HOW ToM has lamented the absence of independent fine dining restaurants in the city, where a chef puts his own stamp on the food. One of the sorest losses in recent times was the failure of chef/patron Mike Jennings’ Grenache to make a go of it in unfashionable Walkden.
Now after a short stint at Neighbourhood, so unsuitable to his talents, and Cheshire exile at Bacchus in Prestbury he’s back as head chef at WOOD – the hugely ambitious first restaurant from the North West’s only Masterchef winner, Simon Wood.
He’s joined at the First Street project, scheduled to open in the summer by general manager James Cunningham (below), whose cv is a roll call of some of the UK’s finest establishments – Michael Caines and Andrew Brownsword Hotels, most notably at ABode Hotels in Manchester and Chester as well as the Michelin starred Bath Priory, the Imperial Torquay and Slaughters Manor House.
Likeable Mike’s kitchen back story is impressive, too. After leaving Manchester in 2002 he honed his skills with mentor Shaun Rankin at Michelin-starred Bohemia in Jersey. Seven years later he came home to work under Nigel Haworth at Northcote before taking over the kitchens at Grenache in 2012, achieving a Michelin recommendation in the first year, two AA Rosettes on his first inspection and a nomination for the Good Food Guide’s Best Restaurant among many other awards. We’re sure he’ll be aiming for more working in tandem with Simon Wood.
Mike told ToM: “Simon's vision and enthusiasm excites me, he's not afraid to cook from the heart, something I share completely. I can't wait to work alongside him creating amazing food that this incredible city deserves.”
The feeling is obviously mutual. According to Simon: “Within an hour of meeting Mike I knew that we would make a great team in the kitchen. We have the same passions and beliefs about what food should be and how it should look.”
Simon, a former data manager from Chadderton, has been working as exec chef Oldham Event Centre (part of Oldham Athletic Football Club), while penning a just published cookbook, ‘At Home with Simon Wood – Fine Dining Made Simple’.
The lifelong Latics fan has pledged to continue working at the club, launching a monthly pop-up restaurant in the boardroom, but all eyes will be on the new venture on Jack Rosenthal Street, where the varying likes of Indian Tiffin Room, Gas Works, Laundrette and Liquor Store have all arrived in the past year to feed off the presence of the £25m Home arts complex.
When WOOD joins them this summer it will open Tuesday to Saturday serving a lounge menu, and a full service a la carte lunch and dinner menu, including special pre-theatre and pre-concert offerings. A tasting menu will also feature, offering seasonal produce and newly developed dishes..
The restaurant will be dominated by the open theatre kitchen, which includes a Josper oven, and will feature a chef’s table in addition to a 16 seater private dining room upstairs, which could also accommodate 30 standing for a drinks reception. The interior space, is being designed by Allison Pike architects, and apparently takes its inspiration from nature, with natural wood and wood inspired features throughout.
For updates on the project, with proposed menus imminent, follow @wood_mcr and www.woodmanchester.com.