Turkey hanging kebabs, and pies topped with pigs in blankets are just some of the dishes on The Botanist’s new winter menu.
The Botanist may have been known for its imaginative food and drink creations for quite some time now, its new winter menu for 2023 is something else – with everything from indulgent sharing boards, oozy Camembert bread loaves, and mouthwatering twists on Christmas classics on the lineup to choose from.
Described as being “comfort food to indulge in as the winter chill creeps in”, The Botanist‘s new limited-edition seasonal menu has been expertly-crafted by the chain’s in-house chefs, with diners told to expect every dish to have been “created lovingly” from scratch.
So, what’s on the lineup for the festive season then?
The Botanist has launched its festive food and drink menu for the winter season / Credit: Supplied
Well for starters, there’s a whole melted camembert baked inside a sourdough loaf, with sweet onion marmalade and served with crispy garlic croutons to dip in.
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For those feeling a little indecisive, there’s a new ‘Hot Board’ that comes with tater tot poutine, Cumberland scotch eggs, halloumi fries, salt and pepper chicken wings, and chicken katsu bites, as well as a vegan version with bang bang cauliflower, giant couscous, houmous with roasted chickpeas, vegan meatballs in marinara sauce, and crispy mushrooms.
But, of course, it wouldn’t be The Botanist without those famous hanging kebabs, right?
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And thankfully, there’s a new seasonal special to get stuck into this year – with orange and cranberry glazed turkey, stuffing, and pigs in blankets, served with all the trimmings and a pot of gravy to drizzle down the kebab.
There’s turkey hanging kebabs, pies topped with pigs in blankets, and more / Credit: Supplied
Another showstopping main dish available right up until Christmas is the turkey ‘pie of the day’, which is topped with a giant pig in blanket, and served with mashed potato, cranberry sauce, crispy sage, and lashings of gravy on the side.
There’s also a new prawn linguine, a spicy coconut sweet potato pie, a sweet potato and goat’s cheese tart, butternut squash soup, chicken and liver brandy pate, and even a tear-and-share garlic fougasse bread.
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Those with a sweet tooth haven’t been forgotten either, as the restaurant’s signature cookie dough has had a seasonal update too to create a new S’mores option that’s topped with toasted marshmallows and chocolate brownie chunks, and finished off with a biscuit crumb.
There’s also a Salted Caramel Pretzel version too that comes with a sticky and sweet butterscotch sauce, and lots of salted pretzel pieces.
“This time of year is all about celebration and enjoying good food with loved ones,” explained James Scott, who is the Executive Chef at The Botanist.
“With this menu we wanted to showcase a modern take on feel-good comfort food with festive flavours, offering our diners a seasonal update to the signature dishes they’ve come to know and love when visiting our restaurants.”
The Botanist’s new winter menu is now available to indulge in at all Greater Manchester locations, with dishes starting from £7.25 for starters, £13.95 for mains, and £5.25 for desserts.
Featured Image – Supplied
Food & Drink
‘Hidden’ Manchester cocktail bar shuts down after only six months
Daisy Jackson
A cocktail bar in Manchester city centre that opened only last December has reportedly closed down, with its final service today.
Ego Death, a ‘hidden’ speakeasy-style bar in the Northern Quarter, told CLASS magazine that they were told by backers that they would have to close.
It opened under the steer of acclaimed bartender Cressida Lawlor, co-founded by Beau Myers, who also founded the original Almost Famous.
The bar is beneath newcomer smash burger joint Super Awesome Deluxe and accessed through an unmarked door within the takeaway.
Shortly after Super Awesome Deluxe opened, Almost Famous went through a high-profile closure of all of its restaurants this year, later bought out and reopened by D2.
And now just six months after launch, Ego Death looks set to be closing for good.
Cressida told CLASS: “The team here is wildly talented so the goal now is to get them into jobs so they can pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads.
“No one wants Ego Death to die and I think we’ve made enough of a stir in the six months that we’ve been open to find a new site and investment.
“Our last day is going to be Sunday, so anyone who can get here for one final party should come down.”
She later added on Instagram: “Truly gutting but there is always light in any form of darkness. Come see us this Sunday for the final service as we go through a true ego death.”
Ego Death came from the same team behind Socio Rehab (which if you remember it from 2004 was a bit of a local institution) and had a cocktail menu inspired by the speakeasy bars of New York City.
Behind the bar the stars were bourbon and champagne, plus cocktails inspired by the Big Apple – including one named after Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones.
Beau Myers, co-founder at Ego Death said at the time of its opening: “It’s been 20 years since we opened Socio Rehab so it seems pretty poignant to be opening another amazing cocktail bar. We changed the landscape of cocktail bar culture then and that’s something we’re trying to do again.
“We’ve partnered with Cressida Lawlor to make this dream happen. She’s a total firecracker and reminds me a lot of myself 20 years ago, she’s the future of cocktails and bartending and has that maverick spirit.
“Together we’ve created Ego Death, hidden in a basement behind an unmarked door at the back of a burger shop will be this cocktail haven. An underground escape throwing out the best classic cocktails, bourbon, and champagne from top level bartenders.”
This Manchester bar serves a bottomless cheese fondue with endless beer and wine
Georgina Pellant
There’s a bar in Manchester serving a bottomless cheese fondue with endless wine and beer, and it honestly sounds like the perfect treat.
While it might scream cosy winter night in, with a huge outdoor terrace, The Mews is also a firm favourite during the summer months.
Add in a board of melt-in-the-mouth charcuterie, springy pieces of garlic sourdough and a host of crunchy cheese biscuits, and you’ve got yourself the ideal afternoon if you ask us.
But there’s more. Alongside all that cheese and meat and bread, included in the price of The Mews’ bottomless fondue, cheese lovers can also enjoy 90 minutes of non-stop drinks.
Bottomless cheese fondue at The Mews on Deansgate in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Costing £37.50 each, included in the deal is a huge pot of melted Italian Fontina cheese served with homemade garlic croutons, sourdough crackers, and slices of British charcuterie.
You’ll also get to enjoy an hour and a half of endless pints of house pilsner and carafes of red or white wine to enjoy alongside.
Serving up to six people, the bottomless cheese fondue is available only when you pre-book, so make sure to get in touch ahead of your visit to let The Mews know that you’re coming.
If you’re not on the sauce, you can opt for the cheese fondue alone. Without the booze, it’s quite a bit cheaper at £25 for one, and £2.50 on top for any additional people who want to get stuck in.
Housed up on Deansgate Mews, just behind the main hustle and bustle of Deansgate, there’s plenty of space inside as well as a large, secluded terrace that is quite the suntrap (when the Manchester sun is shining).
Emily Sergeant -
27th November 2023 
