Rose Veal Rib-eye
20 Stories
Oh boy, do you guys have something to look forward to when January comes! 20 Stories are doing a great deal at the start of 2019 (when we are all skint) where you can have 2 dishes off the set menu with a glass of fizz for £25 or three for £30. I went to shoot the dishes this week and was lucky enough to get stuck into the rose veal rib-eye steak served with fermented cabbage (just like sauerkraut), bread sauce and jus. It was divine and I strongly recommend you try it in January if it is the only thing you do. – Kate Tighe
Pisco Sour
Sandinista
The National drink of Peru and now my favourite cocktail – it’s the humble Pisco Sour from the Mama Pacha pop-up at Sandinista. This is a simple beverage made with Pisco, sugar, citrus and egg white for a bit of froth-action. It’s such a great cocktail and on Friday nights they are a fiver at Sandinista so they make the perfect drink to guzzle after a long week at work. – Ben Brown
Gobi Mushroom Manchurian
Bundobust
Everyone loves Bundobust and there isn’t a single dish on the menu I don’t like. This week, at an impromptu Xmas lunch with the team, I had the pleasure of trying the Gobi Mushroom Manchurian which has quickly shuffled its way to the top of my list of favourite foods ever. It’s basically mushroom and cauliflower pakora drenched in this yummy indo-Chinese sauce and I could eat them forever. – James Barker
Tonkotsu Crab Ramen
CBRB
As I made such a fuss of the ramen I sampled last week at Tokyo Ramen, I thought it only fair to check out the offering at the other recently opened Japanese establishment with a couple of friends. I’m not big into Bao Buns, so I went straight for ramen of which I ordered the crab. This was the classic pork bone broth spiked with hot crab curry, salted Padron peppers, spring onion and a WHOLE soft shell crab and quite frankly, it was glorious. – Kate Tighe
Venison Carpaccio
Pier Eight
I am so glad I discovered Pier Eight and I am pretty confident that it is one of the best hidden gems in the whole of Salford. I reviewed it a month or two ago, but I went back this week and I was unafraid to order the same again. The Venison Carpaccio is an absolute delight and bursting with the wintery flavours of the forest which is just perfect for this time of year. – Kate Tighe
Mulled Wine
Volta
Nothing evokes the smell of Christmas more than a steaming cup of sweet, spiced wine from Volta. Mulled wine is definitely one of the best drinks when it comes to Christmas Time, and the one down at Volta has to be my favourite. Full of so many different flavours combined into one its the definition of Christmas in a glass, and I love it! -Ellie Edginton
Feastie boys
Hip Hop Chip Shop
New to Ancoats, I went down to try Hip Hop Chip Shop, I feel as though the city has been missing a decent fish and chips for a while now so I was so excited to get my hands on some grub! I went for feastie boys, which was battered fish, skin on fries, mushy peas and tartar sauce, with an extra side of curry sauce. It was so delicious, fish was so tasty, chips were cooked to perfection, topped off with mushy peas and smothered in chip shop curry sauce I couldn’t get enough of it! The portion size was huge as well which was so good, especially when you’re like me and always hungry! -Ellie Edginton