This week’s food and drink round-up has news of a permanent home for market favourites Holy Crab, word of social initiative HM Pasties and its new shop, as well as the relaunch of High Peak Food Hub in New Mills, an area that doesn’t regularly appear in the food and drink news.

Permanent Spot For Holy Crab in the Arndale
It’s always nice to see a street food vendor’s labour of love pay off with the chance at a permanent spot and that’s the case for fishy food makers Holy Crab. Their sustainable seafood snacks will be a mainstay in the much loved Arndale Market (a starting post for Viet Shack amongst others) from March this year. Having previously appeared in the basement of now departed Kosmonaut, and a three month spot in Hatch, we’ll be eagerly awaiting the chance to try their food on a regular basis.
From March 2019, Holy Crab, Arndale Market, 49 High Street, M4 3AH, www.weareholycrab.co.uk

Now open: Healthy eats at The Counter House in Ancoats
This past weekend has seen new health focused restaurant and bar, The Counter House, open the doors to its 62 cover spot on Cutting Room Square in Ancoats. The old One Stop newsagent was much missed from the Square but its new tenants have gone about making their own claim on the space. Plants and repurposed seating decorate the restaurant and diners can expect dishes such as beef brisket, and spiced dahl. Obviously there is an extensive cocktails and brunch menu too.
The Counter House, Cutting Room Square, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AJ, www.thecounterhouse.co.uk

The Sunday Times heaps praise on The Creameries
Chorlton seems to find itself in the press more regularly these days and thankfully it’s not always just to illustrate pieces on house price rises. The latest Chorlton spot to gain coverage is much loved restaurant, The Creameries. Sunday Times restaurant review Marina O’Loughlin heaped praise on Mary Ellen McTague’s South Manchester spot saying it has ‘wrought a small oasis of loveliness’ amongst praise for the ‘culinary industry’ behind it. We couldn’t agree more. There was also nods of praise further north for Ancoats newbies Canto and Jane Eyre. Read our full preview of Spring events at The Creameries here.
The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Road, Manchester M21 0SD. Tel: 0161 312 8328 www.thecreameries.co.uk

High Peak Food Hub 2019 launches at end of month
The end of January sees the relaunch of the High Peak Food Hub, a weekly evening food market intended to promote and support local producers and independent food retailers. Every Thursday starting from 3 January, the Food Hub will be at The Butterfly House at The Torrs in New Mills. The food hub allows local food producers to cater to those not usually around when they are open during the day and also has food traders booked in until May. The first event will see Jim Khor’s Nasi Lemak serving Malaysian Street Food. Future dates will see special Valentine’s offers, seafood specialists Savage Mussels and plenty more.
New Mills Food Hub, starts Jan 31st and then every Thursday, 5.30-7.30pm, www.facebook.com

Ex-Prisoner Pasties at H.M. Pasties in Droylsden
A Droylsden bakery’s tagline ‘bringing out the good inside’ hints some way to its main objective being more than just producing high quality pastries. H.M. Pasties is staffed by people with convictions and aims to educate and train in order to stop them returning to prison. As well as employing ex-prisoners, the beef is locally sourced from a 120 acre farm in HMP Kirkham in Lancashire. The bakery has expanded recently and this month has seen it launch is brand new shop on Manchester Rd.
H.M. Pasties, 395 Manchester Road, Droyslden, M43 6QF, www.hmpasties.com

Cantor’s Food Store Closes
Another Chorlton restaurant to receive national coverage recently has unfortunately had to close. Cantor’s Food Store, previously on Manchester Road didn’t get through 2018 and a late review by Jay Rayner review wasn’t enough to save it.

Tue 22 Jan - Thu 31 Jan
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Tue 22 Jan 2019