This week’s food and drink news features a rare visit by an acclaimed chef, a Manchester microbrewery showing us the ropes, a welcoming party for one of the city’s newest restaurants, and 11 days of foodie heaven, courtesy of Manchester Food & Drink Festival…

Ottolenghi’s NOPI talk and demo at the Royal Exchange
Fans of Jerusalem-born, British-based chef Yotam Ottolenghi (pictured, left) will be excited to hear he’s visiting our fair city next month. Promoting new book NOPI, named after his acclaimed London restaurant, he’ll be joined by its head chef Ramael Scully at the Royal Exchange for a discussion and demonstration of some of the book’s Middle Eastern and Asian recipes – plus a Q&A and book signing.
Mon 28 Sep, Royal Exchange, St Ann’s Square, M2 7DH, Tel: 0161 833 9833, 7.30pm, £10 (£8 conc), www.royalexchange.co.uk

Runaway Brewery hosts bank holiday weekend tours
Part of a concentration of top-class breweries situated in the Green Quarter – alongside Blackjack and Marble – Runaway has announced a couple of tours taking place over the August bank holiday weekend. The brewery already opens on the last Saturday of each month (1pm – 7pm) for on- and off-sales, but these tours will give you a better idea of how the whole thing works – aided by four beer tastings along the way. Each tour lasts 90 to 120 minutes – and with capacity limited to just 20 people, best book early for this one.
Sat 29 & Sun 30 Aug, Runaway Brewery, M4 4JW, 1pm Sat, 2pm Sun, £10, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Food, drink, DJs and live music on the cards for Burger & Lobster’s launch
Opening its first northern outlet in Ship Canal House on King Street earlier this month, Burger & Lobster is finally getting round to hosting a launch party. Its #SecondSelf party this Friday (21 Aug) will feature complimentary food (burgers and lobsters, we presume), plus beers sourced from local microbreweries. In collaboration with Urban Nerds Collective, the evening will also include DJ sets from Ben Pearce (of What I Might Do fame) and Jonny Dub, as well as live funk and soul from Jenna & The G’s.
Fri 21 Aug, Burger & Lobster, Ship Canal House, King Street, M2 4WU, 8pm – 11.30pm, FREE – RSVP here

MFDF reveals 2015 line-up
Manchester Food & Drink Festival has announced its full 2015 programme. Taking place around the city between Thursday 10 and Monday 21 September, the 18th outing of the festival will feature street food pop-ups, ale and gin bars, live music, live cookery theatre, a Great Manchester Bake Off, a Ginger’s-organised experimental ice cream banquet and a mushroom farm – and that’s just what’s taking place at the MFDF festival hub in Albert Square. Watch this space for more previews over the coming weeks.
Thu 10 – Mon 21 Sep, Various venues, times and prices, foodanddrinkfestival.com

Fri 21 Aug - Mon 28 Sep
Words:
Chris Horkan
Published on:
Tue 18 Aug 2015