Everything you need to know about our city's booming food and drink scene this week...
UN NOUVEAU LIEU
(21/10) Bistrot Pierre has announced that its new Altrincham branch will be open for business from Friday 2nd December. The independently owned restaurant chain’s ‘raison d’être’ is great value French cooking and seasonal menus which combine French bistrot classics with regional favourites. The two-floor restaurant, with space for 170 diners will feature floor to ceiling windows, French-styled interiors, a bar area and outside seating. It will open seven-days-a-week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner menus which include gluten-free dishes as well as a child-friendly menu.
The bistrot will be located in The Stamford Quarter, contributing to the revival of Altrincham’s town centre which is benefiting from major regeneration and a growing food and drink scene. As well as Altrincham’s award winning market, there are a number of renowned restaurants and bars in the area serving all manner of international cuisine and specialist drinks.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CABANA
(21/10) Cabana, the vibrant Brazilian restaurant in The Corn Exchange, is celebrating its first birthday in Manchester this week and, as partying is pretty much part of their DNA, they’re planning to celebrate Rio-style.
On Saturday 22nd October, Cabana's Caipirinha Bar will be packed for a night full of Latin revelry with Samba dancers, DJs, singers, street food and cocktails galore. There will also be an opportunity to enter some amazing prize draws on the night to win a £100 bar tab, a meal for four and an 'EPIC' Cabana prize bundle.
Don your thong and headdress and head over from 5pm to wish Cabana a very happy 1st birthday.
FAT CAT
(20/10) El Gato Negro has had a busy first year. Since opening its doors in February, the restaurant has been crowned 'Newcomer of the Year' at Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards and 'City Restaurant of the Year' at the Lancashire Life Food and Drink Awards. It has been listed in the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 and is the only Manchester restaurant to receive a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2017.
As a result, the restaurant is to be extended into the upstairs bar, The Black Cat, with the creation of a further 40 covers. Chef Patron, Simon Shaw, who revealed during a demo at MFDF that he even has trouble booking a table in his own restaurant, said: “Since opening we have been blown away by the response. Such has been the demand that we’ve made the decision to extend our food offer into The Black Cat, so our guests can enjoy the dining experience across all floors.”
Shaw also revealed that he's set to work on an entirely new concept, Pico Pico, which will offer a fusion of Spanish, African and Middle Eastern dishes and come in cheaper than EGN. Shaw says they're currently on the hunt for new premises around Manchester. May Confidential suggest a little spot that recently became free on Tib Lane.
NACHO AND EVEN MORE FRIENDS
(20/10) Iberica in Spinningfields has announced the third in their series of Nacho and Friends events where their Michelin starred Executive Chef will cook and host a special one-off dinner with esteemed guest chefs.
This time, they’ve invited Eduardo Xatruch, Oriol Castro and Mateu Casañas; former sous chefs at the world-renowned El Bulli with Ferran Adrià. The three chefs launched Compartir in Cadaqués and more recently, the Michelin-starred Disfrutar in Barcelona, which won 'Best New European Restaurant' 2016.
This highly-anticipated event is guaranteed to be a sell-out, thanks to the calibre of chefs. The exclusive eight-course dinner, which includes four complimentary drinks, will include crispy egg yolk with mushrooms, red tuna Iberico and beetroot fruit salad with Ajoblanco sorbet.
This special event will take place on Tuesday, November 15, following an evening in London on the Monday. Tickets £80 via press@ibericarestaurants.com or call 0207 636 8650
SHIR-AUS
(20/10) Renowned Australian wine writer Matthew Jukes will host a massive Australian wine tasting in Manchester Town Hall on Saturday 12 November. This is part of the UK leg of his global ‘100 Best Australian Wines Roadshow’, and will be a live version of his annual study which, for the past thirteen years, has been regarded as the true barometer of the finest Aussie wines on UK shelves each year.
Matthew has assembled 49 of the wines from his Report, covering all styles and prices. Ticket holders will be guided round the room to sample and savour an epic range of Aussie wine. Estates include well-known names like Leeuwin Estate, Brokenwood, Tamar Ridge, Tyrrell’s, Leasingham, Jim Barry, Hardy’s, Yalumba, Brown Brothers, Grant Burge, Penfolds and Tim Adams, smaller boutiques like First Drop, Larry Cherubino, Fox Gordon, Paringa Estate, Lake Breeze, Innocent Bystander, Pewsey Vale, Vasse Felix, Yabby Lake, Shaw + Smith, Giant Steps, Mitolo, Wakefield, Jansz, Skillogalee, Howard Park, Pertaringa and Riposte, as well first timer - Gundog Estate.
When you purchase a Roadshow ticket for £20.83 you get a free copy of Matthew’s 100 Best Australian Wines Report for 2016/17 (worth £20). Tickets are available here
HÜTTE STUFF
(19/10) Bar Hütte is to open on Spinningfields Square, Deansgate, from 10 November, surrounded by the Spinningfields Christmas Markets, enhancing the city centre’s general festive atmosphere.
The super snug ski chalet hüttes are furnished with warm, festive décor, complete with hot water bottles, heated lamps and Christmas lights, perfect for escaping the frenzy of Christmas shopping and relaxing in the warmth with a hot Bombardino. There will be a large indoor Aprés Ski bar, offering table service to three types of hüttes including carol-oke and disco themes. The Kitchens winner and newest Spinningfields resident BEASTro will be cooking up festive specialities on the outdoor grill.
Luxury packages are available for large groups wanting to enjoy the party season in style, including Champagne, Christmas canapés and premium goodies. Reservations can be made for two-hour slots for groups of six to ten people, with a non-refundable deposit of £20. To book, visit Bar Hütte’s Facebook page or barhutte.co.uk
The hüttes will be open from 11am – 11pm daily (closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day)
GREGGS TO GO
(19/10) Bakery giant Greggs is trialling a delivery service at Cobalt Business Park ahead of plans to roll the scheme out to Newcastle, Manchester and London. The food-on-the-go company has launched Greggs Delivered with the site's 14,000-strong workforce – including staff at Tesco, Newcastle Building Society, Siemens and Fujitsu – able to order sandwiches, salads and sausage rolls.
Amy Carroll, communications manager at Cobalt, said: "I am sure Greggs Delivered will provide a popular choice for our businesses catering for meetings and for people who just fancy a team lunch. Staff will be spoilt for choice."
Indeed, a choice of various brown things full of saturated fat.
GLOVES FOR SUBS
(19/10) While we’re on the subject of fast food outlets, we thought it was worth giving a mention to Subway's new warming community initiative – Subway Gloves for Subs – taking place across the region this month, aiming to help keep people in the local community warm this winter.
On Tuesday 25 October, for one day only, between 11am – 3pm, customers who donate a new pair of gloves to their local Subway store will receive a 6 inch Sub and a drink for only £1. All items donated will be distributed to fourteen local shelters, housing associations and projects across the region.
For more information regarding the campaign, visit your local Subway store or join the #Gloves4Subs conversation on Twitter.
GREAT NQ BAKEOFF
(19/10) Full-service creative agency 22 Group are bringing together neighbouring companies for a charity bake off event on Wednesday 26 October. They have challenged several other businesses from Dale Street and the Northern Quarter in a ‘battle of the brands’. Each business involved will submit a cake to be judged by 2015 Masterchef winner, Simon Wood.
Some of the companies donning aprons to take part will be CTI Digital, Neomam Studios, Capsule and North Star Piccadilly – who might have an advantage, being no stranger to tasty bakes. The event will take place in Allotment, the gin bar on Dale Street, and the aim is to bring the community together in a fun and engaging way to raise money for charity. Tickets are available to the general public for a minimum donation of £2 via the JustGiving page set up to raise money for Wood Street Mission, helping some of the most deprived local children in our city.
FIVE ALIVE
(19.10) Popular US burger restaurant (and our Gordo’s favourite) Five Guys, is planning to take a two-floor unit in the Arndale Centre. This will be its first city centre site after the popularity of its nearby branches in the Trafford Centre and Ashton Moss Leisure Park.
Plans have been submitted for the Upper Mall unit by Nando's and Bella Italia which has been vacant for eighteen months.
RINKY DINK
(17/10) The Edwardian edifice of London Road’s courtyard is to be transformed into a ‘magical winter market’ featuring an ice skating rink, bars, street food, stalls and an art space.
The recently liberated Grade II-listed London Road Fire Station has been the venue for a number of successful food events recently, including last month’s Made Here festival and Aiden Byrne’s dinner for MFDF. From 11 November, building developer Allied London will team up with Manchester Ice Rink, London-based Elemental Events and festival-producers, The Halo Group, to launch The Winter Gathering.
The Winter Gathering, located opposite Manchester Piccadilly train station, will be open every day, except Mondays until early 2017. Sun - Thur: 15:00 - 23:00, Fri - Sat: 12:00 - 23:00
ROGAN OUT, REID IN
(17/10) The Midland hotel’s four-AA-star restaurant is to be renamed ‘Adam Reid at The French’ from November following Simon Rogan’s decision to depart from the hotel only three years into an agreed five year deal. Reid has been Head Chef at The French since 2013 and will now have the creative freedom to develop and pursue his own culinary style. Previously Adam worked with Simon Radley at the Michelin starred Chester Grosvenor as well as Brockencote Hall in Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
Reid also recently made the finals of the BBC’s Great British Menu. Robert Taylor, head chef of Mr Cooper’s House and Garden, The Midland Hotel’s other restaurant, is also expected to remain after Rogan severs ties. Rogan will concentrate on his other venues; L’Enclume and Rogan & Co, in Cumbria, as well as Fera at Claridge’s in London.
JAY TALKING
(17/10) Jay Rayner’s previous visits to our fair city are usually unannounced and undercover, but this time the much-feared national food critic and chair of BBC Radio 4’s Kitchen Cabinet has revealed he will be dropping in on Manchester as part of his Ten Food Commandments tour.
Expect an illuminating audio visual ‘romp’, as the self-styled modern Moses attempts to lead dining disciples to the edible Promised Land. He’ll explain why thou shalt always eat with thy hands, why thou should most definitely worship leftovers, and why thou must celebrate the stinkiest of foods.
The presentation also includes a Q&A session and book signing. We’re not sure local restaurants should breathe too much of a sigh of relief though, he’s still going to want to find somewhere to eat while he’s in town....
Royal Northern College of Music, Sunday 23rd October, 7.30pm. Tickets £21, book here
WITH IT MARKET
(17/10) The Withington Civic Society and Withington retailers have begun working in partnership with The Makers Market and have recently announced that the first Withington Makers Market will be on Sunday 23rd of October featuring 40 artisan stalls, ranging from food and drink to art, craft and vintage.
Gavin White from Withington Civic Society writes - "We're really pleased to welcome Makers Market to Withington this weekend on Sunday from 11am to 4pm - Withington is a vibrant local village shopping centre and a market with the reputation and prestige that Makers Market has will be really welcome and popular with the local community. We hope that this Sunday will be the first of many future market days in Withington village. We hope that lots of local residents from Withington and beyond will attend and enjoy all that Maker's Market has to offer."
Expect to find great local produce including doorstop sized brownies from Ian Treats, veggie and vegan pies from Veggie Pie Co, cheesy toasties from Viva La Toastie and a German Bratwurst with an American twist from In the Dog Haus!
Withington Makers Market, 23rd October, Egerton Crescent, Withington, 11-4pm
SALFOOD FESTIVAL
(17/10) Those on a downer after the whirlwind of events at MFDF16 can console themselves by hopping across the border to enjoy Salford Food and Drink Festival which is taking place from 15-23 October. Visit their website to see the full list of events and offers at Ordsall Hall, Salford Museum and Art Gallery and various local restaurants. Events include Salford Apple Pie Festival on Saturday 22 and a visit to Lark Hill Place on Sunday 23 - a Victorian recreation of a typical Northern shopping street, with a grocer's shop, sweet shop and general store and the Blue Lion pub among others.
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