THE closing weekend of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival may be all about looking forward to the event’s climax – the Awards Gala Dinner at the spectacularly refurbished Palace Hotel on Monday, October 10. But that would be to ignore some of the tastiest remaining events in this 19th annual festival.
Plus, there’s the added advantage of working your way through the 100 Greatest Manchester Beers at the bar of that name. It’s a bit of a misnomer with the likes of Brakspear, Ringwood and Hawkshead coming from much further afield. Still the line-up is a comprehensive reflection of the booming local real ale and cask scene – also being celebrated big style by the concurrent, nearly sold-out Indy Man Beer Con.
You have to buy tickets for that non-MFDF event. The 100 Greatest Mcr Beers Bar is free to enter, in the big marquee at the Albert Square Festival Hub noon-11pm, and there’s some great live entertainment on offer, every days until Sunday, October 9.
Here are 10 North West independent breweries, whose beers you shouldn’t miss out on: Blackjack, Cloudwater, Squawk, Tweed, Ticketybrew, Seven Brothers, Millstone, Runaway, RedWillow and First Chop.
The bar sits alongside the huge range of street food traders, foodie events, cocktail bar and wine van. Plus, of course, the second round of Live Cookery Theatre Sessions, featuring Sean Sutton (above) of the Alderley Edge Hotel (12.30pm), Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain (2pm) and Aiden Byrne of Manchester House (3.30pm).
if wine's more your thing check out the Big Indie Wine Fest at the Whitworth's glorious Gallery Three. Your £15 admission gets you your glass for a whole tasting session – and then you're free to talk and try your way around the hall, sampling exclusive wines and learning from the best independent wine merchants . There are three sessions available – Friday, October 7, 6pm-9pm and Saturday, October 8, 2pm-5pm and 6pm-9pm. Book here.
The floury-fingered brigade will look no further than Great Manchester Bake-off Festival. The MFDF Bake Off Champion will be crowned at the Albert Square Festival Hub on Sunday, October 9, where a huge Festival Bake Sale will be taking place.
There’s also an eclectic range of pop-up meals going on at the Hub. On Friday, October 7 the Baratxuri Pop-up Pintxo bar is unmissable. The amazing team behind Ramsbottom’s acclaimed bar will be bringing their delicious Basque Country themed menu into town for one night only. £40. Book here.
The following night, Saturday, October 8, Jackie Kearney (above), author of Vegan Street Food, Master Chef runner-up and street food legend, will conjure up a six course Experimental Vegan Banquet, demonstrating how delicious dairy-free food can be – from artichoke oysters with seaweed caviar and do-it-yourself experiments with raw food, to a spectacular one-off dessert designed by Manchester’s MilkJam. £35. Book here.
Fittingly when baking is front page news the final Hub attraction is the return of
The same night, the pick of the Fringe is Robert Owen Brown’s Edwardian Themed Ancoats Supper Club – a five course Supper Club menu at Ancoats Coffee Co, M4 5BA, in collaboration with Inca Pop Ups. Feel free to dress up in the spirit of that golden age in the appropriate setting of the Grade II* listed Edwardian Royal Mill. On the menu is Royal Cheddar cheese soup; lobster mousse with beluga caviar cream; slow braised fell-bred mutton with capers; roast Lancashire pheasant with all the tracklements; mousses, jellies and blancmange. £40 with a £20 deposit (plus booking fee) via this link. We expect Rob, below, to wear a top hat and tails for the occasion!
If that sounds glamorous, check out An Evening with Louis XIII in Tattu’s private dining room on Friday, October 7. The evening will include a four course dinner with paired wine, a prestigious Louis XIII cognac tasting and a talk from brand ambassador Brian Copeland. Friday, October 7. It costs £150. Availability is limited; to book email [email protected].
Final event in the Hidden Banquets series, raising funds for the Action Against Hunger charity, Industry by Dan Doherty (above) takes place at The Bonded Warehouse on Saturday, October 8.This stunning 1860s warehouse by the Irwell ws once used by Granada TV as a studio and now destined for redevelopment as a creative hub in the new St John’s Quarter.
In a banquet space not seen for decades exciting guest chef Dan Doherty will cook for 175 people. He’s used to preparing quality cuisine on such a scale. As exec chef of the 24-hour London restaurant Duck and Waffle, where he regularly handles 1,000 covers daily.
Dinner will be accompanied by a talk from local historian and Blue Badge guide Jonathan Schofield about Manchester’s huge role in the Industrial Revolution and how this shaped today’s city. It is now sold out.
The Manchester Food and Drink Awards Gala Dinner is at The Palace Hotel, official hotel partner of the Festival, on Monday, October 10. Check out the shortlists here. Voting has now closed.