International Cheese Awards 2015

International Cheese Awards 2015, Nantwich

If you love cheese as much as I do there’s no better place to be in July than the Nantwich show, home to the ‘biggest cheese marquee in the world’ where the ‘International Cheese Awards’ are held annually. I loved my previous visit to the trade and judging day and this year was set to be bigger and better than ever …

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O Lusitano Albufeira Portugal

Back To O Lusitano, Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal

Following the disappointment of returning to our once favourite restaurant in Albufeira to find it had changed in every way possible (none for the better) we were unsure whether to risk ruining more happy memories by going back to another old favourite. We’d enjoyed O Lusitano very much on the first day of our trip in 2012 so didn’t want to be let …

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Iberica Spinningfields Manchester

‘Great Chefs, Great Causes’ @ Ibérica, Spinningfields, Manchester

It’s not everyday you get the chance to eat dishes from several of the world’s best chefs in the same place at the same time. But a few weeks ago I did exactly that after being invited to the press launch of ‘Great Chefs, Great Causes’ at Ibérica in Spinningfields. Of course, Albert Adrià and Joan Roca of El Celler de …

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AfternoonTea @ Dorsett Shepherds Bush

Classic Afternoon Tea at Dorsett Shepherds Bush, London

It’s surprisingly difficult to find a good afternoon tea in London on a Saturday. I’d left it too late to get a reservation at my first choice, Sketch, while many others only serve them Monday to Friday. Eventually I found Dorsett Shepherds Bush hotel. They were open, had room for us and the menu looked lovely. We started with a variety of …

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PLY Manchester

PLY, Northern Quarter – FINALLY Decent Pizza In A Manchester Restaurant

I’ve eaten loads of great pizzas in Manchester over the last few years but unfortunately none have been in restaurants. All the best ones seem to be coming from street food vendors like Rudy’s and particularly Honest Crust. I just couldn’t understand why small traders can get it right whilst restaurants were continuously getting it wrong. So when I was invited to PLY – …

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St John Maltby, Maltby Street

St. JOHN Maltby, Maltby Street, London

Maltby Street was already one of my favourite places in London; its lively Ropewalk food market features fantastic stalls, pop up bars and street food along with a great vibe and friendly atmosphere. It’s even better now thanks to the addition of St. JOHN Maltby, a sit in space under a railway arch run by legendary Michelin starred chef Fergus Henderson. …

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Common, Northern Quarter, Manchester

Common, Northern Quarter, Manchester – It’s All Change At Common

There are some places that epitomise their location; Common in the Northern Quarter used to be a prime example. The NQ institution was one of my favourite places in Manchester to drink. Its quirky and artistic – if a little scruffy – decor was all part of the charm. To celebrate their 10-year anniversary they closed their doors for several …

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Chicken Soup For The Soul Supper Club

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Jewish Soul Food Supper Club

It was my third time at one of Sue Waxman’s ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ supper clubs at her home in Prestwich. The first absolutely blew me away but by her own very high standards the second wasn’t quite as good. Thankfully, the third, ‘Jewish Soul Food’ was almost as good as the original. Beisdes a couple of mainstay dishes, most of …

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Wood Wine & Deli. Manchester

Wood. Wine & Deli – Northern Quarter, Manchester (Revisit)

Slightly stale Cinnamon Swirl aside; I really enjoyed my visit to Wood. Wine & Deli in Manchester’s Northern Quarter last year. Back then it felt very much like a wine bar and deli that served food rather than a restaurant. But head chef Gary contacted me recently to see if I’d be interested in sampling some of their new small plates after shifting …

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Shebeen Festival 2015

Shebeen Festival 2015

Following the success of  ‘Winter Beer Fest‘, Grub, Shebeen and Blackjack Brewery collaborated once more to bring us Shebeen Festival 2015. The event was held across three venus in Manchester’s Green Quarter; Runaway Brewery, Blackjack Brewery and Glassworks Distribution. Each venue hosted various types of entertainment. From live music to standup comedians and even art installations. I’d love to be able to tell …

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Tattu Spinningfields (Manchester)

Tattu, Manchester – ‘Modern Chinese’, Spinningfields Style

As we approached Tattu – a swanky new ‘Modern Chinese’ restaurant – I couldn’t help wondering if I was going to feel as out of place as I often do in Spinningfields. This feeling intensified when I spotted the bouncers on the door who then looked at me in a ‘You know this is Spinningfields not the Northern Quarter’ sort …

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Beer Geek Blog

Say Hello To ‘Beer Geek’

You may have noticed I’ve been a little quiet around here lately. It’s not that I haven’t been eating as much as usual, believe me I have. But I’ve been busy setting up an alter-ego and a sister site for this blog. Say hello to Beer Geek Blog… I decided to start a beer orientated blog because I’ve got more and …

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Siam Smiles Manchester

Siam Smiles – The Best Thai Food In Manchester, Where You’d Least Expect It

There are plenty of Thai restaurants in Manchester but until last year none that I really wanted to eat at. Most are either way too expensive or serving up average, westernised food. Or both. Then Siam Smiles came along. There was so much buzz about Siam right from the start, including a hugely positive review from Marina O’Loughlin in The Guardian. I’m ashamed …

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Splendid Kitchen Takeover: Love From The Streets

Splendid Kitchen Takeover: Love From The Streets

It’s all change at Splendid since my visit last year. Firstly, they’ve changed their name from Splendid Sausage Co to Splendid Kitchen, presumably because they ended up selling a whole lot more than just sausages. More recently they’ve begun a series of ‘Kitchen Takeovers’ on Monday nights, which have seen prominent Manchester street food vendors serve their own food for one night only. …

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Back To ‘The French By Simon Rogan’ For An Exceptional Value Lunch

It’s no coincidence that the standard of dining in Manchester improved the moment Simon Rogan arrived. His restaurant The French in the Midland Hotel is producing the best food in the city, which has forced others to up their game too. I was blown away on my first visit in March 2013, returning twice more that year. With the last almost 18 months ago I was overdue a …

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