CHOP house, Happy Haddock, The French – there was time when eating out places made it clear over the door. Now, though, you might need a Greek or Sanskrit lexicon to decipher the brand.
Kala means ‘time’ or ‘deity’ while Mana (it won a MIchelin star, you know) represents the power of the elemental forces of nature embodied in an object or person. The latter’s new neighbour in Ancoats, Northern Eudaimonia, represents an Aristotelian pursuit of ‘human flourishing, prosperity or blessedness’. It’s an ice cream and dessert bar. A rather promising one.
It sits between Cask Bar and Pollen Bakery on Cotton Field Wharf and is the brainchild of North Easterner Emma Eskdale (above), who spent eight years running Chester milkshake bar Funky Cow (cue ‘udderly delicious’ puns) but, in her words, has “succumbed to the allure of the Manchester scene”.
Crepes cost £7.25, starting with Oreogasmo (yes, crushed cookies feature). For £7.95 there’s an array of Liege waffles with various toppings with names like Donkey Kong (peanut butter, clotted cream, banana, Belgian white and milk chocolate drizzle, chocolate malt balls) and Total nut job (Nutella, Kinder Bueno, Ferrero Rocher, chopped nuts, similar drizzle and malt balls). Artisan ice creams look entcing. Vegans are well catered for, too. Well, this is Ancoats.
If this wasn’t enough check out chocolate (and cocktail nirvana on Murray Street – ‘Chocs away as Cocoa Cabana introduce their sweet treats to Ancoats’.