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What you need amidst all the usual traditional winter comfort foods; the hearty stews, syrupy sweet steamed puddings and boxes of Celebrations, is a bit of spicy zing to wake up your taste buds. In colder, miserable weather, there’s almost nothing better than a mouthful of aromatic spices, invigorating citrus flavours, warming ginger infusions and a kick of chilli.
We recommend using your fingers to tear off the best bits and dip them into the rich coconut mussaman curry sauce.
Busaba, the modern, relaxed Thai casual dining venue, has come up with a Seasonal Specials menu of refreshing dishes, all freshly prepared from a vibrant range of delicious ingredients.
While you scan the menu, make sure you whet your whistle with one of their seasonal drinks. Bangkok Christmas Sour is Busaba’s own version of the classic cocktail using lemongrass infused Amaretto, lemon juice and cardamom bitters. Thai spiced mulled wine is the perfect twist on a classic Christmas drink which sees warm red wine infused with aromatics such as vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and lemongrass. Watermelon and red berry juice with star anise, is the perfect non-alcoholic mocktail which manages to be both refreshing and comforting without being too sweet.
Bangkok Christmas sour, Thai spiced mulled wine, Watermelon and red berry juice
The food menu has been divided into a selection of small plates and main courses, and can be enjoyed as part of a set menu, along with unlimited rice, for £19.90. Thai spiced crab and prawn cocktail makes the ideal Christmas starter, managing to marry flavours of the exotic east with the popular western classic dish. Here, Busaba have mixed brown and white crab meat with king prawns, spicy sriracha mayo, shredded baby gem lettuce and fresh herbs to give this traditional starter more of a satisfying kick.
Thai spiced crab and prawn cocktail
Smoked duck and orange salad with chilli dressing is a light and refreshing dish enhanced with fresh coriander, cucumber, smoked chilli dressing and toasted coconut. Also light and satisfying is a comforting bowl of Thai basil broth with gorgeous silky prawn wontons. The final small plate on the seasonal specials menu is actually vegan and perhaps the most unusual; mixed with earthy grilled Portobello mushrooms, cloudear magical mushrooms are almost transparent, with the ability to absorb the delicious accompanying flavours of fresh mint, spring onion, shallot and lime.
Smoked duck and orange salad with chilli dressing
Choosing only one dish from the main courses is a challenge that we were happy we didn’t have to face. Even with the opportunity to try all the dishes, it was a tough call trying to pick out a favourite. Tender chilli lamb was one of our top choices, as the delicious meat had been stir-fried with pardon peppers, runner beans, chilli, garlic and Jasmine rice to create a perfect balance of flavours and textures. We also loved red chilli beef fillet stir-fried with garlic, chilli, spring onions and Jasmine rice – the cubes of tender meat were perfectly rare inside with an almost sweetly caramelised outer crust offset by the delicate heat of the red chillies.
Red chilli beef fillet
Grilled mussaman half chicken had benefitted from a good long marinade in delicious spices to keep the flavour inside the meat all the way to the bone. We recommend using your fingers to tear off the best bits and dip them into the rich coconut mussaman curry sauce.
Grilled Mussaman chicken
Fish lovers will really enjoy whole poached sea bream cooked on the bone with heady notes of lime leaf and comforting cinnamon. This is complimented by jewels of sweet pineapple and creamy Thai red curry sauce making for a more unusual, but very delicious fish dish.
Whole poached sea-bream with red curry sauce, pineapple, lime and Jasmine rice
By the end of the year, after enduring numerous mince pies and platters of bland roast turkey, your taste buds are going to need livening up with a tasty Thai treat and they’re going to be practically begging you to take them to Busaba.
Those planning a larger get-together (of 8 or more) over the next month, might be interested in Busaba's group Christmas booking incentive which includes a round of drinks for everyone on the day, plus a £20 voucher for the lead booker (that's you!) to be used in the New Year.
Busaba Eathai, Unit 1 Printworks, Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS
Busaba MCR from Manchester Confidential on Vimeo.
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