This Friday marks National Katsu Curry Day and to celebrate the occasion, Tampopo is giving away a whopping 400 free curries to us Mancs.
We’ve suddenly just become bigger fans of Tampopo than we already were.
The Pan-Asian favourite franchise, which started here in our city nearly three decades ago, now boasts a total of four Greater Manchester sites and all of them will be participating in handing out free bowls of katsu curry at the end of the week.
We can’t think of many better ways to kick off the weekend than with a free curry, to be honest.
So what’s the deal? Well, it’s pretty simple: special popup ‘Katsu Curry Hubs’ will be stationed outside all of Tampopo’s locations in and around Manchester and free curries will be served up from 11am-1pm.
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Just to warn you now, it’s strictly first come, first served and when they’re gone, they’re GONE, so you’re best making a beeline for your nearest Tampopo restaurant when in time to get in line.
100 curries will be given away at Albert Square, The Corn Exchange, The Trafford Centre Restaurant and The Trafford Centre Kiosk site too, meaning a total of 400 bowls of complimentary katsu curry are up for grabs, so you stand a very good chance of getting your hands on some free scran this Friday.
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Better yet, the Tampopo has just had one their biggest menu updates ever; 70% of dishes are either brand new or refined to perfection – including the already much-loved katsu curry, so not only are getting it for free but it promises to taste better than ever.
The chain has always been committed to bringing the best of Far Eastern cuisine to Manchester even since it first opened up in 1997, and it remains just as diverse and dynamic as it is authentic.
David Fox, co-founder of Tampopo, said: “Katsu Curry Day is the perfect occasion for us to give back to our amazing Tampopo community and to share one of most popular dishes – and a great way to welcome the Autumn.
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“Our Katsu Curry has been honed to perfection over 27 years and we’re delighted to invite Manchester to come and celebrate with us.”
The katsu curry isn’t just a dish synonymous with Japanese cuisine but has quickly become a staple of comfort food here in the UK too. The crispy chicken, the steamed rice and that rich, savoury sauce – it’s just the best, and we have Tampopo to thank for being one of the first to bring it to Manchester.
It’s not the only freebie you can grab this week either…
Popular Manchester street food traders to take up monthly residency at city centre neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
Some of Manchester’s best street food traders will soon be taking up monthly residencies at a popular city centre neighbourhood.
After a series of successful trial events throughout the summer over, Food.Fest has now announced that it’ll be bringing a tasty lineup of traders to city centre neighbourhood, Circle Square, on the last Thursday of each month, and it’s all ready to “add some flavour to lunchtimes”.
Food.Fest initially launched back in June, and since then, has seen some of Manchester’s best food traders descend on Circle Square to take lunchtimes to the next level.
The likes of Triple B, Marley’s Tacos, and Tommy’s Bar and Pizza have already taken the reins.
Food.Fest will be taking up a monthly residency at Circle Square in Manchester city centre / Credit: Supplied
When Food.Fest’s residency kicks off for “a payday lunch like no other” this Thursday (26 September) between 12pm and 3pm, it’ll be the Malaka Brothers bringing their authentic Greek street food using only the freshest local ingredients to Manchester for the month.
There’ll be unbeatable classics like gyros, souvlaki, and halloumi fries on the menu.
Venturing out of their home at Tap House, Fat Frank’s will also be serving up New York-style pizza by the slice, with fan-favourites like Buffalo Chicken, Smokey Pepperoni, and more.
Malaka Brothers, Little Bao Boy, and more will be taking up the reins / Credit: Supplied
Triple B by Eat New York has been making waves over in Prestwich for quite a while now, and it’ll soon be back in the city centre with its classic New York-style Reuben bagels and pastrami burgers that sound set to be winner for any lunchtime.
Finally, Little Bao Boy will be bringing its signature mouthwatering bao buns to Circle Square, with char sui pulled pork, and pulled teriyaki mushroom being just a couple of the tasty options on offer.
Food.Fest officially kicks off at Circle Square this Thursday 26 September from midday through to 3pm, so if you’re feeling hungry, you know where to head.
Featured Image – Supplied
Eats
A stylish new Greek cafe and wine bar is opening in Salford
Daisy Jackson
Salford is set to welcome a new Mediterranean cafe and wine bar this autumn with the opening of Kallos.
The beautiful new spot is taking shape in Cortland at Colliers Yard, a stylish new residential development near Manchester Victoria.
Kallos will be specialising in all-day, high-quality Greek and Mediterranean food, whether you’re after a relaxed brunch or an evening drink.
Founded by hospitality professionals Ionna Antoniou and Ivan Milchev, the restaurant will be decorated to feel like you’re sitting on a street-side restaurant in Mykonos.
White walls, stone floors, accents of blue, natural wood and vintage elements will do a good job of bringing Santorini to Salford.
Kallos’ brunch menu will be split into sections, featuring traditional pastries like Spanakopita and Tiropita, dishes served on sourdough, and those on freshly in-house made pita bread.
As night falls there’ll be meze selections, from classic Greek dips to charcuterie boards to traditional dishes like feta in filo, Saganaki, and Keftedes.
It’ll all be about simple small dishes using great products, served alongside wines from Greece and the Mediterranean basin.
Ioanna and Ivan collectively boast 20 years of experience in the industry, with Ivan having spent three years as a head sommelier.
Kallos is a stylish new Greek cafe and wine bar opening in Salford. Credit: Supplied
Ivan said: “The name Kallos was inspired by the ancient Greek word for beauty, which perfectly encapsulates the essence of this café and wine bar for us.
“It’s not just about the aesthetics but also the experiences shared and the hospitality offered, which we see as a real priority.
“The beauty (Kallos) is about shared laughter, the stories exchanged and the connections made.”
Ioanna said: “Kallos Café & Wine Bar has been a dream of ours for a long time coming and we’re so excited to turn it into a reality this autumn.
“We wanted to create a venue focused on hospitality, a relaxed atmosphere, an all-day offering and a menu serving the authentic Greek and Mediterranean food.
“All-day cafes are incredibly popular in Greece, and we want to create that ambience in Manchester. We hope you like it as much as we do!”