Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, organisers of Manchester’s Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) have announced that its 25th-anniversary event will be postponed for a week out of respect for the royal period of mourning.
The festival will now take place from Thursday 22 September, with events running until Sunday 25 September, then again from Thursday 29 September to Sunday 2 October at its free-to-attend festival hub on Cathedral Gardens.
The MFDF curry club, initially due to take place on 20 September at 7pm, has also been postponed for the time being with a new date due to be announced by festival organisers soon.
Elsewhere, the MFDF wine and fizz festival will now take place after the festival on 7-8 October. Moving t a new home this year, it will be held over at New Century, the brand new music venue and food hall at NOMA.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: MFDF
The MFDF Gala dinner, meanwhile, will take place on 26September as originally planned at Escape To Freight Island.
Last week, organisers unveiled the full programme for the festival’s 25th anniversary event, which will feature a host of street food traders, an artisan food market, and a live music stage, as well as a huge beer bar pouring locally-made brews throughout.
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Elsewhere, there’ll be live fire pit cooking from some of Manchester’s top chefs and a series of talks and workshops from renowned food journalist and author Felicity Cloake, Kate Humble, Lia Leendertz and Edd Kimber and more as part of its Masterclass Kitchen.
Beyond the festival hub meanwhile, this year will also see restaurants around the city partner with MFDF to offer £25 menus in celebration of its longstanding presence in the city, with the likes of Three Little Words, District, Embankment Kitchen, Mi&Pho and more all taking part.
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For more details on the festival and its upcoming events, you can visit the MFDF website here.
Feature image – MFDF
Eats
Tiny Stockport restaurant shares plea after 36 people fail to turn up for reservation
Daisy Jackson
Another local business has had to issue a plea to customers, after an enormous group booking failed to turn up for their reservation.
Casa De Casa in Heaton Moor has shared that a reservation for a whopping 36 guests no-showed over the August bank holiday weekend.
For this tapas bar and Mediterranean restaurant, that’s pretty much the capacity of the entire venue, left empty on what should be one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Casa De Casa said that they had spent time preparing food, sorting staffing, and making sure the restaurant was ready for the large group of 36.
But when ‘nobody showed up’, it left them with a ‘significant loss’.
They said: “We understand that plans can change, but please let us know if you can’t make your booking.
“A simple message can make a big difference.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to support us.”
Casa De Casa took to their Facebook page to share the tale of the ‘difficult night’, and have been flooded with messages of support since.
One person wrote: “That’s actually disgusting. You have a brilliant restaurant – fabulous food every time & top service. I’d happily pay a deposit & not be offended if asked for one.”
Another said: “Absolutely diabolical – I hope they’re reading comments on here and contact you to not only apologise but to pay you at least for the cost of the food. Shocking!”
And someone else posted: “Absolutely awful !!!! …. At least if there is a legit reason they ring and tell you !!!! Awful that you will have to ask now for a deposit on a big booking !!! Why are people so nasty ???? We love it here so keep on being fab xxx”
A new Southeast Asian BBQ restaurant has opened on a Manchester rooftop with jaw-dropping city views
Clementine Hall
Say hello to Sister Moon, a beautiful new restaurant bringing a taste of Southeast Asia to Manchester city centre.
It’s the latest addition to Manchester’s Treehouse Hotel, which opened last year transforming a huge building at the end of Deansgate.
This is the final chapter of its new opening, and it might be our favourite one yet.
Sister Moon is the new project from acclaimed chef Sam Grainger who you’ll know from Madre, among others.
Images: The Manc
Sam is working alongside Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford (Electric Chair, Volta, Freight Island) at Sister Moon, a Southeast Asian BBQ concept inspired by his time cooking with a local family in Thailand.
All the dishes are cooked on open fire, including dishes like the fried pork skewers with banana ketchup and the grilled prawns with crispy chilli and garlic.
Image: The Manc
Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find stars like the crispy pork belly and pomelo salad as well as the slow cooked lamb jungle curry (warning, this one’s got a kick).
Looking for something lighter? There’s dishes like the smacked cucumber and the cold soba noodle salad that make for the perfect lunch option.
Images: The Manc
And it’s not just Sister Moon which has opened on the 14th floor of the Treehouse Hotel, also now open is The Nest, a new signature bar with panoramic views of Manchester that will be a destination for late-night drinks and social occasions.
Just up the stairs is also The Hideout – an intimate rooftop lounge and event space designed for private hire.
Kick off your evening with a drink in The Nest before making your way for a flavour-packed dinner at Sister Moon – all whilst enjoying jaw-dropping views of the city.
Sister Moon, The Nest, and The Hideout will officially open on Saturday 5 September, and you can find out more here.
Georgina Pellant -
12th September 2022 
