknown but possibly Barry)
Rogan's Special Menu
From 3-11 August Manchester becomes a garden city with Dig The City. From King Street to the Cathedral, via fine food, flowers and a fête, with markets, workshops and public art, the city will go green and floral. Manchester's most popular online magazine has even got involved - read on.
For foodies the celebration will include a special Simon Rogan menu at The French in The Midland, from 6-10 August, between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.
Rogan Left, Midland manager, Mike Magrane right
Michelin Star chef Rogan will serve a Dig the City menu paying homage to the urban greening festival in the city centre. The inspiration will be the edible garden.
Diners will also get the chance to sample flavours and dishes from Roganic, the famous London pop-up restaurant which closed on 20 June this year. Rogan will be creating menus each day after a morning foraging.
An exquisite ox dish from Rogan
The French seats up to 58 and is open for lunch Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 1.30pm and dinner Tuesday to Saturday 6.30pm to 9.30pm. The Dig the City menu will follow the usual course number options of three for £29, six for £55 or ten for £79 and is a set tasting menu. Bookings: 0161 236 3333
Confidential will allow Rogan to forage in its growbox on Victoria Street in the city centre. We're not sure how far a couple of sticks of rhubarb will go, but there's lettuce, parsley and coriander too.
You can read Gordo's review of The French here.
Confidential's rhubarb and lettuce: Rogan can have a bit
Damson And Some Very Lovely Wine
One of my top ten restaurants in the NW is Damsons, MediacityUK - here's my review. They know their wine too. Waterkloof winery in South Africa and Damson go back a long way. Paul Boutinot (Waterkloof) and Steve Pilling (Damson) are old friends. On Tuesday 13 August, Paul's son Louis will be sharing the estate's story and presenting their classically styled wines now found on the lists of many other celebrated restaurants, including Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Noma. Each wine will be served with a dish created by Simon Stanley especially for the evening. Tickets are £30 including four courses and matched wines. More details here.
Damson wine
The Northern Quarter Restaurant And Bar And Daft Shirts
TNQ on High Street in the Northern Quarter is having a Caribbean gourmet evening on Wednesday 31 July. There'll be an array of 'authentic' Caribbean cuisine involving a six-course feast and a series of Appleton Rum cocktails created by The Liars Club. Entertainment will be provided by Matt Nickson and Jerome McMurray. Punters are asked to wear crazy Caribbean shirts. Book on 0161 832 7115. £55 per person. There's a fascinating interview here with TNQ chef Anthony Fielden. The restaurant is becoming the Northern Quarter's very own celebrity saturated San Carlo during Manchester International Festival. The xx were in TNQ Restaurant last night and Massive Attack dined there on Friday.
TNQ terrrace
Finally - if you want frank interviews read this one with Dave Spanner, the chef from Australia, who SAYS IT AS IT IS.
You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter here @JonathSchofield or connect via Google+
