15 May 2015

In 'My Top 10' Taste grill local industry experts on their favourite foodie spots in Manchester. Where do brewers go for a pint? Where to chefs go for dinner? We wanted to find out. 

This week Taste caught up with Manchester brewing bunch, Blackjack Brewery. Blackjack Brewery are relatively new kids on the block, but have tapped into the UK and international beer scene with huge success.

Not content with producing a solid line up of well-respected beers, Blackjack also open their doors to us general punters, hosting some of the finest shindigs in town at their monthly Brewtaps.

Cue Jon Hartley of Blackjack.

1.Top bar

The Gaslamp is a hidden gem  - tucked away just off Deansgate – it’s a beautiful Victorian cellar bar with some of the best beers and the best whiskey selection in Manchester.

2.Top pub

The Marble Arch has long been one of our favorite pubs, not only for the fact it is our after work drinking stop, but their beers are fantastic.

3.Top restaurant

I think I’ve just discovered a new favorite: Yuzu. It’s a new experience for me and its absolutely phenomenal. And the service is incredible too.

4.Top place for everyday eats

I Am Pho. I love the fact that there’s no frills with the décor, (aside for the giant tree) and the value for money is also amazing.

5.Top newcomer

Idle Hands. I think Idle Hands are serving some of the best coffee in Manchester, they come from a great background- Bold Street and North Tea Power are two of my favorites. That combined with just amazingly lovely people with a passion for coffee results in the best coffee in Manchester.

6.Top brewery  

This is a tough one.  (Editor’s note: What follows is a heavily condensed account of a half hour conversation. I expected nothing less when I asked him this question.) I would say Runaway for consistently good beers, and Quantum for their mad ideas that they pull off. There are a few beers that Quantum have done that remain favorites, for example, the Berliner Schwarz is a dark take on the Berliner Weisse. It’s a low ABV, very tart, super refreshing. I’m very much looking forward to their Imperial Buckwheat Stout that’s aging away in our brewery. Actually there’s three on this one I’m afraid – Marble. Their core range is excellent, but the release of Little Meiko – it’s probably one of the best beers I’ve had this year.

7.Top café

The place that I go to nearly every single day on the way to work - Trove.

8.Top street food

Rudy’s Pizza is making incredible wood fired pizzas – one to keep you eye on – they’ll be opening a new place in the next couple of moths which I’m sure will be the best pizzeria in Manchester.

9.Wild card

Port Street Beer House– if you like beer, you have to go there. It teaches me new things – you can discover local and nationwide new beers.

10.Hidden gem

Altrincham Market. It’s just amazing innit. Go and see it.