This week's food news includes pie offers at Pie & Ale, Blackjack's three day brewtap, Ocean Treasure and Sakana move into the same venue on Peter Street, a new bao bar called Taberu from Alderley's Yu, Castlefield food festival and more. The other big news this week is that Grub are moving into Mayfield depot to host a giant, two day food event every weekend from 19 May - read more.
Castlefield Food Festival returns this May
The food and drink festival returns for its third year and the line-up is bigger and better than ever. Over four days there will be demonstartions and tastings, plus street food sellers and producers will be on hand to feed you on the day and to stock up on goodies to take home. The festival is free to attend with some special events selling tickets – top picks include: Tea-Sup: a two hour cook-out based on Enid Blyton’s Famous Five combining tea and supper. Hosted by award-winning local chef Robert Owen Brown, he will guide guests around a campfire and foraging session, with tickets including an arrival drink, meat and marshmallows. Running over two days, you can buy tickets for either Meat Thursday with lamb shwarma and pineapple cured sweet and sour chicken, or Fish Friday with smoked salmon, chilli BBQ squid and seabass with fennel and olives. Gin Ahoy: local gin procuders Zymurgorium are joining forces with the festival to jump aboard a barge for a two hour gin masterclass. With drinks and a tour of the area’s heritage and architecture, go and discover your canal legs.
Thu 11-Sun 14 May, The Castlefield Bowl, 101 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4JN, tickets and information available via: castlefieldfoodfestival.co.uk
Ocean Treasure and Sakana team up on Peter Street
Ocean Treasure is moving out of its current home in the Great Northern and into the top floor of Sakana on Peter Street. Both restaurants are family-owned by the Chi-Yip group with the new addition set to open at the end of May.
From the end of May, Sakana, 23 Peter Street, Manchester M2 5QR. Tel: 0161 884 1292 www.sakanapan-asian.co.uk Follow @SakanaMcr for updates.
New Bao express eatery Taberu to open this Summer on King Street
Brothers Victor and Vinny Yu behind the award-winning Yu restaurant in Alderley Edge are bringing their expertise to Manchester, opening a new express food bar this summer. Taberu (Japanese for ‘eat’) will open on King Street, fusing flavours through a street food menu. Specialising in bao, there will also be noodles, salads and snacks on offer, as well as a far Eastern drinks menu. Having spent time travelling in Hong Kong, the brothers are looking to bring their inspiration to the city, to provide an alternative to fast food. Their sights are set high with a total of three venues to be opened in Manchester before expanding further afield.
Coming soon: follow @Taberu_UK for updates and launch date.
The Rose Garden in Didsbury to close in May 2017
Didsbury's modern British restaurant, The Rose Garden, is closing down with owners Bill and Emma Mills relocating to Cornwall. If you want a last chance to go and dine there, you have until Wed 10 May – they’re promising to bring back some of their favourites from over the years. Follow @rosegardendids to keep up to date.
Closing Wed 10 May, The Rose Garden, 218 Burton Road, West Didsbury, M20 2LW, Tel: 0161 478 0747, www.therosegardendidsbury.com
Book now: Deep South supper club at Takk
Scandi Northern Quarter-based coffee shop Takk is hosting a supper club with food hailing from the southern states of America. Serving smoked, rubbed and pickled deep south inspired bites, the ticket also includes a dessert and cocktail to finish. There is a range of craft beers and other drinks available, book your tickets via the link below.
Fri 28 Apr, Takk, 6 Tariff Street, Manchester, M1 2FF, 6pm-midnight, £10, www.eventbrite.co.uk
Blackjack hosts three-day brewtap for 5th Birthday this weekend
With lots of new, exciting breweries arriving on the scene, it’s time to wish a happy fifth birthday to stalwarts Blackjack. With promise of special beers, DJs and food, check the link below for updates.
Fri 28-Sun 30 Apr, Blackjack Beers, 36 Gould Street, Manchester, M4 4RN, times vary, FREE, www.facebook.com
Book tickets: Mary-Ellen McTague's charity cookery class at FoodSourcery
To raise funds for homelessness charity Shelter, local chef Mary-Ellen McTague is running a class at new Didsbury cookery school FoodSorcery. With all produce donated by Riverford Farm in Devon, Mary-Ellen will be giving demonstrations, as well as giving advice to participants. Money raised will be donated to Shelter to fund a GROW trainee, employing a homeless person in Manchester to a placement at Street Support. The ticket price includes the demo and cooking session, a Riverford cookery book by chef Guy Watson, plus a box of organic produce from the farm.
Sun 30 Apr, FoodSourcery, Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 5WZ, 2-5pm, £55www.eventbrite.co.uk
Offer: Two for one pies on Sunday and Monday at Pie & Ale
To add to the long-standing deal for pies on Mondays, Pie & Ale also offer BOGOF on their Sunday roast pies. Which is precisely as good as it sounds – a roast dinner with gravy and all the accompaniments inside a pastry case.
Sunday and Mondays, Pie & Ale, Unit 1&2, The Hive, Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1FN. Tel: 0161 228 1610, www.pieandale.com
IN SHORT
The Koffee Pot is running a Tuesday Lego club, with their usual bar offering happy hour and food deals all night: www.facebook.com
Reminder: it’s the GRUB Food Fair leaving party before they move to abandoned train station previously used by Manchester International Festival, the Mayfield. Pop down to say goodbye to them in the Alphabet Brewing Company venue: www.facebook.com
