Music venue to host one-day ‘Everything’s gone green’ food fest this Saturday
If you haven’t yet got to grips with a famous Firebird Hope Level-up Burger made with the thighs of chickens raised free-range in Yorkshire and coated in buttermilk brine, just where have you been? Certainly not to their recent pop-up at Hatch, that’s for sure, nor to their permanent home in YES; representing four floors of fun in a refurbished auction house on Charles Street, where they’ve been rocking the kitchen since September.
But Firebird Hope has also become renowned for creating arguably the best vegan hot sandwich in Manchester - Triple-6 Vegan Burger. Hot out of the street-level kitchen next to the main YES bar – and set off with the very same finger-licking koji mayo, house slaw, fast pickles and artisan sourdough bun as the carnivore’s version – it is fast gaining must-eat status. Sandwiching a patty of home-made vegetable protein seitan (think a kind of tofu or tempeh) that’s cooked in a vegan-only fryer, it was on witnessing the popularity of his Triple-6 that Firebird Hope’s Dan Hope came up with another brainchild.
Enter vegan food festival Everything’s Gone Green, a one-off, one-day event taking place in YES on Saturday 5 January, with a line-up of the best plant based street food vendors out there. Firebird Hope’s counter co-habitors, Pepperoni Playboy, the New York pizza slice supremos, signed up from the get-go. As well as their dairy-free alternative to the delicious veggie ‘Gary From Admin’ slice, will be the Aubergine Genie, which uses vegan mozzarella as one of its toppings. More ideas for vegan specials are on the pass, and the Firebird Hope gang have let on that they’re planning on serving jerk-fried seitan nuggets as an alternative option, using gluten free breadcrumbs.
Dan has also invited some of his other favourite small businesses into the music-focused venue for the street food takeover, starting with chef Kelly Bucher’s Los Antojitos, which is behind The Chorlton Tap’s all-vegan Mexican pub grub initiative. Think multi-bean chilli bowls and tacos made with hand-pressed corn tortillas, BBQ sweet potato filling and homemade cactus-based salsas which have a cult following.
The reigning Manchester Food & Drink Awards ‘Street Food Trader of the Year’, Oh/Mei/Dumpling will be joining the party – their handmade Chinese-style dumplings reportedly pack a flavourful punch, with vegan versions such as pan-fried tofu and kale already proving popular at food markets around town.
Joining the award-winners at Everything’s Gone Green will be Mama Z, aka 26-year-old Zosima Fulwell, who dishes up meat-free meals inspired by the Philippines, promising to bring ‘a taste of Manila to Manchester’ in deepest, darkest January. Like Firebird Hope, Mama Z has also had a spot at Hatch, where the likes of banana ketchup, jackfruit pops and mushroom adobo went down a treat.
Crossing the hills for the day are Leeds-based Döner Summer (get it?), Yorkshire’s first and only vegan döner pop-up, known for a mean vegan Berlin döner burger. Made with secret spiced seitan and garnished with fresh herbs, quick pickles, garlic mayonnaise and hot sauce, Döner Summer’s grab’n’go dinner comes wrapped in a flatbread. Add hash browns – for added carb loading.
Entry to YES is free and pop-up stalls will be open from noon until 6pm.
YES, 38 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7BD. Open every day 12pm-12am
