Beloved veggie food brand and beer hall chain Bundobust has just launched their desi Christmas menu for the festive season and it’s genuinely so good we’re not sure we’ll be able to go back to standard roast dinners.
From banging Bundo bhajis and mince pie parathas, to chai spiced mulled wine and clever twists on classic seasonal cocktails, they’re doing their best to make this Christmas a memorable one.
It can be very easy to just stick to the classics when it comes to the holiday season — pigs in blankets, turkey and stuffing sandwiches, a ridiculous amount of roasties and gravy — but Bundobust genuinely makes us feel like we want to pull our finger out and reinvent Christmas food every now and again.
Serving their wintery menu right up until 31 December, the Indian street food stars aren’t just reworking familiar festive dishes with an extra bit of spice and native ingredients, they’re giving veggies a genuinely viable option when it comes to their dinner this holiday season. Sod that bloody nut roast.
Credit: The Manc/The Hoot
From sprout bhajis packed with crispy onion, broccoli, fennel and chilli — a festive favourite that has been dunked in their incredible spiced cranberry chutney umpteenth times since 2014 — to their spiced sprout butties on vegan brioche and mince pie paratha (yes, you heard us right), there are some seriously clever creations on this menu.
The newly rebooted biryani balls, which were a favourite from their first-ever menu, are back for 2023 and are tastier than ever, with each crispy rice ball spiced with mint, saffron, ginger and rose, before being served with crispy onions and a rich tomato sauce. Phwoar.
If you’re looking for a more substantial take on a Yuletide main, you won’t anything more warming this winter than a cosy pot of festive dhal and rice: a warming, earthy lentil curry which is smoked and spiced with black cardamom, clove and cinnamon. Good grief, we might have to do this every Christmas.
And then you’ve got your puddings. The sour cherry kheer is a creamy rice pudding flavoured with cardamom, sour cherry and rose gulkhand, and the Bundobust’s Kulfi has also received a Christmas makeover spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and orange peel. Either is the perfect sweet treat to end on.
There’s no lack of choice when it comes to drinks either, as whether you want to try their brand-new Python beer, the returning ‘Bundo Snowball’, a decadently smooth sloe gin sour, their take on a ‘Grasshopper’, or the alcohol-free ‘Ginger Tom’, you’ll be smacking your lips and begging for more.
God, we’re dead thirsty all of a sudden — and bloody starving, come to think of it. It’s a good job any Mancs can go and get their hands on some of the incredible desi food on the Christmas menu at either of Bundobust’s two city centre sites now, with parties of up to 50 of you available to book in.
All this talk of digesting something different this holiday season has got us thinking about all the other cuisines doing festive twists on Christmas classics over the next month or so. Believe us, there’s plenty of them.
A long-standing Italian restaurant in Trafford has sadly announced its imminent closure
Danny Jones
Another day, another bit of unfortunate hospitality news, as long-standing Greater Manchester restaurant, Little Italy in Timperley, has announced it is closing permanently very soon.
The Trafford favourite, which has been serving locals for nearly 20 years, has informed regular diners that it will sadly be closing its doors for good, with Little Italy’s final service set for later this month.
Having earned plenty of praise in its time, including being one of the few spots in and around the Altrincham area to have won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, before the borough saw its foodie boom begin.
But fast forward a decade, and the Timperley institution is yet another culinary casualty to be confirmed of late, with Little Italy sharing a tear-jerking statement online.
Sharing the tragic news on social media this Friday (5 Sep), the restaurant wrote: “To all our lovely customers, it is with a heavy heart that we share some news with you all. After over 18 years of serving you all in Timperley, we will be closing our doors later this month.
“This has not been an easy decision. Unfortunately, rising costs and a significant increase in rental [costs] have made it impossible to continue in a sustainable way. As much as we love what we do, the reality is that it has become too difficult to maintain under these circumstances.
“Over the coming weeks, we will continue to cook with love and serve with the same passion as always. We would love to see you all and share one more meal, and raise a glass together.”
Safe to say that the post has been met with an outpouring of condolences and support from natives nearby and those who have travelled to enjoy their food.
Little Italy went on to add that they will detail more about their final week of business as soon as possible.
They can’t be accused of not keeping up with times and not trying to promote via social media either, as they small family-run team – headed up by Sam Cauchi, who bought the site back in 2008 – have always given things a go besides the day-to-day operation of the restaurant.
Being one of many saddened customers to respond underneath the announcement, we couldn’t possibly sum up things better than local Vanessa Nice, who said: “Look at all these amazing comments – you certainly made your mark as a home from home for the residents of Timperley.
“The end of an era will always be sad, but sometimes life and families have to move on.”
As for Cauchi and co., they signed off by simply adding: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, kindness and friendship over the years. Timperley has been our home, and you have all been our family.
“Love from all the team at Little Italy.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted for the gang and our thoughts are with everyone involved at this difficult time. For now, we can only say thank you to the countless Greater Manchester locations that continue to fall foul in the face of the rising pressures industry-wide. Case and point…
Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
Chips @ No. 8, a chippy in Prestwich that’s lauded as one of the best in the UK, has announced the sad closure of its restaurant.
The award-winning takeaway made some big moves last year, expanding into the unit next door so that they could comfortable double their space downstairs and add a restaurant upstairs.
The restaurant was a brand-new concept for the much-loved Prestwich chippy, serving a seafood-focused menu that wasn’t necessarily all about the fryer.
But sadly, Chips @ No. 8 has announced that the restaurant element of its business, Loft @ No. 8, has closed for good.
They wrote that the economic climate and the huge amount of choice in Prestwich has left them struggling to fill seats in the chippy restaurant.
The good news is that the fish and chip shop itself remains open for business and thriving, and customers will be able to use the former restaurant space to eat their takeaway in.
The bar downstairs also remains open for business for a cheeky pint or glass of wine while you wait for your order.
The Loft @ No. 8 is closing. Credit: The Manc GroupCurry sauce on a Chips @ No 8 chippy tea. Credit: The Manc Group
In a statement, Chips @ No. 8 said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Loft.
“With so many great places to eat in Prestwich, and the economic climate being what it is, we have struggled recently to fill enough seats to continue to make it a financially viable side to our business.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support whilst we were open, the team for their efforts, in particular, Craig, the creator of the delicious food that we had on offer up there.
“Chips @ No.8 remains open as normal and going forward, we are opening up the space upstairs for additional casual seating for the takeaway.
“The bar will remain open so you can still enjoy a pint or a glass of wine with your fish & chips, even if it is out of a box! We hope to see you soon!”
Danny Jones -
23rd November 2023 
