Pork Bao
Wallace & Sons (Stretford Food Hall)
Visits to Stretford Food Hall are becoming more and more frequent in my life – primarily because I’m always guaranteed some great food, a few easy games of Guess Who and a few icy pints of Manchester Union Lager. Usually with great company. Sunday saw a visit enhanced by Wallace & Sons and their outstanding Pork Bao. Just look at how majestic it is. It comes loaded with crispy skin, pickled cucumber, hoi sin sauce and Sriracha. Bam! – Ben Brown
Cruffin (Lego style)
Albert’s Schloss
We had the chance to get a first look at the Art of the Brick exhibition in the Great Northern and their friendly neighbours, Albert’s Schloss treated us to some Lego-themed Cruffin and Kronuts. Somehow the little Lego friend made it taste better – I’m not sure how maybe it just made you feel like you were dead young again with none of these adult life struggles. These were absolutely massive and big enough to feed a family of four so we shared one of the apple and cinnamon Cruffins to keep us going through the exhibition without falling out with each other. Terrific. – Joe Wilson
Rum & Raisin Milkshake
Number 8 at Hatch
I’m gonna keep this short and sweet. Milk, Ice Cream, Rum and Raisin? An ice cream that makes you tipsy, that’s also dangerously easy to drink? Sold. Get involved folks and don’t tell me it’s too cold! – Jale Hardy.
House Black Daal
Dishoom
Dishoom’s festive menu is officially here and there’s a fantastic twist on turkey, the Turkey Raan served with all the spicy trimmings. However, as with every trip to Dishoom, the piste de resistance is the House Black Daal. Tucked away at the back of that massive picture, it’s also the orange one not black as the name would suggest. Cooked for over 24 hours, the flavours are deep, rich and to die for. If you got to Dishoom and don’t order the daal, somerts seriously wrong. – Alex Watson
Pigs in Blankets
The Bay Horse Tavern
Quite possibly the humblest of all the meats and indeed meat combination is the Pig in Blanket. It’s not in your face, it doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not and above all else, it will always be fantastic. One thing I struggle with when it comes to pigs in blankets though, is the lack of them on some Christmas Dinners. Or rather, the lack of abundance of them. Well, fear no more, the good folk at The Bay horse Tavern have created a Pigs in Blankets SIDE ORDER. Go now. Eat. Thank me later. – Daisy Miles
Sushi
Dive NQ
One of the best things to happen on Oldham street this year, neigh THE best thing to happen is the Zumu kitchen take over at Dive NQ. This week I headed down to take advantage of their 50% Off Sushi Mondays and that I did. Opting for 4 different rolls I tried the spicy tuna with sriracha mayo and cucumber, Dynamite Sushi served with seared sea bass and prawn katsu. The last two (and my favourite two) were the NQ Roll (prawn tempura with seared beef) and Zumu Special (prawn katsu and seared salmon). Big platter – gone in about 10 mins though. – Jale Hardy
Bratwurst
The Oast House
This week, almost all of the girls went down to The Oast House to snuggle up on a Wednesday evening and watch arguably the best Christmas film of all time, The Holiday. We have been arguing between Elf, The Holiday and The Grinch since for taking the top spot but we’ll see. Anyway, in our tipi-cinema-festive-extravaganza we were treated to an incredibly sweet and delicious mulled wine and a fantastic Bratwurst covered in onions and of course ketchup (and mustard if you have taste buds of the devil). Anyway, it was the most Christmassy I’ve possibly ever felt and I wasn’t freezing stood in a market. Amazing. – Gabby Ball
Pig Cheek Croquettes
Elnecot
A cheeky little visit to Elnecot this week with a lovely lady was rewarded not just with a delightful evening but also some outstanding dishes. Of particular note were the Pig Cheek Croquettes, which might look a bit sinister but were actually great little parcels of meaty goodness. The pork literally melted in my mouth and was a revelation when paired with Elnecot’s very own piccalilli. – Ben Brown
Piña Colada Sour @ BB’s Stately Home
Collective Arts Brewing
It’s a sour piña colada beer people! It ACTUALLY tastes like a piña colada. Go now and enjoy! (You can buy it from Stretford Food Hall if you’re in the area).
