Popular independent Italian restaurant Vero Moderno is hosting a free-to-attend dinner in partnership with Italian craft beer company Menabrea as it looks to share the magic of the Italian tradition of ‘midnight spaghetti’ with Mancunians.
On the continent, it’s not unusual for groups to flock home and commune over a late-night bowl of simply-cooked noodles.
Beer is poured, ingredients from the kitchen are brought out and the party comes together to enjoy a delicious meal at midnight. So far, so magical.
But whilst we expect quite a few readers are no stranger to drunkenly cooking a bowl of pasta late at night in their kitchen, we’d hazard a guess not many have done it like this. Until now, anyway.
This Thursday, locals will have the chance to experience the tradition of midnight spaghetti themselves as a late-night pasta feast comes to the Chapel Street restaurant.
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Taking place from 930pm to 1am, the one-off dinner will be held alongside Italian craft brewers Menabrea on Thursday 25 August, giving local pasta fans a chance to partake in a long-standing tradition.
Image: Supplied
Stevie Parle, the well-known chef and restaurateur of London pasta kitchen Pastaio, has developed a midnight spaghetti recipe especially for the evening, keeping things simple with a mixture of classic ingredients like garlic, chilli and olive oil.
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Throughout the night, the restaurant’s team will serve up hearty-yet-simple portions of pasta alongside free-flowing pints of Menabrea’s popular Italian craft beer.
After that, you can party the night away with a DJ and enjoy different interactive areas throughout the night. Menabrea will be served throughout the night, alongside a delicious twist at midnight.
The evening will begin with a workshop led by Stevie, where attendees can learn about how they can recreate their own midnight spaghetti evening at home with friends and loved ones.
Guests will be sampling free-flowing pints of Menabrea throughout the session, to truly uncover how Italian flavours can come together.
Speaking on the upcoming event, Angus Lawrie, spokesperson at Menabrea, said: “As an award-winning Italian birra with 170+ years of brewing expertise, we are passionate about facilitating authentic Italian experiences through the highest quality food & drink.
Image: Vero Moderno
“Italy is integral to the Menabrea brand and Italians always have a special way of doing everything, which is why we can’t wait to launch Menabrea Midnights and bring this unmissable concept to the UK.”
Chef, restaurateur at Pastaio and Menabrea Midnights partner, Stevie Parle, added: “I’ve been cooking Italian food professionally since I was 17 and have been obsessed with pasta my whole life.
“It’s great to be working with Menabrea, as they share my values and always strive to produce the very best and most delicious results, be that in beer or classic Italian cookery.”
Tickets are free to those who register via Eventbrite here but be quick as there is only a limited number available.
Feature image – Vero Moderno
Eats
Inside The Head of Steam as huge new pub opens in Northern Quarter
Daisy Jackson
The Northern Quarter has a brand-new pub, as The Head of Steam moves into the city centre.
The craft beer brand has taken over what was formerly Cottonopolis (and then briefly the Lamb of Tartary), completely transforming the historic Grade II-listed space.
The Head of Steam has added a huge central bar into the building, surrounded by cosy booths and bar tables, plus six screens showing live sports.
There’s augmented reality darts and a photo booth, plus a VAST range of beers behind the bar, all packed into this 2,800 sq ft space in the heart of the city.
Expect 30 lines (24 keg and 6 cask) of beers, including The Head Of Steam’s own British-brewed range and an extensive selection of Belgian favourites.
And on the food menu, you’ll find USA-style smash burgers and a gigantic sharing platter of sides, from Salford street food favourite That Burger Place – previously named among the top burger joints in the UK.
To celebrate its launch – and to kick off its arrival into the city centre in style – The Head of Steam will be giving away 1,995 free pints.
Craft beer fans will have the chance of winning a free pint of the Head of Steam’s own IPA, Lager, or Gold.
That Burger Place platterThe mozzarella slabBeer and wine flight at The Head of SteamThe Head of Steam in the Northern Quarter
If beer’s not your thing, there’s also a cocktail menu, premium spirits range, and wine list – plus the option to order a beer or wine flight for the beer-curious.
The Head of Steam is set to open later this week, its 16th venue nationwide and second in Greater Manchester.
David Scott, Retail Director at The Head of Steam, said: “We’re incredibly proud to confirm our opening date in the Northern Quarter – it’s one of the most vibrant areas in Manchester and the perfect place to bring our craft beer community together.
“With some fantastic West Coast beers on offer, partnering with That Burger Place, a food brand who share that love for bold West Coast flavours, just made perfect sense.”
Ryan McDermott, Co-Owner of That Burger Place, added: “We’ve always loved The Head of Steam brand. I grew up in pubs as my parents ran several sites, so hospitality has always been in my blood.
“When the opportunity came to bring That Burger Place into The Head of Steam, it was a no-brainer. Working with the team feels like a perfect match, and we can’t wait to share our burgers with Manchester city centre for the first time.”
To sign up for a chance to claim a free pint when The Head Of Steam opens in the Northern Quarter on Friday 28 November, head HERE.
Global sensation Eggslut is FINALLY coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
After waiting what feels like a lifetime, worldwide viral sensation Eggslut is at long last coming to Manchester city centre.
Cracking news (sorry not sorry).
Honestly, there aren’t many big-name food chains that we’ve been waiting to arrive in Manchester longer than Eggslut, which started as little more than a food truck in LA and has gone on to become a truly global giant in the culinary scene.
Set to pop up at Centurion House over on Deansgate, which backs onto Lincoln Square, Eggslut is scheduled to make its Manchester debut very soon.
Literally drooling at the mere thought more than those drips. (Credit: Publicity pictures)
I mean, LOOK at it. Class, just class…
Aiming to launch in the new year, Manc foodies who have been clamouring for the brand’s arrival for more than a decade now will soon be able to get their chops around fan favourites and internet-famous items like the ‘Fairfax’ and ‘Gaucho’ sandwiches, as well as the standard but signature ‘Slut’.
Oh, and yes: having tried various parts of the menu down in London, we can assure you they are just as naughty as they sound – especially those truffle hash browns and those new dippy French toast sticks, which we cannot wait to sample for ourselves.
The video of founder Alvin Cailan talking us through the story behind Eggslut and the secret ‘off-menu’ special order that was so good that people just couldn’t stop forcing it into the mainstream is still one of our most-watched videos of all time.
Not only is this the eighth UK location, but Manchester will also be the first venue in the country outside of the capital.
With the first CGIs of the space having now been shared with the ravenous masses, we confirm it is set to take the place of the existing Starbucks site at the base of the Bruntwood SciTech building.
You can see more down below:
Credit: Supplied
Head of Operations at Eggslut, Pedro Ribeiro, says of the impending opening: “Manchester has been crying out for an Eggslut for too long, and we were only too happy to make that dream a reality.
“The city is the perfect place to bring our kind of breakfast to a brand new area of the UK, and we cannot wait to join such a fast-paced and buzzing food scene.”
Matt Pazos, as for Bruntwood SciTech‘s Retail Commercial Manager, Matt Pazoz, he commented on them taking up residence here: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the first Eggslut outside of London to Manchester and can’t wait for the team to crack open their doors on Deansgate.
“The brand has built a cult following thanks to their delicious chef-driven comfort food, and we know that it will fast become a go-to spot for businesses based in Centurion House as well as locals and visitors to the city.”
Coming to a mouth near you by the end of January 2026.