My favourite place to eat out in Manchester is… I really enjoy the whole experience of Hawksmoor. Love the building, enjoy the cocktails before a meal and have always rated the service, wine list and food. It’s the full package really. El Gato Negro too, I love the wine list there especially the sherry.
The best dish I’ve eaten in Manchester recently is… a cauliflower dish that I had at Wood Restaurant. The cauli had been cooked five different ways and each variation served together on one beautiful plate of food – it completely changed my opinion of cauliflower.
My favourite dining room in Manchester is… We have several spectacular buildings in the city and it’s great to see older buildings used for eating and drinking. I recently took my Mum to Refuge, which is pretty special. I also came across an amazing space a few weeks ago when I was serving drinks at a wedding reception, the Baronial Hall in Chetham’s School of Music. Now that is a dining room. It’s small and intimate and you can almost taste the history. Quite a building, it took my breath away.
My favourite lunch spot in Manchester is… Sugo in Altrincham – I love it. It’s a great atmosphere, a small concise menu which uses carefully sourced ingredients and it’s run by guys who are 100 per cent driven by passion and quality. And now they’ve just got their second site in Ancoats.
If I had to eat only one thing for the rest of my days it would be… My Mum’s lasagne, it’s my ultimate comfort food.
Kate Goodman is the owner of Reserve Wines at 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury. This acclaimed wine merchant also runs bars/shops at Altrincham Market House and the Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter. Her Vin Van Voom 50s style mobile wine van will be in Albert Square throughout the Manchester Food and Drink Festival (Sep 27-Oct 7). Kate was the drinks expert on BBC Two’s Food and Drink programme with Michel Roux.