This year will see an extra special celebration of our incredible food and drink scene as the city comes together to mark 25 years of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF). The 25th Manchester Food and Drink Festival will take place between 15th-26th September 2022. The first wave of festival events has been announced, and bookings are now open at MFDF’s website.
Image Credit: Jody Hartley
The Festival Hub at Cathedral Gardens will be at the heart of the action this autumn packed with an array of street food traders, bars, and artisan producers, as well as masterclasses and collaborations between your favourite chefs and restaurants. The Hub is free to enter and will be open 15th–18th & 21st–25th September from midday to 11.00pm.
Both long weekends will see the first ever Festival Fire Pit Takeover. Sponsored by Weber one of the world’s leading barbecue specialists, a fiery festival feast will be created by some of the region’s best loved chefs including Caroline Martins (founder of the Sao Paolo project,) renowned local chef Robert Owen Brown and Francisco Martinez (Fazenda) will all be bringing their own BBQ expertise to the fire pit area.
On Saturday 24th September, The Hub will host the 'Octopus Cookbook Confidential' demo kitchen in collaboration with Octopus Books. Top chefs and industry experts will be coming together to share their tips, ideas and knowledge in cookery demos, conversations and debate discussions.
A full day of foodie demos and panels will include:
Kate Humble & Lia Leendertz: The joy of the outdoors - Eating & Cooking with the Seasons
Edd Kimber: Pudding Love! - discussing our love of puddings from childhood to becoming professionals and everything in between
Pip Payne & Nicky Corbishley: Tips, ideas and hacks for putting dinner on the table every night without breaking the bank
Joe Woodhouse, Josh Katz & David Bez: From the swede to the courgette - why we should all be eating more veg and all the veggie inspiration you could hope for.
Jeremy Pang: School of Wok Chinese Cooking Demo
Rahul Mandal: The Baking Surgery
Jaega Wise vs Joel Harrison in conversation with Neil Ridley: Beer vs Cocktails
Even more exciting names will be announced soon. Free spaces for the Octopus Cookbook Confidential are limited and can be booked HERE
Some of Manchester’s best-loved chefs will also be joining the Festival Hub to lead cooking masterclasses on the Festival’s opening weekend and a detailed programme will be announced soon.
An Artisan Food Market will take place across Cathedral Gardens from midday to 7.00pm between 15th–18th & 22nd–25th September. Some of Manchester’s finest food and drink producers will be showcasing their wares including New Market Dairy, The Flat Baker & Dghnt.
Image Credit: Jody Hartley
As ever, there’s more to the Manchester Food and Drink festival than the Festival Hub. An array of one-off food and drink activities, offers and events will be taking place across the region.
MFDF’s celebrated Wine and Fizz Festival will be the first event to take place at the iconic New Century in Manchester’s NOMA district. New Century is currently being restored with stunning original features creating an extraordinary new live music, events, and food & drink hall which will open in September. This is a great chance to see amazing retailers like Cork of the North, Prestwich’s Grape to Grain and UKiYO Republic (showcasing their wonderful range of Japanese sake) in an incredible setting. Tickets are available to buy HERE
Image Credit: Jody Hartley
A line-up of fantastic Manchester restaurants will be offering a special MFDF ‘£25 for 25 years’ menu collaboration.
Northern Quarter favourite District will be creating an exclusive £25 drinks pairing menu to complement their amazing Thai cuisine.
(Also read: NOW YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN DINING EXPERIENCE AT DISTRICT’S NEW WAVE THAI BBQ.)
Embankment Kitchen are also creating an exclusive £25 menu to give diners a taste of the best of their offering at a reduced price.
Mi and Pho will be offering a Vietnamese take on the exclusive menu offer.
Other restaurants taking part include Three Little Words (read more HERE), Shoryu Ramen (read more HERE), Tast, Society and many more to be announced over the coming weeks.
As ever, MFDF will culminate in the Manchester Food and Drink Awards Gala Dinner where the region’s best restaurants, chefs producers and more for 2022 will be announced.
The best way to keep up to date with the full programme of events is to download the MFDF app where food fans can view and book all the events, takeovers, masterclasses and more. (You’ll soon also be able to vote for your favourites in the MDFD Awards once the shortlist has been revealed.)
See more at Manchester Food and Drink Festival
Instagram: @mcrfoodfest
Twitter: @McrFoodFest
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