I tried the Manchester roast with a dedicated cauliflower cheese menu named the ‘UK’s best’
With eight different styles of cauliflower cheese to choose from alone, it's safe to say that Ducie Street Warehouse has created something truly special here.
Right, let’s talk cauliflower cheese for a moment. A non-negotiable on a roast dinner, I like mine steaming hot and encased in cheesy bechamel, slightly charred on top and oozing in the middle.
Truth be told, I’m more attached to cauliflower cheese than Yorkshire puddings (blasphemy up north, I know). Miss a Yorkshire off my roast and – as long as I’ve not ordered beef – we’ll be absolutely fine. But forget the cauliflower cheese? Well, I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive you.
Then at the start of this year, its Sunday roast offering was named the best in the UK. So, in the interests of roast-loving Mancs everywhere, I dutifully trotted down to give it a go. The things I have to do in the name of journalism, honestly.
Macaroni cauliflower cheese at Ducie Street Warehouse. / Image: The Manc Eats
Rosemary roasted leg of lamb roast with the biggest Yorkshire pudding I’ve ever seen at Ducie Street Warehouse. / Image: The Manc Eats
Mentally prepared to eat my body weight in cheese, I’d already familiarised myself with the menu. Ok, technically two menus. Ducie Street Warehouse has a separate one just for its cauliflower cheeses: with eight different styles to choose from.
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We’re talking cauliflower cheese with vintage cheddar, freshly shaved black truffle, bacon frazzles, garlic and herb crumble, four kinds of cheese, blue cheese, macaroni, plus a cheezy option for the vegans.
According to the team, it’s ‘the ultimate Sunday side that deserves a place of its own.’ I couldn’t agree more.
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As for the rest, its separate ‘Sunday with Sides’ menu also seemingly has it all. Dry-aged local shorthorn beef sirloin, W.H. Frost premium chicken breast, rosemary roasted leg of lamb and a weekly-changing vegan roast ‘with all the trimmings’.
Add to that its promising-sounding ‘Slice Of ‘SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE’ – a carvery-style mixed-meat plate priced at £27.50 – and it does seem like they’ve really thought of it all.
Cauliflower cheese topped with Frazzles and bacon bits at Ducie Street Warehouse. / Image: The Manc Eats
Cauliflower cheese topped with freshly grated black truffle at Ducie Street Warehouse. / Image: The Manc Eats
I opt for a pink leg of lamb, whilst my cheese-eating partner in crime goes for the beef (which also comes out beautifully pink). Both are served with crispy roasties on a mountain of seasonal veg, topped with the biggest singular Yorkshire puddings I think I’ve ever seen.
Gravy is generous, but there’s an extra jug plopped onto our table too – just in case. Being a gravy glutton, I pile it on. It comes out a bit thick for my liking, but still tastes delicious nonetheless.
As for the cauliflower cheese? It’s worth every bit of hype it gets. We try the umami-rich black truffle, blue cheese, macaroni and Frazzles options, filling our tiny table for two with an absolute mountain of cauliflower.
As ever, my eyes are bigger than my belly, but I give it a good go: packing up the rest to take home and eat in bed later.
I won’t beat around the bush. This is a deceptively BIG roast. Granted, we did order four portions of cauliflower cheese on the side, but still. Some roasts look good but lack substance. Not this one. This is the roast that keeps on giving.
Further add-ons include Tuscan pork stuffing, honey-roasted heirloom rainbow carrots, maple roasted parsnips, lemon and garlic broccoli gratin, macaroni cheese, plus extra Yorkshire puddings and gravy, not that we can manage it.
I’d definitely go back with a group, though, and see if we can get through it all. I honestly can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
Eats
Manchester curry house relaunches bottomless curry menu – with free beers
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s best-loved curry houses has relaunched its bottomless curry offering, and this time they’re chucking in free beer.
Zouk has kickstarted National Curry Week in the best way possible – with endless curry, rice, and naan.
Costing just £20 a head, you can feast to your heart’s content on Zouk’s award-winning, authentic curries.
From 12pm until midnight between Monday 2 October and Friday 6 October, you can choose from bottomless helping of three different curries (two meat and one vegetarian) each day.
Each booking also includes unlimited rice and naan.
Zouk’s bottomless curry deal includes three different curries each day. Credit: The Manc GroupZouk’s bottomless deal also includes unlimited rice and naan. Credit: The Manc GroupZouk is celebrating National Curry Week with bottomless curries. Credit: The Manc Group
And the first 120 people through the door each day will receive a free bottle of Cobra or a soft drink.
Tables are for 90 minutes per booking, giving guests plenty of time to take on the Bottomless Curry Challenge.
Zouk has become one of Manchester’s leading restaurants since it opened in 2009, even drawing in famous fans like Rihanna, Drake, and Manchester United stars.
Zouk’s Bottomless Curry offering for National Curry Week
Monday
Chicken Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender chicken pieces are cooked in a sizzling wok over hot flames with tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger & garlic
Keema Channa – A balti of minced lamb cooked with chickpeas in a spicy tomato masala
Chole Masala (vg) – From Deli to the Punjab this authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic
Tuesday
Chicken Jalfrezi – Chicken fillet cooked with capsicum, onions & eggs, in a thick spicy sauce
Lamb & Spinach – A balti of juicy lamb cooked with fresh spinach and ginger in a spicy tomato masala
Tarka Dall – Everybody’s favourite Dall. Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce
Wednesday
Chicken & Spinach – A beautifully flavoured dish with chicken pieces cooked in spinach, fenugreek, ginger and fresh cream
Keema Paneer – Minced Lamb cooked in a spicy tomato masala with spice and soft Indian cheese
Palak Alloo (vg) – Spinach and fenugreek cooked with new potatoes and coriander
Thursday
Chicken Tikka Masala – Char-grilled chicken pieces marinated in yoghurt and spices then cooked in a spicy tomato masala
Lamb & Potatoes – A desi style spicy lamb balti with new potatoes and spice
Milli Juli Sabzi (vg) – Fresh vegetables fused together with herbs & spices
Friday
Chicken Handi – Punjabi style curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onion, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala
Keema Mutter – Minced lamb curry with peas in a spicy tomato masala
Gobi Aloo (vg) – Delicious cauliflower sauteed in a spicy tomato masala with potatoes, onions & garlic
Stockport restaurant becomes only the third in Greater Manchester to receive four AA Rosettes
Daisy Jackson
Where The Light Gets In in Stockport has been awarded a fourth AA Rosette, becoming only the third restaurant in Greater Manchester to receive the accolade.
The huge loft-like restaurant, tucked up the stairs on the top floor of an old warehouse, has a surprise menu every day.
With chef patron Sam Buckley at the helm, Where The Light Gets In plans each service around what produce they can forage, farm or find from local suppliers.
It means a dining experience that will never be the same on each visit and has earned it plenty of national and international acclaim.
Where The Light Gets In can now add a fourth AA Rosette to its crown, alongside its Michelin Green Star (awarded for sustainable practices).
It’s a ‘huge achievement’, they said on receiving the award. The only other Greater Manchester restaurants to hold this many AA Rosettes are the Michelin-starred Mana, and long-standing fine-dining restaurant Adam Reid at The French.
Where The Light Gets In said: “We are so thrilled to receive 4 rosettes from the @aa_hospitality.
“This is a huge achievement that highlights just how hard our team works to create an engaging and innovative experience for our guests each night.
“As proud as I am to receive this acknowledgment I am even more proud to work with the team that have achieved it.
“Thank you to the AA for your recognition and thank you to the team that makes me giddy to be here.”
Inspectors for the AA said: “Right in the centre of the old industrial part of Stockport, Where The Light Gets In is across the street from the Victorian market and accessed via steps to the top floor of a former coffee warehouse.
“Inside, red brickwork and plain floors with Scandi-style furnishings are illuminated by large windows and the lounge, kitchen and dining room all share same open space. Tables face the chefs and there are seats at the kitchen counter for those diners who want to be ringside.
“The style is somewhere between Scandi and Japanese, with occasional influences from China, and there’s a strong sustainable, no waste ethos.
“Flavours are defined, interesting and balanced. BBQ lobster tail dressed with lobster oil and sea buckthorn butter sauce might precede tender pork fillet topped with tiny pieces of crackling, purple spouting broccoli and spicy steamed pork dumpling. Finish with burnt apple sorbet and artichoke vodka.”
Georgina Pellant -
3rd February 2023 
