Eats

Independent wine company Salut has launched a ‘Party in a Box’ for businesses this Christmas

Salut is saving office Christmas party season for businesses right across Manchester.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th December 2020
Salut Wines

With office parties sadly off the menu this year, an independent wine specialist in Manchester has launched a host of innovative ways to celebrate Christmas a little differently.

Salut – an independent wine specialist in the heart of the city centre offering the most diverse and impressive hand-picked range of wines from around the globe – has launched a Party in a Box, which allows companies the chance to enjoy wine, cheese and games, all while supporting independent business and a local charity initiative at the same time.

It means that whatever the workplace situation, colleagues can still get together to celebrate and share in excellent wine this Christmas.

After a phone consultation with the party organiser/employee, Salut will then build a bespoke box (or boxes) dependent on the requirements of the business, so for companies who want to celebrate in the office with their workplace bubble, the perfect wine experience can be delivered direct to the office door – plus optional matched cheeses from the Crafty Cheese Man too – for a hassle-free, COVID-safe Christmas office celebration that still keeps things feeling special.

Salut can even provide the glassware to avoid the dreaded ‘wine from your favourite office mug’ situation too.

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If it’s a ‘virtual’ get together however, Salut will help despatch wine to multiple destinations and then host a wine tasting via Zoom for teams to enjoy in their own homes.

Salut Wines
Salut Wines

Whilst traditional office party games may be a no-go for a COVID-safe Christmas, Salut has decided to join forces with Forever Manchester – a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity right across the region – to bring some light-hearted office competition to the workplace celebrations. 

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The Big Forever Manchester Quiz of the Year is an online charity quiz that can be played anywhere – hosted by well-known Manchester personalities including Julie Hesmondhalgh and Justin Moorhouse – and Salut has made a donation to Forever Manchester to license the quiz (usually £100 to play) as part of its Party in a Box to be able to include it free to the first 50 to purchase a box.

Not only that, but this is a box that donates to the charity on your behalf too.

Wine gifts for employees are also a Salut-speciality, with passionate and knowledgeable staff on hand to help businesses pick the perfect gift to suit the budget and package, and despatch for a hassle-free way to ensure teams feel valued after a tough year.

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And if a more foodie celebration is in order, Salut has also teamed up with Open Kitchen – Manchester’s leading sustainable catering company – to create fabulous food and wine-matched packages that can be delivered straight to the workplace, with Open Kitchen’s passionate chefs having created beautiful and unique menus to compliment Salut’s Christmas wine boxes.

All profits from Open Kitchen also go towards providing food and supplying meals for people in crisis across Greater Manchester too, which really makes Salut’s Party in a Box the ultimate independent and thoughtful corporate Christmas solution.

You can view potential packages and find out more information via the Salut website here.

Eats

Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display

Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it. 

The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure. 

Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap. 

And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.

Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub. 

As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots. 

There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet. 

Spring small plates at The Black Friar pub
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pub
Delicious spring drinks
Delicious spring drinks
Inside The Tavern at The Black Friar
Inside The Tavern at The Black Friar

A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals. 

Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta. 

And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut. 

Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce. 

“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar. 

“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”

Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather! 

“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”

To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE. 

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Team behind award-winning Higher Ground to open new Bar Shrimp seafood bar in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Team behind award-winning Higher Ground to open new seafood bar, Bar Shrimp, in Manchester

Higher Ground, one of Manchester’s very top restaurants, is to open a brand-new seafood bar later this year.

With Bar Shrimp, they’ll be bringing a brand-new offering to town, with cocktails, beers on tap, British seafood and snacks.

Bar Shrimp will come from Daniel Craig Martin, Joseph Otway and Richard Cossins, who at this point are a well-oiled operational machine.

They’re the team behind proudly British bistro Higher Ground, which grows much of its own produce at its Cinderwood Market Garden and earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand within a year of opening.

The same team are also behind Flawd, the beautiful waterside wine bar at Ancoats Marina.

And they’ve cemented themselves as one of Manchester’s most widely acclaimed hospitality teams – even Rick Stein says Higher Ground is one of the best places to eat in the entire country, which is high praise indeed.

Bar Shrimp, set to open in Manchester this winter, aims to be a ‘relaxed and focused bar with delicious food’.

They say: “Whether it’s a beer after work, some food with friends or after dinner drinks late into the night, Bar Shrimp will be a dynamic space where the music and energy evolves throughout the evening where everyone and anyone can come together for a memorable experience.”

They announced the news this morning on Cerys Matthews’ BBC 6Music Show.

British seafood with a side of cocktails? Sounds alright to us.

A location, opening date and more info on Bar Shrimp will follow – stay up to date with their latest HERE.

More food and drink news:

Featured image: Supplied

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