Plus burrito backflips, canned fish and the big countdown
The votes have been counted and the results are in. Last week, Greater Manchester elected Andy Burnham for a second term as Mayor and the baking repercussions have even managed to filter down into this week’s Hashtag MCR. Elsewhere, United and City made European finals and the rain continued to pour on our beer garden pints - including ours.
But rejoice, the opening of indoor food and drink is on the horizon and next to it on Deansgate is a massive clock counting down the days.
Scroll on for our weekly round-up of filthy, funny and full-fat social media content from Manchester's food and drink scene.
The winner cakes it all
Politics, but make it baking. As if winning a second term as Greater Manchester’s mayor wasn’t enough of a reward in itself, Andy Burnham was also gifted this impressive cake to commemorate the win. Made by Altrincham-based Libby G Cakes and gifted by Warehouse Project founder Sacha Lord (who also took the main pic above), the resemblance is uncanny.
Do the can can
We’re suckers for a colourful flat-lay and this artistically curated selection of delicacies courtesy of The Albion Farm Shop tickled our fancy. The cans on offer come from The Tinned Fish Market, a company that sources tinned seafood from specially-selected canneries in Spain, Portugal and France. Line-caught, hand-prepped and eye-catching designs and if you pick them up in person you might get to pet the goats near the car park.
When it rains, they pour
More soggy pub heroes this week and this time it’s the staff and patrons of the Crown & Kettle in Ancoats. Braving the weather with their drinks and poncho offer (a free poncho with your first drink), we applaud their unstoppable commitment to the pints.
Just like, honey
More enticing ingredient arrangements courtesy of the super environmentally conscious alliance of Stockport restaurant Where The Light Gets In, rooftop market garden The Landing, urban farming collective Manchester Urban Diggers, and plastic recycling maestros Plastic Shed. Snap those remaining tickets up and keep an eye out for future events.
Señor Flippy
Now, we’re not laying down the gauntlet or anything but in a world where content is king and doing flips ‘n’ shit is a commendable but don't-try-this-at-home pastime, we are very much here for this Burrito Express clip. Strong launch, robust landing and kudos for keeping the sombrero on. It’s a ten from us.
Tokyo is the new Paris
You heard it here first, folks. Contemporary French Chorltonites Man Bites Frog have turned all Japanese on us with this handsome plate of miso-glazed aubergine with crispy seaweed and wasabi emulsion. Yes, it’s vegan. No, they’re not sorry.
If this is macarong, we don’t wanna be right
More macarons this week courtesy of a colourful and eclectic flavour selection from Get Yer Macaron. Their bumper picnic box of ten includes among other flavours: watermelon crush and pornstar passionfruit martini.
Turns out butter would melt
Unlike watching paint dry, watching butter melt is a somewhat addictive and sensual experience. Add a garlic mushroom potato cake made by Northern Potato Cakes to the equation and you’ve got us watching on repeat.
Shine on you crazy diamond
Another pretty plate this week that we couldn’t ignore came via Nutters Restaurant in Rochdale. The range of colours on offer is one thing, but the quality of that shine on the mousse is something else entirely. You can almost make out the room on its surface.
The countdown is on (the side of a building)
If you didn’t already need reminding that it’s less than ten days until hospitality properly opens back up nationwide, Cloud Bar 23 and The Manchester Hoteliers Association have teamed up for a huge light display overlooking Deansgate. Sliding brooding in a dystopian sense? Maybe. A signifier of better times ahead? Absoutely.
