Author Archives: Keeley Watts

The Bar at Gaucho in Manchester

Posted on by

gaucho

Gaucho  has been a popular restaurant on the Manchester scene for quite some time with celebrities regularly visiting for what many would consider the best steak in Manchester. They’ve had a bit of a refurb and introduced a new bar area to make a mark on the thriving Manchester social scene.

The plush booths, white marble floor and black cracked glass wall features scream luxury whilst the impressive lighting, new sound system and DJ stand give it a party atmosphere. There are bi-folding windows that will open in summer time to encourage day time drinks in the sun from the new Argentine inspired cocktail list as well as the all Argentine wine list.

Patsy Godik, Gaucho’s Creative Director says, “We are so excited to open the bar at Gaucho. We have completely re-worked the space and made it much bigger and super glitzy. We have worked with carefully selected designers around the country to create an intriguing space that plays with different lights, reflections and textures; more importantly, it sparkles!”

 

Gaucho have also created a glass walled wine room to divide the bar from the restaurant meaning you can still enjoy a relaxing meal without the party vibe from the bar. Two environments for the price of one.

Restaurant Review: Southern Eleven, Spinningfields – Manchester

Posted on by

I’ve visited Southern Eleven before for drinks but never to eat. I’m not sure why but it is never somewhere that automatically springs to mind when thinking of where to go and eat. So when they asked me to visit and review for Frost I was quite excited to see what they were really like.

Located next to Pure Gym in the upmarket Spinningfields area you are promised Southern style charm with locally sourced slow cooked meats in a more relaxed setting than other restaurants in the Spinningfields area, I mean look at the amazing bear who greets you on your way in!

DSCN2070

The atmosphere is relaxed with low lighting and café style tables perfect for dining with family or in a big group. There is very little mobile reception in here and the wifi access is very hit and miss. When trying to keep up to date with social media and work commitments this can be frustrating.

DSCN2017 DSCN2059

Onto the food and we went for the taco tray to share as our starter. The popcorn chicken with blue cheese was my favourite, the chicken with a lovely heat from the spice and the blue cheese giving it a creaminess. The pulled pork with red cabbage was also tasty as I am a huge fan of pickled cabbage! The short rib with sour cream was a little dry and would have benefited from more sour cream. At £8.95 I thought they were quite expensive for the size of the portion but a nice way to get our tastebuds going before our main course.

DSCN2025

Onto the mains and I chose the pulled pork mac n cheese whilst my friend decided to try one of the meat plates with ribs, pulled pork and brisket which came with fries, slaw and sauces. As a huge fan I also ordered some corn bread to share, it was too tempting not to.

DSCN2038 DSCN2034

The mac n cheese was the star of the show. A lovely lightly toasted crust with soft macaroni bound in a light cheese sauce with chunks of soft pulled pork. So many versions of this are thick and gloopy but this one has lots of sauce, perfect for dunking the corn bread. The corn bread was a little dry but had a lovely texture and soaked up the cheese sauce beautifully. The meat plate was a bit disappointing as a whole. The ribs were perfectly slow cooked with the meat falling off the bone and the brisket soft. Unfortunately because they had been piled together the flavours had merged so it was difficult to identify the individual flavours. The slaw was light and fresh whilst the fries were a bit dry. The meat would have benefited from being served separately rather than all together.

DSCN2063

Onto dessert and the churros were pretty good. Slightly underdone so still a bit too soggy in the centre yet with a lovely crust on the outer to make up for it. The chocolate dipping sauce was rich and not overly sweet helping to balance the dish out. There was a lot of them too which is always a bonus. The pecan pie sundae would have benefited from more of the dark rum caramel but then I am a sucker for rum so this will always be the case. The pecans were lovely giving the ice cream a nice crunch. This was a nice dish and something I haven’t seen anywhere else in Manchester.

Unfortunately for me Southern Eleven is missing something. The majority of the dishes are being done elsewhere for less. That could be because of the location in the affluent Spinningfields area and I think if Southern Eleven can stick to its roots and find a niche they’ll be a leader in the area.

 

Christmas Menu At Browns, Manchester Review

Posted on by

Browns is located at the top of King Street in the old converted Athenaeum that was once Parrs Bank banking hall. Possibly one of the prettiest builldings in this part of town Browns bar and brasserie splits eating and drinking areas well so, even if the bar is bustling, you can still enjoy a quiet meal with friends.

We visited to try the festive menu which is reasonably priced at £35 for three courses. The choice is incredible and vegetarians are also welcome to choose from the main menu if they don’t fancy the vegetarian option on the festive menu. I thought this was a lovely touch knowing many vegetarians who struggle with a set menu in a restaurant.

IMG_4154 IMG_4155

I struggled to choose a starter but eventually settled on the soup. Made with honey roasted pumpkin it had a lovely hint of chilli to heat the mouth whilst the basil oil added a touch of savoury to mellow out the sweetness the pumpkin. The crusty bread was warm and served with soft butter – something I am a huge fan of and that every bowl of soup should be served with.

IMG_4156

The smoked duck was served with fried pickle, orange and cranberry dressing which worked well together to balance the flavours of the dish. The duck was soft and succulent with a melt in the mouth texture and lightly smoked flavour.

IMG_4161 IMG_4165 IMG_4171

Our mains were served with sharing platters of honey & thyme roasted Newark carrots, Brussels sprouts, roast parsnips, curly kale and roasted potatoes. I’m not a fan of parsnips and these ones were slightly overdone for my taste. The carrots were lovely and sweet yet still firm. You wouldn’t get me near a Brussels sprout but my friend assured me they were gorgeous and ate them by the forkful until the bowl was empty. The curly kale was a lovely addition yet slightly overdone and with a bit too much garlic, I certainly kept the vampires at bay for Christmas! The roasted potatoes on the other hand were perfect. soft and fluffy on the inside with a crunchy outside . The bowl didn’t last long that’s for sure.

IMG_4166

My friend chose the vegetarian option of flat cap mushroom, stilton and spinach parcel that was served with green beans and an onion gravy. I’m not a fan of mushrooms so it certainly wasn’t to my taste but the fluffy pastry was crispy and she ate the whole thing as well as the bowl full of Brussels sprouts!

IMG_4163

I chose the traditional turkey option served with orange and cranberry stuffing, buttered cabbage, pigs in blankets and redcurrant gravy. I thought the sweetness of the gravy would overpower the flavours of the turkey but it worked well together. The bacon wrapped around the juicy chipolata sausages was crispy and the addition of orange to the stuffing was a lovely touch. The turkey was juicy and the cabbage just cooked so it still had bite and flavour. Having not been on a Christmas do this year my main at Browns hit just the spot.

IMG_4172

For dessert I chose the Eton mess that had been given a winter spin with roasted plums, cinnamon, chestnuts and orange soaked cranberries. Served piled high the meringue was a little too well done for me, I prefer my meringue to be slightly soft and chewy. I did love the winter flavours though and the plums were nice and soft which worked well with the cream.

IMG_4178

My friend went for the cheeseboard which had a lovely beetroot chutney. It was slightly sweet and clearly fresh – something so many restaurants get wrong and serve out of a jar. The biscuit selection was also good with some pretty heart shapes too. The star of the board was definitely the cheese with Croxton Manor brie, Garstang bomber and little black bomber. My friend was certainly a happy lady and made short work of the platter considering the amount of food we had already consumed!

Huge thanks to Browns for the hospitality. I’ve heard so many people say how disappointing their Christmas do meals have been this year. I’ll be recommending Browns for next year that’s for sure.

Afternoon Tea At Cloud23, Manchester Review

Posted on by

I’ve been to Cloud23 a few times now. It is located on the 23rd floor of Manchester’s tallest building Beetham Tower and part of the Hilton hotel. The first thing to note is the incredible views of our city. On a clear day you can see the surrounding counties as far as the ocean.

IMG_4098

Unfortunately on the day we visited for afternoon tea it was grey and miserable, we were lucky to see as far as Salford Quays! A good thing though is that Cloud23 was decorated to the nines for Christmas with a beautiful reindeer at the entrance and a pretty Christmas tree in the main area.

IMG_4105 IMG_4103

We were greeted warmly with the offer of tea or coffee which is unlimited during your Christmas afternoon tea. The service was exceptional with regular top ups and a full explanation of what the Christmas afternoon tea would entail.

IMG_4102 IMG_4099 IMG_4097

Our afternoon tea was served on three tiers with sandwiches in the middle, scones on the bottom and a layer of miniature Christmas themed cakes on the top. The sandwich selection was exceptional and stuck to the Christmas theme perfectly. The roast ham and English pickle sandwich was a nice touch with the pickle lightly sweetened with a crunchy bite. The prawn and cucumber was tasty with large juicy prawns bound in a tangy marie rose sauce whilst the Lancashire red onion rarebit wasn’t warm as described. This was a shame but the sharp Lancashire cheese with the tart onion pickle was a lovely combination. My favourite of the sandwiches was the turkey and chestnut wrap which was seasoned perfectly with plenty of soft turkey in a lightly herbed wrap.

IMG_4101

The rum and raisin macaroons were topped with a festive rock sweet. The cake itself was moist with the rum soaked plump raisins dotted throughout. This was my definite favourite I could have eaten both! The dark chocolate sacher torte was topped with a rich granache to balance the sweetness of the torte. The German stollen was also good with a good hit of marzipan whilst the eccles cake was warm with a crisp pastry case.

IMG_4100

The scones had a light cinnamon flavour but appeared to have slightly too much bicarbonate of soda as they weren’t as fluffy as they should be.

At £23 per person the afternoon tea is pricey but the views really are worth it and the dining area is very relaxed. You could easily spend a good few hours with girlfriends having a natter over unlimited tea and coffee.

 

 

Peppa Pig Visits Selfridges At The Trafford Centre

Posted on by

selfridges 1

Last week was all about Paddington Bear at Selfridges, this week it’s Peppa!

Peppa Pig will be at the Selfridges ice rink at the Trafford Centre for a special appearance on Sunday 21st December

Skaters will get the chance to have their photograph taken with Peppa Pig and also go home with a Peppa Pig cupcake from Hey Little Cupcake, a new addition to Selfridges Trafford Centre food offering.

peppa 1

There are two early morning sessions available either 9am-10am or 10am-11am. Tickets are priced at £15 per person and include a skate, meet/greet with Peppa and a cupcake. Adults accompanying children are free of charge where not skating.

Tickets are available here… http://style.selfridges.com/whats-on/ice-rink-selfridges-manchester-trafford

Paddington Bear Visits Selfridges At The Trafford Centre

Posted on by

selfridges 1

This weekend sees a Hollywood star visiting Selfridges at the Trafford Centre! Currently starring in his own movie Paddington Bear will receive his public at the ice rink on Saturday 13th December between 9am-11am before moving into the store to meet his fans.

selfridges 2

The Selfridges ice rink holds 120 ice skaters and is a winter wonderland which echoes the Christmas storytelling theme of the Trafford Centre with forest greens and sparkly gold accents to bring the magic of enchantment and fairy tales to life.

The ice rink is covered meaning it is perfect in all weather with hot food and drinks available to keep you cosy.

Booking and directions information can be found here… http://style.selfridges.com/whats-on/ice-rink-selfridges-manchester-trafford or you can call direct on 0161 629 1204. Don’t miss your chance to meet a Hollywood movie star and help to bring the magic to life for your children this Christmas.

An Award Winning Cheesy Evening With Nigel Haworth & Colston Bassett At Northcote

Posted on by

Northcote 7

It may be a bit of a trek into the countryside from the centre of Manchester but when asked to visit a Michelin starred restaurant you don’t say no. Nigel Haworth of Northcote had teamed up with Colston Bassett dairy to create a food and wine paired menu using Colston Bassett’s awarding winning stilton and Shropshire blue.

We were greeted with tapioca crackers dusted with the Shropshire blue as well as two types of risotto balls with the stilton. The crackers were my favourite; they were light and fluffy with the lightest cheese flavour.

Northcote 2
The starter followed with onion caramel charred hangar steak, pickled artichokes and Colston Bassett stilton. Charred cabbage gave the dish a bitterness whilst the sweetness of the pickled artichokes balanced the dish. Paired with Ramos Pinto Adriano white reserva port to bring out the caramel notes of the steak I thought this worked superbly. Some weren’t keen on the charred cabbage finding it didn’t work with the dish but I liked the way it added something different to the dish as a whole.

Northcote 3

The main was Goosnargh cornfed guinea fowl, a Colston Bassett Shropshire blue cheese crumb, damsons, girolles and a Colston Bassett Shropshire blue cheese mash. Despite the inclusion of the cheese into many elements of this dish it was not overpowering with the meat cooked medium rare and the damsons providing a delightful tartness against the richness of the meat. Our wine expert for the evening Craig Bancroft explained that he could have easily paired this dish with a white wine but settled on the Chanson Le Bourgogne pinot noir as the raspberry, cherry and red berry notes worked too well with the guinea fowl to leave it out. He was right to and, considering I’m not really a lover of red wine, this one was beautifully smooth and highlighted the damsons really nicely.

Northcote 4

I wasn’t sure how Nigel would incorporate cheese into the dessert but the figs in port with stilton ice cream was incredible and easily my favourite dish of the night. The port had been reduced to a treacle toffee like consistency and when paired with the Ramos Pinto had a wonderfully fruity taste on the palate with enhanced the flavour of the figs.

Northcote 1

Colston Bassett have won numerous awards for their cheeses with their stilton being a rich cream colour with blue veining throughout. A smooth and creamy cheese there is no acidic taste whatsoever, just a beautiful mellow taste that melts in the mouth. The Shropshire blue is a similar story with the blue veins spread throughout. This cheese has a creamy taste and is milder than the stilton with a delicate sweetness which I love.

Northcote 9

Thanks to Northcote and Colston Bassett for putting the menu together and special thanks to Starlings Photography for the amazing photographs featured above.

You would think this exquisite meal was enough but no, petit fours followed with Turkish delight that melted in the mouth and mini eccles cakes that had a crispy pastry case finished off the event along with some Colston Bassett cheese to enjoy in their natural form.

 

 

Annie’s Restaurant, Manchester Review

Posted on by

Surprisingly for a food blogger I hadn’t heard a lot of feedback about Annie’s Restaurant. I knew it was owned by Jennie McAlpine (also known as Fizz from Coronation Street) but that was pretty much it. Luckily for me a friend was invited to dine so I joined.

The interior was a surprise. Upstairs houses lots of comfy sofas and then downstairs you have the main restaurant with more seating. We were asked if we would like a drink prior to dining but we were both hungry so chose to go straight into the dining area.

I was shocked by how quiet it was, for a Sunday evening I was expecting it to be really busy with the Sunday lunch trade but there were only two other tables occupied, one with people we happened to know!

Having already looked at the menu my friend was incredibly disappointed that the cheese and onion pie was off at the time. She was intrigued to see what made a pie, chips and beans cost £12.95. The high pricing seemed to be a theme with a burger and chips costing £13.95 and bottles of wine on the wine list at an eye watering £150 per bottle. And that’s for a bottle of red, not a more celebratory bottle of champagne. Interestingly the cocktails are reasonably priced at £6.95 each. Something seems amiss here.

annies 2 annies 1

Anyway, onto the food. I ordered the potted mackerel to start with my friend going for the scallop and black pudding dish. The scallops were slightly overdone so a little chewy but not too bad. The black pudding was quite dry and chewy unfortunately so a little unpleasant. The potted mackerel wasn’t as described on the menu. Potted mackerel should be exactly that, flakes of mackerel potted with lemon juice and topped with butter, or that’s what I was expecting. What arrived as flakes of mackerel bound in mayonnaise with melba toast. The mackerel had been nicely seasoned and wasn’t a bad dish at all, it just wasn’t potted mackerel therefore not what I was expecting.

annies 3 annies 4

For main I went for the sea bass with my friend choosing the traditional Sunday lunch. The sea bass had been filleted and pan fried before being served atop a bed of pickled cucumber, mange tout and peas. A healthy option it was a good dish with the fish seasoned well, the pickled cucumber a nice touch and the mange tout still crisp. The peas were slightly overdone which, doesn’t really bother me, what bothered me was that the menu described the dish as being on a bed of spring greens. Whilst the vegetables on my plate were green and apt for the Spring season, they certainly weren’t spring greens. My friend wasn’t as lucky with her roast and this possibly explained why the restaurant was so quiet on a Sunday evening. The beef had been rested too long, the Yorkshire pudding hard, the vegetables far too soft and the potatoes mushy on the inside rather than being fluffy. Such a disappointment.

annies 5 annies 6

Things picked up with dessert. I had the cheese board which came with a nicely spiced fruit chutney. The menu didn’t state what the cheeses were or where they had come from as they do in other restaurants and the crackers were Jacobs rather than something more locally sourced but it hit the spot. My friend chose the jam roly poly which was slightly stodgy, as it should be, with a good jam running through it. It wasn’t amazing but it certainly hit the spot after her disappointing main course.

As we left we were bid farewell by the staff (who are great by the way. Really attentive, eager to please and chatty when encouraged) with packages of ginger crunch biscuits and jam. I have noticed that Annie’s now has an online teashop which is where these goodies can be purchased. And goodies they are. The biscuits, crunchy on the outside and slightly gooey in the centre had huge pieces of stem ginger running through them. I’d have been happy with these topped in custard as a dessert! The jam a similar story, good chunks of fruit that aren’t overly sweet and a lovely slightly runny consistency. Once again they are quite pricey with biscuits costing £3.95 and a jar of jam costing £3.85 but of good quality and something I would consider buying friends or family as a gift.

I am not sure what group of people Annie’s are trying to hit with their food and pricing but I won’t be rushing back. I know other restaurants in Manchester charging a lot less for larger portions of better quality.