Manchester’s Jewish Museum cafe may have only been open for a year, but the quality of its food has already been recognised with an award.
Taking home the gong for 2022’s Cafe or Restaurant of the Year category at the Museums and Heritage Awards, the local eatery pipped both the English Heritage Stonehenge cafe and the Whitchurch silk mill riverside cafe to the top spot.
Its contemporary vegetarian kosher-style menu uses local produce, and authentic Jewish and vegetarian ingredients, and is created on three core principles: bringing people together, evolving recipes, and meals to nourish and sustain you.
Those heading down will find a vegetarian and vegan menu inspired by two different Jewish diasporas: the northern European Ashkenazi style and the rich, Mediterranean Sephardi way of cooking.
Think smoked carrot lox bagels, vegetarian cholent served with challah bread, and the ‘Not Quite Traditional ‘Chicken’ Soup’ – a hearty vegetarian broth with oyster mushrooms and Matzo balls available on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Smoked carrot lox bagels from the cafe made with vegan cream cheese, carrot lox and beef tomato. / Image: Manchester Jewish Museum
Elsewhere, you’ll find lentil soup with spinach and a drizzle of zesty lemon oil served with pita and Israeli street food-inspired falafel plates or pita served with homemade hummus, tahini sauce, zhug, chopped salad, seasonal salad leaves, and pickled chilli pepper.
Drinks-wise, in the hopper you’ll find Abe & Co. Coffee, created at a Jewish-owned micro-roastery based in Whitefield, and Brew Tea, a Manchester-based Tea Company.
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As for pop, Manchester-based makers Steep Soda provide handmade fizzy drinks, whilst all bagels and challah bread come from the North Manchester Jewish-owned State Fayre Bakery.
he ‘Not Quite Traditional ‘Chicken’ Soup’ – a hearty vegetarian broth with oyster mushrooms and Matzo balls available on Fridays and Saturdays as part of the Museum’s special Sabbath experience. / Image: Manchester Jewish Museum
Speaking on the award win, Alex Cropper, the Curator from Manchester Jewish Museum, said: “It felt so exciting to be at the Museum and Heritage Awards on Wednesday night and to gather to celebrate our sector for the first time since the pandemic – there was a real buzz in the room. And to win an award was the icing on the cake!
“It was an honour to accept the Café of the Year award on stage on behalf of our incredible café team and great to see our name up there amongst such incredible museums in the Permanent Gallery of the Year category.”
Kids can now travel on Greater Manchester buses for FREE all summer long
Emily Sergeant
Young people across Greater Manchester will benefit from unlimited free bus travel this summer.
As part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings campaign – which was announced back in May – Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has revealed that all children aged five to 15 can travel for free in England, including on Bee Network bus services, during the school summer holidays throughout August.
Not only that, but 16-year-olds will be able to activate their ‘Our Pass’ one month earlier (from 1 August instead of 1 September), giving them an extra month of free bus and cheaper tram travel.
The move means that all young people in Greater Manchester will be entitled to free bus travel for the whole month.
Children under five already get to travel for free on the Bee Network all year round.
From 1-31 August, children aged 5-15 can travel FREE on all #BeeNetwork buses across Greater Manchester as part of the government’s Great British Savings scheme.
And if you’re turning 16? You can activate your @OurPassGM a month early from 1 August, unlocking free bus travel and… pic.twitter.com/BM9vIEnNfH
The Great British Summer Savings scheme has introduced a temporary reduced rate of VAT – down from 20% to 5% – on things like travel, children’s meals in restaurants, and family leisure activities over the summer period.
The Government says the aim of the initiative is to make family days out more affordable, while also supporting businesses through increased footfall.
No registration or sign-up is required to benefit from the Summer Savings scheme on the Bee Network, TfGM confirmed, with anyone aged between five and 15 instructed to just ask the driver for a free ticket as they board the bus.
“We’re pleased to be taking part in the Greater British Summer Savings scheme which will mean free bus travel on the Bee Network for everyone aged five to 15 in August,” commented Fran Wilkinson, who is the Customer and Growth Director at TfGM.
“This will help make days out more affordable for families this summer.
“The Bee Network is all about making it easier and more affordable to get around Greater Manchester and this national scheme will help us do just that.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Andy Burnham announces ‘fundamental’ changes to the UK’s education system
Emily Sergeant
The Prime Minister will unveil a fundamental change to the education system today with the launch of new prestigious technical educational routes.
Andy Burnham says he is ‘determined’ to put technical education on an equal footing with the traditional academic path to ensure there are no so-called ‘dead ends’ for young people coming out of the education system by providing them high-quality alternative routes that are valued and respected by students, parents, and employers alike.
The new pathways will provide 14-year-olds with ‘valuable’ early access to technical skills, work experience, and connections with local employers.
Building on successful local initiatives – such as the MBacc, launched by Andy Burnham here in Greater Manchester when he was Mayor – the new technical routes will mean young people can develop the technical knowledge and skills needed to progress in areas like engineering, healthcare, and digital technology.
It will aim to ‘skill them up’ with the specific knowledge and capabilities that local employers need.
Andy Burnham has announced ‘fundamental’ changes to the UK’s education system / Credit: MChe Lee (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
So, how will it all work then? Well, when students enter Year 10, they will have the chance to combine core academic subjects – including English, Maths, and Science – with a high-quality technical education that’s linked to the jobs available in their area.
During these courses, students will be able to spend time with employers and gain valuable real-world experience.
Regional mayors, local leaders, schools, colleges, and employers will work together to shape these new technical education pathways, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all system.
To support this, the Government says it will prioritise funding towards high-quality technical education and practical routes into work, and will also change the way school performance is measured so that inspectors recognise the schools support young people to develop the skills, experience, and confidence employers want.
This way, no matter whether young people choose university, an apprenticeship, further education, or direct entry into a skilled profession, they will able to see a clear route from education into employment.
“For too long in this country, students have been told that you must take the academic path to do well and to be respected,” explained Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
“The whole school system has been built around it and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications.
Georgina Pellant -
16th May 2022 
