A new drive-thru dessert shop has opened up in Manchester, and it’s already proving popular among those with a sweet tooth.
Your Girl Can Bake – which is based in Higher Ardwick, and brands itself as ‘the UK’s first car dessert dine in’ – is the brainchild of 24-year-old Ikraa Riaz, who has loved baking since she was 10 years old, but had never actually dreamed she would be able to make a living from it.
After graduating from university with biology degree last year, Ikraa first decided to set up an Instagram account to sell her tasty creations – and it went down such a treat that the young entrepreneur has now launched the drive-thru dessert service.
Customers receive a platter of handmade fresh desserts in the comfort of their own vehicle – and Ikraa says people from all over the UK can’t get enough of it.
“We only launched last week but the response has been absolutely amazing,” Ikraa told the MEN.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve had people driving hundreds of miles to come and try our treats.
“When I was little, I would find any excuse to bake cupcakes and brownies for friends and family, and I would always try and perfect the recipes or get creative.
“When I started uni, I was only baking in my spare time but I knew when I finished my degree that I wanted to get back into it and I always had a desire to own my own business.
“To make a living doing what I love is a dream come true.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Ikraa runs Your Girl Can Bake with two of her family members and makes all of the sweet treats fresh and by hand every day, allowing customers to book a slot to drive up and tuck in to their heart’s content.
You can order up to 10 dishes, and choose from a menu of sweet and savoury plates.
Your Girl Can Bake is the brainchild of 24-year-old Ikraa Riaz, who has loved baking since she was 10 years old / Credit: Instagram (@yourgirlcanbake)
Think everything from loaded waffles drenched in chocolate, huge bowls of pick n mix, cookie dough topped with a huge selection of chocolate delights, chocolate fondues, brownies, and so much more.
Don’t have a raging sweet tooth? There’s also a number of savoury dishes to try including nachos, samosa chaat, Gulab Jamun, the far-less chocolatey Indian dessert Falooda.
Explaining why she decided to set up the firs-of-its-kind business, Ikraa said: “Sometimes sitting in your car is just much more private and personal because you don’t have people around you like you do in the restaurant.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I wanted to create a place where you could have that drive in experience but for desserts and sweet treats.”
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week
Daisy Jackson
Students will be able to take part in a build-your-own ramen workshop this week, led by everyone’s favourite pan-Asian restaurant group, Wagamama.
The workshops will cost just £5 (all of which will go to a brilliant cause), and will include the time spent creating your perfect meal, the actual food, plus drinks and sides.
Wagamama has teamed up with mental health charity SHOUT to host this cosy ramen-making workshop.
Students will be invited to join Wagamama chefs in the kitchen, selecting their own broth, protein and veggies, with perfectly-cooked noodles, before sitting down at the restaurant’s benches to slurp up their creations with fellow students.
There’ll also be toppings and garnishes including kimchi, tea-stained eggs, chilli oil, spring onions and more.
With merch to take home too, and steaming bowls of the best-ever autumn dish, this is a one-off event you won’t want to miss.
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week. Credit: Supplied
Each £5 ticket includes your food and two drinks, plus a variety of the new Wagamama winter sides and sharers.
All money raised will be donated to SHOUT to support the vital services they provide.
A representative from SHOUT will also be in attendance to talk about student wellbeing and the services available from the charity.
Wagamama says: “At Wagamama, we believe having a conversation is one of the most powerful ways you can support someone struggling with their mental health. Whether it’s a quick check-in via text or an open conversation over a bowl of steaming ramen. no chat is too big or too small to make an impact.
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop with SHOUT this week. Credit: Supplied
“This ethos is one we share with SHOUT, a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs someone to talk to. After huge demand during Covid, SHOUT’s service has become increasingly essential + today SHOUT is more highly in demand than ever before.”
The Japanese and pan-Asian restaurant is donating £40,000 to SHOUT this year, plus providing perks and rewards for their team of volunteers, and hosting events in their spaces.
The Wagamama ramen-building workshop will take place at the St Peter’s Square restaurant on Thursday 7 November between 2pm and 4pm. You can get your tickets HERE.
Manchester restaurants to add an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
A handful of local restaurants will be adding an extra £1 onto every bill over the festive season to help fight street homelessness.
People in Greater Manchester are once again able to give back while they dine at some of the best restaurants the region has to offer in the run up to Christmas, as the successful StreetSmart fundraising initiative is back for another year.
This year, 13 fantastic restaurants have come together to support local homeless charities as the campaign launched last Friday (1 November).
Manchester independents such as Mana, Climat, 20 Stories, and Tariff and Dale are among those taking part in the campaign this year, alongside several city centre branches chains such as Tampopo, Banyan, BOX, Manahatta, and San Carlo.
StreetSmart works by each participating restaurant adding an extra £1 to every bill they deliver throughout November and December, with all of the money raised going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.
The funds raised by StreetSmart in Greater Manchester this year will support the crucial work of organisations such as CentrePoint, and Akt – a charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 into safe homes, employment, education, or training.
In 2023, Manchester restaurants alone raised a whopping £25,000 for these life-changing services in the local community.
Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas / Credit: Supplied | Rifqi Ali Ridho (via Unsplash)
“Many of us want to help the vulnerable people in our community during the festive period, and StreetSmart provides an easy way to do this,” explained Glenn Pougnet, who is the Director of StreetSmart.
“We’re grateful to see so many local restaurants stepping forward to help our city’s homeless.
“It’s amazing to witness the kindness that our community has to offer, and see the tangible impact of our efforts and funding in the community.
“This year, we’re proud to be taking another step towards the eradication of homelessness, and look forward to seeing even more restaurants getting involved over the Christmas period.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st September 2021 
