THIS is an opportunity for vegetarians to put their money where their mouth is.
Their cash where their principles lounge.
Manchester House, the fine-dining new kid on the block from Aiden Byrne and Living Ventures, has revealed to Confidential its new vegetarian tasting menu.
This is priced £95 and has twelve courses. Ninety-five pounds. This is the same price as the meat menu.
Do vegetarians want to be part of the fine dining scene? Will they pay for fine dining? Yes of course they will, vegetarians aren't hair-shirted puritans, zeolots, or religious purists. Mostly anyway.
Equality at last for vegetarians - although they might think that given the price of meat they should get a cheaper option. But should they?
Confidential supposes that Byrne would say the processes, techniques and skills are no less important in a veggie fine dining experience than in the meaty one so an equivalant price is perfectly correct.
Aiden Byrne in meat mode
There will, of course, be loads of veggie choice on the a la carte menu too, so it's not the tasting menu or nothing.
What Byrne's tasting menu does though is throw a gauntlet thrown down to vegetarians across the region. Do vegetarians want to be part of the fine dining scene? Will they pay?
Confidential thinks the answer will be yes. Vegetarians are mostly not hair-shirted puritans, zeolots, or religious purists. They want choice and excellence as much as the omnivores.
The rants on Confidential following the announcement of the Manchester House menu prove that many a vegetarian would love to sample what a top chef can deliver - even at a price.
Anyway, here's that tasting menu in full.
01
Chilled broad bean soup
02
Fresh almonds, piquillo peppers and capers and nasturtium
03
Warm garlic potato mousse
04
Cobnut risotto, smoked apples and Parmesan
05
Beetroot mousse, baked beetroot salad with orange and fennel
06
Heritage carrot salad, white carrot mousse and Nocerella olives
07
Pea consommé, pea butter and warm brioche
08
Potato and violet artichoke salad
09
Roasted cauliflower custard, truffle linguini, cepes and buckler sorrel
10
Beetroot gazpacho with avocado and lime sorbet
11
Roasted salsify, grilled oyster mushroom, potato gnocchi and pickled girolles
12
Granny Smith with maple cream
Restaurant Opening Times: Tuesday–Thursday, lunch noon-2.30pm, dinner 7pm-9.30pm; Friday-Saturday, lunch noon-2.30pm, dinner 6pm–10pm
Lounge Opening Times: Monday–Sunday noon – late
There's no dress code at Manchester House but private dining and a chef’s table can be arranged. Manchester House is at Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Spinningfields, City centre, M3 3BZ. 0161 835 255.
Manchester House
Vegetarians can eat like kings at the top table
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