THE two Saturdays of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival always generate the biggest buzz around the Festival Hub in Albert Square with the street food stalls doing a roaring trade and the beer tents packed as punters grab a pint of cask and an earful of some great live music.
These are also the days to catch the top chefs cooking up a storm in the live demos. This year’s expert exponents include Manchester House’s Aiden Byrne and Simon Shaw of El Gato Negro plus the wonderful Nadiya Hussain, Great British Bake Off winner and a hot tip to replace Mary Berry when the show shifts to Channel 4.
Here is the full list of demos. After that our lowdown on the Hub Highlights from Thursday, Sptember 29 to Sunday, October 9.
Saturday October 1, Live Cookery Theatre Session One
2pm – Simon Shaw Yorkshireman Simon has had a hugely successful 35 years in the trade, most notably as executive head chef at Harvey Nichols, before opening his own restaurant, El Gato Negro Tapas, in 2005 after 10 successful years in London. Visits to the Basque Country and Catalonia inspired his ‘conversion’ to Iberian cuisine. His contemporary take on it was honed to perfection at the Michelin-rated El Gato, in the Pennine hamlet of Ripponden, which last year relocated to King Street in central Manchester to great acclaim. It is shortlisted in an unprecedented FIVE categories for this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Awards.
4pm – Byron Moses Young Mr Moses (above) has found his promised land at Northern Quarter newcomer Evelyn’s. This laid-back all-day dining operation – in the former Superstore premises on Tib Street – has caused quite a stir with its big bold flavours, especially via the searing heat of its Inka charcoal oven. It has earned Evelyn’s three nominations in this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Awards shortlist – Casual Dining Venue, Newcomer and Chef of the Year for Byron, once of the Hilton and Southern Eleven. See what all the fuss is as he makes his MFDF Live Cookery Theatre debut.
Saturday October 8, Live Cookery Theatre Session Two
12.30pm – Sean Sutton When boyish-looking Sean (below) took over the head chef role last year at the 3 AA Rosette Alderley Restaurant at The Alderley Edge Hotel he was hardly new to the kitchens. For most of the nine years his predecessor Chris Holland had been at the stove, Sean, now 32, had been at his side ,helping maintain impressive standards of culinary finesse. His food heroes include Ferran Adriá who pioneered ‘molecular gastronomy’ at ‘world’s best restaurant’ El Bulli in Spain. Sean’s not averse to a spot of ‘molecular’ himself to add ‘wow factor’ and he’s big on presentation. too. A young chef to watch.
2pm – Nadiya Hussain More than 15 million viewers tuned in to see Nadiya Jamir Hussain win the sixth series of BBC's The Great British Bake Off. This 31-year-old British-Bangladeshi baker has never looked back, becoming a food columnist for The Times and Essentials magazine, publishing her first book, Nadiya’s Kitchen in June and, of great importance, boosting the cause of multiculturalism in these Brexit times. During her acceptance speech, she said: "I'm never gonna put boundaries on myself ever again. I'm never gonna say I can't do it. I'm never gonna say 'maybe'. I'm never gonna say, 'I don't think I can.' I can and I will.” That was after capturing the nation’s hearts by baking a a multi-layered presentation showstopper which took the form of ‘My Big Fat British Wedding Cake’. What’s not to like?
3.30pm – Aiden Byrne Liverpudlian Aiden had a meteoric early career, rising to be head chef at a string of Michelin-starred restaurants, but in 2008 decided to come home, converting the Church Green in Lymm into an acclaimed gastropub and winning the AA restaurant of the year award in 2012. Then a year later opening the fine dining Manchester House with Living Ventures sent his profile soaring. It immediately scooped a unique hat-trick of triumphs at the 2014 Manchester Food and Drink Awards – Best Restaurant, Best Bar and Best Newcomer – and the gongs have kept coming. This year it captured a coveted Four AA Rosettes. Aiden himself likes breaking new ground. He recently prepared an ‘intergalactic banquet’ at the Bluedot festival at Jodrell Bank; during MFDF he is kicking off the Hidden Banquet series by cooking inside the ‘rediscovered’ London Road Fire Station.
All demos are at Live Cookery Theatre, Festival Hub, Albert Square. M2 5DB.
MUSIC AT THE HUB
We mentioned music. There’s so much on offer in every genre imaginable. It’s almost a musical festival in itself. With better food than you’ll find at most rock events! The full list of acts is here (times subject to alteration) while ToM offers you three faves you mustn’t miss:
Lucy Hope – the Chanteuse. Thursday, September 29, 12.30pm.
A rare talent combining glamour and a glorious voice. Marple-based Lucy is one of the UK’s leading exponents of French chanson but that vocal joie de vivre translates into jazz classics and a more eclectic English repertoire
Dave Fidler & The Corvettes. Wednesday, October 5, 5.30pm.
The intricate fingerstyle guitar playing makes North West based Fidler stand out, but allied to persoanal lyrics that pay homage to great songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon he’s the real deal. We like him in tandem with the Corvettes. The tent will rock.
Larkins. Saturday, October 8. 3.30pm-4pm and 6pm-6.30pm.
“Big bold anthems of the future” said influential DJ Jo Good on Radio X of this unsigned upbeatindie rock band from Man.They are made up of Josh Noble, Dom Want, Matt Williams and Henry Beach. A quartet to watch.
GET THE BEERS IN
You can’t listen to music without a (plastic) glass in your hand. Check out the bars that service the Hub here.
...OR THE WINE
Three Wine Women on Thursday, September 29 and Vin Van Voom throughout the festival. Details here.
And to soak up all that booze here’s a few Street Food Faves you might fancy.
For something fancier you could book a meal at one of the Hub’s Guest Restaurants. including a three night pop up from Adam Reid, head chef at The French, who has just reached the finals of the Great British Menu.
Italian Festival in association with Salvi’s Festival Hub, Sunday, October 2.
This afternoon-long Hub celebration of buffalo mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Prosecco, pizza, gelato, olive oil, salami, Parma ham, Primitivo and stacks more culminates in a four-course Italian Gala Dinner at Salvi’s Corn Exchange restaurant. At just £40 a head it’s one of the bargains of the Festival. To book phone Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar on 0161 222 8021.
Plus there’ll be a “20 Metre Pizza” street collaboration as well as dedicated ‘Italian heritage’ walks around the city. Free.
Eat With Adam – Adam Reid’s MFDF Fest-aurant. October 4, 5 and 6. £60. Bespoke tasting menu. Book here.
Baratxuri Pop-up Pintxo bar. Friday, October 7.
The amazing team behind Ramsbottom’s acclaimed bar will be bringing their delicious Basque Country themed menu to the Festival Hub guest restaurant for one night only. £40. Book here.
Experimental Vegan Banquet with Jackie Kearney. Saturday, October 8
Author of Vegan Street Food, Master Chef runner-up and street food legend Jackie ‘Hungy Gecko’ Kearney will conjure up a six course banquet demonstrating how delicious dairy-free food can be –from artichoke oysters with seaweed caviar and do-it-yourself experiments with raw food, to a spectacular one-off dessert designed by Manchester’s MilkJam. £35. Book here.
Fittingly when baking is front page news the final Hub attraction is the return of Great Manchester Bake Off on Sunday October 9. The MFDF Bake Off Champion will be crowned at the Festival Hub on Sunday, October 9, where a huge Festival Bake Sale will be taking place. Free.
In case you missed it here is our treat-packed Festival Preview, which includes all the latest on the mazing Hidden Banquets series and check out our Pick of the Festival Fringe. Download the Festival brochure here or visit the MFDF website.
