My favourite place to eat out in Manchester is… I don't think I have a favourite place, but there are lots I love going to. I'll try and narrow it down to a top five. In no particular order... Bundobust, Umezushi, Hawksmoor, Hispi, The Pasta Factory. Great food and great service at every one of these places.
The best dish I’ve eaten in Manchester recently is… It would have to be either the celeriac noodles at The Creameries, which were in this beautiful, umami-rich broth or a seafood paella dish at Tast, which was topped with two barely warm prawns and covered in codium mayo – we were told to squeeze the prawn heads out onto the paella and then eat it. Absolutely fantastic.
My favourite dining room in Manchester is… The Refuge is pretty spectacular, I think that’s probably the most beautiful. Though i feel more at home in Yadgar Cafe in the Northern Quarter – as basic a restaurant as you can get but some of the most delicious food in the city centre.
My favourite lunch spot in Manchester is… I do love going to Shoryu Ramen for their Tonkotsu. It’s so tasty. I popped into our new neighbour the other day, 'Nam' on Cutting Room Square. They do a great lunch deal for £5 – a mini banh mi, a mini pho and a beer. His mum makes the broth for the pho and it's fantastic.
If I had to eat only one thing for the rest of my days it would be… Lamb. I could eat it all day every day. Every bit of it. I don't even need any veg to go with it. We have lamb ribs on the menu at Elnecot and every time we cook them I have to put on an extra one for me. When they're in season we even get lamb testicles on, too. So lamb. Or cheese.
Much-travelled Michael Clay is chef/co-owner of Elnecot, Ancoats’ own ‘neighbourhood kitchen’ in Blossom Street. Recent winner of Best New Restaurant in the British Restaurant Awards, Elnecot is nominated in two categories in the 2018 Manchester Food and Drink Awards – Best Newcomer and Casual Restaurant of the Year. Read our recent 5 star review of Elnecot's summer menu.