Eats
‘Manchester Chef of the Year’ takes over the MAYA kitchen
A huge get for the still fledgling fine dining location.
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.
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.
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.
Read more:
- Gulf – The Middle-Eastern cafe hidden inside a Northern Quarter bookshop
- Popular city centre coffee house Michaels to open new Arndale cafe
- Three of Manchester’s best-loved food and drink names are teaming up for a brand-new bar
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.
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:
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)
