CATHEDRAL Gardens is buzzing – and we don’t mean with skateboarders. We suspect they’ll have to relocate to a new patch during the dozen dynamic days of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival (Sep 26-Oct 7). This is the big foodie takeover and a time to party!
The 22nd MFDF reaches out across the city but its focal point remains the Festival Hub, switched this year to leafy Cathedral Gardens between historic Chetham’s School and Urbis, icon of Manchester’s regeneration.
Epicentre of the epicurean action at the free entry Hub will be the Dining Dome, a huge success on its debut last year. This spherical foodie palace will host specially curated banquets, supper clubs and food parties (check with website for ticket availability). The list of chefs contributing reads like a roll call of the city’s finest – from Simon Shaw to Paco Perez.
Alongside is a new artisan market and an augmented street food array, from local to global. A huge craft beer bar is serving up the very best from the region’s incredible brewery and micro-brewery scene. You can’t miss either Camden Town Brewery’s red shipping container bar pouring the freshest Camden Hells Lager, Pale Ale and Show Off Juicy Lager.
Also making its debut is a gin bar hosted by JJ Whitley, while Montann Wines will be showcasing English wines at a separate bar Factor in a non-stop of roster of live music and you may never leave this Festival Hub.
The full list of free live music daily on the City Life Stage can be found on the festival website. Our ToM good time tip is to check out the great cover party bands on the Friday and Saturday nights including Whoever and the Somethings (above), The Covertones and The Cassettes.
MFDF recognises the swell of enthusiasm for all things plant-based by turning over the entire first Sunday (September 29) at the Hub to a Vegan Takeover (noon-11pm).
The ‘Vegan Kitchen’ will take over the Live Cookery Theatre with demos by the city’s vegan luminaries from noon to 4pm. These include Matthew Nutter, former Food and Drink Awards Chef of the Year after founding the acclaimed Allotment, and Masterchef last four finalist Jackie Kearney, cook seasonal treats from her new book, Vegan Christmas Feasts.
Plant-based street food stalls feature Dim Sum Su’s Chinese dumplings, Tibetan Kitchen’s Himalayan cuisine, Tampopo’s Thai range and Gingers Comfort Emporium’s array of vegan ice creams.
That Sunday evening features one of the most fascinating MFDF events, where anything might happen. A Plant Based Evening with John Robb, Shaun Ryder and Bundobust – (from 6pm, tickets £35 via foodanddrinkfestival.com). Broadcaster, musician and journalist John Robb (above) is a vegan of 10 years' standing and Shaun Ryder is a pescatarian Happy Monday who loves vegan food. Together they will be hosting a feast from their favourite restaurant Bundobust, paired with plant-based beers from the new Bundobust Brewing Co, sound-tracked naturally by a great Manchester playlist. Expect the chat to flow too.
Vegan food features across the street food stalls in both Festival sessions. The first line-up (Thursday September 26-October 1, noon-11pm daily) includes Vegan Fried Chicken – using their own house made seitan dough, dunking it in a secret dredge and deep frying it.
Other traders include: Dim Sum Su (steamed buns and karaage); The English Indian (halloumi and chips with an Indian twist; The Ottö-Men (Middle Eastern and Med); Tibetan Kitchen (Himalayan ‘momo’ steamed dumplings); Tampopo (Pan Asian stalwarts); Los Churros Amigos (dunked in their Belgian chocolate sauce); Coffika (caffeine-fuelled Swedish tradition); The Humble Kitchen (gourmet burgers); Cookie Dough (with yummy toppings).
From Wednesday, October 2 until Sunday, October 6 a new set of traders take over the stalls to spice up the food offering, including: Cyprus Kouzina (traditional island food, above); Proove (wood-fired pizzas); Vive La Crepe (pancakes French style), Love is Churros (served from vintage horsebox); Chaat Cart (South Indian snacks); Baratxuri (Basque barbecue); Senor Paella (Spanish rice classics); Golden Nuggets (small bites); Grandad’s Sausages (gourmet bangers).
Live Cookery Theatre is in the The Dining Dome on Saturday September 28. Free. The chef demo line-up is: 1pm Ben Chaplin, chef, 20 Stories; 2pm Sam Buckley (above), chef/patron, Where the Light Gets in; 3pm Rachel Stockley, head chef, Levanter/Baratxuri; 4pm Andrew Green (above), exec chef, Mamucium.
As a Festival finale acclaimed chef and telly royalty Tom Kerridge will be producing a taste of things to come from his hotly anticipated Manchester restaurant within Stock Exchange Hotel, due to open in November. His MFDF Dining Dome debut in Cathedral Gardens on Sunday, October 6, comprises a special four-course Sunday lunch style meal with specially paired drinks for the occasion. And as a special bonus he’ll be creating the meal for two sittings.
This sold out quickly as did so many of the high profile events, including a Best in Town Dinner in aid of Action Against Hunger, featuring all six of the MFDF 2019 Chef of the Year nominees. The Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2019 will be handed out at the MFDF Gala Dinner at Gorton Monastery on Monday, October 7.
A few events to look forward to…
An Evening of Rum Decadence with Diablesse – The Dining Dome, October 5, 6.30pm. Tickets £20 via foodanddrinkfestival.com
Let Gethin Jones, Diablesse brand ambassador and general manager at Cottonopolis, take you through the wonderful history of rum, how it’s made and what makes Cleo Farman’s unique, award-winning Diablesse blends so special. Learn how to taste with your nose and the art of creating your own Diablesse Rum cocktails in this special MFDF masterclass. Tickets include a bespoke cocktail on arrival and a full masterclass including cocktails to drink after.
The MFDF Wine and Fizz Festival – Manchester Cathedral, Friday and Saturday, October 5 and 6, various times. Tickets £15 per session via foodanddrinkfestival.com.
Taking place in Manchester Cathedral, it packs lots of fizz and fun into celebrating the world’s best wines. Perfect for novices and passionate enthusiasts alike, it includes light hearted sessions for all. It will be divided into four zones – English Wines, Wines of the World, the Fizz Quarter and a Food Matching Area, providing the perfect accompaniments.
Saturday Skills Kitchen – The Dining Dome, October 5, Free.
1pm Pastry Workshop with Lee Wakeham from H.M. Pasties in Droylsden. This is one of Manchester’s great culinary success stories. Founder Lee’s entire staff consists of ex-prisoners. Staff earn a living wage while they develop cookery and customer service skills, as well as working towards food hygiene qualifications and a possible catering future.
2pm Pasta Masterclass with Maurizio Cecco from Salvi’s. After more than two decades in Manchester, Neapolitan Maurizio is the city’s unofficial ambassador for all things tasty and Southern Italian. He’ll show you how to make fresh pasta (above)
3pm Chocolate workshop with Masterchef finalist David Crichton. Long haul pilot and now bespoke chocolatier, he’ll be showing you how he does it. Expect a few free samples!.
Let’s not neglect The Festival Fringe
There’s a host of events taking place across Greater Manchester, including Meat the Butcher at Alston Bar and Beef (above), the Cracking Good Food Pasta Perfecto Cookery Class, A Foodie and Film Dinner at King Street Townhouse, Tampopo Cookery School, Harvey Nichols Taste on Two, Castillo de Canena Olive Oil at Iberica, Steak Night at Mamucium, Camden Brewery Quiz Night at The Bay Horse, Hawksmoor Presents More Than Steak, The Ancoats Taster Walk and The Art of Dining with Aiden Byrne at Manchester Art Gallery.
There’s also the opportunity with the official festival booking partner, Bookatable, to enjoy a special series of one off menus across some of the city’s best restaurants via this link.
Sustainability is a major Festival target
The Festival is pledging to stage the most sustainable event yet, following last year’s successful change from plastic cups to a deposit scheme at the gigantic beer bar. They estimate this reduced overall waste at the event by 40 per cent. Having moved to compostable and recyclable food containers a few years ago and now tackling the single use plastic cup issue, in 2019 MFDF aim to create the most sustainable food festival in the UK with more innovative solutions such as reward schemes for use of reusable vessels. Here’s what it’s all about citywide – Had your refill yet?
Manchester Food and Drink Festival runs citywide, from Thursday, September 26 to Monday, October 7. The Festival Hub in Cathedral Gardens is open daily from 12pm-11pm until Sunday, October 6. For full information on all events visit the Festival website.
Or follow @MFDF19 on Twitter, @MFDF2019 on Instagram or check out the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Facebook page. The print brochure is available across Greater Manchester.