Eats

‘Manchester Chef of the Year’ takes over the MAYA kitchen

A huge get for the still fledgling fine dining location.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 23rd October 2024

The current Manchester ‘Chef of the Year’ is set to take over the kitchen at the much-loved city centre restaurant, MAYA, over in the Gay Village.

Shaun Moffat, formerly of Ancoats’ The Edinburgh Castle and Lamb of Tartary in the Northern Quarter, joined MAYA at the start of October and has been working up his new menu ahead of its full launch next month.

Promising to deliver elevated bistro favourites, super indulgent Sunday Roasts and hearty winter dishes just in time for the usual seasonal menu change, his appointment as head chef of the Canal Street spot is one of the most exciting bits of Manc foodie news we’ve heard in a while.

If you ever tried the offerings at Edinburgh Castle or its sadly short-lived spin-off that took over the old Cottonopolis site, you’ll know his food is something to be very excited about.

The South African chef spent nearly a decade and a half in London before moving to Manchester back in 2022 but has already garnered a great reputation in the local hospitality space.

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Moffat’s culinary approach, which is always grounded just as much in seasonal ingredients as it is in bold flavours, will be on full display in both MAYA’s dedicated Bistro and Dining Room settings.

A spokesperson for the exclusive city centre eatery said of the announcement: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Shaun to MAYA. His passion for Modern British cuisine, combined with his commitment to showcasing the best local ingredients, is a perfect match for our vision.

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They went on to add that “the menu will offer guests a unique dining experience that’s both comforting and sophisticated.”

All sounds good to us. Ironically, the move seems to be a straight swap as MAYA’s previous chef Gabe Lea, who helped earn them a spot on the Michelin guide, is now set to take his place over at Edinburgh Castle, meaning both restaurants will no doubt continue to pump out unreal food.

MAYA Manchester new head chef
maya manchester canal street
Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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As mentioned, Moffat won Chef of the Year at the 2024 Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards for his ability to blend his creativity and modern flair with tradition to create unique twists on timeless British classics.

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If his new menu is anything like the quality we’ve already seen from him, or indeed that we’ve seen from MAYA’s previous kitchen output, then we think it’s safe to say Manchester’s culinary scene is on to another winner.

You get a better glimpse of the restaurant itself down below:

Inside MAYA, Manchester’s stunning new three-storey canalside restaurant

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Images (supplied)

Eats

Didsbury favourite Rustik adjust plans to close after overwhelming support

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rustik West Didsbury closing for good end of the month

Didsbury favourite Rustik recently announced that they would soon be closing, seemingly for good, after more than a decade, but after a fortunate twist of fate, there looks to be a sliver of hope, and like they could be staying open after all.

The beloved neighbourhood cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but the independent Irish eatery confirmed that they were due to shut down permanently by the end of last month.

Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.

To no surprise whatsoever, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution, which has also helped lead to a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Updating their followers via social media on Monday, 13 October, Rustik wrote: “We Need You More Than Ever […] We know it’s been quiet since we closed our doors — and honestly, it’s been a tough time behind the scenes.

“So many of you reached out, checked in, sent kind words, and we’ve felt every bit of that love. Thank you. Truly. When we said goodbye, we weren’t sure what the future looked like. But due to unexpected changes and plans falling through, things have come back around… and now, we’re reopening.

“It’s not easy to say this, but like so many in hospitality right now, it’s tough. We know we’re not alone in this — many small businesses are facing incredibly difficult decisions. But instead of closing the chapter, we’ve decided to give it one more shot. With everything we have.

“So, we’re reopening this Wednesday, 15 October, with a brand new brunch menu and the same Rustik heart you’ve always known. For now, we won’t be open in the evenings — but that might change. What matters most is that our doors will be open again, and we can welcome you back.”

Not only is this obviously brilliant news, but Burton Road favourite is also offering guests a 20% discount off the menu until Halloween (31 Oct) – their way of not only encouraging new customers to come through their doors, but also as a thank you to all their loyal patrons over the years.

Again, the return of late dining and their usual full programme of nighttime events still looks uncertain, but for now, they’ll be “serving coffee and brunch Wednesday to Sunday, 9am–4pm, and hoping to see as many familiar (and new) faces as possible.”

On a personal note, we’ve always loved their cult classic pub quizzes, which were some of the best in Manchester and regularly packed out every week. If you know, you know.

@the.manc Pub quiz and 80p wings – what a sick night!👏🏻😎 #themanc #rustik #didsbury #greatermanchester #westdidsbury #pubquiz ♬ Sunrise – Official Sound Studio

They signed off by adding: “This is a fresh start, but we can’t do it without you. If you’ve ever loved what we do, now is the time we need you most. Your support, your presence, even just sharing this with someone who might pop in – it means everything. With love, gratitude, and a little bit of hope — The Rustik Team.”

This positive turn of events comes just a few weeks after what fans thought was the endgame for the West Dids community cornerstone.

Posting across all of their accounts on 17 September, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.

Expressing their gratitude after the best part of a decade in the south Manchester suburb, they touched upon the post-COVID recovery period, rising business rates, supply chain costs and many of the same challenges that other hospitality venues have cited as reasons for the initial decision.

“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.

We sincerely hope the talk of closing proves to be merely a blip and that this next chapter signals the start of an incredible new era for Rustik, and as for you local foodies, we urge you to meet the further call for support and visit them during this crunch period.

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Rustik West Didsbury (via Facebook)

Eats

Cult Northern Quarter cafe Federal to give out 1,000 free coffees and pastries when it reopens this weekend

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Fancy getting your hands on one of the best cups of coffee in Manchester for free?

Manchester’s number one brunch spot, and the UK’s most popular independent cafe, Federal – which has three locations in the city, as well as soon to open in Leeds – is giving away 1,000 coffees this weekend to mark the reopening of its Northern Quarter site, which has been temporarily closed while undergoing refurbishment.

The Northern Quarter cafe first opened its doors in 2014, and after being open consistently for 10 years and being extremely busy in the process, it was time for a refresh.

The NQ site was known for always having people queuing up to get inside, and with the doors are finally being flung open to welcome customers back this weekend, and with free coffees and pastries on the cards, the queues are set to be resume.

Federal will be giving away free espresso drinks that use its Ozone Federal espresso blend – including lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, and Batch brew for those who prefer their coffee black.

Federal is giving out 1,000 free coffees and pastries when it reopens in the NQ this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group

The cafe will also debut new autumn weekly specials, starting with a Biscoff Chai Latte from Sunday 18 October, which is described as being the ‘perfect cup of warm indulgent goodness’ for autumn.

Free Lovingly Artisan pastries will also be up for grabs for those super-early birds each morning.

Inside the NQ site following the refurbishment, the new interior has all the familiar Fed feels with a relaxed space filled with reclaimed furniture, plenty of greenery, and comfy banquet seating to create that laid-back and down-to-earth charm Federal is famous for.

Timber details and eye-catching signage bring warmth and personality, and tie in beautifully with the delicious menu of fresh food and drinks.

“We haven’t re-invented the wheel, this is all about making customers feel familiar and comfortable whilst improving the flow of the cafe and overall experience,” commented Federal’s Social Media and Marketing Manager, Emily Ribeiro, ahead of the reopening this weekend.

“We can’t wait to see all our loyal customers again and invite them to come and have a coffee on us and celebrate some of our favourite suppliers, who have supported us from day one.”

Federal’s Northern Quarter cafe, on Nicholas Croft, will officially be reopening this Friday 17 October from 7:30am, and will be giving away free coffees and pastries on each morning of the three-day weekend.

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Opening time will be 8am on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October, with closing time at 4:30pm on Friday and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Featured Image – Supplied

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