Reviews

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

I was surprised to receive an invite to the ‘reopening’ of The Alchemist in Spinningfields recently. I didn’t even know it had closed, much less that it was to reopen double its size and with a full food menu. Probably because Spinningfields isn’t an area I spend much time. I’d never eaten in The Alchemist before either, though I had been for cocktails …

Despite being a lover of Spanish food it’s not a cuisine I often eat outside of Spain. Mainly because most of our restaurants are usually full of the same old clichéd dishes that are inevitably never as good as the real thing. Also, so much traditional Spanish cooking is fairly simple but relies on the quality of ingredients and I don’t think …

If only there were more days in the week, or at least a few more hours in the day. I’d almost certainly visit The Farmers Arms more often. It’s somewhere I never get bored of going back to but just don’t seem to find the time to go often enough. Although, time does appear to stand still in Darcy Lever where the …

If you asked 100 foodies to guess where MasterChef judge and well known lover of Asian food John Torode ate the ‘best Thai food outside of Thailand’, chances are precisely none of them would’ve said Bolton. “Hand on heart it was the best Thai food I have had outside of Thailand. Maybe it is Bolton’s hidden gem.” – John Torode That’s …

Of the almost 20 supper clubs I attended last year, one of my favourites was ‘Chicken Soup For The Soul‘. An Israeli/Middle Eastern inspired feast cooked up by Sue Waxman at her Prestwich home. When she announced her next event ‘Balabusta Delight’ would feature some of her favourite Jewish dishes I snapped up tickets immediately. With more guests than ever before the table …

Ask anybody who’s into food for dining recommendations in Harrogate and the answer almost always includes Van Zeller. A partnership between David Moore – who has two Michelin stars from London restaurants Pied à Terre and L’Autre Pied – and head chef Tom van Zeller, who’s worked with the likes of Raymond Blanc, Pierre Koffman and Tom Aikens. Not only loved by diners, Van Zeller has …

What you’re about to read may just be the most pointless restaurant ‘review’ ever written. As no more than a week after my visit to Cuckoo in Prestwich it was announced that top chef Mary-Ellen McTague would be taking over the kitchen for a three-month residency. Just as well really as I wasn’t overly impressed with the food at the time. …