Eats

Hello Oriental is holding a massive Hip Hop Karaoke event to celebrate 50 years of the genre

Name a better combo of things to do on a weekend. We'll wait.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th August 2023

City centre food hall, supermarket and entertainment space Hello Oriental is hosting a huge Hip Hop Karaoke event later this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beloved music genre. Hip hop, karaoke and scran? Dreamland stuff.

Serving up everything from pan-Asian street food to fresh baked goods, cocktails and more, Hello Oriental is now mixing up its already stellar lineup of Sunday brunch events for 2023 with this cool live music new concept — and you know full well you’re getting involved.

Hip Hop Karaoke, founded by DJ Rob Pursey with host Bobby Champagne Jr and a team of seasoned hip-hop aficionados, has helped thousands live out their rap fantasies over the last decade.

After first launching at Boxpark in London back in 2001 and appearing at numerous festivals and venues worldwide, these two hip-hop pros are now bringing the renowned brand to Manchester to celebrate 50 years since the genre took the music world by storm back in the ’70s.

Hello Oriental events Circle Square
Hip Karaoke Manchester
Credit: The Manc Group

Taking place on the popular Circle Square spot on Sunday, 1 October 2023, there’ll be hundreds of songs to choose from. Whether it’s old-school bangers from the 80s and 90s, or the latest joints from Drake, J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar, there’ll be something in the playlist for your to belt out.

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‘Regulate’, Nate Dogg and Warren G is our pick — simply has to be done.

Describing what you can expect from the event, co-founder Pursey, says: “Hip Hop Karaoke is a euphoric, addictive experience and definitely something to cross off the bucket list. It’s your chance to experience what it’s like to feel real crowd energy as they take on the rhymes of their favourite rappers.”

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If you weren’t sold already, here’s what a typical Hip Hop Karaoke night looks like:

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Hip Hop Karaoke will obviously be prioritising getting people on their feet early doors and making sure brunchers get up on stage to deliver their flawless bars in front of their adoring fans, but there’ll also be the usual food and drink vendors available on the day.

From noodles, Chinese roasts with rice, bao buns, dumplings and countless other items on the menu, you’ll be as spoilt for choice on food as you will be with the tunes.

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Tickets go on sale from 20 August and you can sign up for the mailing list to hear about the first release and to make sure your name is first on the karaoke call sheet.

As for how long this party is going to go on, well, that’s up to you now, isn’t it?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — The Manc Group/Hip Hop Karaoke (via Instagram)

Eats

Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greater Manchester’s popular outdoor dining concept is back again this summer, and there’s a proper tasty lineup of traders.

Kargo on the Docks, which is MediaCity‘s al fresco dining pop-up, has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.

A handful of Greater Manchester‘s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.

Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.

Loads of local indie food vendors have taken over the Salford Quays waterfront for the summer / Credit: Supplied

Afro Shack – the sister brand to Kargo.MKT favourite House of Habesha – will be serving fusion food combining East African flavours with indulgent American fast food, while new kids on the block Wok Bros will deliver sizzling, wok-tossed Pan-Asian street food and 100% halal dishes inspired by authentic flavours and fresh ingredients.

Iconic Jamaican dishes will also be on offer from Sunrise Caribbean, while Quiero Tacos will bring slow-cooked Birria tacos, cheesy quesadillas, and vibrant rice bowls packed with the spirit of Mexico.

Last but not least, Mediterranean food lovers can expect juicy lamb koftas, golden halloumi, and richly spiced chicken shawarma from Habibs.

Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours / Credit: Mark Waugh (via Supplied)

As well as the tasty food on offer, as mentioned, Kargo on the Docks also features a range of artwork and installations from local independent talent – with each container adorned with murals from creatives including Fernandes Makes, Kelly Ma, and Caroline Daly, bringing a feel-good summer vibe to the MediaCity Gardens.

Visitors can also enjoy an art trail display through the gardens, featuring structures designed by, A Studio Called Jane, Luke Passey, and Tasha Whittle.

There will also be a range of pop-up events hosted at the venue throughout the summer, with more announcements to be made very soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Kargo on the Docks is now back at MediaCity from today (9 May) and will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm-9pm throughout the summer.

Featured Image – Mark Waugh (via Supplied)

Eats

I went all the way to Paris to test out Big Mamma ahead of Manchester’s most exciting new restaurant opening

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Libertino in Paris

Hospitality heavyweights Big Mamma Group are finally heading to Manchester, opening a Circolo Popolare Italian restaurant in the city centre – so we nipped over to Paris to see exactly what’s in store for us.

In the 10 years since launching their very first restaurant, East Mamma in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the group have spread their wings wide.

There are Big Mamma Group restaurants, under several different names, all over Europe – and although they all belong to the same family, each one is treated like a total individual.

Some have maximalist, kitsch interiors with animal print furniture, gilded ceilings and retro prints of men in Y-fronts; others are more traditional trattorias with exposed brick, terracotta floors and crisp white tablecloths.

These interiors are fun, which is so refreshing in an industry which sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously.

On our tour of Big Mamma restaurants in Paris I came across delightful details like a loo wallpapered in pictures of Rod Stewart, a cocktail menu designed like a retro football sticker book, and an ice cream parlour built into an old train station carriage.

Every corner is packed with whimsy and wonder and there’s a whole team dedicated to sourcing these little touches from antiques fairs, second-hand shops and independent makers, stashing them all in an Aladdin’s Cave of a warehouse. Each restaurant even has its own crockery pattern.

East Mamma, one of Big Mamma's Paris restaurants
East Mamma, one of Big Mamma’s Paris restaurants
No Entry cocktail bar
No Entry cocktail bar
A Big Mamma speakeasy
A Big Mamma speakeasy
Pink Mamma
Pink Mamma
La Felicita food hall
La Felicita food hall
La Felicita food hall
La Felicita food hall

So yes, the interiors in Manchester will be similarly interesting and lavish.

Big Mamma Group has already confirmed that the huge two-storey Circolo Popolare trattoria will be inspired by a Sardinian Festa, meaning cosy alcoves, more than 8000 bottles of vintage booze, and a vast room inspired by an overgrown Mediterranean courtyard.

As it takes shape in Gary Neville’s £400m St Michael’s development, they’ll be moving in big sharing tables, antique trinkets, reels of twinkling lights and even an Italian wishing well ahead of the big launch next month.

But not enough of us are talking about the food yet – this is a restaurant group that sources its produce from 160 different Italian artisans to ensure that everything you’re eating as authentic and delicious as possible.

Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma
Food at Big Mamma

While the menus shift between restaurants you can expect hearty bowls of handmade pasta laced with truffle or tomato or cheese, crispy-soft pizzas layered in creative sauce bases (like zucchini cream or black truffle cream, along with their classic San Marzano DOP tomato sauce), and per iniziare starters like giant burrata balls, melt-in-the-mouth croquettes, and slivers of cured meats – all prepared in an open kitchen run by Campanian-born Alfonso Esposito.

And a show-stopper for Manchester will be an outrageous six-inch lemon meringue pie, with a wibbly wobbly tower of Italian meringue on top.

Circolo Popolare will officially open its doors on 6 June – and before then, there’ll be a very limited soft launch where you can snag yourself 50% off your bill. Sign up HERE, with bookings live on Monday 12 May.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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