Eats

Stockport County’s viral Christmas dinner in a cup is back for 2024

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 19th December 2024

The big day is literally just around the corner and while we’re looking forward to unwrapping our presents and diving face-first into a mountain of food, there’s one festive foodie gift we can’t stop thinking about: Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup.

Yes, the mother of all Sunday roasts is probably the best meal of the year but do you know the next best thing? A portable one that you can take with you to the game.

For the uninitiated, a couple of years ago Stockport County had the ingenious idea to level up matchday scran by swapping out the humble chips and gravy, Rollover hotdog or a simple pie to serve up an absolutely stuffed-to-bursting cup of the Christmas dinner with a bunch of trimmings.

No Yorkshire pudding just but we’re sure they’re working on it; maybe they can use that as the cup next time? Nevermind – check how good this looks:

As you can see, beyond just getting a bit of meat and carbs with some moisture (the bare minimum you want to consume inside the stadium), the Hatters are serving a fair few of your five a day, lovely roasted turkey, pigs in blankets and even stuffing to top off their festive special.

ADVERTISEMENT

Since debuting back in 2022, the idea has been a rousing success and even those who might have raised an eyebrow at a mini portable roast, selling out pretty much every week during the previous holiday season too.

Now back for just the third year running, they’ve had 12 whole months to perfect the recipe and while the product may be even better this December, it will still only set you back just £4.50.

ADVERTISEMENT

Absolutely unreal value for money, as we’re sure the Footy Scran admin would agree, especially given the cost of living these days.

Head Chef John Rose, who served us up a healthy tray of them in 2023 and the year prior, even managed to rope in right-back Macauley Southam-Hales to serve the first few portions up to the staff and players earlier this month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOL9QQw2Mb4&t=7s
At this point, County are becoming just as synonymous with the Christmas dinner in a cup as they are hats…

‘Macca’, now the second longest-serving player behind goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, was understandably impressed with John’s no-spill cooking skills and given that this mobile meal delivers pretty much every food group a growing boy needs, we’re fairly sure he’s allowed this one the diet sheet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Once again, this PCD (Portable Christmas Dinner) costs less than a fiver and is much healthier, both in portion size and actual nutritional value, than you’ll find at virtually any other football ground in Greater Manchester.

Available exclusively at the County Courtyard fan zone at Edgeley Park throughout the festive period, plenty of fans have already been lining their stomach with the Christmas dinner in a cup and with two home games left – counting the New Year’s Day fixture – you’ve still got chance to grab one.

Consider that your Merry Christmas from SCFC.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Eats

Manchester’s first banana pudding bar has opened in the city centre

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Make sure to save room for pudding…because one of the city’s most-talked about dessert brands has found a new home.

Buttercup launched last summer, creating little pots of the hit US dessert made famous by the iconic Magnolia Bakery.

Each dessert features vanilla custard whipped with cream, soft sponge, and fresh banana, which you can then customise with rotating flavours and toppings.

And after a brief disappearance from the Manchester foodie scene, Buttercup is back with a bang with their beautiful new home on Deansgate.

Images: The Manc Group

And when we say beautiful, we really mean it.

Glossy burgundy tiles, butter yellow walls and sleek chrome furniture make up the space beneath the huge arched window, and there’s even a few seats for you to enjoy your pud and watch the world go by.

Open daily from 10am til 10pm, the menu includes three puddings on rotation ready to scoop. 

Images: The Manc Group

Choose from the classic banana, indulgent tiramisu and an ever-changing seasonal special, alongside a wall of toppings for you to customise your own pud. 

Each recipe has been perfected in-house and the proof really is in the banana pudding…because it tastes just as good as it looks. 

Since launching, Buttercup has served around 50,000 puddings, hosted sell-out pop-ups across the city, collaborated with some huge brands, and built a loyal following around its signature build-your-own pudding bar.

Image: The Manc Group

With this new standalone space, you’ll of course be able to indulge in its signature banana pudding, as well as breakfast yoghurt bowls, coffee and matcha.

Officially opening tomorrow Saturday 26 September, the first 50 customers will get a free topping and sauce with the purchase of any pudding, plus a free lip gloss from Manchester-born beauty brand REFY.

Read more: 10 of the best new restaurants, bars and cafes to open in Greater Manchester recently

Featured image – The Manc Group

Eats

‘Remember to support genuine independents’ – Manchester’s rotisserie chicken bistro Tartuffe announces closure

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Tartuffe at Side Street

Rotisserie chicken bistro Tartuffe has called final orders on its time at popular city centre hangout, Side Street.

Serving some of the best rotisserie chicken in Manchester – ‘sexy chicken’, if you will – Tartuffe first landed at Side Street inside the ABC Building back in the later summer of 2024, and quickly became known and loved by critics and customers alike for not just their rotisserie options, but also their stylish bar snacks and standout sides.

Hungry folk can expect seasonal menus, bistro-style dining, and, in the opinion of our legendary former Takeaway Champion Dean, some of the best sandwiches in Manchester.

But despite being a roaring success these past two years, Tartuffe took to social media this week to announce the end of the ‘longest pop-up ever’, with its final service being tomorrow (25 September).

Tartuffe at Side Street
Tartuffe at Side Street
Tartuffe will be leaving Side Street this Friday / Credit: The Manc Group

Announcing its closure on Instagram, Tartuffe wrote: “That’s right, our time at Side Street has come to an end and our final service here is this Friday.

“It’s been an incredible two and a half years cooking for the wonderful people of Manchester and we’re hugely thankful to everyone who’s been to see us whilst we’ve been here.

“Another big thanks to the staff at Side Street who we’ve loved working with. We’ve made some great friends and worked with some absolutely brilliant people.

“We’re going to be having a little bit of a break whilst we plan for Tartuffe part 2. It’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you soon.”

The statement then closed out with an emotional plea to the people of Manchester.

“And remember to support the GENUINE independents out there, or else there won’t be any left,” Tartuffe concluded.

Read more:

The closure of Tartuffe was announced on the same day as Deansgate Mews’ award-winning casual dining restaurant, Another Hand, which fell victim to the difficult and ever-changing economic climate.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

More Eats

City Centre

10 of the best new restaurants, bars and cafes to open in Greater Manchester recently

Business

Award-winning Manchester restaurant Another Hand announces closure with ‘immediate effect’

Business

Inside Manchester’s newest Italian restaurant serving 70-year-old Calabrian recipes

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches