Does a name ever intrigue you, to hasten you into action? When BlackHouse popped up on my radar (doesn’t it sound positively Dickensian?), I knew I just had to hop along to discover more about the brand’s range of eateries. And so it was that I found myself ambling down an alleyway, wondering if I had taken a wrong turning (my…
*All food and drink complimentary* Don’t you wish time machines existed? I’ve always been entranced by the roaring 20s (if I could just sip a Bellini with F. Scott Fitzgerald that would be grand). Luckily, I had a review planned at Gusto on Deansgate, Manchester where I could happily indulge literary fantasies. The building itself is a stunning character in…
What do you want to do when you grow up? What is your goal in life? Forgive me for sounding like a curious crusty counsellor from your secondary school questioning your life’s ambitions. One of my life goals is to dine at my lovingly curated hit list of ‘Must Visit’ restaurants. (Eleven Madison Park, Per Se, Noma, The Ledbury all…
When I’m out reviewing restaurants, I like to be professional and look decent. On the day of the Artisan restaurant review, the Mancunian anthracite skies heavy with pregnant rain clouds were threatening to burst. And burst they did in all their torrential, positively apocalyptic glory, leaving us dripping wet from an impromptu drenching. I suppose I was cocky in thinking…
Did you know, that you become a new person every seven years? Not in the literal, snake-shedding sense (sorry for the scary image by the way); but more of one undergoing a personality transformation. This would make sense, as I tend to seek out places more, that channel chilled out vibes, in place of eateries where Vivienne Westwood and Balenciaga…
What makes you want to dine at a restaurant? For me, it has to pique my interest, via inventive dishes or positive commentariat on service (yes I’m big on service). After hearing a lot of noise (all positive) about Tariff and Dale, a hip and cute bar and eatery situated on Tariff Street, I just had to pop in to…
Manchester is one very rainy city indeed, with one source claiming it rained 53% of the year*. I’m not a fan of wet grey skies and I’m always seeking a pick-me-up in the name of great food or a good book to counteract the creeping dullness of drizzly rain. It just so happened to be raining when I visited Asha’s…
One of the things I adore about Manchester, is its diverse foodie scene. The fantastic mix of the old with the new, the traditional standing tall, shoulder to shoulder with contemporary counterparts is exciting and fabulous in equal measure. One of Manchester’s more traditional eateries is Sam’s Chop House. Rich in heritage (it has been going strong since 1872 and…
Manchester continues to be a foodie magnet. It seems a new eatery opens every few weeks (up north is an exciting space to be right now). The plethora of new restaurant openings can only be a good thing; not only does it diversify a wonderful melting pot, but keeps the old guard on its toes. I have dined at the…