TICKETS for the Manchester International Festival’s stand-out events are as scarce as hen’s teeth, but if you’ve left it late to consume the culture there’s always the (free to enter) Festival Square hub (ie Albert Square) with a delectable cast-list of street food traders – plus live music, then a roster of cutting edge DJs playing from 9pm till late throughout the festival (July 2-19). So what’s on the food menu to feed the 250,00 visitors expected?
Veteran chef Paul Heathcoteand his team return with with the Heathcote & Co Bar & Grill in the Festival Square Glass House, serving superior burgers and hot dog plus a roast beef sharing platter on Sundays.
It’s a return, too, for Thwaites brewery (now owned by Marston’s) with a range of lagers and ales, including a specially produced Festival Ale, in the Festival Pavilion teepee, alongside wines from Cheadle-based wine merchants Boutinot.
TOM will make a beeline for Altrincham Market pizza faves favourites Honest Crust (above) and Claire Kelsey’s wonderful Ginger’s Comfort Emporium ice creams, both of which will be ever-present throughout the Festival, but there are lots of other more occasional treats on the Square:
Fish& (July 3-5 and 17-19) – Winners of Best Main Dish and the 2014 British Street Food Awards. Expect light, crisp and exquisitely flavoured batters wrapped around sustainable fish.
The Ballers (July 3-5) – The latest concept from Sela Bar in Leeds, The Ballers will serve meatballs, fishballs and vegballs. mac and cheese sides, beer candied bacon from their bright red 1980 Bedford Camper.
Dead Flat Bread (July 6-9) – Californian style flatbreads filled with char grilled tequila & lime chicken with pineapple pickle and fresh coriander, roast free range pork, feta, olives, preserved lemon, oregano and Paneer, tomato salsa, pickled cucumber, grilled mango. Spanish Caravan (July 6-9) – Tapas and paella are cooked from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local independents and Spanish suppliers.
Hungry Gecko (July 10-12) – From her Silver Bullet van Chorlton's Jackie Kearney will serve a menu inspired by Asian street food – the likes of Malaysian rendang, pad Thai, tom yum, masala dosa, and Vietnamese crispy rolls.
Mumma Schnitzel (July 10-12) – Asian-influenced food that has wowed Altrincham Market and now Spinningfields Kitchens. We’re looking out for their spiced chicken thigh twice fried in corn starch, house pickled fennel & cucumber, wasabi yoghurt, sriracha, shredded spring onion and crispy shallots.
Cafe Horchata (July 13-16) – Built on a traditional telera bread roll, these Mexican sandwiches are stuffed with traditional fillings.
Manjit’s Kitchen (July 13-16) – At the forefront of the Leeds street food scene, Manjit Kaur was taught to cook Punjabi food by her grandmother.
Stomping Grounds (July 17-19) – Serving hot filled wraps, using handmade Turkish bazlama flatbreads.
For Taste of Manchester's preview of MIF visit this link.