Eats

Bundobust launches new Christmas menu with sprout bhaji butties

Plus gingerbread ale, mince pie parathas and biryani balls

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 24th November 2022

If Bundobust can’t make you eat your sprouts then we’re not sure who can. The Manchester restaurant has just launched a new Christmas menu featuring sprout bhajis – and it’s exquisite.

We loved Bundobust at any time of the year, but when we heard that they were making mince pie parathas and gingerbread ale for the occasion we knew that we had to get ourselves down asap.

Putting a seasonal twist on their brilliant Indian street food dishes, the infamous sprout bhajis make a triumphant return atop a spiced cranberry chutney – giving new life to the celebrated (if somewhat misunderstood) seasonal vegetable.

The Sprout Bhaji Butty is a thing of beauty. / Image: The Manc Eats
The Sprout Bhaji Butty and the classic Vada Pav. / Image: The Manc Eats

Fans of the Christmas sarnie can also opt for the sprout bhaji butty, a crispy sprout bhaji patty with salad, spiced cranberry and green chutneys. Even better, £1 from every sprout bhaji butty sold will go towards the #CookForUkraine charity initiative, reports The Hoot.

Elsewhere, you’ll find festive dahl with rice: a warming and smoky Christmas take on Dal Makhani boosted with black cardamom, clove and cinnamon that feels like a hug in a bowl.

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The beloved biryani balls are also back for 2022, pairing India’s celebratory dish, Biryani, with the party buffet snackability of arancini. A match made in heaven, right? Spiced with mint, saffron, ginger, nutmeg and rose, served in a rich tomato sauce crowned with crispy onions, we’re sure these are going to be flying off the shelves.

As for the mince pie parathas, what to say? A new addition this year, these are a perfect sweet-savoury flavour bomb stuffed with sultana, raisin, cinnamon, clove, star anise and coconut. We ordered them with the signature house paneer and made ourselves little festive wraps – a trick we highly recommend you try for yourselves.

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And of course, you’ll need something to wash all the delicious food down with, and it wouldn’t be Bundobust without beer. So from 21 November, you’ll be able to grab a pint of Bundobust Brewery’s AADU – a limited edition 5.8% Gingerbread Wheat Beer.

Read more: Burgerism is teaming up with Get Baked to offer some ridiculously good desserts

Equally, if beer isn’t your thing you can opt for a mulled wine, Bundo Snowball, Cosmopolitan or Amaretto Sour. We swear down the mulled wine is one of the best we’ve ever had.

All the dishes are available now until Christmas. To book a table take a look at their website.

Feature image – The Manc Eats

Eats

A restaurant dedicated to garlic bread has opened in Manchester city centre

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A new restaurant dedicated to garlic bread has opened in Manchester, and it’s the stuff that dreams are made of.

A new arrival located in Shudehill, the eatery comes from the same team behind Swan Street pizzeria Ciaooo.

The team, famed for their fluffed-up sourdough crusts and burrata-topped pies, has spent the past five years wowing Manchester diners with its pizza, not to mention the likes of fun starters like deep-fried lasagne and carbonara.

Now they’re getting ready to do it all over again with loaded garlic bread – this time operating out of a unit in Shudehill, formerly home to Manchester’s X-rated d*ck waffle cafe Mr. D*cks.

Open from 12-6pm daily with a focus on the lunch rush, at the team’s new loaded garlic bread shop classic options include ‘plain’ with garlic butter and ‘cheese’ with butter, mozzarella and parmesan, priced between £5 and £5.50.

Inside Ciaooo’s new garlic bread shop. / Image: The Manc Eats
A gorgeous pesto and burrata topped garlice bread (foreground). / Image: The Manc Eats

From here, it gets even more exciting with the likes of ‘Cacio E Pepe’, ‘Pesto’, ‘Marinara’ and ‘Truffle’ loaded garlic bread all on offer.

We’re talking Ciaooo’s signature fluffy base, with a choice of added tomato, garlic, oregano, truffle, burrata, housemade pesto, parmesan, black pepper and more, with the most expensive loaded garlic bread priced at £6.50.

Read more: Luxury Manchester hotel named one of the ‘best places to stay in the world’

Elsewhere, you’ll find 10″ pizzettes – smaller versions of Ciaooo’s ever-popular pizzas – available from just £5-7.

Choices here include classics like Margherita and not one but two styles of Marinara, plus a Toscana (parma ham, truffle oil, parmesan), Chorizo (salami, chorizo, mozzarella), Calabrese (n’duja sausage and burrata) and The Smoked (smoked pepperoni, crispy onion and burrata).

Elsewhere, you can get your hands on hot slices of deep-fried lasagne, as well as Oreo milkshakes, hot coffees and cold fizzy cans of coke, San Pellegrino and more.

N’duja and Honey garlic bread (back) and Calabrese pizza. / Image: The Manc Eats
The Toscana Pizette loaded with parma ham, tomato, mozzarella, truffle oil, parmesan). / Image: The Manc Eats

Read more: Hooch has just released a new tropical flavour for summer – and it’s blue

Head chef Stefano Mordecchi comes with a strong pizza pedigree, having earned his crust at Double Zero in Chorlton before going on to open his own restaurants alongside Lory Grigore.

Previous successful ventures opened under the Ciaoo name include its popular but shortlived pasta stall inside Manchester Arndale Market.

Featured image – The Manc Eats

Eats

Hooch has just released a new tropical flavour for summer – and it’s blue

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

Everyone’s favourite hard lemonade has just released a new tropical flavour for the summer – it’s blue.

Blue Hooch has dropped just in time for picnic and beer garden season, bursting onto the scene with fruity tropical flavours and a citrusy lime zing.

Following increasing demand for Hooch as we head into summer, the all-new Hooch flavour is inspired by beach parties, palm trees and warm island waters.

Described as a ‘tropical fiesta in a can’, this exotic and easy-going alcoholic tropicade also brings that signature Hooch citrus kick.​ 

An evolution of Hoola Hooch, Blue Hooch enhances the fruity tropical flavours that fans have grown to love, whilst introducing that signature Hooch citrus kick for a truly sessionable bev. 

The new flavour joins the original line-up of Hooch Lemon Brew, Pink Hooch, and Orange Hooch.

Available in 440ml cans at Tesco as part of the new Hooch 8 pack, you can get your hands on the new flavour alongside the OG line-up.

The packs also include Orange Hooch, which burst onto the scene summer 2022, as well as the OG Lemon and the much-loved Pink.​

Read more: Luxury Manchester hotel named one of the ‘best places to stay in the world’

The mixed-pack is the ultimate party starter kit, tailor-made for carefree sessions, and backyard barbecues.

Charlie Leaver, Head of Brand at Global Brands said: “We’re thrilled to share the release of Blue Hooch ahead of summer. Introducing the leading flavour in traditional party-drinks, Blue, to our nostalgic, zingy line-up was just a matter of time, and has created what will certainly be a new Hooch fan favourite!

“The Hooch Mixed Packs are another exciting development, providing our all-new Orange Hooch and Blue Hooch cans, with Pink Hooch and Hooch Lemon. Featuring the full range of citrusy Hooch flavours, these are the perfect grab-and-go pack for barbecues and summer get-togethers.”

Read more: Police officers ‘save man’s life’ after being called to fight in Manchester McDonald’s

Blue Hooch taps into the huge blue drinks trend, which includes popular party starters like VK Blue, while keeping the tongue-tingling zesty flavours and nostalgia that Hooch fans know and love. At an easy drinking 4% ABV, it’s set to be the drink of the summer; perfect for sunny socials! Grab a mixed pack to share with your friends.

Hooch Mixed Packs are now available at Tesco for £15. You can also purchase a fridge pack of Blue Hooch (24 x 440ml) online from Good Time In for £39.50.

Featured image – Hooch

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