Lisa Higginson
Two of Manchesterâs top chefs are set to whet your appetite for weekends in as they take to the stoves for a one-off showcase at Arndale Food Market. The Cook! Weekend will see the city centre food haven abuzz with culinary activity as Robert Owen Brown and John Quilter (pictured) inspire visitors to make the most of weekends on a budget with dishes that are worth dining in for.
With autumn in the air and thriftiness on the mind, more of us are swapping a night on the tiles for one in front of the television with a takeaway. The Cook! Weekend, on Saturday, September 26, aims to dispel the myth that dining in is dull by getting two of the cityâs best chefs to show people how to spice up staying in.
Demonstrations will be running throughout the day, with acclaimed chefs Robert (MFDF Chef of the Year nominee and former chef/proprietor of The Angel) and John (formerly of Marmalade and currently recording a TV cookery series) presenting delicious dishes for their idea of the perfect family dinner, the perfect dinner for friends, the perfect romantic dinner and the perfect girlie night in.
Performing their culinary wizardry live, the chefs will be cooking up Slow braised venison, Lobster hollandaise, King prawns in tempura batter with flaked almonds and wasabi sauce, as well as Chocolate truffle with marshmallow fondue and Baked pineapple and mango with ginger and Cointreau.
In between these informal demonstrations, a selection of the Arndale Food Market retailers will be showing people how to get the best out of their produce, with demonstrations from butchers and fishmongers, as well as lessons in dim sum making. Local ale tasting and produce sampling will also be taking place and the market retailers will be offering a Cook! Weekend discount for diners.
Arndale Food Market, 49 High Street, Manchester, M4 3AH.
T: 0161 832 3552