TASTE of Manchester loves guest chef collabs. It has become a regular feature of Adam Reid at The French, the latest being a visit from Forest Side’s Kevin Tickle. Now news of another intriguing evening, this time at WOOD Manchester, where MasterChef champion Simon Wood welcomes Tom Parker of the White Swan at Fence.
Like Tickle, Parker (pictured above) is a prodigious talent. This Northcote-trained protege of Lisa Allen won young chef of the year before, at just 23 after a stint in Mexico, being appointed head chef at the White Swan four years ago, transforming a modest hostelry know locally as the Mucky Duck into a fine dining destination without sacrificing its essential pubbiness. We loved it. Here's our review.
On Wednesday, April 4, he will join Simon Wood and Mike Jennings to cook a six course meal to be served in the private dining room with three dishes from the Wood team and three from the White Swan team.
On Wednesday, May 9, Wood and Jennings will repay the favour and cook for guests at The White Swan, which is off the A6068 north of Burnley.
On the first evening Tom will be charged will create the starter, main and dessert, while Simon will look after the dishes in between. On the second evening the chefs with switch places to ensure each chef is able to dazzle guests with the culinary skills.
The menu at WOOD will be:bread & chicken butter; apples | celery | walnuts | grapes; West Coast crab | English wasabi | melon | yuzu | red prawn; deep-fried duck egg | ssparagus | morels; corn-fed chicken | cep tart | Roscoff onions | wild garlic; citrus tutti frutti (below); Michel Cluzel chocolate ‘egg' | hazelnuts | sheep milk caramel | coffee
Tickets are priced at £99 and available by calling the restaurant and booking on to one or both of the evenings.
Four courses paired with Louis Roederer Champagnes (including Cristal)
Meanwhile, the enterprising restaurant is putting some fizz into First Street on Wednesday, March 28. They will create a four-course menu paired with a selection of wines and champagnes from Louis Roederer including the legendary Cristal.
Cristal was first created for Tsar Alexander II in 1876. As Russia became less stable and Alexander feared death, he commanded that his champagne be bottled clear and with a flat bottom, in order to ensure no bombs were placed beneath the bottles.
Cristal is only produced in the best vintages in the Champagne region. In the last decade, only 2006, 2007, and 2009 have been released.
The evening's menu will begin with an amuse bouche of Waldorf crackers, followed by red mullet escabeche paired with a pink fizz to start. A fish course of pistachio crusted halibut will follow matched with the Cristal. Main is beef topped with horseradish and served with a Bordeaux. It all concludes with a dessert of peach and basil served with a demi-sec champagne.
It starts at 7.30pm with a champagne reception for dinner at 8pm. Tickets are £90 and only 18 places are available so booking is advised. To book email [email protected] or call 0161 236 5211.
WOOD Manchester, Jack Rosenthal Street, First Street, M15 4RA.