Sick of turkey already? It’s only just turned December and there’s still a few more weeks before the big day. But if you want to spend them eating something festive but a little ‘different’, Manchester’s bars and restaurants have come up with some cracking Christmas specials to tempt you with. And it’s not just various ways with sausages wrapped in bacon (although they feature a lot), there’s quite a few hearty and imaginative meat free dishes available too showing that meat free doesn’t have to be fun free.
From ridiculously cheesy burgers to festive kebabs and interesting ways with sprouts, here are our current seasonal favourites available throughout December.
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What’s special? SaltnPepper Blankets
Where can I find it? Wow Yau Chow
How much? £6.50
"It is now customary that we bring bag our take on one of the nation’s favourite...SaltnPepper Pigs In Blankets on a bed of SaltnPepper fries!” says Wow Yau Chow’s Founder and MD Henry Yau. But that’s not the only festive dish guests will find on the menu of Altrincham’s popular British Chinese restaurant this month. You can also try the new golden fried brie and cranberry wontons (£5.50) and mince pie spring rolls (£3) with a dusting of icing sugar and a pot of custard to dip.
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What’s special? By The Baubles
Where can I find it? Common, The Beagle and Nell's at Kampus
How much is it? £14
Nell’s Pizza has launched a trio of Yuletide Pizza specials including ‘Mistletoe & Swine’ (withmozzarella, Sykes Fell cheese, guanciale, house sausage, sage & onion crunch, chilli) and the vegetarian ‘P*gs and Bl*ankets’ version which is as above but with This Isn’t Bacon and Beyond Sausage (both £15.) But our pick has us ‘By The Baubles’ a plant-powered pizza with spinach, sprouts, This Isn’t Bacon, Roquito peppers, leek and lemon - it looks like a Christmas tree, and tastes like the best Boxing Day leftover sandwich you’ve ever had. All have been made in their New York style and are available exclusively in 14” format.
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What’s Special? Sprout Bhajis
Where can I find it? Bundobust Piccadilly or Bundobust Brewery
How much? £4.75
Bundobust are rolling out some festive additions to their menu this year. They’ve re-introduced their popular crispy sprout, broccoli and onion bhajis spiced with fennel and chilli and served with a cranberry chutney, which is not only vegan but gluten free. Or try the heartier sprout bhaji butty (£6) which comes stuffed in a vegan brioche with salad. £1 from each Sprout Bhaji Butty sale goes to a local charity. Finish off with some Christmas Kulfi on a stick with nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, and orange peel (£2.50) and wash it down with a coconut hot toddy (£6.50) or masala chaa (£8).
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What’s special? Christmas Cracker Burger and Turkey & Trimmings Loaded Fries
Where can I find it? Herbivorous at Hatch or in their Withington restaurant
How much? £10/£9.50
Put on your silly jumpers and enjoy some plant-based alternatives that are certain to cause some serious vegan food envy. Included is a Christmas cracker burger - shredded turkey seitan served in a bun with a sausage & stuffing patty, braised red cabbage, sage & onion stuffing mayo & cranberry sauce which go perfectly well with Turkey & Trimmings seasoned loaded fries. Try them on their own or as part of Herbivorous’ Christmas pre-fixed menu (£26) with includes festive rum punch or mocktail and cheese fondue fries rounded off with gingerbread chocolate yule log.
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What’s special? The Cheeseboard Burger
Where can I find it? Brewski Chorlton
How much? £14
The home of North American comfort food has outdone itself this year with the cheesiest cheeseburger we’ve ever come across. A burger and a festive cheese board all rolled into one delicious bun.The cheeseboard burger is a totally indulgent double cheeseburger stuffed with deep fried Babybel, bourbon bacon jam, and goats cheese mousse.
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What’s special? Sprout Tempura
Where can I find it? Shoryu Ramen
How much? Part of the three course Christmas menu £23 with a festive drink for an extra £4.
The authentic Japanese noodle restaurant is launching a delicious three course festive set menu available from 10th - 24th December. To start, choose what could arguably described as the Asian answer to pigs in blankets - Char Siu BBQ Pork Belly Bao Buns. Or if you prefer a plant-based option, enjoy Shoryu’s new Brussel sprout tempura. Follow this with a choice from three signature ramens and a Christmas green matcha pudding.
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What’s Special? Roast Turkey Kebab
Where can I find it? Bab NQ
How much? £13.50
Manchester’s independent sit-down kebab restaurant is well known for its vibrant flavours and homemade marinades and sauces and this year, they’ve got Christmas all wrapped up. Their new Roast Turkey Bab comes on their freshly made flatbread with salad, cranberry and chilli sauce, pigs in blankets, sprouts, melted brie and cranberries. They also do similarly themed vegan and veggie versions with Butternut Squash in the starring role.
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What’s special? Festive Parmo
Where can I find it? Parmoggedon, Hatch
How much? £11
As if you didn’t already know, a Parmo is fried chicken goodness, covered in a rich, creamy béchamel, topped with a serious helping of cheese and shoved under the grill until melted. A speciality of Northern duo, Parmageddon, who are serving up a truly epic Christmas special at Hatch this month. Their buttermilk chicken Parmo has been fused with everybody’s favourite xmas dinner trimmings: Pigs in Blankets and deep fried stuffing. They’ll also be putting their own spin on the quintessentially British christmas butty: with bacon, melted brie and cranberry sauce loaded onto their classic parmo on a toasted brioche with rocket and house pickled spicy slaw.
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