Manchester Food & Drink news inc. Northern Vegan Festival & Grub Food Fair

This week’s food news includes Northern Vegan Festival, GRUB Food Fair at Alphabet Brew Co, fundraisers and food parties, as well as the announcement of the Manchester Food and Drink Award 2016 winners (click here for story) plus a new branch of Liverpool’s cafe-bar brand, Leaf on Portland Street (read more here).

Northern Vegan Festival at various venues around the Northern Quarter
The event returns for its second year. The main venues exhibiting stalls, talks and cooking demos are Sachas Hotel and the Methodist Church opposite. Alongside that, The Thirsty Scholar will be holding a vegan beer, wine and cider festival, a vegan party will be at the Wonder Inn along with Marble Brewery beers, vegan film screenings will be shown at Friends of the Earth and talks are being held at the Three Minute Theatre. The small fee can be paid on the door with all proceeds being donated to animal welfare charities. Check the website for full programme details.
Sat 15 Oct, various venues, 10am-6pm, £3, www.northernveganfestival

GRUB Food Fair at Alphabet Brew Co.
Head down to Alphabet Brew Co. to welcome GRUB to its new home. Held as a weekly event, this weekend’s launch party will kick off proceedings in style. This week, the food offering comes from the legendary Honest Crust Pizza, veggie-friendly Fancy An Indian?, Manchester stalwart Fat Annie’s, dumpling purveyors Oh Mei Dumpling, Sheffield-based Canadian-influenced The Gravy Train Poutine and new local bakery Blawd. Just a five minute walk from Piccadilly station, there are Alphabet beers aplenty and resident DJs will provide the soundtrack. Don’t forget to bring cash with you.
Sat 15 Oct, GRUB Food Fair launch party, Alphabet Brewing Company, 99 North Western Street, Manchester, M12 6JL, noon-10pm, www.facebook.com

Free grilled cheese: Big Grillie Style’s 1990s House Party at Beat Street
The team behind grilled cheese street food sensation, Big Grillie Style, invite you down to their Beat Street HQ for music, grilled cheese and wicked 1990s fun. Boom Bap and Breaks will be pumping out hip hop, new jack swing, 1990s RnB and funk, and food will come in the form of classics from the Manchester street food regulars – The Biggie Cheese Steak and the Flava Flav. With freebies for the first 50 people and a prize of £100 for the best dancer, dust off your triple denim and get down there.
Tue 11 Oct, B.Eat Street, Manchester, M3 4EN, 7pm-midnight, FREE, www.biggrilliestyle.com

Fundraiser: Calais Kitchen Party at Chorlton Irish Club
Head down to Chorlton Irish Club this Friday for an evening of music, comedy and raising essential funds for the 10,000 refugees in the Calais camp. There’s a stellar line-up including comedy from Tony Burgess, DJ sets from Disco Mums and Ian Kershaw, live music from The Lats Word Dogs and an appearance from local actor and activist Julie Hesmondhalgh. Fair enough, there may not be food served on the night, but you can start your weekend off by supporting a great cause to help feed others.
Fri 14 Oct, Chorlton Irish Club, 17 High Lane, Manchester, M21 9DJ, 7pm-1am, £8, www.wegottickets.com