Manchester is bustling this November, with many pre-Christmas food and drink events to get your teeth into. Highlights include the Beagle’s festival of fire-tinged flavours, Up in Smoke, the opening of Brazilian restaurant and dedicated caipirinha bar Cabana at the Corn Exchange, Bury Beer Festival news and supper clubs galore – not forgetting International Sherry Week (now on).
1. Up in Smoke festival at Chorlton’s Beagle
Prepare for your cockles to be well and truly warmed this month, with Up in Smoke – a month of smoky specials, themed cocktails and matched beers from Chorlton’s The Beagle. Dining treats include a full rack of Smoked Out BBQ Pork Ribs (£12.95), Smoked Paprika Pork Tacos (£4.50 for two, £5.50 for three) and their own take on a bonfire classic with a whole-baked toffee apple (£3.50). Drinkers can choose from a smoky Ilegal mezcal cocktail made with black treacle and Calvados (£7.50) or some carefully selected autumnal ales from craft favourites Thornbridge, Beavertown and North Union.
Throughout Nov, The Beagle, 458 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M21 0BQ. Tel: 0161 881 8596, www.beaglesabout.com
2. Mei Mei’s Street Cart supper club at The Kitchens (pictured)
This one’s for all the vegetarians out there as 2014’s Manchester Food & Drink Street Food Trader of the Year Mei Mei’s Street Cart presents one night of delicious veggie fare. With an ethos based around making good Chinese food from scratch using local free range ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, customers can forget greasy chow meins and welcome creative dishes inspired by an enduring love for Chinese cuisine. Mei Mei’s are offering unlimited steamed Bao buns to stuff with a selection of Chinese comfort dishes with beer, wines and cocktails to match. The menu promises such delights as Spring Onion and Black Fungus Turnip Cake, 5-Spiced Aubergine, Crispy Chilli Tofu with Cashews and Szechuan braised Aubergine with fried Quails Egg all served with condiments & chillies to share in true family-style dining.
Tue 24 Nov, Mei Mei’s Street Cart, The Kitchens, Leftbank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3AG. Tel: 07872 959 854, 7-10pm, £20, www.eventbrite.co.uk
2. Brazilian barbecue restaurant Cabana open at Manchester Corn Exchange
Music and passion are bound to be in fashion as the Corn Exchange welcomes award winning Brazilian joint Cabana into the fold. According to founders Jamie Barber and David Ponte, Cabana is a homage to the food, eccentricity and spirit of Brazil. The restaurant offers colourful barbecue skewers, including their best-selling Spicy Malagueta Chicken and chilli and cumin Cabana steak, as well as a selection of street food snacks such as Coxinhas (croquettes of shredded chicken and spices) and Bolinhos (crunchy fried rice balls). When you add to this a dedicated caipirinha Bar on the first floor, it sounds like Cabana could be the ideal place to inject some South American energy into your life.
Cabana, Corn Exchange, Exchange Square, Manchester, M4 3TR. Tel: 0161 819 3100, www.cabana-brasil.com
3. Bury Beer Festival at The Met
November plays host to the seventh Bury Beer Festival, which promises to deliver an emporium of craft ales, ciders and perries while championing the local micro-breweries that have become a thriving industry in the town. Also on offer will be traditional Lancashire grub provided by Automatic Restaurant as well as a full bill of live music including sets from celtic-folk-jazz musicians Red Hippo and a special collaboration between acoustic trio The Hayes Sisters and folk, roots and rock-n-roll combo The Jon Palmer Acoustic Band. Visitors are encouraged to vote in the ‘Beer of the Festival’ competition and the event is used to raise funds for ‘A Better Met’, an organisation aiming to raise £500,000 for a refurbishment and redevelopment of the Bury arts venue.
Fri 20 & Sat 21 Nov, The Met, Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW, Tel: 0161 761 2216, 12pm – 12am, £4 (£2 before 5pm Fri 20 Nov, half price to Met members), www.burybeerfestival.co.uk
4. Celebrate International Sherry Week with Hanging Ditch wines around the city
As everyone is aware, 2-8 Nov is International Sherry Week. So, to mark this fino celebration, Hangingditch Wine Merchants is curating a series of events across the city. To get you into the swing there will be special extended ranges of Hangingditch sherry on offer throughout the week at Northern Quarter stalwarts Common and Kosmonaut. Saturday will see a unique collaboration with Umezushi offering guests a sushi and sherry evening in the form of an intriguing yet compelling one-off tasting menu. With only limited space available, it is advisable to book early. To round things off, Sunday offers up the chance to take part in an informal drop-in tasting and discussion session covering all things sherry at Hangingditch HQ.
Sat 7 Nov, Umezushi, 4 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ, Tel: 0871 811 8877, £45, to book visit umezushi.co.uk and add the note ‘sherry and sushi’ to your reservation.
Sun 8 Nov, Hangingditch Wine Merchants, 42 Victoria Street, Manchester, M3 1ST, Tel: 0161 832 8222, 2pm – 8pm, £10 advance, www.hangingditch.com
- Words:
- Ben Hayward
- Published on:
- Tue 3 Nov 2015
