Manchester original, The Alchemist, are launching a fresh new menu following the extensive £550K renovation of its flagship Spinningfields venue (read more about that HERE). The transformation will unveil a new era for the brand’s story, which will be told through the new-look interiors and menus on Tuesday 29th March, when The Alchemist re-opens.
The new food offering is part of a significant evolution for The Alchemist, which favours creative alchemy and potions with its signature molecular mixology style. The Alchemist's cocktail bars and restaurants can be found across the UK including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Cheltenham, Oxford, Nottingham, Cardiff and Edinburgh. The Alchemist in Spinningfields, which originally opened in 2010, is the first branch to reveal the original alchemists’ new style and features futuristic, divine influences from astrology and the cosmos.
The new menu has been designed to celebrate sustainability and is tailored to a variety of dietary requirements. The new menu is now 58% vegetarian, 38% gluten free and 44% vegan.
A collaboration with Meatless Farm, means anyone will be impressed with the extensive array of plant-based dishes, all bursting with flavour and that all-important umami taste.
Steering the new menu is a selection of Asian-fusion classics. Crispy shredded plant-based duck bao buns are the perfect light accompaniment to a cocktail or two, served with vegan miso mayo, spring onions, cucumber, and fresh chilli. Chorizo and Cheddar dough balls come with their own syringes so you can choose your own cheese level.
In true Alchemist style, the new Yakitori Grill brings theatre and magic to the table. With Chilli BBQ chicken skewers served with shishito peppers and kimchi slaw. Alchemy fish and chips is a dramatic twist on an old favourite with black activated charcoal battered fish, mushy peas, tartare sauce, curry sauce and lemon. You could also choose classics such as chicken in a basket with truffle gravy or ‘handhelds’ including a double BBQ party burger.
Decadent desserts also experiment with exciting Asian-fusion flavours. Enjoy Yakatori caramelised pineapple on the grill served with a pumpkin seed snap, pina colada foam and rum syrup. There’s also the classic Millionaire’s Brownie with sweet and salty miso served with vanilla ice cream, biscoff crumb and an Alchemist chocolate coin.
This new-look menu is a response to the progressive shift to a more ethical way of dining.
“We’ve really tuned into our guests and team members’ feedback and have worked our food offering to bring it even further in line with the sustainable efforts of the brand,” says The Alchemist’s culinary director, Seamus O’Donnell. “We understand that many people have dietary requirements and are choosing a more Flexitarian lifestyle.”
While responding to new approaches to dining, The Alchemist continues to serve up great flavours with theatre as O’Donnell explains:
“Of course, theatre hasn’t been compromised with locally sourced seasonal fish from the coast of Scotland used in our electric-pink trout and the addition of our Yakitori grills, enhancing the magic at the table. We try to keep a sense of play at the forefront of our menus so doing that sustainably has been a great challenge and we’re proud to see it pay off.”
The Alchemist Spinningfields new menu will be available from Tuesday 29th March. If you’d like to try it, book your table HERE.
The Alchemist, 3 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3HF