With the international day of love right around the corner now, it only seems right that The Botanist – a chain that’s been known for its imaginative food and drink creations for quite some time now – would be one to launch an impressive array of dishes for those looking to celebrate the special day with some proper good comfort food.
The popular chain – which has a number of restaurants in Greater Manchester, and across the North West region – says its Valentine’s menu has been designed for “savouring the moment together”.
This is probably why all the dishes on the one-day-only lineup is especially for two people.
The Botanist has launched a date night menu that’s available on Valentine’s Day only / Credit: The Botanist
Available to tuck into only on Valentine’s Day (Wednesday 14 February) itself, couples can begin their night with a refreshing strawberry and elderflower mojito on their arrival, followed by a whole melted camembert baked in a sourdough loaf and accompanied by a sweet onion marmalade and crispy garlic croutons to start.
Of course, Valentine’s Day at The Botanist wouldn’t be complete without those three little words… ‘famous hanging kebabs’.
For thee main course, the sharing kebab includes either chicken, lamb kofta, and Thai red prawn, or the vegetarian option of crispy halloumi, teriyaki mushroom, and vegan meatball, on a triple-skewer rack, and served with coleslaw, houmous, and flatbread.
The menu is made up entirely of sharing dishes for two people / Credit: The Botanist
Then, to finish things off and satisfy those sugar cravings is The Botanist’s signature warm cookie dough, which is served with a choice of either s’mores, Oreo, Crunchie, or salted pretzel toppings, and is topped off a scoop of vanilla ice cream – and two spoons, obviously.
Talented mixologists have also created a love-inspired cocktail menu especially for the night in collaboration with Channel 4 show First Dates, and the drinks are available in all 24 of The Botanist bars across the UK.
Live music will soundtrack the Valentine’s Day evening too, with talented resident musicians performing from 7pm onwards.
The Botanist’s ‘Valentines Date Night’ menu is available on Wednesday 14 February, and will only set you back £30 per person for three courses and a cocktail.
All First Dates collaboration drinks are priced separately at £9.25 each.
The standard menu is also available alongside for those who fancy their favourite Botanist dishes.
Featured Image – The Botanist
Food & Drink
Luxury Manchester steak restaurant launches bottomless brunch with endless rosé
Daisy Jackson
One of the newest luxury restaurants in Manchester is bringing back its suitably luxury bottomless brunch, with endless rosé and champagne.
The Cut & Craft is reintroducing its bottomless brunch, where you can sip on never-ending Whispering Angel Rosé while tucking into a flat iron steak.
And if you’re not fussed about the food and just want to indulge in 90 minutes of non-stop Moët & Chandon Champagne in a beautiful setting, there are bar-only tables available too, which come with complimentary black truffle crisps.
The whole thing will be soundtracked by a live DJ, dancers, and more.
Now, this landmark Victorian building is painted in rich blues and golds, with huge windows, private dining spaces, a sommelier lounge, and even a ‘gossip room’.
The Cut & Craft is reintroducing its bottomless brunch
Its bottomless brunch launched over the previous bank holidays and will be back again this August for one day only.
You can choose from bottomless Whispering Angel, Moët & Chandon Champagne, or both.
And dishes from the Cut & Craft bottomless brunch set menu include flat iron steak and chips; halloumi, steak or prawn fajitas; and grilled peach salad.
Each booking gets you 90 minutes of bottomless, with extra nibbles available like freshly shucked Carlingford oysters, caviar, olives, salted almonds, and more.
Whispering Angel tickets are £55 for bar, or £75 for restaurant.
Champagne AND Whispering Angel tickets are £80 at the bar or £100 in the restaurant.
Prestwich wine bar Chin Chin now serves roast dinner sandwiches
Daisy Jackson
A new (ish) wine bar in Prestwich has launched one of the city’s coolest Sunday offerings – roast dinner sandwiches, with a side of jazz.
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it 1000 times – Elnecot is up there as one of Manchester’s best Sunday roasts, with Yorkshire puddings you could fit a jug of gravy inside, blushing slices of roast beef, and generous portions that put you in the sort of food coma you should be in on a Sunday afternoon.
So when Roast Master (okay fine, his official job title is chef/owner) Michael Clay said that his sister venue Chin Chin was launching a Sunday offering, I was there with my nose pressed up at the window. I’m ready, Michael.
Sunday Sessions at Chin Chin, right in the heart of Prestwich village, brings that incredible roast beef and roast potatoes into a more casual format.
You can tuck into roast meat butties, roast potatoes loaded with cheese and gravy, and ice cream sundaes, all while perusing a well-thought-out wine list that’s written up by hand every time new bottles come in.
Oh, and did we mention there are £4 pints all day on Sunday – and that includes Guinness?
On the side of just about everything on the menu, you’re presented with a little bowl of extra gravy (how delightfully Northern) for dipping and dunking.
Sunday Sessions at Chin Chin in PrestwichRoast beef sandwiches at Chin ChinLancashire cheese toastiesThe BifanaLoaded roastiesWine and vinyl recordsInside Chin Chin wine barThe wine list at Chin Chin
Our top pick would be the roast beef sandwich, served between ciabatta rolls and laced with mustard mayo and caramelised onions.
But the cheese toastie is worth a visit too – a hefty helping of Lancashire cheese and charred spring onions, with a ‘secret sauce’ on the side.
Coming soon will be a new menu item, a Bifana sandwich. If you’ve trudged the streets of Portugal you’ll have come across these – thin slices of pork marinated in white wine and garlic, piled into bread with a punchy mustard. Chin Chin’s are excellent.
And for afters, because there is always room for dessert, it’s a lovely ice cream sundae topped with miso caramel and a showering of pistachios.
The whole time you’ll be eating with a soundtrack of jazz, played through the wine bar’s vinyl record system and Michael’s own personal collection of vinyls.
Chin Chin is open now on Bury New Road, with food on Sundays served between 12pm and 6pm.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd February 2024 
