TASTE of Manchester breezed past the paparazzi to get into the Quill launch, collecting a complimentary green cocktail with a peacock feather as if to the manor born.
The lensmen were busy, busy snapping a bevy of celebs in what was very much an old school glitzy Manchester opening – bubbly flowing freely, a scramble for canapes. The likes of crispy haggis truffle emulsion; razor clam, mango and curry plus pigeon smoked eel, orange and yuzu.
The latter came from the nimble culinary imagination of 29-year-old Bury-born head chef Curtis Stewart, whose remit for this new King Street venue is ‘fine dining’ with an £80 eight course tasting menu up top (£145 with matching wines).
That ambition has The French and Manchester House firmly in its sights. The menu offers a modish, minimal litany of ingredients – ‘Scallops, Salt Cod, Chocolate’, ‘Venison, Haggis, Yeast’ or Baby Beets, Sheep’s Curds, Lovage’, definitely a bit Simon Roganish and indeed Curtis has served his time in some serious Michelin kitchens – Whatley Manor in Wiltshire and the then Michelin-starred Coworth Park near Ascot, Berkshire, before becoming head chef at Cotswolds hotel, Foxhill Manor
They were all offered country house chic while the £1.7m spent on Quill by Chalk Didsbury owner Chris Longmate and his team has created a decidedly contemporary look – the darkest, sleekest interior since the ill-fated Ithaca around the corner. A bit like a Tokyo night club and certainly the cocktails and wine list look the part, too.
The bar is on the ground floor, but It will be the 60 cover first floor dining room (with a 21-seater private dining area) upon which Quill’s aspirations will be judged. The A la Carte menu is divided into courses called Chapters to fit in with the Quill/writing theme (hence the feather in the cocktail). TOM looks forward to the signature dishes!
Quill, 20-22 King Street, Manchester M2 6AG.
Saturday from 12pm until 2.30am. The restaurant will serve lunch from 12 noon until 2.30pm, afternoon tea between 3 and 5pm and evening service will be from 6.30 until 9.30pm.
Below Curtis with Chris Longmate (CEO of On The Wall Group) and James Cunningham who is the GM.
